Cord blood banking

in Vox Sanguinis (2008), 95

rhEPO in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

in Nowrousian, M. R. (Ed.) Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) in clinical oncology (2nd Ed.) (2008)

Cord blood transplantation in a child with Pearson's disease.

in Pediatric Blood & Cancer (2008), 51(4), 566

Erythropoiesis

in Gasche, C. (Ed.) Anemia in inflammatory bowel disease (2008)

The hematopoiesis-supporting activity of mesenchymal stem cells increases with the number of passages

in Experimental Hematology (2007, September), 35(9, Suppl. 2), 125-125

Mature erythrocyte parameters as new markers of functional iron deficiency in haemodialysis: sensitivity and specificity

in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation (2007), 11

Background. The percentage of hypochromic red blood cells (RBCs) (%HYPO) has been demonstrated as the best predictor of response to iron loading in haemodialysis patients treated with recombinant human ... [more ▼]

Background. The percentage of hypochromic red blood cells (RBCs) (%HYPO) has been demonstrated as the best predictor of response to iron loading in haemodialysis patients treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO). However, we have previously shown that this parameter is positively influenced by erythropoietic activity since reticulocytes are considered hypochromic by cell counters. New cell counters are able to determine cell volume and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration separately on reticulocytes and mature erythrocytes. The aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of mature erythrocyte parameters in detecting functional iron deficiency (FID). Methods. A total of 32 stable chronic haemodialysis patients in the maintenance phase of rHuEPO therapy were included. Classical parameters of iron monitoring and mature erythrocyte parameters were measured after a 4-week iron-free period. Patients were classified as responders (R) or non-responders (NR) to an iron load of 100 mg iron sucrose at each dialysis session for 4 weeks, according to whether their Hb increased by >1 g/dl at the end of iron loading. Results. Twelve patients were identified as responders. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated %HYPO and its corresponding parameter on mature erythrocyte, %HYPOm, as the best predictors of FID. The other parameters were ordered as follows: tranferrin saturation (TSAT), ferritin (FRT), mature RBC Hb content (CHm), mean corpuscular Hb concentration (MCHC), percentage of mature erythrocytes with a low CHm (%lowCHm), mean content in Hb (MCH) and reticulocyte Hb content CHr. Comparing the parameters at different cut-offs, the best sensitivity, specificity and efficiency were demonstrated for HYPOm>6%. Conclusion. The best efficiency to predict FID was found for %HYPOm>6%. The predictive value of %HYPO was quite similar. The clinical impact of %HYPOm in iron monitoring should also be tested in the induction phase of rHuEPO treatment because of its independence from erythropoietic activity. [less ▲]

Limited usefulness of CA125 measurement in the management of Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

in European Journal of Haematology (2007), 78(5), 399-404

BACKGROUND: Several papers have reported an association of high CA125 serum levels with advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) as well as a relationship between high CA125 values and poor outcome. PATIENTS ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: Several papers have reported an association of high CA125 serum levels with advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) as well as a relationship between high CA125 values and poor outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-nine patients with NHL or Hodgkin's disease (HD) underwent serum CA125 assessment at diagnosis. Gender, age, presence of B symptoms, performance status (PS), histology, sites of tumor involvement, presence of effusion, clinical stage, age-adjusted International Prognostic Index, C-reactive protein (CRP), Hb, lactate deshydrogenase (LDH) and beta2-microglobulin were evaluated for their association with serum CA125 levels. The impact of CA125 levels and other features on overall (OS) and progression-free (PFS) survival was also assessed. RESULTS: CA125 serum levels were elevated in 34% of the patients, including 19% of patients with aggressive NHL, 45% of patients with indolent NHL, and 29% of patients with HD. Univariate analyses showed that CA125 levels correlated with poor PS, the presence of B symptoms, advanced clinical stage, abdominal, bone marrow or mediastinal involvement, presence of effusions, high aaIPI, low Hb levels and high CRP, LDH or beta2-microglobulin levels. In multivariate analysis, bone marrow involvement, the presence of effusions, and high aaIPI were all associated with high CA125 serum levels. In univariate analyses, OS and PFS were affected by age (PFS only), poor PS, B symptoms, advanced clinical stage, bone marrow or abdominal involvement (PFS only), high aaIPI, low Hb, high CRP or beta2-microglobulin levels. OS and PFS were not different in patients with normal or elevated CA125 levels. Multivariate analyses showed significantly inferior OS and PFS in patients with high beta2-microglobulin but no influence of CA125. CONCLUSION: While CA125 serum level correlates significantly with a number of features associated with more aggressive disease, it does not enhance the performance of standard prognostic markers in the management of patients with NHL or HD. [less ▲]

Evaluation clinique de la fonction du thymus.

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2007), 62(11), 675-8

The essential role of the thymus is to install an extremely diverse repertoire of T lymphocytes that are self-tolerant and competent against non-self, as well as to generate self-antigen specific ... [more ▼]

The essential role of the thymus is to install an extremely diverse repertoire of T lymphocytes that are self-tolerant and competent against non-self, as well as to generate self-antigen specific regulatory T cells (Treg) able to inactivate in periphery self-reactive T cells having escaped the thymic censorship. Although indirect, techniques of medical imaging and phenotyping of peripheral T cells may help in the investigation of thymic function. Nowadays however, thymopoiesis is better evaluated through quantification by PCR of T-cell receptor excision circles (TREC) generated by intrathymic random recombination of the gene segments coding for the variable parts of the T-cell receptor for antigen (TCR). The TREC methodology is very valuable in the circumstances not associated with intense proliferation or apoptosis of peripheral T lymphocytes. [less ▲]

FDG-PET for the routine follow-up in NHL: First prospective evaluation

in Journal of Clinical Oncology (2006, June 20), 24(18, Part 1 Suppl. S), 439

The place of positron emission tomography imaging in the management of patients with malignant lymphoma.

in Haematologica (2006), 91(4), 442-4