A Medical Report Feature for OSSE Rare Disease Registries.

Web-based patient registries support clinicians by providing a way to effectively store and process data. Here, we present a new feature for the open-source registry software OSSE: medical reports generated with R Markdown. As part of a rare disease research project, we describe the process from requirements assessment to the current state of technical implementation.

Dual-targeting triplebody 33-16-123 (SPM-2) mediates effective redirected lysis of primary blasts from patients with a broad range of AML subtypes in combination with natural killer cells.

A number of agents designed for immunotherapy of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) are in preclinical and early clinical development. Most of them target a single antigen on the surface of AML cells. Here we describe the development and key biological properties of a tri-specific agent, the dual-targeting triplebody SPM-2, with binding sites for target antigens CD33 and CD123, and for CD16 to engage NK cells as cytolytic effectors.

The homeobox transcription factor HB9 induces senescence and blocks differentiation in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.

The homeobox gene encodes for the transcription factor HB9, which is essential for pancreatic as well as motor neuronal development. Beside its physiological expression pattern, aberrant HB9 expression has been observed in several neoplasias. Especially in infant translocation t(7;12) acute myeloid leukemia, aberrant HB9 expression is the only known molecular hallmark and is assumed to be a key factor in leukemic transformation.

CD19-specific triplebody SPM-1 engages NK and γδ T cells for rapid and efficient lysis of malignant B-lymphoid cells.

Triplebodies are antibody-derived recombinant proteins carrying 3 antigen-binding domains in a single polypeptide chain. Triplebody SPM-1 was designed for lysis of CD19-bearing malignant B-lymphoid cells through the engagement of CD16-expressing cytolytic effectors, including NK and γδ T cells.SPM-1 is an optimized version of triplebody ds(19-16-19) and includes humanization, disulfide stabilization and the removal of potentially immunogenic sequences.

Image-Processing Scheme to Detect Superficial Fungal Infections of the Skin.

The incidence of superficial fungal infections is assumed to be 20 to 25% of the global human population. Fluorescence microscopy of extracted skin samples is frequently used for a swift assessment of infections. To support the dermatologist, an image-analysis scheme has been developed that evaluates digital microscopic images to detect fungal hyphae.

NK cells from an AML patient have recovered in remission and reached comparable cytolytic activity to that of a healthy monozygotic twin mediated by the single-chain triplebody SPM-2.

Background: The capacity of patient's Natural Killer cells (NKs) to be activated for cytolysis is an important prerequisite for the success of antibody-derived agents such as single-chain triplebodies (triplebodies) in cancer therapy. NKs recovered from AML patients at diagnosis are often found to be reduced in peripheral blood titers and cytolytic activity. Here, we had the unique opportunity to compare blood titers and cytolytic function of NKs from an AML patient with those of a healthy monozygotic twin.

Homeobox protein HB9 binds to the prostaglandin E receptor 2 promoter and inhibits intracellular cAMP mobilization in leukemic cells.

Background: HB9 is highly expressed in translocation t(7;12) positive infant AML.

Results: HB9 binds to the PTGER2 promoter, down-regulates PTGER2 gene expression and subsequently represses cAMP synthesis in hematopoietic cells.

Conclusion: Expression of HLXB9 represses PTGER2 mediated signaling.

Postoperative evaluation for disseminated medulloblastoma involving the spine: contrast-enhanced MR findings, CSF cytologic analysis, timing of disease occurrence, and patient outcomes.

Background And Purpose: Postoperative MR imaging is routinely performed for staging of medulloblastoma because of frequent tumor dissemination along CSF pathways. The goals of this study were to: 1) determine the timing of disease occurrence and contrast-enhanced MR imaging features of disseminated medulloblastoma involving the spine and their relationship to patient outcomes; and 2) compare the diagnostic accuracy of MR imaging findings with CSF cytologic analysis.

Methods: Medical records, pathologic reports, and unenhanced and contrast-enhanced postoperative MR images of the spine and head from 112 patients who had resection of medulloblastoma were retrospectively reviewed.

Acute stroke intervention with intraarterial urokinase infusion.

Purpose: A preliminary evaluation of the efficacy and safety of treating patients with acute stroke with intraarterial urokinase infusions was performed.

Patients And Methods: Twelve patients with acute stroke were treated within 8 hours of symptom onset (average, 5 hours). Thrombolysis was performed within the middle cerebral (n = 10), internal carotid (n = 1), and basilar (n = 1) arteries.

Postoperative evaluation for intracranial recurrence of medulloblastoma: MR findings with gadopentetate dimeglumine.

Purpose: To characterize the gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MR features of recurrent medulloblastoma.

Methods: The postsurgical gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MR images of 48 patients (206 head examinations) with prior resection of medulloblastoma were retrospectively evaluated for enhancement in the brain parenchyma, meninges (dura, pia-arachnoid), and ventricles.

Results: Nineteen patients had recurrent tumor as determined by clinical course and positive imaging studies.

CT after intracranial intraarterial thrombolysis for acute stroke.

Purpose: To determine the incidence, appearance, and clinical significance of lesions mimicking intraparenchymal hemorrhages on CT in patients treated with intracranial intraarterial thrombolysis for acute strokes.

Methods: Ten cases of acute stroke treated with direct intraarterial urokinase infusion were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and radiographic findings before and after therapy were all evaluated.