Smoking status in acute myeloid leukemia is associated with worse overall survival and independent of prior nonhematopoietic malignancies, cytogenetic abnormalities, and WHO category.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematopoietic malignancy with several patient- and disease-associated variables known to impact prognosis. Tobacco smoking is an environmental factor associated with a greater incidence of AML, but there have been limited studies that evaluated smoking toward overall survival. We retrospectively searched for AML cases and collected clinical and diagnostic data for each case.

Treatment of lymphoma with rituximab and chemotherapy during pregnancy.

Safety of chemoimmunotherapy during pregnancy for treatment of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is controversial. We review 37 cases of mothers with high grade NHL treated with rituximab and concurrent chemotherapy during pregnancy. Majority (95%) of mothers were treated in their second and third trimester, and a median of 4 cycles of combination therapy was administered.

A case of mitoxantrone extravasation.

Introduction: Mitoxantrone is a chemotherapeutic agent approved for various diseases. The literature has been conflicting in classifying mitoxantrone as a vesicant or irritant.

Case Report: We report a patient who had an extravasation of mitoxantrone.

Allergic reactions associated with pegaspargase in adults.

One of the severe toxicities of pegaspargase (PEG) is the development of allergic reactions. This study retrospectively assessed 311 PEG doses administered to 139 acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients from May 1, 2008 to July 30, 2014 for allergic reactions based on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.03.

Treatment of acute myeloid leukemia during pregnancy.

Objectives: Systematically review the literature assessing outcomes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment during pregnancy.

Data Sources: A Pubmed literature search (January 1969 to June 2014) for articles written about AML and pregnancy, and bibliographies/citations of previously published reviews.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: Articles written in the English language that administered active AML chemotherapy during pregnancy were included.

The molecular choreography of IRF4 and IRF8 with immune system partners.

The transcription factors IRF4 and IRF8 represent immune-specific members of the interferon regulatory family. They play major roles in controlling the development and functioning of innate and adaptive cells. Genes encoding these factors appear to have been coopted by the immune system via gene duplication and divergence of regulatory and protein coding sequences to enable the acquisition of unique molecular properties and functions.

Transient liver function abnormality following treatment with rabbit antithymocyte globulin for nonmyeloablative hematopoetic stem cell transplant: two case reports.

Rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) is increasingly used in nonmyeloablative hematopoetic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Elevated liver function tests (LFTs) have been reported for antithymocyte globulin in the treatment of aplastic anemia, but not when used in a conditioning regimen for HSCT. We describe two cases of patients receiving a conditioning regimen for HSCT containing rATG who developed a transient, severe transaminase elevation.

A genomic regulatory element that directs assembly and function of immune-specific AP-1-IRF complexes.

Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) and IRF8 regulate B, T, macrophage, and dendritic cell differentiation. They are recruited to cis-regulatory Ets-IRF composite elements by PU.1 or Spi-B.

Suppression of the hypoxia inducible factor-1 function by redistributing the aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator from nucleus to cytoplasm.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) heterodimerizes with hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), followed by upregulation of genes that are essential for carcinogenesis. We utilized a novel peptide (Ainp1) to address whether the HIF-1α signaling could be suppressed by an ARNT-mediated mechanism. Ainp1 suppresses the HIF-1α-dependent luciferase expression in Hep3B cells and this suppression can be reversed by ARNT.

Principles of dimer-specific gene regulation revealed by a comprehensive characterization of NF-κB family DNA binding.

The unique DNA-binding properties of distinct NF-κB dimers influence the selective regulation of NF-κB target genes. To more thoroughly investigate these dimer-specific differences, we combined protein-binding microarrays and surface plasmon resonance to evaluate DNA sites recognized by eight different NF-κB dimers. We observed three distinct binding-specificity classes and clarified mechanisms by which dimers might regulate distinct sets of genes.

BmeRABC5 is a multidrug efflux system that can confer metronidazole resistance in Bacteroides fragilis.

The RND-family efflux pump gene bmeB5 was previously shown to be overexpressed in metronidazole-resistant laboratory mutants of Bacteroides fragilis. In the present study, we characterized the bmeABC5 genes and an upstream putative TetR-family regulator gene (bmeR5). bmeR5 (645 bp) was located 51 bp upstream of bmeA5 and encoded a 24.

Clinical significance of overexpression of multiple RND-family efflux pumps in Bacteroides fragilis isolates.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine correlation between bmeB efflux pump overexpression and resistance to fluoroquinolones and beta-lactams in Bacteroides fragilis clinical isolates (n = 51) and the effects of broad-spectrum efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) on the MICs of the test antibiotics.

Methods: Susceptibility to garenoxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, cefoxitin and faropenem +/- EPIs (CCCP, MC-207,110, reserpine and verapamil) was determined. Expression of bmeB efflux pumps was measured, topoisomerase genes were sequenced and beta-lactamase production was determined.

Bacteroides fragilis BmeABC efflux systems additively confer intrinsic antimicrobial resistance.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of expression and function(s) of Bacteroides fragilis RND family efflux transport systems (bmeABC1-16).

Methods: The mRNA transcripts of bmeB efflux pump genes were detected in a wild-type strain ADB77 by RT-PCR and expression in different strains was quantified by comparative quantitative real-time RT-PCR. In order to determine independent or additive functions, BmeB 1, 3, 12 and 15 (the first efflux pumps identified) were deleted as singles, doubles, triples or quadruples by the double cross-over technique with pADB242 and antimicrobial susceptibility was assayed by the spiral gradient endpoint technique.

Phylogeny as a guide to structure and function of membrane transport proteins.

Protein phylogeny, based on primary amino acid sequence relatedness, reflects the evolutionary process and therefore provides a guide to structure, mechanism and function. Any two proteins that are related by common descent are expected to exhibit similar structures and functions to a degree proportional to the degree of their sequence similarity; but two independently evolving proteins should not. This principle provides the impetus to define protein phylogenetic relationships and interrelate families when possible.

Bioinformatic analyses of the bacterial L-ascorbate phosphotransferase system permease family.

The tripartite L-ascorbate permease of Escherichia coli is the first functionally characterized member of a large family of enzyme II complexes (SgaTBA, encoding enzymes IIC, IIB and IIA) of the bacterial phosphotransferase system (PTS). We here report bioinformatic analyses of these proteins. Forty-five homologous systems from a wide variety of bacteria were identified, but no homologues were found in archaea or eukaryotes.

A transporter of Escherichia coli specific for L- and D-methionine is the prototype for a new family within the ABC superfamily.

An ABC-type transporter in Escherichia coli that transports both L- and D-methionine, but not other natural amino acids, was identified. This system is the first functionally characterized member of a novel family of bacterial permeases within the ABC superfamily. This family was designated the methionine uptake transporter (MUT) family (TC #3.

The multidrug/oligosaccharidyl-lipid/polysaccharide (MOP) exporter superfamily.

The multidrug/oligosaccharidyl-lipid/polysaccharide (MOP) exporter superfamily (TC #2.A.66) consists of four previously recognized families: (a) the ubiquitous multi-drug and toxin extrusion (MATE) family; (b) the prokaryotic polysaccharide transporter (PST) family; (c) the eukaryotic oligosaccharidyl-lipid flippase (OLF) family and (d) the bacterial mouse virulence factor family (MVF).