The Interplay of Cesarean-Section Delivery and First-Birth Order as Risk Factors in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Background: Childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) has been associated with early-life exposures, including birth by cesarean section (C-section), and a deficit of social exposure (first child). These exposures as proxies for microbiome acquisition in infancy are essential to prime the immune system and restrain later dysregulated immune responses that can trigger ALL in susceptible individuals. We tested risk factors pertaining to immune stimulation that may impact BCP-ALL development.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation in pediatric patients with acute leukemias or myelodysplastic syndrome using unrelated adult or umbilical cord blood donors in Brazil.

The choice of alternative donors for HCT for patients without an HLA-matched related donor depends on several factors. We compared major HCT outcomes in 212 consecutive children transplanted at 11 centers in Brazil for acute leukemia or MDS from an HLA-matched unrelated donor (MUD, n = 95), mismatched unrelated donor (MMUD, n = 47) or unrelated umbilical cord blood (UCB, n = 70). Most had ALL (61%), bone marrow (57%) as the graft source and 95% received a MAC regimen.

One million haemopoietic stem-cell transplants: a retrospective observational study.

Background: The transplantation of cells, tissues, and organs has been recognised by WHO as an important medical task for its member states; however, information about how to best organise transplantation is scarce. We aimed to document the activity worldwide from the beginning of transplantation and search for region adapted indications and associations between transplant rates and macroeconomics.

Methods: Between Jan 1, 2006, and Dec 31, 2014, the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation collected data for the evolution of haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) activity and volunteer donors in the 194 WHO member states.

Less graft-versus-host disease after rabbit antithymocyte globulin conditioning in unrelated bone marrow transplantation for leukemia and myelodysplasia: comparison with matched related bone marrow transplantation.

One of the major drawbacks for unrelated donor (UD) bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Despite results from randomized trials, antithymocyte globulin (ATG) is not routinely included for GVHD prophylaxis in UD BMT by many centers. One of ways to demonstrate the usefulness of rabbit ATG in UD BMT is to evaluate how its results approximate to those observed in matched related (MRD) BMT.

Cytogenetic as an important tool for diagnosis and prognosis for patients with hypocellular primary myelodysplastic syndrome.

We analyzed cytogenetically 105 patients with hypocellular primary MDS and their clinical implications. The main chromosomal abnormalities found were del(5q)/-5, del(6q)/+6, del(7q)/-7, del(11q), and del(17p). Pediatric patients had a higher frequency of abnormal karyotypes compared with adult patients (P < 0,05).

Evaluation of intracellular and extracellular trehalose as a cryoprotectant of stem cells obtained from umbilical cord blood.

Cord blood is a source of hematopoietic stem cells used in transplantation in which hematopoietic reconstitution is necessary. This transplant modality requires the cryopreservation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Dimethyl sulfoxide has been used as a cryoprotectant (CPA) in the cryopreservation of HSCs; however, it has been demonstrated that Me2SO exhibits toxic side effects to the human body.

Quantitative and qualitative differences in use and trends of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a Global Observational Study.

Fifty-five years after publication of the first hematopoietic stem cell transplantation this technique has become an accepted treatment option for defined hematologic and non-hematologic disorders. There is considerable interest in understanding differences in its use and trends on a global level and the macro-economic factors associated with these differences. Data on the numbers of hematopoietic stem cell transplants performed in the 3-year period 2006-2008 were obtained from Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation member registries and from transplant centers in countries without registries.

Different outcomes between cyclophosphamide plus horse or rabbit antithymocyte globulin for HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplant in severe aplastic anemia.

The standard regimen for HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplant (BMT) in severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is cyclophosphamide (Cy) and horse antithymocyte globulin (ATG). Horse ATG has been replaced by rabbit ATG in many countries due to the unavailability of the former product. This study was designed to assess if these ATG preparations are interchangeable in the preparative regimen for matched related BMT in SAA.

Acute myeloid leukemia of donor origin after allogeneic stem cell transplantation from a sibling who harbors germline XPD and XRCC3 homozygous polymorphisms.

A 54-year-old woman was diagnosed with infiltrative ductal breast carcinoma. Two years after treatment, the patient developed an acute myeloid leukemia (AML) which harbored del(11q23) in 8% of the blast cells. The patient was submitted for allogeneic stem cell transplantation (aSCT) from her HLA-compatible sister.

Age-related changes in natural killer cell receptors from childhood through old age.

Most studies on natural killer (NK) cells and aging have focused on overall cell numbers and global cytotoxic activity. NK cell functions are controlled by surface receptors belonging to three major families: killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs), and C-type lectins. The expression of these receptors was investigated from childhood through old age in T, NKT- and NK cells and also in the CD56(dim) (cytotoxic) and CD56(bright) (responsible for cytokine production) NK cell subsets.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a global perspective.

Context: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) requires significant infrastructure. Little is known about HSCT use and the factors associated with it on a global level.

Objectives: To determine current use of HSCT to assess differences in its application and to explore associations of macroeconomic factors with transplant rates on a global level.

SUZ12 is a candidate target of the non-canonical WNT pathway in the progression of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Polycomb proteins form multiprotein complexes that repress target genes by chromatin remodeling. In this work, we report that the SUZ12 polycomb gene is over-expressed in bone marrow samples of patients at the blastic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia. We also found a direct interaction between polycomb group genes and the WNT signaling pathway in chronic myeloid leukemia transformation.

Serum ferritin as risk factor for sinusoidal obstruction syndrome of the liver in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is a serious complication in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. To determine the impact of pretransplantation hyperferritinemia on the risk of SOS after HSC transplantation, we retrospectively studied 427 HSCT recipients (179 autologous and 248 allogeneic). Serum ferritin levels were measured before transplantation.

Similar proteomic profiles of human mesenchymal stromal cells from different donors.

Background Aims: Bone marrow (BM) stromal cells, also referred to as mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), can be expanded ex vivo and are able to differentiate along multiple lineages, including chondrocytes, osteoblasts and adipocytes. MSC are known to secrete a number of cytokines and regulatory molecules implicated in different aspects of hematopoiesis, and seem to modulate the immune system. MSC appear to be promising candidates for cellular therapy associated with BM transplantation (BMT).

Rhodamine 123 efflux in human subpopulations of hematopoietic stem cells: comparison between bone marrow, umbilical cord blood and mobilized peripheral blood CD34+ cells.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) can be identified by the expression of the CD34 molecule. CD34+ cells are found in bone marrow (BM), umbilical cord blood (UCB) and in mobilized peripheral blood (PB). CD34+ cells express P-glycoprotein (Pgp), a product of the multidrug resistance (MDR) gene.

Karyotype abnormalities and their clinical significance in a group of chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Context And Objective: Following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), karyotyping is a valuable tool for monitoring engraftment and disease status. Few studies have examined the prognostic significance of karyotypes in patients who underwent HSCT for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The objective of this study was to evaluate the significance of pretransplantation cytogenetic status in relation to outcomes following HSCT in CML patients.