Systematic Evaluation of Hematologic Parameters and Blood Smear Findings in Patients With SARS-CoV-2 vs Other Viral Respiratory Infections.

Objectives: We evaluated and compared the peripheral blood findings in patients with acute COVID-19 vs other viral respiratory infections.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed peripheral blood counts and smear morphology in patients with a positive viral respiratory panel (VRP) or SARS-CoV-2 test.

Results: A total of 97 peripheral blood samples (COVID-19 infection, 53; VRP positive, 44) from 50 patients (mean [SD] age, 45.

A thorny matter: Spur cell anemia.

Spur cell anemia (SCA) is an acquired form of non-autoimmune hemolytic anemia that occurs in advanced liver disease. It is characterized by the presence of acanthocytes or spur cells, spiculated erythrocytes whose shortened life span causes anemia that is unresponsive to transfusion. SCA has been regarded as a rare condition with an ominous prognosis for which the only known cure is liver transplantation, but recent prospective studies have demonstrated the existence of a milder form of SCA in which there are smaller numbers of acanthocytes, but which is nevertheless associated with hemolysis and poor outcomes.

Markers of Follicular Helper T Cells Are Occasionally Expressed in T-Cell or Histiocyte-Rich Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma, and Atypical Paracortical HyperplasiaA Diagnostic Pitfall For T-Cell Lymphomas of T Follicular Helper Origin.

Objectives: Follicular helper T cell (TFH) markers are expressed in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma of the TFH phenotype (PTCL-TFH). However, differential expression and coexpression of these markers in benign and other malignant lymphoid proliferations have not been well studied.

Methods: We performed programmed death-1 (PD-1), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13), inducible costimulator (ICOS), CD10, and B-cell lymphoma 6 protein (BCL-6) immunohistochemistry on AITL, PTCL not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS), PTCL-TFH, T-cell or histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (THRLBCL), classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL), atypical paracortical hyperplasia (PCH), progressive transformation of germinal centers (PTGC), and reactive follicular hyperplasia (RFH).

Utility of Flow Cytometry and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization in Follow-up Monitoring of Plasma Cell Myeloma.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the clinical utility of flow cytometry (FC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the workup of myeloma.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the reports of bone marrow biopsies received for myeloma evaluation between October 2015 and January 2019.

Results: A total of 1,708 biopsy specimens from 469 myeloma patients (mean age, 64.

Immunophenotypic Heterogeneity of Polytypic Plasma Cells and the Impact on Myeloma Minimal Residual Disease Detection by Multiparameter Flow Cytometry.

Background: Flow cytometry is widely used for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection in plasma cell myeloma (PCM). Recently, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated that polytypic plasma cells (PPCs) display greater immunophenotypic variation than previously appreciated. Our aim was to further characterize the immunophenotype of PPC in this setting.

Flow cytometric aberrancies in plasma cell myeloma and MGUS - correlation with laboratory parameters.

Background: Multiparametric flow cytometry is a useful tool for diagnosis of plasma cell (PC) dyscrasias and assessment of minimal residual disease in plasma cell myeloma (PCM). However, the immunophenotypic differences between the clonal PCs of PCM and those of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) as well as the correlation of these flow cytometric markers with pertinent laboratory parameters have not been evaluated.

Methods: We retrospectively identified all newly diagnosed treatment-naive PCM and MGUS patients between 09/2014 and 06/2015 who underwent 10-color flow-cytometric evaluation: CD45, CD38, CD138, cKappa, cLambda, CD19, CD27, CD28, CD56, CD117.

Leukemic Transdifferentiation of Follicular Lymphoma Into an Acute Histiocytic Leukemia in a 52-Year-Old Caucasian Woman.

We report an instructive case of acute myeloid leukemia with histiocytic differentiation (acute histiocytic leukemia) arising in a patient, a 52-year-old woman with a history of follicular lymphoma. The results of genetic studies proved a clonal relationship between the lymphoma and the leukemic cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of leukemic transdifferentiation of follicular lymphoma into modified base 5-methylcytosine (M(5)c)-like acute histiocytic leukemia and the first reported karyotype on a transdifferentiated neoplasm.

Preclinical validation of interleukin 6 as a therapeutic target in multiple myeloma.

Studies on the biologic and molecular genetic underpinnings of multiple myeloma (MM) have identified the pleiotropic, pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), as a factor crucial to the growth, proliferation and survival of myeloma cells. IL-6 is also a potent stimulator of osteoclastogenesis and a sculptor of the tumor microenvironment in the bone marrow of patients with myeloma. This knowledge has engendered considerable interest in targeting IL-6 for therapeutic purposes, using a variety of antibody- and small-molecule-based therapies.

Follicular lymphoma transformed to "double-hit" B lymphoblastic lymphoma presenting in the peritoneal fluid.

Lymphomas showing both MYC/8q24 rearrangement and IGH@BCL2/t(14;18)(q32;q21), also referred to as "double-hit" or "dual-hit" lymphomas (DHL) are rare B-cell malignancies with a germinal center B-cell immunophenotype and heterogeneous cytologic and histologic features. Such lymphomas may arise de novo or through transformation of follicular lymphomas and are classified either as "B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Burkitt lymphoma (BL)" (most commonly), DLBCL, or, rarely, as B-lymphoblastic lymphoma. We report a case of B-lymphobastic lymphoma arising through transformation of follicular lymphoma diagnosed on peritoneal fluid cytology, flow cytometry, and cytogenetic studies in a 53-year-old man who presented with abdominal pain, shortness of breath, night sweats, extensive lymphadenopathy, pleural effusion, and ascites.

Quantitative Epstein-Barr virus shedding and its correlation with the risk of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.

We postulated that quantitative monitoring of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) shedding after transplantation could distinguish EBV-associated illnesses and predict clinical outcome. EBV DNA was measured in solid organ (SOT) and hematopoietic cell transplants (HCT) using our own real-time TaqMan EBV PCR. The proportion of patients who had EBV DNAemia post-transplant was significantly lower in HCT vs.

Tim-3 is an inducible human natural killer cell receptor that enhances interferon gamma production in response to galectin-9.

NK-cell function is regulated by the integration of signals received from activating and inhibitory receptors. Here we show that a novel immune receptor, T-cell Ig and mucin-containing domain-3 (Tim-3), is expressed on resting human NK cells and is up-regulated on activation. The NK92 NK-cell line engineered to overexpress Tim-3 showed a marked increase in IFN-γ production in the presence of soluble rhGal-9 or Raji tumor cells engineered to express Gal-9.

Adrenal extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration and cerebrospinal fluid cytology and immunophenotyping: a case report.

The cytologic findings of an extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) presenting as a large adrenal mass with leptomeningeal involvement diagnosed by CT-guided fine-needle aspiration and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology are described. The 65-year-old Caucasian patient presented with progressive headache and multiple cranial nerve neuropathies. Magnetic resonance imaging showed leptomeningeal enhancement surrounding the conus medullaris and cauda equine, and a subsequent PET/CT demonstrated a large right adrenal gland mass.

A virologic pilot study of valacyclovir in infectious mononucleosis.

Background: Infectious mononucleosis decreases the productivity of many college students and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection may result in long-term immune damage.

Objectives: Evaluate the antiviral effect of valacyclovir during EBV-related acute infectious mononucleosis and explore potential clinical benefits.

Study Design: University students who presented during the first 7 days of illness were randomized to receive valacyclovir 3g/day for 14 days or not.

Specific detection of human BK polyomavirus in urine samples of immunocompromised patients.

A semiquantitative PCR assay for the detection of BK virus in urine was developed using primers for BK virus that specifically amplified BK but not JC virus. DNA was extracted from urine through treatment with proteinase K followed by DNA precipitation with sodium acetate. Semiquantitation was achieved by amplifying serial dilutions (1:1, 1:10, 1:100, and 1:1,000) of the urine specimens.