No abstract available.
Myeloid Cells*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive*

No abstract available.
Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Bone Marrow/pathology ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate/therapeutic use ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Multiple Myeloma/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Platelet Count ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Thrombocytosis/etiology

BACKGROUND: Blood CD4+ T-lymphocyte (T4) count is a major clinical marker for the diagnosis and management of AIDS, and flow cytometry is considered the gold standard for T4 enumeration. Our aim was to compare the 2-color and 4-color flow cytometric methods for T-cell subset analysis in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: T-cell subsets such as T3, T4, T8, and CD3+CD4-CD8- double negative T cells (DN T) were analyzed from the whole blood of 40 HIV-infected patients by using both 2-color and 4-color methods on a Cytomics FC500 analyzer. Statistical analyses using simple linear regression, paired t-tests, and Bland-Altman plots were performed. RESULTS: The measured T3 (%), T4 (%), T4 (/microL), T8 (%), T8 (/microL), and DN T (%) differed significantly between the 2 methods (P<0.05), whereas the T4/T8 ratio did not. T3 (%), T4 (%), T4 (/microL), T8 (%), T8 (/microL), and T4/T8 measured by the 2 methods showed good correlation, with correlation coefficients above 0.96, whereas DN T (%) did not. The mean differences in T4 (%) and T8 (%) were 0.39% (limit of agreement (LoA), -1.64~2.43) and 1.26% (LoA, -3.37~5.89), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although there were statistically significant differences in the T cell subsets measured between the 2 methods, the differences were minor, and the 2 methods showed good correlation. As confirmed in this study, DN T (%) estimated by the 2-color method is lower than the actual value. We suggest that although the 2 methods can be used interchangeably, the 4-color method is recommended for the analysis of some specific subpopulations such as DN T (%).
Biomarkers ; Flow Cytometry ; HIV ; Humans ; Linear Models ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; T-Lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) can be life threatening, necessitating emergency therapy with prompt diagnosis by morphologic findings, immunophenotyping, cytogenetic analysis, or molecular studies. This study aimed to assess the current routine practices in APL and the clinico-pathologic features of APL. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 48 Korean patients (25 men, 23 women; median age, 51 (20-80) years) diagnosed with APL in 5 university hospitals between March 2007 and February 2012. RESULTS: The WBC count at diagnosis and platelet count varied from 0.4 to 81.0 (median 2.0)x10(9)/L and 2.7 to 124.0 (median 54.5)x10(9)/L, respectively. The median values for prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were 14.7 (11.3-44.1) s and 29 (24-62) s, respectively. All but 2 patients (96%) showed a fibrin/fibrinogen degradation product value of >20 microg/mL. The D-dimer median value was 5,000 (686-55,630) ng/mL. The t(15;17)(q22;q12 and PML-RARA fusion was found in all patients by chromosome analysis and/or multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), with turnaround times of 8 (2-19) d and 7 (2-13) d, respectively. All patients received induction chemotherapy: all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) alone (N=11, 26%), ATRA+idarubicin (N=25, 58%), ATRA+cytarabine (N=3, 7%), ATRA+idarubicin+cytarabine (N=4, 9%). CONCLUSION: Since APL is a medical emergency and an accurate diagnosis is a prerequisite for prompt treatment, laboratory support to implement faster diagnostic tools to confirm the presence of PML-RARA is required.
Cytogenetic Analysis ; Emergencies ; Emergency Treatment ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Korea ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; Male ; Medical Records ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Count ; Prothrombin Time ; Tretinoin

BACKGROUND: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) can be life threatening, necessitating emergency therapy with prompt diagnosis by morphologic findings, immunophenotyping, cytogenetic analysis, or molecular studies. This study aimed to assess the current routine practices in APL and the clinico-pathologic features of APL. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 48 Korean patients (25 men, 23 women; median age, 51 (20-80) years) diagnosed with APL in 5 university hospitals between March 2007 and February 2012. RESULTS: The WBC count at diagnosis and platelet count varied from 0.4 to 81.0 (median 2.0)x10(9)/L and 2.7 to 124.0 (median 54.5)x10(9)/L, respectively. The median values for prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were 14.7 (11.3-44.1) s and 29 (24-62) s, respectively. All but 2 patients (96%) showed a fibrin/fibrinogen degradation product value of >20 microg/mL. The D-dimer median value was 5,000 (686-55,630) ng/mL. The t(15;17)(q22;q12 and PML-RARA fusion was found in all patients by chromosome analysis and/or multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), with turnaround times of 8 (2-19) d and 7 (2-13) d, respectively. All patients received induction chemotherapy: all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) alone (N=11, 26%), ATRA+idarubicin (N=25, 58%), ATRA+cytarabine (N=3, 7%), ATRA+idarubicin+cytarabine (N=4, 9%). CONCLUSION: Since APL is a medical emergency and an accurate diagnosis is a prerequisite for prompt treatment, laboratory support to implement faster diagnostic tools to confirm the presence of PML-RARA is required.
Cytogenetic Analysis ; Emergencies ; Emergency Treatment ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Korea ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; Male ; Medical Records ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Count ; Prothrombin Time ; Tretinoin

Many AML-associated chromosomal abnormalities, such as t(8;21), t(15;17), inv(16), t(9;11), t(9;22) and t(6;9) are well known. The chromosomal aberration of t(16;21)(p11;q22) in AML is rare and it is known to be associated with poor prognosis, young age (median age, 22 yr), and involvement of various subtypes of the French-American-British classification. We report here 2 AML patients with t(16;21)(p11;q22), proved by conventional cytogenetics and/or reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. Erythrophagocytosis by leukemic blasts was observed in both of the cases. One patient was a 24 yr-old male with acute myelomonocytic leukemia. His karyotype was 46,XY,t(16;21)(p11;q22),del(18)(p11.2) and RT-PCR revealed the TLS/FUS-ERG fusion transcripts. Although he received allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation after the first remission, he died 9 months after the initial diagnosis due to relapse of the disease and graft-versus-host disease. The other patient was a 72 yr-old male with acute myeloid leukemia without maturation. His karyotype was 45,XY,-16,add(21)(q22) and the presence of t(16;21)(p11;q22) was detected by RT-PCR. He was transferred to another hospital with no more follow-up. We suggest that the presence of t(16;21)(p11;q22) and/or TLS/FUS-ERG fusion transcripts has to be considered in cases of AML with erythrophagocytosis.
Aged ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16/*genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22/*genetics ; Graft vs Host Disease/diagnosis ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/diagnosis/*genetics ; Male ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/*genetics ; RNA-Binding Protein FUS/*genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Translocation, Genetic ; Young Adult

Gray platelet syndrome (GPS) is one of primary hemostatic disorders with characteristics of moderate bleeding tendency, thrombocytopenia, gray platelet on Wright-Giemsa stained smear and absence of platelet -granule. It is known to be mostly inherited by autosomal dominance but not all. We report a case of gray platelet syndrome diagnosed in a woman with bleeding tendency such as easy bruise and evaluate clinical usefulness of mean platelet component (MPC), mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet component distribution width (PCDW) using ADVIA 120 (Bayer Diagnostics, NY, USA).
Blood Platelets ; Contusions ; Female ; Gray Platelet Syndrome* ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostatic Disorders ; Humans ; Mean Platelet Volume ; Thrombocytopenia

BACKGROUND: Cyclosporine has a narrow therapeutic window and many serious side effects. The new oral microemulsion cyclosporine is known to have better absorption profile than non-microemulsion cyclosporine. The purpose of this study was to confirm above finding in stable renal transplant patients and also to compare correlation between AUC0-4 and C0, C2. METHODS: We checked the absorption profile of microemulsion cyclosporine group (N=15, ME group) and non-microeulsion cyclosporine group (N=15, NE group). All Patients had received renal transplantation at least 12 months before. Blood sampling for cyclosporine level was drawn before and at 1, 2, 3 hour after the cyclosporine morning dose (respectively C0, C1, C2 and C3). AUC0-4 was calculated with the formula: 256+C1+0.9xC2+1.4xC3. Age, sex, body weight, serum creatinine and cyclosporine dose were not different between ME group and NE group, but duration after transplantation was significantly higher in NE group (4.7+/-0.8 versus 3.0+/-1.9 year, p<0.05). RESULTS: AUC0-4 in ME group was significantly higher than NE group (2, 816+/-721 versus 2, 055+/-658 ng.h/mL, p<0.05). AUC0-4/dose, Cmax and Cmax/ dose were significantly higher in ME group. But these statistical differences were not consistent in both sexes. The difference of absorption profile between ME and NE group existed only in the female sex. In ME group, C1 correlated best with AUC0-4 (C0: r=0.493, C1: r=0.911, C2: r=0.906, C3: r= 0.789) and in NE group, C2 was the best (C0: r= 0.064, C1: r=0.958, C2: r=0.980, C3: r=0.912). CONCLUSION: Microemulsion cyclosporine is more bioavailable than non-microemulsion cyclosporine in stable renal transplant patients. C2 is better single time point marker for therapeutic drug monitoring in stable renal transplant patients than C0.
Absorption* ; Area Under Curve ; Body Weight ; Creatinine ; Cyclosporine* ; Drug Monitoring* ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Transplantation*

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulins exist in the serum, mostly in a union type of heavy and light chains. Free light chain types exist in an extremely small quantity and are useful in the diagnosis and follow up of multiple myeloma, but are also increased in autoimmune diseases such as SLE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the serum free light chain in discriminating between monoclonal and polyclonal gammopathy. METHODS: Between January and June of 2003, we identified 15 patients with monoclonal gammopathy and 12 patients with polyclonal gammopathy on serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) and immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE). We measured the serum concentration of the free light chain using Beckman Coulter IMMAGE(TM) analyzer with FREELITE(TM) reagents and calculated the kappa/lambda (kappa/lambda) ratio. We also measured the free light chain of 35 healthy controls to establish a reference range. RESULTS: The reference ranges established in this study were 4.97-12.84 mg/L for kappa light chains, 6.71-18.09 mg/L for lambda light chains, and 0.46-1.01 for the kappa/lambda ratio. The free light chains were abnormal in all 27 but 2 patients with polyclonal gammopathy on SPEP. The kappa/lambda ratio was abnormal in 12 of the 15 patients with monoclonal gammopathy and in none of the 12 patients with polyclonal gammopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the kappa/lambda ratio can be a useful tool to discriminate between monoclonal and polyclonal gammopathy, especially in the case of vague SPEP results, or when monoclonal gammopathy is suspected in SPEP.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Discrimination (Psychology)* ; Electrophoresis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunoassay* ; Immunoglobulins ; Indicators and Reagents ; Multiple Myeloma ; Paraproteinemias* ; Reference Values