Suitability of haematopoietic cell donors: updated consensus recommendations from the WBMT standing committee on donor issues.

The contribution of related donors to the globally rising number of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCT) remains increasingly important, particularly because of the growing use of haploidentical HSCT. Compared with the strict recommendations on the suitability for unrelated donors, criteria for related donors allow for more discretion and vary between centres. In 2015, the donor outcome committee of the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (WBMT) proposed consensus recommendations of suitability criteria for paediatric and adult related donors.

Conducting hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in low and middle income countries.

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a well-recognized therapeutic procedure; costs limit its widespread use in low and middle income countries (LMIC).

Methods: Over a 30-year period, we have conducted HSCT in LMIC, making adaptations to the conventional procedures conducted in high-income countries (HIC).

Results: These salient observations stem from our practice: (1) Start with autologous transplantations in patients with hematological malignancies, specifically multiple myeloma; cell freezing devices are not necessary.

Measuring head circumference using visual impressions or cross-sectional volumetric imaging: a comparison.

Background: Head circumference (HC) correlates with brain growth and development. However, radiologists typically use their visual impressions to evaluate head dimensions, which is a purely subjective assessment.

Objective: The first objective of this paper was to analyze whether it is possible to obtain HC measurements by CT and MRI cross-sectional volumetric imaging using parameters similar to the tape measurement method, which is considered the gold standard.

Chest Pain Network with Support of Telemedicine: Impact on Reperfusion Therapy and Clinical Outcomes After 8 Years of Experience.

Different approaches of evaluation by cardiologists using telemedicine have the potential of improving care of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). To compare the use of pharmacoinvasive strategy and associated clinical outcomes (heart failure [HF] and mortality) among patients with STEMI before and after a program of telemedicine and also according to the level of support by telemedicine. A chest pain network with the support of a cardiologist through telemedicine was implemented in 2012 in 22 emergency departments without a local cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in a Brazilian hospital: a retrospective study of the first and second waves.

Objectives: To describe clinical characteristics, hospitalization flow and outcomes in a cohort of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a Brazilian hospital in the first and second waves of the pandemic.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study included patients with confirmed COVID-19 who were evaluated in the emergency department (ED) between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021. Descriptive statistics have been used to report clinical characteristics, admissions and outcomes.

Recent Developments and Current Status of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Practice in Latin America - the WRITTEN LATAM Study.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a worldwide adopted procedure with rapidly evolving practices. Regional and temporal variations are expected to be found.

Objective: To compare TAVR practice in Latin America with that around the world and to assess its changes in Latin America from 2015 to 2020.

Myofunctional assessment for obstructive sleep apnea and the association with patterns of upper airway collapse: a preliminary study.

Objectives: To organize an assessment instrument with questionnaires and myofunctional orofacial/oropharyngeal assessment for OSA patients and correlate it with the upper airway obstructive site detected during drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE).

Material And Methods: 29 OSA patients aged 22-65 years with an indication to undergo DISE to evaluate an alternative treatment to PAP and signed the consent form. Patients over 65 years old with maxillofacial deficiency and BMI>30 were excluded.

Characteristics and outcomes of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients admitted to intensive care units: A multicenter study.

Purpose: Studies of critically ill hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients have mainly been single-center and focused on allogenic HSCT recipients. We aimed to describe a cohort of autologous HSCT with an unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Methods: This study is a retrospective cohort study of autologous HSCT performed as a treatment for a hematological malignancy, during their first unplanned ICU admission in 50 hospitals in Brazil.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: characterization of the obstructive site and type of collapse.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete collapse of the pharynx, followed by decreased oxyhemoglobin saturation and frequent arousals. It is regarded as a public health issue with important night and day symptoms that impact life quality. Its effects are associated with the areas of competence of Speech and Language Pathologists.

Hamstrings injuries in football.

Background: Hamstrings injuries are a major concern in football (soccer), affecting both recreational players and professional athletes. Although being a recognized issue within the football community, its incidence has been increasing over the last years and still poses a challenge to all practitioners involved.

Study Objectives And Rationale: The goal of this narrative review is to outline hamstrings injuries epidemiology and mechanisms of injury, identify and discuss its risk factors, provide an approach to a proper early diagnosis, evaluate the efficacy of current treatment options and return to sports, and present the best strategies for hamstrings injury prevention.

Mitral Valve Infective Endocarditis after Trans-Catheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Scarce data exist on mitral valve (MV) infective endocarditis (IE) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This multicenter study included a total of 579 patients with a diagnosis of definite IE after TAVI from the IE after TAVI International Registry and aimed to evaluate the incidence, characteristics, management, and outcomes of MV-IE after TAVI. A total of 86 patients (14.

Increasing access to hematopoietic cell transplantation in Latin America: results of the 2018 LABMT activity survey and trends since 2012.

A total of 5642 hematopoietic cell transplants (HCT) in 5445 patients (2196-40% allogeneic and 3249-60% autologous) were reported by 127 teams in 14 Latin American countries that answered the 2018 LABMT/WBMT Global Transplant Activity survey. The transplant rate (defined as the number of first transplants per 10 million inhabitants per year) was 85 (51 autologous and 34 allogeneic) in 2018. The main indications for allogeneic HCT were acute leukemias (60%), while plasma cell disorders and lymphomas were the most common conditions warranting autologous HCT (50 and 36%, respectively).

Dural Injury Treatment with a Full-Endoscopic Transforaminal Approach: A Case Report and Description of Surgical Technique.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to describe a surgical technique that uses transforaminal full-endoscopic access, which is different from the existing protocol, and to demonstrate another method of dural tear repair during endoscopic spine surgery.

Background: Endoscopic spine surgery was initially described for lumbar disc pathologies. Technical advances and new materials have made it possible to treat cervical and thoracic spinal degenerative disorders.

Surgical Treatment of Patients With Infective Endocarditis After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Background: The optimal treatment of patients developing infective endocarditis (IE) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is uncertain.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with TAVI-IE treated with cardiac surgery and antibiotics (IE-CS) compared with patients treated with antibiotics alone (IE-AB).

Methods: Crude and inverse probability of treatment weighting analyses were applied for the treatment effect of cardiac surgery vs medical therapy on 1-year all-cause mortality in patients with definite TAVI-IE.

Three-dimensional printing models increase inter-rater agreement for classification and treatment of proximal humerus fractures.

Background: Proximal humerus fractures (PHF) are frequent, however, several studies show low inter-rater agreement in the diagnosis and treatment of these injuries. Differences are usually related to the experience of the evaluators and/or the diagnostic methods used. This study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that shoulder surgeons and diagnostic imaging specialists using 3D printing models and shoulder CT scans in assessing proximal humerus fractures.

Outcomes associated with Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a single-center experience.

Objective: Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin are advocated as potential treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) despite the lack of supportive clinical evidence. In this study, outcomes associated with Hydroxychloroquine and/or Ivermectin were determined in a series of patients with confirmed COVID-19 from a single institution in Brazil.

Methods: Consecutive patients admitted between March and July 2020 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into four treatment categories: no treatment (Group 0), Ivermectin only (Group I), Hydroxychloroquine only (Group II), and Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin (Group III).

Children and adolescents with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Brazil: A national survey identifies the challenges encountered and documents the diversity of care.

Introduction: Brazil has many inequities in the healthcare provided nationwide. Therefore, in order to access challenges in treatment, available resources and current practices, to identify barriers in delivering a good quality of care among Brazilian centers treating children and adolescents with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) and to generate a future prospective guideline, a customized online survey was distributed to pediatric hematologists and oncologists across the country.

Results: A total of 97 surveys were completed (35% response rate), from 47 cities in all Brazilian regions and 79 units of care, with a median of 1 answer by the center (range 1 - 5).