https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/45338 Sun, 08 Nov 2026 10:46:35 GMT 2026-11-08T10:46:35Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150609 Title: The applicability of prognostic models under rituximab-dose-adjusted EPOCH (R-DA-EPOCH) in primary mediastinal large b-cell lymphoma (PMLBCL) : a comparison with R-CHOP Authors: Vassilakopoulos, Theodoros; Ferhanoglu, B.; Horowitz, Na; Apostolidis, J.; Mellios, Z.; Piperidou, Alexia; Kaynar, L.; Zektser, M.; Giotas, Asterios; Symeonidis, A.; Kalpadakis, C.; Agathocleous, A.; Akay, Om; Sayyed, A.; Atalar, Sc; Katodritou, E.; Leonidopoulou, T.; Papageorgiou, Sg.; Tadmor, T.; Gutwein, O.; Karakatsanis, S.; Ganzel, C.; Karianakis, G.; Isenberg, G. Y.; Gainaru, G.; Vrakidou, E.; Palassopoulou, M.; Ozgur, M.; Siakantaris, Marina; Paydas, S.; Tsirigotis, P.; Tsirogianni, M.; Hatzimichael, E.; Tugular, Tf.; Assimakopoulos, Jv; Ligdi, L.; Liaskas, A.; Lefaki, Maria Aikaterini; Labropoulou, P.; Kopsaftopoulou, A.; Verrou, E,; Kanellias, M.; Zikos, P.; Koumarianou, A.; Gafter- Gvili, A.; Angelopoulou, Mk; Karmiris, T.; Gurion, R. Abstract: Abstract Topic: 19. Aggressive Non-Hodgkin lymphoma - Clinical; Background: The rarity of PMLBCL has prevented the development of dedicated, powerful and validated prognostic systems. The International Prognostic Index (IPI) and its age-adjusted variant are of questionable value under R-CHOP±radiotherapy (RT). Recently, we published two potential prognostic systems for PMLBCL: The first combined the presence of extranodal disease (stage IV or simply extranodal extension; E/IV) with elevated LDH exceeding twice the upper normal limit (LDH>2x) (E/IV-LDH2x model). The second combined E/IV with bulky disease ≥10 cm (E/IV-bulk). The potentially improved outcomes with R-da-EPOCH render the identification of powerful prognostic factors even harder and the applicability of prognostic models questionable.; Aims: To assess the applicability of the E/IV-LDH2x and E/IV-bulk prognostic models in the setting of PMLBCL treated with R-da-EPOCH and minimal use of RT in a multinational real-life setting.; Methods: In Hellenic, Israeli, Turkish, Saudi, Maltese and Cypriot Centers, 258 patients (<65 years) with PMLBCL were treated under the R-da-EPOCH program. Consolidative RT was given at the treating physician’s discretion in a minority of patients (~15%) usually based on PET/CT results. Full data regarding the E/IV-LDH2x and E/IV-bulk models were available in 253 and 244 patients respectively. Survival data were compared numerically with a previously published Hellenic-Cypriot series of 332 PMLBCL patients (≤65 years old) treated with R-CHOP (Vassilakopoulos et al. Oncologist; 2021;26:597-609).; Results: The 5-year Freedom From Progression (FFP) after R-da-EPOCH was 84.7%. However, 5 patients developed therapy-related (t-)AML at 10.5-24 months from treatment initiation, while in 1st remission. The 5-year Lymphoma-Specific Survival (LSS) was 91.7%. Protocol violations were common (53%), mainly consisting of insufficient dose escalation despite the absence of prohibitive toxicity. As shown in the table, the distribution of patients with 0,1 or 2 adverse factors in the E/IV-LDH2x and E/IV-bulk were almost identical in the R-CHOP- and the R-da-EPOCH-treated populations despite the diverse ethnic origin. With less marked differences between the prognostic subgroups and less events, the prognostic models produced statistically significant results of lower magnitude after R-da-EPOCH compared to R-CHOP. Interestingly, patients with no adverse factors by either model had virtually identical 5-year FFP (88-90%) and LSS (96% for the E/IV-LDH2x and 98-99% for the E/IV-bulk model) irrespectively of treatment with R-CHOP or R-da-EPOCH. The use of RT was much more frequent with R-CHOP (data to be precisely presented in the Meeting). Patients with 1 risk factor had 7-12% better FFP in absolute terms and 4-8% better LSS with R-da-EPOCH compared to R-CHOP. Patients with 2 risk factors had 11-15% better FFP but virtually no difference in LSS when treated with R-da-EPOCH.; Summary/Conclusion: Prognostic models derived from R-CHOP-treated populations are also applicable under R-da-EPOCH, although less discriminative. This comparative study suggests that R-CHOP may be sufficient in patients with no adverse factors but the need of RT remains an open question. Patients with one or multiple adverse factors appear to do better than with R-CHOP. A final analysis of ~290 R-da-EPOCH patients will be presented. The application of the above prognostic models might facilitate the selection of optimal R-da-EPOCH candidates with the hope to avoid severe toxicity, including t-AML. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150609 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/131558 Title: Il-Passjoni ta' Ġesù mill-aspett mediku Abstract: Meta wieħed jixref sewwa l-fatti skont il-Bibbja u jiflihom fi sfond anatomiku, fiżjoloġiku, patologiku u psikoloġiku, jista' jibda jifhem minn xiex seta' għadda Ġesu f'dawk is-siegħat ta' tortura estrema, u x'setgħu kienu l-fatturi Ii wasslu għal mewtu. Għalkemm huwa diffiċli Ii wieħed ikun ċert għal kollox minn kollox, nistgħu naslu ghal dak Ii kien possibbli, jekk mhux probabbli, ta' kif svolġiet is-sitwazzjoni medika fil-ġisem ta' Ġesù matul il-passjoni. Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/131558 2012-03-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/105873 Title: Further observations on goats, cats, rats, and ambulatory cases in connection with Mediterranean fever Abstract: The advisory committee having suggested the advisability of making observations to determine whether or not there existed a seasonal prevalence of Mediterranean Fever amongst goats such as exist amongst men, I proceeded during the first week in March, 1906, to re-examine the goats supplying milk to Bighi Hospital in order to be able to compare the winter prevalence then found with the summer prevalence previously ascertained by me in the same group of goats in June to July, 1905. This examination was commenced on March 3 and finished on March 11. At this period 74 goats were supplying milk to this hospital as against 91 goats at the previous examination. The component herds were the same on both occasions, but the smaller number in the winter was due to the larger average yield of milk per goat at the period associated with a somewhat smaller number of patients in hospital. Mon, 01 Jan 1906 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/105873 1906-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/105711 Title: Mediterranean fever in goats, cows, and other animals Abstract: This articles discusses experiments conducted to test to what degree goats, cattle and other animals are susceptible to Mediterranean fever. The manner in which animals become infected with Mediterranean fever is a matter of considerable interest and importance. Up to the present all the evidence available points to their food as being the main vehicle of infection. Sun, 01 Jul 1906 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/105711 1906-07-01T00:00:00Z