BackgroundCurrent treatment options for chronic pain and depression are largely medication-based, which may cause adverse side effects. Integrative Medical Group Visits (IMGV) combines mindfulness techniques, evidence based integrative medicine, and medical group visits, and is a promising adjunct to medications, especially for diverse underserved patients who have limited access to non-pharmacological therapies.

In the present study we analyzed the prognostic significance of several clinical, hematological, and histological parameters recorded at diagnosis in a consecutive series of 72 patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF). Univariate analysis showed that the most significant indicators of poor survival were the following: age greater than 60, splenomegaly, anemia (hemoglobin > 10 g/dl), leukopenia (WBC < 4 x 10(9)/l or leukocytosis > 14 x 10(9)/l), and any of these histological features: adipose tissue and megakaryocyte reduction, prominent osteoblastic rims along the trabecular bone, presence of peritrabecular megakaryocytes (Mk), absence of normal or giant Mk. The multivariate analysis showed that only the level of hemoglobin and the presence of both normal Mk and fever independently influenced the prognosis. These parameters were used to set up a prognostic scoring system, allowing a feasible prognosis to be made for each patient at the time of diagnosis and identifying those patients in urgent need of new therapeutic approaches.

In a study to determine the value of antigen and antibody detection in the serological diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in patients with hematological malignancies, 436 sequential serum samples from 79 neutropenic patients were tested. Circulating galactomannan antigen was detected with a latex agglutination method (Pastorex Aspergillus) and antibody to Aspergillus fumigatus with an immunodiffusion test on agar gel. Among the 79 patients 18 cases of invasive aspergillosis were detected (4 proven, 6 highly probable, 3 probable, 5 suspected). Antigen was detected in 7 of these 18 patients. The sensitivity of the antigen test was 38.8% and the specificity 95%. The antibody test showed 55.5% sensitivity and 100% specificity. In this study the antigen test was less sensitive than previously reported but highly specific and might serve as a supplementary diagnostic test.

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