Significance and implications of FHIT gene expression and promoter hypermethylation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Background: Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) has been documented to play a vital role in various cancers including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Keeping in view the plausible role of FHIT gene, we aimed to examine DNA promoter hypermethylation and mRNA expression in ALL cases in Kashmir (North India).

Methods: A total of 66 cases of ALL were analyzed for FHIT mRNA expression and promoter methylation by qRT-PCR and Methylation Specific-PCR (MS-PCR) respectively.

Follicular Lymphoma Secondary to Chronic Myeloid Leukemia During Treatment With Imatinib.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) remain the mainstay of treatment for those with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML); nonetheless, there is concern over the possibility of additional cancers as a result of TKI use. There are not many cases in the literature where tyrosine kinase treatment caused a patient to develop secondary lymphoma. Herein we present a 49-year-old male diagnosed with CML in 2014, on Imatinib for six years with a major molecular response, who presented with generalized lymphadenopathy in July 2020.

ATRA-induced bradycardia in a case of acute promyelocytic leukemia: A case report.

A 45-year-old female, a new case of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), received induction chemotherapy containing all- retinoic acid (ATRA) and idarubicin. On the sixth day of therapy, she developed sinus bradycardia and differentiation syndrome (DS). Electrolytes and cardiac imaging were normal.

Vitamin D toxicity due to self-prescription: A case report.

Apart from maintaining healthy bones, vitamin D is also required for cell differentiation, cell growth inhibition, and immune modulation. Vitamin D deficiency is common in the Indian subcontinent. Vitamin D presenting toxicity, leading to hypercalcemia, acute kidney injury, and altered sensorium is very rare.

In vitro strategies for the enhancement of secondary metabolite production in plants: a review.

Background: Plants are the prime source of vital secondary metabolites (SMs) which are medicinally important for drug development, and these secondary metabolites are often used by plants in the various important tasks like defense against herbivory, interspecies defenses and against different types of stresses. For humans, these secondary metabolites are important as medicines, pigments, flavorings and drugs. Because most of the pharmaceutical industries are highly dependent on medicinal plants and their extraction, these medicinal plants are getting endangered.

Rare snake bite- A case report.

Snake bite is an acute life threating medical emergency and is included amonst neglected tropical diseases. Every year in India 200,000 people bitten by snakes and >25% are fatal.In Maharashtra, Konkan area, the green pit viper is uncommon, though this snake has become more common.

and rs156697 Polymorphism in Influence the Risk and Therapeutic Outcome of B-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients.

Introduction: Glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene deletion or polymorphic sequence variations lead to decreased enzyme activity that influences susceptibility and response to chemotherapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This case-control study investigated the association of GST gene polymorphisms with the etiology and therapeutic outcome of B-ALL among Kashmiri population.

Methods: A total of 300 individuals including 150 newly diagnosed B-ALL patients and an equal number of age and gender matched controls were genotyped for five GST gene polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique (PCR-RFLP) and multiplex PCR techniques.

Glutathione S-transferase gene polymorphic sequence variations: Association with risk and response to Imatinib among Chronic Myeloid Leukemia patients of Kashmir.

Introduction: Glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene deletion or polymorphic sequence variations lead to decreased enzyme activity that influences susceptibility and response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). We aimed to analyze relation of different GST gene sequence variants with susceptibility and response to Imatinib in CML.

Material And Methods: A total of 150 CML cases and equal number of age and gender matched healthy controls were genotyped for five GST polymorphisms by multiplex-PCR and PCR-RFLP techniques.

Clinical Profile and Efficacy of Antivirals in Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation, in Patients With Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy.

Background/purpose: Hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBVR) is common in patients withcancer. The aim of the present study was to find out clinical profile of patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy with HBVR and to study the efficacy of entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir in the treatment of HBVR.

Methods: This is a prospective study in which all consecutive patients with cancer with evidence of HBVR were included.

ABO Blood Group and the Risk of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Kashmir, a High Risk Region.

Background: ABO blood group has been linked with a number of diseases including cancer. Association of ABO blood type with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has been sparsely reported and the results are inconsistent. We undertook this study to analyze if any association exists between the ABO and Rh blood groups and ESCC risk.

Entecavir is Safe and Effective in Long Term for the Treatment of Hepatitis B in Immunocompromised Children.

Objective: Hepatitis B infection is common in patients with cancer, and prompt treatment is necessary; otherwise, it can result in life-threatening complications. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of entecavir in immunocompromised children with hepatitis B.

Methods: This single-center prospective study was conducted on children with different malignancies referred to our department with evidence of hepatitis B infection.

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia with a novel translocation t(16;17)(q12;p13): a case report.

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML) is characterised by the t(15;17)(q22;q21), that results in the fusion of the promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) gene at 15q22 with the retinoic acid α-receptor (RARA) gene at 17q21. The current case report describes a 13-year-old male with APML, who was negative for PML/RARA fusion signal but reported to have an atypical translocation t(16;17). To the best of our knowledge this is the first case report of APML responsive to ATRA with such a translocation.

Pseudotumour cerebri in acute promyelocytic leukemia on treatment with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) - an experience from a tertiary care centre.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML) is considered to be sensitive to all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) which acts as a differentiating agent. ATRA is considered to be a well-tolerated agent and is known to achieve complete remission in acute promyelocytic leukemia. However, a few cases on long term all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) use can develop pseudotumor cerebri.

Role of low dose cytarabine in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia: An experience.

Purpose: To highlight the acceptable results seen after use of low dose cytarabine in elderly patients of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with comorbidities.

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective study carried on 30 newly diagnosed patients of AML over 60 years of age who were unfit for standard treatment regimens. We did not use azacytidine and decitabine in our patients because these therapeutic modalities being extremely costly and our patient affordability being poor.

Pure Erythroleukemia (Variant Acute Myeloid Leukemia-vAML-M6) with Deletion of Chromosome 20, Mainly Presenting as Late Erythroblasts, a Unique Case Report with Review of Literature.

Acute erythroleukemia is characterized by a predominant immature erythroid population and accounts for approximately 2-5 % of all cases of acute leukemia. Two subtypes are recognized based on the presence or absence of a significant myeloid component: erythroleukemia and pure erythroid leukemia. Erythroleukemia is predominantly a disease of adults, while pure erythroid leukemia can be seen in any age including children.

Occult hepatitis B virus infection as a cause of posttransfusion hepatitis in patients with cancers.

Background: Prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is increased in patients of cancer with increased mortality. Multiple transfusions of blood and blood-related products are a potential source.

Aims: This study aims to assess the incidence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion in cancer patients receiving transfusion of blood or blood-related products and identify possible reasons for infection in these patients.