Bendamustine, etoposide, and dexamethasone to mobilize peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells for autologous transplantation in non-Hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND: Bendamustine is a chemotherapeutic agent that has shown broad activity in patients with lymphoid malignancies. It contains both alkylating and nucleoside analog moieties, and thus, is not commonly used for stem cell mobilization due to concerns that it may adversely affect stem cell collection. Here we describe the lymphoma subset of a prospective, non-randomized phase II study of bendamustine, etoposide, and dexamethasone (BED) as a mobilization agent for lymphoid malignancies. METHODS: This subset analysis includes diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (N=3), follicular lymphoma (N=1), primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (N=1), and NK/T-cell lymphoma (N=1). Patients received bendamustine (120 mg/m² IV d 1, 2), etoposide (200 mg/m² IV d 1–3), and dexamethasone (40 mg PO d 1–4) followed by filgrastim (10 mcg/kg/d sc. through collection). RESULTS: We successfully collected stem cells from all patients, with a median of 7.9×10⁶/kg of body weight (range, 4.4 to 17.3×10⁶/kg) over a median of 1.5 days (range, 1 to 3) of apheresis. All patients who received transplants were engrafted using kinetics that were comparable to those of other mobilization regimens. Three non-hematologic significant adverse events were observed in one patient, and included bacterial sepsis (grade 3), tumor lysis syndrome (grade 3), and disease progression (grade 5). CONCLUSION: For non-Hodgkin lymphoma, mobilization with bendamustine is safe and effective.

Toxicidade aguda ao sal comum e larvicultura intensiva do jundiá Rhamdia quelen em água salobra / Acute toxicity of common salt and intensive larviculture of silver catfish Rhamdia quelen in brackish water

A tolerância de peixes de água doce à salinidade e os níveis adequados de náuplios de Artemia na alimentação durante a larvicultura são de extrema importância para a padronização dos manejos em ambientes de criação intensiva. Dessa forma, o objetivo do trabalho foi estimar a salinidade letal (SL50) para larvas de jundiá Rhamdia quelen e determinar o efeito da salinidade e da concentração de presas vivas na larvicultura intensiva. No primeiro ensaio, larvas ao final do período lecitotrófico (1,1±0,8mg) foram submetidas às salinidades de 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15 e 20g de sal/L por um período de 96h. No segundo experimento, as larvas de jundiá, no início da alimentação exógena (1,2±0,3mg), foram submetidas a três salinidades (água doce 0, 2 e 4g de sal/L) e três concentrações de presas vivas (início: 300, 500, 700 náuplios de Artemia/larvas/dia, sendo esse montante aumentado a cada cinco dias). O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 3x3, por um período de 15 dias. No experimento 1, as larvas de jundiá submetidas às salinidades de 10, 15 e 20g de sal/L morreram após 12, duas e uma hora de exposição, respectivamente. As SL50 de 72 e 96h foram estimadas em 9,93 e 4,95g de sal/L, respectivamente. No final do teste de toxicidade, não houve diferença na sobrevivência entre as salinidades de 0, 2 e 4g de sal/L. No experimento 2, não foi observado efeito da interação entre salinidade e concentração de presas para o peso e o comprimento. Quanto maior a quantidade de presas, maior o crescimento das larvas. A sobrevivência apresentou interação entre os fatores. O aumento da salinidade proporcionou uma diminuição da sobrevivência, independentemente da concentração de presas. Dessa forma, conclui-se que a SL50 diminuiu com o aumento do tempo de exposição à água salinizada e que a larvicultura da espécie pode ser realizada em salinidades de até 2g de sal/L, com concentração de presas vivas diária inicial de 700 náuplios de Artemia/larva.(AU)

The tolerance of freshwater fish to salinity and the adequate levels of Artemia nauplii in the feeding regime during larviculture are of extreme importance to the standardization of management practices in intensive production environments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the lethal salinity (LS50) of the silver catfish Rhamdia quelen larvae and determine the effect of salinity and the concentrations of live prey in intensive larviculture of this species. In the first trial, larvae at the end of the lecithotrophic period (1.1±0.8mg) were subjected to salinities of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15 and 20g of salt/L for a period of 96h. In the second experiment, the catfish larvae starting the exogenous feed (1.2±0.3mg) were subjected to three salinities (freshwater 0, 2 and 4g of salt/L) and three concentrations of live prey (starting at: 300, 500, 700 Artemia nauplii/larvae/day, this amount being increased every five days). The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in a 3x3 factorial scheme, for a period of 15 days. In experiment 1, the catfish larvae subjected to the salinities of 10, 15 and 20g of salt/L died after 12, 2 and 1h of exposure, respectively. The LS50 at 72 and 96 h were estimated at 9.93 and 4.95g of salt/L, respectively. At the end of the toxicity test, there was no difference in the survival among the salinities of 0, 2 and 4g of salt/L. In experiment 2 no significant interaction was observed between salinity and the concentration of prey for weight and length. The increased quantity of prey increased the growth of the larvae. The rise in the salinity correlated to a decrease in survival, regardless of the prey concentration. Thus, it is concluded that the LS50 decreased with the increase in time of exposure to saltwater, and that the larviculture of this specie can be conducted in salinities of up to 2g salt/L, with a daily prey concentration starting at 700 Artemia/larvae.(AU)

Performance of attachments used in implant-supported overdentures: review of trends in the literature

The purpose of this review is to examine the performance of attachments used in implant-supported overdenture (IOD) in both clinical and in vitro settings and report the compiled findings, comparisons, and trends in the research literature. Articles published in PubMed on IOD attachment systems and performance were reviewed. Non-original articles were excluded. For each article included, the type of study, number of implants, number of attachment systems, and study outcome were recorded. Of the 283 articles found, 158 met the inclusion criteria. Ninety-four articles were clinical studies and 64 articles were in vitro studies. Studies on retention were the most common for in vitro studies, and four or more attachment systems were compared in most articles with significant differences in outcome. A clinical outcome of one attachment system was most common for clinical studies, while most studies had neutral outcomes overall. Ball attachment was the most commonly tested IOD attachment system. The trend in the literature showed that there is a large discrepancy between the study designs and outcomes between the clinical and the in vitro studies for IOD. Further clinical studies that can validate in vitro research should be encouraged to address this discrepancy between the two areas.

Reasons for medccal consultation and causes of uthanasia of dogs in montevideoo city (Uruguay): a survey of veterinary practitioners. implications of behavioral problems / Motivo de consullta médica y causas de eutanasia de peros en la ciudaad de montevideo (Uruguay): una encuesta a médicos veterinarios. implicancia de los problemas de comportamiento

In Latin America there is little information about the frequent reasons of medical consultation and euthanasia in dogs, and the implications of behavior problems. Especially in Uruguay there isn't information about it. The aim of this study was to know the most frequent reasons for medical consultation and euthanasia of dogs in Montevideo city through a survey of veterinary practitioners and the implications of behavioral problems. A survey to veterinary practitioners from one hundred (n = 100) randomly sampled veterinary clinics in the city of Montevideo was carried out. The most frequent reasons for medical consultation about dogs in veterinary practioners are consultations of skin affections, followed by digestive and respiratory affections, and less frequently infections, accidents and neoplasias (p < 0.0001). The behavioral problems occupied only the 1% of the reasons for medical consultation in dogs. The most frequent reasons for euthanasia of dogs were by elderly dog and neoplasias, followed by kidney affections, infections and accidents (p < 0.0001). Only 35% of veterinarians performed euthanasia for behavioral problems in their clinics. Among them, the euthanasia for behavior problems accounted for only 2%. Although euthanasia is carried out in Uruguay for behavior problems, it is so in a very low percentage.

En América Latina existe poca información acerca de los motivos frecuentes de consulta médica y eutanasia en perros, así como de las implicaciones de los problemas de comportamiento. Especialmente en Uruguay no hay información al respecto. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer las causas más frecuentes de consulta médica y eutanasia de los perros en la ciudad de Montevideo a través de una encuesta a los médicos veterinarios, y la implicancia de los problemas de comportamiento. Se realizó una encuesta a una muestra aleatoria (n = 100) de médicos veterinarios de clínicas de Montevideo. Las causas más frecuentes de consulta médica por dueños de perros son las afecciones de la piel, seguido de afecciones digestivas y respiratorias, y menos frecuentemente las infecciones, los accidentes y los neoplasias (p < 0,0001). Los problemas de conducta ocupan solo el 1% de los motivos de consulta. Las razones más frecuentes para la eutanasia de perros fueron por edad (ancianos) y por neoplasias, seguidas por afecciones renales, infecciones y accidentes (p < 0,0001). Solo el 35% de los veterinarios ha llevado a cabo eutanasias en sus clínicas; entre ellas, la eutanasia por los problemas de conducta representó apenas el 2%. Aunque en Uruguay se realizan eutanasias por problemas de comportamiento, las mismas se dan en un muy bajo porcentaje.

Cheese yield, casein fractions and major components of milk of Saanen and Anglo-Nubian dairy goats / Rendimento de produção de queijos, frações de caseína e principais componentes do leite de cabras Saanen e Anglo-Nubiana

Avaliaram-se os componentes, as frações de caseína e o rendimento na produção de queijo do leite de cabras das raças Saanen e Anglo-Nubiana, principais raças criadas no Uruguai. O estudo foi realizado em uma fazenda com sistema de criação semi-intensiva. O leite das cabras Anglo-Nubianas apresentou teores mais elevados de gordura (4,65 vs 3,59 por cento), proteína total (3,48 vs 2,84 por cento), caseína total (2,82 vs 2,23 por cento), e maior rendimento na produção de queijos (22,00 vs 15,03kg/100l) que o leite das cabras Saanen. As fraçoes de αs1-caseína (6,99 vs 2,37g/l), β-caseína (13,95 vs 12,75g/l) e κ-caseína (4,24 vs 3,64g/l) também foram mais elevadas no leite das cabras Anglo-Nubianas, porém no teor de αs2-caseína (3,02 vs 3,60g/l) não se observaram diferenças. O rendimento na produção de queijos foi significativamente correlacionado com os teores de gordura, proteína, caseína total e com as frações de caseína. A αs1-caseína representou a fração com maior correlação com os teores de proteína total, caseína, gordura e produção de queijo. Demonstrou-se, neste estudo, que o leite de cabras Anglo-Nubianas é mais indicado para a produção de queijo e o de cabras Saanen para utilização como leite fluido.