Connexin expression in human acute myeloid leukemia cells: identification of patient subsets based on protein and global gene expression profiles.

Bone marrow stromal cells support both normal and malignant hematopoiesis. Τhis support is mediated through the local cytokine network and by direct cell‑cell interactions mediated via adhesion molecules and the formation of gap junctions by connexins. Previous studies on connexins in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have mainly focused on the investigation of leukemia cell lines.

Medication calculation: the potential role of digital game-based learning in nurse education.

Medication dose calculation is one of several medication-related activities that are conducted by nurses daily. However, medication calculation skills appear to be an area of global concern, possibly because of low numeracy skills, test anxiety, low self-confidence, and low self-efficacy among student nurses. Various didactic strategies have been developed for student nurses who still lack basic mathematical competence.

Stress in obesity: cause or consequence?

Obesity is a global public health challenge that increases the risk of various diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cancer, and will in the future cause further increases in the incidence of chronic disease. Understanding the mechanisms of obesity is critical if we are to prevent and treat this pandemic challenge. Diet and physical activity have traditionally been the major tasks in preventing and treating obesity.

Connexin-based signaling in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

Normal and malignant hematopoiesis are regulated by intercellular communication in the hematopoietic microenvironments, and both soluble mediators as well as direct cell-cell contact play important functional roles. Gap junctions are complex membrane structures that transfer molecules between neighboring cells and thereby alter intracellular signaling and metabolism. The gap junction building blocks, the connexins, are also involved in gap junction-independent intercellular communication by forming hemichannels that transfer substances between the intra- and extracellular spaces.

Connexins are active participants of hematopoietic stem cell regulation.

Intercellular communication participates in the regulation of normal hematopoiesis and possibly in neoplastic transformations in the hematopoietic niches. The role of gap junctions (GJs) and their connexins (Cxs) on hematopoietic tissues have been studied since the 1970s. Clearly, GJs are involved in different functional characteristics and connexin expression seems to be thoroughly regulated in hematopoietic tissues, suggesting that these molecules participate in the physiology of hematopoiesis.

Platelet-released supernatants enhance hematopoietic stem cell proliferation in vitro.

Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) is used to reconstitute normal hematopoiesis after myeloablative chemotherapy. The hematopoietic stem cells are collected from the blood by apheresis machines using density gradient centrifugation. Because of density similarities the grafts contain high levels of leukocytes and platelets that release various mediators into the grafts.

Platelet functions and clinical effects in acute myelogenous leukemia.

Platelets interact with normal peripheral blood cells via adhesion as well as soluble mediators, and platelet released mediators can affect hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Interactions may also be involved between platelets and circulating malignant cells, which is suggested by the effects platelets seem to have on metastasis and the various platelet abnormalities observed in various malignant disorders, including acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and other leukemias. It is only recently that the interactions between platelets and AML cells have been characterized in detail, and studies show that; i) platelets and AML blasts can affect functional characteristic of each other, ii) chemotherapeutic drugs frequently used in AML therapy can alter several platelet functions, iii) the systemic levels of various cytokines are enhanced during AML chemotherapy, including cytokines known to affect both leukemic blasts and platelet activation, and iv) platelet secretion of growth factors are clearly detected in peripheral blood stem cells autografts.

Leptin in human acute myelogenous leukemia: studies of in vivo levels and in vitro effects on native functional leukemia blasts.

Background And Objectives: Leptin receptors can be expressed by acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells, but the functional effects of leptin on native AML blasts have not been characterized in detail. We investigated systemic leptin levels in AML patients and in vitro effects of leptin on cultured AML blasts.

Design And Methods: Serum leptin levels were compared for patients with untreated AML and healthy controls.

Effects of cytarabine and various anthracyclins on platelet activation: characterization of in vitro effects and their possible clinical relevance in acute myelogenous leukemia.

Previous in vitro studies have demonstrated that normal platelets and platelet-released mediators can alter in vitro characteristics of human acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) blasts. To further investigate whether platelets can be expected to adhere to and thereby affect AML blasts through their release of soluble mediators into a common microenvironment, we investigated (i) the effects on platelet activation by cytotoxic drugs commonly used in AML therapy; (ii) the occurrence of circulating activated platelets in acute leukemia patients; and (iii) the in vivo and in vitro adherence of platelets to AML blasts. The anthracyclins daunorubicin and idarubicin increased the expression of activation-associated membrane molecules (GPIIb/IIIa, CD62P, CD63) by normal platelets, daunorubicin then having the strongest effect.