An evaluation of palbociclib as a breast cancer treatment option: a current update.

Introduction: Patients with hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) metastatic breast cancer have benefitted from treatment with palbociclib, a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitor capable of selectively targeting mechanisms of cell cycle progression that contribute to tumor cell proliferation. Palbociclib use in this setting demonstrates improved progression-free survival when given in combination with aromatase inhibitors or fulvestrant.

Areas Covered: The authors describe the current state of research surrounding palbociclib use in breast cancer, present evidence supporting a role for palbociclib in additional subtypes of metastatic breast cancer such as HER2-positive (HER2+) and triple-negative, report ongoing clinical trials aimed at expanding the scope of use for palbociclib, and discuss expected clinical results that will better inform decisions on including palbociclib as a part of breast cancer treatment strategies.

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.

Bloodstream infection due to Brachyspira pilosicoli in a patient with multiorgan failure.

Brachyspira pilosicoli is an etiological agent of human intestinal spirochetosis. Bloodstream infection due to this microorganism is rare. We report a case of B.

Diagnostic accuracy of a 16S ribosomal DNA gene-based molecular technique (RT-PCR, microarray, and sequencing) for bacterial meningitis, early-onset neonatal sepsis, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

The diagnostic accuracy of a 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene-based molecular technique for bacterial meningitis (BM), early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS), and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is evaluated. The molecular approach gave better results for BM diagnosis: sensitivity (S) was 90.6% compared to 78.

Bacterial DNA in the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Background: Despite inoculation into blood culture bottles, ascitic fluid culture is negative in 50% of cases of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).

Aim: To determine whether 16S rDNA gene detection by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing increases the efficacy of culture in microbiological diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Methods: We prospectively included 55 consecutive spontaneous bacterial peritonitis episodes in cirrhotic patients, 20 cirrhotic patients with sterile ascites and 27 patients with neoplasic ascites.

Relevance of genetically determined host factors to the prognosis of meningococcal disease.

To assess the relevance of genetically determined host factors for the prognosis of meningococcal disease, Fc gamma receptor IIA (FcgammaRIIA), the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) gene promoter region, and plasminogen-activator-inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene polymorphisms were studied in 145 patients with meningococcal disease and in 290 healthy controls matched by sex. Distribution of FcgammaRIIA, TNF-alpha, and PAI-1 alleles was not significantly different between patients and controls. Patients with the FcgammaRIIA-R/R 131 allotype scored > or =1 point in the Barcelona prognostic system more frequently than patients with other allotypes (odds ratio, 18.

Associations between Fc gamma receptor IIA polymorphisms and the risk and prognosis of meningococcal disease.

Background: In vitro studies have shown that the neutrophil Fc gamma receptor IIA (FcgammaRIIA) polymorphism influences the phagocytic capacity of neutrophils and the removal of encapsulated bacteria from the bloodstream. In particular, the R/R131 allotype is associated with less phagocytic activity.

Subjects And Methods: We performed a case-control study to determine the influence of the FcgammaRIIA polymorphism (R/R131, R/H131, H/H131) on the risk and outcome of meningococcal disease.

Fungal infections in patients with solid tumors treated with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

The incidence and risk factors for fungal infection were assessed in 291 patients who had solid tumors and were undergoing autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. The first 162 patients received prophylactic itraconazole, and 129 patients received nystatin. Empiric amphotericin B was given at day 7 of febrile neutropenia.

Bacteraemia caused by non-glucose-fermenting gram-negative bacilli and Aeromonas species in patients with haematological malignancies and solid tumours.

The clinical characteristics and outcome of bacteraemia caused by non-glucose-fermenting gram-negative bacilli and Aeromonas spp. were examined in 115 adults with haematological malignancies or solid tumours. The most aggressive pathogens were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Aeromonas spp.

Infection caused by Nocardia farcinica: case report and review.

Nocardia farcinica is a rare Nocardia species causing localised and disseminated infections. A case of Nocardia farcinica infection is presented, and 52 cases previously reported in the literature are reviewed. The hosts usually had predisposing conditions (85%), and acquired the infection through the respiratory tract or skin; the infection then often spread to the brain, kidney, joints, bones and eyes.

Group A streptococcal meningitis in the antibiotic era.

A case of group A streptococcal meningitis is reported and the 51 cases reported in the literature since 1966 reviewed. A total of 24 men and 24 women were included in the study; the mean age (+/-SD) was 20.9+/-25.

Bacteremia by gram-negative bacilli in patients with hematologic malignancies. Comparison of the clinical presentation and outcome of infections by enterobacteria and non-glucose-fermenting gram-negative bacilli.

To compare the characteristics of bacteremic infections by different aerobic gram-negative bacilli (GNB) in patients with hematologic malignancies, we studied 54 consecutive monomicrobial bacteremias by Enterobacteriaceae (EB), 15 by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 43 by other non-glucose-fermenting GNB (NGFGNB) and 11 by other GNB. Patients with EB and P. aeruginosa bacteremia usually developed the infection after intensive chemotherapy for leukemia or during a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, while most infections in outpatients off therapy were due to NGFGNB.

[Haemophilus influenzae meningitis in adults: analysis of 12 cases].

Haemophilus influenzae is an infrequent etiologic agent of bacterial meningitis in adult patients. In the last 12 years, it was the cause in 12 out of 238 cases (5.0%) of acute bacterial meningitis in adults.

Effect of discontinuing prophylaxis with norfloxacin in patients with hematologic malignancies and severe neutropenia. A matched case-control study of the effect on infectious morbidity.

The use of fluorinated quinolones for prophylaxis of infections in neutropenic cancer patients has led to a reduction of infections with gram-negative enteric bacilli, but there is concern about the emergence of antibiotic-resistant entero-bacterial infections and a rise of gram-positive bacteremias. Due to these concerns, in mid-1995 the use of prophylactic norfloxacin was discontinued in our unit. In order to evaluate the impact of this measure on the infectious morbidity in our unit, 91 severe neutropenic episodes in 58 patients with hematologic malignancies who did not receive norfloxacin prophylaxis (NO group) were closely matched to 91 episodes in 60 patients who received norfloxacin prophylaxis (NORFLO group).

Achromobacter xylosoxidans bacteremia in patients with hematologic malignancies.

We report nine cases of Achromobacter xylosoxidans bacteremia diagnosed in patients with hematologic malignancies. There was not an obvious epidemiologic link between cases and the organism was not isolated from any source. Outcome was cure in all nine cases.

Acute rhabdomyolysis and myonecrosis complicating aeromonas bacteremia in neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancies: report of two cases.

Infections by Aeromonas spp. are a rare cause of systemic infection in normal and immunocompromised hosts. We report the cases of two patients with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia who developed septic shock by Aeromonas species with unusual soft-tissue complications.

[Etiology of enteritis in a university general hospital in Barcelona (1992-1995)].

Background: The aim of the study was to describe the etiology of enteropathogenic agents over a four-year period (1992-1995) in a University Hospital in Barcelona.

Methods: We studied 12,793 stool samples, 4519 were obtained from patients under 15 years and 8274 were obtained from patients over 14 years. The specimens were examined for bacteriological, parasitological and virological enteropathogens.

Early microbiologic diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis with BacT/ALERT.

Background/aims: Inoculation of ascitic fluid into conventional blood culture bottles is more sensitive than conventional culture in the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. BacT/ALERT is an automated colorimetric microbial detection system that has been shown to be faster than conventional blood culture bottles in the diagnosis of bacteremia. The aim of the study was to compare the BacT/ALERT system with the conventional culture and the conventional blood culture bottles method in the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Bacteremia due to glucose non-fermenting gram-negative bacilli in patients with hematological neoplasias and solid tumors.

Twenty-six patients with hematological or solid tumors who developed bacteremia caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (n = 10), Pseudomonas putida (n = 6), Sphingomonas paucimobilis complex (n = 4) or Alcaligenes xylosoxidans (n = 6) in the period between 1993 and 1995 were studied. Seventeen patients were neutropenic during the infection, and 13 were undergoing bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Twenty-three patients had catheter-related infections; only 3 of the 26 patients developed septic complications (all due to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia).