Impact of hemodilution on flow cytometry based measurable residual disease assessment in acute myeloid leukemia.

Measurable residual disease (MRD) measured in the bone marrow (BM) of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients after induction chemotherapy is an established prognostic factor. Hemodilution, stemming from peripheral blood (PB) mixing within BM during aspiration, can yield false-negative MRD results. We prospectively examined hemodilution by measuring MRD in BM aspirates obtained from three consecutive 2 mL pulls, along with PB samples.

The second wave: estimating the hidden asymptomatic prevalence of COVID-19 in Ireland as we plan for imminent immunisation.

Since the first case of COVID-19 in Ireland was recorded policy makers have introduced mitigation measures to control the spread of infection. Infection is spread by both known cases and hidden, undetected asymptomatic cases.  Asymptomatic individuals are people who transmit the virus but display no clinical symptoms.

First back-calculation and infection fatality multiplier estimate of the hidden prevalence of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Background: To date computer models with multiple assumptions have focussed on predicting the incidence of symptomatic cases of COVID-19. Given emerging vaccines, the aim of this study was to provide simple methods for estimating the hidden prevalence of asymptomatic cases and levels of herd immunity to aid future immunization policy and planning. We applied the method in Ireland.

Bimodal expression of potential drug target CLL-1 (CLEC12A) on CD34+ blasts of AML patients.

Objectives: This study aims to retrospectively assess C-lectin-like molecule 1 (CLL-1) bimodal expression on CD34+ blasts in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients (total N = 306) and explore potential CLL-1 bimodal associations with leukemia and patient-specific characteristics.

Methods: Flow cytometry assays were performed to assess the deeper immunophenotyping of CLL-1 bimodality. Cytogenetic analysis was performed to characterize the gene mutation on CLL-1-negative subpopulation of CLL-1 bimodal AML samples.

Applicability and reproducibility of acute myeloid leukaemia stem cell assessment in a multi-centre setting.

Leukaemic stem cells (LSC) have been experimentally defined as the leukaemia-propagating population and are thought to be the cellular reservoir of relapse in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Therefore, LSC measurements are warranted to facilitate accurate risk stratification. Previously, we published the composition of a one-tube flow cytometric assay, characterised by the presence of 13 important membrane markers for LSC detection.

CD34CD38 leukemic stem cell frequency to predict outcome in acute myeloid leukemia.

Current risk algorithms are primarily based on pre-treatment factors and imperfectly predict outcome in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We introduce and validate a post-treatment approach of leukemic stem cell (LSC) assessment for prediction of outcome. LSC containing CD34+CD38- fractions were measured using flow cytometry in an add-on study of the HOVON102/SAKK trial.

Comprehensive Protocol to Sample and Process Bone Marrow for Measuring Measurable Residual Disease and Leukemic Stem Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Response criteria in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has recently been re-established, with morphologic examination utilized to determine whether patients have achieved complete remission (CR). Approximately half of the adult patients who entered CR will relapse within 12 months due to the outgrowth of residual AML cells in the bone marrow. The quantitation of these remaining leukemia cells, known as minimal or measurable residual disease (MRD), can be a robust biomarker for the prediction of these relapses.

Using Client's Routine Urinalysis Records From Multiple Treatment Systems to Model Five-Year Opioid Substitution Treatment Outcomes.

Background: At global, national, and local level, the need for ongoing, timely and cost efficient, comprehensive drug treatment monitoring, and evaluation systems have clearly been well recognized.

Objectives: To test the feasibility of linking laboratory data and client intake data and its usefulness for modeling retrospectively, for the first time, 5-year longitudinal drug treatment outcomes in an Irish opiate treatment setting.

Methods: A multisite, retrospective, longitudinal cohort study was implemented to evaluate outcomes for opiate users based on 1.

A simple one-tube assay for immunophenotypical quantification of leukemic stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia.

Relapses after initial successful treatment in acute myeloid leukemia are thought to originate from the outgrowth of leukemic stem cells. Their flow cytometrically assessed frequency is of importance for relapse prediction and is therefore assumed to be implemented in future risk group profiling. Since current detection methods are complex, time- and bone marrow consuming (multiple-tubes approach), it would be advantageous to have a broadly applicable approach that enables to quantify leukemia stem cells both at diagnosis and follow-up.

Peripheral blood minimal residual disease may replace bone marrow minimal residual disease as an immunophenotypic biomarker for impending relapse in acute myeloid leukemia.

As relapses are common in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), early relapse prediction is of high importance. Although conventional minimal residual disease (MRD) measurement is carried out in bone marrow (BM), peripheral blood (PB) would be an advantageous alternative source. This study aims to investigate the specificity of leukemia-associated immunophenotypes used for MRD detection in blood samples.

Leukemic stem cell frequency: a strong biomarker for clinical outcome in acute myeloid leukemia.

Introduction: Treatment failure in acute myeloid leukemia is probably caused by the presence of leukemia initiating cells, also referred to as leukemic stem cells, at diagnosis and their persistence after therapy. Specific identification of leukemia stem cells and their discrimination from normal hematopoietic stem cells would greatly contribute to risk stratification and could predict possible relapses.

Results: For identification of leukemic stem cells, we developed flow cytometric methods using leukemic stem cell associated markers and newly-defined (light scatter) aberrancies.

Normal hematopoietic stem cells within the AML bone marrow have a distinct and higher ALDH activity level than co-existing leukemic stem cells.

Persistence of leukemic stem cells (LSC) after chemotherapy is thought to be responsible for relapse and prevents the curative treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. LSC and normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) share many characteristics and co-exist in the bone marrow of AML patients. For the development of successful LSC-targeted therapy, enabling eradication of LSC while sparing HSC, the identification of differences between LSC and HSC residing within the AML bone marrow is crucial.

High prognostic impact of flow cytometric minimal residual disease detection in acute myeloid leukemia: data from the HOVON/SAKK AML 42A study.

Purpose: Half the patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who achieve complete remission (CR), ultimately relapse. Residual treatment-surviving leukemia is considered responsible for the outgrowth of AML. In many retrospective studies, detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) has been shown to enable identification of these poor-outcome patients by showing its independent prognostic impact.

Measuring and modelling body mass index among a cohort of urban children living with disadvantage.

Aim: To report on baseline outcomes of body mass index, eating habits and physical activity of a cohort of urban disadvantaged children from a longitudinal evaluation of a school based, health promoting initiative.

Background: The healthy schools programme was developed for implementation in schools located in disadvantaged areas of Dublin, Ireland.

Design: A prospective, cohort study design was implemented.

Minimal residual disease detection defined as the malignant fraction of the total primitive stem cell compartment offers additional prognostic information in acute myeloid leukaemia.

Introduction: Immunophenotypic detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in bone marrow (BM) of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients is of high prognostic relevance. Standard MRD percentage is assessed as a percentage of total white blood cells (WBCs) and is therefore highly dependent on WBC count. Peripheral blood (PB) contains more than five times lower MRD percentages.

The role of minor subpopulations within the leukemic blast compartment of AML patients at initial diagnosis in the development of relapse.

The majority of pediatric and younger adult (<60 years) AML patients achieve complete remission. However, 30-40% of patients relapse and display a dismal outcome. Recently we described a frequent instability of type I/II mutations between diagnosis and relapse.

Behavior and gastroesophageal reflux in the premature neonate.

Background: The belief that behavioral observations assist in the clinical diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) disease in premature neonates has not been formally tested. The purpose of this study was to determine whether esophageal acidification was associated with a recognizable pattern of behavioral changes in these infants.

Methods: The behavior of 14 healthy premature infants was recorded by a video camera while esophageal pH was simultaneously monitored.

Mechanism of gastroesophageal reflux in premature infants with chronic lung disease.

Background/purpose: The aim of this study was to characterize the motor events responsible for gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and esophageal acid clearance in a cohort of preterm infants with chronic lung disease (CLD).

Methods: Esophageal motility was recorded for 2 to 3 hours postprandially in 14 preterm infants with mild-moderate or moderate-severe CLD at 33 to 39 weeks postmenstrual age using a sleeve-side hole micromanometric assembly into which a pH probe had been installed.

Results: Twenty-six acid GER episodes were recorded by pH probe.

Measurement of upper esophageal sphincter tone and relaxation during swallowing in premature infants.

Upper esophageal sphincter (UES) motor function has not been previously evaluated in premature infants. The motor patterns associated with tonic activity and swallow-related relaxation of the UES were recorded for 1 h after completion of gavage feeding in 11 healthy preterm neonates (postmenstrual age 33-37 wk) with a micromanometric assembly, which included a sleeve sensor specifically adapted for UES recordings. A clearly defined UES high-pressure zone was observed in all premature infants studied.

Reproducibility of the 13C-octanoic acid breath test for assessment of gastric emptying in healthy preterm infants.

Background: The 13C-octanoic acid breath test has been used to measure gastric emptying in preterm infants, but the reproducibility of the test has not been evaluated in this population.

Methods: Fifty-six paired breath test analyses were performed on 28 healthy preterm infants 1 to 5 days apart using the same food type, volume, and energy content for each paired sample. Breath samples were taken before the feeding, at 5-minute intervals after feeding for 30 minutes, then each 15 minutes for 4 hours.

Mechanisms of gastroesophageal reflux in healthy premature infants.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterize the motor events responsible for gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and esophageal acid clearance in a cohort of healthy preterm infants.

Study Design: Esophageal motility was recorded for 2 to 3 hours after a feeding in 24 preterm infants, 31 to 38 weeks' postmenstrual age, by using a sleeveside hole micromanometric assembly incorporating a pH probe.

Results: Sixty acid GER episodes were recorded by pH probe, and 133 non-acid GER episodes were recorded manometrically by the presence of esophageal common cavities.

Odontomicronychial ectodermal dysplasia.

This paper describes odontomicronychial dysplasia, a pure ectodermal dysplasia of the 2-3 subgroup of group A. It is characterised by precocious eruption and shedding of deciduous dentition, precocious eruption of secondary dentition with short, rhomboid roots, and short, thin, slow growing nails. This condition probably results from an autosomal recessive gene.

Diagnosis of IgE-mediated allergy in the upper respiratory tract.

A statistical analysis was made of data concerning diagnosis of IgE-mediated allergy in the upper respiratory tract in 292 patients. A study was made of: skin test, total and specific IgE (RAST), X-sinus, red blood investigation, and cytology of nasal smear. It appears that screening for the presence of an IgE-mediated allergy in the upper respiratory tract can be performed efficiently with a limited number of skin tests (rye grass, timothy, birch, house dust mite and cat).