Engraftment after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients mobilized with Plerixafor: A retrospective, multicenter study of a large series of patients

Plerixafor (PLX) appears to effectively enhance hematopoietic stem-cell mobilization prior to autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT). However, the quality of engraftment following auto-HCT has been little explored. Here, engraftment following auto-HCT was assessed in patients mobilized with PLX through a retrospective, multicenter study of 285 consecutive patients. Information on early and 100-day post-transplant engraftment was gathered from the 245 patients that underwent auto-HCT. The median number of PLX days to reach the stem cell collection goal (≥2 × 10⁶ CD34⁺ cells/kg) was 1 (range 1-4) and the median PLX administration time before apheresis was 11 h (range 1-18). The median number of apheresis sessions to achieve the collection goal was 2 (range 1-5) and the mean number of CD34⁺ cells collected was 2.95 × 10⁶/kg (range 0-30.5). PLX administration was safe, with only 2 mild and transient gastrointestinal adverse events reported. The median time to achieve an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >500/μL was 11 days (range 3-31) and the median time to platelet recovery >20 × 10³/μL was 13 days (range 5-69). At 100 days after auto-HCT, the platelet count was 137 × 10⁹/L (range 7-340), the ANC was 2.3 × 10⁹/L (range 0.1-13.0), and the hemoglobin concentration was 123 g/L (range 79-165). PLX use allowed auto-HCT to be performed in a high percentage of poorly mobilized patients, resulting in optimal medium-term engraftment in the majority of patients in whom mobilization failed, in this case mainly due to suboptimal peripheral blood CD34⁺ cell concentration on day +4 or low CD34⁺ cell yield on apheresis.

Initial study of anaemia profile for primary care centres with automated laboratory algorithms reduces the demand for ferritin, iron, transferrin, vitamin B12 and folate tests

AIM

To evaluate the influence of an algorithm designed to incorporate reflex testing according to haemogram results for analytical tests ordered to investigate anaemia.

METHODS

In 2020, a new request for 'initial study of anaemia' was created in three primary care pilot centres for suspected anaemia or new anaemias. A haemogram was ordered and the remainder of the tests were created in a reflex manner according to an algorithm integrated in the laboratory information system that also generates a comment that is completed and validated by a haematologist. The demand for tests was evaluated over three time periods.

RESULTS

Of 396 requests, anaemia was detected in 80 (20.2%), with 26 microcytic anaemias (6.57%), 20 iron deficiency anaemias, 41 (10.3%) normocytic anaemias and 13 macrocytic anaemias (3.28%); 4 with folate deficiency; and 1 haemolytic anaemia. No haematological diseases were detected. Twenty-four (6.06%) cases exhibited microcytosis/hypochromia without anaemia, 12 of which exhibited iron deficiency. Four young women exhibiting within-limit haemoglobin levels had iron deficiency. There were 56 (14.1%) cases of macrocytosis without anaemia.With the new profile of 'initial study of anaemia', the demand for tests was reduced and was significantly lower than in the remainder of primary centres for iron, transferrin, ferritin, vitamin B₁₂ and folate.

CONCLUSIONS

A new profile of 'initial study of anaemia' in the request form with algorithms integrated in the laboratory information system enabled submission of orders and decreased the demand for unnecessary iron, transferrin, ferritin, vitamin B₁₂ and folate tests.

SU-8 based microprobes for simultaneous neural depth recording and drug delivery in the brain

While novel influential concepts in neuroscience bring the focus to local activities generated within a few tens of cubic micrometers in the brain, we are still devoid of appropriate tools to record and manipulate pharmacologically neuronal activity at this fine scale. Here we designed, fabricated and encapsulated microprobes for simultaneous depth recording and drug delivery using exclusively the polymer SU-8 as structural material. A tetrode- and linear-like electrode patterning was combined for the first time with single and double fluidic microchannels for independent drug delivery. The device was tested experimentally using the in vivo anesthetized rat preparation. Both probe types successfully recorded detailed spatiotemporal features of local field potentials and single-cell activity at a resolution never attained before with integrated fluidic probes. Drug delivery was achieved with high spatial and temporal precision in a range from tens of nanoliters to a few microliters, as confirmed histologically. These technological advancements will foster a wide range of neural applications aimed at simultaneous monitoring of brain activity and delivery at a very precise micrometer scale.

[Antimicrobial sensitivity of 402 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in 7 Spanish cities]

To study N. gonorrhoeae resistance in Spain. We evaluate 402 strains consecutively isolated in 7 Spanish cities (Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Murcia, Seville, Valencia and Valladolid). The MIC to 9 antimicrobial agents was determined by agar-dilution (DST) method. We found a high incidence (15.7%) of penicillinase producer strains (NGPP). Most (53.3%) of all non-NGPP strains showed reduced sensitivity to penicillin and 1.5% of the strains had chromosomally mediated resistance. All NGPP strains and 90% of non-NGPP strains showed reduced sensitivity to tetracycline (MIC greater than 0.23 mg/l). We did not found any strain with high-level tetracycline resistance. MIC90 for the other drugs tested were: erythromycin, 0.125 mg/l; spectinomycin, 16 mg/l; cefoxitin, 2 mg/l; cefuroxime 0.06 mg/l; ceftriaxone 0.0037 mg/l; ofloxacin 0.06 mg/l and ciprofloxacin, 0.0018 mg/l. NGPP are very prevalent in Spain. Most of these strains had chromosomally mediated resistance to penicillin and tetracycline. We did not found resistance to other antimicrobial agents.

Immunology of dermatophytosis. Experimental study

By causing experimental lesions of dermatophytosis in rabbits inoculated and reinoculated with T. mentagrophytes var. granulosum and T. rubrum a study was carried out of the state of cellular immunity response, during infection, and also of the antigens responsible for the sensitization. Cellular immunity response was detected using the leucocyte migration test (L.M.T.) in the presence of antigenic compounds of the 'Keratinase' of Eleuterio et al.

[Experimental dermatomycosis, a clinico-pathological study]

Using rabbits, we have studied the effect of reinfection of T. mentagrophytes var granulosum and T. rubrum into lesions that were previously infected and resolved. Clinical mycological and histopathological studies were done for 16 weeks. Timentagrophytes produced a more severe infection than T. rubrum. The clinical lesions produced by reinoculation were less intense and long lasting.