Annals of hematology
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Annals of hematology · Apr 2007
Early hospital discharge with oral antimicrobial therapy in patients with hematologic malignancies and low-risk febrile neutropenia.
Although consensus exists relating criteria for the identification of low-risk patients with febrile neutropenia, no clear indication on how to manage these patients has been so far provided particularly in outpatients affected by hematologic malignancies. The feasibility and safety of early discharge was prospectively evaluated in 100 outpatients with hematologic malignancies and febrile neutropenia. A strategy considering the risk-index of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) was applied. ⋯ The MASCC risk-index is a useful aid in the identification of high-risk febrile neutropenia needing whole in-hospital treatment. As for low-risk patients, hospitalization at least in the first days of fever is required. Cefixime could be included among the oral antibacterial drugs to be used in the outpatient treatment of adult patients with febrile neutropenia.
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Annals of hematology · Apr 2007
Clinical TrialRituximab plus ASHAP for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a single-centre study of 20 patients.
The anti-CD20 antibody rituximab improves the results of first-line therapy in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of B cell lineage. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate its efficacy and toxicity in combination with the doxorubicine, methylprednisolone, high-dose cytarabine, cisplatin (ASHAP) protocol, an established treatment regimen for relapsed or refractory aggressive NHL. After a median of four cycles, 9 of 20 patients treated achieved a complete remission and 6 a partial remission, resulting in a total response rate of 75%. ⋯ At the time of analysis, six patients have died. After a median observation time of 17.5 months, the 2-year overall survival rate is 62%. ASHAP plus rituximab is an active and well-tolerated salvage protocol for patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive NHL, which compares favourably with other immuno-chemotherapy regimens, especially in patients with primary refractory or transformed indolent lymphomas.
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Annals of hematology · Apr 2007
Teaching hematology to second year medical students: results of a national survey of hematology course directors.
Increasing clinical productivity expectations at academic medical centers and new faculty effort reporting requirements for NIH-supported investigators challenge the tradition of faculty volunteerism for medical student teaching. To better define the structure, content, and financial support of second year medical school hematology courses nationwide, we mailed a survey to the hematology course directors at 85 of the 125 accredited US medical schools. The 58 course directors who returned the survey represent all regions of the US and both public and private medical schools. ⋯ Only three of the course directors indicated that they received salary support for this role. These findings suggest that a national effort to define learning objectives for the hematology courses and to share teaching materials among medical schools is warranted. Little financial support is provided for the hematology course, and these findings compel the identification of resources to pay faculty for teaching medical student required courses.