Emergence of new clonal chromosomal abnormality (CCA) has been reported in Philadelphia-negative cells in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) undergoing the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment. However, the time of emergence and clinical significance of CCA remains to be elucidated. In this study, we report a CML patient undergoing TKI treatment who developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) after 206 months since the diagnosis of CML. Results of droplet digital PCR performed with serial bone marrow samples revealed that monosomy 7 in Philadelphia-negative cells appeared at the time of MDS development that did not exist initially at the time of CML diagnosis.

Emergence of new clonal chromosomal abnormality (CCA) has been reported in Philadelphia-negative cells in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) undergoing the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment. However, the time of emergence and clinical significance of CCA remains to be elucidated. In this study, we report a CML patient undergoing TKI treatment who developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) after 206 months since the diagnosis of CML. Results of droplet digital PCR performed with serial bone marrow samples revealed that monosomy 7 in Philadelphia-negative cells appeared at the time of MDS development that did not exist initially at the time of CML diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Pleural effusion is a common clinical problem and many clinical and laboratory evaluations, such as tumor marks, have been studied to discriminate malignant pleural fluid from benign pleural fluid. However their usefulness in the diagnosis of pleural effusion is still not established fully. We studied the diagnostic value of cyfra 21-1 in diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion. METHODS: Pleural fluid was obtained from 45 patients with malignant diseases(32 lung cancer patients, 13 metastatic malignant diseases) and 47 patients with benign diseases. The level of cyfra 21-1 in the pleural fluid and serum were determined using a CYFRA 21-1 enzyme immunoassay kit(Cis-Bio International Co.). The t-test was used for comparison between two diseases groups and receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves were constructed by calculating the sensitivities and specificities of the cyfra 21-1 at several points to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the cyfra 21-1. RESULTS: In patients with primary lung cancer, the level of cyfra 21-1 in the pleural fluid was significantly higher than those of patients with benign diseases and had positive correlations between the level of cyfra 21-1 in the pleural fluid and serum levels. In the ROC curve analysis of the pleural fluid, the curve for primary lung cancer group was located closer to the left upper corner and the cut off value, sensitivity and specificity of the cyfra 21-1 of the primary lung cancer group was determined as 22.25ng/ml, 81.8% and 78.7% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicates that the measurement of cyfra 21-1 level in pleural effusion has useful diagnostic value to discriminate malignant pleural effusion in primary lung cancer from benign pleural effusion.
Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Lung Neoplasms ; Pleural Effusion* ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; ROC Curve

Leukotriene B4(LTB4), derived from arachidonic acid, is a potent chemotactic agent and activating factor for hematopoietic cells. In addition to host defense in vivo, several eicosanoids have been reported to be involved in stem cell differentiation or proliferation. In this study, we investigated the effect of LTB4 on human cord blood CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). LTB4 was shown to induce proliferation of HSC and exert anti-apoptotic effect on the stem cells. Blockade of interaction between LTB4 and its receptor enhanced self-renewal of the stem cells. Effect of LTB4 on differentiation of CD34+ HSCs were confirmed by clonogenic assays, and induction of the expression of BLT2 (the low- affinity LTB4 receptor), during the ex vivo expansion was confirmed by reverse transcription-PCR. Our results suggest that LTB4-BLT2 interaction is involved in the cytokine-induced differentiation and ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells.
Antigens, CD34/metabolism ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Fetal Blood/cytology/drug effects ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells/*drug effects/metabolism ; Humans ; Leukotriene B4/*pharmacology ; Receptors, Leukotriene B4/genetics/metabolism ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Signal Transduction

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There are few data on the effects of low hemoglobin levels on the left ventricle (LV) in patients without heart disease. The objective of this study was to document changes in the echocardiographic variables of LV structure and function after the correction of anemia without significant cardiovascular disease. METHODS: In total, 34 iron-deficiency anemia patients (35 +/- 11 years old, 32 females) without traditional cardiovascular risk factors or cardiovascular disease and 34 age- and gender-matched controls were studied. Assessments included history, physical examination, and echocardiography. Of the 34 patients with anemia enrolled, 20 were followed and underwent echocardiography after correction of the anemia. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the anemia and control groups in LV diameter, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), left atrial volume index (LAVI), peak mitral early diastolic (E) velocity, peak mitral late diastolic (A) velocity, E/A ratio, the ratio of mitral to mitral annular early diastolic velocity (E/E'), stroke volume, and cardiac index. Twenty patients underwent follow-up echocardiography after treatment of anemia. The follow-up results showed significant decreases in the LV end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters and LVMI, compared with baseline levels. LAVI, E velocity, and E/E' also decreased, suggesting a decrease in LV filling pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Low hemoglobin level was associated with larger cardiac chambers, increased LV, mass and higher LV filling pressure even in the subjects without cardiovascular risk factors or overt cardiovascular disease. Appropriate correction of anemia decreased LV mass, LA volume, and E/E'.
Adult ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/blood/diagnosis/*drug therapy/physiopathology ; Biological Markers/metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Female ; Heart Ventricles/*physiopathology/ultrasonography ; Hematinics/*therapeutic use ; Hemoglobins/metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Recovery of Function ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; *Ventricular Function, Left ; *Ventricular Pressure ; *Ventricular Remodeling ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Fetal Blood

No abstract available.
Fetal Blood

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and neutrophil appear to contribute to the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Elastase, as well as reactive oxygen species released from activated neutrophil, are thought to play pivotal roles in the experimental models of acute lung leak. This study investigated whether ICI 200,355, a synthetic elastase inhibitor, can attenuate acute lung injury induced by IL-1 in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We intratracheally instilled either saline or IL-1 with and without treatment of ICI 200,355 in rats. Lung lavage neutrophils, lung lavage cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant(CINC) concentration, lung lavage protein concentration, lung myeloperoxidase(MPO) activity and lung leak index were measured at 5 hours of intratracheal treatment. RESULTS: In rats given IL-1 intratracheally, lung lavage neutrophils, lung lavage CINC concentration, lung lavage protein concentration, lung MPO activity and lung leak index were higher. Intratracheal ICI 200,355 administration decreased lung lavage neutrophils, lung MPO activity and lung leak index, respectively, but did not decreased lung lavage CINC concentration. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ICI 200,355 decreases lung inflammation and leak without decreasing lung lavage CINC concentration in rats given IL-1 intratracheally.
Acute Lung Injury* ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Interleukin-1* ; Leukocyte Elastase* ; Lung ; Models, Theoretical ; Neutrophils* ; Pancreatic Elastase ; Pneumonia ; Rats* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and neutrophil appear to contribute to the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Elastase, as well as reactive oxygen species released from activated neutrophil, are thought to play pivotal roles in the experimental models of acute lung leak. This study investigated whether ICI 200,355, a synthetic elastase inhibitor, can attenuate acute lung injury induced by IL-1 in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We intratracheally instilled either saline or IL-1 with and without treatment of ICI 200,355 in rats. Lung lavage neutrophils, lung lavage cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant(CINC) concentration, lung lavage protein concentration, lung myeloperoxidase(MPO) activity and lung leak index were measured at 5 hours of intratracheal treatment. RESULTS: In rats given IL-1 intratracheally, lung lavage neutrophils, lung lavage CINC concentration, lung lavage protein concentration, lung MPO activity and lung leak index were higher. Intratracheal ICI 200,355 administration decreased lung lavage neutrophils, lung MPO activity and lung leak index, respectively, but did not decreased lung lavage CINC concentration. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ICI 200,355 decreases lung inflammation and leak without decreasing lung lavage CINC concentration in rats given IL-1 intratracheally.
Acute Lung Injury* ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Interleukin-1* ; Leukocyte Elastase* ; Lung ; Models, Theoretical ; Neutrophils* ; Pancreatic Elastase ; Pneumonia ; Rats* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult

BACKGROUND: Smoking is the most important and consistent determinant of the development and progression of COPD(Ed Note : Define COPD). The fact that cigarette smokers develop a different type of COPD, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, with different clinical and pathological aspects, suggests that the development of COPD has a relationship with other smoking-associated factors beyoud just a simple smoking history. The aim of this was to analyze the smoking habits and history of patients with COPD and to evaluate the development of different types of COPD accordint to patient's smoking habits. METHOD: To evaluate the differences in the smoking patterens of patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema, a pulmonary function test was conducted, and the smoking history and patterns was obtained through a smoking history questionnaire by a direct personal interview from 333 male cigarette smokers diagnosed with COPD, in the Yeungnam university medical center(190 patients diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, 143 patients diagnosed with emphysema). RESULT: The patients with emphysema smoked earlier and had a higher smoking history(ie, more pachyears, more total amounts of smoked cigarette, and more deep inhalation and longer duration of plain cigarette exposure) than those with chronic bronchitis. The depth of ingalation was also significantly higher in the emphysema patients after taking into account age, cumulative cagarette consumption and the type of cigarette smoked. CONCLUSION: Emphysema was more associated with the increasing degree of inhalation as assessed by the depth of inhalation. A high alveolar smoke exposure may be a significant risk factor for the development of emphysema.
Bronchitis, Chronic* ; Emphysema* ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Male ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Risk Factors ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products