No abstract available.
Anemia, Aplastic* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute*

No abstract available.
Lymphoma*

Lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor in gastric cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) is a lymphangiogenic growth factor that activates VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-3, a receptor expressed in the lymphatic endothelium. We investigated the clinical value of VEGF-D expression and VEGFR-3 positive vessel density in gastric carcinoma with regard to lymphangiogenesis. Immunohistochemical staining was used to determine the expression of VEGF-D and VEGFR- 3 in specimens from 104 cases of resected gastric cancer. VEGF-D expression was observed in 62.5% of the gastric cancers and in 9.6% of the non-neoplastic gastric tissue. The VEGFR-3-positive vessel density was significantly greater in the VEGFD positive group than the negative group. VEGF-D expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, increased serum CEA levels, and the nonsignet ring cell type. The VEGFR-3-positive vessel density was correlated with tumor size, lymphatic invasion, and lymph node metastasis. The VEGF-D expression and high VEGFR-3-positive vessel density were significant poor prognostic factors for relapse-free survival. These results suggest that VEGF-D and VEGFR-3-positive vessel density are potential molecular markers that predict lymphatic involvement in gastric carcinoma.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms/*blood supply/chemistry/*pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D/*analysis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3/*analysis

Chronic infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) without previous immunodeficiency or immuno-suppressive therapy is relatively rare. Severe chronic active EBV (SCAEBV) infection was reported for the first time in 1984 as 'chronic mononucleosis syndrome', and diagnostic criteria were proposed. It is characterized by clinical features including fever, severe hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, hematologic features such as anemia and thrombocytopenia, and elevated antibody titers to EBV. We experienced a 21-year-old woman who initially presented with fever and chronic fatigue; however, no definite diagnosis could be made at the time of admission. Three months after the initial admission, there was evidence of only splenomegaly and the patient had persistent, multiple, paraaortic lymphadenopathies in abdominal CT. Diagnostic splenectomy was performed, and SCAEBV infection with T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder was ultimately diagnosed.
Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/*complications/*diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders/*diagnosis/pathology/virology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Splenectomy ; *T-Lymphocytes ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Primary adrenal lymphoma is extremely rare. We describe a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of diffuse large B-cell type with right adrenal involvement. The patient received chemotherapy and external irradiation and achieved complete remission of the disease. We describe the case of primary adrenal lymphoma with a review of the literature on this unusual neoplasm. Primary adrenal lymphoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of adrenal mass.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/*diagnosis/therapy ; Human ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell/*diagnosis/therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Twenty male patients with Korean hemorrhagic fever were evaluated with thrombelastography (TEG) to assess the changes in coagulation system, and the results were compared with those of conventional coagulation tests. Procoagulant activity in the plasma was determined by comparing the reaction time "r" of the normal plasma and that of the mixture of equal parts of the normal plasma and the patient's plasma. The TEG was found to be a useful measure of the changes in the coagulation profile, and provided instant accurate assessment of the patient's hemostatic function. Presence of the procoagulant activity was demonstrated in the plasma of the patients and indicated occurrence of active intravascular coagulation during the early stage of the disease.
Adult ; Blood Coagulation ; Blood Coagulation Factors/*analysis ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome/*blood ; Humans ; Male ; *Thrombelastography

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder with a prolonged clinical course. Since this disorder is considered to be at increased risk of thromboembolism, therapy is mainly focused on the decreased risk of thrombohemorrhagic events by use of cytotoxic agents. Anagrelide is a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor which is utilized in the treatment of ET for the reduction of platelets. However, patients treated with anagrelide might experience cardiovascular adverse effects including myocardial infarction (MI), although these events are rare. Herein, we report a case of a 30-year-old female with well controlled ET by anagrelide, who eventually developed an acute non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI). There has no found any cardiovascular risk factors in this ET patient, strongly suggesting that anagrelide might be the cause of MI. Therefore, cardiovascular function should be monitored in those patients prescribed with anagrelide.
Adult ; Blood Platelets ; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 3 ; Cytotoxins ; Female ; Humans ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; Myocardial Infarction ; Quinazolines ; Risk Factors ; Thrombocythemia, Essential ; Thromboembolism

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL/AML- M3) is a distinct subtype of acute myelogenous leukemia, which is characterized by unique morphologic, cytogenetic, molecular, and clinical features. In almost all APL patients, a characteristic t(15;17)(q22;q21) is found, resulting from the fusion of the PML gene and retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR ) gene. This chromosomal translocation in APL may present variant translocations, and may be associated with secondary chromosomal abnormalities. The most frequent accompanying karyotypic aberration is trisomy 8 in APL. We are reporting a case of a 17-year-old woman who was diagnosed with APL. Cytogenetic study revealed that 46, XX, del(5)(q23)/47, XX, del(5)(q23), +8 chromosomal abnormality but without t(15;17). However, the presence of PML/RAR chimera was found with reverse transcriptase PCR. It is well known that the association of trisomy 8 on top of t(15;17) in APL cases. However, in our review, the mosaicism of del(5)(q23) with trisomy 8 in APL might be the first case. Whether this patient will behave the typical APL cases having good prognosis or not will be interesting to see.
Adolescent ; Chimera ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute* ; Mosaicism ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Retinoic Acid ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Translocation, Genetic ; Trisomy

BACKGROUND: This study was done to assess the feasibility of dendritic cell generation from murine bone marrow and the efficacy of dendritic cells pulsed with total RNA to induce specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response against leukemic cells. METHODS: Nucleated cells of inbred BALB/c mice were obtained and cultured with granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce dendritic cells. Total RNA of WEHI-3BD+, a myelomonocytic leukemia cell line from BALB/c, was transfected into the dendritic cells using liposome. RNA pulsed dendritic cells were irradiated and administered to the BALB/c mice intraperitoneally and splenic T lymphocytes were harvested. After restimulation with leukemic cells, T cell proliferation and specific cytotoxicity was assessed. RESULTS: Cells cultured with GM-CSF and lipopolysaccaride were found to have prominent dendritic processes. The percentage of cells showing high expression of both MHC class II and CD80, CD86, or CD11c was 69.6 %, 63.7%, and 41.8%, respectively. T cells stimulated by WEHI-3BD+ total RNA pulsed dendritic cells using DOTAP showed enhanced proliferation than those stimulated by total RNA or media only (P=0.05). When T cells were cocultured with WEHI-3BD+ as target cells, T cells stimulated by WEHI-3BD+ total RNA pulsed dendritic cells using DOTAP showed much increased cytotoxicity than controls. CONCLUSION: Dendritic cells pulsed with total leukemic RNA could stimulate T cells to induce specific cytotoxic effect.
Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Colony-Stimulating Factors ; Dendritic Cells* ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Leukemia ; Liposomes ; Lymphocytes ; Mice ; RNA* ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic*

PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of radiofrequency (RF) thermal ablation with combined chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic liver tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A non-randomized, comparative study was performed in 21 patients with metastatic liver tumors. Inclusion criteria were that these should be less than five in number and less than 6 cm in diameter. Two groups were designed for comparison of the local and remote (new intrahepatic or extrahepatic) tumor control rate (Group A: RF alone, n=11; Group B: RF+combined chemotherapy, n=10). There was no significant difference in age, sex, and mass size between the two groups (p>0.05). All ablations were performed percutaneously with a 50W RF generator and 15G-needle electrode (RITA Medical System Inc.) under US guidance. In group B, six cycles of systemic chemotherapy were performed every month immediately after RF ablation. Follow-up CT scans were obtained within 24 hours of ablation and were compared with the findings of pre-ablation CT scanning. If an ablated lesion covered the mass without any residual enhancing foci, this was defined as complete ablation. Three and six months after ablation, local and remote tumor control rates were compared between the two groups (follow up: range 4 -17 (mean, 10.2) months. RESULTS: In group A, the local tumor control rate was 43.8% (7/16) and 31.2% (5/16) at 3 and 6 months follow-up, respectively, while in group B, the corresponding rates were both 75% (15/20). At three months, the difference in this rate between the two groups was not significantly different (p>0.05), but at 6 months there was significant difference (p<0.05). At 6 months follow-up, the remote tumor control rate for Group A and Group B was 27.3% (3/11) and 80.0% (8/10), respectively, reflecting a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In patients with metastatic liver tumor, radiofrequency thermal ablation with combined chemotherapy may be superior to RF thermal ablation alone for both local and remote tumor control.
Drug Therapy* ; Electrodes ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed