Levels of soluble angiogenin in chronic myeloid malignancies: clinical implications.

Angiogenesis is critical for the clinical progression of haematopoietic malignancies and depends on angiogenic factors. Angiogenin is a powerful factor produced by neoplastic cells and host microenvironment. High levels of soluble angiogenin (sAng) correlate with a poor prognosis in patients affected by acute myeloid leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndromes, but no data are available on sAng in chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMD).

Differences in transplant-related complications between hematologic malignancies and solid tumors receiving high-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Multiple factors contribute to transplant-related complications after high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, including conditioning regimens, number of infused stem cells and clinical characteristics of patient at transplant. We compared the transplant-related complications of 141 patients affected with hematological malignancies with those of 109 patients with solid tumors. The total number of peripheral blood stem cell transplantations performed was 339.

Differential levels of soluble endoglin (CD105) in myeloid malignancies.

Angiogenesis contributes to disease progression in solid and hematopoietic malignancies, and endoglin (CD105), a component of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta receptor complex, is a powerful marker of neovascularization. Elevated amounts of soluble CD105 (sCD105) have been recently identified in selected solid tumors but no data are available on sCD105 in hematopoietic malignancies. Therefore, levels of sCD105 were investigated in sera of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (n = 10) or chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMD) (n = 28), and correlated with those of soluble TGF-beta(1) (sTGF-beta(1)).

[Lipid profile in hematologic neoplasms].

Background And Objective: Abnormal blood lipid profiles have been reported in human malignancies. So, it is likely an overall involvement of tumoral cell metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinico-biological implications of altered lipid profiles in oncohaematologic patients.

Soluble angiogenic factors: implications for chronic myeloproliferative disorders.

The role of angiogenesis for the progressive growth and metastatic process of tumours is well established. What is not clear, though, is the clinical prognostic significance of the angiogenic factors in malignant haematological diseases. In this study, we have assessed the plasma and serum levels of two major angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) in 55 patients affected by chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMD).

Myeloproliferative Disease: Markers of Endothelial and Platelet Status in Patients with Essential Thrombocythemia and Polycythemia Vera.

Vascular complications are the main cause of morbidity in polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET). To investigate plasma concentrations of soluble P-selectin (sP-Sel.), soluble E-selectin (sE-Sel.

Methimazole-Induced Agranulocytosis and Quick Recovery with G-CSF.

A 51-year old female, treated for hyperthyroidism with methimazole, developed agranulocytosis in the third month of therapy. After discontinuing the drug, a broad spectrum antibiotic regimen plus recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) were started. Her granulocyte count returned to normal with the 4(°) dose of G-CSF.

[Hypersplenism: current status and perspectives].

The hypersplenism is a syndrome characterized by cytopenia (involving one or several cellular lines of peripheral blood), increased or normal medullar cellularity, elevated turnover of the involved cellular line. Several studies have emphasized the important role of the spleen as an immunocompetent organ, with a microcirculation and typical functional characteristics. The authors attempt to assess relations between the hypersplenism and splenomegaly, as well as indications, risks and complications of splenectomy in pathological conditions.

Markers of Endothelial and Platelet Status in Patients with Essential Thrombocythemia and Polycythemia Vera.

Vascular complications are the main cause of morbidity in polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET). To investigate plasma concentrations of soluble P-selectin (sP-Sel.), soluble E-selectin (sE-Sel.

Increased concentration of circulating acid glycosaminoglycans in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and essential thrombocythaemia.

To verify whether the increase in the number of circulating blood cells that synthesize glycosaminoglycans, B-lymphocytes or platelets, in proliferative disorders, may be associated with changes in the circulation of acid glycosaminoglycans, the serum and plasma concentrations of these polysaccharides have been measured in terms of their sugar components, following isolation and purification by chromatographic methods, in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or with essential thrombocythaemia and in healthy controls. In the patients, the concentrations of total circulating glycosaminoglycans and of both glucosamine-containing and galactosamine-containing serum glycosaminoglycans were significantly higher than in controls. These concentrations did not significantly correlate with the number of lymphocytes in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and of platelets in patients with essential thrombocythaemia.

Translocation (5;10)(q13;q26) in acute monoblastic leukemia.

We report a case of acute monoblastic leukemia [French-American-British (FAB) M5a] observed in a 38-year-old man and associated at diagnosis with a t(5;10)(q13;q26) found in cells from a bone marrow culture. The patient survived only 2 months after diagnosis. t(5;10) as a solitary chromosome abnormality has not been previously reported in M5a, and, in the case that we describe, it appears to be correlated with a poor prognosis.

Increased levels of the soluble adhesion molecule E-selectin in patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders and thromboembolic complications.

Patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMD) show a high frequency of thrombosis. For this reason we evaluated endothelial cell markers, soluble adhesion molecule E-selectin (sELAM), and thrombomodulin (TM) in 25 patients with CMD. Among them nine presented thromboses in their past history.

The in vitro cytotoxic effect of mitoxantrone in combination with fludarabine or pentostatin in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Background And Objective: Clinical studies indicate that combination chemotherapy with mitoxantrone (Mitox) and a purine analog can improve the response rate in indolent lymphoproliferative disorders. We explored the in vitro Mitox- fludarabine (FAMP)- and pentostatin (Pento)-induced cytotoxicity and their interactions in CLL.

Methods: The peripheral lymphocytes of 24 CLL patients were tested at different drug concentrations, with Mitox, FAMP or their combinations in 22 cases, and with Mitox, Pento or their combinations in 20 cases, 18 of which were the same from the FAMP group.

Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor reverts vascular dysfunction.

The aim of our study was to investigate the vascular effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rh G-CSF) in a rat model of irreversible vascular failure. Male anesthetized rats were subjected to the clamping of the splanchnic arteries for 45 min. This surgical procedure resulted in an irreversible state of shock (splanchnic artery occlusion shock) characterized by high mortality rate (0% survival, 120 min following the release of clamps), a profound hypotension and vascular dysfunction consisting of a marked hyporeactivity to phenylephrine (PE 1 nM-10 microM) of aortic rings.

Leukocyte integrin very late antigen-4/vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 adhesion pathway in splanchnic artery occlusion shock.

We investigated the role played by the very late antigen-4 (VLA-4)/ vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) interaction in the pathogenesis of splanchnic artery occlusion shock. Splanchnic artery occlusion shock was induced in anaesthetized rats by clamping splanchnic arteries for 45 min. Sham operated animals were used as controls.

Monocytes and lymphocytes as active participants in the pathogenesis of experimental shock.

We investigated the role played by monocytes and lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of experimental shock. Splanchnic artery occlusion (SAO) shock was induced in anaesthetized rats by clamping splanchnic arteries for 45 min followed by reperfusion. Sham operated animals were used as controls.

Circulating levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and soluble interleukin 2 receptors (IL-2R) in patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

The serum concentrations of circulating ICAM-1 (cICAM-1) and soluble receptors for interleukin-2 (sIL-2R) were evaluated on 48 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) and on 15 healthy control subjects. The mean +/- SD concentration of cICAM-1 was significantly higher (p < 0.002) in B-CLL patients (407.

Evaluation of hepatitis B and C virus infections in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and without liver disease.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are hepatotropic and lymphotropic viruses endemic to Sicily. To evaluate whether these viruses may chronically infect patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and without liver disease, we examined serum samples from 24 such patients. Five cases (20.

Serum levels of 2',5 oligoadenylate synthetase during interferon therapy in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

We assayed 2',5 oligoadenylate synthetase (2'5-AS) activity in the serum of eight patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) who were undergoing therapy with alpha interferon (IFN). Mean pretreatment levels of 2'5-AS were normal, but upon treatment the levels rose to higher than normal values. Moreover, the degree of enzyme induction in serum was significantly higher in CLL responders (P < 0.

Isodicentric Philadelphia chromosome in accelerated phase of chronic myeloid leukemia.

We describe a case of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) associated with the finding of an isodicentric Philadelphia chromosome [idic(Ph)] during the accelerated phase of the disease. Chromosome study was carried out on bone marrow aspirate cells, obtained and cultured 5 months after the clinical diagnosis. The presence of an isodicentric Philadelphia chromosome was found in 90% of the analyzed metaphases; among the remaining observed metaphases, 6% showed two idic(Ph) chromosomes, 2% a t(9;22), and 2% a normal karyotype.

Intracellular and serum levels of aldolase activity in B chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Intracellular and serum activities of aldolase (ALS) were biochemically determined in lymphocyte subpopulations from normal subjects and patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Aldolase activity was significantly lower in T cells of CLL than in normal T cells (2.9 +/- 1.

E rosette formation in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

We describe a patient with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia whose B lymphocytes showed the capacity to form rosettes with sheep red blood cells during prolymphocytoid transformation of the disease. In this case, rosette formation was found to be related to the presence of the classic E rosette receptor since the leukemic cells were recognized by the OKT11 monoclonal antibody. This feature was not shown at diagnosis.