Explore the vast range of titles available.

Background/Objectives: Cancer- or chemotherapy-related cognitive deficit is a common side effect occurring in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. No previous study compared the influence of different types of treatment on the onset and development of chemotherapy cognitive impairment in longitudinal design. The aim of this study was to assess whether a more intensive form of chemotherapy causes greater cognitive impairment. Methods: Forty-four patients at three different stages of the disease and with three different treatments (ABVD + 30 Gy, BEACOPPesc, or ABVD + 30 Gy plus BEACOPPesc) completed the neuropsychological battery and psychological measures of affective distress and quality of life. We compared their cognitive performance before, immediately after, and 6 months after the treatment. Results: Whether or not we divided the total number of people with Hodgkin lymphoma into two groups (mild and moderate disease versus severe disease) or three groups (mild, moderate, and advanced disease), we found no statistically significant difference between the groups in cognitive performance or other psychological factors or experienced quality of life. Conclusions: Our results did not show that disease stage or treatment protocol had an effect on the depth of cognitive impairment in cancer or chemotherapy. We hypothesize that, in terms of brain health, intensive forms of chemotherapy (6 × BEA-COPPesc) do not pose a greater risk than milder forms (4 × ABVD + 30 Gy IF RT and 2 × BEACOPPesc + 4 × ABVD + 30 Gy IF RT) of cancer treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma. However, a limitation of our study is the small number of participants in the study, so it would be advisable to repeat the study on a larger sample of patients. Confirmation of our results could be beneficial in that neither patients nor physicians need to worry that intensive chemotherapy will worsen cognitive deficits.

Published data describing the efficacy and safety of autologous stem-cell transplantation (autoSCT) in post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) is limited to case reports. This is a retrospective analysis of 21 patients reported to the EBMT registry who received an autoSCT for PTLD post solid organ transplant (SOT). Median age at autoSCT was 47 (range: 22–71) years. The commonest SOTs were kidney (48%) and liver (24%). Commonest histologies included DLBCL-type PTLD (14/21) and plasmacytoma-like PTLD (3/21). Patients received a median of two lines of therapy (range: 1–4) pre-autoSCT. ECOG performance status pre-autoSCT was 0 in 14% and 1 in 86%. Remission status pre-autoSCT was CR 47% and PR 38%. BEAM conditioning was used in 57% and high-dose melphalan in 10%. The median follow-up post-autoSCT was 64 months for alive patients. 3-year PFS was 62% [95% confidence interval (CI) 44–87%] and 3-year OS was 61% [95% CI:43–86]. There were 12 deaths, including four related to autoSCT. 100-day non-relapse-mortality (NRM) was 14% and 1-year NRM was 24%. This study suggests that autoSCT, although feasible and with potential therapeutic activity, is associated with a high NRM, primarily driven by infectious toxicity. A multi-disciplinary approach, expert microbiological input and stringent patient selection are required to optimise outcomes.

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is a heterogeneous malignancy with favorable outcomes, but accurate prognostic stratification remains challenging, particularly across all disease stages. Traditional risk models are focused on advanced stages and do not account for tumor microenvironment (TME) dynamics. Soluble cytokines reflecting TME activity may offer additional prognostic value. In our prospective multicenter study, we investigated the prognostic value of pretreatment plasma levels of soluble TARC, sCD30, sCD163, and sIL-6 in 162 newly diagnosed cHL patients and developed a model incorporating these biomarkers for risk prediction across all stages. Cytokine levels were measured using ELISA, and clinical characteristics, treatment responses, and outcomes were collected. The primary endpoint was 5-year progression-free survival (PFS). Elevated levels of sIL-6 and sCD30 were associated with higher disease stage, presence of B-symptoms, extranodal involvement, and inferior 5-year PFS. A novel prognostic model incorporating age, extranodal disease, and high sCD30/sIL-6 levels outperformed IPS-3 in predicting therapy failure. Patients with both elevated sCD30 and sIL-6 levels at diagnosis had significantly worse outcomes. Integrating soluble cytokine biomarkers, particularly sIL-6 and sCD30, into prognostic models enhances risk stratification across all stages of cHL and supports future efforts toward biomarker-driven, personalized treatment strategies.

This study assessed gender-based differences in physical fitness and the relationships between fitness variables and climbing performance among elite youth sports climbers. The research sample included 20 climbers: 11 female (age: 14.82 ± 1.47 years; body mass: 50.92 ± 5.91 kg; body height: 164.27 ± 5.33 cm) and 9 male (age: 14.67 ± 1.41 years; body mass: 57.36 ± 3.67 kg; body height: 173.44 ± 5.71 cm). Generic fitness tests included jump ergometry, the Y-balance test and the adapted Grant foot-raise test. Sport-specific tests included hangboard assessments (maximum finger hang, rate of force development (RFD) and hang time), pull-ups and toe-to-bar exercises. Independent -tests identified gender differences, while Pearson’s correlation coeffcients assessed variable relationships. Males outperformed females in the squat jump ( = 0.04) and countermovement jump ( = 0.03), and the RFD test for the right hand ( = 0.01). Correlation analysis showed that in females, climbing performance was associated with Y-balance test scores (right leg: = 0.79; left leg: = 0.87), maximum finger strength (left hand: = 0.76, < 0.01), maximum relative force ( = 0.80, < 0.01), and hang time ( = 0.65, < 0.05). In males, lead climbing correlated with hang time ( = 0.71, < 0.01) and bouldering with RFD (left hand: = 0.76, < 0.05). These findings reveal significant gender differences and gender-specific performance predictors, highlighting the need for tailored training programmes during developmental stages.

There are multiple sclerosis patients who suffer from an aggressive course of the disease with severe relapses and rapid accumulation of disability despite adequate treatment. In such cases high-dose immunoablation with autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) may be considered. Our objective was to report our experience with 26 multiple sclerosis patients treated with ASCT within the years 1998—2008. Twenty-six patients (Expanded Disability Status Scale 2.5—7.5 (median 6.0), multiple sclerosis duration 2—19 years (median 7)) with aggressive multiple sclerosis underwent autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Stem cells were mobilized by high-dose cyclophosphamide and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, BEAM (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) was used for immunoablation. Patients were evaluated at baseline and every six months post ASCT for adverse events and clinical outcome. Follow-up period was 11—132 months (median 66). Progression-free survival was calculated using the Kaplan— Meier method. At 3 and 6 years of follow-up 70.8% and 29.2% of patients respectively were free of progression. Patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis course, disease duration <5 years and age <35 years had a more favourable outcome. There was no death within 100 days after ASCT. We conclude that ASCT represents a viable and effective treatment option for aggressive multiple sclerosis.

Although rituximab has seen increasing use in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) for many years, its therapeutic role in this disease remains unclear. We retrospectively analyzed data of all patients with ITP treated with rituximab (375 mg/m 2 once weekly for four consecutive weeks) and consecutively entered the findings into the databases of six large academic centers in the Czech Republic. A total of 114 patients were included in the analysis. All of the patients received rituximab as a second or additional line of therapy. The overall response rate (ORR) after rituximab therapy was 72 % [48 % complete response (CR), 24 % partial response (PR)] at month 6, and 69 % (45 % CR, 24 % PR) at month 12. For the group of patients with newly diagnosed (acute) ITP, the results of treatment were significantly better than for the group of patients with persistent or chronic ITP; nonetheless, this group of patients was far too small ( n  = 18) for our findings to be generalized. Multivariate analysis revealed that the ORR was significantly influenced primarily by the number of therapies prior to rituximab (the more previous therapies, the worse treatment response). The results of our analysis “from everyday hematological practice” confirm the high efficiency of rituximab treatment in pretreated adult patients with ITP.

This article aims to expand knowledge of and establish new diagnostic procedures. The purpose of this study was to assess ventilation and circulation parameters during exercise testing by power athletes on Ergoline Ergoselect 200P and AirBike Renegade Pro exercise bikes. The participants consisted of five elite athletes with an average age of 20.8 years. The application of the selected methodological procedures was planned over one week. The parameters included in the analysis were body composition, vital capacity, and circulation parameters of minimum and maximum blood pressure and heart rate. The ventilation parameters measured during the exercise testing included breathing rate, tidal volume, oxygen uptake, and CO2 production. The ventilation parameters were used to determine maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) per kilogram body weight (ml.kg-1.min-1). The respiratory exchange ratio was expressed as the ratio of the metabolic production of carbon dioxide and the uptake of oxygen. When determining training indicators, aerobic and anaerobic zones were interpreted. The descriptive statistics, supplemented by the Spearman's rank-order correlation, were computed. The collected data were processed using nonparametric statistical methods. The differences between two groups were determined at the p < .05 level of significance. The results showed that the time interval required for the test was a determining factor in its practical administration. When performing all-out exercise tests on two different types of ergometers, the mean duration of the cycle ergometer test was 10 min 44 s. The AirBike test duration was shorter by 6 min 32s. Despite a significantly shorter time interval, median VO2max values were higher by 3 ml.kg-1.min-1.

No data are available regarding obesity and outcome in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). We analyzed 263 patients from the AGMT CLL‐8a Mabtenance trial for the impact of obesity. The trial included patients after rituximab‐containing induction treatment in first or second line that had achieved at least a PR. A randomization to rituximab maintenance treatment (375 mg/m2 q3 months for 2 years) vs observation was performed. In this cohort 22% of the patients (58/263) were classified as obese. The baseline response to induction treatment was inferior in obese patients with a lower CR rate (43.1% vs 60.5% in obese vs non‐obese, P = 0.018) and with a lower rate of patients achieving MRD negativity after chemoimmunotherapy induction treatment (19.6% vs 35.8%, P = 0.02). The PFS outcome of obese patients was significantly worse in the observation group of the trial (24 vs 39 months median PFS, P = 0.03). However, in the rituximab maintenance group the outcome for obese vs non‐obese was not different (P = 0.4). In summary, obesity was overall associated with a worse outcome of chemoimmunotherapy induction. However, rituximab maintenance treatment seems to be able to overcome this negative effect. We analyzed 263 patients from the AGMT CLL‐8a Mabtenance trial for the impact of obesity. The trial included patients after rituximab‐containing induction treatment in first or second line that had achieved at least a PR. Obesity was overall associated with a worse outcome of chemoimmunotherapy induction.

High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS) offers higher ionized flux fractions at the cost of lower deposition rates compared to conventional DCMS. A fine optimization of the deposition conditions is crucial for specific applications. Chopped or multi-pulse HiPIMS (segmenting pulses into shorter micropulses) has been proposed to mitigate ion back-attraction and promote working gas recovery. This study investigates how micropulse length, delay time between segments, and magnetic field strength influence energy flux, deposition rate, and ionized flux fraction in chopped and standard HiPIMS. These quantities are evaluated by passive thermal probe, biasable QCM and mass spectrometer measurements at the substrate position. Deposition-averaged and pulse-averaged power is kept constant for all conditions to facilitate meaningful comparison. Results indicate that chopping the HiPIMS pulse consistently leads to higher energy flux and total deposition rate compared to standard HiPIMS at the same total pulse length, primarily due to increased ion flux. A weaker unbalanced magnetic field configuration enhances deposition rates and ion transport. In chopped HiPIMS, increasing micropulse length decreased energy flux and deposition rates, whereas increasing the delay time between micropulses substantially improved these parameters. Importantly, standard HiPIMS, which operated at higher frequencies and short pulse lengths, demonstrated superior performance (with higher total energy and particle fluxes) than chopped HiPIMS when compared at similar short pulse durations. This suggests that consistent short pulse durations and sufficient off-times for complete gas refill are paramount for maximizing ion fluxes and deposition rates.

Time-resolved Langmuir probe diagnostics at the discharge centerline and at three distances from the target (35mm, 60mm, and 100mm) was carried out during long positive voltage pulses (a duration of 500\\(\\mu\\)s and a preset positive voltage of 100V) in bipolar High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering of a Ti target (a diameter of 100mm) using an unbalanced magnetron. Fast-camera spectroscopy imaging recorded light emission from Ar and Ti atoms and singly charged ions during positive voltage pulses. It was found that during the long positive voltage pulse, the floating and the plasma potentials suddenly decrease, which is accompanied by the presence of anode light located on the discharge centerline between the target center and the magnetic null of the magnetron's magnetic field. These light patterns are related to the ignition of a reverse discharge, which leads to the subsequent rise in the plasma and the floating potentials. The reversed discharge is burning up to the end of the positive voltage pulse, but the plasma and floating potentials have lower values than the values from the initial part of the positive voltage pulse. Secondary electron emission induced by the impinging Ar\\(^+\\) ions to the grounded surfaces in the vicinity of the discharge plasma together with the mirror configuration of the magnetron magnetic field are identified as the probable causes of the charge double-layer structure formation in front of the target and the ignition of the reverse discharge.