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Abstract: Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is a fatal malignancy caused by infection with human T lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1). To search for a new biomarker of ATL, we analyzed sera from ATL patients using 1ys. The spectral comparison of ATL patients with HTLV-1 carriers and healthy volunteers showed that the intensities of five peaks (1779, 1866, 2022, 4467, and 8930m/z) were significantly increased in ATL, while those of four peaks (4067, 4151, 8130, and 8597m/z) were decreased. From these differentially expressed peaks, we chose peaks of 1779, 1866, and 2022m/z as biomarker candidates of ATL. MS/MS ion search using tandem mass spectrometry and immunoprecipitation assay using anti-C3 antibody showed that factors derived from these candidate peaks were identified as C3f, which is a component of the complement system and a fragment of complement C3. These results indicate that the complement system was activated in ATL. Further analysis of markers specific to the activation pathways (classical, alternative, and lectin pathways) in the complement system showed that the serum concentration of the marker of the lectin pathway was significantly higher in ATL patients. These results suggest that activation of the complement system in ATL occurs mainly through the lectin pathway. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a single-strand RNA virus. The association of lichen planus with chronic HCV infection has been reported, as has been cryoglobulinemic purpura, psoriasis, urticaria, and porphyria cutanea tarda. However, the cause of lichen planus is unclear. Objectives: To investigate whether genomic- and/or anti-genomic-strand HCV RNAs are present in the lichen planus lesions of chronic hepatitis C patients and to elucidate the pathogenesis of lichen planus. Methods: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by nested-PCR was carried out to detect HCV RNA using RNA samples from lichen planus lesions of three patients with chronic hepatitis C. Since it is well known that commonly there is relatively dense inflammatory cell infiltration mainly in the upper dermis in lichen planus, the same RT-PCR procedure was performed using RNA from peripheral blood leukocytes from the same patients. In addition, in one patient, the same procedure was also performed using an RNA sample from normal skin. Results: Bands of the appropriate size (161 base pairs corresponding to region 98–258 of HCV RNA) in the nested-PCR products for both genomic- and anti-genomic-strands were detected in lichen planus lesions as well as in peripheral blood leukocytes in all the cases. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing the presence of anti-genomic- as well as genomic-strand HCV RNAs in lichen planus lesions in patients with chronic hepatitis C; suggesting that HCV-associated lichen planus lesions may be sites of HCV replication. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) is the standard treatment regimen for malignant lymphoma. CHOP-induced neutropenia is a common clinical complication that often develops into life-threatening febrile neutropenia (FN). The incidence rate of FN in malignant lymphoma patients receiving a CHOP + rituximab regimen is approximately 10%–20% in clinical trials. Assessing FN-related factors in an individual hospital is an important step towards ensuring appropriate treatment. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the incidence, risk factors, and clinical features related to FN in our institution and to determine the rate of treatment success in FN patients receiving antibiotics. Methods FN-related characteristics were investigated in 182 malignant lymphoma patients who were treated with the CHOP regimen between January 2013 and December 2018. All data were retrospectively collected from the electronic medical record system. Categorical factors were compared using the Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze FN-related risk factors. Results Among 182 patients, 79 (43.4%) were men. Median age was 67 years. Most patients (90.7%) had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) of 0–2. We noted 80 FN episodes in 60 patients (33.0%). On multivariate analysis, lack of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) prophylaxis in cycle 1 and poor PS were significantly associated with FN occurrence. Documented infections were observed in case of 35 FN episodes (43.8%), and median fever duration was 3 days. Treatment was successful without any modifications in case of 64 episodes (80%). No deaths were observed. Conclusion FN incidence was 33.3% at our institution. Lack of G-CSF prophylaxis and poor performance status were risk factors for FN in this setting. Use of G-CSF prophylaxis in patients with poor PS may help in decreasing FN incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) is the standard treatment regimen for malignant lymphoma. CHOP-induced neutropenia is a common clinical complication that often develops into life-threatening febrile neutropenia (FN). The incidence rate of FN in malignant lymphoma patients receiving a CHOP + rituximab regimen is approximately 10%–20% in clinical trials. Assessing FN-related factors in an individual hospital is an important step towards ensuring appropriate treatment. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the incidence, risk factors, and clinical features related to FN in our institution and to determine the rate of treatment success in FN patients receiving antibiotics. FN-related characteristics were investigated in 182 malignant lymphoma patients who were treated with the CHOP regimen between January 2013 and December 2018. All data were retrospectively collected from the electronic medical record system. Categorical factors were compared using the Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze FN-related risk factors. Among 182 patients, 79 (43.4%) were men. Median age was 67 years. Most patients (90.7%) had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) of 0–2. We noted 80 FN episodes in 60 patients (33.0%). On multivariate analysis, lack of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) prophylaxis in cycle 1 and poor PS were significantly associated with FN occurrence. Documented infections were observed in case of 35 FN episodes (43.8%), and median fever duration was 3 days. Treatment was successful without any modifications in case of 64 episodes (80%). No deaths were observed. FN incidence was 33.3% at our institution. Lack of G-CSF prophylaxis and poor performance status were risk factors for FN in this setting. Use of G-CSF prophylaxis in patients with poor PS may help in decreasing FN incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]