Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy for diagnosing and staging carcinoid tumours: correlations with the pathological indexes p53 and Ki-67

We performed this study in order to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of whole-body fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) imaging and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) for localizing primary carcinoid tumours and evaluating the extent of the disease. A secondary aim was to correlate those findings with the histological characteristics of the lesions. FDG PET was performed in 17 patients and SRS in 16. All patients had pathologically proven carcinoids. All lesions were verified by histopathological analysis or by follow-up. Ki-67 and p53 expression were assessed as an indicator of the tumours' aggressiveness. FDG PET correctly identified 4/7 primary tumours and 8/11 metastatic spreads, as compared to six and 10 respectively, for SRS. Most tumours were typical carcinoids with low Ki-67 expression. No correlation was found between the histological features and the tracer's uptake. We conclude that SRS remains the modality of choice for evaluating patients with carcinoid tumours, regardless of their proliferative activity. FDG PET should be reserved to patients with negative results on SRS.     

Defibrotide for Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome/Veno-Occlusive Disease Prophylaxis in High-Risk Adult Patients: A Single-Center Experience Study

Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), also known as hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD), is a serious complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). SOS/VOD usually occurs within 3 weeks of HSCT, but the 2016 European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation diagnosis criteria have been revised to include late forms. Prophylactic use of defibrotide is recommended in the pediatric setting, but its value remains uncertain in the adult population. We report here a single-center series of 63 adult patients considered at high risk for SOS/VOD who received defibrotide prophylaxis in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid between May 2012 and August 2016. The median duration of defibrotide therapy was 23 days. Bleeding occurred in 14 patients (21.5%). Defibrotide prophylaxis was discontinued in 7 patients (10.8%): 4 cases (6.3%) due to bleeding and 3 cases (4.6%) because of the need for antithrombotic therapy. Overall, SOS/VOD occurred in 4 cases (6.3%) within 21 days after HSCT (days 13 and 14) in 2 cases and late-onset SOS/VOD (days 57 and 58) in the other 2 cases. SOS/VOD was moderate in 1 case, very severe in 3 cases, with 2 deaths related to SOS/VOD. Cumulative incidence of grades II to IV acute graft-versus-host disease and transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy were 22.2% and 3.2%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 31 months (range, 10.7 to 60.3), the rates of 2-year overall survival, progression-free survival, incidence of relapse, and nonrelapse mortality were 56.5%, 49%, 28.7%, and 22.3%, respectively. In our experience defibrotide prophylaxis is associated with a low incidence of SOS/VOD after allogeneic HSCT in a high-risk adult population with an acceptable safety profile.     

Nocardia carnea infection in a kidney transplant recipient

We report an unusual case of Nocardia carnea brain and lung abscesses in a 54-year-old kidney transplant recipient. Our case was confirmed by molecular detection despite negative cultures. The patient recovered using prolonged cotrimoxazole treatment.     

Produits sanguins labiles provenant de donneurs immunisés dans le système HLA. À propos d'un cas d'œdème pulmonaire lésionnel

A case of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) due to HLA antibodies present in one unit of packed red blood cells led us to discuss the screening of HLA antibodies for female donors having been pregnant, and the use of labile blood products.     

Argulus vittatus (Rafinesque-Smaltz, 1814) (Crustacea: Branchiura) parasitic on Algerian fishes

Eighteen female specimens of Argulus vittatus (Rafinesque-Smaltz, 1814) were recently collected from the Algerian coast. As until now this species was poorly described, this contribution redescribes this species with more precise drawings on the general morphology and appendages, using this fresh material. For the first time, two new hosts are identified. Host specificity and some ecological data are also reported.