Mitral valve repair with the semi-rigid Memo 4D annuloplasty ring: early clinical and echocardiographic outcomes from the MANTRA study.

Objectives: Memo 4D is a semi-rigid ring with an exclusive saddle shape and progressive increased anteroposterior diameter. This preliminary analysis reports 30-day clinical and haemodynamic outcomes of the MANTRA Memo 4D sub-study.

Methods: MANTRA is an 'umbrella' prospective, multicentre, worldwide post-market study to collect real-life safety and performance data on the Corcym devices.

Long-term real world evidence of CPX-351 of high-risk AML patients identified high rate of negative MRD and prolonged OS.

CPX-351 has been approved for patients with therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (MRC-AML). No extensive data are available on MRD and long-term clinical outcome using CPX-351 in AML in real-life. We retrospectively collected data from 168 patients in 36 centers in France and Italy who had received one or two cycles of induction with CPX-351.

Outcome of 421 adult patients with Philadelphia-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated under an intensive program inspired by the GIMEMA LAL1913 clinical trial: a Campus ALL study.

The introduction of pediatric-inspired regimens in adult Philadelphia-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph- ALL) has significantly improved patients' prognosis. Within the Campus ALL network, we analyzed the outcome of adult Ph- ALL patients treated according to the GIMEMA LAL1913 protocol outside the clinical trial to compare the real-life data with the study results. We included 421 consecutive patients; median age 42 years.

Deregulation of New Cell Death Mechanisms in Leukemia.

Hematological malignancies are among the top five most frequent forms of cancer in developed countries worldwide. Although the new therapeutic approaches have improved the quality and the life expectancy of patients, the high rate of recurrence and drug resistance are the main issues for counteracting blood disorders. Chemotherapy-resistant leukemic clones activate molecular processes for biological survival, preventing the activation of regulated cell death pathways, leading to cancer progression.

Limited efficacy of 3 + 7 plus gemtuzumab ozogamycin in newly diagnosed fit intermediate genetic risk acute myeloid leukemia patients.

Background: Gemtuzumab-ozogamycin (GO) is approved in combination with high-dose chemotherapy for treatment-naïve low- and intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Aims: In this retrospective real-life multicenter study, we reported efficacy and safety of GO plus high-dose chemotherapy in newly diagnosed AML patients.

Methods And Results: A total of 31 fit low- and intermediate-risk AML patients treated with GO-based regimens were retrospectively included in this real-life multicenter study, and results were compared with a control cohort treated with 3 + 7 alone.

Treatment of severe mitral annulus calcification: An attractive alternative!

Surgical treatment of mitral valve disease with severe mitral annular calcifications (MACs) is challenging, with reported high morbidity and mortality. Transcatheter treatment options are feasible, however, still far from being optimal alternatives. We report our positive experience with the off-label implant of a BioIntegral Injectable BioPulmonic valve fitted on a circumferential pericardial skirt for the treatment of severe MAC.

Blinatumomab differentially modulates peripheral blood and bone marrow immune cell repertoire: A Campus ALL study.

Blinatumomab is the first bi-specific T-cell engager approved for relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL). Despite remarkable clinical results, the effects of blinatumomab on the host immune cell repertoire are not fully elucidated. In the present study, we characterized the peripheral blood (PB) and, for the first time, the bone marrow (BM) immune cell repertoire upon blinatumomab treatment.

Intravascular Complications of Central Venous Catheterization by Insertion Site in Acute Leukemia during Remission Induction Chemotherapy Phase: Lower Risk with Peripherally Inserted Catheters in a Single-Center Retrospective Study.

The basilic/brachial (BBV), internal jugular (IJV), and subclavian veins (SCV) are commonly used as central venous catheter (CVC) sites. A BBV approach [peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)] is increasingly used for short- to intermediate-term CVCs for acute leukemias undergoing cytotoxic intensive regimens. In this retrospective study, the catheterization of the BBV, IJV, and SCV in patients with previously untreated acute leukemia was assessed.

Role of computed tomography in transcatheter replacement of 'other valves': a comprehensive review of preprocedural imaging.

Transcatheter procedures for heart valve repair or replacement represent a valid alternative for treating patients who are inoperable or at a high risk for open-heart surgery. The transcatheter approach has become predominant over surgical intervention for aortic valve disease, but it is also increasingly utilized for diseases of the 'other valves', that is the mitral and, to a lesser extent, tricuspid and pulmonary valve. Preprocedural imaging is essential for planning the transcatheter intervention and computed tomography has become the main imaging modality by providing information that can guide the type of treatment and choice of device as well as predict outcome and prevent complications.

Pseudoaneurysm of the aortic root following aortic valve endocarditis - a case with 2 rare life - threatening complications.

Infective endocarditis can have peri-annular spread and involve the valvular annulus and adjacent cardiac structures, leading to tissue necrosis and peri-annular abscess. This process may cause pseudoaneurysm formation and other rare and potentially life-threatening complications, so their identification and correct diagnosis are crucial. We describe a case of an 81-year-old woman, with a history of aortic valve replacement and worsening of symptoms, that presents at the imaging a pseudoaneurysm of the aortic root complicated at the same time by 2 life-threatening conditions: fistulization in the Right Ventricular Outflow Tract (RVOT) and the compression of Right Coronary Artery (RCA).

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with unruptured aortic root pseudoaneurysm: an observational study.

Aims: Unruptured aortic root pseudoaneurysm (UARP) is a rare complication of aortic valve endocarditis. Infectious spread to the valvular annulus or myocardium can cause septic complications that manifest as wall thickening, and spontaneous abscess drainage leads to pseudoaneurysm formation. We report the first patient series in which transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using a single valve-resolved aortic valvulopathy associated with UARP was performed.

Hypomethylating Agents (HMAs) as Salvage Therapy in Relapsed or Refractory AML: An Italian Multicentric Retrospective Study.

Data on the use of azacytidine and decitabine as salvage therapy for acute myeloid leukemia are limited. We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of 100 patients treated with hypomethylating agents (HMA) as salvage therapy in nine Italian institutions. A total of 24% of patients obtained a response to HMA (CR, PR, or CRi), while 26% showed a stable disease (SD); 50% of patients experienced progressive disease.

Relationship between septo-valvular angle and risk of pacemaker implantation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a preliminary study.

Aim: Pre-transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) computed tomography (CT) has proven to be crucial in identifying pre- and post-procedural predicting factors predisposing the onset of major arrhythmias that require permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation caused by the compressive effects of the prostheses on the conduction system at the membranous septum (MS) and the muscular crest of the interventricular septum.Our analysis aims to verify if the pre-TAVI assessment of the angle between the MS and the aortic annulus (SVA) might be a predictive factor for the onset of arrhythmias that requires PPM.

Methods: Two cardiovascular specialist radiologists retrospectively and double-blind evaluated a randomized list of preprocedural CT of 57 patients who underwent TAVI with a self-expandable valve from April 2019 to February 2020.

The role of ponatinib in adult BCR-ABL1 positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia after allogeneic transplantation: a real-life retrospective multicenter study.

The experience of third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor ponatinib treatment in Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (Ph'+ ALL) patients post-allogeneic transplantation is limited. We retrospectively collected data on 25 Ph'+ ALL patients who were started on ponatinib after allogeneic transplantation between July 2015 and July 2019 from nine transplantation centers in Italy. Ponatinib was given in prophylaxis in five (20%), as pre-emptive treatment in seven (28%), and as salvage therapy in thirteen (52%) patients.

Lymphocytes, Interleukin 6 and D-dimer Cannot Predict Clinical Outcome in Coronavirus Cancer Patients: LyNC1.20 Study.

Background/aim: Knowledge of Coronavirus 19 (COVID19) pathogenetic mechanisms is necessary to provide new treatment strategies. This study aims to assess how oncological disease impacts on the clinical course of COVID-19 patients.

Patients And Methods: From 1 March to 30 April 2020, 96 COVID-19 patients were classified according to clinical outcome as severe (n=67) and moderate (n=29).

Chest Computed Tomography Scoring in Patients With Novel Coronavirus-infected Pneumonia: Correlation With Clinical and Laboratory Features and Disease Outcome.

Background/aim: This study investigated the correlation of chest computed tomography (CT), findings, graded using two different scoring methods, with clinical and laboratory features and disease outcome, including a novel clinical predictive score, in patients with novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia (NCIP).

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective, observational study, CT scan of 92 NCIP patients admitted to Policlinico Tor Vergata, were analyzed using a quantitative, computed-based and a semiquantitative, radiologist-assessed scoring system. Correlations of the two radiological scores with clinical and laboratory features, the CALL score, and their association with a composite adverse outcome were assessed.

CPX-351 treatment in secondary acute myeloblastic leukemia is effective and improves the feasibility of allogeneic stem cell transplantation: results of the Italian compassionate use program.

Secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) poorly responds to conventional treatments and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We evaluated toxicity and efficacy of CPX-351 in 71 elderly patients (median age 66 years) with sAML enrolled in the Italian Named (Compassionate) Use Program. Sixty days treatment-related mortality was 7% (5/71).

The Q-LAMP Method Represents a Valid and Rapid Alternative for the Detection of the Rearrangement in Philadelphia-Positive Leukemias.

Molecular detection of the fusion transcripts is necessary for the genetic confirmation of a chronic myeloid leukemia diagnosis and for the risk classification of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. mRNAs are usually identified using a conventional RT-PCR technique according to the BIOMED-1 method. In this study, we evaluated 122 -positive samples with the Q-LAMP assay to establish if this technology may represent a valid alternative to the qualitative BIOMED-1 PCR technique usually employed for the detection and the discrimination of the common transcripts (p190 and p210 isoforms).

Similar outcomes of alemtuzumab-based hematopoietic cell transplantation for SAA patients older or younger than 50 years.

Survival after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HSCT) for severe aplastic anemia (SAA) among older patients remains poor and associated with increased risk for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In this retrospective study of 65 consecutive patients with acquired SAA who were transplanted using fludarabine, low-dose cyclophosphamide, and alemtuzumab (FCC), outcomes of 27 patients aged at least 50 years were compared with those of 38 patients younger than 50 years. The median age of the older cohort was 61 years (range, 51-71 years); 21 (78%) patients were transplanted from unrelated donors (3 of 21 from HLA 9/10 mismatch donors) and 6 from matched sibling donors.

Full donor chimerism without graft-versus-host disease: the key factor for maximum benefit of pre-emptive donor lymphocyte infusions (pDLI).

Compared to standard-conditioned regimens, reduced-intensity conditioning and T-cell depletion deliver lower transplant-related mortality and decreased graft-vs-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. These advantages may however be mitigated by increased relapse rates and delays in achievement of full donor chimerism (FDC). Pre-emptive donor lymphocyte infusions (pDLI) facilitate the conversion of mixed (MDC) to FDC.