Title: Severe Anemia Observed in a Chinese Patient with COVID-19 and Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria Co-Infection

Abstract:

Background: COVID-19 and malaria share some similar symptoms such as fever, difficulty in breathing, fatigue, and headaches of acute onset. With overlapping symptoms and travel history significant for COVID-19 and malaria, healthcare systems and professionals will face a great challenge in the case of COVID-19 and malaria co-infection.

Methods: Here we presented a patient with COVID-19 infection and refractory anemia of unknown reason. A diagnostic test for malaria was later performed.

Results: The patient was ultimately diagnosed with COVID-19 and plasmodium falciparum malaria co-infection. He recovered gradually after receiving anti-malaria treatment.

Conclusions: The present case highlights the danger of focusing only on a diagnosis of COVID-19, reminding clinicians to be vigilant about the possibility of co-infections.

Biography:

Yanzhen Wan is affiliated with the Clinical Laboratory at Women and Children’s Hospital, Qingdao University, China. Her research interests include clinical laboratory medicine and disease-related laboratory investigations. Her recent research includes work on B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and bone marrow involvement, contributing to research in hematological malignancies.

Title: p53 Immunohistochemistry Is a Reliable Method for Assessing TP53 Allelic and Functional Status in TP53 Mutated Cases

Abstract:

TP53 alterations play an important role in the development, classification, and prognostication of myeloid neoplasms. Earlierstudies of myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) have shown that biallelic TP53 alterations, rather than monoallelic mutations,are associated with complex karyotypes and poor outcomes [1].These observations are consistent with the primary role of TP53as a tumor suppressor gene, which often requires loss of hetero-zygosity (LOH) for complete functional inactivation. Currently,establishment of biallelic TP53 alteration status is based on: (1)a TP53 mutation + TP53 copy loss or copy- neutral LOH; or (2)more than one TP53 mutation; or (3) one TP53 mutation with a variant allele frequency (VAF) of ≥ 50%

Biography:

C Cameron Yin has received her MD from Beijing Medical University and her PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Hematopathology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. In addition to clinical responsibilities on the Leukemia, Lymphoma and Molecular Diagnostic services, she has been actively participating in multiple research projects in the molecular genetic abnormalities in leukemia and lymphoma which has led to over 100 research papers and over 20 book chapters.

Title: A Scoring System for the Assessment of Quality of Care in the Management of Transfusion Dependent Thalassemia

Abstract:

To identify criteria which can be used locally to assess the quality of care for thalassaemia patients, leading to quality improvement measures. In low-resource settings, there is often minimal support for services, and the investigations used in patient monitoring are very basic. In order to select standards which can serve quality assessment, consideration is given to what is available in most centres. Importance is given to the need for the local service provider to self-assess the quality of care according to evidence-based minimal standards. Methods: A search in the recent literature was performed to identify measures of quality care in thalassaemia, selecting those which can be used in resource-poor settings. They are then compared to the standards listed in internationally accepted guidelines. Results: Twelve criteria were selected based on the routine information recorded by most centres. These include the following: clinical criteria: mean age (excluding paediatric clinics), pre-transfusion Hb < 9 g/dL, serum ferritin, MRI availability, heart iron (where available) >20 ms, LIC (where available) <3 mg/kg dw, LIC > 15 mg/kg dw, combination chelation within the last year, and BMI < 18.5 kg/m2. Social criteria (for adults): completed tertiary education, married/cohabiting, and employed full or part-time. Each is assigned a score with a total range from 0 to 10. Conclusions: Annual scoring according to achievements allows service providers to compare with previous years and conclude which of the basic services need to be further upgraded to achieve quality improvement. Scoring also allows for comparison with standards published in international guidelines. The clear aim is to aim for higher scores each year, indicating better patient outcomes.

Biography:

Androulla Eleftheriou is affiliated with the Thalassaemia International Federation in Nicosia, Cyprus. Her work focuses on thalassemia, haemoglobinopathies and related public health and clinical challenges. She has contributed to research and guidance addressing genetic counselling, screening, prevention and management of thalassemia and other inherited blood disorders.

Title:

Biography:

Prof. Cees Th. Smit Sibinga is a distinguished clinical haematologist and specialist in Transfusion Medicine, and Professor of International Development of Transfusion Medicine at the University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands. With more than five decades of experience, he has made significant contributions to blood transfusion systems, quality management, haemovigilance, blood safety, and international development.

He has worked extensively with organizations including the WHO, World Federation of Hemophilia, AABB, ISBT, and International Consortium for Blood Safety, supporting transfusion medicine programs across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. He founded several major initiatives in blood-bank quality and accreditation and has served in numerous international leadership and advisory roles.

Prof. Smit Sibinga has published more than 350 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and edited over 35 books, while organizing and chairing numerous international scientific meetings. He has received several international honours, including the AABB Joel Solomon Memorial Award for Quality Management and the AABB President’s Award for Education. His expertise encompasses transfusion medicine, blood safety, quality systems, clinical use of blood, audit, inspection, and capacity development in resource-limited settings.

Title:

Abstract:

Abstract Title: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in children and adolescents: Characteristics, Treatment and Outcome

Professor Frédéric Millot

Inserm CIC 1402, University Hospital, Poitiers, France

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is an acquired clonal hematological malignancy characterized by the chromosomal translocation t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2) resulting in the synthesis of the BCR::ABL1 oncoprotein. CML is very rare in children and adolescents. Compared to adult CML, pediatric CML is characterized by a bulky disease with a high frequency and large size of palpable spleen and high leukocyte counts at diagnosis. There is no specific pediatric prognostic score to predict outcome in this population. We demonstrated that the Eutos Long Term Survival (ELTS) score can identify children with a higher risk of progression of the disease and can be used in the pediatric CML treatment decision. Treatment strategy regarding chronic phase CML in children has evolved from hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) to targeted therapy based on the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Currently, the treatment recommendations from an international pediatric CML expert panel are based on imatinib (first-generation TKI) for children allocated to the low and intermediate ELTS risk groups and on a second-generation TKI for those allocated to the high ELTS risk group. Response to TKI therapy is based on hematologic, cytogenetic and molecular response evaluation. HSCT can be considered in case of progression of the disease or failure of several lines of treatment with TKIs. Lifelong treatment with TKIs exposes children with CML to side effects such as growth deceleration. Therefore, the principle of TKI discontinuation in deep and sustained molecular response could be applied to the pediatric population with CML diagnosed in chronic phase. With the aim of elaborating an optimal therapeutic strategy, the role of third-generation TKIs and other drugs in development (asciminib) should be defined.

Biography:

Frédéric Millot is an Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Poitiers (France). He is  recognized for his clinical research regarding childhood chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and he has published many peer reviewed articles in this field. From 2009 to 2025, Professor Millot chaired the pediatric CML committee of the International BFM (IBFM) study group. He is the coordinator of the international registry of childhood CML (ICMLPed study) under the umbrella of the CIC1402 INSERM at the Poitiers University Hospital (France). In 2025, he managed the publication of the International pediatric CML recommendations for the treatment  of chronic phase CML in children.