MedWorm: Hematology Top 20

Development and application of a high-throughput microneutralization assay: lack of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus and/or murine leukemia virus detection in blood donors.

Transfusion — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:18:59 +0100

CONCLUSION: A microneutralization assay was developed for detection of XMRV and can be applied in a high-throughput format for large-scale studies. Although a proportion of blood donors demonstrated the ability to block XMRV envelope-mediated infection, we found no evidence that this inhibition was mediated by specific antibodies elicited by exposure to XMRV or MLV. It is likely that this moderate neutralization is mediated through another, nonspecific mechanism. PMID: 22239212 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Transfusion)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

The scientific method at work: xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus is neither a cause of chronic fatigue syndrome nor a threat to the blood supply.

Transfusion — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:19:27 +0100

Authors: Karafin MS, Stramer SL PMID: 22239209 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Transfusion)

Antithrombotic therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and mechanical heart valves

American Journal of Hematology — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:11:34 +0100

AbstractCardioembolic strokes account for one‐sixth of all strokes and are an important potentially preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. Vitamin K antagonists (e.g., warfarin) are effective for the prevention of cardioembolic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and in those with mechanical heart valves but because of their inherent limitations are underutilized and often suboptimally managed. Antiplatelet therapies have been the only alternatives to warfarin for stroke prevention in AF but although they are safer and more convenient they are much less efficacious. The advent of new oral anticoagulant drugs offers the potential to reduce the burden of cardioembolic stroke by providing access to effective, safe and more convenient therapies. New oral anticoagulants ha...

Abbreviated Radiotherapy Shows Promise in Prostate Ca

MedPage Today Hematology/Oncology — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:43:08 +0100

SAN FRANCISCO (MedPage Today) -- Dramatically condensing radiation treatment for early prostate cancer into just five fractions produces good results without much toxicity, an early-phase study suggested. (Source: MedPage Today Hematology/Oncology)

Epidemiology: clues to the pathogenesis of Burkitt lymphoma

British Journal of Haematology — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:51:02 +0100

SummaryThe two major epidemiological clues to the pathogenesis of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) are the geographical association with malaria – BL incidence relates to the malaria transmission rate – and early infection by Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). Both agents cause B cell hyperplasia, which is almost certainly an essential component of lymphomagenesis in BL. The critical event in lymphomagenesis is the creation of a MYC translocation, bringing the MYC gene into juxtaposition with immunoglobulin genes and causing its ectopic expression, thereby driving the proliferation of BL cells. It is highly likely that such translocations are mediated by the activation‐induced cytidine deaminase (AID) gene, which is responsible for hypervariable region mutations as well as class switching. Stimulation...

Mutant Colon Ca May Respond to BRAF-EGFR Inhibition (CME/CE)

MedPage Today Hematology/Oncology — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:15:00 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- An unexpected feedback mechanism in cell signaling pathways may explain why some colorectal cancers don’t respond to a drug that theoretically should work, researchers reported. (Source: MedPage Today Hematology/Oncology)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: in vitro studies on the interaction of dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and low-sulfated heparin, with platelet factor 4 and anti-PF4/heparin antibodies

Blood — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Heparin is a widely used anticoagulant. Because of its negative charge, it forms complexes with positively charged platelet factor 4 (PF4). This can induce anti-PF4/heparin IgG Abs. Resulting immune complexes activate platelets, leading to the prothrombotic adverse drug reaction heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). HIT requires treatment with alternative anticoagulants. Approved for HIT are 2 direct thrombin inhibitors (DTI; lepirudin, argatroban) and danaparoid. They are niche products with limitations. We assessed the effects of the DTI dabigatran, the direct factor Xa-inhibitor rivaroxaban, and of 2-O, 3-O desulfated heparin (ODSH; a partially desulfated heparin with minimal anticoagulant effects) on PF4/heparin complexes and the interaction of anti-PF4/heparin Abs with platelets. Ne...

Viral infections and human cancers: the legacy of Denis Burkitt

British Journal of Haematology — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryDenis Parsons Burkitt was born in 1911, and in the late 1950s, described the disease that has come to be known as Burkitt lymphoma based on cases he observed in Uganda. Subsequently, Burkitt lymphoma was recognized as the first human tumour associated with an infectious agent when Epstein–Barr virus was isolated from samples supplied by Burkitt. It is now recognized that over one‐quarter of cancers worldwide are tied to infections. Notably, liver cancer is linked to hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections, and cervical cancer to infections involving the human papilloma viruses. In addition, immunocompromise arising from infection with the human immunodeficiency virus allows tumours (e.g., Kaposi sarcoma) caused by other viruses to arise. More than 50 years after the...

Role of gel test and flow cytometry in diagnosis of Coombs’ negative autoimmune haemolytic anaemia

Clinical and Laboratory Haematology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:23:08 +0100

Conclusion: Flow cytometry is more sensitive than GT for assessing CTT‐DAT‐negative AIHA. We propose that FC percent fluorescence cut‐off values should be employed to determine the Coombs’ negative AIHA cases. (Source: Clinical and Laboratory Haematology)

Platelet TGF-{beta}1 contributions to plasma TGF-{beta}1, cardiac fibrosis, and systolic dysfunction in a mouse model of pressure overload

Blood — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Circulating platelets contain high concentrations of TGF-β1 in their α-granules and release it on platelet adhesion/activation. We hypothesized that uncontrolled in vitro release of platelet TGF-β1 may confound measurement of plasma TGF-β1 in mice and that in vivo release and activation may contribute to cardiac pathology in response to constriction of the transverse aorta, which produces both high shear and cardiac pressure overload. Plasma TGF-β1 levels in blood collected from C57Bl/6 mice by the standard retro-bulbar technique were much higher than those obtained when prostaglandin E1 was added to inhibit release or when blood was collected percutaneously from the left ventricle under ultrasound guidance. Even with optimal blood drawing, plasma TGF-β1 was ...

Oral HPV-Cancer Link Clarified (CME/CE)

MedPage Today Hematology/Oncology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:30:00 +0100

PHOENIX (MedPage Today) -- Oral infection with human papillomavirus occurred three times more often in men as in women, a potential explanation for men's higher rate of HPV-related head and neck cancer, investigators reported here. (Source: MedPage Today Hematology/Oncology)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Analysis of polymorphisms of TNF‐α, LT‐α, IL‐10, IL‐12 and CTLA‐4 in patients with warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia

Clinical and Laboratory Haematology — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:04:02 +0100

Conclusion: In this study, no significant differences on the frequency of TNF‐α, IL‐10, IL‐12 and CTLA‐4 polymorphisms between patients with AIHA and controls was found, suggesting that the targeted polymorphisms do not influence on the emergence and evolution of the disease. However, the LT‐α +252 polymorphism might have an effect for AIHAI development, suggesting that further studies are necessary to clear up this question. (Source: Clinical and Laboratory Haematology)

Female Long-Term Survivors After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Evaluation and Management

Seminars in Hematology — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Female long-term survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) incur a significant burden of late effects. Genital graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), human papillomavirus (HPV) reactivation, ovarian failure and infertility, sexual dysfunction, and osteoporosis are concerns that can significantly impact quality of life. This review examines the risk, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and implications of these common complications. Recommendations are provided for evaluation and management of these late effects and other obstetric and gynecologic issues that may arise in this patient population. (Source: Seminars in Hematology)

Bone Loss and Avascular Necrosis of Bone After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Seminars in Hematology — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Advances in transplantation technology and supportive care measures have resulted in significant decrease in early mortality resulting in continued growth in the number of long-term hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) survivors. The intensity of chemotherapy and total body irradiation regimen used pretransplantation to eradicate the primary disease can lead to organ toxicities, including significant bone complications after HCT. Bone loss is frequent in HCT recipients and results from impaired bone mineralization through disturbances of calcium and vitamin D homeostasis, osteoblast and osteoclast dysfunction, and deficiencies in growth or gonadal hormone secretion. Exposure to glucocorticoids and calcineurin inhibitors for prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) r...

Mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells with granulocyte colony stimulating factors for autologous transplant in hematologic malignancies: a single center experience

Revista Brasileira de Hematologia e Hemoterapia — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:10:14 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Among other factors, the origin of the cytokine used as mobilizing agent is an element to be considered when evaluating CD34+ cell mobilization results (Source: Revista Brasileira de Hematologia e Hemoterapia)

Risk factors and treatment of childhood and adolescent Burkitt lymphoma/leukaemia

British Journal of Haematology — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryBurkitt lymphoma/leukaemia is the most common (40%) form of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma that occurs in children and adolescents. The prognosis of advanced (disseminated) Burkitt lymphoma/leukaemia in children and adolescents three decades ago had a 5‐year event‐free survival (EFS) of <40%, and required combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy over a 1–2 year period. Currently, the prognosis for the same advanced stage has a 5‐year EFS of 85–90% with <6 months of chemotherapy only. Radiation therapy has been eliminated for children and adolescents with Burkitt lymphoma/leukaemia except in emergencies, such as superior vena cava syndrome and acute neurological impairment or in patients with relapse/progression. Current risk factors in the prognosis of childhood and ...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

An Increased Number of Individuals with Clinically Recognized Monoclonal B-Cell Lymphocytosis Characterizes a Recent Database of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Rai Stage 0.

Acta Haematologica — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Molica S, Gentile M, Mauro FR, Brugiatelli M, Federico M, Sperduti I, Neri A, Ferrarini M, Foà R, Morabito F Abstract No abstract available. PMID: 22262125 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Acta Haematologica)

Immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis: 2012 update on diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment

American Journal of Hematology — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:03:32 +0100

AbstractDisease Overview: Immunoglobulin (Ig) light chain amyloidosis is a clonal but nonproliferative plasma cell disorder in which fragments of an Ig light chain are deposited in tissues. The clinical features depend on the organs involved but can include restrictive cardiomyopathy, nephrotic syndrome, hepatic failure, and peripheral/autonomic neuropathy.Diagnosis: Tissue biopsy stained with Congo red demonstrating amyloid deposits with apple‐green birefringence is required for diagnosis. Invasive organ biopsy is not required because amyloid deposits can be found in bone marrow biopsy or subcutaneous fat aspirate in 85% of patients. Prognosis: N‐terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide and serum troponin T values are used to classify patients into three groups of approximately equal ...

Low‐molecular‐weight heparin added to aspirin in the prevention of recurrent early‐onset pre‐eclampsia in women with inheritable thrombophilia: the FRUIT‐RCT

Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Adding LMWH to aspirin at < 12 weeks gestation reduces recurrent HD onset < 34 weeks gestation in women with inheritable thrombophilia and prior delivery for HD/SGA <34 weeks. However, close monitoring of the mother and fetus remains important throughout pregnancy. (Source: Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis)

Monoclonal antibodies against ROR1 induce apoptosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells

Leukemia — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: A H Daneshmanesh, M Hojjat-Farsangi, A S Khan, M Jeddi-Tehrani, M M Akhondi, A A Bayat, R Ghods, A-R Mahmoudi, R Hadavi, A Österborg, F Shokri, H Rabbani & H Mellstedt (Source: Leukemia)