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News Current Recommendations by the ELN Expert Panel on AML Diagnosis Management

The 2022 recommendations from European LeukemiaNet (ELN) add new information to the previous recommendations from 2010 and 2017. They concern the diagnosis and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults from the perspective of pathogenesis, disease classification adjustment, possibilities of genomic diagnosis, and the inclusion of minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment.

Source: Acute Myeloid Leukemia 9. 5. 2023

News Overuse of Corticosteroids as a Serious Problem in ITP

Corticosteroids (CS) are a common part of the treatment for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, their administration is associated with significant short-term and long-term toxicity, and the goal should be to minimize their use to the shortest possible duration. Early combination with other medications could be helpful in this regard.

Source: Immune Thrombocytopenia 9. 5. 2023

News Romiplostim in Life-Threatening Bleeding Situations −⁠ Case Reports

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura, or immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), typically manifests as bleeding due to a low platelet count. Some bleeding episodes can be life-threatening or fatal. Clinical experience suggests that in acute bleeding complications, whether in acute ITP or exacerbations of chronic ITP, early use of the thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) romiplostim can be beneficial. Japanese authors have described three case reports of severe diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) associated with various underlying conditions.

Source: Immune Thrombocytopenia 9. 5. 2023

News Metamizole in Pain Management for Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

A study by Czech authors from the University Hospital St. Anna in Brno, recently published in the British Journal of Neurosurgery, evaluated analgesic treatment in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The use of metamizole as the primary analgesic was associated with a significantly lower risk of adverse clinical outcomes at 2 weeks and 6 months compared to other non-opioid and opioid analgesics.

Source: Analgesia 10. 5. 2023

News Comparison of the Effectiveness of Different Types of Toothbrushes in Orthodontic Patients

The aim of the study cited below was to evaluate the efficiency of a manual orthodontic brush, an electric toothbrush with an oscillating head, and a sonic toothbrush in controlling plaque, gingivitis, and interproximal bleeding in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances and to compare their relative effectiveness.

Source: Dental Care 10. 5. 2023

News Proton Therapy and Its Results in the Treatment of Bilateral Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor disease in women, and its incidence sharply increases after the age of 50. Although its incidence shows a continuously increasing trend, the development of mortality is more favorable. Thanks to nationwide screening and more successful therapy, mortality has long been stable, even slightly decreasing. A relatively rare variant of this oncological disease is primary synchronously detected bilateral breast cancer (PSBBC). Experts from the Proton Therapy Center in Prague are focusing on the use of proton radiotherapy in the treatment of this clinical entity.

Source: Proton Radiotherapy 11. 5. 2023

News COMMENTARY FROM PRACTICE: On Some Aspects of Care for Patients with Parkinson's Disease

What issues do we still encounter in the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease even today, despite medical advancements? How to fine-tune the management of care for these patients, facilitate their path to effective therapy, and improve their quality of life using current possibilities? What can their treating neurologist do for them, when is it necessary to consult a specialized center without delay, and how to mitigate the stigmatization associated with this disease? These aspects are also considered in the following commentary from practice.

Source: Parkinson's Disease 15. 5. 2023

News When to Consider Gaucher Disease and How to Diagnose It Early and Correctly

Considering Gaucher disease (GD) as a cause of a patient's problems, especially in the case of splenomegaly and bleeding manifestations, is very important, regardless of age. Screening using the dry blood spot method is available and very simple.

Source: Rare Diseases in Hematology 16. 5. 2023

News Model of Risk of Bleeding Associated with Physical Activity in Hemophiliacs with Factor and Non-Factor Treatment

In the treatment of hemophilia A, both FVIII concentrate replacement therapy and non-factor therapy are available today. However, there is no clinical data comparing the risk of bleeding associated with physical activity between factor and non-factor treatments. In this situation, one approach is to model possible scenarios and attempt to indirectly compare different modalities of bleeding prevention.

Source: Hemophilia 18. 5. 2023

News Angiodysplasia as a Serious Problem in Patients with von Willebrand Disease −⁠ Case Study

Bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract can become a very significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with von Willebrand disease (vWD). It has been described that gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding associated with angiodysplasia is more common in individuals with vWD compared to other causes. Evidence suggests that von Willebrand factor (vWF) is associated with the regulation of angiogenesis, and its deficiency increases the risk of angiodysplasia. It is also known that this type of bleeding is difficult to treat because it is associated with recurrences. The following case study also very well illustrates and summarizes this issue.

Source: Von Willebrand Disease 19. 5. 2023

News Sotorasib in the Treatment of a Patient with NSCLC and DIC –⁠ A Case Report

Sotorasib is the first clinically used inhibitor of the KRAS oncogene with the G12C mutation. Its efficacy in the targeted treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still under research, but it is expected to bring significant benefits. The effect of sotorasib in a patient with a low baseline performance status (PS) and active brain metastases is presented in the following case report.

Source: Lung Cancer 24. 5. 2023

News Incidence of Brain Metastases and Intracranial Activity of Sotorasib in Patients with NSCLC with G12C Mutation of the KRAS Oncogene

Sotorasib is the first targeted drug approved for the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with the G12C mutation of the KRAS oncogene. The newly published study presented below investigated its intracranial activity.

Source: Lung Cancer 24. 5. 2023

News “Customized Schizophrenia Treatment”: Benefits of Therapeutic Innovations in Inpatient and Outpatient Care Thanks to Gentler Antipsychotics

In the field of schizophrenia treatment, the possibility of significantly greater individualization, brought about by gentler antipsychotics, is currently a hot topic. A major focus is the differences in schizophrenia therapy during hospitalization and subsequently in outpatient care. These topics were also addressed in a seminar called “Customized Schizophrenia Treatment,” supported by Angelini, which took place in Brno.

Source: Modern Treatment of Schizophrenia 24. 5. 2023

News Predictors and Rate of Anticoagulant Therapy Discontinuation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

With the worldwide increase in the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF), the use of anticoagulants (warfarin, DOACs –⁠ direct oral anticoagulants) to reduce the risk of ischemic stroke (iCMP) is also rising. However, continuous use is essential. An Australian study analyzed available national data to investigate the rate of therapy discontinuation for individual anticoagulants and the predictors of persistence on treatment.

Source: Anticoagulant Treatment 25. 5. 2023

News Association Between Sartan Therapy and Lower Incidence of Epilepsy in Hypertensive Patients?

Arterial hypertension (AH) is one of the non-cerebral comorbidities of epilepsy, with the renin-angiotensin system possibly being the central mediator of the connection between these diseases. The German study cited below therefore examined whether therapy with AT1 receptor blockers for angiotensin II (ARBs, i.e., sartans) reduces the risk of epilepsy in patients with AH as suggested by animal studies.

Source: Sartans in the Treatment of Hypertension 25. 5. 2023