Isolation of acute myeloid leukemia blasts from blood using a microfluidic device

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults and associated with poor prognosis. Unfortunately, most of the patients that achieve clinical complete remission after the treatment will ultimately relapse due to the persistence of minimal residual disease (MRD), that is not measurable using conventional technologies in the clinic. Microfluidics is a potential tool to improve the diagnosis by providing early detection of MRD. Herein, different designs of microfluidic devices were developed to promote lateral and vertical mixing of cells in microchannels to increase the contact area of the cells of interest with the inner surface of the device. Possible interactions between the cells and the surface were studied using fluid simulations. For the isolation of leukemic blasts, a positive selection strategy was used, targeting the cells of interest using a panel of specific biomarkers expressed in immature and aberrant blasts. Finally, once the optimisation was complete, the best conditions were used to process patient samples for downstream analysis and benchmarking, including phenotypic and genetic characterisation. The potential of these microfluidic devices to isolate and detect AML blasts may be exploited for the monitoring of AML patients at different stages of the disease.

Home Ultrasound: A Contemporary and Valuable Tool for Palliative Medicine

This narrative review explores the application of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in palliative care and its feasibility in home care settings. POCUS has the potential to streamline diagnostic strategies without patient transfer to the hospital, expedite timely symptomatic relief, and reduce complications from specific palliative interventions. The advent of handheld ultrasound devices has made it an attractive diagnostic and interventional adjunct in acute palliative care. POCUS has gained widespread acceptance as part of routine care in emergency medicine and intensive care, guiding certain procedures and increasing their safety. The modernization and miniaturization of ultrasound equipment have made ultra-portable devices available, allowing for better-quality images at affordable prices. Handheld devices have the potential to revolutionize everyday clinical practice in home-based palliative care, contributing to important bedside clinical decisions. Palliative care patients often require diagnostic examinations in the last months of their lives, with CT being the most frequently performed imaging procedure. However, CT imaging is associated with high costs and burdens, leading to increased suffering and impaired quality of life. Clinical ultrasound, a dialogic imaging modality, offers a safer and more efficient approach to palliative care. POCUS applications, which are cost-effective, non-invasive, and well-tolerated, can be used to improve patient satisfaction and diagnostic understanding. POCUS is a valuable tool in palliative care, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing the time to diagnosis for various pathologies. It is a standard of care for many procedures and improves patient safety. However, there are limitations to POCUS in palliative care, such as operator-dependent examination variability and limited availability of trained professionals. To overcome these limitations, palliative care physicians should receive mandatory training in POCUS, which can be incorporated into the core curriculum. Additionally, ultrasound teleconsulting can assist less experienced examiners in real-time examinations. The literature on POCUS in palliative care is limited, but research on patient-oriented outcomes is crucial. POCUS should be considered a supplement to good clinical reasoning and regulated radiological evaluations.

Diagnostic Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) for Abdominal Pain: A Case of Tumefactive Sludge

Biliary sludge is an extremely viscous sediment, consisting essentially of calcium bilirubinate granules and cholesterol crystals, which, due to its high viscosity, has poor and slow movement, leading to a mass-like configuration called tumefactive biliary sludge. Tumefactive sludge was first described with the advent of ultrasonography in the 1970s and is an uncommon intraluminal lesion of the gallbladder (GB). The differential diagnoses for an echogenic mass in the GB lumen include GB carcinoma, tumefactive sludge, and gangrenous cholecystitis. Ultrasonography is the election method for the screening of GB diseases, with diagnostic accuracy exceeding 90%. The point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has shown a major improvement in the evaluation of hepatobiliary diseases. POCUS allows the detection of GB wall thickness, pericholestatic fluid, sonographic Murphy's sign, and dilatation of the common bile duct. The authors present a case of abdominal pain caused by the presence of tumefactive sludge in the GB, in which POCUS helped establish the diagnosis and therapeutic guidance.

Early Lung Ultrasound Findings in Patients With COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Retrospective Multicenter Study of 479 Patients

OBJECTIVES

Lung ultrasound (LUS) holds the promise of an accurate, radiation-free, and affordable diagnostic and monitoring tool in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. We sought to evaluate the usefulness of LUS in the diagnosis of patients with respiratory distress and suspicion of interstitial severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia, in comparison to other imaging modalities.

METHODS

This was a multicenter, retrospective study. LUS was performed, on Emergency Department (ED) arrival of patients presenting for possible COVID-19 evaluation, by trained emergency physicians, before undergoing conventional radiologic examination or while waiting for the report. Scans were performed using longitudinal transducer orientation of the lung regions. CXR was interpreted by radiologists staffing ED radiology. Subjects were divided into two group based on molecular test results. LUS findings were compared to COVID test results, nonlaboratory data, and other imaging for each patient. Categorical variables were expressed as percentages and continuous variables as median ± standard error.

RESULTS

A total of 479 patients were enrolled, 87% diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 by molecular testing. COVID positive and COVID negative patients differed with respect to sex, presence of fever, and white blood cells count. Most common findings on lung point of care ultrasound (POCUS) for COVID-positive patients were B-lines, irregular pleural lines, and small consolidation. Normal chest X-ray was found in 17.89% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

This 479 patient cohort, with COVID-19, found LUS to be noninferior to chest X-ray (CXR) for diagnostic accuracy. In this study, COVID-positive patients are most likely to show B lines and sub-pleural consolidations on LUS examination.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Adult Patients in the PETHEMA Registry with Relapsed or Refractory FLT3-ITD Mutation-Positive Acute Myeloid Leukemia

This retrospective study investigated outcomes of 404 patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)-internal tandem duplication (ITD) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) enrolled in the PETHEMA registry, pre-approval of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Most patients (63%) had received first-line intensive therapy with 3 + 7. Subsequently, patients received salvage with intensive therapy (n = 261), non-intensive therapy (n = 63) or supportive care only (n = 80). Active salvage therapy (i.e., intensive or non-intensive therapy) resulted in a complete remission (CR) or CR without hematological recovery (CRi) rate of 42%. More patients achieved a CR/CRi with intensive (48%) compared with non-intensive (19%) salvage therapy (p < 0.001). In the overall population, median overall survival (OS) was 5.5 months; 1- and 5-year OS rates were 25% and 7%. OS was significantly (p < 0.001) prolonged with intensive or non-intensive salvage therapy compared with supportive therapy, and in those achieving CR/CRi versus no responders. Of 280 evaluable patients, 61 (22%) had an allogeneic stem-cell transplant after they had achieved CR/CRi. In conclusion, in this large cohort study, salvage treatment approaches for patients with FLT3-ITD mutated R/R AML were heterogeneous. Median OS was poor with both non-intensive and intensive salvage therapy, with best long-term outcomes obtained in patients who achieved CR/CRi and subsequently underwent allogeneic stem-cell transplant.

Efficacy and Safety of CT-P10 Versus Rituximab in Untreated Low-Tumor-Burden Follicular Lymphoma: Final Results of a Randomized Phase III Study

INTRODUCTION

This double-blind, parallel-group, active-controlled phase III trial (NCT02260804) assessed CT-P10 and rituximab safety and efficacy in patients with previously untreated low-tumor-burden follicular lymphoma (LTBFL), including after a single switch from rituximab to CT-P10.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

LTBFL patients were randomized (1:1) to receive CT-P10 or rituximab (375 mg/m² intravenously; day 1 of 4 7-day cycles). Patients achieving disease control entered a 2-year maintenance period. CT-P10 or rituximab were administered every 8 weeks (6 cycles) in year 1; all patients could receive CT-P10 (every 8 weeks; 6 cycles) in year 2. Secondary endpoints (reported here) were overall response rate (ORR) during the study period, progression-free survival (PFS), time to progression (TTP), and overall survival (OS). Safety and immunogenicity were evaluated.

RESULTS

Between  November 9, 2015 and  January 4, 2018, 258 patients were randomized (130 for CT-P10; 128 for rituximab). ORR was similar between groups over the study period (CT-P10: 88%; rituximab: 87%). After 29.2 months' median follow-up, median PFS, TTP, and OS were not estimable; 24-month Kaplan-Meier estimates suggested similarity between groups. Overall, 114 (CT-P10: 88%), and 104 (rituximab: 81%) patients experienced treatment-emergent adverse events. The single switch was well tolerated.

CONCLUSION

These updated data support therapeutic similarity of CT-P10 and rituximab and support the use of CT-P10 monotherapy for previously untreated LTBFL.

Semiquantitative analysis of interim 18F-FDG PET is superior in predicting outcome in Hodgkin lymphoma patients compared to visual analysis

PURPOSE

To investigate the prognostic value of interim PET (PETi) in adult HL patients, comparing visual with semiquantitative analysis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2016 in the Onco-hematology Department of Instituto Português de Oncologia - Porto (median follow-up: 46.5 months [2.6-66.4]). Fifty-eight patients with available PET at diagnosis (PET0) and PETi data were included. PETi scans were analyzed according to Deauville 5-point scale (5-PS), and cut-off values for changes in maximum standardized uptake value [SUVmax], peak SUV [SUVpeak], metabolic tumour volume [MTV] and total lesion glycolysis index [TLG] between PETi and PET0 were computed using ROC analysis. Visual and semiquantitative data were compared with each other in the prediction of patient outcomes.

RESULTS

Semiquantitative analysis obtained a higher sensitivity for persistent/relapsed disease compared to the 5-PS (70% vs. 10%, respectively), but lower specificity. It also demonstrated better predictive performance for response to first-line therapy (negative predictive value >92%). The positive predictive value was similar for all five measurements. At 60 months of follow-up, there was a significant difference between the progression free survival (PFS) curves of patients with positive and negative PETi according to ΔSUVmax (56.9% vs. 88.0%, p<0.05), ΔSUVpeak (55.9% vs. 88.1%, p<0.05), ΔMTV (35.3% vs. 88.7%, p<0.05), and ΔTLG (42.4% vs. 88.1%, p<0.05). Statistical significance was not reached when considering 5-PS results.

DISCUSSION

PETi interpretation according to a semiquantitative approach appears to discriminate HL patients better than the visual 5-PS analysis. This could allow better detection of persistent or early relapsed disease, while a negative PETi result could support de-escalating therapy intensity.

Long-Term Outcomes After Autologous Versus Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Molecularly-Stratified Patients With Intermediate Cytogenetic Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A PETHEMA Study

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with intermediate risk cytogenetics (IRcyto) comprises a variety of biological entities with distinct mutational landscapes that translate into differential risks of relapse and prognosis. Optimal postremission therapy choice in this heterogeneous patient population is currently unsettled. In the current study, we compared outcomes in IRcyto AML recipients of autologous (autoSCT) (n = 312) or allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) (n = 279) in first complete remission (CR1). Molecular risk was defined based on CEBPA, NPM1, and FLT3-ITD mutational status, per European LeukemiaNet 2017 criteria. Five-year overall survival (OS) in patients with favorable molecular risk (FRmol) was 62% (95% confidence interval [CI], 50-72) after autoSCT and 66% (95% CI, 41-83) after matched sibling donor (MSD) alloSCT (P = .68). For patients of intermediate molecular risk (IRmol), MSD alloSCT was associated with lower cumulative incidence of relapse (P < .001), as well as with increased nonrelapse mortality (P = .01), as compared to autoSCT. The 5-year OS was 47% (95% CI, 34-58) after autoSCT and 70% (95% CI, 59-79) after MSD alloSCT (P = .02) in this patient subgroup. In a propensity-score matched IRmol subcohort (n = 106), MSD alloSCT was associated with superior leukemia-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.33, P = .004) and increased OS in patients alive 1 year after transplantation (HR 0.20, P = .004). These results indicate that, within IRcyto AML in CR1, autoSCT may be a valid option for FRmol patients, whereas MSD alloSCT should be the preferred postremission strategy in IRmol patients.

Gastric Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Single-Center 9-Year Experience

Gastric diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) represents the majority of all gastric lymphomas. We report a series of gastric DLBCL diagnosed and treated in a single center, between 2010 and 2018 (included). We retrospectively analyzed the population demographic features, treatment outcomes and survival. One-hundred-and-one patients were studied, 50.5% males and median age of 64 years [23–94]. Lugano staging was I in 16.8%, II1 in 20.8%, II2 in 10.9%, IIE in 13.9% and IV in 34.7% of cases. Twenty percent had Helicobacter pylori infection. R-CHOP-like therapy was used as first line in 96.9% of the patients. A complete response was achieved in 80% after first line therapy. At 3-years of follow-up (FU), 54% were in complete remission. The mean FU time was 73.6 months. Median overall survival and median progression free survival were not reached. We identified seven factors with negative impact in survival: age above 65 years-old (p < 0.01), ECOG 2–3 (p < 0.01), B symptoms (p = 0.001), bulky disease (p = 0.003), IPI 3–4 (p = 0.001), more than 3 treatment lines (p < 0.01), absence of response to first line treatment (p < 0.01). This study demonstrates that gastric DLBCL is a potentially curable disease with R-CHOP-like therapy, entailing long term survival and comparing well with other published series.

Iron Status is Associated with Mood, Cognition, and Functional Ability in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Several conditions are risk factors for iron deficiency (ID), some of which are highly prevalent in older individuals. Despite the amount of evidence pointing for a role of ID in cognition, mood and physical functional ability, the research addressing these associations in older individuals is still scarce. In the present study, 162 older community-dwelling individuals (29.53% classified as ID) were enrolled in a cross-sectional analysis and characterized regarding cognition, mood, functional ability, general nutritional intake and iron status. Assessment of iron status was performed using several blood biomarkers. Storage and erythropoiesis dimensions were positively associated with memory, along with an interaction (moderator effect) between iron storage and nutritional status. A more depressed mood was negatively associated with (iron) transport, transport saturation and erythropoiesis dimensions, and functional tiredness was positively associated with the erythropoiesis dimension. These observations indicate that lower iron status is associated with depressive mood, functional tiredness and poorer memory ability, with the latter moderated by nutritional status. These findings suggest that using iron as a continuous variable may be useful in finding associations with iron homeostasis, eventually missed when iron levels are considered within the usual classification groups.

Case Report: Cryptococcal meningitis in Hodgkin's Lymphoma patient receiving brentuximab-vedotin therapy

Cryptococcus neoformans infections occur mostly in immunodeficient individuals, being the most common opportunistic fungal central nervous system (CNS) infection in HIV seropositive patients. Moreover, other conditions affecting host immunity, such as hematologic malignancies, organ transplantation and immunosuppressive drugs are implicated as risk factors.

The authors present a case of a 48-year-old male with Hodgkin Lymphoma for 26 years and submitted to several lines of treatment, diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis while on therapy with brentuximab. The patient presented with positive cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) cryptococcal antigen plus positive blood cultures. He was put under induction antifungal treatment with liposomal amphotericin B and flucytosine, as well as corticosteroid therapy with dexamethasone with headache improvement and a favorable clinical evolution.

There are no reported cases of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis under CD30-directed monoclonal antibody. Furthermore, this case illustrates the risk of Cryptococcus neoformans infection in immunocompromising conditions other than HIV, underlining the need of considering this differential diagnosis when physicians face an opportunistic neuroinfection.

Triple POCUS: A New Approach to an Old Problem

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the most serious and life-threatening clinical presentation of venous thromboembolism, and difficult to diagnose. Triple point-of-care-ultrasonography (POCUS) of the lung, heart and leg veins is a multiorgan approach that may help to evaluate patients suspected of having PE, in combination with existing protocols and computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA). We present the case of a 26-year-old man with sudden onset of dyspnoea and swelling of the leg with a Well's score of 9. With CTPA unavailable at the time of presentation, triple POCUS showed subpleural consolidations and a venous thrombus in a popliteal vein. A diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis with PE was made and the appropriate treatment was started immediately. Although triple POCUS has less sensitivity and specificity than CTPA, it could be very useful in some clinical settings.

LEARNING POINTS

In a patient with suspected pulmonary embolism, the best diagnostic strategy is to combine clinical assessment, plasma D-dimer measurement and computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA).Triple point-of-care ultrasonography of the lung, heart and leg veins may improve clinical assessment of pulmonary embolism if CTPA is unavailable or contraindicated.Point-of-care ultrasonography should be incorporated as the fifth pillar of the physical examination.

Efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and safety of the biosimilar CT-P10 in comparison with rituximab in patients with previously untreated low-tumour-burden follicular lymphoma: a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

Studies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and advanced follicular lymphoma have shown that CT-P10, a rituximab biosimilar, has equivalent or non-inferior efficacy and pharmacokinetics to rituximab. We aimed to assess the therapeutic equivalence of single-agent CT-P10 and rituximab in patients with newly diagnosed low-tumour burden follicular lymphoma.

METHODS

In this ongoing, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, active-controlled, phase 3 trial, adult patients (≥18 years) with stage II-IV low-tumour-burden follicular lymphoma were randomly assigned (1:1) using an interactive web or voice response system stratified by region, stage, and age to CT-P10 or US-sourced rituximab. Patients received CT-P10 or rituximab (375 mg/m² intravenous) on day 1 of four 7-day cycles (induction period). Patients who had disease control after the induction period continued to a maintenance period of CT-P10 or rituximab administered every 8 weeks for six cycles and, if completed, a second year of maintenance therapy of additional CT-P10 (every 8 weeks for six cycles) was offered. The study was partially unmasked after database lock (Feb 23, 2018) for all data up to 7 months (before cycle 3 of the maintenance period). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved an overall response by 7 months in the intention-to-treat population. Efficacy equivalence was shown if the two-sided 90% CIs for the treatment difference in the proportion of responders between CT-P10 and rituximab was within the equivalence margin of 17%. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02260804.

FINDINGS

Between Nov 9, 2015, and Jan 4, 2018, 402 patients were assessed for eligibility, of whom 258 were randomly assigned: 130 to CT-P10 and 128 to rituximab. 108 (83%) of 130 patients assigned to CT-P10 and 104 (81%) of 128 assigned to rituximab achieved an overall response by month 7 (treatment difference estimate 1·8%; 90% CI -6·43 to 10·20). Therapeutic equivalence was shown (90% CIs were within the prespecified margin of 17%). The most common grade 3 or 4 treatment-emergent adverse events were decreased neutrophil count (two grade 3 in the CT-P10 group) and neutropenia (one in each group); all other grade 3 or 4 treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in one patient each. Six (5%) of 130 patients who received CT-P10 and three (2%) of 128 who received rituximab experienced at least one treatment-emergent serious adverse event.

INTERPRETATION

CT-P10 was equivalent to rituximab in terms of efficacy and was well tolerated. CT-P10 monotherapy is suggested as a new therapeutic option for patients with low-tumour-burden follicular lymphoma.

FUNDING

Celltrion, Inc.

Fifteen Years of Experience from a Medical School' Clinical Skills Laboratory

INTRODUCTION

Medical Education has evolved being defined as a continuum of the medical training from the pre- to the post-graduate period and through a lifetime of medical practice that is mirrored in the competencies framework that several international institutions have established. This creates a challenge to educational institutions (pre- and post-graduate) that traditionally take separate pathways.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The present report is a description of the efforts carried by the School of Medicine of the University of Minho to implement a strategy of teaching/learning methods that follows modern standards towards constructive alignment of the medical curriculum, from the pre- to the post-graduate. The faculty members responsible for these activities make a narrative self-report of the activities developed and where available quantitative data from participant surveys are presented.

RESULTS

In order to achieve a constructive alignment of educational/assessment strategies several steps were taken that focused on the revision of the learning goals, teaching methodologies and assessment strategies. This implicated the investment in the training/certification of faculty, acquisition of simulation tools and a dedicated infrastructure. Alumni were a fundamental cornerstone as voluntary faculty contributing to pre-graduate training, but also training their own scholar skills. Overall, courses are rate with a high rate of satisfaction among course participants.

DISCUSSION

Setting up the present teaching/learning environment of the School of Medicine of the University of Minho required a collective effort of the faculty, as well a progressive investment in both acquisition of equipment and training of staff. These human and material efforts, however, lead to an excellent return in learning outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The main conclusion is that the constructive alignment of educational and assessment strategies towards the medical education continuum needs reflective thinking on the learners' needs. The secondary gain of these initiatives is to provide opportunities for junior doctors to practice teaching.

Delirium Diagnostic and Screening Instruments in the Emergency Department: An Up-to-Date Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Emergency care systems are at the core of modern healthcare and are the "point-of-entry/admission" into the hospital for many older/elderly patients. Among these, it is estimated that 15% to 30% will have delirium on admission and that over 50% will develop it during their stay. However, appropriate delirium diagnostic and screening still remains a critical area of need. The goal of this review is to update the field, exploring target areas in screening methods for delirium in the Emergency Department (ED), and/or acute care units, in the older population.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted to search screening/diagnostic methods for delirium in the ED and/or acute care units within the ED.

RESULTS

Seven different scales were identified. Of the identified instruments, the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) for the Intense Care Unit (CAM-ICU) was the most widely used. Of note, a brief two-step approach for delirium surveillance was defined with the Delirium Triage Screen (DTS) and the Brief Confusion Assessment Method (bCAM), and the diagnostic accuracy of the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) for delirium had a good sensitivity and specificity in older patients.

CONCLUSION

The CAM-ICU appears as the potential reference standard for use in the ED, but research in a global approach of evaluation of actual and past cognitive changes is still warranted.

Assessing Cognitive Function in Older Adults Using a Videoconference Approach

BACKGROUND

The use of communication technologies is an emerging trend in healthcare and research. Despite efficient, reliable and accurate neuropsychological batteries to evaluate cognitive performance in-person, more diverse and less expensive and time consuming solutions are needed. Here we conducted a pilot study to determine the applicability of a videoconference (VC, Skype®) approach to assess cognitive function in older adults, using The Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified - Portuguese version (TICSM-PT).

METHODS

After inclusion and exclusion criteria, 69 individuals (mean age=74.90±9.46years), selected from registries of local health centers and assisted-living facilities, were assessed on cognitive performance using videoconference, telephone and in-person approaches.

FINDINGS

The videoconference administration method yielded comparable results to the traditional application. Correlation analyses showed high associations between the testing modalities: TICSM-PT VC and TICSM-PT telephone (r=0.885), TICSM-PT VC and MMSE face-to-face (r=0.801). Using the previously validated threshold for cognitive impairment on the TICSM-PT telephone, TICSM-PT VC administration presented a sensitivity of 87.8% and a specificity of 84.6%.

INTERPRETATION

Findings indicate for the range of settings where videoconference approaches can be used, and for their applicability and acceptability, providing an alternative to current cognitive assessment methods. Continued validation studies and adaptation of neuropsychological instruments is warranted.

Histiocitose de Largerhans no Adulto: Experiência de Dois Hospitais Portugueses

<strong>Introduction:</strong> Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a heterogeneous disease, more frequently diagnosed during childhood. Between 1/2001 and 12/2013, 20 adult patients were admitted at both Hospitals. This work aimed at ccharacterizing this population.<br />Material and Methods: Retrospective study, review of clinical records.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> 16 patients were eligible to analysis. The median age at diagnosis was 34 years (15-48); 10 males and 6 females. The referral motive was: respiratory complaints – 37.5%; bone changes – 37.5%; dental complaints - 25%; constitutional symptoms - 19%; mucocutaneous lesions – 6% and one patient (6%) was accidentally diagnosed after a thyroidectomy. The tissue of histological diagnosis was: bone - 50%; pulmonary tissue – 37.5%; liver, genital mucosa and thyroid - 6%, respectively. Staging was: single organ involvement (uni/multifocal) - 69% and multisystem disease in 31%. Clinical re-evaluation of these cases is being done at the moment. The median follow up was 5 years (1 month – 11 years) and the overall survival was 92%. Currently 19% are alive without signs of disease; 44% are alive with disease; 25% are under treatment and 12% died.<br /><strong>Discussion:</strong> These results agree with published literature. Considering the actual guidelines 56% patients were incompletely staged, which probably lead to suboptimal treatment. There is heterogeneity of clinical procedures aiming at staging and treatment of these patients.<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The diagnosis of adulthood Langerhans cell histiocytosis is difficult considering the diversity of clinical behavior. Frequently this also leads to diagnosis delay. Prospective international clinical trials enrolling adult patients are important.<br /><strong>Keywords:</strong> Adult; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell.

Enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma as a complication of silent celiac disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which a genetic predisposition and the ingestion of wheat gluten triggers a deleterious immune response. This response is complex and may lead to manifestations other than enteropathyha: hepatitis, dermatitis and neuropathy. There is higher risk for neoplasia. We observed an atypical case, corresponding to a 69-year old female presenting with complicated celiac disease. The patient was referred following the histological examination of an enterectomy specimen, which unexpectedly revealed an enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma in a background of celiac disease. Patient’s previous medical history comprised several abdominal surgical procedures, without other prior symptoms suggestive of celiac disease. Indeed, the patient was obese and no signs of malabsortion were apparent. This case draws our attention to clinically silent celiac disease, which represents a diagnostic challenge. Thus, this should be kept in mind whenever a patient presents with abdominal relapsing complications, otherwise unexplained.

[Adulthood Langerhans cell histiocytosis: experience of two Portuguese hospitals]

INTRODUCTION

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a heterogeneous disease, more frequently diagnosed during childhood. Between 1/2001 and 12/2013, 20 adult patients were admitted at both Hospitals. This work aimed at characterizing this population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective study, review of clinical records.

RESULTS

16 patients were eligible to analysis. The median age at diagnosis was 34 years (15-48); 10 males and 6 females. The referral motive was: respiratory complaints - 37.5%; bone changes - 37.5%; dental complaints - 25%; constitutional symptoms - 19%; mucocutaneous lesions - 6% and one patient (6%) was accidentally diagnosed after a thyroidectomy. The tissue of histological diagnosis was: bone - 50%; pulmonary tissue - 37.5%; liver, genital mucosa and thyroid - 6%, respectively. Staging was: single organ involvement (uni/multifocal) - 69% and multisystem disease in 31%. Clinical re-evaluation of these cases is being done at the moment. The median follow up was 5 years (1 month - 11 years) and the overall survival was 92%. Currently 19% are alive without signs of disease; 44% are alive with disease; 25% are under treatment and 12% died.

DISCUSSION

These results agree with published literature. Considering the actual guidelines 56% patients were incompletely staged, which probably lead to suboptimal treatment. There is heterogeneity of clinical procedures aiming at staging and treatment of these patients.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of adulthood Langerhans cell histiocytosis is difficult considering the diversity of clinical behavior. Frequently this also leads to diagnosis delay. Prospective international clinical trials enrolling adult patients are important.

Risk and clinical-outcome indicators of delirium in an emergency department intermediate care unit (EDIMCU): an observational prospective study

BACKGROUND

Identification of delirium in emergency departments (ED) is often underestimated; within EDs, studies on delirium assessment and relation with patient outcome in Intermediate Care Units (IMCU) appear missing in European hospital settings. Here we aimed to determine delirium prevalence in an EDIMCU (Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal) and assessed routine biochemical parameters that might be delirium indicators.

METHODS

The study was prospective and observational. Sedation level was assessed via the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale and delirium status by the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU. Information collected included age and gender, admission type, Charlson Comorbidity Index combined condition score (Charlson score), systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria (SIRS), biochemical parameters (blood concentration of urea nitrogen, creatinine, hemoglobin, sodium and potassium, arterial blood gases, and other parameters as needed depending on clinical diagnosis) and EDIMCU length of stay (LOS). Statistical analyses were performed as appropriate to determine if baseline features differed between the 'Delirium' and 'No Delirium' groups. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the effect of delirium on the 1-month outcome.

RESULTS

Inclusion and exclusion criteria were met in 283 patients; 238 were evaluated at 1-month for outcome follow-up after EDIMCU discharge ("good" recovery without complications requiring hospitalization or institutionalization; "poor" institutionalization in permanent care-units/assisted-living or death). Delirium was diagnosed in 20.1% patients and was significantly associated with longer EDIMCU LOS. At admission, Delirium patients were significantly older and had significantly higher blood urea, creatinine and osmolarity levels and significantly lower hemoglobin levels, when compared with No Delirium patients. Delirium was an independent predictor of increased EDIMCU LOS (odds ratio 3.65, 95% CI 1.97-6.75) and poor outcome at 1-month after discharge (odds ratio 3.51, CI 1.84-6.70), adjusted for age, gender, admission type, presence of SIRS criteria, Charlson score and osmolarity at admission.

CONCLUSIONS

In an EDIMCU setting, delirium was associated with longer LOS and poor outcome at 1-month post-discharge. Altogether, findings support the need for delirium screening and management in emergency settings.