Late onset epstein barr virus seropositive posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder in two renal transplant receivers.

Unlabelled: Posttransplant malignancy is one of the most important complications of organ transplantation. Immunosuppressive drugs, viral infections such as human herpes virus 8 or Epstein-Barr virus, exposure to carcinogenic factors such as sun, and host factors can be etiologic factors in the development of malignant disease. In this paper we report 2 cases of late posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder with malign behavior.

The relationship between the VEGF levels and VEGF mRNA expression and clinical course in different glomerulonephritis.

In this study, serum and urinary VEGF levels and VEGF expression in PBMNC were correlated with daily proteinuria, renal function tests, and renal histopathologic findings in untreated patients with different glomerulonephritis and with the course of renal function and proteinuria for one year. Forty-five untreated patients with different glomerulonephritis and 11 healthy persons comprised the study and control groups, respectively. VEGF mRNA expression was detected by RT- PCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC), and VEGF levels were measured by ELISA in serum and urine samples simultaneously.

Tissue doppler imaging and NT-proBNP levels show the early impairment of ventricular function in patients with beta-thalassaemia major.

Beta-thalassaemia major is a chronic haemolytic anaemia, and congestive heart failure (CHF) is the most common cause of death in this disease. N terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) increases with the severity of CHF and predicts the prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between left ventricular systolic and diastolic function determined by standard pulsed wave Doppler (PWD), tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and NT-proBNP in patients with beta-thalassaemia major.

Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease.

Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) is a relatively rare and interesting entity. Despite a range of pathophysiological and therapeutic approaches, it has a high mortality. It is possible to prevent the disease by prophylaxis only.

Liver involvement in sickle cell disease.

Background/aims: Liver involvement in sickle cell disease may take place due to the primary disease itself or to secondary conditions such as iron overload, viral hepatitis and cholelithiasis. In the present study we have tried to evaluate the frequency of hepatic dysfunction and etiological factors in 48 patients with sickle cell disease.

Methods: Clinical and laboratory investigation including liver function tests, serological tests for viral hepatitis, and abdominal ultrasonography were performed in all of the patients.

Telomerase activity in myelodysplastic syndromes.

Myelodysplastic syndromes are clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and peripheral cytopenias. Telomeres are thought to be critical in maintaining normal hematopoiesis. In this study, we assessed telomere dynamics in order to obtain further insight into the pathogenesis of MDS.

PRAME mRNA levels in cases with acute leukemia: clinical importance and future prospects.

The PRAME (preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma) gene has been shown to be expressed in high levels in some solid tumors and hemopoietic neoplasias but not or only weakly expressed in normal tissues. It encodes an antigen recognized by autologous cytolytic T lymphocytes. PRAME is a good candidate for tumor immunotherapy and is a useful marker gene for detection of minimal residual disease (MRD).

Budd-Chiari syndrome associated with visceral leishmaniasis and factor V Leiden mutation.

We here report a case of subacute Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) related to Factor V Leiden (FVL) mutation in the presence of visceral leishmaniasis. A 17-year-old man was admitted to hospital because of abdominal pain, pretibial edema and fever. The clinical picture of BCS had been developed within several months.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in southern Turkey: a single-center experience of 29 cases.

In this retrospective, nonrandomized study, we describe our experience in the management of 29 consecutive patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) treated with a combined therapy of plasma exchange (PE) and steroids at a single center. We compared the effectiveness of high-dose steroids (20-25 mg/kg methyl prednisolone) as first-line treatment in combination with PE therapy with the combination of standard-dose steroids (1 mg/kg methyl prednisolone) and PE in adult patients with TTP. Clinical, laboratory data and treatment outcomes such as response rate, median time to recovery and survival were evaluated retrospectively.

Clinical relevance of vascular endothelial growth factor levels in sickle cell disease.

In recent years, vascular inflammation, marked by activated monocytes and endothelium, has been proven to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of vaso-occlusive events (VOEs) in sickle cell disease (SCD). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an endothelial cell mitogen, has been shown to contribute to the increased endothelial cell adhesivity by increasing the expression of cell adhesion molecules ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1) and VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) on the endothelium. We have investigated VEGF alterations in 37 patients with SCD during VOEs and/or steady state.

Prothrombin 20210GA and factor V Leiden mutations in patients less than 55 years old with myocardial infarction.

Several studies claim that prothrombin 20210GA and factor V Leiden mutations are related to arterial thrombosis. We investigated the frequencies of these mutations and their significance in the development of early atherosclerosis in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients younger than 55 years of age. We investigated 96 patients with AMI and 77 control subjects.

Anti-D and Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatments in Chronic Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the data from 29 patients diagnosed as chronic refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) treated with anti-D immunoglobulin and intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG). We used anti-D and IVIG in 11 and 18 patients respectively in whom the previous treatments including corticosteroids and splenectomy had been unsuccessful. The complete response rates were significantly higher in IVIG arm (55.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T mutation and plasma homocysteine level in Behçet's disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether homozygosity for the 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutation and plasma homocysteine concentration are related to deep vein thrombosis in Behçet's disease (BD) patients.

Methods: Forty BD patients (23 males, 17 females; mean age 40.2+/-8.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura associated with Brucella and Toxoplasma infections.

Bacterial and protozoal infections can cause thrombocytopenia and may mimic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Brucella species and Toxoplasma are among the infectious agents with protean clinical manifestations which may induce immune thrombocytopenia. In rare cases, thrombocytopenia can be severe and may result bleeding into the skin and from mucosal sites.

Levels of malondialdehyde, glutathione and ascorbic acid in idiopathic thrombocytopaenic purpura.

Background: Idiopathic thrombocytopaenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder, which causes an acute or chronic thrombocytopenia, and may result in potentially life-threatening haemorrhage. Oxidative damage may be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Antibodies to bind to membrane lipids and platelet destruction may play a role on lipid peroxidation in ITP.

Bone marrow necrosis: clinicopathologic analysis of 20 cases and review of the literature.

Bone marrow necrosis (BMN) is a relatively uncommon clinicopathologic entity. The etiology is diverse, and malignancy, especially hematopoietic in origin, is the most common underlying disease of BMN. In this retrospective analysis, cases with BMN were re-evaluated for etiology, histopathologic details, and clinical manifestations.

Detection and genotyping of oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum by real-time PCR and melting curve analysis.

Several real-time PCR procedures for the detection and genotyping of oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum were evaluated. A 40-cycle amplification of a 157-bp fragment from the C. parvum beta-tubulin gene detected individual oocysts which were introduced into the reaction mixture by micromanipulation.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in plasmacytoma.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in angiogenesis. Although the role and importance of angiogenic factors such as VEGF have been established in various solid tumors, this has not been widely evaluated in hemopoietic neoplasias. In this trial, VEGF was studied in plasmacytoma and VEGF expression was compared with histopathologic grade.

Value of duplex and color doppler ultrasonography in the evaluation of orbital vascular flow and resistance in sickle cell disease.

The aim of the present study was to assess and to compare the orbital and retinal vascular flow dynamics and resistance in patients with homozygous sickle cell disease with controls by means of duplex and color Doppler ultrasonography. Forty-six patients with homozygous sickle cell disease (SCD) and 20 healthy subjects were included in the study. None of the patients had objective signs of ocular involvement.

The Levels of Sera Malondialdehyde, Erythrocyte Membrane Na+-K+/Mg++ and Ca++/Mg++ Adenosine 5' Triphosphatase in Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia.

The various membrane abnormalities of sickle erythrocytes may result from excessive accumulation of oxidant damage. We measured the sera levels of malondialdehyde, products of lipid peroxidation, Na+-K+/Mg++ Adenosine 5' triphosphatase (ATPase) and Ca++/Mg++ Adenosine 5' triphosphatase, erythrocyte membrane enzymes, in patients with sickle cell anemia and compared their levels with that of normal controls. MDA, Na+-K+/Mg++ and Ca++/Mg++ ATPase levels of control groups were 0.

Bone marrow necrosis in antiphospholipid syndrome.

Bone marrow necrosis (BMN) is a relatively rare entity and has been associated with a poor prognosis. It is most commonly found in patients with neoplastic disorders, severe infections and sickle cell anemia. An unusual case of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) with extensive bone marrow necrosis is described in a 27 year old woman.

Spectral pulsed Doppler sonography of renal vascular resistance in sickle cell disease: clinical implications.

The major complications in sickle cell disease (SCD) are microcirculation lesions and impairment of renal function. The aim of this study was the evaluation of renal vascular resistance by means of spectral pulsed Doppler sonography and its relationships with haematological and clinical features in patients with SCD. 40 patients with SCD (mean age 22.

Bencyclane as an anti-sickling agent.

A vasodilating Ca2+ channel blocker, bencyclane, was used in 18 patients with homozygous sickle cell anaemia (SCD) to test the possible anti-sickling effect. With bencyclane intervention the Na(+)-K+ ATPase activity increased from 256 +/- 29 to 331 +/- 37 nmol Pi/mg protein/h (P < 0.0001) and the Ca(2+)-Mg2+ ATPase level increased from 172 +/- 12 to 222 +/- 44 nmol Pi/mg protein/h (P < 0.