The Challenges of Precision Medicine and New Advances in Molecular Diagnostic Testing in Hematolymphoid Malignancies: Impact on the VHA.

The Hematopathology Molecular Genetics subcommittee presents recommendations for molecular diagnostic testing in acute myeloid leukemia, myeloproliferative neoplasms, myelodysplastic syndrome, and lymphomas and for the development of an interfacility consultation service.

FIGO Stage III Metastatic Gestational Choriocarcinoma Developed From an Antecedent Partial Hydatidiform Molar Pregnancy Bearing a Numerical Chromosomal Aberration 68, XX: A Case Report and Literature Review.

A 36-yr-old, gravida 5 para 4 woman presented with uterine bleeding and was discovered to have a 3.7-cm uterine mass with multiple, bilateral, lung metastases. Six months earlier, the patient was diagnosed with a partial hydatidiform mole that demonstrated a rare chromosomal karyotype 68, XX[12].

Collagenous fibroma (desmoplastic fibroblastoma) with a new translocation involving 11q12: a case report.

Collagenous fibroma (or desmoplastic fibroblastoma) is a rare, benign tumor usually centered in the subcutaneous tissue composed of spindle-shaped to stellate fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in a densely collagenous background. Three previous case reports have described a t(2;11)(q31;q12) in this entity. Herein, we report a case of collagenous fibroma of deep soft tissue with t(11;17)(q12;p11.

On the intraoperative molecular status of renal allografts after vascular reperfusion and clinical outcomes.

Many hypothesize that subtle inflammation and immune activity detected in the intraoperative period are linked to adverse postkidney transplant clinical outcomes. To this end, renal allografts were analyzed for expression of pro-inflammatory, inflammation-induced adhesion molecules, immune activation as well as anti-apoptotic genes expressed 15 min after vascular reperfusion (zero-hour) to determine whether this analysis can aid in predicting the occurrence of delayed graft function (DGF), acute rejection (AR), and the quality of graft function at 6 mo. Intraoperative biopsies were obtained from 75 consecutively performed renal allografts in which consent was obtained 15 min after vascular reperfusion.

Expression of protective genes in human renal allografts: a regulatory response to injury associated with graft rejection.

Background: Long-term survival of a graft requires inhibition of host immune effectors, but protective responses emanating from the graft might be equally important. Expression of the "protective" genes A20, heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and Bcl-xL in rodent allo and xenografts correlates with long-term survival. Little is known of the pattern of expression of such protective genes and the implication thereof in clinical transplantation.

Immunobiology and privilege of neuronal retina and pigment epithelium transplants.

Despite the existence of ocular immune privilege, immune rejection may be a barrier to successful retinal transplantation. We have examined in mice the extent to which the subretinal space (SRS) is an immune privileged site, and whether retinal pigment epithelium and neuronal retinal tissue have properties of immune privileged tissues. We report that (1) The SRS is an immune privileged site; (2) Neonatal RPE is an immune privileged tissue; (3) Neuronal retina is a partially immune privileged tissue; and (4) Microglia within neonatal neural retina grafts promote photoreceptor differentiation, become activated, and induce sensitization of the recipient and serve as targets of immune rejection.