The Importance of Confirming False Homozygosity in Pretransplant HLA Typing Results of Patients with Hematologic Malignancies.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 6p, where the HLA genes are located, can result in incorrect homozygosity findings during HLA genotyping in patients with hematologic malignancies. The degree of HLA compatibility between donor and recipient is crucial in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Therefore, we present a case of false homozygosity in HLA genotyping due to LOH on chromosome 6p in a patient diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Increased PD-1 expression of bone marrow T-cells in acute myeloid leukaemia patients after stem cell transplantation, and its association with overall survival.

Background: Immune checkpoints are involved in mechanisms by which tumours escape from the host immune system. Our aim was to evaluate acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients to determine expression levels of checkpoint molecules according to diagnosis and treatments, and to identify optimal candidates for checkpoint blockade.

Methods: Bone marrow (BM) samples were obtained from 279 AML patients at different disease status and from 23 controls.

Immune Checkpoint Programmed Cell Death Protein-1 (PD-1) Expression on Bone Marrow T Cell Subsets in Patients With Plasma Cell Myeloma.

Background: Plasma cell myeloma (PCM) is caused by immune dysregulation. We evaluated the expression of immune checkpoint programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) on T cell subsets in PCM patients according to disease course and cytogenetic abnormalities. This study aimed to find a target group suitable for therapeutic use of PD-1 blockade in PCM.

Differences in PD-1 expression on CD8+ T-cells in chronic myeloid leukemia patients according to disease phase and TKI medication.

Malignant cells can increase in number using immune escape mechanisms such as immune checkpoints. In this study, we evaluated the expression of an immune checkpoint programmed death 1 (PD-1) on T-cell subsets in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). We obtained bone marrow aspirate samples from CML patients and from individuals without evidence of hematologic malignancies (controls).

Increased expression of immune checkpoint programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) on T cell subsets of bone marrow aspirates in patients with B-Lymphoblastic leukemia, especially in relapse and at diagnosis.

Background: We analyzed expression profiles of immune checkpoint receptors on T cell subsets and ligands on leukemic blasts in patients with B-lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).

Methods: Total 149 bone marrow (BM) samples obtained from 65 B-ALL patients with four different clinical status (41 at diagnosis, 54 in complete remission [CR], 34 in persistence, and 20 in relapse), and 32 BM control samples were prospectively enrolled. Expression of immune checkpoint receptor (programmed cell death protein-1 [PD-1]) on T cell subsets and ligands (PD-L1, PD-L2) on leukemic blasts was evaluated by flow cytometry, and was compared between patient subgroups.

The Incidence and Immunophenotypic and Genetic Features of JL1 Expressing Cells and the Therapeutic Potential of an Anti-JL1 Antibody in Pediatric Acute Leukemias.

Background: JL1 is a newly identified CD43 epitope that specifically recognizes leukemic cells. We analyzed the incidence of JL1 expression and compared the clinical, immunophenotypic, and genetic characteristics of pediatric acute leukemia patients with respect to JL1 expression status to determine the therapeutic potential of an anti-JL1 antibody.

Methods: Seventy-eight patients with pediatric acute leukemia (52 with ALL, 26 with AML) diagnosed between December 2014 and January 2016 were enrolled prospectively.

Frequency and Clinicopathologic Features of RUNX1 Mutations in Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia Not Otherwise Specified.

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency and clinicopathologic characteristics of RUNX1 mutations, focusing on patients with acute myeloid leukemia not otherwise specified (AML NOS).

Methods: Diagnostic samples from 219 patients with AML NOS were analyzed for RUNX1 mutations using standard polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing.

Results: Thirty-one RUNX1 mutations were detected in 33 (15.

Evaluation of IL-2, IL-10, IL-17 and IP-10 as potent discriminative markers for active tuberculosis among pulmonary tuberculosis suspects.

Introduction: Although interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) are useful for specifically detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis, they are limited by their inability to differentiate between active tuberculosis (active TB), latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and patients with prior TB infection. The purpose of this study was to rapidly and accurately identify active TB patients among patients with suspected respiratory TB by combining interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) with additional cytokines.

Materials And Methods: The present study was conducted on patients who required TB screening to discern active TB due to respiratory complaints.

Masked monoclonal gammopathy in capillary electrophoresis.

Background: Although the method of choice to detect M-protein is electrophoresis on an agarose gel, such gel electrophoresis (GE) is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and not standardized. In contrast to GE, capillary electrophoresis (CE) has some merits because it is automated, fast, and highly reproducible. However, CE results occasionally make the interpretation difficult and require additional confirmatory tests like GE.

Comparison of two molecular methods for detecting toxigenic Clostridium difficile.

Background: Clostridium difficile is one of the most common causes of nosocomial diarrhea, and diagnostic methods for detecting C. difficile infection have shifted from conventional to more recent molecular techniques. This study aimed to compare the performance of two molecular assays (Meridian Illumigene™ and AdvanSure CD real-time PCR) in detecting C.

A case series of autoimmune diseases accompanied by incidentally diagnosed monoclonal gammopathy: is there a link between the two diseases?

Aim: Although the etiology of plasma cell dyscrasia is poorly understood, there is evidence for immune dysregulation or sustained immune stimulation playing a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of these diseases, including chronic infection and autoimmune disorders. In this study, we report four autoimmune disease cases where monoclonal gammopathy (MG) was incidentally found during follow-up.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts and laboratory test results in the following four cases: neuromyelitis optica, Kikuchi disease, Sjögren syndrome and ankylosing spondylosis.

Interpretation and clinical significance of small monoclonal peaks in capillary electrophoresis.

Background: Although the testing mechanism and interpretation criteria for capillary electrophoresis differ from those for gel-based electrophoresis, there are not that many reports on the efficacy of capillary electrophoresis.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis, using the Laboratory Information System (LIS) to review a total of 163 capillary electrophoresis results from 117 different patients treated in our hospital between March and August 2012. Capillary electrophoresis was performed on capillary2 (Sebia, Lysse, France).

Factors influencing discordant results of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-tube test in patients with active TB.

Objectives: Indeterminate or negative results from the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-tube test (QFT-GIT) for TB-confirmed patients indicate the lower sensitivity of this method. The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with indeterminate and negative QFT-GIT results in active TB patients.

Methods: We analyzed retrospectively the laboratory and clinical data of patients diagnosed with TB between December 2009 and April 2012 at a tertiary university hospital in Seoul, Korea.

Laboratory tools for oligo-secretory myeloma diagnosis: capillary electrophoresis versus free light chain assay.

Background: To investigate how capillary electrophoresis (CE) works in oligo-secretory myeloma (OSM), we report a case here of OSM using multiple diagnostic methods including gel electrophoresis (GE), CE, and free light chain assay (sFLC). Also, we provide a brief review of laboratory methods to compare their diagnostic utilities in OSM.

Methods: A 72 year-old Korean male suffering from low back pain during the past 6 months was transferred to the department of neurosurgery in order to evaluate abnormal findings in an imaging study, suggesting plasma cell myeloma (PCM) with multiple bone metastasis.