Ten-year epidemiology and risk factors of cytomegalovirus infection in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients in Taiwan.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause infection and critical diseases in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. This study aimed to explore the cumulative incidence and risk factors for CMV infection and disease among HSCT recipients in Taiwan.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study using the Taiwan Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry (TBMTR) included HSCT recipients between 2009 and 2018 in Taiwan.

Polatuzumab vedotin-based salvage immunochemotherapy as third-line or beyond treatment for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a real-world experience.

Polatuzumab vedotin (PoV) has recently shown promising activity when combined with rituximab-bendamustine (BR) in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, few studies have described the prognostic factors predicting response. Here, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of PoV-based chemotherapy, including regimens other than BR, as third-line or beyond treatment for patients with R/R DLBCL and to explore prognostic factors.

Distinct clinico-biological features in AML patients with low allelic ratio FLT3-ITD: role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in first remission.

The mutant burden of FLT3-ITD modulates its prognostic impact on patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, for patients with low allelic ratio (AR) FLT3-ITD (FLT3-ITD, AR < 0.5), clinical features, as well as genomic and transcriptomic profiles remain unclear, and evidence supporting allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in first complete remission (CR1) remains controversial.

Busulfan-containing conditioning regimens in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A Taiwan observational study.

Background: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is the ultimate cure for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Aim: This study was performed to compare the outcomes of ALL patients receiving busulfan (Bu) with cyclophosphamide (Cy)-based or total body irradiation (TBI)-based regimen in a Chinese population.

Methods: We enrolled 224 adult patients with ALL who received allo-HSCT at National Taiwan University Hospital between 1997 and 2016.

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Positivity Is an Independent Unfavorable Prognostic Factor in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in the Rituximab Era.

Background: Patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with concurrent hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have distinct clinical features. Nevertheless, the prognostic value of HBsAg in DLBCL in the rituximab era remains unclear.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to investigate the clinical relevance of HBsAg in immunocompetent patients with DLBCL treated with homogeneous rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone between 2002 and 2016.

Brentuximab vedotin as a salvage treatment for relapsed and refractory Hodgkin lymphoma patients in Taiwan.

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a highly curable hematologic malignancy. Relapsed/refractory (R/R) HL is an important clinical challenge, despite advances in treatment. Brentuximab vedotin (BV) is highly effective in R/R HL in the western world.

Lectins and ELLSA as powerful tools for glycoconjugate recognition analyses.

Lectins, in combination with our established enzyme-linked lectin sorbent assay (ELLSA) and inhibition study, have been used as powerful tools in many glycoconjugate recognition studies. In this short review, we highlight the following: (i) The recognition profiles of Gal/GalNAc-specific lectins were updated and upgraded. (ii) Based on the cross-specificities of applied lectins, a new classification system was introduced.

Adoptive donor immunity protects against resolved hepatitis B virus reactivation after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the world's largest retrospective cohort study.

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) by reverse seroconversion (HBV-RS) after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) can occur in patients with resolved HBV infection (rHBV, defined as negative HBV surface antigen [HBsAg] and positive HBV core antibody), and may cause fatal hepatitis. To explore the risk factors, we retrospectively identified 817 consecutive patients who underwent allo-HSCT from 2005 to 2016 in this largest single centre cohort from National Taiwan Univerisity Hospital. Transplants using donors or recipients positive for HBsAg or HBV DNA were excluded, leaving 445 rHBV patients for analysis.

Clinically validated machine learning algorithm for detecting residual diseases with multicolor flow cytometry analysis in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome.

Background: Multicolor flow cytometry (MFC) analysis is widely used to identify minimal residual disease (MRD) after treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). However, current manual interpretation suffers from drawbacks of time consuming and interpreter idiosyncrasy. Artificial intelligence (AI), with the expertise in assisting repetitive or complex analysis, represents a potential solution for these drawbacks.

Retrospective analysis of frontline treatment efficacy in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of 2 chemotherapeutic regimens, bendamustine plus rituximab (BR) or reduced-dose cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone plus rituximab (RD-R-CHOP), in elderly patients with treatment-naïve diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of 2 frontline regimens, BR and RD-R-CHOP, in patients aged ≥75 years unfit for R-CHOP.

Results: From January 2011 to December 2015, 26 patients received BR and 34 RD-R-CHOP.

Have haploidentical transplants replaced umbilical cord transplants for acute leukemias?

Purpose Of Review: Haploidentical stem cell transplantation (Haplo SCT) and umbilical cord blood stem cell transplantation (UCB SCT) have emerged over the past two to three decades as viable sources of alternative donor SCT when a human leukocyte antigen matched donor is not available. However, which of these two donor types is optimal for patients with leukemia in need of allografting is unknown.

Recent Findings: For patients with acute leukemia, results of UCB SCT have been improved by the use of double umbilical cord units and emerging ex-vivo expansion technologies.

FGFR1 translocation with concurrent myeloproliferative neoplasm, systemic mastocytosis, and lymphoblastic lymphoma: a case report.

FGFR1 translocation may cause myeloid or lymphoid neoplasm but rarely systemic mastocytosis (SM). Conversely, SM is associated with myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) but rarely lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) or FGFR1 translocation. We report the first case of FGFR1 translocation in a patient with concurrent LBL, MPN, and SM.

Cervical Papanicolaou Smears in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients: High Prevalence of Therapy-Related Atypia during the Acute Phase.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients have a higher risk of cervical cancer. Papanicolaou (Pap) smear is the standard tool for screening cervical cancer, but there is limited research about the cervical cytology in HSCT recipients. Here, we retrospectively included adult female patients who underwent allogeneic or autologous HSCT at National Taiwan University Hospital during 2009 to 2015 and reviewed their Pap smears before and after HSCT.

Reduced incidence of interstitial pneumonitis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using a modified technique of total body irradiation.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a curative-intent treatment for patients with high-risk hematologic diseases. However, interstitial pneumonitis (IP) and other toxicities remain major concerns after total body irradiation (TBI). We have proposed using linear accelerators with rice-bag compensators for intensity modulation (IM-TBI), as an alternative to the traditional cobalt-60 teletherapy with lung-shielding technique (Co-TBI).

Clinical and microbiological characteristics of perianal infections in adult patients with acute leukemia.

Background: Perianal infection is a common problem for patients with acute leukemia. However, neutropenia and bleeding tendency are relatively contraindicated to surgical intervention. The epidemiology, microbiology, clinical manifestations and outcomes of perianal infection in leukemic patients are also rarely discussed.

Intracranial hemorrhage in adult patients with hematological malignancies.

Background: Clinical characteristics and outcomes of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) among adult patients with various hematological malignancies are limited.

Methods: A total of 2,574 adult patients diagnosed with hematological malignancies admitted to a single university hospital were enrolled into this study between 2001 and 2010. The clinical characteristics, image reports and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed.

Multiple recognition systems adopting four different glycotopes at the same domain for the Agaricus bisporus agglutinin-glycan interactions.

For the GalNAcalpha1--> specific Agaricus bisporus agglutinin (ABA) from an edible mushroom, the mechanism of polyvalent Galbeta1-->3/4GlcNAcbeta1--> complex in ABA-carbohydrate recognition has not been well defined since Gal and GlcNAc are weak ligands. By enzyme-linked lectinosorbent and inhibition assays, we show that the polyvalent Galbeta1-->3/4GlcNAcbeta1--> in natural glycans also play vital roles in binding and we propose that four different intensities of glycotopes (Galbeta1-3GalNAcalpha1-, GalNAcalpha1-Ser/Thr and Galbeta1-3/4GlcNAcbeta1-) construct three recognition systems at the same domain. This peculiar concept provides the most comprehensive mechanism for the attachment of ABA to target glycans and malignant cells at the molecular level.

Roles of mammalian structural units, ligand cluster and polyvalency in the Abrus precatorius agglutinin and glycoprotein recognition process.

Previous studies on one of the toxic type 2 ribosome inactivating proteins (RIP), Abrus precatorius agglutinin (APA), have shown that the recognition domains of APA are restricted to monomers of Galbeta1-3GalNAc (T, Thomsen-Friedenreich glycotope) and Galbeta1-3/4GlcNAc (blood group precursor type I/II sequences); which are essential but play a minor role in the recognition process. In this study, APA recognition factors were expanded to include ligand clusters and polyvalent glycotopes by enzyme-linked lectinosorbent binding and inhibition assays. Based on the results of molar relative potency, the essential mammalian structural units are Galbeta1-3GalNAcalpha/beta1- (T(alpha)/T(beta))>Galalpha1-4Gal (E)>Galbeta1-3/4GlcNAc (I/II) and avidity for tri-/di-antennary II(beta), T, E and II monomers was found to be 7.

Activity-structure correlations in divergent lectin evolution: fine specificity of chicken galectin CG-14 and computational analysis of flexible ligand docking for CG-14 and the closely related CG-16.

Gene duplication and sequence divergence are driving forces toward establishing protein families. To examine how sequence changes affect carbohydrate specificity, the two closely related proto-type chicken galectins CG-14 and CG-16 were selected as models. Binding properties were analyzed using a highly sensitive solid-phase assay.

Differential binding to glycotopes among the layers of three mammalian retinal neurons by man-containing N-linked glycan, T(alpha) (Galbeta1-3GalNAcalpha1-), Tn (GalNAcalpha1-Ser/Thr) and I (beta)/II (beta) (Galbeta1-3/4GlcNAcbeta-) reactive lectins.

Carbohydrate structures between retinal neurons and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) play an important role in maintaining the integrity of retinal adhesion to underlying RPE, and in retinal detachment pathogenesis. Since relevant knowledge is still in the primary stage, glycotopes on the adult retina of mongrel canines (dog), micropigs and Sprague-Dawley rats were examined by lectino-histochemistry, using a panel of 16 different lectins. Paraffin sections of eyes were stained with biotinylated lectins, and visualized by streptavidin-peroxidase and diaminobenzidine staining.

Lectinochemical studies on the affinity of Anguilla anguilla agglutinin for mammalian glycotopes.

Anguilla anguilla agglutinin (AAA) is a fucose-specific lectin found in the serum of the fresh water eel. It is suggested to be associated with innate immunity by recognizing disease-associated cell surface glycans, and has been widely used as a reagent in hematology and glycobiology. In order to gain a better understanding of AAA for further applications, it is necessary to elucidate its binding profile with mammalian glycotopes.