Haematologica current issue

Treatment of hepatitis C in patients with thalassemia

Angelucci, E., Pilo, F. — 2008-07-31

Liver disease has long been recognized as an important cause of morbidity and mortality in thalassemia. In this perspective article, Drs. Angelucci and Pilo examine the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in subjects with thalassemia and discuss the current treatment of this condition. See related articles on pages 1243 and 1247.

Treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Tucci, F., Arico, M. — 2008-07-31

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of cancer in children. In this perspective article, Drs. Tucci and Aricò discuss advances in the treatment of childhood ALL, which may be regarded as a paradigm of the effectiveness of medical science in treatment of formerly incurable diseases. See related articles on pages 1155 and 1161.

Human immunodeficiency virus-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Ribera, J.-M., Navarro, J.-T. — 2008-07-31

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has improved the survival of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients dramatically. Nonetheless, HIV-related lymphomas still constitute a major cause of death in HIV-infected patients. In this perspective article, Drs. Ribera and Navarro, examine this serious complication of AIDS. See related article on page 1178.

Cardiovascular disease after hematopoietic cell transplantation - lessons learned

Armenian, S. H., Bhatia, S. — 2008-07-31

Due to improvements in survival rate, major issues in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have expanded to include the care and management of survivors, prevention of adverse outcomes, and maintenance of a good quality of life. In this perspective article, Drs. Armenian and Bathia discuss cardiovascular dysfunction, which is now emerging as a late complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. See related article on page 1203.

CD97 is differentially expressed on murine hematopoietic stem-and progenitor-cells

van Pel, M., Hagoort, H., Hamann, J., Fibbe, W. E. — 2008-07-31

CD97 is a member of the epidermal growth factor-seven transmembrane (EGF-TM7) receptor family. This study shows that murine hematopoietic cells expressing high levels of c-Kit and intermediate levels of CD97 have repopulating and radioprotective capacity. This phenotype allows simple and rapid purification of murine hematopoietic stem cells.

Centrosome aberrations and G1 phase arrest after in vitro and in vivo treatment with the SRC/ABL inhibitor dasatinib

2008-07-31

Dasatinib is an ATP-competitive, dual SRC/ABL kinase inhibitor with antiproliferative activity. It is approved for the treatment of adult patients with chronic myeloid leukemia with resistance or intolerance to prior therapy including imatinib mesylate, and for the treatment of patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia with resistance or intolerance to prior therapy. This study shows that dasatinib blocks G₁/S transition and thereby inhibits cell growth in both normal and neoplastic cells. In addition, it induces centrosomal aberrations and decreases mitotic spindles. These effects may be the result of a combination of SRC and ABL inhibition.

Significance of the complete clearance of peripheral blasts after 7 days of prednisolone treatment in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: the Tokyo Children's Cancer Study Group Study L99-15

2008-07-31

Early treatment response is one of the most useful prognostic indicators in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This study adds novel information that patients whose peripheral blood blasts disappeared after 7 days of prednisolone monotherapy had an excellent prognosis, that is, a 4-year event-free survival of 90%. See related perspective article on page 1124.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adolescents and young adults in Finland

2008-07-31

Recent reports indicate that adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia have a better outcome when treated with pediatric rather than adult therapeutic protocols. This Finnish study did not show any major difference between patients treated with pediatric protocols and those treated with adult protocols, but confirmed that adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia still have a poorer outcome than children below 10 years of age. See related perspective article on page 1124.

The prevention of spontaneous apoptosis of follicular lymphoma B cells by a follicular dendritic cell line: involvement of caspase-3, caspase-8 and c-FLIP

2008-07-31

Several observations point to a crucial role of microenvironment in the natural history of low-grade B-cell neoplasms. This study shows that the spontaneous apoptosis of follicular lymphoma cells is partially prevented by a follicular dendritic cell line, thus confirming that cellular microenvironment may contribute to the development and/or progression of follicular lymphoma cells.

Molecular analysis of immunoglobulin variable genes in human immunodeficiency virus-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma reveals implications for disease pathogenesis and histogenesis

2008-07-31

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas are a major complication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and include heterogeneous conditions. This study shows evidence of a skewed IGHV repertoire in specific categories and suggests B-cell receptor restriction in some HIV-primary central nervous system lymphomas. See related perspective article on page 1129.

Somatic hypermutation signature in B-cell low-grade lymphomas

2008-07-31

Immunoglobulin gene somatic hypermutation (SHM) is a biologically relevant and clinically useful prognostic factor in different types of low-grade B-cell lymphomas. This study of gene expression profiling identified a large number of genes that may be surrogate markers of the SHM process.

De novo CD5+ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: results of a detailed clinicopathological review in 120 patients

2008-07-31

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) constitutes the largest category of aggressive lymphomas, and is considered to have heterogeneous biological properties. De novo CD5-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (CD5⁺ DLBCL) is a distinct entity. This study reveals the morphological spectrum of CD5⁺ DLBCL, shows that the incidence of central nervous system recurrence in this form of lymphoma in high, and confirms that CD5⁺ DLBCL frequently expresses BCL2 protein.

Late cardiovascular events after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a retrospective multicenter study of the Late Effects Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

2008-07-31

Long-term outcome after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation including late transplant-related events is of increasing interest. This study shows that long-term survivors after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are likely to have an increased risk of premature cardiovascular accidents. See related perspective article on page 1132.

A new severity score index for phenotypic classification and evaluation of responses to treatment in type I Gaucher disease

2008-07-31

Gaucher disease is the first lysosomal storage disease for which specific therapy became available. This study reports a reliable method for staging the severity of adult type I Gaucher disease, and for monitoring the response to treatment.

A one-mutation mathematical model can explain the age incidence of acute myeloid leukemia with mutated nucleophosmin (NPM1)

2008-07-31

Acute myeloid leukemia with mutated NPM1 gene and aberrant cytoplasmic expression of nucleophosmin shows distinctive biological and clinical features. Based on the use of a one-mutation mathematical model, this study supports the hypothesis that a single genetic event, the NPM1 mutation, is sufficient to cause this type of leukemia.

The postoperative splenic/portal vein thrombosis after splenectomy and its prevention - an unresolved issue

Krauth, M.-T., Lechner, K., Neugebauer, E. A.M., Pabinger, I. — 2008-07-31

Patients undergoing splenectomy have an increased risk of splenic/portal vein thrombosis. This study shows that the overall risk is 3.3%. Risk factors are big spleens and hereditary hemolytic anemias.

CXCR4pos circulating progenitor cells coexpressing monocytic and endothelial markers correlating with fibrotic clinical features are present in the peripheral blood of patients affected by systemic sclerosis

2008-07-31

This study shows that patients with systemic sclerosis have an increased number of CXCR4^pos circulating progenitor cells coexpressing monocytic and endothelial markers.

siRNA-mediated reduction of {alpha}-globin results in phenotypic improvements in {beta}-thalassemic cells

Voon, H. P. J., Wardan, H., Vadolas, J. — 2008-07-31

Reduction of -globin expression has long been known to improve anemia in β-thalassemia. This study shows that siRNA-mediated reduction of -globin results in phenotypic improvements in β-thalassemic cells.

Liver disease in chelated transfusion-dependent thalassemics: the role of iron overload and chronic hepatitis C

2008-07-31

This study shows that hepatitis C virus infection is the main risk factor for liver fibrosis in chelated transfusion-dependent thalassemic patients. See related perspective article on page 1121.

Safety and efficacy of pegylated interferon {alpha}-2a and ribavirin for the treatment of hepatitis C in patients with thalassemia

2008-07-31

The findings of this study suggest that in thalassemic patients with hepatitis C, antiviral treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin is effective and safe if transfusion requirement, iron toxicities and neutropenia are monitored. See related perspective article on page 1121.

Development of hypogammaglobulinemia in patients treated with imatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia or gastrointestinal stromal tumor

2008-07-31

These data demonstrate that imatinib treatment induces hypogammaglobulinemia which can be severe in 10% of cases, both in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia and in those with gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Normal thrombin generation in neonates in spite of prolonged conventional coagulation tests

2008-07-31

Findings of this study reinforce the concept that the coagulation balance in neonates, usually regarded as perturbed because of the deficiency of procoagulants, might be restored by the concomitant deficiency of the naturally-occurring anticoagulants.

Rapid decline of JAK2V617F levels during hydroxyurea treatment in patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia

Ricksten, A., Palmqvist, L., Johansson, P., Andreasson, B. — 2008-07-31

Acute leukemia in children with Down's syndrome: the importance of population based study

2008-07-31

Kinetics of bone marrow blasts during induction and achievement of complete remission in acute myeloid leukemia

2008-07-31

Lack of prognostic value of FCGR3A-V158F polymorphism in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Pennell, N. M., Bhanji, T., Zhang, L., Seth, A., Sawka, C. A., Berinstein, N. L. — 2008-07-31

A possible role of 18F-FDG positron-emission tomography scanning in the early detection of rituximab-induced pneumonitis in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

2008-07-31

FDG-positron-emission tomography for staging and therapeutic assessment in patients with plasmacytoma

2008-07-31

Clonal chromosome anomalies and propensity to myeloid malignancies in congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (OMIM 604498)

2008-07-31

Variability of clinical manifestation of factor VII-deficiency in homozygous and heterozygous subjects of the European F7 gene mutation A294V

2008-07-31

Endothelial-coagulative activation during chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations

2008-07-31

Second donation of hematopoietic stem cells from unrelated donors for patients with relapse or graft failure after allogeneic transplantation

Platzbecker, U., Binder, M., Schmid, C., Rutt, C., Ehninger, G., Bornhauser, M. — 2008-07-31

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy for steroid-refractory graft-versus-host disease in low-weight pediatric patients. Immunomodulatory effects and clinical outcome

2008-07-31

Retraction

2008-07-31