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Acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia (AMkL) is a rare subtype of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) representing 5% of all reported cases, and frequently diagnosed in children with Down syndrome. Patients diagnosed with AMkL have low overall survival and have poor outcome to treatment, thus novel therapies such as CAR T cell therapy could represent an alternative in treating AMkL. We investigated the effect of a new CAR T cell which targets CD41, a specific surface antigen for M7‐AMkL, against an in vitro model for AMkL, DAMI Luc2 cell line. The performed flow cytometry evaluation highlighted a percentage of 93.8% CAR T cells eGFP‐positive and a limited acute effect on lowering the target cell population. However, the interaction between effector and target (E:T) cells, at a low ratio, lowered the cell membrane integrity, and reduced the M7‐AMkL cell population after 24 h of co‐culture, while the cytotoxic effect was not significant in groups with higher E:T ratio. Our findings suggest that the anti‐CD41 CAR T cells are efficient for a limited time spawn and the cytotoxic effect is visible in all experimental groups with low E:T ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our primary objective was to describe the baseline characteristics, main reasons for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and interventions required in the ICU across patients who received CAR-T cell immunotherapy. The secondary objectives were to evaluate different outcomes (ICU mortality) across patients admitted to the ICU after having received CAR-T cell therapy. Materials and Methods. We performed a medical literature review, which included MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library, of studies published from the inception of the databases until 2022. We conducted a systematic review with meta-analyses of proportions of several studies, including CAR-T cell-treated patients who required ICU admission. Outcomes in the meta-analysis were evaluated using the random-effects model. Results: We included four studies and analyzed several outcomes, including baseline characteristics and ICU-related findings. CAR-T cell recipients admitted to the ICU are predominantly males (62% CI-95% (57–66)). Of the total CAR-T cell recipients, 4% CI-95% (3–5) die in the hospital, and 6% CI-95% (4–9) of those admitted to the ICU subsequently die. One of the main reasons for ICU admission is acute kidney injury (AKI) in 15% CI-95% (10–19) of cases and acute respiratory failure in 10% CI-95% (6–13) of cases. Regarding the interventions initiated in the ICU, 18% CI-95% (13–22) of the CAR-T recipients required invasive mechanical ventilation during their ICU stay, 23% CI-95% (16–30) required infusion of vasoactive drugs, and 1% CI-95% (0.1–3) required renal replacement therapy (RRT). 18% CI-95% (13–22) of the initially discharged patients were readmitted to the ICU within 30 days, and the mean length of hospital stay is 22 days CI-95% (19–25). The results paint a current state of matter in CAR-T cell recipients admitted to the ICU. Conclusions: To better understand immunotherapy-related complications from an ICU standpoint, acknowledge the deteriorating patient on the ward, reduce the ICU admission rate, advance ICU care, and improve the outcomes of these patients, a standard of care and research regarding CAR-T cell-based immunotherapies should be created. Studies that are looking from the perspective of intensive care are highly warranted because the available literature regarding this area is scarce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of cupric oxide (CuO) films on cost-efficient, optical grade borosilicate-crown glass substrates (BK7) via chemical spray pyrolysis (CSP), either in pure form or with a low concentration of Al doping (below 1%), is presented and discussed. As a non-toxic p-type semiconductor, exhibiting monoclinic crystal structure and widely tuneable band gap (Eg), it is used in various applications. The optical properties, morphology and crystalline phases of CuO films are influenced by substrate temperature during thin film growth (annealing) and also by chemical doping very often introduced to modify grain boundary energy. The importance of our research subject is therefore perfectly justified and is essentially based on the fact that the potential fields of application are wide. Thus, herein we emphasize impact of the annealing stage and Al doping upon the structural, optical and electrical properties of the resulting product. Raman spectroscopy analysis confirms the presence of vibrational bands characteristic of a CuO phase, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms the polycrystalline nature of the pure films. The thickness of the CuO films grown at 350 °C over three annealing intervals is proportional to the annealing time, while the crystallite phase in the films is proportional with the annealing temperature. Furthermore, XRD analysis of the Al:CuO films indicates the formation of a monoclinic-type structure (CuO phase) exhibiting a preferred orientation along the (002) plane, together with a significant grain size reduction from ~88 to ~45 nm as Al content increases. The transmittance spectra (between 400 and 800 nm) reveal a decrease in the transmittance from 48% to 15% with as the Al doping ratio increases. Additionally, the bandgap energy of the films is measured, modelled and discussed, using data from an ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer. The calculated Eg is approximately 3.5 eV, which decreases with respect to the increasing annealing temperature, while the electrical resistivity varies from ~19 to ~4.6 kOhm.cm. Finally, perspectives and applications of CuO films are suggested, since the films are found to have a remarkable improvement in their structure and optical properties when doped with Al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquired haemophilia (AH) is a rare disorder characterized by bleeding in patients with no personal or family history of coagulation/clotting‐related diseases. This disease occurs when the immune system, by mistake, generates autoantibodies that target FVIII, causing bleeding. Small RNAs from plasma collected from AH patients (n = 2), mild classical haemophilia (n = 3), severe classical haemophilia (n = 3) and healthy donors (n = 2), for sequencing by Illumina, NextSeq500. Based on bioinformatic analysis, AH patients were compared to all experimental groups and a significant number of altered transcripts were identified with one transcript being modified compared to all groups at fold change level. The Venn diagram shows that haemoglobin subunit alpha 1 was highlighted to be the common upregulated transcript in AH compared to classical haemophilia and healthy patients. Non‐coding RNAs might play a role in AH pathogenesis; however, due to the rarity of HA, the current study needs to be translated on a larger number of AH samples and classical haemophilia samples to generate more solid data that can confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this first volume, we cover relevant aspects of chemical and physical processes of the production and characterization of magnetic materials in bulk, thin films, nanostructures, and/or nanocomposites, as well as modeling aspects involving such structures. Accordingly, this volume presents eleven original research and review works on the challenges and trends covering fundamental and experimental work, with a special focus on the design, synthesis, and characterization of various types of magnetic materials, and the study of their structure–property relationships. State-of-the-art results on the development of new experimental concepts, leading to the transfer, chemical transformation, and high-resolution patterning of advanced thin films and nanomaterials, and to the design and fabrication of devices, are also presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy that affects an increasing number of patients worldwide. Despite all the efforts to understand its pathogenesis and develop new treatment modalities, MM remains an incurable disease. Novel immunotherapies, such as CAR T cell therapy (CAR) and bispecific T cell engagers (BiTE), are intensively targeting different surface antigens, such as BMCA, SLAMF7 (CS1), GPRC5D, FCRH5 or CD38. However, stem cell transplantation is still indispensable in transplant-eligible patients. Studies suggest that the early use of immunotherapy may improve outcomes significantly. In this review, we summarize the currently available clinical literature on CAR and BiTE in MM. Furthermore, we will compare these two T cell-based immunotherapies and discuss potential therapeutic approaches to promote development of new clinical trials, using T cell-based immunotherapies, even as bridging therapies to a transplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, elusive, and life-threatening condition that is characterized by the pathologic and uncontrolled secondary activation of the cytotoxic T-cells, natural killer cells (NK-cells), and macrophages of the innate immune system. This condition can develop in sporadic or familial contexts associated with hematological malignancies, as a paraneoplastic syndrome, or linked to an infection related to immune system deficiency. This leads to the systemic inflammation responsible for the overall clinical manifestations. Diagnosis should be thorough, and treatment should be initiated as soon as possible. In the current manuscript, we focus on classifying the HLH spectrum, describing the pathophysiology and the tools needed to search for and correctly identify HLH, and the current therapeutic opportunities. We also present the first case of a multiple myeloma patient that developed HLH following therapy with the ixazomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This joint Special Issue presents modern approaches in the recent advances in stem cell transplantation for the hematological patient, with a special emphasis on progress in conditioning chemotherapy and cellular therapies. The prospect of providing a definitive alternative therapy for various malignancies, rather than conventional chemotherapy management, is indeed clinically, socially, and economically attractive, due to the huge medical, social, and economic burden that a malignancy imposes. Hematological malignancies are considered to be one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity in the modern world. [Extracted from the article]

Patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), ineligible for intensive chemotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplantation, have a dismal prognosis. For such cases, hypomethylating agents are a viable alternative, but with limited success. Combination chemotherapy using a hypomethylating agent plus another drug would potentially bring forward new alternatives. In the present manuscript, we present the cell and molecular background for a clinical scenario of a 44-year-old patient, diagnosed with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, diagnosed, and treated with a synchronous AML. Once the ovarian carcinoma relapsed, maintenance treatment with olaparib was initiated. Concomitantly, the bone marrow aspirate showed 30% myeloid blasts, consistent with a relapse of the underlying haematological disease. Azacytidine 75 mg/m2 treatment was started for seven days. The patient was administered two regimens of azacytidine monotherapy, additional to the olaparib-based maintenance therapy. After the second treatment, the patient presented with leucocytosis and 94% myeloid blasts on the bone marrow smear. Later, the patient unfortunately died. Following this clinical scenario, we reproduced in vitro the combination chemotherapy of azacytidine plus olaparib, to accurately assess the basic mechanisms of leukaemia progression, and resistance to treatment. Combination chemotherapy with drugs that theoretically target both malignancies might potentially be of use. Still, further research, both pre-clinical and clinical, is needed to accurately assess such cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work serves as a roadmap for the development of a Vanadium dioxide (VO2)-Iridium composite based on the self-assembly of closely packed colloidal polystyrene microspheres (Pspheres) coupled with a Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) process. The self-assembly of a monolayer of PS is performed on an Al2O3 -c substrate, using an adapted Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) process. Then, on the substrate covered with P-spheres, a 50-nanometer Iridium layer is deposited by PLD. The Iridium deposition is followed by the removal of PS with acetone, revealing an array of triangular shaped metallic elements formed on the underlaying substrate. In a last deposition step, 50-, 100- and 200-nanometer thin films of VO2 are deposited by PLD on top of the substrates covered with the Iridium quasi-triangles, forming a composite. Adapting the size of the P-spheres leads to control of both the size of the Iridium micro-triangle and, consequently, the optical transmittance of the composite. Owing to their shape and size the Iridium micro-triangles exhibit localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) characterized by a selective absorption of light. Due to the temperature dependent properties of VO2, the LSPR properties of the composite can be changeable and tunable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by the acquisition of several genetic lesions in the lymphoid progenitors with subsequent proliferation advantage and lack of maturation. Along the years, it has been repeatedly shown that minimal residual disease (MRD) plays an important role in prognosis and therapy choice. The aim of the current study was to determine the prognostic role of MRD in childhood ALL patients in conjunction with other relevant patient and disease characteristics, thus showing the real-life scenario of childhood ALL. Patients and Methods: The retrospective study includes childhood ALL patients that were treated according to the BFM ALL IC 2009 between January 2016 and December 2018 at the Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania. Results: None of the variables significantly influenced the induction-related death in our study. None of the variables independently predicted relapse-free survival (RFS) with the highest tendency for statistical significance being represented by poor prednisone response. Non-relapse mortality (NRM) was independently predicted by age, prednisone response, and day 33 flow cytometry-MRD (FCM-MRD). Overall survival (OS) was independently predicted by prednisone response and day 33 FCM-MRD. Event-free survival (EFS) was independently predicted by age, prednisone response, and day 33 FCM-MRD. Conclusion : Prednisone response, day 15 FCM-MRD, day 33 FCM-MRD, and the risk group represent the most important factors that in the current study independently predict childhood ALL prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell technology has seen a rapid development over the last decade mostly due to the potential that these cells may have in treating malignant diseases. It is a generally accepted principle that very few therapeutic compounds deliver a clinical response without treatment-related toxicity, and studies have shown that CAR T-cells are not an exception to this rule. While large multinational drug companies are currently investigating the potential role of CAR T-cells in hematological oncology, the potential of such cellular therapies are being recognized worldwide as they are expected to expand in the patient to support the establishment of the immune memory, provide a continuous surveillance to prevent and/or treat a relapse, and keep the targeted malignant cell subpopulation in check. In this article, we present the possible advantages of using CAR T-cells in treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia, presenting the technology and the current knowledge in their preclinical and early clinical trial use. Thus, this article first presents the main present-day knowledge on the standard of care for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Afterward, current knowledge is presented about the use of CAR T-cells in cancer immunotherapy, describing their design, the molecular constructs, and the preclinical data on murine models to properly explain the background for their clinical use. Last, but certainly not least, this article presents the use of CAR T-cells for the immunotherapy of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, describing both their potential clinical advantages and the possible side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present and discuss results on the thermal behaviour of 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydroacridine (OHA), together with six 9-substituted congeners, i.e. R = -Br, -OCH, -NH, -NO, -OH, and furyl (-CHO), and their corresponding N(10)- oxides, under nitrogen atmosphere and with alumina as reference, at a heating rate of 5 °C min from room temperature to 300 °C. Chromatography has been carried out on aluminium sheets, with aluminium oxide 60 F254 neutral (Merck). Melting effects are observed for almost all compounds in their corresponding curves, precisely determined by using a Boetius apparatus. Homolysis of the carbon-substituent bond occurs in most cases, a phenomenon which is consistent with the values of the bond dissociation energy. For all compounds, except for hydroxyl congeners, thermal decomposition started with an endothermic peak. Octahydroacridines readily decompose into volatile products, an effect which correlates with their low melting points, while little amounts of residue remain in place of the aromatic amines compared to the N(10)-oxides. The presence of N-O bonds greatly influences the thermal stability of the compound, in the sense of increasing it compared with the parent amine. Quantitative studies of the decomposition products reveal that the melting points, the 9-position substituent, and N-O bond all play an important role upon the thermal behaviour. Mechanistic/kinetic pathways are also proposed as such results are important in further designing laser processing protocols, i.e. matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) or laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT), for thin film deposition and/or device printing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin solid pixels made of Ag/PMMA stacks have been fabricated by laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT), to be tested as thin film microcapacitors in organic electronics applications. The square-shaped laser-printed pixels have a lateral size of ∼350 μm, and the thickness of the dielectric film was varied between 100 and 1500 nm. The pixels were deposited on electrode structures made by LIFT printing of silver nanoparticles ink and paste. Optimal printing conditions led to the fabrication of microcapacitors with typical capacitance in the pF range, tuned by changing the properties of the multilayered structure (e.g. pixel size and/or thickness of the dielectric). Their stability was also investigated over time. We discuss on the morphological and electrical properties of such laser-printed structures, with respect to the impact resistance of the polymer and its suitability for the LIFT process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanowalls (CNW) are two-dimensional interconnected graphitic nanostructures that have a few μm in length and height, reaching typical thicknesses of a few tens of nm. We present results on such layers synthesized in a low pressure argon plasma jet, injected with acetylene and hydrogen, on transparent substrates (quartz) heated at 600 °C, without catalyst. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that the CNW are stable up to 420 °C in air, and Raman spectroscopy investigations highlight their graphene-like structure. Finally, using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser device (355 nm, 50 ps), we show that 2D-arrays of CNW (pixels and lines) can be printed by laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT), preserving their architecture and structure. Electrical measurements on 1 μm thick CNW demonstrate typical values in the range of 357.5–358.4 Ω for the samples grown on Au/Cr electrodes, and in the range of 450.1–474.7 Ω for the LIFT printed lines (under positive, negative, and neutral polarization; 1 kHz–5 MHz frequency range; 500 mV and 1 V, respectively). Their morphology is highlighted by means of optical and electronic microscopy. Such structures have potential applications as soft conductive lines, in sensor development and/or embedding purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared detectors are used in many human activities, from industry to military, telecommunications, environmental studies and even medicine. Bismuth oxide thin films have proved their potential for optoelectronic applications, but their uses as infrared sensors have not been thoroughly studied so far. In this paper, pulsed laser ablation of pure bismuth targets within a controlled oxygen atmosphere is proposed for the deposition of bismuth oxide films on Si (100) substrates. Crystalline films were obtained, whose uniformity depends on the deposition conditions (number of laser pulses and the use of a radio-frequency (RF) discharge of the oxygen inside the deposition chamber). The optical analysis proved that the refractive index of the films is higher than 3 and that their optical bandgap is around 1eV, recommending them for infrared applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a dire need to develop an algorithm to improve the recognition of acquired hemophilia A and B (AHA and AHB) in clinical practice. Initial and intensive care unit (ICU) management of the disorder is particular and represents a challenge for the internist/hematologist and the ICU physician. A delay in the proper treatment of bleeding episodes can lead to a life-threatening event. Expert advice should be sought as soon as possible. Succesful resolution involves accurate diagnosis, bleeding control with hemostatic and immunotherapy, and eradication of the autoantibodies to improve overall survival. Current treatment guidelines are based on the literature in the form of cases and observational studies due to a lack of randomized controlled trials. AH can be triggered by many pathologies, presenting as a paraneoplastic syndrome in case of malignancies or as surgical associated acquired hemophilia (SAHA). We have reviewed the literature from 2015 to 2021 regarding the new case reports to further assess if there is an improvement in the clinical approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Ferrocenecarboxaldehyde thin films are grown on silicon substrates, by MAPLE. [•] Thin films with low roughness and preserved chemical structure are obtained. [•] Second harmonic generation capabilities of films are evidenced. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ferrocene – Fe(C5H5)2, the prototypical metallocene, is a type of organometallic chemical compound consisting of two cyclopentadienyl rings bound on opposite sides of a central iron atom. We discuss here on the growth of high quality, nanometric-sized ferrocene thin films by a non-conventional technique, i.e. matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE), on silicon and ITO coated glass substrates, by using a Nd:YAG pulsed laser device emitting at 266 nm (4ω). Spectroscopic-ellipsometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy techniques were used to investigate the structure, morphology and optical properties of the films. Low-to-medium second harmonic generation capabilities of the films were evidenced, when irradiated by a femtosecond Ti:sapphire pulsed laser. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Soft magnetic materials are at the core of electromagnetic devices. Planar transformers are essential pieces of equipment working at high frequency. Usually, their magnetic core is made of various types of ferrites or iron-based alloys. An upcoming alternative might be the replacement the ferrites with FINEMET-type alloys, of nominal composition of Fe73.5Si13.5B9Cu3Nb1 (at. %). FINEMET is a nanocrystalline material exhibiting excellent magnetic properties at high frequencies, a soft magnetic alloy that has been in the focus of interest in the last years thanks to its high saturation magnetization, high permeability, and low core loss. Here, we present and discuss the measured and modelled properties of this material. Owing to the limits of the experimental set-up, an estimate of the total magnetic losses within this magnetic material is made, for values greater than the measurement limits of the magnetic flux density and frequency, with reasonable results for potential applications of FINMET-type alloys and thin films in high frequency planar transformer cores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The examination of vital signs and their changes during illness can alert physicians to possible impending deterioration and organ dysfunction. The Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) is used worldwide as a track and trigger system that can help to identify patients at risk of critical illness. Thus, the current study aimed to assess the ability of MEWS to predict the mortality of hematologic patients at the point of transfer from the ward to the intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and Methods: The present study was retrospective, longitudinal, and observational, conducted at an oncology hospital in the city of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. We included 174 patients with hematological disorders transferred from the ward to the ICU between the 1st of January 2018 and the 1st of May 2020. We assessed the MEWS at the moment of admission in these patients in the ICU. The accuracy of MEWS in predicting mortality was assessed via the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC), and sensitivity, specificity, and hazard ratio (HR) were calculated for different MEWS cutoffs. MEWS values considering the status at discharge and frequency of death by MEWS were also analyzed. Results: We calculated MEWS values considering the status at discharge (p < 0.0001), and we assessed the frequency of death by MEWS. We also calculated the hazard ratio (HR) of death depending on the selected MEWS cutoff. The best cutoff point was found to be ≥6, with an accuracy of 0.667, sensitivity of 0.675, specificity of 0.646, and AUC of 0.731. Patients with higher MEWS had a higher probability of mortality. Conclusion: The MEWS and cutoff points were determined on a sample of hematologic patients at the moment of admission to the ICU. The final aim is to encourage physicians to use these scores to improve awareness of organ failure to admit patients to the ICU sooner and limit overall morbidity and mortality. The presence of an ICU physician on ward rounds might help in reducing the timeframe of access to a high-dependency unit (HDU) or ICU. An extension of these scores outside hematologic patients or considering hematologic patients outside ICU must be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driven by flexibility, precision, repeatability and eco-friendliness, laser-based technologies have attracted great interest to engineer or to analyze materials in various fields including energy, environment, biology and medicine. A major advantage of laser processing relies on the ability to directly structure matter at different scales and to prepare novel materials with unique physical and chemical properties. It is also a contact-free approach that makes it possible to work in inert or reactive liquid or gaseous environment. This leads today to a unique opportunity for designing, fabricating and even analyzing novel complex bio-systems. To illustrate this potential, in this paper, we gather our recent research on four types of laser-based methods relevant for nano-/micro-scale applications. First, we present and discuss pulsed laser ablation in liquid, exploited today for synthetizing ultraclean "bare" nanoparticles attractive for medicine and tissue engineering applications. Second, we discuss robust methods for rapid surface and bulk machining (subtractive manufacturing) at different scales by laser ablation. Among them, the microsphere-assisted laser surface engineering is detailed for its appropriateness to design structured substrates with hierarchically periodic patterns at nano-/micro-scale without chemical treatments. Third, we address the laser-induced forward transfer, a technology based on direct laser printing, to transfer and assemble a multitude of materials (additive structuring), including biological moiety without alteration of functionality. Finally, the fourth method is about chemical analysis: we present the potential of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, providing a unique tool for contact-free and space-resolved elemental analysis of organic materials. Overall, we present and discuss the prospect and complementarity of emerging reliable laser technologies, to address challenges in materials' preparation relevant for the development of innovative multi-scale and multi-material platforms for bio-applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of malignancies that develop both in nodal and extranodal sites. The different tissues involved and the highly variable clinicopathological characteristics are linked to the association between the lymphoid neoplastic cells and the tissues they infiltrate. The immune system has developed mechanisms to protect the normal tissue from malignant growth. In this review, we aim to explain how T lymphocyte-driven control is linked to tumor development and describe the tumor-suppressive components of the resistant framework. This manuscript brings forward a new insight with regard to intercellular and intracellular signaling, the immune microenvironment, the impact of therapy, and its predictive implications. A better understanding of the key components of the lymphoma environment is important to properly assess the role of both B and T lymphocytes, as well as their interplay, just as two legendary boxers face each other in a heavyweight title final, as was the case of Ali versus Foreman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade there has been tremendous effort in offering better therapeutic management strategies to patients with hematologic malignancies. These efforts have ranged from biological to clinical approaches and resulted in the rapid development of new approaches. The main "problem" that comes with the high influx of newly approved drugs, which not only influences hematologists that frequently work with these drugs but also affects other healthcare professionals that work with hematologists in patient management, including intensive care unit (ICU) physicians, is they have to keep up within their specialty and, in addition, with the side-effects that can occur when encountering hematology-specific therapies. Nonetheless, there are few people that have an in-depth understanding of a specialty outside theirs. Thus, this manuscript offers an overview of the most common side-effects caused by therapies used in hematology nowadays, or that are currently being investigated in clinical trials, with the purpose to serve as an aid to other specialties. Nevertheless, because of the high amount of information on this subject, each chapter will offer an overview of the side-effects of a drug class with each reference of the section being intended as further reading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]