Presence and activity of Fibrinogen like protein 2 in platelets.

Background: Fibrinogen-like protein 2 (FGL2) is a serine protease capable of converting prothrombin into thrombin (i.e., prothrombinase-like activity) while bypassing the classic coagulation cascade.

Comparison of a modified flow cytometry osmotic fragility test with the classical method for the diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis.

Background: Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is the most common inherited hemolytic anemia. The flow cytometric test using eosin-5'maleimide (EMA) is a well-established diagnostic method. However, in order to improve HS detection, it is recommended that EMA and an osmotic fragility test (OFT) both be performed.

Leukemic Phase of Histiocytic Sarcoma of the Digestive System: A Rare Manifestation of a Rare Disease.

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare, malignant, and aggressive subtype of histiocytosis. We present an unusual case of aggressive HS presenting in the gastrointestinal tract and gallbladder that progressed after several lines of chemotherapy with a leukemic phase. We review the clinical, pathological, and molecular characteristics of HS in this case and review the literature on HS involving the digestive system as well as on overt leukemic phase of this disease.

Genomic analysis of metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma masquerading as acute leukemia.

Blast appearing cells in the peripheral blood and bone marrow may occasionally arise from non-hematopoietic tissues. We present a 58 year old female who presented at our emergency room with symptomatic pancytopenia. Several months earlier she was diagnosed and treated for rhabdomyosracoma of the nasopharynx and entered remission.

[THE EFFECT OF INFECTIOUS AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES ON PROCOAGULANT ACTIVITY OF FIBRINOGEN-LIKE PROTEIN 2 IN THE PERIPHERAL BLOOD].

Aims: In this article we address the effect of bacterial or viral infections as well as autoimmune diseases on FGL2 activity in the blood.

Background: Fibrinogen-like protein 2 (FGL2) is a novel prothrombinase capable of initiating thrombin generation independent of the classical coagulation pathway. FGL2 is involved in immune-coagulation response.

Lymphocyte Subset Reference Ranges in Healthy Israeli Adults.

Background: Reference ranges for adult peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets have been established in a few countries. To the best of our knowledge no broad lymphocyte subset analysis of the Israeli population has been reported.  Objectives: To establish reference ranges for healthy adults in Israel and to describe age- and gender-specific differences, if present.

Evaluating platelet function disorders in children with bleeding tendency - A single center study.

Platelet function disorders (PFDs) are a common cause of mild bleeding tendency. However, they cannot be recognized by standard screening studies. The gold standard test for PFD is platelet aggregation, performed by light transmission aggregometry (LTA).

Acute promyelocytic leukemia with isochromosome 17q and cryptic PML-RARA successfully treated with all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subtype of acute leukemia that is characterized by typical morphology, bleeding events and distinct chromosomal aberrations, usually the t(15;17)(q22;q21) translocation. Approximately 9% of APL patients harbor other translocations involving chromosome 17, such as the t(11;17)(q23;q21), t(5;17)(q35;q12-21), t(11;17)(q13;q21), and der(17). All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) have specific targeted activities against the PML-RARA fusion protein.

Adult pre B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with unusually large proportion of bone marrow CD45 bright/high SSc blasts.

Background: We present a pre B-ALL patient with the rare clinical manifestation of extramedullary disease, and a normal hemogram. This patient's blasts expressed bright CD45 and high side scatter (SSc) placing the cells in the monocyte gate.

Methods: Samples from peripheral blood and bone marrow (BM) aspirate from a 50-year-old female patient were immunophenotyped by multiparametric flow cytometry.

The cell-membrane prothrombinase, fibrinogen-like protein 2, promotes angiogenesis and tumor development.

The aim of the study was to further investigate the role of fibrinogen-like protein 2 (FGL-2), a transmembrane prothrombinase that directly cleaves prothrombin to thrombin, in angiogenesis and tumor development and the mechanism(s) underlying these processes. To study angiogenesis HUVEC clones with decreased fgl-2 mRNA were generated by specific siRNA. To study tumorigenesis SCID mice were implanted with intact (wild type) and fgl-2-silenced PC-3 clones.

Increased activity of cell membrane-associated prothrombinase, fibrinogen-like protein 2, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of B-cell lymphoma patients.

Fibrinogen-like protein 2, FGL-2, was reported to be overexpressed in various cancer tissues, where it acts as a transmembrane prothrombinase. This study aims to determine the prothrombinase activity of FGL-2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with B-cell lymphoma. FGL-2 activity was determined in patients with B-cell lymphoma (n = 53), and healthy controls (n = 145).

Ovarian minimal residual disease in chronic myeloid leukaemia.

The options for fertility preservation include cryopreservation of ovarian tissue. Although transplantation of cryopreserved-thawed ovarian tissue in cancer survivors has resulted in live births, there is evidence of malignancy involvement in ovarian tissue, especially in leukaemia. The objectives of this study were to investigate the involvement of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in ovaries by both pathological/immunohistochemical methods and PCR for the identification of the Philadelphia chromosome (BCR-ABL transcripts).

Historical data decrease complete blood count reflex blood smear review rates without missing patients with acute leukaemia.

Introduction: The availability of historical data decreases the rate of blood smear review rates in outpatients, but we are unaware of studies done at referral centres. In the following study, we determined the effect of historical data on the rates of peripheral blood smears over a 3-month period and then the detection rate of patients with acute leukaemia.

Methods: All results of complete blood counts (CBCs) tested on three ADVIA 120 analyzers at the regional Rabin Medical Centre, Beilinson Campus over a 3-month period were accessed on a computerised laboratory information system.

Enteral n-3 fatty acids and micronutrients enhance percentage of positive neutrophil and lymphocyte adhesion molecules: a potential mediator of pressure ulcer healing in critically ill patients.

n-3 Fatty acids are recognised as influencing both wound healing and immunity. We assessed the impact of a fish oil- and micronutrient-enriched formula (study formula) on the healing of pressure ulcers and on immune function in critically ill patients in an intensive care unit. A total of forty patients with pressure ulcers and receiving nutritional support were enrolled (intervention group, n 20, received study formula; and a control group, n 20, received an isoenergetic formula).

Rituximab associated neutropenia: description of three cases and an insight into the underlying pathogenesis.

Background: To describe Rituximab associated neutropenia (RAN), and to explore its underlying mechanism.

Case Report: We describe three patients with RAN. The effect of patient's plasma on colony forming unit, Granulocyte-Monocyte (CFU-GM) was measured by the addition of plasma to the culture of a healthy bone-marrow.

Effect of imatinib on the signal transduction cascade regulating telomerase activity in K562 (BCR-ABL-positive) cells sensitive and resistant to imatinib.

Objective: Imatinib mesylate (IM) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor selective for BCR-ABL and indicated for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. It has recently been demonstrated that IM also targets other cellular components. Considering the significant role of telomerase in malignant transformation, we studied the effect of IM on telomerase activity (TA) and regulation in BCR-ABL-positive and -negative cells, sensitive and resistant to IM.

A proof of concept study: human C48-placenta immunoregulatory factor is an effective, single therapeutic agent enabling allogeneic, nonmanipulated murine bone marrow transplantation.

Objective: Cloned placenta immunoregulatory ferritin (PLIF) contains a novel, nonferritin bioactive domain (C-48) with immunodulatory activity. We documented that treatment of whole human bone marrow cells with PLIF and its subcloned C48 proteins resulted in myeloid progenitor cell growth and differentiation and T-cell suppression via an effect on the cytokine network. We tested whether this differential effect supports allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with long-lasting tolerance without any further treatments.

Follicular lymphoma with extensive gastrointestinal tract involvement: follow-up by capsule endoscopy.

Follicular lymphoma with gastrointestinal tract involvement is rare. We describe the case of a young woman with follicular lymphoma with multiple nodular lesions involving segments of the proximal jejunum and terminal ileum. The presenting symptom was chronic diarrhea.

Nucleated red blood cells in uncomplicated prolonged pregnancy.

Objective: Elevated counts of nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs), as well as prolongation of pregnancy, have been suggested as predictors of adverse perinatal outcome. However, the association between these 2 variables has received only minimal attention. We sought to evaluate fetal NRBCs in prolonged pregnancies.

Expression of adhesion molecules on leukemic B cells from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients with predominantly splenic manifestations.

Background: The highly tissue-specific trafficking of normal and malignant lymphocytes to particular organs is mediated by adhesion molecules, or "homing receptors." Among our patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia 15% demonstrate predominantly splenic manifestations and are classified as stage II(S).

Objective: To investigate whether expression of cell surface adhesion molecules can distinguish stage II(S) patients from stage 0 or stage 0 and I CLL patients.