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The article discusses on the multicenter study regarding the glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) values reference intervals which are partitioned and measured based on age and gender. Topics mentioned include the blood samples healthy White donors, the use of HbA1c in diagnosing diabetes mellitus, and the conclusion that standardized measurement is considered not sufficient to diagnose prediabetes.

The aim of this study was to assess the long-term impact of high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) as consolidation in a large series (n = 55) of advanced chemosensitive ovarian cancer patients who were optimally cytoreduced at time of first surgery or at interval debulking surgery (IDS). HDC consisted of carboplatin (600 mg/m2 days 1 and 2), etoposide (450 mg/m2 days 1 and 2) and melphalan (50 mg/m2, days 3 and 4). The primary endpoint of the study was the assessment of time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS). In September 2000 the overall population had a median follow-up of 55 months (range 17–137) and a TTP of 35 months with a 5-year TTP rate of 35% (CI 95%: 21–49) whereas OS averaged 75 months with a 5-year OS of 59% (CI 95%: 45–73). In patients achieving optimal primary cytoreduction the median TTP was 44 months with a 5-year rate of 43% (CI 95%: 26–60). In the same series the 5-year OS rate was 62% (CI 95%: 45–79) (median OS = 75 months). In patients who were optimally cytoreduced at the time of IDS the median TTP was 25 months and the 5-year TTP rate was 22% (CI 95%: 3–41) and median OS was 46 months with a 5-year OS rate of 50% (CI 95%: 27–73). HDC with hematopoietic support could represent an effective approach for the treatment of advanced optimally cytoreduced ovarian cancer patients with chemosensitive disease. Patients who underwent IDS because of unresectable tumors at the time of first surgery had the greater survival benefit from HDC. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 27, 1017–1025. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors describe the results obtained in 13 consecutive cases of craniosynostosis operated on according to a protocol devised at avoiding allogeneic blood transfusion. The protocol is based on pre- and postoperative treatment with erythropoietin, preoperative autologous blood donation, preoperative normovolemic hemodilution and intraoperative blood salvage. Nine subjects were affected by simple forms of craniosynostosis, whereas the remaining 4 presented with oxycephaly or craniofacial syndromes. Five of the 13 children were under 7 months and a further 3, under 10 months of age at the time of the surgical operation. Seven children weighed less than 10 kg. Allogeneic blood transfusion was avoided in 11 of the 13 children considered. Two failures – defined as the necessity to reinfuse the patient with an allogeneic blood transfusion – were recorded, 1 of them resulting from an unexpected hemorrhage during surgery. The results obtained indicate that this protocol designed to avoid allogeneic blood transfusion can be safely applied in the great majority of children with craniosynostosis, even when the surgical correction is carried out early in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]