Clinical and laboratory characteristics of systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma in Chinese patients.

Background: Systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (S-ALCL) is a rare disease with a highly variable prognosis and no standard chemotherapy regimen. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) has been reported as an important prognostic factor correlated with S-ALCL in many but not all studies. In our study, we retrospectively analyzed 92 patients with S-ALCL from the Peking University Lymphoma Center for clinical and molecular prognostic factors to make clear the role of ALK and other prognostic factors in Han Chinese S-ALCL.

Randomized pilot test of a lifestyle physical activity intervention for breast cancer survivors.

Objective: This paper will report the results of a pilot test of a 6-month, 21-session intervention to increase breast cancer survivors' physical activity by teaching them to incorporate short periods of moderate activity into their daily routines (lifestyle intervention). The effect of the intervention on physical performance, quality of life, and physical activity are reported.

Methods: Sixty breast cancer survivors were randomized to either a lifestyle intervention or a standard care control group.

Idiopathic erythrocytosis and other non-clonal polycythemias.

Idiopathic erythrocytosis (IE) is characterized by an increase of red blood cell mass without an identified cause. Its diagnosis is based on the exclusion of polycythemia vera (PV), secondary acquired polycythemias and various congenital primary and secondary polycythemias. The frequency of IE has been estimated to be 1.

Red cell enzymes.

Mutations leading to red cell enzyme deficiencies can be associated with diverse phenotypes that range from hemolytic anemia, methemoglobinemia, polycythemia, and neurological and developmental abnormalities. While most of these mutations occur sporadically, some such as common glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) mutants are endemic and rarely cause disease. Common G6PD mutants likely reached their prevalence because they provide some protection against severe malarial complications.

Recent advances in the molecular biology of congenital polycythemias and polycythemia vera.

This review will focus on the molecular basis of certain polycythemic disorders. Primary polycythemias are characterized by acquired somatic or inherited germ-line mutations expressed within hematopoietic progenitors that cause increased accumulation of red blood cells. Polycythemia vera (PV), an acquired condition, is the most common primary polycythemia; although some progress has been made in the understanding of PV, its molecular basis remains unknown.

Copper deficiency masquerading as myelodysplastic syndrome.

We describe a woman with severe neutropenia and dependency on red blood cell transfusions who had previously undergone Billroth II surgery and whose bone marrow (BM) showed morphologic characteristics typical of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with ringed sideroblasts. She had transient reversal of anemia and severe neutropenia after therapy with erythropoietin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Because of relapse while receiving growth factors, the patient was referred for allogeneic BM transplantation.