Efficacy and Feasibility of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation in the Treatment of Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Background

Refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) includes AML includes failure of disease to respond to standard induction chemotherapy, relapse within 6 months after first CR, and 2 or more relapses. The outcome of these patients is usually very poor; only a small proportion can be rescued by allogenic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of allo-HSCT in patients with refractory AML.

Alternative impression technique for a speech-aid prosthesis.

OBJECTIVE: Prosthetic treatment for speech disorders attributable to surgically acquired soft palate defects are introduced. CASE: A patient who underwent soft palate resection for cancer is presented. The resected portion of the soft palate was confined to the posterior segments. A prosthesis with a speech bulb was adapted to the patient. CONCLUSION: Excellent restoration of speech and improvement of velopharyngeal function was achieved following placement of the special prosthesis.     

Wild Edible Plants and Their Traditional Use in the Human Nutrition in Bosnia-Herzegovina

This article presents first systematical procedure results on traditional usage of wild, edible, vitaminous, and aromatic plants in the nutrition of human population in Bosnia and Herzegovina (W. Balkan peninsula; SE Europe). By method of an ethnobotanical interview, which comprised of over 250 persons, whose average age was 55, and by research on edible wild flora all around Bosnia and Herzegovina that extended over many years, detected were 308 plants belonging to 73 plant families that are being used in nutrition and diet of indigenous population. Edible wild plants are used as delicious vegetables, fruits, peer and spices, in either fresh, raw, or dried condition. Plants are being used for the making of cooked food (33%), fresh salads (19%), mush and bread (17%), or as fresh, wild fruits and drinks (13%) or as spices and ethno-pharmacological potions (10%). The majority of identified, wild edible plants may satisfy the daily human need for elementary nutrition material, particularly those of vitamins C and A, and for some minerals, according to the regulations of World Health Organization (WHO).     

Metastasis of Prostate Adenocarcinoma to Testis

Metastatic carcinoma to the testis is very rare. Metastasis of prostate adenocarcinoma to testis was detected incidentally after bilateral orchiectomy for hormonal management of metastatic prostate carcinoma. The metastatic lesion was not identified in physical examination or in macroscopic dissection of the testis after surgery. Microscopy revealed an adenocarcinoma which, given the history of the patient and a positive immunohistochemical stain for PSA, was identified as metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma.     

Sympathetic skin responses from postauricular region in Meniere's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sympathetic nervous system activity in Meniere's disease (MD) by recording sympathetic skin responses (SSRs) from the postauricular region (PA). METHODS: Twenty-one patients with definite unilateral MD diagnosis and 12 healthy volunteers were studied by evoking right and left PA-SSRs with electrical stimulation of the left median nerve at the wrist in attack and interval periods of MD. Mean latencies and maximum amplitudes were used in statistical analyses. RESULTS: In unilateral definite MD patients, the mean latencies were longer and the maximum amplitudes were smaller on the involved ear side than those on the normal ear side (p<0.01 for both amplitude and latency) and than those from the controls (p<0.01 and p<0.05). In three patients, there was no detectable PA-SSR on the involved ear side while there were SSRs on the healthy side. In four patients, the responses were absent bilaterally during the attack period. CONCLUSIONS: There is a marked asymmetric sympathetic hypofunction in the area of the PA region of the involved ear in MD patients. SIGNIFICANCE: The PA region is a new site for recording sympathetic skin responses. PA-SSR is a useful tool to investigate sympathetic nervous system function in MD patients.     

Brucella peritonitis and leucocytoclastic vasculitis due to Brucella melitensis.

Brucellosis is a multisystemic disease that rarely leads to a fatal outcome. While reticuloendothelial system organs are mostly affected, peritonitis and posthepatitic cirrhosis are also complications of brucellosis, though they are very rare. Brucella spp. can also trigger immunological reactions. We report a case of brucellosis with peritonitis, renal failure and leucocytoclastic vasculitis caused by Brucella melitensis, which led to a fatal outcome. Brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of vasculitic diseases, especially in endemic areas.     

Clinical and immunological effects of azithromycin in Behçet''s disease

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of azithromycin on mucocutaneous manifestations, oral health and immune response in Behçet's disease (BD). Methods: Eight BD patients with active mucocutaneous symptoms were treated with azithromycin for 4 weeks. Oral health, clinical manifestations and in vitro interleukin (IL)‐12, interferon (IFN)‐γ, IL‐10 and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)‐1 responses were evaluated before and after treatment. Results: The number of folliculitic lesions, healing time of oral ulcers and scores of plaque indexes (PLIs) were lower after azithromycin treatment (P < 0.05). Scores of PLIs correlated positively with the healing time of oral ulcers (P = 0.02). Although a trend towards increased stimulated IL‐10 responses with azithromycin was observed, no statistically significant difference was found. Stimulated and unstimulated MCP‐1, IFN‐γ and IL‐12 responses were similar before and after treatment (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Azithromycin was observed to be effective in decreasing folliculitic lesions and fastening the healing time of oral ulcers in BD.     

Adiponectin is an independent determinant of insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is frequently associated with insulin resistance and a consequent increased risk of metabolic diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of adiponectin in insulin resistance in PCOS women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients with PCOS and 23 control subjects, matched for age and body mass index (BMI), were enrolled in the study. Clinical, metabolic and hormonal parameters and adiponectin levels were measured, and HOMA-IR score (homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index) was calculated for each subject. RESULTS: There was no difference in adiponectin levels between PCOS patients and the control group. However, adiponectin levels were negatively correlated with obesity-associated parameters and HOMA-IR score in PCOS patients and controls. As adiponectin is modulated by BMI we adjusted for BMI among the PCOS patients, and found a negative correlation between adiponectin levels and HOMA-IR score (r = -0.51, p < 0.001). Adiponectin and BMI were independent determinants of insulin resistance in PCOS patients (adjusted R2 = 0.66, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Adiponectin did not seem to be actively involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. However, adiponectin levels were independently associated with insulin resistance in PCOS patients, suggesting that adiponectin might play a role in the complicated metabolic abnormalities of PCOS.