A genome-wide association study of marginal zone lymphoma shows association to the HLA region.

Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) is the third most common subtype of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Here we perform a two-stage GWAS of 1,281 MZL cases and 7,127 controls of European ancestry and identify two independent loci near BTNL2 (rs9461741, P=3.95 × 10(-15)) and HLA-B (rs2922994, P=2.

Analytical and dimensional morphometry in early diagnosis cutaneous melanoma with dermoscopic images.

Objective: To give to the clinician an objective numerical assessment tool to evaluate melanomas so that a diagnosis can be reached with the assistance of computerized procedures.

Study Design: The approach adopted for differential diagnosis of melanomas and nevi considers diverse morphologic characteristics intrinsic to the lesions, that is, shape, size, and symmetry in total independence of pigmentation, and proposes that this information can be evaluated quantitatively and separately by morphometric procedures with statistically valid independent numeric variables that guarantee objectivity and, from a method point of view, consistency.

Results: The results show that the differential diagnosis on malignant and benign lesions is made on five variables, which all describe the fine irregularities of the contour and have a high significance in comparing melanomas to nevi.

High Ki67 index and bulky disease remain significant adverse prognostic factors in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma before and after the introduction of rituximab.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of clinical variables and biologic features on response rate (RR), overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in 111 patients with de novo diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Fifty-three patients were treated with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone) and 58 patients were treated with R-CHOP (rituximab + CHOP). The variables predictive of RR in the CHOP group were B symptoms, age, clinical stage, bone marrow involvement, bulky disease, International Prognostic Index (IPI) and Bcl-2; in the R-CHOP group, these variables were bulky disease, bone marrow involvement, IPI and Ki67 expression >80%.

Hepatitis B virus and Homo sapiens proteome-wide analysis: A profusion of viral peptide overlaps in neuron-specific human proteins.

The primary amino acid sequence of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) proteome was searched for identity spots in the human proteome by using the Protein Information Resource database. We find that the HBV polyprotein shares sixty-five heptapeptides, one octapeptide, and one nonapeptide with the human proteins. The viral matches are disseminated among fundamental human proteins such as adhesion molecules, leukocyte differentiation antigens, enzymes, proteins associated with spermatogenesis, and transcription factors.

Quantitative study of placental villi in trisomy by analytical morphometry.

Objective: To assess the relationship between morphologic features of placental villi and the occurrence of trisomy.

Study Design: We selected 9 placentas with genetically diagnosed trisomy 21 and 6 normal placentas of matched gestational age. The 150 selected villi underwent a morphometric study using the Shape Analytical Morphometry system, availing itself of an ordinary section to study dimensions and of a specific section to study the shape.

Schnitzler's syndrome: monoclonal gammopathy associated with chronic urticaria.

Schnitzler's syndrome (SS) is defined by monoclonal gammopathy and chronic urticaria combined with at least two of the following features: fever, arthralgia or arthritis, bone pain, hepato- and/or splenomegaly, palpable lymph nodes, elevated ESR, and leukocytosis. We report a 49-year-old man with monoclonal IgM gammopathy and a 4-year history of recurrent urticarial rash, unexplained fever and arthralgias. The skin biopsy from an acute lesion revealed perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates consisting of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes.

Common variable immunodeficiency patient with large granular lymphocytosis developing extranodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a case report.

Here we describe a Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVI) patient with large granular (LG) lymphocytosis and systemic non-malignant lymphadenopathy who developed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the stomach. This is the first report of gastric high-grade lymphoma with widespread lymphadenopathy in a patient with LG lymphocytosis associated with CVI.

Abdominal lymphangioleiomyomatosis in a man with Klinefelter syndrome: the first reported case.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is an uncommon progressive disease characterized by a hamartomatous tumor-like proliferation of smooth muscle cells that occurs most often in women. This disease commonly involves the lymph nodes, lungs, and mediastinum, and rarely the abdominal sites. We report a case of mesenteric LAM occurring in a 37-year-old man affected by Klinefelter syndrome with a 17-year history of androgen replacement therapy.

Autoimmune myelofibrosis: report of three cases and review of the literature.

Autoimmune myelofibrosis is a distinct clinicopathological entity, recognizing immunopathogenetic mechanisms and occurring isolately or in association with systemic and/or organ-specific autoimmune diseases. It results in chronic cytopenias, and is defined by a pattern including bone marrow, peripheral blood, serological and clinical features. It has to be distinguished from other disorders having myelofibrosis.