Combined Immune Defect in B-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorders Is Associated with Severe Infection and Cancer Progression.

B cell chronic lymphoproliferative diseases (B-CLPD) are associated with secondary antibody deficiency and other innate and adaptive immune defects, whose impact on infectious risk has not been systematically addressed. We performed an immunological analysis of a cohort of 83 B-CLPD patients with recurrent and/or severe infections to ascertain the clinical relevance of the immune deficiency expression. B-cell defects were present in all patients. Patients with combined immune defect had a 3.69-fold higher risk for severe infection (p = 0.001) than those with predominantly antibody defect. Interestingly, by Kaplan-Meier analysis, combined immune defect showed an earlier progression of cancer with a hazard ratio of 3.21, than predominantly antibody defect (p = 0.005). When B-CLPD were classified in low-degree, high-degree, and plasma cell dyscrasias, risk of severe disease and cancer progression significantly diverged in combined immune defect, compared with predominantly antibody defect (p = 0.001). Remarkably, an underlying primary immunodeficiency (PID) was suspected in 12 patients (14%), due to prior history of infections, autoimmune and granulomatous conditions, atypical or variegated course and compatible biological data. This first proposed SID classification might have relevant clinical implications, in terms of predicting severe infections and cancer progression, and might be applied to different B-CLPD entities.

Actitud hacia la prevención de lesiones por presión en estudiantes de enfermería: cuestionario APuP / Attitude towards pressure injury prevention in nursing students: the APuP questionnaire

OBJETIVOS: Conocer la actitud hacia la prevención de las lesiones por presión que tienen los estudiantes y las estudiantes del Grado en Enfermería. Objetivos secundarios: a) realizar la valoración psicométrica de la versión española del cuestionario Attitudes towards Pressure ulcer Prevention (APuP) (Actitudes hacia la prevención de las UPP) en población de estudiantes y b) identificar los factores formativos asociados con la actitud. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional transversal, llevado a cabo en la Universidad de Jaén mediante un cuestionario online en estudiantes de los 4 cursos del Grado en Enfermería. Se utilizó el análisis de Rasch para establecer las propiedades psicométricas del cuestionario. Se calculó la puntuación de actitud y su asociación con variables formativas. Para estimar el tamaño del efecto se usó la diferencia estandarizada de medias (d de Cohen). RESULTADOS: Se analizaron un total de 188 cuestionarios válidos. La puntuación media obtenida en el cuestionario APuP fue 22,60 (44,23% del máximo). El cuestionario presenta una buena consistencia global (α = 0,74) y los índices de ajuste de los ítems fueron buenos. Se encontró una actitud menos positiva en estudiantes que habían realizado prácticas clínicas (p < 0,0001) y los de los cursos superiores (p < 0,0001). Existe una correlación inversa entre la puntuación de actitud y la puntuación de conocimientos (r = -0,46). CONCLUSIONES: El cuestionario APuP (versión española) es un instrumento válido y fiable para su uso en estudiantes de enfermería. La actitud hacia la prevención no es positiva en estos estudiantes y se evidencia un posible efecto de la realización de prácticas clínicas y el aumento de conocimientos en una actitud menos favorable

OBJECTIVES: To explore the attitude towards pressure injury prevention of nursing students. Secondary objectives: a) To establish the psychometric properties of the questionnaire of Attitudes towards the prevention of pressure ulcer (APuP) -Spanish version- in student population, and b) To identify the educational factors associated with the attitude. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational and validation study was carried out with students of the four years of the Bachelor in Nursing in the University of Jaén (Spain) using an online survey. Rasch analysis was used to establish the psychometric properties of the questionnaire. Also, the score of attitude and its association with educational variables were analysed. The standardised median difference (Cohen's d) was used to estimate the effect size. RESULTS: A total of 188 valid questionnaires were analysed. The average score obtained in the APuP questionnaire was 22.60 (44.23% of the maximum). The questionnaire has a good overall internal consistency (α=0.74) and the item fit indices were good. It was found a less positive attitude in students who had done clinical placements (p < 0.0001) and those in higher years (p < 0.0001). There is an inverse correlation between the attitude score and the knowledge score (r= -0.46). CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire of attitudes towards prevention of pressure ulcers (APuP) Spanish version is a valid and reliable instrument to use in nursing students. The attitude towards prevention is not positive in these students and there is some evidence for a possible effect of clinical placements and increased knowledge over a less favourable attitude

Validación del cuestionario de Conocimientos sobre prevención de lesiones por presión en estudiantes de Enfermería: análisis Rasch / Validation of the Pressure Injury Prevention Knowledge questionnaire in nursing students: Rasch analysis

OBJETIVO: Medir el conocimiento de los estudiantes de enfermería de la Universidad de Jaén hacia las pautas basadas en la evidencia para la prevención de las lesiones por presión. MÉTODO: Estudio observacional transversal de validación de un cuestionario utilizando un formulario online con estudiantes de enfermería de la Universidad de Jaén. Se invitó a participar a todos los matriculados en los 4 cursos. Se evaluaron las propiedades psicométricas del cuestionario «Conocimientos sobre prevención de lesiones por presión» (PIPK) mediante un análisis de Rasch. Se calcularon porcentajes de respuestas correctas y errores para cada ítem, puntuación total y su asociación con variables formativas. RESULTADOS: El cuestionario PIPK mostró adecuadas características psicométricas (alfa=0,89) y buen ajuste del modelo de Rasch. La puntuación media de conocimientos fue de 21,0 (67,7% del máximo). Obtuvieron mayores puntuaciones aquellos estudiantes que habían realizado prácticas clínicas, más periodos de prácticas, habían asistido a jornadas específicas sobre lesiones por presión o estaban matriculados en cursos superiores. CONCLUSIONES: El cuestionario PIPK es un instrumento válido y fiable para medir los conocimientos de los estudiantes de enfermería hacia la prevención de lesiones por presión. Los estudiantes de enfermería de la Universidad de Jaén obtuvieron una puntuación de conocimientos hacia la prevención de las lesiones por presión superior al 50%

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to measure the knowledge of nursing students at the University of Jaén about evidence-based recommendation for the prevention of pressure injuries. METHOD: A cross-sectional observational and validation study was carried in 2019, using an online survey. All the students registered on the Nursing Degree programme of the University of Jaén were invited to participate. The psychometric properties of the Pressure Injury Prevention Knowledge questionnaire (PIPK) were tested by a Rasch analysis. With the analysis, the percentage of correct and wrong answers was calculated, the global score and the association with some educational variables. RESULTS: The PIPK questionnaire showed adequate psychometric characteristics (alpha=.89) and good fit to the Rasch model. The average knowledge score on pressure injury prevention obtained was 21.0 (this is 67.7% of the maximum). Higher scores were obtained by the students that had finished some clinical placements; those with more placements; had attended a meeting about pressure injuries and those in a higher year of the programme. CONCLUSIONS: The PIPK questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the knowledge of nursing students about pressure injuries prevention. The nursing students of the University of Jaén obtained a score in the questionnaire higher than 50%

Validation of the Pressure Injury Prevention Knowledge questionnaire in nursing students: Rasch analysis. / Validación del cuestionario de Conocimientos sobre prevención de lesiones por presión en estudiantes de Enfermería: análisis Rasch.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to measure the knowledge of nursing students at the University of Jaén about evidence-based recommendation for the prevention of pressure injuries. METHOD: A cross-sectional observational and validation study was carried in 2019, using an online survey. All the students registered on the Nursing Degree programme of the University of Jaén were invited to participate. The psychometric properties of the Pressure Injury Prevention Knowledge questionnaire (PIPK) were tested by a Rasch analysis. With the analysis, the percentage of correct and wrong answers was calculated, the global score and the association with some educational variables. RESULTS: The PIPK questionnaire showed adequate psychometric characteristics (alpha=.89) and good fit to the Rasch model. The average knowledge score on pressure injury prevention obtained was 21.0 (this is 67.7% of the maximum). Higher scores were obtained by the students that had finished some clinical placements; those with more placements; had attended a meeting about pressure injuries and those in a higher year of the programme. CONCLUSIONS: The PIPK questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the knowledge of nursing students about pressure injuries prevention. The nursing students of the University of Jaén obtained a score in the questionnaire higher than 50%.

Papiloma del plexo coroideo del tercer ventrículo. Descripción de un caso / Choroid plexus papilloma of the third ventricle. A case report

El papiloma del plexo coroideo es un tumor poco frecuente del sistema nervioso central, que representa menos del 1% de todas las neoplasias intracraneales. Las ubicaciones habituales son el ventrículo lateral en bebés y niños y el cuarto ventrículo en adultos. El tercer ventrículo es una localización inhabitual, con pocos casos recogidos en la bibliografía. Describimos el caso de un niño de 3 meses que ingresó en nuestro centro con signos de aumento de la presión intracraneal. Los estudios de neuroimagen mostraron una lesión en el tercer ventrículo, con hidrocefalia asociada. Al paciente se le extirpó completamente el tumor mediante abordaje transfrontal y cirugía de derivación ventriculoperitoneal. El curso postoperatorio del niño transcurrió sin incidentes y la imagen de resonancia magnética de seguimiento no reveló tumor residual. La histopatología de la lesión resecada confirmó el diagnóstico de papiloma del plexo coroideo. Discutimos las características clínicas, radiológicas e histológicas de este tipo infrecuente de tumores

Choroid plexus papilloma is an uncommon tumour of the central nervous system, accounting for less than 1% of all intracranial neoplasm. The usual locations are the lateral ventricle in infants and children and the fourth ventricle in adults. The third ventricle is a rare location, with few cases reported in the literature. We describe the case of a 3-month-old boy who was admitted to our centre with signs of raised intracranial pressure. Neuroimaging studies showed a third ventricular mass with associated hydrocephalus. The patient underwent complete tumour removal through a transfrontal approach and ventriculo-peritoneal shunt surgery. Postoperative course of the child was uneventful and follow-up magnetic resonance imaging revealed no residual tumour. Histopathology of the resected lesion confirmed the diagnosis of choroid plexus papilloma. We discuss the clinical, radiological and histological features of this infrequent type of tumours

Trained Immunity-Based Vaccine in B Cell Hematological Malignancies With Recurrent Infections: A New Therapeutic Approach.

Infectious complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in B-cell hematological malignancies (HM). Prophylaxis for recurrent infections in HM patients with antibody deficiency consists of first-line antibiotics and when unsuccessful, gammaglobulin replacement therapy (IgRT). Recent knowledge of trained immunity-based vaccines (TIbV), such as the sublingual polybacterial formulation MV130, has shown a promising strategy in the management of patients with recurrent infections. We sought to determine the clinical benefit of MV130 in a cohort of HM patients with recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs) who underwent immunization with MV130 for 3 months. Clinical information included the frequency of infections, antibiotic use, number of visits to the GP and hospitalizations previous and after MV130 immunotherapy. Improvement on infection rate was classified as: clear (>60% reduction of infection), partial (26%-60%) and low (≤25%) improvement. Fifteen HM patients (aged 42 to 80 years; nine females) were included in the study. All patients reduced their infection rate. Analysis of paired data revealed that the median (range, min - max) of respiratory infectious rate significantly decreased from 4.0 (8.0-3.0) to 2.0 (4.0-0.0) (p<0.001) at 12 months of MV130. A clear clinical improvement was observed in 53% (n = 8) of patients, partial improvement in 40% (n = 6) and low improvement in 7% (n = 1). These data correlated with a decrease on antibiotic consumption from 3.0 (8.0-1.0) to 1.0 (2.0-0.0) (p = 0.002) during 12 months after initiation of treatment with MV130. The number of infectious-related GP or emergency room visits declined from 4.0 (8.0-2.0) to 2.0 (3.0-0.0) (p<0.001), in parallel with a reduction in hospital admissions due to infections (p = 0.032). Regarding safety, no adverse events were observed. On the other hand, immunological assessment of serum IgA and IgG levels demonstrated an increase in specific antibodies to MV130-contained bacteria following MV130 immunotherapy. In conclusion, MV130 may add clinical benefit reducing the rate of infections and enhancing humoral immune responses in these vulnerable patients.

Choroid plexus papilloma of the third ventricle. A case report. / Papiloma del plexo coroideo del tercer ventrículo. Descripción de un caso.

Choroid plexus papilloma is an uncommon tumour of the central nervous system, accounting for less than 1% of all intracranial neoplasm. The usual locations are the lateral ventricle in infants and children and the fourth ventricle in adults. The third ventricle is a rare location, with few cases reported in the literature. We describe the case of a 3-month-old boy who was admitted to our centre with signs of raised intracranial pressure. Neuroimaging studies showed a third ventricular mass with associated hydrocephalus. The patient underwent complete tumour removal through a transfrontal approach and ventriculo-peritoneal shunt surgery. Postoperative course of the child was uneventful and follow-up magnetic resonance imaging revealed no residual tumour. Histopathology of the resected lesion confirmed the diagnosis of choroid plexus papilloma. We discuss the clinical, radiological and histological features of this infrequent type of tumours.

Safety of switching from intravenous to subcutaneous rituximab during first-line treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma: the Spanish population of the MabRella study.

Rituximab is a standard treatment for non-Hodgkin diffuse large B-cell (DLBCL) and follicular (FL) lymphomas. A subcutaneous formulation was developed to improve the resource use of intravenous rituximab, with comparable efficacy and safety profiles except for increased administration-related reactions (ARRs). MabRella was a phase IIIb trial to assess the safety of switching from intravenous to subcutaneous administration of rituximab during first-line induction/maintenance for DLBCL or FL, focusing on ARRs. Efficacy, satisfaction and quality of life were also assessed. Patients received subcutaneous rituximab plus standard induction chemotherapy for DLBCL or FL for 4-7 cycles, and/or every 2 months maintenance monotherapy for FL for 6-12 cycles. The study included 140 patients: DLBCL, n = 29; FL, n = 111. Ninety-five percent of patients experienced adverse events, reaching grade ≥3 in 38·6% and were serious in 30·0%. AARs occurred in 48·6%, mostly (84·9%) at the injection site, with only 2·1% of patients reaching grade 3. The end-of-induction complete/unconfirmed complete response rate was 69·6%. After a median follow-up of 33·5 months, median disease-/event-/progression-free and overall survivals were not attained. The Rituximab Administration Satisfaction Questionnaire showed improvements in overall satisfaction and the EuroQoL-5D a good quality-of-life perception at induction/maintenance end. Therefore, switching to subcutaneous rituximab showed no new safety issues and maintained efficacy with improved satisfaction and quality of life.

Prevalencia de lesiones por presión y otras lesiones cutáneas relacionadas con la dependencia en población adulta en hospitales españoles: resultados del 5º Estudio Nacional de 2017 / Prevalence of pressure injuries and other dependence-related skin lesions in adult patients admitted to Spanish hospitals: the fifth national study in 2017

Objetivo: Obtener indicadores epidemiológicos actualizados para las lesiones por presión (LPP) y otras lesiones cutáneas relacionadas con la dependencia (LCRD) en unidades de hospitalización de adultos de hospitales españoles, tanto globales como ajustados. Analizar las características demográficas y clínicas de las personas con LCRD y de las lesiones. Metodología: Estudio observacional, transversal, tipo encuesta epidemiológica (5º Estudio Nacional de Prevalencia), dirigido a todos los hospitales en España. Recogida de datos mediante formulario seguro online. Variables: características de los hospitales y de las unidades, pacientes ingresados, pacientes con cada tipo de LCRD, clasificación de cada lesión, tamaño y tiempo de evolución. Se estimó la prevalencia bruta global y ajustada por hospitales y por tipo de unidades. Resultados: Participaron 554 unidades de hospitalización de adultos pertenecientes a 70 hospitales de todo el territorio nacional. La prevalencia global de LCRD fue del 8,7%. Según tipo de lesiones, las prevalencias fueron: lesiones por presión (LPP) 7,0%; por humedad 1,4%; por fricción 0,9%; combinadas 1,5%; laceraciones 0,9%. Para las LPP, las unidades con prevalencias más altas fueron: cuidados paliativos (16,7%), UCI (14,9%) y unidades posquirúrgicas y reanimación (14,0%). La mayoría de las lesiones son de origen nosocomial (p. ej., el 72,2% de las LPP), producidas en hospitales o residencias de mayores. Se ha encontrado alta variabilidad en la prevalencia de LCRD y de LPP tanto a nivel de hospitales como de unidades de hospitalización. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de LPP es similar a la de estudios anteriores en hospitales españoles. Por primera vez se han obtenido datos de prevalencia de otros tipos de LCRD. Puesto que la mayoría de las lesiones son producidas en los propios hospitales y otras instituciones, como residencias de mayores, se evidencia la necesidad de mejorar la prevención de las LCRD en estos entornos

Aims: To obtain updated epidemiological indicators for pressure injuries (PI) and other dependence-related skin lesions (DRSL) at adult hospitalization units of Spanish hospitals, both global and adjusted. To analyse both the demographic and clinical characteristics of people with DRSL and the characteristics of the lesions. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study, as an epidemiological survey (5th National Prevalence Study), focused to all the hospitals in Spain. Data were collected by an on-line secure form. Variables: characteristics of the hospitals and the units, number of patients admitted, number of patients with each type of DRSL, lesions classification, size and time. The crude prevalence was calculated, both overall and adjusted by hospitals and units. Results: In this study have participated 554 units from 70 Spanish hospitals. Overall, the prevalence for DRSL of any kind, was 8,7%. By type of lesion, the prevalence was: pressure injuries (PI), 7,0%; moisture associated lesions, 1,4%; friction, 0,9%; combined lesions, 1,5%; and skin tears, 0,9%. For PI, the units with highest prevalence were: palliative care (16,7%), intensive care (14,9%) and post-surgery and reanimation units (14,0%). Most of the lesions were nosocomial (e.g. 72,2% of the PI), that is, produced at hospitals or nursing homes. This study has shown a high variability in the figures of prevalence of DRSL and PI, both at hospitals and units levels. Conclusions: The prevalence of PI is similar to that of previous studies at Spanish hospitals. This is the first time that the prevalence of other types of DRSL has been calculated. Since most of the dependence-related skin lesions were produced inside the hospitals and other facilities, such nursing homes, there is a need to improve the prevention of these lesions in these settings

Identification of underlying and transfusion-related platelet qualitative alterations in the hemato-oncologic patient.

Hemato-oncologic patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia are one of the populations receiving platelet transfusions. The general practice with these patients is to give prophylactic platelet transfusions when platelet counts fall below 10×109PLT/L. However, in more than 40% of these patients, platelet transfusion does not prevent bleeding. The reason of the low efficacy of platelet transfusion in the context of chemotherapy patients is not entirely understood. We therefore aimed at immunophenotyping the expression of platelet surface and activation markers and thrombopoietin levels from hemato-oncologic patients before and after transfusion. A more detailed follow-up was performed in three patients that underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation. As previously reported, basal platelet activation was observed in hemato-oncologic patients. Based on flow cytometry parameters, i.e. the percentage of positivity and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) distribution, our data provide an additional interpretation of platelet acquired qualitative changes in the hemato-oncologic patient. From our results we propose: first, the underlying activation of platelets in the hemato-oncologic patient is accompanied by loss of expression of the platelet receptors that are susceptible to protease-mediated shedding; second, soon after transfusion, the newly circulating donor platelets show additional activation, which may result in subsequent platelet receptor recycling and potential accelerated clearance of these activated platelets. In conclusion, the immunophenotype of circulating platelets changes after prophylactic platelet transfusion. Next to platelet count increment, exploration of this immunophenotype might help to explain transfusion refractory bleeding in hemato-oncologic patients. Eventually this may lead to personalization and improvement of the present platelet transfusion support regime.

Incidence, risk factors, and outcome of bacteremia following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 720 adult patients.

Bacteremia is the most frequent infectious complication during neutropenia in patients receiving autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The objective of this study was to analyze the incidence, characteristics, risk factors, and outcome of bacteremia during the early period after ASCT. A total of 720 patients undergoing ASCT in two observational prospective consecutive multicenter studies of the Programa Español para el Tratamiento de las Hemopatías group were analyzed. Bacteremia occurred in 20 % of patients. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was the most frequent (66 %) among the gram-positive agents and Escherichia coli (49 %) among the gram-negative agents. Multivariate analysis showed that the length of neutropenia <1 × 10(9)/L (more than 9 days) [relative risk (RR) of 2.6, p < 0.001] was the sole risk factor for overall bacteremia. We identified the length of neutropenia <1 × 10(9)/L (more than 9 days) (RR 4.98, p < 0.001) and the use of prophylactic fluoroquinolones (RR 0.46, p < 0.01) as specific risk factors for gram-negative bacteremia. Risk factors for gram-positive bacteremia were the use of total parenteral nutrition (RR 1.92, p < 0.01) and deep neutropenia (<0.1 × 10(9)/L), with duration over 5 days (RR 1.67, p < 0.027). Bacteremia showed an increased morbidity with no impact on neither overall nor infectious related mortality. The identification of such risk factors may be helpful to implement prophylactic and therapeutic risk-adapted strategies to reduce the incidence of bacteremia in ASCT.

Early intervention during imatinib therapy in patients with newly diagnosed chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia: a study of the Spanish PETHEMA group.

BACKGROUND: Despite the favorable results of imatinib front line in chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia there is room for improvement. DESIGN AND METHODS: Early intervention during imatinib therapy was undertaken in 210 adults with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia less than three months from diagnosis (Sokal high risk: 16%). Patients received imatinib 400 mg/day. At three months, dose was increased if complete hematologic response was not achieved. At six months, patients in complete cytogenetic response were kept on 400 mg and the remainder randomized to higher imatinib dose or 400 mg plus interferon-alfa. At 18 months, randomized patients were switched to a 2(nd) generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor if not in complete cytogenetic response and imatinib dose increased in non-randomized patients not in major molecular response. RESULTS: Seventy-two percent of patients started imatinib within one month from diagnosis. Median follow-up is 50.5 (range: 1.2-78) months. At three months 4 patients did not have complete hematologic response; at six months 73.8% were in complete cytogenetic response; among the remainder, 9 could not be randomized (toxicity or consent withdrawal), 17 were assigned to high imatinib dose, and 15 to 400 mg + interferon-alpha. The low number of randomized patients precluded comparison between the two arms. Cumulative response at three years was: complete hematologic response 98.6%, complete cytogenetic response 90% and major molecular response 82%. On an intention-to-treat basis, complete cytogenetic response was 78.8% at 18 months. At five years, survival was 97.5%, survival free from accelerated/blastic phase 94.3%, failure free survival 82.5%, and event free survival (including permanent imatinib discontinuation) 71.5%. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the benefit of early intervention during imatinib therapy (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00390897).

Coste hospitalario del diagnóstico del cáncer de pulmón / Lung cancer diagnosis: hospitalization costs

Objetivo: Conocer los costes directos del proceso de diagnóstico del cáncer de pulmón (CP) en el año 2003. Como objetivo secundario se evaluó el coste asociado a los ingresos definidos como inadecuados. Material y métodos: Se ha llevado a cabo un estudio de una cohorte prospectiva de casos de CP diagnosticado durante el año 2003 mediante citohistología o por criterios clinicorradiológicos. Se determinó el coste total, según Decreto 222/2003 de Tarifas de los Servicios Sanitarios de Galicia, diferenciando entre pacientes ingresados y ambulatorios, y entre carcinoma microcítico y no microcítico. Asimismo, se analizaron los ingresos inapropiados, según criterios establecidos por nuestro grupo, y se estimó el ahorro que supondría haberlos manejado de forma ambulatoria. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó el programa estadístico SPSS 10.0. Resultados: Se diagnosticó de CP a 160 pacientes, 76 (47,5%) de forma ambulatoria y 84 (52,5%) mediante ingreso. Éste se consideró inapropiado en 27. El diagnóstico fue de carcinoma no microcítico en 108 pacientes y microcítico en 38, y en 14 se estableció por criterios clinicorradiológicos. El coste total fue de 742.847 >€ (media: 4.643 €; intervalo de confianza del 95%, 4.049-5.236), de 552.614 € (media: 6.579 €) en los ingresados y de 190.233 € (media: 2.503 €) en los ambulatorios. El coste medio en los carcinomas microcíticos fue de 3.692 € y en los no microcíticos de 5.070 €. En los primeros, el coste medio en la enfermedad limitada fue significativamente menor que en la enfermedad extendida (1.894 frente a 4.098 €), y en los segundos el coste medio en los estadios iniciales también fue significativamente menor que en los avanzados (3.660 frente a 5.494 €). El ahorro estimado por ingresos inapropiados sería de 120.258 €. Conclusiones: El coste medio del paciente con manejo ambulatorio es un 62% inferior al que ocasiona el ingresado. El coste medio en el carcinoma no microcítico es mayor que en el microcítico, y el de los estadios avanzados, mayor que el de los iniciales. En nuestra serie, el ahorro estimado por ingresos inapropiados sería de 120.258 € por año

Objective: To establish the direct costs of the process of diagnosing lung cancer in 2003. As a secondary objective, the cost of admissions defined as inappropriate was evaluated. Material and methods: A prospective cohort study of lung cancer cases diagnosed in 2003 was performed. Diagnosis was based on cytohistology or clinical and radiological criteria. The total cost was determined according to Decree 222/2003, governing Galician health service rates. A distinction was drawn between hospitalized patients and outpatients, and between small cell and non-small cell carcinomas. Inappropriate admissions were analyzed in accordance with the criteria established by our study team, and the savings that would have been made had these patients been treated as outpatients were calculated. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 10.0. Results: A total of 160 patients were diagnosed with lung cancer; 76 (47.5%) of these were outpatients, and the remaining 84 (52.5%) were hospitalized patients. Admissions were considered inappropriate in 27 cases. Of the total of 160 patients, 108 were diagnosed as having non-small cell carcinomas, and 38 as having small cell carcinomas; the remaining 14 patients were diagnosed on the basis of clinical-radiological criteria. Total cost was €742 847 (mean, €4643; 95% confidence interval, €4049-€5236), composed of €552 614 (mean, €6579) for admitted patients, and €190 233 (mean, €2503) for outpatients. Mean cost was €3692 for the small cell carcinomas, and €5070 for the non-small cell carcinomas. Comparing limited and extensive small cell carcinomas, the mean cost for the former was significantly lower than for the latter (€1894 compared to €4098); there was also a lower mean cost for early compared to advanced stages of non-small cell carcinomas (€3660 compared to €5494). The savings to be made from unnecessary admissions were calculated at €120 258. Conclusions: The mean cost for outpatient lung cancer treatment was 62% lower than for hospitalization. Non-small cell carcinomas were more costly on average than small cell carcinomas, and advanced stages of the small cell carcinomas involved a higher average cost than the initial stages of the disease. For our series, the savings to be made from unnecessary admissions were calculated at €120 258

Differences in anti-apoptotic and multidrug resistance phenotypes in elderly and young acute myeloid leukemia patients are related to the maturation of blast cells.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have a less favorable outcome, which has been related, among other factors, to multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotypes. DESIGN AND METHODS: Freshly obtained erythrocyte-lysed bone marrow samples from 150 elderly patients (> 65 years) with de novo AML and 30 younger AML patients were analyzed using a 4-color immunofluorescence technique for quantitative expression of proteins associated with apoptosis (bcl-2, bax, APO2.7) and MDR (P-gp, MRP, LRP) in 3 blast cell subpopulations, defined according to their maturation stage. RESULTS: Although a homogeneous CD34+ blast cell population was more frequent in the elderly patients, (25% vs 7%, p=0.02), no statistically significant differences were detected between the two age groups in the expression of either apoptosis- or MDR-associated proteins, except for slightly higher quantities of LRP protein in the more immature CD34+ blast cell subset in the elderly AML cases (p=0.04). Interestingly, when different blast cell populations were compared, immature (CD34+) blast cells were characterized by higher levels of bcl-2 in both age groups and lower levels of APO2.7 in the elderly group. In addition, higher P-gp levels were found in CD34+ blast cells than in CD34-- ones in elderly AML patients. Reactivity for LRP was low in both elderly and younger patients. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our results suggest that the higher resistance to chemotherapy observed in elderly AML patients could be related to a higher incidence of cases with a CD34+ homogeneous blast cell population, since these blast cells frequently display a more pronounced anti-apoptotic and MDR1 phenotype.

Myeloablative treatments for multiple myeloma: update of a comparative study of different regimens used in patients from the Spanish registry for transplantation in multiple myeloma.

After a previous analysis that did not detect clear differences in the results of three conditioning regimens used for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients from the Spanish Registry for Transplant in Multiple Myeloma (MM), we have updated the registry, including a larger number of cases and a fourth conditioning regimen with a longer follow-up. We evaluate 472 MM patients treated with 200 mg/m2 melphalan (MEL200), 135 patients treated with 140 mg/m2 melphalan plus total body irradiation [(MEL140 + TBI)], 186 patients treated with 12 mg/kg busulphan plus 140 mg/m2 melphalan (BUMEL) and 28 patients treated with 14 mg/kg busulphan followed by cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg (BUCY). There were no significant differences in respect to either transplant related death or haematological recovery, regardless of growth factor use, between the four conditioning programs. Nevertheless, hospitalization time with MEL200 was less than with BUMEL when growth factors were used (19+/-9 vs. 25+/-9 days, P = 0.009) and less than with MEL140 + TBI without growth factors (20+/-8 days vs. 27+/-9 days, P = 0.002). In patients with measurable disease at ASCT (non-complete remission [CR]), BUMEL achieved a 51% CR vs. 43%-31% in the other groups (P = 0.007). The response rate for patients in partial remission (PR) at ASCT was 100% with BUMEL vs. 93%-86% in the other groups (P between 0.02 and 0.0007). The median overall survival (OS) for the BUMEL group was 57 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 51-78) as compared to 45 (CI: 36-64) months for the MEL200 group and 39 (CI: 28-72) months for the MEL140 + TBI and BUCY groups. The median event free survival (EFS) was longer in the BUMEL group [30 (CI: 22-44) mo] than in the MEL200 [22 (CI: 18-26) mo], BUCY [23 (CI: 11-50) mo] or MEL140 + TBI groups [20 (CI: 15-29) mo]. Nevertheless, the differences in OS and EFS did not reach statistical significance in either the univariate analysis or the multivariate analysis adjusted with other high prognostic weight factors. As in the initial study, differences in regards to the anti-myeloma effect of the conditioning regimens are not conclusive. However, the better response rates associated with the favorable tendency in outcome achieved with BUMEL, continue to justify further prospective studies.