The miR-200c/141-ZEB2-TGFβ axis is aberrant in human T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia.

T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is mostly characterized by aberrant expansion of small- to medium-sized prolymphocytes with a mature post-thymic phenotype, high aggressiveness of the disease and poor prognosis. However, T-PLL is more heterogeneous with a wide range of clinical, morphological, and molecular features, which occasionally impedes the diagnosis. We hypothesized that T-PLL consists of phenotypic and/or genotypic subgroups that may explain the heterogeneity of the disease.

B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia: a specific subgroup of mantle cell lymphoma.

B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (B-PLL) is a rare mature B-cell malignancy that may be hard to distinguish from mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). B-PLL cases with a t(11;14) were redefined as MCL in the World Health Organization 2008 classification. We evaluated 13 B-PLL patients [7 being t(11;14)-positive (B-PLL+) and 6 negative (B-PLL-)] and compared them with MCL and CLL patients.

Cardiopulmonary imaging, functional and laboratory studies in sickle cell disease associated pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) occurs in approximately 30% of adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) and is an independent risk factor for early death. In this study, we aimed to determine the value of general laboratory testing, plain chest radiography, electrocardiography (ECG), high-resolution computer tomography (HRCT) of the thorax, pulmonary function testing, and plasma N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with SCD-related PHT. A cohort of 85 ambulatory sickle cell patients were prospectively screened for PHT with echocardiography (defined as a tricuspid regurgitation flow velocity of > or =2.