Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · May 2024
Review[Mucormycosis in the time of COVID-19: risks and challenges].
The first patients positive for SARS-CoV-2 were registered in December 2019. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, the beginning of a worldwide health crisis that revealed numerous medical challenges for healthcare systems and pandemic emergency strategies. Among these challenges, mucormycosis, a typically rare fungal infection, gained global attention. ⋯ There were concerns about a potentially global threat. In this article, we explore the risk factors and mechanisms leading to this viral-fungal coinfection. We present global distribution patterns, clinical presentation, and challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · May 2024
Review[New classifications of malignant lymphomas - What changes are relevant for practice?].
An internationally uniform lymphoma classification is of fundamental importance for the comparability of clinical studies. There are currently 2 parallel classifications: the "International Consensus Classification" and the WHO-classification. Follicular lymphoma 3B is classified separately as follicular large cell lymphoma in WHO-HAEM5. ⋯ Peripheral T-cell lymphomas are a group of nodal T-cell lymphomas with a TFH phenotype and frequent mutations; peripheral T-cell lymphoma (NOS) is therefore a diagnosis of exclusion. Indolent T-cell lymphomas/lymphoproliferations of the GI tract are rare but must be differentiated from aggressive T-cell lymphomas. The WHO-HAEM5 also includes reactive/non-neoplastic lymph node lesions classified according to B or T cell predominance.
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Almost all e-cigarettes contain flavorings that make the product more attractive. In the evaluation of e-cigarettes on health, flavors have so far played a subordinate role. ⋯ The proven consumption-promoting effect and the health risks that can be extrapolated from preclinical data are significant for the political discussion of a ban on flavors for e-cigarettes, analogous to the ban on flavors in tobacco products already in force.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · May 2024
Review[T-cell recruiting immunotherapies in B-cell lymphoma - the future backbone for all therapy lines?].
The introduction of immunologically targeted therapies has represented a significant advancement in the treatment of B-cell lymphomas, particularly aggressive B-cell lymphoma. CD19 CAR-T cells such as Axicabtagen-Ciloleucel (Axi-cel) and Lisocabtagen Maraleucel (Liso-cel) have been approved since 2022 and 2023, respectively, for second-line therapy of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphomas (DLBCL), when there is primary refractory disease or relapse within 12 months after the end of first-line therapy. These therapies result in a significant improvement in progression-free survival compared to the previous standard therapy (salvage chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation). ⋯ They are expected to be used in earlier lines of therapy in the future, especially in combination with standard chemotherapy regimens. Common side effects of bispecific antibody therapies are cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune-mediated cytopenias, whereas immune-cell associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) is relatively rare compared to CD19 CAR T cells. In summary, bispecifics represent a novel, highly effective immunotherapy for the treatment of lymphomas with a very favourable toxicity profile.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · May 2024
[Transition in sickle cell disease - recommendations of the transition initiative sickle cell disease].
Sickle cell disease is a rare, but complex multi-systemic disorder with high need of interdisciplinary and specialized care and new structural requirements. Besides care of those chronically sick patients, transition process is a vulnerable phase which highly influences further treatment. To make matters worse, patients often have migration background with subsequent communication problems. ⋯ These recommendations should improve this vulnerable process in this complex disease to ensure adequate further treatment and to avoid acute and chronic complications but also mental, social or job-related issues. Besides improvement of quality of life, medical treatment and survival, health economic aspects arise. Documents were developed to support and facilitate the transition process and are available under www.sichelzellkrankheit.info/transition/.