Search

Abstract: BCR/ABL-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare disease, characterized by a poor prognosis, with resistance to induction chemotherapy and frequent relapses in responsive patients. Here we report a case of BCR/ABL-positive AML-M6 who, after relapse, was treated with Imatinib Mesylate (600mg/die) and within 4 months achieved a cytogenetic and molecular complete response. After more than 4 years of continuous Imatinib therapy, nested RT-PCR for BCR/ABL is persistently negative. The case reported shows that the response obtained with Imatinib Mesylate in BCR/ABL-positive AML may be long lasting, offering a chance of successful treatment for this poor prognosis group of patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Many biological and inflammatory markers have been proposed as having a prognostic value at diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), but very few have been validated in paediatric patients. We explored the significance of these markers in a large population of 769 affected children. Patients and methods: By using the database of patients enrolled in A.I.E.O.P. (Associazione Italiana di Emato-Oncologia Pediatrica) trial LH2004 for paediatric HL, we identified 769 consecutive patients treated with curative intent from 1st June 2004 to 1st April 2014 with ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine), or hybrid COPP/ABV (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, procarbazine, doxorubicin, bleomycin and vinblastine) regimens. Results: On multivariate analysis with categorical forms, the 5-year freedom from progression survival was significantly lower in patients with stage IV or elevated value of platelets, eosinophils and ferritin at diagnosis. Furthermore, stage IV and eosinophils seem to maintain their predictive value independently of interim (after IV cycles of chemotherapy) positron emission tomography. Conclusion: Using the combination of four simple markers such as stage IV and elevated levels of platelets, ferritin and eosinophils, it is possible to classify the patients into subgroups with very different outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: To investigate the rate of platelet thromboxane (TX) biosynthesis and its determinants in Alzheimer''s disease. Methods and results: A cross-sectional comparison of urinary 11-dehydro-TXB2 and 8-iso-prostaglandin (PG)F2α (markers of in vivo platelet activation and lipid peroxidation, respectively), plasma Vitamin E, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6, was carried-out in 44 Alzheimer patients and 44 matched controls. To investigate the cyclooxygenase (COX)-isoform involved in TXA2 biosynthesis, nine Alzheimer patients were treated with low-dose aspirin (100mg/d) or rofecoxib (25mg/d) for 4 days. Urinary 11-dehydro-TXB2 and 8-iso-PGF2α were significantly higher in Alzheimer patients than in controls (Median: 1983.5 versus 517.5pg/mg creatinine and 938.5 versus 304.0pg/mg creatinine, p <0.0001, respectively), with a significant correlation between the two metabolites (ρ =0.75, p <0.0001). An inverse correlation was observed between Vitamin E and both urinary metabolites (8-iso-PGF2α: R s =−0.51, p =0.0004; 11-dehydro-TXB2: R s =−0.44, p =0.0026) in Alzheimer patients. No difference was found in CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 levels between the two groups. Urinary 11-dehydro-TXB2 was significantly reduced by aspirin, but not by rofecoxib, consistently with a COX-1-mediated TXA2 biosynthesis. 8-iso-PGF2α excretion was not modified by either COX-inhibitor, consistently with its oxygen radical-catalyzed formation. Conclusions: Platelet activation is persistently enhanced in Alzheimer''s disease. This is related, at least in part, to increased lipid peroxidation associated with inadequate levels of Vitamin E. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]