Influence of bcr-3 PML-RARα transcript on outcome in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia patients of Kashmir treated with all-trans retinoic acid and/or arsenic tri-oxide.

Aims: Distinct types of PML-RARα hybrid transcripts viz bcr-1, bcr-2 and bcr-3 result from translocation between chromosomes 15 and 17 t(15;17) in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia patients. We aimed to determine the frequencies of the PML-RARα transcripts and FLT3-ITD mutations in APL patients to evaluate their prognostic implications and also to analyze their impact on disease outcome.

Main Method: RT-PCR and Rq-PCR were adopted for transcript typing and quantitation of PML-RARα transcripts while FLT3-ITD was detected by PCR in APL patients.

p15 Loss of Expression by Promoter Hypermethylation Adds to Leukemogenesis and Confers a Poor Prognosis in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Patients.

Purpose: The p15 gene exerts its influence as an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases and is frequently associated with hematological malignancies. Inactivation of this gene through DNA methylation has been found to be the most prevalent epigenetic alteration reported, with a high frequency in all French-American-British subtypes of acute myeloid leukemias, including acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). In this study,we investigated the prognostic significance of p15 gene promoter hypermethylation and its expression in APL patients of Kashmir (North India).

PHA-Induced Peripheral Blood Cytogenetics and Molecular Analysis: a Valid Diagnostic and Follow-up Modality for Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Patients Treated with ATRA and/or Arsenic Tri-oxide.

Background: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML) is characterized by the reciprocal translocation t(15;17) (q22;q12) resulting in the PML-RARα fusion gene. A dual diagnostic and follow up approach was applied including cytogenetic demonstration of the t(15;17) translocation and detection of PML-RARα chimeric transcripts by molecular means.

Purpose: Conventional cytogenetics involving bone marrow is beset with high probability of poor metaphase index and was substituted with phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced peripheral blood culture based cytogenetic analysis as a diagnostic and follow up modality in APML patients of Kashmir (North India).

The efficacy of accelerated, multiple, double-dose hepatitis B vaccine against hepatitis B virus infection in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy carries high morbidity and mortality. Conventional hepatitis B vaccination with three doses at 0, 1, and 6 months apart is ineffective in prevention of HBV infection.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of accelerated, multiple, double-dose HB vaccine with conventional HB vaccine in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy (CT).

Prognostic significance of cell surface phenotype in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Context: To find out the phenotypic character of lymphoblasts of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients in our study cohort and their possible effect on the prognosis.

Aims: To investigate the phenotype in ALL in our demographic population and to prognosticate various upfront current protocols employed in our hospital.

Settings And Design: The study spanned over a period of 4 years with retrospective and prospective data of January 2008 through December 2011.

Role of low dose cytarabine in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia: An experience.

Purpose: To highlight the acceptable results seen after use of low dose cytarabine in elderly patients of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with comorbidities.

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective study carried on 30 newly diagnosed patients of AML over 60 years of age who were unfit for standard treatment regimens. We did not use azacytidine and decitabine in our patients because these therapeutic modalities being extremely costly and our patient affordability being poor.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the family members of women with polycystic ovary syndrome from North India.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most complex and common endocrine disorder of women in reproductive years. In addition to irregular menstrual cycles, chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism, it has many metabolic manifestations such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, dysglycemia, increased risk of cardiovascular disease or possibly endometrial cancer. Familial clustering of PCOS in consistence with the genetic susceptibility has been described.

Pneumomediastinum, pneumorachis, subcutaneous emphysema: An unusual complication of leukemia in a child.

Pneumorrhachis (PR), or epidural emphysema, denotes the presence of air in the spinal epidural space. It can be associated with a variety of etiologies, including trauma; recent iatrogenic manipulations during surgical, anesthesiological and diagnostic interventions; malignancy and its associated therapy. It usually represents an asymptomatic epiphenomenon but also can be symptomatic by itself, as well as by its underlying pathology, and rarely can be fatal.