Decrease in Mortality from Sepsis: Impact of the Multidisciplinary Program for the Hematologic Patient at Very High Risk.

A program for the hematologic patient at very high risk of infections (HAR, from its initials in Spanish) was implemented, based on a multidisciplinary team and six measures intended to reduce the colonization and subsequent sepsis by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO). We aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the HAR program in terms of MDRO infections mainly caused by carbapenemase-producing and multidrug-resistant , and sepsis-related mortality. We established retrospective comparisons between the pre-HAR period (2016-2018) and the post-HAR period (2018-2019), in patients who received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and/or intensive chemotherapy to treat non-M3 acute myeloid leukemia (CH-AML).

Survival differences in multiple myeloma in Latin America and Asia: a comparison involving 3664 patients from regional registries.

In previous observational studies, we have separately characterized patients with multiple myeloma (MM) both from Latin America (LA) and from Asia. Here, we analyze these two datasets jointly, in order to assess the overall survival (OS) in these two world regions. Data were available from 3664 patients (1968 from LA and 1696 from Asia); all of whom diagnosed between 1998 and 2007.

Differential Expression of Non-Shelterin Genes Associated with High Telomerase Levels and Telomere Shortening in Plasma Cell Disorders.

Telomerase, shelterin proteins and various interacting factors, named non-shelterin proteins, are involved in the regulation of telomere length (TL). Altered expression of any of these telomere-associated genes can lead to telomere dysfunction, causing genomic instability and disease development. In this study, we investigated the expression profile of a set of non-shelterin genes involved in essential processes such as replication (RPA1), DNA damage repair pathways (MRE11-RAD50-NBS1) and stabilization of telomerase complex (DKC1), in 35 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and 40 cases with multiple myeloma (MM).

Quantitative analysis of CKS1B mRNA expression and copy number gain in patients with plasma cell disorders.

In this study, we have examined CKS1B gene expression and copy number in a total of 114- patients at diagnosis: 83 with multiple myeloma (MM) and 31 with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Results were correlated with cytogenetics, FISH and clinical characteristic. Significant CKS1B mRNA levels in MM compared to MGUS cases (p<0.

Expression profile of shelterin components in plasma cell disorders. Clinical significance of POT1 overexpression.

The core complex of telomere-associated proteins, named the shelterin complex, plays a critical role in telomere protection and telomere length (TL) homeostasis. In this study, we have explored changes in the expression of telomere-associated genes POT1, TIN2, RAP1 and TPP1, in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and multiple myeloma (MM). A total of 154 patients: 70 with MGUS and 84 with MM were studied.

Glutathione S-transferase P1 mRNA expression in plasma cell disorders and its correlation with polymorphic variants and clinical outcome.

Background: Glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) is an important phase II enzyme involved in detoxification of carcinogens. GSTP1 gene overexpression has been observed in a variety of human cancers but there are no studies in plasma cell disorders. The aim of this study was to examine GSTP1 mRNA expression level in multiple myeloma (MM) and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).

Altered mRNA expression of telomere-associated genes in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and multiple myeloma.

In this study, we explored changes in the expression of the telomere maintenance genes, TRF1, TRF2 and TANK1 in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and multiple myeloma (MM). Results were correlated with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT ) expression, telomere length (TL) and clinicopathological characteristics. Bone marrow (BM) samples from 132 patients, 64 with MGUS and 68 with MM, were studied.

DNA methylation analysis of tumor suppressor genes in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.

Aberrant DNA methylation is considered an important epigenetic mechanism for gene inactivation. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is believed to be a precursor of multiple myeloma (MM). We have analyzed methylation status of p15 INK4B , p16 INK4A , ARF, SOCS-1, p27 KIP1 , RASSF1A, and TP73 genes in bone marrow DNA samples from 21 MGUS and 44 MM patients, in order to determine the role of aberrant promoter methylation as one of the steps involved in the progression of MGUS to MM.