The use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents is safe and effective in the management of anaemia in myelofibrosis patients treated with ruxolitinib.

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) were combined with ruxolitinib in 59 anaemic myelofibrosis patients (93% with Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System [DIPSS] intermediate-2/high risk; 52·5% transfusion-dependent). Anaemia response (AR) rate was 54% and 76% of patients responded at 5 years. A further 15% displayed minor improvement in anaemia and 78% of patients reduced spleen size.

Clear cell hidradenocarcinoma of the breast: a very rare breast skin tumor.

Hidradenocarcinoma is an uncommon malignant intradermal tumor of sweat gland origin with a predilection for the face and extremities. It is encountered equally in males and females, usually in the second half of life. These tumors tend to be locally aggressive.

Unusual causes of acute intestinal obstruction in adults.

This paper refers to 50 unusual cases of 542 consecutive adult patients who underwent surgery because of acute intestinal obstruction. Of the 38 small bowel cases, 5 were caused by hernias in anomalous recesses (1 prevesical, 2 left paraduodenal, and 2 paracecal hernias), 6 by a gallstone ileus, 14 to the presence of a bezoar or foreign body, 8 to extended postradiation perivisceritis, 3 to Meckel diverticulum volvulus, 1 to transepiploic hernia, and 1 to ileus-Meckel hematoma during anticoagulation treatment. The 12 large bowel cases included 3 diaphragmatic hernias (1 late post-trauma), 3 cases of colo-colic intussusception, 1 case of obstructive cholecystitis, and 5 cases of Ogilvie's syndrome.

Giant nodular pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) of the breast presenting as a rapidly growing tumour.

Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) is often a microscopic incidental finding in breast biopsies performed for benign or malignant diseases. In rare cases, it presents as a localised breast mass. Since Vuitch et al first described this condition in 1986, only 109 cases of PASH presenting as a palpable or mammographically detectable mass have been documented.

Factors regulating Hb F synthesis in thalassemic diseases.

BACKGROUND: The thalassemic syndromes originate from mutations of the globin genes that cause, besides the characteristic clinical picture, also an increased Hb F amount. It is not yet clear if there are more factors, besides the beta globin genotype, determining the Hb F production. We have tried to find out if there are relations between total Hb and Hb F, between erythropoietin (Epo) and Hb F, between Hb F and point mutations of the gamma gene promoters.