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The treatment of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) would be greatly facilitated with a rapid method for determining prognosis that can be performed more easily and earlier than cytological or specific pathological examinations. It has been suggested that newly diagnosed patients with DLBCL who have low maximum standard uptake value (SUV(max)) on (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) are more likely to be successfully treated and remain in remission compared with patients with high SUV(max), but this concept has been poorly studied. We retrospectively analyzed 50 patients with de novo DLBCL to evaluate the relationship between the SUV(max) and disease progression. For patients with low SUV(max) (n = 10) and high SUV(max) (n = 40) (P = 0.255), respectively, the 3-year overall survival rates were 90 and 72 %, and the progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 90 and 39 % (P = 0.012). By multivariate analysis, the revised International Prognostics Index (R-IPI) and SUV(max) at diagnosis were shown to predict longer PFS. The 3-year PFS for patients with low SUV(max) classified into the good prognosis group by R-IPI was 100 vs. 62 % for those with high SUV(max) (P = 0.161), and patients with low SUV(max) classified into the poor prognosis group by R-IPI was 80 vs. 18 % for those with high SUV(max) (P = 0.050). We conclude that the SUV(max) on FDG-PET for newly diagnosed patients with DLBCL is an important predictor of disease progression, especially for patients with poor prognosis by R-IPI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), which are established by in vitro infection of peripheral B-lymphocytes with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), are effective antigen-presenting cells. However, the ability of LCLs to present transduced tumor antigens has not yet been evaluated in detail. We report a single-step strategy utilizing a recombinant EBV (maxi-EBV) to convert B-lymphocytes from any individuals into indefinitely growing LCLs expressing a transgene of interest. The strategy was successfully used to establish LCLs expressing Wilms' tumor gene 1 (WT1) tumor antigen (WT1-LCLs), which is an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy. The established WT1-LCLs expressed more abundant WT1 protein than K562 leukemic cells, which are known to overexpress WT1. A WT1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte line efficiently lysed the WT1-LCL in a human leukocyte antigen-restricted manner, but poorly lysed control LCL not expressing WT1. These results indicate that the transduced WT1 antigen is processed and presented on the WT1-LCL. This experimental strategy can be applied to establish LCLs expressing other tumor antigens and will find a broad range of applications in the field of cancer immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adoptive transfer of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells has been shown to have therapeutic effects in experimental graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) models. Chemokines play an important role in the recruitment of alloreactive donor T cells into target organs during GVHD. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of targeted delivery of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells via a transfected chemokine receptor on reduction of organ damage during acute GVHD. High levels of expression of Th1-associated chemokines (CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11) and their receptor CXCR3 were observed in the liver, lung and intestine of GVHD-induced recipient mice. Recipient mice that had undergone transfer of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ CXCR3-transfected T cells (CXCR3-Treg cells) showed significant amelioration of GVHD changes in the liver, lung and intestine in comparison with recipient mice that had received CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells (Treg cells) or naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. This was due to more pronounced migration of CXCR3-Treg cells and their localization for a longer time in Th1-associated chemokine-expressing organs, resulting in stronger suppressive activity. We succeeded in preparing chemokine receptor-expressing Treg cells and demonstrated their ability to ameliorate disease progression upon accumulation in target organs. This method may provide a new therapeutic approach for organ damage in acute GVHD.Gene Therapy (2008) 15, 171–182; doi:10.1038/sj.gt.3303051; published online 8 November 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) develops via multiple oncogenic steps in human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) carriers. To better understand pathogenesis of ATL, we developed a novel xenogeneic engraftment model in which primary ATL cells are intravenously transplanted into neonatal nonobese diabetic (NOD)/severe-combined immunodeficiency (SCID)/β2-microglobulinnull (NOD/SCID/β2mnull) mice. Acute-type ATL cells engrafted in the peripheral blood and in the lymph nodes of recipients at a high efficiency. Engrafted ATL cells were dually positive for human CD4 and CD25, and displayed patterns of HTLV-I integration identical to those of donors by Southern blot analysis. These cells infiltrated into recipients' liver, and formed nodular lesions, recapitulating the clinical feature of each patient. In contrast, in smoldering-type ATL cases, multiple clones of ATL cells engrafted efficiently in NOD/SCID/β2mnull mice. When smoldering-type ATL cells were retransplanted into secondary NOD/SCID/β2mnull recipients, single HTLV-I-infected clones became predominant, suggesting that clones with dominant proliferative activity can be competitively selected in this xenogeneic system. Taken together, the NOD/SCID/β2mnull newborn system is useful to understand kinetics, metastasis, and disease progression of ATL in vivo.Leukemia (2005) 19, 1384–1390. doi:10.1038/sj.leu.2403829; published online 16 June 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although CD4+ helper T lymphocytes have been demonstrated to play an important role in antitumor immune response, only a few epitopes of tumor-associated antigens recognized by HLA class II-restricted CD4+ T lymphocytes have been identified. In the present study, we addressed the question of whether leukemia-associated fusion proteins are recognized by CD4+ T lymphocytes. Immature dendritic cells (DCs) were loaded with necrotic or apoptotic leukemia cells with t(6;9) or t(9;22) and then cocultured with the dek-can fusion peptide-specific or the bcr-abl fusion peptide-specific CD4+ T lymphocyte clone. The dek-can peptide-specific and bcr-abl peptide-specific CD4+ T lymphocyte clones produced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) when they were cocultured with HLA-DR-matched but not with mismatched DCs which had been loaded with apoptotic as well as necrotic leukemia cells with t(6;9) and t(9;22), respectively. IFN-γ production by CD4+T lymphocyte clones in response to stimulation with DCs loaded with leukemia cells was inhibited by the anti-HLA-DR monoclonal antibody. These data indicate that the acute myelogenous leukemia-associated fusion protein, dek-can, and chronic myelogenous leukemia-associated fusion protein, bcr-abl, are both processed and presented by DCs to the fusion peptide-specific CD4+ T lymphocytes.Leukemia (2002) 16, 2400–2407. doi:10.1038/sj.leu.2402742 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

.The aim of this study was to examine the short-term effect of lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) on body composition and other nutritional indicators in 28 patients with emphysema underwent thoracoscopic LVRS. Functional tests, body weight (BW), and body composition were measured before and 6 months after surgery. Mean daily caloric intake (CI) was estimated by 3-day dietary record as well. Fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) were assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). FEV[sub 1.0] and Vo[sub 2max] have improved after LVRS by 35.2% and 23.8%, respectively. Preoperatively, 75% of patients were underweight (% ideal body weight (%IBW) <90) with the mean %IBW at 84.5%. BW, CI, and FFM increased significantly after LVRS, whereas FM was unchanged. The change in BW correlated significantly with the change in FEV[sub 1.0] , MVV, and Vo[sub 2max] (p < 0.01) but not with CI. Bilateral LVRS results in an increase in FFM and functional improvement for underweight patients with severe emphysema, and it may contribute to the improvement in maximal exercise capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient were measured in a temperature range of 320–1073 K for sintered samples of Bi2Sr2Ca1 − xY xCu2O y ( x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0). It has been found that the conduction behavior changes from n-type metallic to p-type semiconducting with increasing yttrium concentration. The power factors were in a range of 1.7–3.0 × 10−5 Wm−1 K−2 for the sample with x = 0.8, being maximized by the optimization of the yttrium concentration. The thermal conductivity for the sample with x = 0.8 was 0.73 Wm−1 K−1 at 310 K, and decreased with increasing temperature. The values of thermoelectric figure of merit were estimated to be in a range of 3.4–4.8 × 10−5 K−1 at temperatures of 320–673 K for the sample with x = 0.8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 1.6-kbp full-length cDNA for the Aspergillus oryzae enolase gene ( enoA) was cloned. The sequenced insert contained a continuous open reading frame of 1314 bp encoding a protein of molecular weight 47 405. Among all enolases sequenced to-date, the deduced amino-acid sequence showed the highest homology (74.9%) with Candida albicans enolase ( ENO1). Strong codon biases and multiple transcription start sites downstream from CT-blocks in the 5′-flanking region suggested strong expression. enoA mRNA was found to occupy approximately 3% (w/w) of total mRNA of A. oryzae by quantitative RT-PCR. This strong transcription was dependent on the carbon source in the medium and correlated with the growth rate of the mycelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with a study on the geomechanical behavior of the rock mass around the tunnel. The Convergence Confinement Analysis is one of the most appropriate way to estimate this behavior. Elasto-plastic models proposed by Hoek and Brown, Egger and Kastner were adopted in this study. Measurements of the preceding displacement were performed in a road tunnel in Japan, the geology of which is Neogene squeezing mudstone. The measured data was compared with the results of Convergence Confinement Analysis. The preceding displacement was about 40% against the upper bench face converged displacement and 17% against the final converged displacement. Meanwhile, it increased drastically in lower bench excavation step. Back analysis was also executed to calculate the extension of the plastic zone of the rock mass, which was half of that estimated by Convergence Confinement Analysis in upper bench excavation step. But, in lower bench excavation step, the results of the two analyses were very similar. The support pressure and support stiffness were also calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary:A 61-year-old man with angioimmunoblastic lymphoma in first complete remission underwent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. At 1 month post transplant, asymptomatic large granular lymphocytosis developed. The surface marker profile of the cells was CD3+CD8+CD56-CD57+. The disease course was chronic and indolent. The patient remains in complete remission from angioimmunoblastic lymphoma more than 6 months post transplant with persistent large granular lymphocytosis (lymphocyte count, 5-15 × 109/l). Although post transplantation T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders have mostly occurred in allogeneic transplantation recipients and presented as aggressive lymphomas/leukemias, we suggest that chronic indolent T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia can occur after autologous stem cell transplantation.Bone Marrow Transplantation (2004) 33, 99-101. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1704298 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a postthymic T-cell neoplasm with a characteristic morphology and heterogeneous immunophenotype. Most cases of T-PLL express membrane T-cell receptors (TCRs) of the αβ phenotype. We experienced a 30-year-old man suffering from TCRγδ T-cell leukemia with morphology compatible to T-PLL with a postthymic phenotype. He was admitted with skin eruption and pancytopenia. Peripheral blood and bone marrow were occupied with medium-sized lymphocytes, which had moderately condensed chromatin with a single nucleolus and sparse, nongranular basophilic cytoplasm. The immunophenotype was CD1a–, CD2–, CD3+, CD4–, CD5+, CD7+, CD8–, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase negative. Hepatosplenomegaly was absent. He was diagnosed as having T-PLL and was treated with combination chemotherapy. Six months later the leukemic cell became chemoresistant. Although the patient showed transient improvement in response to pentostatin, he died 13 months after the diagnosis. To our knowledge, this is the first case of T-PLL with a TCRγδ phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare post-thymic T-cell neoplasm which shares most clinical features with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). We measured serum level of C-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein (C-PTHrP) in patients with T-PLL and ATL. Serum C-PTHrP levels of eight patients with T-PLL (median 36.8 pmol/l; range 27.0-50.2 pmol/l) did not differ from those of 30 human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-seronegative blood donors (median 37.0 pmol/l; range 22.6-54.0 pmol/l). The C-PTHrP levels in ten ATL patients (median 69.6 pmol/l; range 42.5-899.4 pmol/l) were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (p<0.0001) or T-PLL patients (p=0.001). We suggest that the serum level of PTHrP can provide useful information for differentiating between T-PLL and ATL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]