Multicenter Study of the Seroprevalence of Antibodies against Covid-19 in Patients with Lymphoma: An Analysis of the Oncological Group for the Treatment and Study of Lymphomas (Gotel).

The new Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) coronavirus has generated a pandemic, in which there are population groups at higher risk and who are potentially fatal victims of the disease. Cancer patients have been considered a group with special susceptibility, particularly patients with lung tumour involvement and haematological neoplasms. The Spanish Lymphoma Oncology Group (GOTEL) carried out a multicenter study of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in patients with lymphoma. Results: A total of 150 patients were included between 22 May and 11 June 2020. The mean age was 65 years (range 17-89), 70 women (46.5%) and 80 men (53, 5%). At the time of diagnosis of lymphoma, 13 cases were stage I (9%), 27 (18%) stage II, 37 (24.5%) stage III, and 73 (48.5%) stage IV, while 6.6% had a primary extranodal origin. A total of 10 cases with positive serology for SARS-CoV-2 were identified, which is a prevalence of 6% in this population. None of the patients required intensive care unit management and all fully recovered from the infection. Conclusion: IgG antibody seroprevalence in lymphoma patients appears similar to that of the general population and does not show greater aggressiveness.

Physicochemical characterization of pomegranate wines fermented with three different Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains.

Three commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains: Viniferm Revelación, Viniferm SV and Viniferm PDM were evaluated for the production of pomegranate wine from a juice coupage of the two well-known varieties Mollar and Wonderfull. Further malolactic fermentation was carried out spontaneously. The same fermentation patterns were observed for pH, titratable acidity, density, sugar consumption, and ethanol and glycerol production. Glucose was exhausted while fructose residues remained at the end of alcoholic fermentation. A high ethanol concentration (10.91 ± 0.27% v/v) in combination with 1.49 g/L glycerol was achieved. Citric acid concentration increased rapidly a 31.7%, malic acid disappeared as result of malolactic fermentation and the lactic acid levels reached values between 0.40 and 0.96 g/L. The analysis of CIEa parameter and total anthocyanin content highlights a lower degradation of monomeric anthocyanins during winemaking with Viniferm PDM yeast. The resulting wine retains a 34.5% of total anthocyanin content of pomegranate juice blend.

Association between serum levels of C-reactive protein and response to treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia in patients with solid tumors: a multicenter, prospective, observational study.

Our objective was to determine the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at initiation of anemia treatment and response in solid tumor patients with chemotherapy (CT)-induced anemia. This was a multicenter, prospective, observational study which included adult patients with solid tumor initiating treatment for CT-induced anemia. Data were collected up to 16 weeks, or until premature discontinuation. We included 98 patients (median age 62.5 years, 64 % males, 57 % with ECOG 0-1, 85.7 % at stages III-IV and 54.1 % undergoing palliative CT). Mean (SD) Hb levels at baseline were 10.3 (0.9) g/dL (85.7 % < 11 g/dL) and median (Q1; Q3) CRP was 16.4 mg/L (3.9; 77.8) (68 % ≥ 5 mg/L). A total of 96 % of patients initiated erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) and iron supplementation; 4 % initiated iron monotherapy. After a median of 85 days, 65 % of patients had Hb ≥ 11 g/dL (in absence of transfusion) (mean change: +0.86 g/dL, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.53-1.19). A total of 8 patients required transfusion. A significant correlation (r = -0.39, p = 0.003) was observed between baseline CRP and final Hb levels. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, the independent predictors of higher final Hb levels were a high baseline Hb (adjusted ß = +0.69 g/dL for each g/dL of baseline Hb, 95 % CI 0.17-1.21) and a low log baseline CRP (-0.62 for each log mg/L, 95 %CI -1.22 to -0.02). Our results suggest that, in patients with solid tumors and CT-induced anemia, high CRP levels at treatment initiation predict a poor response to treatment with ESA and iron, independently from anemia severity at therapy initiation and from other patient and disease characteristics.

A positive psychological intervention using virtual reality for patients with advanced cancer in a hospital setting: a pilot study to assess feasibility.

PURPOSE: This study presents data on the feasibility and possible benefits of a psychological intervention that uses virtual reality to induce positive emotions on adult hospitalized patients with metastatic cancer. The patient's satisfaction and perceived utility was also examined. METHOD: The sample was composed of 19 patients (53 % men, aged from 29 to 85 years old; x = 60.9; standard deviation = 14.54). The intervention consisted of four 30-min sessions during 1 week in which patients navigated through virtual environments designed to induce joy or relaxation. Mood was assessed before and after each session using the Visual Analog Scale. Patient satisfaction was assessed after each session and at the end of the intervention. Qualitative data were also collected with open-ended questions. RESULTS: There were no major difficulties with the use of devices, and any difficulties that did arise were solved through practice. There were adequate levels of pleasantness and perceived utility of the proposed intervention. The main perceived benefits were distraction, entertainment, and promotion of relaxation states. Regarding mood changes, an increase in positive emotions and a decrease in negative emotions were also detected. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention was positively assessed and rated as minimally uncomfortable. Future actions are discussed as well as the need to implement brief interventions that take into account the patients' medical state and physical discomfort level, especially with those in the advanced stages of disease.

Promotion of emotional wellbeing in oncology inpatients using VR.

INTRODUCTION: In Psycho-oncology, VR has been utilized mainly to manage pain and distress associated to medical procedures and chemotherapy, with very few applications aimed at promotion of wellbeing in hospitalized patients. Considering this, it was implemented a psychological intervention that uses VR to induce positive emotions on adult oncology inpatients with the purpose of evaluating its utility to improve emotional wellbeing in this population. METHOD: Sample was composed of 33 patients (69.7% men, aged from 41 to 85 years old; X=62.1; SD=10.77). Intervention lasted 4 sessions of 30 minutes, along one week. In these sessions, two virtual environments designed to induce joy or relaxation were used. Symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS) and level of happiness (Fordyce Scale) were assessed before and after the VR intervention. Also, Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) were used to assess emotional state and physical discomfort before and after each session. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in distress and level of happiness after the VR intervention. Also, it was detected an increment in positive emotions and a decrease in negative emotions after sessions. CONCLUSIONS: Results emphasize the potential of VR as a positive technology that can be used to promote wellbeing during hospitalization, especially considering the shortness of the intervention and the advanced state of disease of the participants. Despite the encouraging of these results, it is necessary to confirm them in studies with larger samples and control groups.

Cell viability effects and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Tunisian date syrup (Rub El Tamer) polyphenolic extracts.

The aqueous-acetone polyphenolic extract of the traditionally derived date syrup, known as "Rub El Tamer", was analyzed using RP-HPLC-DAD and ESI-MS. The phenolic content of the extract was 394.53 ± 1.13 mg per 100 g of syrup with caffeoylsinapylquinic acid as the most abundant compound (72.23%). The extract exhibited strong antioxidant activities as evaluated using the ABTS (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) methods. The extract antimicrobial potential against a range of microorganism strains showed that Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Bacillus cereus were the most sensitive bacteria with MBC in the range of 0.5-0.05 mg/mL. Furthermore, in the presence of the syrup extract (8.18-131 µg/mL), the Human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma and the 3T3 fibroblast cell lines showed dissimilar reduction of viability suggesting a higher cytotoxic effect against tumorigenic cells. Our results provide new insights into date syrup characterization which should stimulate further studies of this hot desert resource.