Effect of transfer factor on myelosuppression and related morbidity induced by chemotherapy in acute leukaemias

Summary. The aim of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of Transfer Factor (TF) in accelerating the haematopoietic recovery in patients with acute leukaemias (AL), following intensive therapy to induce remission of the disease. Twenty-two patients with different types of AL (16 AML, three BC-CML and three ALL) were studied. The patients were divided in two groups. Group 1 (eight AML, two BC-CML and one ALL) received, after myelosuppression induced by chemotherapy, TF (1 unit daily, subcutaneous) until leucocyte count was >2·5 × 10⁹/1 and platelet count > 80 × 10⁹/l. Group 2 was considered the control group and did not receive TF. Treatment with TF accelerated the recovery of neutrophils, leucocytes, platelets ( P < 0·001. and haemoglobin ( P < 0·01). As a logical consequence, incidence and severity of infection and haemorrhage were lesser in the TF group than in the control group. There was no evidence that TF accelerated the re-growth of leukaemic cells. It seems that TF is safe in AL, accelerating haematopoietic recovery. However, it should be used with caution until results of additional trials become available.     

Linking Hematological, Biochemical, Genotoxic, and Behavioral Responses to Crude Oil in the Amazon Fish Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1816)

Despite safety protocols, crude oil extraction and transportation in the Amazon basin has a potential for inadvertent oil spills, which can impact aquatic organisms in local rivers. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of crude oil on juvenile Amazonian fish tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum, at various biological levels. Furthermore, the effect of crude oil on response to alarm substance, an important communication system in fish, was reported for the first time. Fish exposed to crude oil showed a 90 % decrease in their response to alarm substance and a 60 % decrease in swimming activity relative to control fish. Basic hematology was not affected, although an increase of 200 % of DNA damage and an increase of GST activity were observed in animals exposed to crude oil. Inverse correlations were found between genotoxicity end points and behavioral parameters, suggesting that genotoxic end points can also reflect behavioral changes.     

Oral allopurinol to prevent hyperamylasemia and acute pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

AIM： To assess the efficacy of allopurinol to prevent hyperamylasemia and pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography （PEP）.
METHODS： One hundred and seventy patients were enrolled and randomized to two groups： a study group （n = 85） who received 300 mg of oral allopurinol at 15 h and 3 h before endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography （ERCP） and a control group （n = 85） receiving an oral placebo at the same times. Main Outcome Measurements included serum amylase levels and the number severity of the episodes of pancreatitis. Serum amylase levels were classified as normal （〈 150 IU/L） or hyperamylasemia （〉 151 IU/L）. Episodes of PEP were classified following Ranson＇s criteria and CT severity index.
RESULTS： Gender distribution was similar between groups. Mean age was 53.5 ±18.9 years for study group and 52.8 ± 19.8 years for controls. Also, the distribution of benign pathology was similar between groups. Hyperamylasemia was more common in the control group （P = 0.003）. Mild PEP developed in two patients from the study group （2.3%） and eight （9.4%） from control group （P = 0.04）, seven episodes were observed in high-risk patients of the control group （25%） and one in the allopurinol group （3.3%, P = 0.02）. Risk factors for PEP were precut sphincterotomy （P = 0.02）, pancreatic duct manipulation （P = 0.002） and multiple procedures （P = 0.000）. There were no deaths or side effects.
CONCLUSION： Oral allopurinol before ERCP decreased the incidences of hyperamylasemia and pancreatitis in patients submitted to high-risk procedures.     

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in a Large Metropolitan Center,Mexico–United States Border, 2009–2019

Epidemic levels of Rocky Mountain spotted fe­­­ver (RMSF) have persisted in Mexicali, Mexico, since the initial outbreak was first reported in December 2008. We compared clinical and epidemiologic data of cases in Mexicali during 2009–2019 between patients with an IgG titer reactive with Rickettsia rickettsii bacteria by indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) assay and those who demonstrated DNA of R. rickettsii in a whole blood sample when tested by PCR. We identified 4,290 patients with clinical and epidemiologic features compatible with RMSF; of these, 9.74% tested positive by IFA and 8.41% by PCR. Overall, 140 patients died (11-year case-fatality rate 17.97%). Substantial differences in the frequency of commonly recognized clinical characteristics of RMSF were identified between PCR-positive and IFA-positive cases. The Mexicali epidemic is unique in its size and urban centralization. Cases confirmed by PCR most accurately reflect the clinical profile of RMSF.