Busulfan and cyclophosphamide for autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma after proteasome inhibitor and/or immunomodulatory drug treatment.

High-dose melphalan at 200 mg/m (MEL-200) is the standard conditioning regimen before autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Busulfan (BU) and cyclophosphamide (CY) can be used as alternatives when MEL is unavailable. However, most studies on BU/CY conditioning regimens were conducted before proteasome inhibitors (PIs) and immunomodulatory drugs (IMIDs) were available.

Risk stratification for early mortality in newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia: a multicenter, non-selected, retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Despite the current effective treatments for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), early mortality (EM), defined as death within 30 days of presentation, is a major hurdle to long-term survival.

Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective study to evaluate the incidence and clinical characteristics of EM in patients with newly diagnosed APL and to develop a risk stratification model to predict EM.

Results: We identified 313 eligible patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2021 from five academic hospitals.

Development and validation of CT‑based radiomics model of PET-negative residual CT masses: a potential biomarker for predicting relapse‑free survival in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients showing complete metabolic response.

Purpose: PET-negative residual CT masses (PnRCMs) are usually dismissed as nonviable post-treatment lesions in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients showing complete metabolic response (CMR). We aimed to develop and validate computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics model of PET-negative residual CT mass (PnRCM) for predicting relapse-free survival (RFS) in NHL patients showing CMR.

Methods: A total of 224 patients who showed CMR after completing first-line chemotherapy for PET-avid NHL were recruited for model development.

Cytomegalovirus reactivation under pre-emptive therapy following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant: Pattern, survival, and risk factors in the Republic of Korea.

Introduction: Pre-emptive therapy for cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation has been used in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). It is unclear if this strategy has poorer clinical outcomes in CMV-endemic areas and if more aggressive prophylaxis is required.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the patterns and survival after CMV reactivation in patients undergoing pre-emptive therapy following allo-HSCT and assessed high-risk patients who could benefit from aggressive CMV prophylaxis in endemic areas.

Health Status and Activity Discomfort among Elderly Drivers: Reality of Health Awareness.

As the number of elderly drivers rapidly increases worldwide, interest in the dangers of driving is growing as accidents rise. The purpose of this study was to conduct a statistical analysis of the driving risk factors of elderly drivers. In this analysis, data from the government organization's open data were used for the secondary processing of 10,097 people.

Prognostic outcomes of cytomegalovirus reactivation after autologous stem cell transplantation.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation is a common complication in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation. However, the incidence of CMV reactivation is low after autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT), and the prognostic value of CMV reactivation remains controversial. Moreover, reports on late CMV reactivation after auto-SCT are limited.

Polygenic Risk Scores Associated with Tumor Immune Infiltration in Common Cancers.

It is largely unknown whether genetic susceptibility contributes to tumor immune infiltration in common cancers. We systematically investigated the association between polygenic risk scores (PRSs) and tumor immune infiltration in common cancers. First, we constructed a PRS for common cancers using the risk variants identified in previous genome-wide association studies.

Hematotoxic Effect of Respiratory Exposure to PHMG-p and Its Integrated Genetic Analysis.

Polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-p), the main ingredient of humidifier disinfectants, circulates systemically through the lungs; however, its toxicological assessment has been primarily limited to pulmonary disease. Herein, we investigated the possible abnormalities in hematopoietic function 20 weeks after intratracheal instillation of PHMG-p in a rat model. Notable abnormalities were found out in the peripheral blood cell count and bone marrow (BM) biopsy, while RNA sequencing of BM tissue revealed markedly altered gene expression.

Perception and safety analysis of COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients: A multicenter, real-world study.

Background: Although various coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have been delivered to the public worldwide, data on cancer populations are limited. Vaccine hesitancy related to safety concerns is observed among cancer patients. We report the perception of COVID-19 vaccines and their safety profile after vaccination among cancer patients.

Changes in Daily Life, Physical Activity, GAD, Depression, and Personal Hygiene of Adolescents in South Korea Due to the COVID-19.

This study used raw data obtained from the Adolescents' Health Behavior Survey by government-affiliated agency open data. A total of 109,796 students were sampled. A comparative analysis was performed based on the year 2020 and when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, in which we analyzed changes in adolescents' depression and panic anxiety perception and dietary habits, physical factors, physical activity, and handwashing habits.

PVR (CD155) Expression as a Potential Prognostic Marker in Multiple Myeloma.

Poliovirus receptor (PVR, CD155) is upregulated during tumor progression, and PVR expression is associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients; however, prognostic implications for PVR in multiple myeloma (MM) have not been investigated. PVR plays an immunomodulatory role by interacting with CD226, CD96, and TIGIT. TIGIT is a checkpoint inhibitory receptor that can limit adaptive and innate immunity, and it binds to PVR with the highest affinity.

Postoperative Thromboembolism According to the Type of Surgery: A Nationwide Study in the Republic of Korea.

Postoperative thromboembolism (TE) is a serious, but preventable, complication in surgical patients. Orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and vascular surgery are considered high risk for TE, and current guidelines recommend TE prophylaxis. However, insufficient data exist regarding TE risk in other general surgeries.

A human pluripotent stem cell line KUMi004-A generated from a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of blood cancer caused by the abnormal accumulation of malignant plasma cells. In this study, we generated CLL iPSCs (KUMi004-a) using the Sendai virus, confirming pluripotency. Also, it can differentiate into three primary germ layers.

The effect of the response to the coronavirus disease pandemic on treatment outcomes in patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

Background/aims: Relatively little data are available on how the response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected treatment outcomes in patients receiving chemotherapy for lymphoma or multiple myeloma. We aimed to determine the effect of COVID-19 countermeasures on treatment outcomes in this patient population.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data on patients treated for lymphoma or multiple myeloma in two tertiary hospitals in Seoul.

A nationwide study of patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance with a 10-year follow-up in South Korea.

In clinical practice, most patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) undergo long-term follow-up without disease progression. There is insufficient real-world data about how closely and whether anything other than disease progression should be monitored. Herein, we performed a nationwide study of 470 patients with MGUS with a 10-year follow-up to determine the patterns of disease progression and other comorbidities.

Prediction Model for Cereblon Expression in Bone Marrow Plasma Cells Based on Blood Markers in Multiple Myeloma Patients.

Background: Cereblon (CRBN) is a direct target of immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) and is known to be sensitive and responsive to IMiD therapy. We evaluated CRBN expression in bone marrow plasma cells and analyzed whether CRBN expression was associated with multiple myeloma prognosis. Lastly, we developed a nomogram model for predicting high CRBN expression based on clinically significant blood markers.

Efficacy of posaconazole prophylaxis in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome patients treated with hypomethylating agents.

Background: Although many acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients have been treated with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) as a substitute for intensive chemotherapy in recent years, the incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) and the efficacy of posaconazole as antifungal prophylaxis in these patients are not well known to date.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 280 AML and MDS patients treated with HMAs to identify IFI incidence and posaconazole efficacy as antifungal prophylaxis in these patients.

Results: The overall incidence of probable or proven IFIs was 7.

Efficacy and safety of two pegfilgrastim biosimilars: Tripegfilgrastim and pegteograstim.

Our aim was to compare the efficacy and safety of two recently developed biosimilars of pegfilgrastim, a pegylated form of the recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) analog filgrastim with those of the reference pegfilgrastim. We retrospectively analyzed data from patients diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who were treated with first-line R-CHOP chemotherapy and received pegylated G-CSF for primary prophylaxis. The following pegylated G-CSFs were analyzed in this study: reference pegfilgrastim (Neulasta ) and two of its biosimilars (tripegfilgrastim; Dulastin and pegteograstim; Neulapeg ).

Nationwide study of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in South Korea: paradox of eculizumab.

Eculizumab is effective in managing patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). In South Korea, the financial support for eculizumab therapy is extended by the National Health Insurance Services (NHIS) only to patients with high-risk PNH for approximately 10 years. In this study, we performed a nationwide analysis of the real-world efficacy of eculizumab therapy in patients diagnosed with PNH between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2016, by using the NHIS database.

Impact of subsequent chemotherapy on the survival of elderly patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer.

Background/aims: The prognosis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is still poor because of rapid recurrence, despite good response to initial chemotherapy. Additionally, patients' old ages and comorbidities are often obstacles that make it difficult to apply subsequent treatment after initial treatment. This retrospective study analyzed the correlation of post-progression survival (PPS) with overall survival (OS), and prognostic factors including comorbidities to figure out impact of subsequent chemotherapy on OS in elderly extensive disease SCLC.

Immature platelet fraction based diagnostic predictive scoring model for immune thrombocytopenia.

Background/aims: The diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is based on clinical manifestations and there is no gold standard. Thus, even hematologic malignancy is sometimes misdiagnosed as ITP and adequate treatment is delayed. Therefore, novel diagnostic parameters are needed to distinguish ITP from other causes of thrombocytopenia.

Analysis of bone marrow supernatant neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and hematological parameters in hematological malignancy.

Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a urine biomarker related to acute renal injury. Whereas several studies have evaluated NGAL levels in hematological malignancy, using peripheral blood (PB). Recently, bone marrow (BM) NGAL level was reported to be higher than PB NGAL level in individuals with hematological malignancy, suggesting that BM NGAL would reflect BM microenvironment better than PB NGAL.

The role of platelet function analyzer-200 in predicting perioperative bleeding risk.

Background/aims: Various preoperative screening tests, such as platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and bleeding time, have been widely used to evaluate the risk of bleeding during surgery. Use of platelet function analyzer (PFA)-100/200 for assessing platelet function instead of bleeding time is increasing. However, its role in predicting the perioperative risk of bleeding remains controversial.