Effects of single-agent bortezomib as post-transplant consolidation therapy on multiple myeloma-related bone disease: a randomized phase II study.

This phase II study explored the effects of bortezomib consolidation versus observation on myeloma-related bone disease in patients who had a partial response or better after frontline high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. Patients were randomized to receive four 35-day cycles of bortezomib 1·6 mg/m intravenously on days 1, 8, 15 and 22, or an equivalent observation period, and followed up for disease status/survival. The modified intent-to-treat population included 104 patients (51 bortezomib, 53 observation).

The role of the nurses and technicians for stem cell mobilisation and collection.

Stem Cell Transplantation is last chance for some patients and they enter the unit highly hopeful for their life. Although the physicians, medical director of unit are the observable part of iceberg, which is on the surface, nurses and the other members of team are like the huge invisible part of iceberg. If they are not educated well increased mortality rates are inevitable.

The effect of trans-resveratrol on platelet-neutrophil complex formation and neutrophil burst in hypercholesterolemic rats.

Transresveratrol (t-resveratrol; 3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a polyphenolic compound found in fresh grapes, grape juice and wine, and has been found to reduce the total cholesterol level in hypercholesterolemic rats. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of t-resveratrol on platelet-neutrophil complex formation and neutrophil reactive oxygen species (ROS) status in control and hypercholesterolemic rats using a modified flow cytometric method. Rats (n=80) were divided into five groups (control, ethanol, resveratrol, hypercholesterolemic and resveratrol-administered hypercholesterolemic groups), comprising 16 animals per group.

Aberrations of chromosomes 9 and 22 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases detected by ES-fluorescence in situ hybridization.

A reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 creates oncogenic BCR/ABL fusion in the breakpoint region of the derivative chromosome 22. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of atypical fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) signal patterns in pediatric and adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases. We evaluated t(9;22) translocation in 208 cases with ALL (294 tests), including 139 childhood and 69 adult cases by FISH technique using BCR/ABL extra signal (ES) probe.

The association between inherited thrombophilias and pregnancy-related hypertension recurrence.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the association between inherited thrombophilias and pregnancy-related hypertension recurrence.

Methods: In this case-control study, blood samples were obtained from patients who had at least two pregnancies complicated with pregnancy-related hypertension (n = 41) and healthy, normotensive pregnancies delivered without any complication (n = 38). Following the DNA extraction, samples were tested for factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A and homozygous methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutations using reverse hybridization method.

Aspergillus alliaceus and Aspergillus flavus co-infection in an acute myeloid leukemia patient.

We report a case of a pulmonary infection caused by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus alliaceus in an acute myeloid leukemia patient. These isolates were identified using traditional and sequencing-based molecular methods.

Array comparative genomic hybridization analysis of adult acute leukemia patients.

We have performed a retrospective array-based comparative hybridization (array-CGH) study on 41 acute leukemia samples [n=17 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients only at diagnosis, n=3 ALL patients both at diagnosis and relapse; n=20 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients only at diagnosis and n=1 AML patient both at diagnosis and relapse] using an Agilent 44K array. In addition to previously detected cytogenetic aberrations, we observed cryptic aberrations in 95% of ALL and 90.5% of AML cases.

Microsatellite instability is a common finding in multiple myeloma.

Purpose: Microsatellite instability (MSI) occurs as a result of sliding in the DNA sequences from shortening or elongation of the repeat zones of DNA during replication. Such abnormalities can normally be corrected by the enzymes coded by the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Therefore, detection of MSI is considered to be a sign of disorder of the MMR genes and is interpreted as a replication error phenotype.

Posttransplant lymphoma in renal and heart allograft recipients: a single center experience.

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a serious complication of organ transplantation, with a reported incidence between 0.8% to 32%. Herein we retrospectively analyzed the patients who diagnosed as PTLD in Akdeniz University.

Effect of iron deficiency anemia on the levels of hemoglobin A1c in nondiabetic patients.

The major form of glycohemoglobin is hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The HbA1c fraction is abnormally elevated in chronic hyperglycemic diabetic patients and correlates positively with glycemic control. Previous studies suggest that iron deficiency anemia (IDA) affects the levels of HbA1c.

The effect of pentoxifylline on haemolysis in patients with double cardiac prosthetic valves.

Objective: Intravascular haemolysis frequently occurs in patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses. In this prospective study, we investigated whether pentoxifylline (PTX) has an effect on haemolysis following prosthetic valvular replacement in 40 patients who underwent double valve (mitral and aortic) replacement.

Methods And Results: The patients were randomly assigned to two groups as control (n = 20) and PTX group (n = 20).

Iron deficiency anemia in the elderly: prevalence and endoscopic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract in outpatients.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA), mostly due to chronic occult bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, is a common problem in the elderly. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of IDA in the elderly and to investigate the gastrointestinal tract in elderly patients with IDA. 1,388 patients over 65 years were prospectively evaluated for IDA in our outpatient clinic.

Bacteremia caused by Brevibacterium species in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

We report a case of bacteremia caused by Brevibacterium species which is one of the coryneform bacteria, in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. We conclude that, if a coryneform bacteria is isolated from sterile body sites, it must be carefully evaluated, and especially in immunocompromised patients, Brevibacterium species should be considered as potential pathogens.