Search

Objectives: Treatment of essential thrombocythemia (ET) is particularly challenging in pregnancy due to the increased risk of thromboembolic complications. Therefore, the use of antithrombotic regimens are recommended in pregnant women with ET. Methods: The study included 52 pregnancies in 27 patients diagnosed with ET, who were treated in Department of Haematology. The influence of anticoagulant, antiplatelet and cytoreductive therapy on the course and outcome of pregnancy was analysed. This study also examined if there was any correlation between molecular and clinical features such as mutational profile, blood count, presence of acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AvWS), the International Prognostic Score for Essential Thrombocythemia (IPSET) risk group and the IPSET-thrombosis risk group and pregnancy outcome. Results: Study participants who received antithrombotic therapy were significantly more likely to give birth to a healthy child. The best outcomes were observed in patients who received low dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) together with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). There was a statistically significant correlation between classification to the high-risk group according to the IPSET-thrombosis score and incidence of miscarriage. Cytoreductive treatment with interferon-α2, as well as the presence of AvWS did not increase the likelihood of pregnancy loss. Blood counts and presence of specific gene mutations profile were also not found to be significant determinants of pregnancy outcome. Conclusion: To our best knowledge, this is the first clinical study investigating the correlation between risk group (according to IPSET and IPSET-thrombosis) and pregnancy outcome in women with ET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The PIM2 gene belongs to the PIM family, which encodes serine/threonine kinases involved in cell survival and apoptosis. The relation between the expression of the PIM2 gene and the course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has not been fully determined. Objectives. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of the PIM2 gene as a marker of CLL malignancy and its importance as a predictive and prognostic factor. Material and methods. Sixty-seven patients, 35 females and 32 males, aged 49-90 years, with de novo CLL, and 14 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Expression of the PIM2 gene was analyzed using TaqMan RQ-PCR assay and western blot test. Results. Median PIM2 gene expression in CLL patients was higher than in controls. Patients with high expression of the PIM2 gene had shorter progression-free survival and time to first treatment than patients with low PIM2 expression. It was found that patients with CR had lower expression of the PIM2 gene than patients without complete remission (CR). Notably, associations between high PIM2 expression and rapid lymphocyte doubling time, the percentage of malignant lymphocytes with ZAP70 expression and the Rai stage were revealed. Conclusions. We found that the PIM2 gene is associated with a more aggressive clinical course of CLL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The GRP78 (glucose-regulated protein 78) is a major endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone facilitating proper folding of the newly synthesized proteins. By the interaction with caspases, GRP78 has antiapoptotic properties allowing cells to survive under stress condition. GRP78 expression and its association with tumor proliferation, metastasis and resistance to chemotherapy were observed in solid tumors. There are limited data on the expression and impact of this protein on the clinical course and treatment response in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of GRP78 mRNA in patients with de novo AML. These results were compared to healthy controls, blast phenotype, molecular and cytogenetic status and clinical features of AML. 101 non-M3 AML patients and 26 healthy individuals were included in this study. The expression of GRP78 mRNA in bone marrow was analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR). We demonstrated increased GRP78 mRNA expression in AML patients compared to healthy controls, although this difference was statistically significant only in CD34 leukemias. There was also no significant correlation between GRP78 mRNA expression and complete remission rate, relapse-free survival and overall survival. These results indicate that GRP78 expression is increased in CD34 leukemias and has no prognostic impact on clinical outcome in AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: PIM-2 is a protooncogene that encodes for a serine/threonine kinase that interacts with various signaling molecules. PIM-2 is highly expressed in neoplastic tissues and in leukemic and lymphoma cell lines, which is consistent with its role during oncogenic transformation. The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway appears to be deregulated in a variety of tumors, with sustained activity of NF-κB leading to apoptotic resistance in tumor cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether expression of PIM-2 and NF-κB is altered in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lmyphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Patientsand methods:One hundred fortythree patients were included: 91 with AML and 52 with ALL, aged 18-84 (median 46.7). Eightythree patients (51 AML and 32 ALL) reached complete remission (CR). Bone marrow samples were collected at the time of diagnosis. Control samples were obtained from 24 healthy donors. We analyzed PIM-2 and NF-κB expression by RQ-PCR analysis. Results:Expression of both PIM-2 and NF-κB genes in all leukemic patients and both subgroups AML and ALL was significantly higher than in controls. AML patients who reached CR expressed PIM-2 and NF-κB at significantly lower levels than patients with primary resistance to chemotherapy who did not reach CR (NCR). Survival analysis revealed that in AML patients, higher expression of PIM-2 was related to significantly shorter patients' overall survival (OS). Conclusion: Our data indicate that increased expression of PIM-2 and NF-κB genes may be involved in patho-genesis of AML and ALL. Moreover, high PIM-2 expression could be associated with CR rate and OS in AML patients [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the phospholipid concentration in acute leukemia (AL) blast cells from peripheral blood (PBMC) and bone marrow (BMMC). In vitro 31P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (31P MRS) was used. The integral intensities of the resonant peaks and the phospholipid concentrations in PBMC and BMMC were analyzed. Differences in the phospholipid concentrations in cells from myeloblastic or lymphoblastic lines were also evaluated. This investigation was carried out on phospholipid extracts from PBMC and BMMC from 15 healthy volunteers and 77 patients with AL (samples taken at the moment of diagnosis). A significant decrease in sphingomyelin (SM) and phosphtidylserine (PS) was observed in the PBMC of patients with AL relative to the results for the healthy volunteers. For ALL, we found a significant decrease in the concentration of phosphatidylcholine plasmalogen (CPLAS), SM, PI+PE (phosphatidylinositol + phosphatidylethanolamine) and PS in comparison with the results for healthy volunteers and patients with AML. Experiments with BMMC cells revealed a significant decrease in the concentration of CPLAS, SM, PI+PE, and PS in ALL relative to AML. Additionally, a significant decrease in phosphatidylcholine (PC) concentration was observed in ALL compared to AML. If the phospholipid extracts were taken simultaneously from the same patient, there were no significant differences in the integral intensities and phospholipid concentrations between PBMC and BMMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the changes in PAF concentrations in the plasma, PBMC and BMMC of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). The plasma was from 23 healthy volunteers (HV) and 44 patients with AL (16 ALL, 28 AML). The PBMC were from 15 HV and 55 patients with AL (18 ALL, 37 AML), and the BMMC from 40 patients with AL (11 ALL, 29 AML). Methanol-chloroform phospholipid extraction from 60 × 106 cells (PBMC or BMMC) was performed according to a modified version of Folch’s method. 31P MRS data was obtained on an AMX 300 Bruker spectrometer (7.05 T). The PAF concentration in the plasma of the patients with ALL or AML was lower than that for the healthy volunteers. The PAF concentration in the plasma of the patients with ALL did not differ significantly from that of the patients with AML. In the case of both the PBMC and BMMC, the PAF concentration was significantly diminished in patients with ALL relative to the concentration for those with AML and for the healthy volunteers. No differences were observed in the PAF concentrations for the AML patients and the healthy volunteers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]