There is no information on the efficacy and safety of anticytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis with intravenous ganciclovir or oral valganciclovir after unrelated cord-blood transplantation (UCBT). This issue was addressed in 151 adults (117 CMV-seropositive) undergoing UCBT at a single institution. The first 38 CMV-seropositive recipients were assigned to receive prophylactic ganciclovir, and the next 79 were given valganciclovir after engraftment. The cumulative incidence (CI) of CMV infection and disease was similar in patients receiving valganciclovir or ganciclovir (59% versus 55%, P = .59; and 9% versus 18%, P = .33, respectively). The toxicity profile and CI of nonrelapse mortality (CMV) and infection-related mortality did not differ between drugs. Patients receiving valganciclovir required fewer visits to the day hospital (P = .04). The CI of CMV infection and disease in 34 CMV-seronegative recipients was 12% and 6%, indicating that tight CMV monitoring is mandatory in this subset. The recipient's CMV serostatus, acute and extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD, cGVHD) were the main risk factors for CMV infection, and aGVHD for CMV disease. This study suggests that prophylaxis with oral valganciclovir is as safe and effective as intravenous ganciclovir for preventing CMV infection and disease after UCBT, but valganciclovir reduces the use of hospital resources.

This report presents a case of a 65-year-old male suffering from a penile cutaneous horn. This lesion is usually seen in sun-exposed areas and its occurrence on the penis is rare. One-third of cases of penile horns are associated with underlying malignancies. Standard treatment is electrosurgical excision with removal of a broad base.

The depletion of fossil resources and the growing demand for plastic waste reduction has put industries and academic researchers under pressure to develop increasingly sustainable packaging solutions that are both functional and circularly designed. In this review, we provide an overview of the fundamentals and recent advances in biobased packaging materials, including new materials and techniques for their modification as well as their end-of-life scenarios. We also discuss the composition and modification of biobased films and multilayer structures, with particular attention to readily available drop-in solutions, as well as coating techniques. Moreover, we discuss end-of-life factors, including sorting systems, detection methods, composting options, and recycling and upcycling possibilities. Finally, regulatory aspects are pointed out for each application scenario and end-of-life option. Moreover, we discuss the human factor in terms of consumer perception and acceptance of upcycling.

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