[Current trends in the epidemiology of bloodstream infections in patients with hematological malignancies and solid neoplasms].

Objectives: to characterize the epidemiological and microbiological spectrum of systemic infections in hematological and oncological patients.

Method: a prospective study of bloodstream infections was conducted between May 2004-December 2005 in two hospitals from Iaşi.

Results: We investigated a total of 86 suspected episodes of systemic infections that occurred in 76 selected patients, 40 males and 36 females (average age = 26 years old).

The point on myelodysplastic syndromes.

The Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) are heterogeneous borderline diseases, with propensity to transform into acute leukemia. Some paradoxes need more attention either in experimental and clinical approach: the clonal proliferation, involving all the hematopoietic lines, but associated with a relatively long evolution which ends not always into acute leukemia; involvement of cytokines, but a poor therapeutical response to anti-cytokine therapy; the surprisingly good effect of the "differentiating "drugs in vitro and the poor response in vivo. The prognostic scores according to cytological, histological and genetic criteria, and the therapeutical approach are discussed.

Emergency care: the tumor lysis syndrome.

The Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS) is a constellation of metabolic disturbances due to the rapid tumoral cell destruction, either spontaneous or induced by cytoreduction therapy, which manifests as an acute, subacute or chronic renal insufficiency. Hyperuricemia is the hallmark of the TLS. The therapy consists in management of hydro-electrolytic and metabolic disturbances, treatment of hyperuricemia (Allopurinol and a new therapeutical agent, Uricase), hemodialysis.