Is galactomannan a useful tool for triage and diagnosis of oral invasive aspergillosis?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of the galactomannan serum test in diagnosing oral invasive aspergillosis. METHODS: This prospective observational study included oncohematological neutropenic patients with suspected invasive aspergillosis, but without signs of pulmonary involvement. These patients underwent nasofibroscopy, biopsy, galactomannan serum testing, and maxillofacial high-resolution computed tomography to diagnose invasive aspergillosis. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 consisted of those with proven invasive aspergillosis, while Group 2 included patients without proven invasive aspergillosis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were included in Group 1 and four in Group 2. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values were 0.69, 1.0, 1.0 and 0.5, respectively. Sensitivity was higher in cases with Aspergillus sinusitis than in cases with exclusive oral lesions (0.77 versus 0.5, respectively). The galactomannan serum test optical density index was higher in Group 1 (2.4; range 0.2-3.5) than in Group 2 (0.2; range: 0.1-0.3; P-value = 0.007. CONCLUSIONS: The galactomannan serum test is a valuable tool for screening invasive aspergillosis, especially in cases with nasal or sinus involvement, but biopsy is still the gold standard for diagnosis.

Role of Sirtuins in the Pathobiology of Onco-Hematological Diseases: A PROSPERO-Registered Study and In Silico Analysis.

The sirtuins (SIRT) gene family (SIRT1 to SIRT7) contains the targets implicated in cellular and organismal aging. The role of SIRTs expression in the pathogenesis and overall survival of patients diagnosed with solid tumors has been widely discussed. However, studies that seek to explain the role of these pathways in the hematopoietic aging process and the consequences of their instability in the pathogenesis of different onco-hematological diseases are still scarce. Therefore, we performed a systematic review (registered in PROSPERO database #CRD42022310079) and in silico analysis (based on GEPIA database) to discuss the role of SIRTs in the advancement of pathogenesis and/or prognosis for different hematological cancer types. In summary, given recent available scientific evidence and in silico gene expression analysis that supports the role of SIRTs in pathobiology of hematological malignances, such as leukemias, lymphomas and myeloma, it is clear the need for further high-quality research and clinical trials that expands the SIRT inhibition knowledge and its effect on controlling clonal progression caused by genomic instability characteristics of these diseases. Finally, SIRTs represent potential molecular targets in the control of the effects caused by aging on the failures of the hematopoietic system that can lead to the involvement of hematological neoplasms.

Diagnóstico y tratamiento de la neutropenia febril en el paciente oncohematológico / Diagnosis and treatment of febrile neutropenia in oncohematological patients

Introducción: La neutropenia febril incide frecuentemente en pacientes con hemopatías malignas y representa una urgencia médica; actualmente su manejo terapéutico constituye un verdadero reto debido a la aparición de infecciones por microorganismos multirresistentes y la coexistencia de factores dependientes del paciente y del tratamiento, lo cual contribuye a situaciones de riesgo para el desarrollo de complicaciones graves. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión exhaustiva del tema en las principales bases de datos de la Biblioteca Virtual de Salud, se utilizó como referencia artículos actualizados publicados principalmente en los últimos 5 años. Análisis y síntesis de la información: Se abordó fundamentalmente el enfoque diagnóstico y terapéutico en los pacientes de alto riesgo de complicaciones por infecciones bacterianas, así como su evaluación integral. Se incluyen herramientas recientes de pesquisa de sepsis y daño orgánico relacionado con ella, que constituyen elementos predictivos de mortalidad en estos pacientes. Conclusiones: El abordaje integral de la neutropenia febril incluye además de una evaluación clínica y humoral exquisita, la aplicación de herramientas pronósticas para la estratificación de riesgo de cada paciente. El tratamiento de los pacientes debe comenzar en la primera hora de haberse documentado la fiebre, ya que las infecciones pueden ser rápidamente progresivas con un alto riesgo de desarrollo de sepsis, inestabilidad hemodinámica y disfunción multiorgánica(AU)

Introduction: Febrile neutropenia frequently affects patients with hematological malignancies and constitutes a medical emergency. Its therapeutic management is a real challenge at present, due to the appearance of infections caused by multiresistant microorganisms and the coexistence of patient- and treatment-dependent factors leading to risk for serious complications. Methods: An exhaustive review was conducted about the topic in the main databases of the Virtual Health Library, for which papers mainly published in the last five years were used as reference. Data analysis and synthesis: A diagnostic and therapeutic approach was applied to the study of patients at high risk for complications due to bacterial infections and their comprehensive evaluation. Recent tools to screen sepsis and sepsis-related organ damage are included which constitute mortality prediction elements in these patients. Conclusions: Comprehensive management of febrile neutropenia includes not only a detailed clinical and humoral evaluation, but also the application of prognostic tools for risk stratification in each patient. Patient treatment should be started within the first hour after fever documentation, since infections may be rapidly progressive with a high risk for the development of sepsis, hemodynamic instability and multiple organ dysfunction(AU)

Estudio y seguimiento cardiovascular de niños y adolescentes sometidos a tratamientos oncohematológicos. ¿Por qué, cómo y cuándo? / Study and cardiovascular follow-up of children and adolescents undergoing oncohematological treatments. Why, how and when?

Resumen Estudio de revisión de diversas publicaciones internacionales en la literatura médica relacionados con la evaluación cardiovascular en pacientes en edad pediátrica sometidos a algún tipo de tratamiento oncohematológico, previendo factores de riesgo que en conjunto con la quimioterapia y/o radioterapia merman el adecuado funcionamiento cardiovascular de forma particular.

Abstract Review of several international publications in the medical literature related to cardiovascular evaluation in pediatric patients undergoing some type of onco-hematological treatment, providing risk factors that together with chemo and/or radiotherapy, impair adequate cardiovascular function in a particular way.

Study and cardiovascular follow-up of children and adolescents undergoing oncohematological treatments. Why, how and when? / Estudio y seguimiento cardiovascular de niños y adolescentes sometidos a tratamientos oncohematológicos. ¿Por qué, cómo y cuándo?

Review of several international publications in the medical literature related to cardiovascular evaluation in pediatric patients undergoing some type of onco-hematological treatment, providing risk factors that together with chemo and/or radiotherapy, impair adequate cardiovascular function in a particular way.

Estudio de revisión de diversas publicaciones internacionales en la literatura médica relacionados con la evaluación cardiovascular en pacientes en edad pediátrica sometidos a algún tipo de tratamiento oncohematológico, previendo factores de riesgo que en conjunto con la quimioterapia y/o radioterapia merman el adecuado funcionamiento cardiovascular de forma particular.

Cigarette smoking, dietary habits and genetic polymorphisms in GSTT1, GSTM1 and CYP1A1 metabolic genes: A case-control study in oncohematological diseases.

AIM: To analyze the association between oncohematological diseases and GSTT1/GSTM1/CYP1A1 polymorphisms, dietary habits and smoking, in an argentine hospital-based case-control study. METHODS: This hospital-based case-control study involved 125 patients with oncohematological diseases and 310 control subjects. A questionnaire was used to obtain sociodemographic data and information about habits. Blood samples were collected, and DNA was extracted using salting out methods. Deletions in GSTT1 and GSTM1 (null genotypes) were addressed by PCR. CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism was detected by PCR-RFLP. Odds ratio (OR) and 95%CI were calculated to estimate the association between each variable studied and oncohematological disease. RESULTS: Women showed lower risk of disease compared to men (OR 0.52, 95%CI: 0.34-0.82, P = 0.003). Higher levels of education (> 12 years) were significantly associated with an increased risk, compared to complete primary school or less (OR 3.68, 95%CI: 1.82-7.40, P < 0.001 adjusted for age and sex). With respect to tobacco, none of the smoking categories showed association with oncohematological diseases. Regarding dietary habits, consumption of grilled/barbecued meat 3 or more times per month showed significant association with an increased risk of disease (OR 1.72, 95%CI: 1.08-2.75, P = 0.02). Daily consumption of coffee also was associated with an increased risk (OR 1.77, 95%CI: 1.03-3.03, P = 0.03). Results for GSTT1, GSTM1 and CYP1A1 polymorphisms showed no significant association with oncohematological diseases. When analyzing the interaction between polymorphisms and tobacco smoking or dietary habits, no statistically significant associations that modify disease risk were found. CONCLUSION: We reported an increased risk of oncohematological diseases associated with meat and coffee intake. We did not find significant associations between genetic polymorphisms and blood cancer.