Sarcopenia Does Not Impact the Outcome of Patients with Multiple Myeloma Consolidated with Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Introduction: Sarcopenia has been associated with chronic diseases and cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate sarcopenia in multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation.

Methods: In 68 eligible patients, measurement of skeletal muscle area (cm2) on computed tomography scans at the level of the L3 vertebra (L3 SMI) was performed.

Circulating Endothelial Cell Kinetic in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Who Receive Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Introduction: Neoangiogenesis has a crucial role in multiple myeloma (MM), and circulating endothelial cells (CECs) contribute to neovascularization by inducing tumor progression and metastasis and by repairing damage to bone marrow vasculature after stem cell transplantation (HSC). We recently proved in a national multicenter study the possibility to reach a high-level standardization in CEC count and analysis based on a polychromatic flow cytometry Lyotube (BD). Our study aimed at assessing the kinetics of CECs in patients with MM undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Au-HSCT).

Emerging from the Darkness. Sudden Cardiac Death in Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) manifests as infiltrative cardiomyopathy with a hypertrophic pattern, usually presenting with heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction. In addition, degenerative valvular heart disease, particularly severe aortic stenosis, is commonly seen in patients with CA. However, amyloid fibril deposition might also infiltrate the conduction system and promote the development of electrical disorders, including ventricular tachyarrhythmias, atrio-ventricular block or acute electromechanical dissociation.

A Curious Novel Combination of () Gene Mutations Leading to Aberrant Cytoplasmic Dislocation of in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

mutations occurring in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (about 50 so far identified) cluster almost exclusively in exon 12 and lead to common changes at the mutants C-terminus, i.e., loss of tryptophans 288 and 290 (or 290 alone) and creation of a new nuclear export signal (NES), at the bases of exportin-1(XPO1)-mediated aberrant cytoplasmic .

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in very old patients: real-life behind protocols.

Background: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is uncommon among subjects aged ≥ 70 years and the better therapeutic strategy represents an unmet clinical need.

Materials And Methods: This prompted us to explore our real-life data on a retrospective cohort of 45 older APL patients (≥ 70 years) consecutively diagnosed at eight different hematologic institutions in Latium, Italy, from July 1991 to May 2019.

Results: Two patients (4.

Novel NPM1 exon 5 mutations and gene fusions leading to aberrant cytoplasmic nucleophosmin in AML.

Nucleophosmin (NPM1) mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) affect exon 12, but also sporadically affect exons 9 and 11, causing changes at the protein C-terminal end (tryptophan loss, nuclear export signal [NES] motif creation) that lead to aberrant cytoplasmic NPM1 (NPM1c+), detectable by immunohistochemistry. Combining immunohistochemistry and molecular analyses in 929 patients with AML, we found non-exon 12 NPM1 mutations in 5 (1.3%) of 387 NPM1c+ cases.

A novel scoring system for TIGIT expression in classic Hodgkin lymphoma.

Clinical use of immune-checkpoints inhibitors (anti PD-1/PD-L1) resulted very effective for the treatment of relapsed/refractory classic Hodgkin Lymphoma (CHL). Recently, T cell Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT) has been recognized as an immune checkpoint receptor able to negatively regulate T cell functions. Herein, we investigated the expression of TIGIT in CHL microenvironment in order to find a potential new target for inhibitor therapy.

CD123 Is Consistently Expressed on -Mutated AML Cells.

-mutated (mut) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) comprises about 30% of newly diagnosed AML in adults. Despite notable advances in the treatment of this frequent AML subtype, about 50% of mut AML patients treated with conventional treatment die due to disease progression. CD123 has been identified as potential target for immunotherapy in AML, and several anti-CD123 therapeutic approaches have been developed for AML resistant to conventional therapies.

Tuning the Magnetic Coupling of a Molecular Spin Interface via Electron Doping.

Mastering the magnetic response of molecular spin interfaces by tuning the occupancy of the molecular orbitals, which carry the spin magnetic moment, can be accomplished by electron doping. We propose a viable route to control the magnetization direction and magnitude of a molecular spin network, in a graphene-mediated architecture, achieved via alkali doping of manganese phthalocyanine (MnPc) molecules assembled on cobalt intercalated under a graphene membrane. The antiparallel magnetic alignment of the MnPc molecules with the underlying Co layer can be switched to a ferromagnetic state by electron doping.

Alkaline phosphatase (alp) levels in multiple myeloma and solid cancers with bone lesions: Is there any difference?

Introduction: Bone involvement in Multiple Myeloma results from increased osteoclast formation and activity that occurs in proximity to myeloma cells. The role of Alkaline Phosphatse (ALP) in this process and the diagnostic significance of plasma levels in patients with MM are unclear.

Aim: To compare plasma ALP levels in patients with MM and solid cancers and metastatic lesions to the bone.

Empty electron states in cobalt-intercalated graphene.

The dispersion of the electronic states of epitaxial graphene (Gr) depends significantly on the strength of the bonding with the underlying substrate. We report on empty electron states in cobalt-intercalated Gr grown on Ir(111), studied by angle-resolved inverse photoemission spectroscopy and x-ray absorption spectroscopy, complemented with density functional theory calculations. The weakly bonded Gr on Ir preserves the peculiar spectroscopic features of the Gr band structure, and the empty spectral densities are almost unperturbed.

Treatment and prognosis of primary pulmonary lymphoma: A long-term follow-up study.

Unlabelled: Primary pulmonary lymphoma (PPL) is a rare disease with not well-defined optimal treatment. Outcomes and follow-up are variable in published data.

Objectives: To define the outcome and optimal treatment strategies in PPL.

Pulmonary infections in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes receiving frontline azacytidine treatment.

Pulmonary infections (PIs) are a major complication of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We retrospectively evaluated 234 MDS patients treated with azacytidine (AZA). The total number of AZA cycles was 2886 (median 8 cycles per patient).

Endothelial Dysfunction, Fibrinolytic Activity, and Coagulation Activity in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation According to Type II Diabetes Mellitus Status.

Recent findings in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients receiving oral anticoagulation showed that diabetes without insulin therapy has a thromboembolic risk comparable to nondiabetic patients, whereas only diabetic patients on insulin have a heightened thromboembolic risk. We explored possible pathophysiological correlates of such finding on 90 AF patients on oral anticoagulation, divided according to diabetes status (n = 30 without diabetes; n = 29 with diabetes on oral antidiabetic drugs; n = 31 with insulin-requiring diabetes). We assessed von Willebrand Factor (VWF) concentration (VWF:Ag) and activity (VWF R:Co) as measures of endothelial dysfunction; and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1+2) levels as markers of fibrinolytic activity and thrombin generation.

Gonadal Function Recovery and Fertility in Women Treated with Chemo- and/or Radiotherapy for Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Background: Fertility and gonadal function represent one of the most important aspects for long-term lymphoma survivors.

Aims: The aim of our study was to determine possible risk factors, such as age at treatment, chemotherapeutic regimen, protection with oral contraceptives (OCs), and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues in female patients treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) at a reproductive age.

Methods: Patients between the age of 16 and 50 years at the time of HL or NHL diagnosis were selected.

Management of acute promyelocytic leukemia: updated recommendations from an expert panel of the European LeukemiaNet.

Since the comprehensive recommendations for the management of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) reported in 2009, several studies have provided important insights, particularly regarding the role of arsenic trioxide (ATO) in frontline therapy. Ten years later, a European LeukemiaNet expert panel has reviewed the recent advances in the management of APL in both frontline and relapse settings in order to develop updated evidence- and expert opinion-based recommendations on the management of this disease. Together with providing current indications on genetic diagnosis, modern risk-adapted frontline therapy, and salvage treatment, the review contains specific recommendations for the identification and management of the most important complications such as the bleeding disorder APL differentiation syndrome, QT prolongation, and other all- retinoic acid- and ATO-related toxicities, as well as recommendations for molecular assessment of the response to treatment.

Metal phthalocyanines interaction with Co mediated by a moiré graphene superlattice.

The assembling of metal phthalocyanines on the rippled moiré superlattice of graphene/Ir(111) intercalated with one Co layer is driven by the site-dependent polarization field induced by the incommensurate graphene-Co interface. We have performed an X-ray absorption and photoemission study to unveil the role of the metallic centers and of the organic ligands in the molecule-Co interaction process mediated by graphene. Notably, we consider different electronic molecular orbitals, i.

Health-related quality of life, symptom burden, and comorbidity in long-term survivors of acute promyelocytic leukemia.

The objective of this study was to investigate health-related quality of life (HRQOL), symptom burden, and comorbidity profile in long-term acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) survivors treated with standard chemotherapy. Overall, 307 long-term APL survivors were invited to participate. HRQOL was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and compared with that of age and sex-matched controls from the general population.

Platelet cut-off for anticoagulant therapy in thrombocytopenic patients with blood cancer and venous thromboembolism: an expert consensus.

Background: Management of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with haematologic malignancies and thrombocytopenia is clinically challenging due to the related risks. No prospective studies or clinical trials have been carried out and, therefore, no solid evidence on this compelling issue is available.

Methods: Given this, an expert panel endorsed by the Gruppo Italiano Malattie Ematologiche dell'Adulto Working Party on Thrombosis and Haemostasis was set up to produce a formal consensus, according to the RAND method, in order to issue clinical recommendations about the platelet (PLT) cut-off for safe administration of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in thrombocytopenic (PLT <100×10/L) adult patients with haematologic malignancies affected by acute (<1 month) or non-acute VTE.

Primary cardiac MYC/BCL6 double hit non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Cardiac and pericardial involvement by malignant lymphoma is a rare condition. The present case report describes a case of primary cardiac MYC/BCL6 double hit non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the pericardium, and highlights the importance of a prompt diagnosis and aggressive pharmacologic treatment of this disease. In a symptomatic patient, a minimally invasive 3 cm sub-xiphoidal incision was performed under deep sedation with spontaneous ventilation to perform a pericardial biopsy.

Impact of IFN lambda 3/4 single nucleotide polymorphisms on the cytomegalovirus reactivation in autologous stem cell transplant patients.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection represents one of the main cause mortality after Stem Cell Transplantation. Recently, a protective effect of the T allele of rs12979860 IL28B Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) against CMV infection in the allogenic stem cell transplantation was suggested. We investigate whether the rs12979860 IL28B SNP and the relative rs368234815 (IFNλ4) genotype may affect the incidence of active CMV infection in Autologous stem cell transplantation (Auto-SCT) setting.