A Quantitative ELISA to Detect Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG Antibodies in Infected Patients and Vaccinated Individuals.

There is an ongoing need for high-precision serological assays for the quantitation of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Here, a trimeric SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein was used to develop an ELISA to quantify specific IgG antibodies present in serum, plasma, and dried blood spots (DBS) collected from infected patients or vaccine recipients. The quantitative S-ELISA was calibrated with international anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin standards to provide test results in binding antibody units per mL (BAU/mL).

Heterogeneity of pollen food allergy syndrome in seven Southern European countries: The @IT.2020 multicenter study.

Background: Pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS) is a frequently underdiagnosed disease due to diverse triggers, clinical presentations, and test results. This is especially relevant in geographic areas with a broad spectrum of pollen sensitization, such as Southern Europe.

Objectives: To elucidate similarities and differences of PFAS in nine Southern European centers and identify associated characteristics and unique markers of PFAS.

[Interdisciplinary teleconsultation: first practical experiences with 100 patients].

Unlabelled: PROBLEM DEFINITION: Increasing specialization can be observed in the various medical fields and as a consequence there is little professional exchange between ear nose and throat (ENT) specialists and general practitioners. At the same time there has been significant technological development in telemedicine over the last 5 years; however, this potential is not being sufficiently exploited. The objective of this project is to implement a practicable solution for teleconsulation between ENT specialists and general practitioners.

A randomized controlled trial comparing patient-controlled and physician-controlled sedation in the emergency department.

Study Objective: We compare patient-controlled sedation (PCS) and emergency physician-controlled sedation (EPCS) with respect to propofol requirements, depth of sedation, adverse events, recovery time, physician satisfaction, and patient satisfaction in emergency department (ED) patients requiring brief but painful procedures.

Methods: One hundred sixty-six patients in this randomized controlled trial received propofol sedation according to one of 2 regimens: infusion of propofol at doses determined by the treating physician (EPCS group) or infusion of propofol with a patient-controlled infusion pump (PCS group). The PCS group received an initial physician-controlled bolus following by self-administered doses.

Atypical BCR-ABL mRNA transcripts in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

RT-PCR detects chimeric BCR-ABL mRNA in approximately 25% of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases. Minor breakpoint transcripts (e1a2) are found in about 70% of positive cases and major breakpoint transcripts (e13a2, e14a2) in about 30% of cases. However, other atypical transcripts are sometimes observed.

Early prediction of response in patients with relapsed or refractory Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL) treated with imatinib.

Imatinib has pronounced but brief antileukemic activity in advanced Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph(+)ALL). We assessed the prognostic impact of pretreatment disease features and the early bone marrow (BM) response in 68 consecutive patients with Ph(+)ALL receiving imatinib salvage therapy. A complete hematologic or marrow response was achieved by 92% of patients with BM blasts below 5% on day 14, whereas 62.

Leading prognostic relevance of the BCR-ABL translocation in adult acute B-lineage lymphoblastic leukemia: a prospective study of the German Multicenter Trial Group and confirmed polymerase chain reaction analysis.

The BCR-ABL fusion, the molecular equivalent of the Philadelphia translocation, gains importance for treatment stratification in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In this prospective study, samples from 478 patients with CD10(+) B-cell precursor ALL (c-ALL and pre-B ALL) underwent BCR-ABL reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis with double testing of positive samples. Patients were stratified according to the PCR result and treated in 2 German Multicenter Trials of Adult ALL.

Treatment of Adult ALL according to protocols of the German Multicenter Study Group for Adult ALL (GMALL).

The German Multicenter Study Group for Adult Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia (GMALL) has conducted 5 consecutive trials with more than 3000 patients since 1981. This article provides an overview on aims, treatment concepts, and results of these studies. It includes brief summaries on the development of prognostic models within the GMALL group and on approaches for prophylaxis of CNS relapse, and it summarizes specific treatment concepts for mature B-lineage acute lymphocytic leukemia.

[Treatment of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

In patients with adult ALL, substantial progress has been made in the past 20 years. At present a cure rate of 30-40% can be achieved and varies in defined subgroups between 10-51%. ALL does not represent an uniform disease but is formed by biologic subentities, which differ in their natural history, clinical presentation and prognosis.

Concomitant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and induction chemoradiotherapy in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a randomized phase III trial.

This prospective multicenter study examined whether simultaneous administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; Filgrastim) and induction chemotherapy for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) could prevent treatment-related neutropenia, infections, and resulting treatment delays. Seventy-six patients were randomly assigned to receive either G-CSF (n = 37) or no growth factor (n = 39) in conjunction with a uniform chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, mercaptopurine, intrathecal methotrexate, and cranial irradiation. The median duration of neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count < 1 x 10(9)/L) during chemotherapy was 8 days in patients receiving C-CSF, compared with 12.

[Severe pancytopenia in old age after 12-month ACE inhibitor therapy].

A sprightly 79-year-old woman was treated for high blood pressure with indapamide (2.5 mg/day) and the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor lisinopril (5 mg/day). About 12 months after starting treatment a blood count carried out because of a syncopal attack revealed pancytopenia (haemoglobin 3.

[Acute retinal necrosis and herpes encephalitis. The key role of the ophthalmologist in diagnosing opportunistic infections in AIDS, successful therapy with acyclovir (Zovirax)].

A 43-year-old homosexual man was hospitalized in April 1988 because of acute epigastric pain. It was known that he had had a HIV infection for a year, and in April 1988 it was defined as stage Walter Reed I. Acute, exudative, nonspecific pancreatitis was diagnosed.

Treatment of polycythemia vera by isovolemic large-volume erythrocytapheresis.

Excess red blood cells (RBC) in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) are usually removed by repeated phlebotomy. In order to improve the efficacy of this treatment, we used isovolemic large-volume erythrocytapheresis (EA) by a cell separator. A retrospective analysis of our experience with 69 PV patients (206 EA procedures) is reported.

Prognostic significance of glucocorticoid receptor determination in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and immunocytoma--lack of a positive correlation between receptor levels and clinical responsiveness.

Glucocorticoid receptors (GR) have been suggested to have prognostic significance in patients with CLL treated with chemotherapy containing glucocorticoid. In this study, the GR levels in 65 patients with advanced CLL and immunocytoma (clinical stages III and IV according to Rai) were determined by means of a whole cell assay. The median GR-level was 1,920 bs/c with a range from 0 to 9591.

Combination of mitoxantrone and etoposide in refractory acute myelogenous leukemia--an active and well-tolerated regimen.

Both mitoxantrone and etoposide have been shown to be active in monotherapy trials of relapsed and refractory acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). This phase II study was undertaken to assess the antitumor activity and toxicity of the combination in refractory and poor-risk AML. The regimen consisted of mitoxantrone, 10 mg/m2/d intravenously (IV), and etoposide, 100 mg/m2/d as short infusion, both on days 1 to 5.

[Intensive combined therapy for high-risk ALL patients].

In the risk-adapted multicenter trial (02/84) for adult ALL the effectiveness of a consolidation therapy consisting of VM26 and Ara-C for high-risk patients was tested. Out of a total of 442 patients in the study, 79.2% achieved a complete remission.

Combination therapy with mitoxantrone and etoposide in refractory acute myelogenous leukemia.

We have investigated the efficacy of mitoxantrone in combination with etoposide in patients with refractory acute myelogenous leukemia. The regimen consisted of 10 mg/m2/day of mitoxantrone given iv on Days 1-5; and 100 mg/m2/day of etoposide as short infusion, initially on Days 1-3 and extended to Days 4 and 5 as appropriate. Of the 26 patients treated with this combination, nine (34.

Mitoxantrone and VP-16 in refractory acute myelogenous leukemia.

Phase I/II-studies suggested that mitoxantrone is effective in the treatment of acute leukemia. In this study we have investigated its efficacy in combination with VP-16 in patients with refractory acute myelogenous leukemia. The regimen consists of: mitoxantrone 10 mg/m2/day i.