Leukapheresis for CAR-T cell production and therapy.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is an effective, individualized immunotherapy, and novel treatment for hematologic malignancies. Six commercial CAR-T cell products are currently approved for lymphatic malignancies and multiple myeloma. In addition, an increasing number of clinical centres produce CAR-T cells on-site, which enable the administration of CAR-T cells on site.

Antiphospholipid syndrome in cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disorder which is characterized by the presence of heterogeneous antiphospholipid antibodies. There is an evidence on antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies related to thromboembolic events in cancer patients. In fact, the thrombotic complications in patients with malignancy occur at a rather high frequency, compared to other risk factors.

MRD Monitoring by Multiparametric Flow Cytometry in AML: Is It Time to Incorporate Immune Parameters?

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous group of clonal myeloid disorders characterized by intrinsic molecular variability. Pretreatment cytogenetic and mutational profiles only partially inform prognosis in AML, whereas relapse is driven by residual leukemic clones and mere morphological evaluation is insensitive for relapse prediction. Measurable residual disease (MRD), an independent post-diagnostic prognosticator, has recently been introduced by the European Leukemia Net as a new outcome definition.

Managing complications secondary to Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.

: Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare lymphoma characterized by the accumulation of IgM-secreting lymphoplasmacytic cells in the bone marrow and other organs. Clinical sequelae relate to direct tissue infiltration by malignant cells but also to the physicochemical and immunological properties of the monoclonal IgM, resulting in a variety of disease-related complications.: This narrative review, following a thorough Pubmed search of pertinent published literature, discusses complications secondary to WM, related to direct tumor infiltration, monoclonal IgM circulation, and deposition, as well as other less common ones.

Genital tract infection and associated factors affect the reproductive outcome in fertile females and females undergoing fertilization.

Assisted reproductive techniques including fertilization (IVF) are being used increasingly worldwide and screening for genital tract infections (GTIs) is recommended prior to treatment as their presence may affect the success rate of IVF. The current study aimed to assess the possible associations between GTI-associated factors and reproductive outcome in a group of reproductive age fertile females and infertile females receiving IVF. A total of 111 infertile women enrolled in an IVF programme (Group A) and 104 fertile women (mothers of at least one child; Group B) underwent microbiological screening of vaginal and cervical samples.

Deformation Analysis of Myocardial Layers Detects Early Cardiac Dysfunction after Chemotherapy in Bone Marrow Transplantation Patients: A Continuous and Additive Cardiotoxicity Process.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity has not been extensively validated in bone marrow transplantation (BMT) patients. Speckle-tracking echocardiography is a sensitive method for the detection of subclinical cardiac dysfunction.

Methods: Cardiac function was prospectively assessed in 80 patients (44 men; mean age, 45 ± 11 years) after BMT for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and acute or chronic myeloid leukemia by means of various echocardiographic techniques.

The gastrointestinal tract: properties and role in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The GI-tract is a major target for both the intensive chemo and/or radiotherapy conditioning as well as for GVHD and therefore is closely associated with transplant outcome. Apart from being a target, the GI-tract is also a mediator and therefore is also a key player of the pathogenetic process following allogeneic transplantation. Areas covered: The intestinal homeostasis is regulated through complicated interactions between the key players of this process which are the intestinal epithelium, the intestinal immune system, and the intestinal microbiota.

Assessment of bortezomib induced peripheral neuropathy in multiple myeloma by the reduced Total Neuropathy Score.

We evaluated bortezomib induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN) characteristics in an attempt to better clarify the type, grade, duration and reversibility of neuropathy as well as investigate possible peripheral neuropathy (PN) risk factors and detect the best way to manage it. We calculated the grading of neuropathy using the Total Neuropathy Score reduced version (TNSr) in a series of 51 patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma treated with bortezomib. Seventy percent developed clinical PN.

OCT1 genetic variants are associated with long term outcomes in imatinib treated chronic myeloid leukemia patients.

Objectives: One third of CML patients treated with first line imatinib have suboptimal responses or treatment failures with increased risk for disease progression. Imatinib is actively transported into cells by the SLC22A1 transporter (hOCT1) and its genetic variants may affect intracellular drug import. We studied the effect of SLC22A1 genetic variants on long-term outcomes of imatinib treated patients.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor for hematopoietic stem cell donation from healthy female donors during pregnancy and lactation: what do we know?

BACKGROUND Hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) are mostly used as supportive measures to reduce infectious complications associated with neutropenia. Over the past decade, the use of HGFs became a common method for mobilizing human CD34+ stem cells, either for autologous or allogeneic transplantation. However, since their introduction the long-term safety of the procedure has become a major focus of discussion and research.

Apoptotic cells in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations: "turning trash into gold".

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HST) is an important therapeutic option for various malignant and non-malignant conditions. HST during first remission offers the best cure for patients for whom conventional chemotherapy alone is not sufficient. Yet, in spite of the high curative potential and recent advances in this treatment modality, it remains limited by transplant related toxicity and grant-versus-host disease (GVHD).

Early cerebral monitoring using the transcranial Doppler pulsatility index in patients with severe brain trauma.

Background: The early posttraumatic period is critical in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) because of the increased risk of secondary ischemic injuries to the injured brain. For these patients, cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) monitoring is recommended. This, however, requires an invasive device to measure intracranial pressure (ICP).