COVID-19 in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: What Have We Learned?

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a prevalent hematological malignancy (HM) characterized by inherent immunodeficiency, which is further pronounced by disease-directed therapy. The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating outcomes, and although its impact has diminished over time, it continues to be a cause of significant morbidity and mortality, particularly among immunodeficient patients.

Summary: In this review, we describe mechanisms of immune dysfunction in CLL in relation to COVID-19, provide an overview of the clinical outcomes of the disease in this patient population, and identify risk factors associated with severe morbidity and mortality.

Rituximab versus obinutuzumab-based first-line chemoimmunotherapy for follicular lymphoma-a real-world multicenter retrospective cohort study.

The GALLIUM study showed a progression-free survival advantage of 7% in favor of obinutuzumab vs. rituximab-based immunochemotherapies as first-line therapy in follicular lymphoma (FL) patients. Yet, the toxicity appears to be increased with obinutuzumab-based therapy.

[PANCREATIC NEUROENDOCRINE TUMORS (PNET): THE DILEMMA OF SURGERY VS. WATCHFUL WAITING APPROACH].

Neuroendocrine tumors (NEN) originate from hormone producing cells located in various organs and tissues. NEN are unique tumors in terms of their diverse and particular clinical presentations, growth pattern, location and relatively good prognosis. NEN can be either secreting or non-secreting tumors.

Enzyme replacement therapy leading to improvement in myeloma indices in a patient with concomitant Gaucher disease.

Patients with Gaucher disease (GD) have been shown previously to carry an increased risk for cancer, most commonly multiple myeloma (MM). It is currently unknown whether treatment for GD has an effect on the prevention or amelioration of MM. We present the case of a 41-year-old patient simultaneously diagnosed with GD and smouldering MM.

Malaria Disease and Chemoprophylaxis Usage among Israeli Travelers to Endemic Countries.

Prevention of malaria in travelers to endemic countries is one of the complex challenges of travel medicine. Israel has a widespread culture of travel to developing countries, but information regarding malaria prevention is limited so far. Our study, conducted in Sheba Medical Center, Israel, during the years 2008-2018 examined malaria chemoprophylaxis usage and malaria cases in a large group of Israeli travelers returning from endemic countries with any medical complaint.

Pocket-size point-of-care ultrasound in rural Uganda - A unique opportunity "to see", where no imaging facilities are available.

Background: In the developing world, only a small minority of patients have access to radiological services. Over the past decade, technological developments of ultrasound equipment have led to the emergence of point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS), which is widely used by healthcare professionals of nearly all specialties. We hypothesized that physicians with only basic POCUS training, but with telemedicine support, can use POCUS successfully in rural hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa.

[NOTES FROM A SIX MONTHS VOLUNTEER MISSION AS MEDICAL STAFF IN A DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN UGANDA].

In December 2014 my husband and I flew for a stay of six months in Uganda. We went there in order to volunteer in the district hospital of Kiboga, one of the most impoverished districts of this poverty stricken country. A district in which over 60% of the population lives off less than a dollar and twenty five cents a day, in which the average life expectancy is 46.