Long-Term Results of IFRT vs. ISRT in Infradiaphragmal Fields in Aggressive Non-Hodgkins's Lymphoma Patients-A Single Centre Experience.

(1) Background: This study aimed to examine the difference in efficacy and toxicity of involved-field (IFRT) and involved-site radiotherapy (ISRT) fields in infradiaphragmal aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. (2) Methods: In total, 140 patients with infradiaphragmal lymphoma treated between 2003 and 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. There were 69 patients (49%) treated with IFRT, and 71 (51%) patients treated with ISRT.

Dose-adjusted EPOCH and rituximab (DA-EPOCH-R) in older patients with high-risk aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A real-life multicenter study by the Croatian Cooperative Group for Hematologic diseases (KroHem).

Purpose: Dose-adjusted EPOCH and rituximab (DA-EPOCH-R) is a regimen used for the treatment of high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) designed to overcome resistance to standard R-CHOP by combining prolonged exposure of lymphoma cells to cytotoxic agents and dose-adjustment based on toxicity. Data on outcomes of older patients are scarce.

Patients And Methods: We collected data on patients with newly diagnosed high-risk DLBCL older than 60 years treated with DA-EPOCH-R.

Efficacy and toxicity of infradiaphragmal radiotherapy fields in lymphoma patients: a single-centre experience.

Purpose: Data on efficacy and toxicity of infradiaphragmal radiotherapy fields in lymphoma patients are scarce. We therefore performed this retrospective study to analyse our experience with radiotherapy exclusively to infradiaphragmal fields.

Materials And Methods: we retrospectively evaluated 101 patients treated between 2003 and 2014.

Improvement in the outcomes of mantle cell lymphoma in the last decade: a real-life non interventional study of the Croatian Cooperative Group for Hematologic Diseases.

Aim: To compare the outcomes of Croatian patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who started treatment in 2007 and 2008 (historical cohort) and of those who started treatment between 2015 and 2017 (recent cohort).

Methods: The historical cohort consisted of 40 patients who started treatment with rituximab in 2007 and 2008. Data on the recent cohort, consisting of 89 patients, were collected retrospectively from the electronic databases of Croatian hospitals with hematology units.

Psoas muscle index at the time of diagnosis might reflect the prognosis of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma patients.

We retrospectively investigated clinical and prognostic significance of psoas muscle index (PMI) calculated as total psoas muscle area at L3 vertebra level obtained from baseline computed tomography (CT) scans in 49 newly diagnosed classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL) patients prior to specific treatment. Median PMI was 572.5 mm/m and was significantly higher in males (P < 0.

Prolonged methylprednisolone premedication prior to obinutuzumab in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

First obinutuzumab application is associated with infusion related reactions (IRRs) that may discourage further continuation of the drug. During our clinical practice we have observed that chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) prolongedly receiving corticosteroids do not develop obinutuzumab IRRs. Therefore, we decided to apply prolonged corticosteroid premedication with methylprednisolone in dose 1-1.

A Suzuki-type multivalued contraction on weak partial metric spaces and applications.

Based on a recent paper of Beg and Pathak (Vietnam J. Math. 46(3):693-706, 2018), we introduce the concept of -type Suzuki multivalued contraction mappings.

Increased mean platelet volume (MPV) is an independent predictor of inferior survival in patients with primary and secondary myelofibrosis.

Neoplastic megakaryopoiesis is a dominant feature of Philadelphia-chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (Ph- MPNs), and elevated mean-platelet-volume (MPV) is a common finding in these diseases. The clinical and prognostic significances of MPV in patients with primary (PMF) and secondary myelofibrosis (SMF) have not been reported. We retrospectively analyzed 87 patients with myelofibrosis (66 with PMF, 21 with SMF) treated at our institution.

Rituximab with dose-adjusted EPOCH as first-line treatment in patients with highly aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and autologous stem cell transplantation in selected patients.

Aim: To assess the benefit of rituximab with dose-adjusted etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin (R-DA-EPOCH) regimen as a first-line treatment for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) presenting with unfavorable or aggressive features, and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as a part of the first-line treatment for selected DLBCL patients with additional aggressive features.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 75 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients with Ki-67+≥80% or International Prognostic Index ≥2 who were treated with R-DA-EPOCH between 2005 and 2015. Of 24 DLBCL patients with additional aggressive features (Ki-67+≥90% or age-adjusted IPI≥2) who were planned to receive consolidation with ASCT, 17 patients underwent the procedure.

High-dose ifosfamide and mitoxantrone (HDIM) in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Relapsed/refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is treated with salvage chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Optimal chemotherapy is unknown. We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of 58 patients treated with 2 cycles of high-dose ifosfamide and mitoxantrone (HDIM).

Hemochromatosis gene mutations may affect the survival of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Objectives: The recent availability of potent oral iron chelators is renewing an interest in the assessment of the possible impact of HFE genetics in MDS.

Methods: Thirty six newly diagnosed patients with MDS were studied for parameters of iron metabolism in addition to C282Y and H63D mutations of the HFE gene.

Results: Mutations were present in 11 out of 36 patients (31%), which were not different from our general population and were equally distributed among MDS subtypes.

Can we do better? Economic analysis of human resource investment to improve home care service for the elderly in Serbia.

Background: Social services aimed at the elderly are facing great challenges caused by progressive aging of the global population but also by the constant pressure to spend funds in a rational manner.

Purpose: This paper focuses on analyzing the investments into human resources aimed at enhancing home care for the elderly since many countries have recorded progress in the area over the past years. The goal of this paper is to stress the significance of performing an economic analysis of the investment.

[The use of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in patients with hematological malignancies--a single center experience].

Unlabelled: AIM. In this study we presented our experience with peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) in patients with hematological malignancies.

Methods: In the period from 2009 to 2012, a total of 105 PICCs were inserted in 90 patients.

Psycho-organic symptoms as early manifestation of adult onset POMT1-related limb girdle muscular dystrophy.

We report two siblings of Croatian consanguineous healthy parents with a novel homozygous missense mutation in the POMT1 gene, presenting with intellectual disability and psychotic, in particular hallucinatory symptoms and abnormal brain MRIs, preceding classical symptoms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy by several years. Weakness became apparent in early adulthood and both siblings remained ambulant into the 3rd and 4th decade of life. The muscle biopsy showed reduced α-dystroglycan compatible with the POMT1 defect.

CD43 expression is associated with inferior survival in the non-germinal centre B-cell subgroup of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

We evaluated the prognostic significance of CD43 (SPN), a membrane glycoprotein, in 140 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) by tissue microarray (TMA) immunostaining, and gene expression profiling (GEP) in 43 patients. CD43 protein was expressed in 19% of the cases and was strongly related to the non-germinal centre B-cell (non-GCB) subgroup by both TMA and GEP. Patients with CD43(+) DLBCL had an inferior 3-year overall survival (OS) compared to those with CD43(-) DLBCL (50% vs.

Mitochondrial myopathy associated with a novel 5522G>A mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA(Trp) gene.

We report a novel pathogenic mutation of the mitochondrial transfer RNA (tRNA) gene for tryptophan in a patient with isolated myopathy and persistently elevated creatine kinase. Muscle studies revealed ragged red fibres and decreased activity of respiratory chain complex I and cytochrome c oxidase (COX). Sequencing of the 22 mitochondrial tRNA genes revealed a mutation m.

Loss-of-function mutations in HINT1 cause axonal neuropathy with neuromyotonia.

Inherited peripheral neuropathies are frequent neuromuscular disorders known for their clinical and genetic heterogeneity. In 33 families, we identified 8 mutations in HINT1 (encoding histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 1) by combining linkage analyses with next-generation sequencing and subsequent cohort screening of affected individuals. Our study provides evidence that loss of functional HINT1 protein results in a distinct phenotype of autosomal recessive axonal neuropathy with neuromyotonia.

Early-onset ataxia with progressive external ophthalmoplegia associated with POLG mutation: autosomal recessive mitochondrial ataxic syndrome or SANDO?

Autosomal recessive ataxias caused by mutations of the polymerase γ (POLG) gene make an important group of progressive ataxias accompanied by a diverse spectrum of neurological disorders. Because the clinical picture can be quite miscellaneous, it is challenging to assort patients to any of the currently described syndromes; therefore, to provide such a patient with a conclusive diagnosis can be challenging for the neurologist. A typical magnetic resonance imaging finding is probably the most useful landmark in the diagnostic process, which will steer the clinician toward POLG gene testing.

Biological prognostic markers in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Background: Multiple novel therapeutic options have emerged in the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, including monoclonal antibodies and different classes of biological agents. With this increased diagnostic sophistication, novel prognostic markers are needed to stratify patients according to risk factors, particularly those with a mechanistic underpinning, to provide the basis for individually tailored treatment.

Methods: Numerous prognostic markers have been proposed in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and this review discusses the more studied and the most widely used prognostic markers in DLBCL in the rituximab era.

The prognostic significance of lymphopenia in peripheral T-cell and natural killer/T-cell lymphomas: a study of 826 cases from the International Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma Project.

Lymphopenia is a marker of inferior survival in patients with various malignancies. However, the prognostic significance of lymphopenia in peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is unclear. We analyzed the prognostic significance of lymphopenia in 826 patients with different types of PTCL and natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) from the International Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma Project.

Prognostic significance of survivin and caspase-3 immunohistochemical expression in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with rituximab and CHOP.

Survivin is an inhibitor of apoptosis whose expression may be associated with inferior outcome in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated without rituximab. Caspase-3 is the final caspase of the apoptotic cascade and its pattern of expression may also be related to patients' outcome. In this study we investigated immunohistochemical expression of survivin and caspase-3 (CPP32) in 57 patients with DLBCL treated with rituximab and CHOP (R-CHOP).