Correlation Between CD133+ Stem Cells and Clinical Improvement in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorders Treated with Intrathecal Bone Marrow-derived Mononuclear Cells.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of neurodevelopmental pathologies characterized by social and communication deficits, for which treatments are limited. Cell therapies, including intrathecal (IT) administration of bone marrow (BM) mononuclear cells (BM-MNC), improves symptoms in patients with ASD. Twenty-four patients diagnosed with ASD, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Text Revision Fourth Edition (DSM-IV-TR) criteria, were autologously treated with IT BM-MNC, and the clinical effect was evaluated using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) on Days 30 (n=24) and 180 (n=14) post-treatment. IT BM-MNC improved clinical outcomes by Day 30 (p=0.0039), and those benefits remained and were further accentuated by Day 180 post-treatment (n=14; p=<0.0001). Clinical benefit at Days 30 (p=0.001; r= -0.51) and 180 (p=0.01; r= -0.60) posttreatment positively correlated with the enrichment of a putative BM stem cell population expressing the cluster of differentiation 133+ (CD133+) surface marker.

Retinoblastoma in an older Hispanic child masquerading as pars planitis: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: To report a case of a Hispanic girl with late-onset Retinoblastoma (Rb) who was misdiagnosed as a pars planitis prior to referral. Nearly 95% of all Rb cases are detected before age 5, and this patient was 8 years-old. METHODS: Case report of a late-onset Retinoblastoma with anterior chamber (AC) involvement plus the presence of an Ahmed valve. The patient had a history of a couple of months of topical therapy comprising medication for glaucoma, systemic steroids, and a filtration surgery (Ahmed valve), after that a biopsy was performed prior to referral. Upon arrival at our clinic, we performed an examination under anesthesia (EUA) and a B-scan ultrasound (US). RESULTS: Unilateral Retinoblastoma with an Ahmed valve in an AC filled with Rb seeds was diagnosed with the EUA and US in the left eye. An orbital exenteration with map biopsies of the left orbital cavity was performed with confirmation by histopathology of a poorly differentiated endophytic retinoblastoma with Bruch's membrane invasion. Follow-up sessions were then arranged as well as subsequent systemic chemotherapy cycles. CONCLUSION: Given the rare incidence of retinoblastoma in children older than 5 years old, it can be easily mistaken for other differential diagnoses and treated with filtration surgeries that could put the patient's life at risk. In this report, late-onset Rb diagnosis is highlighted as a differential diagnosis in children and adults with atypical uveitis, which required a multidisciplinary approach.

COVID-19 and the eye: a review.

BACKGROUND: To provide a review for general practitioners and medical specialists about the most common eye complaints and ocular manifestations in a COVID-19 patient. METHODS: Reviewed 50 articles referenced in 4 databases from 20 December 2019 to 16 September 2020. RESULTS: Of the 50 articles reviewed, 26 met the criteria for analysis and were included in the study. Among them were 5 reviews, 6 case series, 7 case reports, 4 cross-sectional studies, 2 systematic reviews, 1 cohort study and 1 correspondence. We found that the prevalence of ocular manifestations in patients during the course of COVID-19 varied between 0.8% and 31.6%, depending on the study design. Symptoms of acute conjunctivitis were the most frequent clinical findings. Acute phase reactants were also correlated to ocular manifestations and the severity of the systemic disease in many reports. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular manifestations are not uncommon in COVID-19 patients and have been associated with higher levels of acute phase reactants as well as a higher degree of severity of the systemic disease. We recommend that all physicians consider COVID-19 as a differential diagnosis in the presence of acute conjunctivitis with or without systemic symptoms.

Prevalence of inhibitors and clinical characteristics in patients with haemophilia in a middle-income Latin American country.

INTRODUCTION: Development of inhibitors is the most serious complication in patients with haemophilia (PWH). The prevalence of inhibitors in patients with severe haemophilia A (HA) is approximately 25%-30%. Inhibitor prevalence differs among populations. Some studies report a prevalence of almost twice in Hispanic as compared to Caucasian patients. Most data available, on the prevalence of inhibitors and their predisposing factors, originate from centres in developed countries. AIM: Establish the prevalence of inhibitors of FVIII and FIX in Mexico. METHODS: This was an observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study. The records of all patients diagnosed with haemophilia A (HA) or B (HB), with and without inhibitors, were included. Clinical and demographical characteristics of patients with inhibitors were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 22. The Ethics Committees of the various participating institutions approved this study. RESULTS: A total of 1455 patients from the 20 participating centres were recruited, from which 1208 (83.02%) had HA and 247 (16.97%) were diagnosed with HB. The presence of inhibitors in severe HA was reported in 93/777(11.96%), and 10/162 (6.17%) in severe HB. Of them, 91.7% exhibited high titres in HA and 100% in HB. CONCLUSION: In Mexico, the general prevalence of inhibitors varies considerably among centres. This study established a basis of comparison for future development and advances in the treatment and follow-up of patients. These findings also augment our understanding of risk factors related to inhibitor development.