Evaluation of the primitive fraction by functional assays at the RNA and DNA level represents a novel tool for complementing molecular monitoring in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Quantification of mRNA levels in peripheral blood of chronic myeloid leukemia patients is a strong indicator of response to tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKI) treatment. However, additional prognostic markers are needed in order to better classify patients. The hypothesis of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) heterogeneity and persistence, suggests that their functional evaluation could be of clinical interest.

Using Clinical Research Networks to Assess Severity of an Emerging Influenza Pandemic.

Background: Early clinical severity assessments during the 2009 influenza A H1N1 pandemic (pH1N1) overestimated clinical severity due to selection bias and other factors. We retrospectively investigated how to use data from the International Network for Strategic Initiatives in Global HIV Trials, a global clinical influenza research network, to make more accurate case fatality ratio (CFR) estimates early in a future pandemic, an essential part of pandemic response.

Methods: We estimated the CFR of medically attended influenza (CFRMA) as the product of probability of hospitalization given confirmed outpatient influenza and the probability of death given hospitalization with confirmed influenza for the pandemic (2009-2011) and post-pandemic (2012-2015) periods.

Differences in response to antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive patients being treated for tuberculosis in Eastern Europe, Western Europe and Latin America.

Background: Efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens are preferred for treatment of adult HIV-positive patients co-infected with tuberculosis (HIV/TB). Few studies have compared outcomes among HIV/TB patients treated with efavirenz or non-efavirenz containing regimens.

Methods: HIV-positive patients aged ≥16 years with a diagnosis of tuberculosis recruited to the TB:HIV study between Jan 1, 2011, and Dec 31, 2013 in 19 countries in Eastern Europe (EE), Western Europe (WE), and Latin America (LA) who received ART concomitantly with TB treatment were included.

Combined mepacrine-hydroxychloroquine treatment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and refractory cutaneous and articular activity.

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical response to combined therapy with hydroxychloroquine and mepacrine in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and refractory joint and/or skin disease. Methods Mepacrine was added to 46 systemic lupus erythematosus patients unresponsive to treatment with the following drug combinations: hydroxychloroquine + prednisone + immunosuppressive drugs ( n = 24), hydroxychloroquine + prednisone ( n = 16), hydroxychloroquine + prednisone + retinoids ( n = 2), hydroxychloroquine alone ( n = 1), hydroxychloroquine + one immunosuppressive drug ( n = 1), hydroxychloroquine + prednisone + one immunosuppressive drug + belimumab ( n = 1) or hydroxychloroquine + prednisone + belimumab ( n = 1). The outcome variable was the clinical response, either complete or partial, based on clinical judgement.

Whole exome sequencing in neurogenetic odysseys: An effective, cost- and time-saving diagnostic approach.

Background: Diagnostic trajectories for neurogenetic disorders frequently require the use of considerable time and resources, exposing patients and families to so-called "diagnostic odysseys". Previous studies have provided strong evidence for increased diagnostic and clinical utility of whole-exome sequencing in medical genetics. However, specific reports assessing its utility in a setting such as ours- a neurogeneticist led academic group serving in a low-income country-are rare.

GenIO: a phenotype-genotype analysis web server for clinical genomics of rare diseases.

Background: GenIO is a novel web-server, designed to assist clinical genomics researchers and medical doctors in the diagnostic process of rare genetic diseases. The tool identifies the most probable variants causing a rare disease, using the genomic and clinical information provided by a medical practitioner. Variants identified in a whole-genome, whole-exome or target sequencing studies are annotated, classified and filtered by clinical significance.

Analysis of the data on pregnancy and lactation provided by patient information leaflets of anti-rheumatic drugs in Argentina.

To analyse the level of consistency and updating of the information on pregnancy and lactation provided by patient information leaflets (PILs) of the antirheumatic drugs approved in Argentina. Inconsistencies between the 2016 EULAR Task Force recommendations on the use of anti-rheumatic drugs during pregnancy and lactation and the information provided by PILs of the same drugs approved in Argentina were analysed along with inconsistencies within the PILs of different registered trademarks of these drugs. Eighty-eight PILs of 32 drugs were analysed.

Comparison of the Outcomes of Individuals With Medically Attended Influenza A and B Virus Infections Enrolled in 2 International Cohort Studies Over a 6-Year Period: 2009-2015.

Background: Outcome data from prospective follow-up studies comparing infections with different influenza virus types/subtypes are limited.

Methods: Demographic, clinical characteristics and follow-up outcomes for adults with laboratory-confirmed influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), or B virus infections were compared in 2 prospective cohorts enrolled globally from 2009 through 2015. Logistic regression was used to compare outcomes among influenza virus type/subtypes.

Management of MDR-TB in HIV co-infected patients in Eastern Europe: Results from the TB:HIV study.

Objectives: Mortality among HIV patients with tuberculosis (TB) remains high in Eastern Europe (EE), but details of TB and HIV management remain scarce.

Methods: In this prospective study, we describe the TB treatment regimens of patients with multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB and use of antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Results: A total of 105 HIV-positive patients had MDR-TB (including 33 with extensive drug resistance) and 130 pan-susceptible TB.

Antiretroviral therapy and arterial elasticity in HIV-infected patients.

Cardiovascular risk is increased in HIV-infected patients and has become a leading cause of morbi-mortality in this population. The purpose of this study is to compare HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and ART-naïve HIV-infected patients regarding arterial elasticity. From September 2010 to September 2015, 105 HIV-infected subjects were enrolled, 41 ART-naïve and 64 on ART with stable viral suppression.

Incidence of cancer and overall risk of mortality in individuals treated with raltegravir-based and non-raltegravir-based combination antiretroviral therapy regimens.

Objectives: There are currently few data on the long-term risk of cancer and death in individuals taking raltegravir (RAL). The aim of this analysis was to evaluate whether there is evidence for an association.

Methods: The EuroSIDA cohort was divided into three groups: those starting RAL-based combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on or after 21 December 2007 (RAL); a historical cohort (HIST) of individuals adding a new antiretroviral (ARV) drug (not RAL) to their cART between 1 January 2005 and 20 December 2007, and a concurrent cohort (CONC) of individuals adding a new ARV drug (not RAL) to their cART on or after 21 December 2007.

Repeated pulses of methyl-prednisolone with reduced doses of prednisone improve the outcome of class III, IV and V lupus nephritis: An observational comparative study of the Lupus-Cruces and lupus-Bordeaux cohorts.

Objective: To compare the clinical course of patients with class III, IV and V lupus nephritis (LN) treated at Hospital Universitario Cruces (CC) and at Bordeaux University Hospital (BC).

Methods: The Lupus-Cruces nephritis protocol combines pulses of 125mg of methyl-prednisolone with each fortnightly pulse of cyclophosphamide and prednisone ≤30mg/day with tapering over 12-14weeks until 2.5-5mg/day.

Breastfeeding initiation, duration, and reasons for weaning in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

To assess breastfeeding in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a cross-sectional study of patients with SLE compared to a non-SLE sample was performed. Patients who had pregnancies subsequent to their diagnosis of SLE and who were followed up in the hospital were interviewed. The group of non-SLE mothers consisted of patients who had no known rheumatic disease at the time of their pregnancy, and who were approached at the hospital paediatrics service waiting room.

Effects of sample storage and diluents in the reliability of thyroglobulin measurement in the washout of fine needle aspirates.

Objective: To evaluate two variables affecting Thyroglobulin stability in the washout of fine needle aspiration biopsies of thyroid nodules and metastatic lymph nodes.

Materials And Methods: Thyroglobulin stability after storage at -20 °C up to 14 days was studied in washout performed with normal saline solution and further dilutions with normal saline solution from five metastatic thyroid nodes and six benign thyroid nodules. We also studied thyroglobulin stability in diluents compared with normal saline solution: 4% bovine serum albumin in normal saline solution and diluents free from thyroglobulin or Calcitonin or parathyroid hormone in paired and simultaneous thyroglobulin measurements of washout dilutions from 5/6 benign thyroid nodules and 2/5 metastatic lymph nodes.

[Disclosure of human immunodeficiency virus diagnosis in children and adolescents affected by it and their caregivers].

Children and adolescents need to know about their health or that of their parents. However, families affected by human immunodeficiency virus often delay disclosure of diagnosis for fear of stigma or discrimination or simply because they wonder when and how to communicate it. We present the experience of implementing a program to "reveal" the human immunodeficiency virus diagnosis to children, adolescents and caregivers.

Late diagnosis of HIV infection in asymptomatic patients.

Recent findings from the START Trial provided evidence that early initiation of antiretroviral treatment should be implemented as the global standard of care. However, a large proportion of patients are still being diagnosed in late stages. Our objective was to evaluate the temporal trend in the CD4+ cell count at diagnosis during a 13 year period and the factors associated with late HIV diagnosis in asymptomatic individuals tested in the Centre for Prevention, Counselling and Diagnosis of our hospital.

Tuberculosis-related mortality in people living with HIV in Europe and Latin America: an international cohort study.

Background: Management of tuberculosis in patients with HIV in eastern Europe is complicated by the high prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, low rates of drug susceptibility testing, and poor access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). We report 1 year mortality estimates from a multiregional (eastern Europe, western Europe, and Latin America) prospective cohort study: the TB:HIV study.

Methods: Consecutive HIV-positive patients aged 16 years or older with a diagnosis of tuberculosis between Jan 1, 2011, and Dec 31, 2013, were enrolled from 62 HIV and tuberculosis clinics in 19 countries in eastern Europe, western Europe, and Latin America.

[Severe asthma].

The objectives of this work were to investigate the frequency of severe asthma (SA) according to WHO definition and to compare SA patients' characteristics with those of non-severe asthma (NSA); secondly, to investigate the level of control reached throughout a period of regular treatment. Between 1-1-2005 and 12-31-2014, 471 medical records from patients with bronchial asthma assisted in Buenos Aires City were analyzed. SA frequency was 40.

The non-silent epidemic: low back pain as a primary cause of hospitalisation.

Low back pain (LBP) is the most common cause of pain in adults and the second health condition that prompts patients to seek ambulatory medical care visits. To analyse the impact of LBP on hospitalisations in healthcare facilities within the official subsector in Argentina between 2006 and 2010. Discharges in which the original diagnosis had been either adult LBP or lumbosciatica were assessed.

Major Challenges in Clinical Management of TB/HIV Coinfected Patients in Eastern Europe Compared with Western Europe and Latin America.

Objectives: Rates of TB/HIV coinfection and multi-drug resistant (MDR)-TB are increasing in Eastern Europe (EE). We aimed to study clinical characteristics, factors associated with MDR-TB and predicted activity of empiric anti-TB treatment at time of TB diagnosis among TB/HIV coinfected patients in EE, Western Europe (WE) and Latin America (LA).

Design And Methods: Between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2013, 1413 TB/HIV patients (62 clinics in 19 countries in EE, WE, Southern Europe (SE), and LA) were enrolled.

Baseline HIV-1 resistance, virological outcomes, and emergent resistance in the SECOND-LINE trial: an exploratory analysis.

Background: WHO-recommended second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) of a pharmacologically enhanced (boosted) protease inhibitor plus nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs) might be compromised by resistance. Results of the 96 week SECOND-LINE randomised trial showed that NtRTI-sparing ART with ritonavir-boosted lopinavir and raltegravir (raltegravir-group) provided non-inferior efficacy to ritonavir-boosted lopinavir and two or three NtRTIs (NtRTI-group) in participants with virological failure composed of a first-line regimen of a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor plus two NtRTIs. We report the relation of baseline virological resistance with virological failure and emergent resistance on study.