Humoral deficiencies represent a broad group of disorders. The aim of the study was to compare the levels of antibodies against pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides (anti-PCP) and natural anti-galactosyl (anti-Gal) antibodies in (1) patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), (2) patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), and (3) a healthy population and to explore their diagnostic and prognostic potential. Serum immunoglobulin levels and levels of anti-Gal IgG, IgA, and IgM and anti-PCP IgG and IgG2 were determined in 59 CLL patients, 30 CVID patients, and 67 healthy controls. Levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, anti-Gal IgA, anti-Gal IgM, and anti-PCP IgA were lower in CLL and CVID patients than in healthy controls (p value for all parameters < 0.0001). Decrease in the levels of IgA, IgM, anti-Gal IgA, and anti-PCP IgA was less pronounced in the CLL group than in the CVID group. IgA decline, anti-Gal IgA, anti-PCP IgA, and anti-PCP IgG2 were negatively correlated with CLL stage. We devise the evaluation of anti-Gal antibodies to be a routine test in humoral immunodeficiency diagnostics, even in cases of immunoglobulin substitution therapy. Significant reductions, mainly in anti-Gal IgA, IgM, and anti-PCP IgA levels, may have prognostic importance in CLL patients.

BACKGROUND:Patients with head and neck cancer are predominantnly at the risk for malnutrition. Monitoring of nutritional status and pre-treatment variables can favorably observe many prognostic indicators for overall survival in head and neck cancer before and during oncological treatment up to three years in head and neck cancer pacients. MATERIALS AND METHODS:In 726 patients diagnosed head and neck cancer patients with curative intent, were collected data according to the monitoring scheme of observation. As a clinical important of uninteded weight loss was defined weight loss 10% in input (T0). Differences in groups were analysed by Coxs regression with adjustments for important demografic and tumor-related data. RESULTS:The acceptance of the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy was a key factor for less complications and to improve tolerance of anticancer treatment. Men-smokers have the highest risk of cardiovascular mortality. Men-stop-smokers have the most significant life extension of 11 to 22 months; p < 0.007. Men-non-smokers have a life extension of 15 to 23 months (p < 0.005) and having its lowest cardiovascular mortality (11%). Women tolerate cancer better, have minor subjective complaints and a lower number of complications but significantly higher consumption of antidepressants (p < 0.003). While men have higher analgesic consumption (p < 0.001). Weight loss > 10% significantly correlates with the clinical manifestations of malnutrition and is associated with an increase in complications and mortality dependent cancer (p < 0.008). CONCLUSION:Consistent assessment of nutritional status with early intervention is considered as an essential part of comprehensive anticancer treatment. An independent risk factor for cancer-dependent mortality is considered weight loss of > 5% with a BMI < 21 at time T0 or weight loss > 10% weight T0 in BMI 21- 29 and continuing weight loss to T12 and also BMI 30. The highest-risk profile has a male sex-smoker, age > 63, hypopharyngeal carcinoma, stage III- IV, weight loss of > 10% and non-acceptance of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Another long-term observation of monitored nutritional status with intervention, clinical status and quality of life are needed.

OBJECTIVE:To determine the incidence of infection with ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus (CMV) in adult allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. Clinical resistance or treatment failure was defined as persistent DNAemia or increasing viral load in peripheral blood after 2 weeks of virostatic treatment. The association between the treatment failure and viral resistance was analysed. The presence of ganciclovir-resistant CMV strains was confirmed by genotypic testing able to detect mutations conferring resistance.METHODS:In 2012 and 2014, 40 patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT for hematologic malignancies and were treated for human CMV reactivation/disease were followed up prospectively. In patients with treatment failure, CMV DNA was isolated and analysed by nucleotide sequence analysis of the UL 97 and UL 54 genes conferring resistance to the virostatic agent.RESULTS:The treatment failure occurred in seven patients, but ganciclovir resistance conferring mutations were only detected in two of them (mutations L595F and M460I in the UL 97 gene). Another mutation in the UL 97 gene (N510S) was found in a patient with recurrent CMV replication who needed to be retreated but did not meet the criteria for treatment failure.CONCLUSION:The low incidence of genetically confirmed ganciclovir-resistant CMV isolates in HSCT recipients with relatively common clinical treatment failure suggests that the mechanism underlying slower viral clearance is often other than mutations conferring ganciclovir resistance to the virus.

BACKGROUND:Malnutrition in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients decreases survival, quality of life (QOL) and oncological outcomes. The aim of the prospective three-year study was to compare QOL, clinical symptoms and variables (complications, survival and mortality rates in HNC patients).PATIENTS AND METHODS:A total of 726 patients aged 55 to 72 years with treatable HNC were included from January 2004 to December 2009; these patients were randomized to either group with PEG and enteral nutrition and nonPEG group with nutritional counselling according to nutritional care. We used EORTC questionnaires QOL C-30 and Head and neck module (HN-35) for measuring of QOL. The following variables due to expectable influence on QOL (demographic data, oncological data, nutritional screening, Clinical symptom score, Karnofsky performance status score, Charlson comorbidity index) were included. Monitoring was done five times in three years.RESULTS:In the first six months, we found decrease of weight and body mass index (BMI). After this critical time point and finish of oncological treatment, a marked difference in the development of patients treated with PEG. Negative factors influencing patients survival, QOL, clinical status were males aged > 63 years, hypopharyngeal cancer (stage III- IV), smoking, weight loss > 10%, BMI < 21 and disallowance of PEG.CONCLUSIONS:QOL is an essential factor for cancer patients. Our study showed that nutritional intervention with early enteral nutrition may improve QOL and survival in HNC patients. The PEG group better tolerated oncological treatment, had lower incidence of complications, shorter time to re-entry of permanent increase in weight, lower rate of rehospitalization and its shorter length. We found QOL questionnaires to be very important for better understanding and communication and a key instrument for improving solution of patients difficulties during their therapy in multidisciplinary approach.