Serum calcium is an independent prognostic factor of overall survival in Mexican patients with multiple myeloma.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of different prognostic factors that has been suggested to be useful in predicting the survival of patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

Materials And Methods: A longitudinal prospective study was conducted on 24 adult Mexican patients diagnosed with primary MM. The levels of expression of CD38, CD138 and cyclin D1 were analyzed in plasma cells (PCs) from patients and mononuclear cells from healthy donors.

Multiple myeloma-associated amyloidosis is an independent high-risk prognostic factor.

Several prognostic factors have been recognized in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Among the most important are: the serum levels of beta2-microglobulin, albumin, and LDH; the labeling index; and an abnormal karyotype. Patients with amyloidosis (AL) have poor prognosis; however, little is known concerning the prognostic significance of AL associated to MM.

Diagnostic yield, therapeutic impact, and complications of double-balloon enteroscopy in patients with small-bowel pathology.

Background And Aims: Until recently the study of small bowel was limited to the radiographic approach. This paper describes experience with the first 86 procedures evaluated and treated with the new technique of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE).

Patients And Methods: Between August 2005 and September 2006, DBE was conducted in consecutive patients.

Allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation using reduced intensity versus myeloablative conditioning regimens for the treatment of leukemia.

Reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) have allowed the application of transplantation to older patients and to patients with underlying medical problems. Between October, 1999, and June, 2003, 61 patients with acute leukemia or chronic myeloid leukemia received allogeneic peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from HLA-identical siblings. Thirty-four were conditioned with myeloablative protocols and twenty-seven with RIC regimens.

Endoscopic cystenterostomy of nonbulging pancreatic fluid collections.

Background: A prerequisite for endoscopic drainage of pancreatic fluid collections without EUS is the presence of a visible bulge in the GI wall. Our experience with endoscopic cystostomy of nonbulging pancreatic fluid collections is described.

Methods: Thirty-three patients underwent 34 endoscopic attempts at transmural drainage of nonbulging pancreatic fluid collections over a 2-year period.

Intermediate doses of melphalan and dexamethasone are better than vincristine, adriamycin, and dexamethasone (VAD) and polychemotherapy for the treatment of primary plasma cell leukemia.

Primary plasma cell leukemia (PPCL) is a rare form of disease accounting for 1-2 percent of myelomas. Between September 1990 and November 2000, among 540 patients with myeloma studied, 24 fulfilled the criteria of PPCL (4.4 percent).

Microbiological findings in febrile neutropenia.

Background: This study was carried out to assess the isolation rate of bacterial and fungal causative agents in Mexican neutropenic adults with hematological neoplasia.

Methods: A prospective observational survey involving 120 consecutive episodes of febrile neutropenia during 1 year was carried out. These episodes were observed in 630 patients discharged with diagnoses of leukemia or lymphoma, or after bone-marrow transplantation.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for chronic myeloid leukemia: a single center experience.

Background: Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is the therapy of choice for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who have a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical donor and are under 50 years of age.

Methods: Here, 45 patients with CML were treated with busulfan (Bu) 16 mg/kg and cyclophosphamide (Cy) 120 mg/kg before allogeneic BMT from an HLA-identical sibling 27 (60%) or a 1-antigen mismatch donor 18 (40%). Eighteen patients (40%) were in the early chronic phase (CP) and 27 (60%) in late CP.

Prospective randomized clinical trial comparing high-dose ifosfamide + GM-CSF vs high-dose cyclophosphamide + GM-CSF for blood progenitor cell mobilization.

Between August 1994 and June 1999, 56 patients were prospectively randomized to receive ifosfamide 10 g/m2 + GM-CSF 5 microg/kg/day (IFO+GM-CSF n = 28) and cyclophosphamide 4 g/m2 + GM-CSF 5 microg/kg/day (CY+GM-CSF n = 28). Both groups were comparable for age, gender, diagnosis, disease stage and previous chemotherapy. The IFO+GM-CSF group demonstrated a shorter median interval between therapy and apheresis (10 days (8-14) vs 13 days (8-25) P = 0.

Intravesical rhGM-CSF for the treatment of late onset hemorrhagic cystitis after bone marrow transplant.

In the present study, we assessed the clinical effect of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) in the treatment of refractory, grade III-IV hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) in six patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT). These were four males and two females, aged 24-40 years (median age 30.5 years).

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

A 24-year-old woman with CML underwent allogeneic BMT in August 1995 from a one-antigen HLA mismatched brother. Conditioning included BuCy2 and CsA and MTX were used to prevent GVHD. In July 1997 she developed right leg pain, lytic bone lesions of distal femur and a solid mass of soft tissue.

[Evaluation of the quality of tomato paste existing in the Mexican market].

Quality evaluation of tomato paste offered in the mexican market: In Latin America there are not enough studies about the nutritive value of processed foods or over nutrient alterations before reaching the consumer. A global quality evaluation was made to five different commercial brands of tomato purée with two can size of each brand. This purée is one of the food products with the highest consumption in Mexico.