Background: This study established sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematological parameters, including the monocyte distribution width (MDW), in Korean adults and assessed the need for separate RIs according to sex in older adults. Methods: Hematological parameters were measured using a DxH 900 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) on 328 peripheral blood samples from 124 men and 204 women aged 19–93 years. Results: The RIs for white blood cells, red blood cells (RBCs), Hb, Hct, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocyte percentage, and neutrophil, eosinophil, lympho­cyte, and monocyte counts differed significantly by sex (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume was significantly positively associated with age, whereas RBC and platelet counts were significantly negatively correlated with age in both men and women. Age-based analysis revealed significant shifts in the RBC parameters beginning at 60 years of age in men and 70 years of age in women. The MDW did not show significant differences according to sex or age. Conclusions This study supports the use of sex-specific RIs and highlights the importance of considering age when interpreting results regarding hematological parameters in clinical practice.

Background: This study established sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematological parameters, including the monocyte distribution width (MDW), in Korean adults and assessed the need for separate RIs according to sex in older adults. Methods: Hematological parameters were measured using a DxH 900 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) on 328 peripheral blood samples from 124 men and 204 women aged 19–93 years. Results: The RIs for white blood cells, red blood cells (RBCs), Hb, Hct, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocyte percentage, and neutrophil, eosinophil, lympho­cyte, and monocyte counts differed significantly by sex (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume was significantly positively associated with age, whereas RBC and platelet counts were significantly negatively correlated with age in both men and women. Age-based analysis revealed significant shifts in the RBC parameters beginning at 60 years of age in men and 70 years of age in women. The MDW did not show significant differences according to sex or age. Conclusions This study supports the use of sex-specific RIs and highlights the importance of considering age when interpreting results regarding hematological parameters in clinical practice.

Background: This study established sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematological parameters, including the monocyte distribution width (MDW), in Korean adults and assessed the need for separate RIs according to sex in older adults. Methods: Hematological parameters were measured using a DxH 900 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) on 328 peripheral blood samples from 124 men and 204 women aged 19–93 years. Results: The RIs for white blood cells, red blood cells (RBCs), Hb, Hct, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocyte percentage, and neutrophil, eosinophil, lympho­cyte, and monocyte counts differed significantly by sex (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume was significantly positively associated with age, whereas RBC and platelet counts were significantly negatively correlated with age in both men and women. Age-based analysis revealed significant shifts in the RBC parameters beginning at 60 years of age in men and 70 years of age in women. The MDW did not show significant differences according to sex or age. Conclusions This study supports the use of sex-specific RIs and highlights the importance of considering age when interpreting results regarding hematological parameters in clinical practice.

Background: This study established sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematological parameters, including the monocyte distribution width (MDW), in Korean adults and assessed the need for separate RIs according to sex in older adults. Methods: Hematological parameters were measured using a DxH 900 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) on 328 peripheral blood samples from 124 men and 204 women aged 19–93 years. Results: The RIs for white blood cells, red blood cells (RBCs), Hb, Hct, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocyte percentage, and neutrophil, eosinophil, lympho­cyte, and monocyte counts differed significantly by sex (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume was significantly positively associated with age, whereas RBC and platelet counts were significantly negatively correlated with age in both men and women. Age-based analysis revealed significant shifts in the RBC parameters beginning at 60 years of age in men and 70 years of age in women. The MDW did not show significant differences according to sex or age. Conclusions This study supports the use of sex-specific RIs and highlights the importance of considering age when interpreting results regarding hematological parameters in clinical practice.

Background: This study established sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematological parameters, including the monocyte distribution width (MDW), in Korean adults and assessed the need for separate RIs according to sex in older adults. Methods: Hematological parameters were measured using a DxH 900 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) on 328 peripheral blood samples from 124 men and 204 women aged 19–93 years. Results: The RIs for white blood cells, red blood cells (RBCs), Hb, Hct, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocyte percentage, and neutrophil, eosinophil, lympho­cyte, and monocyte counts differed significantly by sex (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume was significantly positively associated with age, whereas RBC and platelet counts were significantly negatively correlated with age in both men and women. Age-based analysis revealed significant shifts in the RBC parameters beginning at 60 years of age in men and 70 years of age in women. The MDW did not show significant differences according to sex or age. Conclusions This study supports the use of sex-specific RIs and highlights the importance of considering age when interpreting results regarding hematological parameters in clinical practice.

Background: Plasma cell myeloma (PCM) is caused by immune dysregulation. We evaluated the expression of immune checkpoint programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) on T cell subsets in PCM patients according to disease course and cytogenetic abnormalities.This study aimed to find a target group suitable for therapeutic use of PD-1 blockade in PCM. Methods: A total of 188 bone marrow (BM) samples from 166 PCM patients and 32 controls were prospectively collected between May 2016 and May 2017. PD-1 expression on BM T cell subsets was measured using flow cytometry. Results: At diagnosis, the median PD-1 expression on CD4+ T cells was 24.6%, which did not significantly differ from that in controls. After stem cell transplantation, PD-1 expression on CD4+ T cells was higher than that at diagnosis (P < 0.001), regardless of residual disease. PD-1 expression on CD4+ T cells in patients with residual disease after chemotherapy was significantly higher than that at diagnosis (P = 0.001) and after complete remission following chemotherapy (P = 0.044). PD-1 expression on CD8+ T cells was higher in PCM patients with cytogenetic abnormalities, including monosomy 13, 1q gain, complex karyotype, and hypodiploidy. Conclusions PD-1 blockade might have therapeutic potential in refractory PCM patients after chemotherapy, especially in those with high- or intermediate-risk cytogenetic abnormalities.

No abstract available.
B-Lymphocytes* ; Bone Marrow* ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Lymphoma, T-Cell* ; T-Lymphocytes*

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the frequency and characteristics of HLA-DR⁻/CD34⁻ acute myeloid leukemia (AML) also known as acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)-like AML. METHODS: This study included 683 newly diagnosed patients with AML. After exclusion of 211 patients with recurrent genetic abnormalities, one with acute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis, two with myeloid leukemia associated with Down syndrome, and two devoid of metaphase cells, we classified the remaining 467 patients as follows: group 1, HLA-DR⁺/CD34⁺ (typical AML); group 2, HLA-DR⁺/CD34⁻ or HLA-DR⁻/CD34⁺; group 3, APL-like AML. RESULTS: Group 1 comprised 294 patients, group 2 comprised 133, and group 3 comprised 40. Therefore, the frequency of APL-like AML among 683 unselected patients with AML was 5.9%. Group 3 patients had significantly higher leukocyte counts and bone marrow (BM) blast percentages, higher frequencies of normal karyotypes and NPM1 mutation, higher fractions of CD33-positive cells, higher concentrations of fibrin degradation products and D-dimers, lower frequencies of complex karyotypes, monosomal karyotypes and poor cytogenetic risk, lower fractions of CD13-positive cells, and lower fibrinogen concentrations, compared with group 1 patients. The values of the BM blast percentage, number of CD33-positive cells, and DIC score of the patients with APL-like AML were intermediate between those of the patients with typical AML and APL. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that APL-like AML is not uncommon, and it has characteristics distinguishable from those of typical AML. APL-like AML may have some pathophysiological relationships with APL, which need further investigation.
Bone Marrow ; Cytogenetics ; Dacarbazine ; Down Syndrome ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; Fibrinogen ; HLA-DR Antigens* ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Leukemia, Myeloid ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute* ; Leukocyte Count ; Metaphase ; Primary Myelofibrosis