Use of homologous platelet gel to manage refractory diabetic lower extremity ulcers: additional experience at a tertiary hospital.

Background: DLEUs are a major cause of morbidity. Appropriate treatment is essential, and newer methods to achieve ulcer healing have been described, including application of PG.

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of homologous PG in patients with chronic noninfected DLEU refractory to standard treatment as well as possible correlations between patient comorbidities and response to treatment.

Preservation of fertility in female patients with hematologic diseases.

Recent developments of assisted reproduction techniques turned possible to avoid the infertility consequences of oncologic treatments, but fertility preservation (FP) has been somewhat neglected in women with hematologic diseases undergoing gonadotoxic treatments. For these specific cases, the current options for FP include the cryopreservation of embryos, mature oocytes and ovarian tissue, and oocyte in-vitro maturation. We intend to make patients and clinicians aware of this important and relevant issue, and provide hematologists, assisted reproduction physicians and patients, with updated tools to guide decisions for FP.

Human Peripheral Blood Gamma Delta T Cells: Report on a Series of Healthy Caucasian Portuguese Adults and Comprehensive Review of the Literature.

Gamma delta T cells (Tc) are divided according to the type of Vδ and Vγ chains they express, with two major γδ Tc subsets being recognized in humans: Vδ2Vγ9 and Vδ1. Despite many studies in pathological conditions, only a few have quantified the γδ Tc subsets in healthy adults, and a comprehensive review of the factors influencing its representation in the blood is missing. Here we quantified the total γδ Tc and the Vδ2/Vγ9 and Vδ1 Tc subsets in the blood from 30 healthy, Caucasian, Portuguese adults, we characterized their immunophenotype by 8-color flow cytometry, focusing in a few relevant Tc markers (CD3/TCR-γδ, CD5, CD8), and costimulatory (CD28), cytotoxic (CD16) and adhesion (CD56) molecules, and we examined the impacts of age and gender.

Topic platelet gel application in chronic diabetic foot ulcers.

Unlabelled: In this observational study performed during 45 months we evaluated patients with chronic and recalcitrant diabetic ulcers who were treated with homologous platelet gel.

Methods: platelet gels were obtained from homologous platelet concentrates that were aliquoted and freezed, being then activated with calcium gluconate and applied in the ulcer after cleaning and debridement. We evaluated patient's comorbidities, wound characteristics (size, tissue, inflammatory signs, pain), number and time of treatment as well as outcome (classified as complete epithelialization; partial improvement- 50% reduction in wound size or pain relief; no evolution).

Audiologic abnormalities of Fanconi anaemia.

Conclusions: The most common audiologic manifestation in Fanconi anaemia (FA) was asymmetrical bilateral conductive hearing loss that was more severe at lower frequencies and in some cases had a progressive character. The routine screening of all patients diagnosed with FA allowed the recognition of mild hearing loss and the prevention of the deleterious effects of its progression with adequate rehabilitation measures.

Objectives: FA is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by bone marrow failure, multiple congenital anomalies and increased susceptibility to malignancy.