Ibrutinib in relapsed/refractory patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia: a real-life, retrospective study on behalf of the "RTL" (regional Tuscan lymphoma network).

Ibrutinib represents the first approved treatment for patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM). There are very few published experiences outside of a clinical trial. In this study, we investigated treatment response, survival, and safety in a real life setting.

Cultivable Fungal Endophytes in Roots, Rhizomes and Leaves of (L.) Delile along the Coast of Sicily, Italy.

The presence of endophytic fungi in the roots, rhizomes, and leaves of was evaluated in different localities of the Sicilian coast. Samples of roots, rhizomes, and leaves were submitted to isolation techniques, and the obtained fungal colonies were identified by morphological and molecular (rRNA sequencing) analysis. Fungal endophytes occurred mainly in roots and occasionally in rhizomes and leaves.

Daratumumab in AL Amyloidosis: A Real-Life Experience of the "RTM" (Regional Tuscan Myeloma Network).

Systemic amyloidosis arises from monoclonal CD38+ plasma cells that produce misfolded immunoglobulin light chains, which form amyloid fibrils that are deposited into different tissues, leading to organ damage. Daratumumab is a human IgG/k monoclonal antibody that targets CD38, a glycoprotein uniformly expressed on human plasma cells. Daratumumab has been utilized in recent years with unprecedented responses in multiple myeloma.

Resilience of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica following pulse-type disturbance.

Understanding the response of species to disturbance and the ability to recover is crucial for preventing their potential collapse and ecosystem phase shifts. Explosive submarine activity, occurring in shallow volcanic vents, can be considered as a natural pulse disturbance, due to its suddenness and high intensity, potentially affecting nearby species and ecosystems. Here, we present the response of Posidonia oceanica, a long-lived seagrass, to an exceptional submarine volcanic explosion, which occurred in the Aeolian Archipelago (Italy, Mediterranean Sea) in 2002, and evaluate its resilience in terms of time required to recover after such a pulse event.

Letter to the editor regarding the article "Taking advantage of seagrass recovery potential to develop novel and effective meadow rehabilitation methods" by Alagna et al., published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, 149: 2019 (110578).

Alagna et al. (2019) suggest new transplantation methods for Posidonia oceanica (Linnaeus) Delile, inspired by its natural recovery process after disturbance due to dredging operations for gas-pipelines. They observe that P.

Sudden ventricular fibrillation and death during ibrutinib therapy-A case report.

Ibrutinib is an oral inhibitor of Bruton tyrosine kinase approved for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, mantle cell lymphoma and refractory Waldenstrom's disease. It increases progression-free survival, overall survival, response rate. The most frequent adverse reactions, are increased risk in of bleeding and atrial fibrillation, but several reports of more dangerous rhythm disturbances have been recently reported in literature.

Extramedullary intracranial localization of multiple myeloma and treatment with novel agents: a retrospective survey of 50 patients.

Background: Intracranial involvement in multiple myeloma is extremely rare. The effect of new drugs (eg, thalidomide, bortezomib, lenalidomide) with respect to old drugs (eg, alkylators, steroids) has not been reported.

Methods: We collected clinical and biological data of patients presenting with an osteo-dural or primary dural multiple myeloma (OD-DMM) or a central nervous system myelomatosis (CNS-MM) by sending a questionnaire to the centers of the Gruppo Italiano Malattie Ematologiche dell'Adulto (GIMEMA).

Thrombotic microangiopathy and occult neoplasia.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), which is typically characterized by fever and central nervous system manifestations and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), in which renal failure is a prominent feature are the most common thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs). TTP is usually associated with a severe deficiency of ADAMTS13 [a metalloproteinase involved in the degradation of von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers], causing excessive accumulation of ultra-large vWF multimers and platelet aggregation with organ failure. By contrast, patients with HUS or other TMAs usually display a normal or at least detectable ADAMTS13 activity.

Liposomal daunorubicin versus standard daunorubicin: long term follow-up of the GIMEMA GSI 103 AMLE randomized trial in patients older than 60 years with acute myelogenous leukaemia.

This randomized phase III clinical trial explored the efficacy of DaunoXome (DNX) versus Daunorubicin (DNR) in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients aged >60 years. Three hundred and one AML patients were randomized to receive DNR (45 mg/m(2) days 1-3) or DNX (80 mg/m(2) days 1-3) plus cytarabine (AraC; 100 mg/m(2) days 1-7). Patients in complete remission (CR) received a course of the same drugs as consolidation and then were randomized for maintenance with AraC+ all trans retinoic acid or no further treatment.

Lower dose rituximab is active in adults patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Rituximab 375 mg/m(2) weekly for four weeks has significant activity in patients with immune thrombocytopenia. We evaluated the activity of lower dose rituximab (100 mg iv weekly for 4 weeks) in 28 adults with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Overall (platelet count > 50 x 10(9)/L) and complete responses (platelet count > 100 x 10(9)/L) were achieved in 21/28 (75%) and 12/28 (43%) patients respectively.

Unusual discordant responses in two multiple myeloma patients during bortezomib treatment.

Background: Cases of discordant responses in multiple myeloma (MM) patients after thalidomide therapy have been sometimes reported, in which extramedullary masses progress or present de novo with a simultaneous serum monoclonal protein reduction.

Patients And Methods: We hereby report, for the first time, on two cases of MM patients with extramedullary myeloma localizations that developed during Velcade (bortezomib, PS341) treatment with a concomitant serum monoclonal protein reduction.

Results: We observed in both patients a very good response in the serum monoclonal protein level, while extramedullary lesions appeared in the central nervous system and subcutaneously.

Imatinib mesylate in the treatment of newly diagnosed or refractory/resistant c-KIT positive acute myeloid leukemia. Results of an Italian Multicentric Phase II Study.

We evaluated safety and efficacy of imatinib (600 mg) in 36 c-KIT+ acute myeloid leukemia patients not amenable to receive conventional chemotherapy. No patient achieved complete remission. One patient obtained a hematologic improvement (platelet increase with transfusion independence).

Multiple myeloma involving the cavernous sinus: a report of 3 cases and response to bortezomib.

Intracranial multiple myeloma is uncommon. Cavernous sinus involvement has rarely been reported, generally associated with treatment-refractory disease and poor outcome. We report clinical data and neuroradiologic findings of 3 patients with multiple myeloma and unilateral cavernous sinus involvement.

Low-dose thalidomide-induced agranulocytosis in a multiple myeloma patient treated at diagnosis.

Thalidomide represents a recent and innovative therapeutic approach in multiple myeloma. Main toxicity usually consists in somnolence, constipation, peripheral neuropathy and deep vein thrombosis, but, unlike alkylating agents, thalidomide is reported to rarely induce severe hematologic toxicity. The majority of patients developing neutropenia are heavily pretreated with three or more lines of chemotherapy.