HLA-A*02:05:01:10, -A*26:01:01:30, -C*07:01:01:75 and -C*07:04:01:12 identified in Spanish donors.

Four new HLA-A*02:05:01:10, A*26:01:01:30, C*07:01:01:75 and C*07:04:01:12 alleles detected in Spanish individuals.

Unraveling the heterogeneity of IgM monoclonal gammopathies: a gene mutational and gene expression study.

Immunoglobulin M (IgM) monoclonal gammopathies show considerable variability, involving three different stages of presentation: IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (IgM-MGUS), asymptomatic Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (AWM), and symptomatic WM (SWM). Despite recent findings about the genomic and transcriptomic characteristics of such disorders, we know little about the causes of this clinical heterogeneity or the mechanisms involved in the progression from indolent to symptomatic forms. To clarify these matters, we have performed a gene expression and mutational study in a well-characterized cohort of 69 patients, distinguishing between the three disease presentations in an attempt to establish the relationship with the clinical and biological features of the patients.

Geometrically controlled snapping transitions in shells with curved creases.

Curvature and mechanics are intimately connected for thin materials, and this coupling between geometry and physical properties is readily seen in folded structures from intestinal villi and pollen grains to wrinkled membranes and programmable metamaterials. While the well-known rules and mechanisms behind folding a flat surface have been used to create deployable structures and shape transformable materials, folding of curved shells is still not fundamentally understood. Shells naturally deform by simultaneously bending and stretching, and while this coupling gives them great stability for engineering applications, it makes folding a surface of arbitrary curvature a nontrivial task.

The use of CD138 positively selected marrow samples increases the applicability of minimal residual disease assessment by PCR in patients with multiple myeloma.

We have evaluated the use of CD138+ positively selected bone marrow samples to identify a molecular target for minimal residual disease assessment by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 25 untreated patients with multiple myeloma. A fraction of each sample was used for CD138+ selection, and the rest served as a reference control. VDJH, DJH, and Kde gene rearrangements were tested for amplification according to the BIOMED-2 Concerted Action.

Increased number of cytotoxic CD3+ CD28- gammadelta T cells in peripheral blood of patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma.

Background: A rise of CD3+ TCRgammadelta+ CD28- T cells has previously been observed after an in vitro long-lasting activation or even during viral infection.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of CD28 on lymphocytes bearing CD3/TCRgammadelta receptors in cancer, i.e.

Impact of recipient HLA-C in liver transplant: a protective effect of HLA-Cw*07 on acute rejection.

The involvement of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) in liver graft acceptance is controversial, but the frequency of acute rejection (AR) remains high in spite of the use of the modern immunosuppressive agents. The present study was aimed at determining whether an association exists between liver recipient HLA-C polymorphism and AR development that could influence graft acceptance. Four hundred and forty-six liver recipients and 473 controls were studied within the framework of a collaborative study carried out by the Spanish Transplant Immunotolerance Group (RED-GIT).

Natural killer receptors on CD8 T cells and natural killer cells from different HLA-C phenotypes in melanoma patients.

Purpose: Because immune mechanisms involved in cutaneous melanoma have not been fully elucidated, efforts have been made to achieve prognosis markers and potential targets for immune therapies, but they have not been entirely fruitful thus far. Therefore, the goal of this study was to investigate the involvement of early changes in CD8 T cells and CD56 natural killer (NK) cells expressing NK receptors in different HLA-C dimorphism groups of melanoma patients.

Experimental Design: CD8 T cells and CD56 NK cells were analyzed in 41 patients and 39 sex- and age-matched controls with different HLA-C genotypes by flow cytometry.

HLA class I and class II frequencies in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma from southeastern Spain: the role of HLA-C in disease prognosis.

Available data have led to a controversy on the relationship between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and cutaneous malignant melanoma susceptibility or prognosis. Moreover, the influence of HLA-C on melanoma has not yet been well established. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to analyze the possible influence of the HLA system on melanoma susceptibility and prognosis in the Spanish population.

The promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger protein down-regulates apoptosis and expression of the proapoptotic BID protein in lymphocytes.

The promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) gene, involved in rare cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia, encodes a Krüppel-type zinc finger transcription factor. It has been reported that PLZF affects myeloid cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. However, the function of PLZF in the lymphoid compartment, where PLZF is also expressed, remains largely unknown.

Preoperative nutritional evaluation as a prognostic tool for wound healing.

In 170 patients given primary hip or knee joint prosthesis surgery, we determined the relation between variables connected with the preoperative nutritional state and delayed healing of the surgical wound. 46 patients had a lymphocyte count of less than 1500 cells/mm3 (normal 1500-3300 cell/mm3), 18 an albumin level of less than 3.5 g/dL (normal 3.

Preoperative hemoglobin levels and the need for transfusion after prosthetic hip and knee surgery: analysis of predictive factors.

Background: Several studies have established a relationship between the preoperative hemoglobin level and the need for postoperative blood transfusion. We analyzed the relationship between preoperative hemoglobin levels, as well as other factors such as age, gender, weight, height, type and duration of the total joint replacement surgery, and the need for postoperative blood transfusion.

Methods: A retrospective study of 296 patients treated with 370 procedures (209 total hip arthroplasties [56.