Dermatologic changes associated with roquinimex immunotherapy after autologous bone marrow transplant.

Background: Roquinimex (Linomide) is an immunotherapeutic agent used in conjunction with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) for treatment of acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia (AML and CML). This agent may induce graft-versus-host reactions (GVHR) as well as graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effects.

Objective: We documented the incidence of acute cutaneous GVHR associated with roquinimex immunotherapy.

Expression of B7-1 by Pam 212 squamous cell carcinoma enhances tumor cell interactions with dendritic epidermal cells but does not affect in vivo tumor growth.

Direct antigen presentation of tumor-associated antigens by tumor cells to T lymphocytes may induce clonal anergy as a mechanism of escape from immune surveillance. B7-1 is a costimulatory molecule for the activation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes that prevents the induction of clonal anergy. Thus, the transfer of B7-1 genes into tumor cells can induce protective immunity and lead to tumor rejection of some tumors in model systems of in vivo tumor growth; however, there is no information on whether stable expression of B7-1 can affect the in vivo growth of squamous cell carcinoma, a common skin cancer.

[A case of chylomediastinum following open heart surgery via median sternotomy].

The case was a 17-year-old woman on whom open heart surgery was performed for ASD. Anterior mediastinal drainage alone revealed chyloid liquid, leading to diagnosis as chylomediastium. Ramification of thoracic duct and direct injuries of thymus and lymphoduct were presumed to be responsible for the occurrence of this complication.

Ureteric obstruction after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: an unusual complication.

A patient with acute myeloid leukemia (M4) in the first complete remission received a bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from an HLA-compatible sibling. Sustained engraftment was achieved, but she developed colicky pain at the back and lower quadrant of both sides on days 19-21 post-BMT, followed by hemorrhagic cystitis 13 days later. Ultrasonogram, intravenous pyelogram and computed tomogram of the abdomen showed hydronephrosis and ureteric obstruction of both sides.