Detection of novel gammaherpesviruses in wild animals of South Africa.

Herpesviral DNA was detected in 24/261 DNA samples that were extracted from whole blood of 13 wild animal species in South Africa. Herpesviral DNA was shown in 22 impalas (Aepyceros melampus) and 2 springboks (Antidorcas marsupialis). All of DNA sequences detected in impalas were identical, whereas two DNA sequences detected in springboks were different each other.

Natural recombinant between equine herpesviruses 1 and 4 in the ICP4 gene.

Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) is a pathogen causing rhinopneumonia in young horses, abortion in mares, and myeloencephalitis in adult horses. Two types, EHV-1 P and EHV-1 B, have recently been dominant among 16 electropherotypes. EHV-1 P and EHV-1 B viruses were compared by long and accurate polymerase chain reaction (LA-PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis.

[Evidence-based management of neutropenia and fever].

Neutropenia and related fever are the most frequently observed toxicities associated with chemotherapy use. In this review, the current approaches based on various Japanese and American medical societies' guidelines in managing these toxicities are examined. First, the therapeutic and prophylactic use of G-CSF is explored.

[Chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer: analysis of 43 randomized trials in 3 decades (1974-2002)].

Pancreatic cancer represents a major challenge to oncologists because of its high chemoresistant nature and dismal outcomes, especially in advanced diseases. Clinical trials on the effects of systemic chemotherapy for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer have not been shown to have consistent benefits. A systematic review and meta-analysis was therefore conducted to examine this issue.

Long-term follow-up of patients with aplastic anemia and refractory anemia responding to combination therapy with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and erythropoietin.

In our previous study, approximately 60% of aplastic anemia (AA) and refractory anemia (RA) patients treated with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) and recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo) showed a multilineage response. In this study, we analyzed the long-term follow-up of the multilineage responders (multi-R). In the follow-up analysis of 11 multi-R (6 AA and 5 RA), 10 patients (5 AA and 5 RA) were evaluable.

[Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)--a review of 30 randomized trials].

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents a major challenge to oncologists because of its dismal outcomes. Conventional cytotoxic therapies for advanced disease have been unsatisfactory with modest efficacy and high toxicities. The last decade witnessed the introduction of many novel agents with enhanced efficacy and more manageable safety profile than conventional therapies.

What's new in pancreatic cancer treatment?

Pancreatic cancer represents a major challenge to oncologists because of its high chemoresistant nature and dismal outcomes. Conventional therapy for advanced disease relied for a long time on palliative 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy, but with unsatisfactory results. The introduction of the novel antimetabolite gemcitabine provides new optimism for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, as multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the superiority of gemcitabine over 5-FU and other agents for these patients.

[Systemic capillary leak syndrome presenting remarkable erythrocytosis].

Systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) is a disorder characterized by hypotension, edema, and an increased hematocrit (Ht) due to sudden leakage of plasma into the extravascular space through some unknown mechanism, in which monoclonal gammopathy is observed. A 30-year-old man visited our emergency department because of abdominal pain, and was admitted to our hematology department because of a markedly increased hemoglobin concentration reaching 26.2 g/dl.

Efficacy of carboplatin with an MEP (mitoxantrone, etoposide and prednisone) regimen for relapsed and CHOP-resistant diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.

Mitoxantrone, etoposide and prednisone (MEP)-based regimens using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) were designed for relapsed and CHOP-resistant diffuse large B-cell lymphomas in a single institution, and the therapeutic effects and adverse reactions were studied. In a total of 49 patients, the MEP regimen had a 41% (9/22) overall response rate compared with 48% (13/27) for the MEP plus carboplatin (C-MEP) regimen (Chi-squared test, P=0.602).