Serum hepcidin levels in Bulgarian population.

Background: Hepcidin is a 25-aminoacid cysteine-rich iron regulating peptide. Hepcidin quantification in human serum provides new insights for the pathogenesis of disorders of iron homeostasis. This study describes an ELISA immunoassay for hepcidin quantification in human serum and reference ranges for Bulgarian population.

Influence of detection of pretreatment cytogenetic abnormalities on first complete remission and survival in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Objective: Treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adults focuses on the initial assessment of the prognostic relevant cytogenetic features as well as a response-guided therapy based on molecular data. We examined the importance of molecular-cytogenetic abnormalities for complete remission (CR) rates and the overall survival (OS) in adult ALLs.

Methods: Conventional cytogenetics and fluorescence in situ hybridization were performed on bone marrow cells from 33 newly-diagnosed ALL adults.

Significance of molecular-cytogenetic aberrations for the achievement of first remission in de novo acute myeloid leukemia.

Objective: The majority of adults diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) display acquired cytogenetic aberrations at presentation. In this article, we present the major cytogenetic findings regarding AML and review their clinical significance for achievement of the first complete remission.

Methods: We studied 71 adult patients with de novo AML, without previous myelodysplasia or alkylating therapy.