Publications by authors named "MORA B"

Article Synopsis
  • The study presents a new way to detect pancreatic cancer early using biofluid spectroscopy combined with a specialized machine learning approach.
  • By applying distinct techniques like PCA, LDA, and SVM on both cancerous and non-cancerous samples, the researchers achieved better diagnostic accuracy than traditional methods.
  • Their findings indicate that this innovative method could lead to effective, non-invasive diagnostic tools for identifying early-stage pancreatic cancer.
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  • - The introduction of small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has significantly improved patient life expectancy, making it comparable to the general population, despite potential mild to severe side effects from long-term use.
  • - Emerging goals in CML treatment include the potential for treatment-free remission (TFR), with specific eligibility criteria, where 25%-30% of patients might achieve prolonged TFR.
  • - This review focuses on guidelines for safely stopping TKIs, shares clinical insights from trials and real-world data, and highlights ongoing research into biological markers that could help predict TFR success.
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Purpose Of Review: Myelofibrosis (MF) includes prefibrotic primary MF (pre-PMF), overt-PMF and secondary MF (SMF). Median overall survival (OS) of pre-PMF, overt-PMF and SMF patients is around 14 years, seven and nine years, respectively. Main causes of mortality are non-clonal progression and transformation into blast phase.

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  • JAK2V617F is the most common genetic mutation in Philadelphia-negative chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs), and researchers believe abnormalities in Chromosome 9 may influence the disease in patients with this mutation.
  • A specific group of MPN patients, called +9p patients, were found to have three copies of the JAK2 gene and nearby genes, leading to increased production of the immunosuppressive PD-L1 protein.
  • The study showed that these +9p patients have a distinct cancer profile, characterized by greater stem cell-like properties and an immune response that results in exhausted T cells, highlighting a complex interaction between +9p and JAK2V617F mutations.
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  • - A new framework for defining anemia severity and treatment response in myelofibrosis (MF) aims to improve clinical studies and comparisons as new drugs emerge in this area.
  • - The revised criteria will address gender differences in hemoglobin levels and update the definition of transfusion-dependent anemia (TDA) to align with current practices.
  • - The updated guidelines introduce specific eligibility thresholds for hemoglobin levels and establish distinct response criteria (major vs. minor) while maintaining a 12-week observation period on treatment.
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Myeloproliferative neoplasms represent a group of clonal hematopoietic disorders of which myelofibrosis (MF) is the most aggressive. In the context of myeloid neoplasms, there is a growing recognition of the dysregulation of immune response and T-cell function as significant contributors to disease progression and immune evasion. We investigated cytotoxic T-cell exhaustion in MF to restore immune response against malignant cells.

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  • Virtual sensing techniques allow for estimating measurements at locations where direct sensing is not possible, making them useful for monitoring the condition of industrial equipment under cyclic loads.
  • The study tests three algorithms for strain estimation—two deterministic (Direct Strain Observer and Least-Squares Strain Estimation) and one stochastic (Static Strain Kalman Filter)—using data from a scaled press prototype equipped with strain gauges.
  • The findings indicate that virtual sensing can provide accurate strain estimations with fewer strain gauges and can also help in detecting the initiation of fatigue cracks at critical structural points.
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The variant allele frequency (VAF) of driver mutations (JAK2, CALR) in myeloproliferative neoplasms is associated with features of advanced disease and complications. Ruxolitinib and interferon were reported to variably reduce the mutant VAF, but the long-term impact of molecular responses (MR) remains debated. We prospectively measured changes in JAK2 and CALR VAF in 77 patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia, treated with ruxolitinib for a median of 8 years, and assessed correlation with complete clinical and hematological response (CCHR) and outcomes.

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  • Most new drug approvals rely on large randomized clinical trials (RCTs), but results can vary even among similar trials, making it hard to apply findings broadly.
  • There is a gap between conclusions drawn from RCTs and those based on real-world data (RWD), which reflects actual patient experiences outside of controlled settings.
  • The use of real-world evidence (RWE) from RWD, especially when enhanced by artificial intelligence, is gaining traction in haematology and could help support regulatory decisions alongside traditional trial data.
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  • Ruxolitinib is effective in reducing spleen size and improving symptoms in myelofibrosis (MF) patients, with potential survival benefits for higher-risk individuals.
  • In a study of 590 MF patients, researchers analyzed serum albumin levels to understand their relationship with ruxolitinib treatment and patient outcomes.
  • Results indicated that while serum albumin levels generally decrease in MF patients, ruxolitinib treatment stabilizes these levels, and changes in albumin levels during treatment are linked to better overall survival, particularly in patients who haven't received ruxolitinib before.
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Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) displays peculiar clinicopathological characteristics, but its molecular landscape is not fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the clinicopathological and molecular features of 54 patients with HCV-associated DLBCL. The median age was 71 years.

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BACKGROUND: Whether phlebotomy alone can adequately maintain target hematocrit in patients with low-risk polycythemia vera (PV) remains elusive. METHODS: In a phase 2 open-label randomized trial, we compared ropeginterferon alfa-2b (ropeg; 100 μg every 2 weeks) with phlebotomy only regarding maintenance of a median hematocrit level (≤45%) over 12 months in the absence of progressive disease (primary end point). In follow-up, crossover to the alternative treatment group was allowed if the primary end point was not met.

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In patients with low-risk polycythemia vera, exposure to low-dose Ropeginterferon alfa-2b (Ropeg) 100 µg every 2 weeks for 2 years was more effective than the standard treatment of therapeutic phlebotomy in maintaining target hematocrit (HCT) (< 45%) with a reduction in the need for phlebotomy without disease progression. In the present paper, we analyzed drug survival, defined as a surrogate measure of the efficacy, safety, adherence, and tolerability of Ropeg in patients followed up to 5 years. During the first 2 years, Ropeg and phlebotomy-only (Phl-O) were discontinued in 33% and 70% of patients, respectively, for lack of response (12 in the Ropeg arm vs.

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(1) Background: COVID-19 has evolved during seven epidemic waves in Spain. Our objective was to describe changes in mortality and severity in our hospitalized patients. (2) Method: This study employed a descriptive, retrospective approach for COVID-19 patients admitted to the Hospital de Fuenlabrada (Madrid, Spain) until 31 December 2022.

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Key Clinical Message: Infective endocarditis should be considered in any febrile individual with acute onset neurological symptoms. If suspicion is high, a negative brain computed tomography does not virtually exclude embolism, and magnetic resonance imaging is warranted.

Abstract: A diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) is often delayed, particularly in those infected with unusual organisms.

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Article Synopsis
  • Myelofibrosis (MF) is a type of blood cancer often causing anemia, which can lead to a progression to a severe form known as blast phase (BP) in 10%-20% of patients.
  • In a study of 1,752 MF patients largely untreated with ruxolitinib (RUX), anemia significantly increased BP incidence, with rates varying based on the severity of anemia.
  • Even among patients treated with RUX, those starting treatment with significant anemia showed similar BP rates, underscoring the need for careful management of anemia in MF patients and its implications for treatment safety.
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Virtual sensing is the process of using available data from real sensors in combination with a model of the system to obtain estimated data from unmeasured points. In this article, different strain virtual sensing algorithms are tested using real sensor data, under unmeasured different forces applied in different directions. Stochastic algorithms (Kalman filter and augmented Kalman filter) and deterministic algorithms (least-squares strain estimation) are tested with different input sensor configurations.

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  • - The case highlights the challenges in diagnosing ocular syphilis, which can resemble various other eye conditions.
  • - It warns against starting steroid treatment too soon, as it may worsen the infection rather than help it.
  • - The situation illustrates anchoring bias, where sticking to an initial diagnosis led to ineffective and potentially harmful treatment decisions.
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  • Acute myocarditis is a condition often caused by various viral infections, with common culprits including enteroviruses, adenovirus, and herpesvirus.
  • Early recognition and treatment, including supportive care and potentially high-dose steroids, are crucial for improving patient outcomes.
  • A case study highlighted a patient who developed acute heart failure from viral myocarditis after norovirus gastroenteritis, emphasizing the importance of quick medical intervention and follow-up care.
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  • The study analyzes nutritional support practices in intensive care units (ICUs) globally, focusing on data from the nutritionDay project, which included nearly 19,000 adult patients from 63 countries between 2007 and 2021.
  • Findings indicate a high percentage of patients received enteral nutrition (48%), while parenteral nutrition was less common (24%), with 10% of patients receiving no nutrition support at all.
  • Results show little difference in nutrition practices between regions, with a median caloric intake of about 1500 kcal and 60 g of protein per day across different areas, and emphasize the ability for ICUs to benchmark their nutritional strategies against global standards.
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Background: Children with congenital heart disease remain at risk of being lost to follow-up. They may present at a later stage with complications related to underlying condition that usually require in-depth phenotyping for optimal management. We describe an unusual case of a double outlet right ventricle (DORV) who presented three decades after initial intervention.

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  • Polycythemia vera (PV) is a blood disease caused by a genetic change that leads to too many blood cells being made, mainly due to a mutation in the JAK2 gene.
  • The main goal of treatment is to prevent blood clots since there’s no cure for the disease yet, and patients usually need blood draws to keep their red blood cell levels in check.
  • Certain patients at higher risk may need additional treatments, like hydroxyurea or ruxolitinib, to help control their condition better and avoid serious complications like myelofibrosis.
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  • - The main characteristics of myelofibrosis (MF), whether primary or following conditions like polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia, include enlarged spleen, various blood cell changes, and risks for vascular issues and severe disease phases, with diagnosis relying on blood tests, bone marrow analysis, and genetic evaluations.
  • - Key genetic mutations involved in MF include JAK2V617F, CALR, and MPL, but about 8-10% of cases are “triple-negative” without these mutations; survival prediction and treatment decisions are guided by clinical and molecular scoring systems.
  • - Current treatments focus on reducing symptoms and spleen size, utilizing medications such as JAK inhibitors, while stem cell transplant remains the
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