The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Macedonian version of the Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test (IPANAT–M; Quirin, Kazén, & Kuhl, 2009). First, in a ...pretest study, it was shown that two of the artificial words from the original test needed to be replaced, since they were not free of meaning in a Macedonian context. Two new artificial words were included in the IPANAT–M. Study 1 showed that the IPANAT–M had satisfactory test-retest reliability over a period of one week. In Study 2, the factorial validity of the test was explored. The two factor solution explained 63.91% of the total variance, and the factors could be easily interpreted as implicit positive and implicit negative affect. The results indicate that IPANAT–M has satisfactory psychometric properties. Keywords: implicit affect, IPANAT–M, psychometric properties
Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignity associated with the proliferation and accumulation of bone marrow terminally differentiated plasma cells. The outcomes of patients with MM have ...dramatically improved over the past decade with the establishment of novel agents. Nonetheless, the disease presents considerable heterogeneity in clinical course, presentation, and survival. Molecular and chromosomal analyses were performed on 46 patients with MM. The survival time of patients with MM concerning molecular and chromosome stratification showed that 20% of them were with high risk hypodiploid (gain1q, loss1p) Del17p, Del13q, t(11;14) t(4;14) and multiple mutations who survived 60 months and the median survival time in these patients was 20.8 months. In patients with MM who had a standard risk, death outcome was not registered during the observation period. Taking into account, all MM patients included in our study, Bence Jones proteins in the urine wеre present in 35.8% of ММ patients, while in 64.2%, their presence was not observed. The percentage difference is statistically significant The utilization of these crucial biomarkers in the clinical background for this disease in the future can only be achieved through thorough evaluation and validation in clinical trials.
The Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy in which monoclonal plasma cells proliferate in bone marrow, resulting in an overabundance of monoclonal paraprotein (M protein), destruction of ...bone, and displacement of other hematopoietic cell lines.
This retrospective-prospective study was conducted at the University Clinic for Hematology in Skopje, North Macedonia, in the period between January 2009 and December 2019. Patients younger than 65 years, without comorbidities, fit for autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT), were treated with Cyclophosphamide-Thalidomide-Dexamethasone (CyThalDex) protocol divided into two daily doses which were maintained until complete remission. Patients over 65 years of age, unfit for more aggressive treatment options like peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCT) with comorbidities and renal failure, were treated with Melphalan-Prednisone-Thalidomide (MPT) protocol. The third group of patients was treated without new immunomodulators such as thalidomide, but instead a salvage therapy was given consisted of chemotherapy and corticosteroids.
The use of thalidomide can lead to more undesirable effects such as deep vein thrombosis and renal neuropathy. The results obtained in our study showed no high percentage of these effects. However, a better survival rate was registered along with a longer period without progression of the underlying disease (PFS). Moreover, a higher percentage of complete remission (CR) was achieved and a very good partial response (VGPR) in general.
Myeloma multiplex is still incurable disease with pattern of regression and remission followed by multiple relapses rising from the residual myeloma cells, but in the future still many unsolved questions has to be answered.
Keywords: myeloma multiplex, autologous stem cell transplantation, thalidomide
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