The association of HLA antigen and GVHD in allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation with histocompatible sibling donor: a single-center experience in Korea.

We analyzed the association of HLA antigens with incidence of organ-specific graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) from an HLA-matched sibling donor. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of allo-HSCT recipients and found 389 patients who had received matched-sibling HSCT. HLA types, GVHD grades, and the development of acute or chronic GVHD, factors that reflect a certain immunological impact associated with involved organs, were investigated.

Detection of the BCR-ABL gene by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (iFISH) in chronic myelogenous leukemia patients after hemopoietic stem cell transplantation: the feasibility of iFISH monitoring of therapeutic response in peripheral blood.

The detection of the Philadelphia (Ph) translocation has been accomplished primarily by cytogenetic analysis and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RT-PCR is highly sensitive (1/10(4)-10(6)) but not quantitatively reliable and is thus unsuitable for the monitoring of Ph-positive cells during therapy. Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (iFISH) allows analysis of a large number of cells (> 500) in a timely and efficiently quantitative manner.

Reposition of intruded permanent incisor by a combination of surgical and orthodontic approach: a case report.

This report presents a case of a completely intrusive luxation of an immature permanent central incisor in a 7 years 9 months-old girl. Because there are severe intrusive trauma and cortical alveolar bone fracture, it was impossible to reposition with orthodontic or surgical method alone. The intruded tooth was repositioned to healthy alveolar bone level by using surgical extrusion and stabilization with sutures and periodontal pack.

Comprehensive comparison of FISH, RT-PCR, and RQ-PCR for monitoring the BCR-ABL gene after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in CML.

The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was compared with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and real-time quantitative RT-PCR (RQ-PCR) for minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring in 266 post-transplant bone marrow samples from 78 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The sensitivities of FISH to BCR-ABL positive samples determined by first-round (1st) RT-PCR, second-round (2nd) RT-PCR, and RQ-PCR were 64.2%, 25.

Two cases of disseminated mucormycosis in patients following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

We describe two cases of disseminated mucormycosis following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Both patients were suffering from chronic graft-ver-sus-host disease (GVHD) and treated with prolonged administration of corticosteroid. In both cases, the initial symptoms were high fever and left flank pain.

Evaluation of early post-transplant leukocyte recovery using the undiluted erythrocyte lysing technique.

The undiluted erythrocyte lysing technique was evaluated to see if it provides more accurate total leukocyte counts and differential leukocyte counts of severely leukopenic blood samples, in order to detect the onset of hematopoietic recovery after stem cell transplantation. Leukocyte counts using the conventional automated cell counting technique were found to be inaccurate, especially in blood samples with total leukocyte counts < 500/microl. In cases where the difference between results by the two methods was >100/microl, a positive correlation was found between the difference value and the blood reticulocyte count (r = 0.

Selective bowel decontamination for the prevention of infection in acute myelogenous leukemia: a prospective randomized trial.

Background: Infection is still a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients receiving chemotherapy. Recently the main cause of infection has changed from gram-negative to gram-positive bacteria and the resistance to antibiotics has increased. This study aimed to access the effectiveness of antimicrobial prophylaxis (AP) with orally absorbable antibiotics.

Influence of karyotype on outcome of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for adults with precursor B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in first or second remission.

The prognostic relevance of karyotype has been established in adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) patients treated with chemotherapy but not definitively evaluated in an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) setting. To determine the factors affecting the outcome of allogeneic BMT for adults with precursor B-lineage ALL in first or second complete remission (CR), a total of 41 consecutive patients with a successful karyotype were enrolled in this study. There were 21 men and 20 women with a median age of 27 (15-43) years.

The role of cytokines in the changes in bone turnover following bone marrow transplantation.

Osteoporosis is a common disease among patients undergoing transplantation and a loss of bone mass is usually detected after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), particularly during the immediate post-BMT period. Post-BMT bone loss is primarily related to gonadal dysfunction and immunosuppression. Cytokines, especially interleukin 6, play an important role in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Supplemental peripheral blood stem cells to decrease marrow rejection in adult patients with severe aplastic anemia.

Twenty-two multi-transfused patients with a long duration of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) received a transplant from an HLA-matched donor after cyclophosphamide (CY) plus antithymocyte globulin plus procarbazine using CD34(+) enriched blood stem cells + fresh marrow. Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) were collected on days 5 and 6 of G-CSF (10 microg/kg/day), and T cells were depleted using an immunoadsorption column (n = 15) or magnetic cell sorting (n = 7). Marrow harvesting was performed 48 hr after the last leukapheresis.

Radiologic features of all-trans-retinoic acid syndrome.

Objective: The treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) sometimes results in a syndrome characterized by fever, respiratory distress, weight gain, pleural and pericardial effusion, and pulmonary infiltrates. We report the radiologic features of ATRA syndrome.

Materials And Methods: During the past 5 years, 69 patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia were treated with ATRA.

The effect of bone marrow transplantation on the osteoblastic differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells.

Osteoporosis is a serious and relatively common complication of transplantation procedures. However, little is known about the exact mechanism or severity of osteoporosis complicated by bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We conducted both ex vivo and clinical studies to identify the mechanism and extent of bone loss after BMT.

Effect of curing method and curing time on the microhardness and wear of pit and fissure sealants.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a light source, polymerization time and storage time on the microhardness and wear of pit and fissure sealants.

Methods: Five commercial pit and fissure sealants (Fissurit F [FF], Teethmate F1 [TF], Apollo Seal [AS], Concise [CC], and Ultraseal XT Plus [US]) were used. Specimens were cured with a conventional visible light curing unit (Curing Light XL 3000) for 10, 20, 30, 40s or with a plasma arc light curing unit (Apollo 95E) for 3, 6, 9, 12s.

Conditioning with high-dose cyclophosphamide may not be sufficient to provide a long-term remission of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria following syngeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

A patient with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) received a syngeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT) with high-dose cyclophosphamide (CY) conditioning. He had a reasonable engraftment and complete hematologic recovery. However, at 12 months after PBSCT, he became symptomatic and peripheral blood cells were almost entirely composed of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins deficient cells.

The kinetics of circulating cytokines including IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-8 and IL-10 following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Pro-inflammatory (IL-6, TNFalpha and IL-8) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines were determined in weekly samples from 52 patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). IL-6 increased immediately after transplant peaking at week +3, but IL-8 concentrations were elevated only during week +1. After a slight decrease in week +1, TNF-alpha significantly increased from week +2 and peaked at week +3, whereas, IL-10 values started to rise in week +2 and peaked during week +4.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the bone marrow after bone marrow transplantation or immunosuppressive therapy in aplastic anemia.

To compare magnetic resonance (MR) images of the bone marrow (BM) after bone marrow transplantation or immunosuppressive therapy in patients with aplastic anemia (AA), MR imaging of BM was reviewed retrospectively in 16 patients (13 males and 3 females, mean age 26 yr) with AA who completely responded clinically after transplantation or immunosuppressive therapy. The signal intensity (SI) of BM was classified into four patterns according to the increasing amount of cellular marrow, i.e.

Changes in autoimmune thyroid disease following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Autoimmune diseases can be transmitted and eliminated by bone marrow transplantation (BMT). There have been several cases of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) occurring after BMT, but AITD remission has been rarely reported. We present four cases in which the remission or transfer of AITD occurred after an allogeneic BMT.

In vivo rehardening of enamel eroded by a cola drink.

There are many concerns about the erosive effects of acidic beverages. In this study, the effects of Pepsi-Cola (pH 2.41) on bovine enamel and the rehardening effect resulting from intraoral exposure of the teeth were determined by microhardness testing (Vicker's Hardness Number).

Effect of induced GVHD in leukemia patients relapsing after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: single-center experience of 33 adult patients.

In a retrospective single center study, we examined the outcome of induced GVHD in leukemia patients relapsing after allogeneic BMT. Thirty-three adult patients with leukemia (15 AML, 3 ALL, and 15 CML) persisting or relapsing 1-36 months (median, 6) after allogeneic BMT underwent various immune manipulations and consequently developed acute and/or chronic GVHD at our center. Immunotherapies to elicit GVHD comprised chemotherapy followed by PBSC (n = 18), non-myeloablative transplant (n = 2), PBL followed by IFN-alpha (n = 5), PBL alone (n = 3), abrupt cessation of CsA (n = 3), and CsA withdrawal combined with IFN-alpha (n = 2).

Generation of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Specific for Human Cytomegalovirus Using Dendritic Cells In Vitro.

SUMMARY: For the adoptive immunotherapy in immunodeficient bone marrow transplant recipients to prevent and treat human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-associated diseases, HCMV-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs) were used as antigen-presenting cells for the induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) specific to HCMV antigens in vitro. The antiviral CTL responses induced by HCMV-pulsed DCs were as highly efficient as those induced by HCMV-infected dermal fibroblasts, and endogenous viral gene expression was not required to induce virus-specific T-cell lines. The strong cytotoxic activity against HCMV-pp65, known as HCMV major antigen, was identified using autologous B lymphoblastoid cell line expressing pp65 antigen.

Generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for human cytomegalovirus using dendritic cells in vitro.

For the adoptive immunotherapy in immunodeficient bone marrow transplant recipients to prevent and treat human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-associated diseases, HCMV-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs) were used as antigen-presenting cells for the induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) specific to HCMV antigens in vitro. The antiviral CTL responses induced by HCMV-pulsed DCs were as highly efficient as those induced by HCMV-infected dermal fibroblasts, and endogenous viral gene expression was not required to induce virus-specific T-cell lines. The strong cytotoxic activity against HCMV-pp65, known as HCMV major antigen, was identified using autologous B lymphoblastoid cell line expressing pp65 antigen.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for chronic myeloid leukemia: a retrospective study of busulfan-cytoxan versus total body irradiation-cytoxan as preparative regimen in Koreans.

From January 1990 to December 1997, 53 Korean patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) receiving bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling donors conditioned with either busulfan and cyclophosphamide (BU/CY regimen) or total body irradiation and cyclophosphamide (TBI/CY regimen) were compared retrospectively. Transplantation-related mortality was 19% in BU/CY and 12% in TBI/CY, and early death (<100 d) occurred in 3 patients conditioned with BU/CY. Grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 9% of BU/CY and 52% of TBI/CY patients.

Hepatosplenic tuberculosis mimicking disseminated candidiasis in patients with acute leukemia.

Two cases of hepatosplenic tuberculosis in patients with acute leukemia during or after chemotherapy following prolonged neutropenia are presented. Tuberculosis should be considered as one cause of hepatosplenic abscesses during prolonged neutropenia, especially in countries where the disease is endemic.

Expression of leukemia-associated antigen, JL1, in bone marrow and thymus.

The identification of immunophenotypic markers with restricted expression has long been a critical issue in diagnostic and therapeutic advances for acute leukemias. We previously developed a monoclonal antibody against a new thymocyte surface antigen, JL1, and showed that JL1 is expressed in the majority of acute leukemia cases. In this study, using multiparameter flow cytometric analyses, we found that JL1 was uniquely expressed in subpopulations of normal bone marrow (BM) cells, implying the association of JL1 with the differentiation and maturation process.