Search

The skin manifestations of monoclonal(M)-proteinemia are rare and present in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), smoldering plasma cell myeloma (SMM) and multiple myeloma (MM). In this study, we reported 4 cases with M-proteinemia-related rare skin lesions, including pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), erythema elevatum diutinum (EED), cutis laxa (CL) and lichen myxedematosus(LM). These skin lesions are specific, where the potential mechanism was immune-mediated paraneoplastic syndrome rather than direct plasma cell infiltration. Anti-plasma cell treatment was effective in treating skin lesions. The clinical outcome of MM-related skin changes was correlated to tumor control, whereas the prognosis of MGUS or SMM related skin lesions was favorable. Skin involvement in M-proteinemia is extremely rare and less well-known, which greatly impairs quality of life. The diagnosis and treatment of these 4 cases support the need for futher study.

At the end of 2022, a huge tide of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection mainly Omicron BA.4/5 developed in China. Multiple myeloma (MM) patients suffered cancer deterioration and mortality from COVID‐19, yet profound analyses of Omicron variants‐induced immunity function are scarce. We presented a longitudinal study in 218 MM patients and 73 healthy controls (HCs), reporting the prognostic factors and dynamic humoral and cellular immune responses. Neutralizing antibody and interferon γ ELISpot assay of SARS‐CoV‐2 was tested at three time points: 2–4, 8–10, and 14–16 weeks after infections. Our data showed older age, active MM, relapsed/refractory MM (R/RMM), immunotherapy, comorbidity, and non‐vaccination were risk factors associated with hospitalization. Severe humoral immunity impairment within 2–4 weeks was especially seen in patients with unvaccinated, older age, immunotherapy, R/RMM and comorbidities, while T‐cell response was relatively intact. Although antibodies of Omicron variants reached positive levels in MM patients at 8–10 weeks, half lost effective antibody protection at 14–16 weeks. However, most seronegative patients (76.2% at 2–4 weeks, 83.3% at 8–10 weeks) could develop effective T‐cell response. Notably, the inactivated wild‐type vaccinated patients exhibited weaker humoral and cellular immunity only at 2–4 weeks, escalating to similar levels as those in HCs later. Our findings indicate impairment of humoral immunity at acute‐phase after infection is the major factor correlated with hospitalization. One‐month suspension of immune therapy is suggested to prevent serious infection. These results confirm the value of inactivated vaccine, but indicate the need for additional booster at 14–16 weeks after infection for high‐risk MM population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Conclusion To study the cytogenetic characteristics of extramedullary disease (EMD) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and their impact on prognosis.Patients with newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Beijing, China) between June 2007 and December 2019 were recruited for this study. Demographic information, clinical data, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results of marrow and tissue samples, and survival outcome data were collected.A total of 439 patients with NDMM were divided into those without EMD (non‐EMD, n = 339), those with EMD with primary paraosseous plasmacytoma (pEMD‐B, n = 48), those with primary EMD with soft‐tissue involvement (pEMD‐S, n = 33), and those with secondary EMD (sEMD, n = 19). The incidence of EMD was 18.5% (81/439) at diagnosis and 22.8% (100/439) throughout the disease course. Comparison of FISH results showed a higher proportion of RB1 deletion (n = 20; 60.0% vs. 20.0%, p = .013) and MYC translocation (n = 12; 44.4% vs. 12.5%, p = .041) in the extramedullary tissues than in the paired bone marrow samples. At diagnosis, the percentage of MYC translocations in the sEMD group was notably higher than that in the non‐EMD group (55.6% vs. 15.5%, p = .012). The median overall survival (OS) of patients with pEMD‐S (32 months) and sEMD (17 months) was significantly shorter (both p = .001) than that of non‐EMD patients (60 months).Soft‐tissue EMD can be considered a high‐risk condition, even in the era of novel agents. MYC translocation can serve as a valuable marker that correlates with extramedullary spread and relapse in patients with MM and should be considered for inclusion in routine FISH panels in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Principal component analysis, literature review, expert interview, questionnaire and other methods are used to identify, screen and classify the core competitiveness elements of Chinese women s volleyball team. The results show that the core competitiveness index of the Chinese women s volleyball team is composed of four first--level indicators, 10 second-level indicators and 37 third--level indicators. With the help of principal component analysis, the weight value of the core competitiveness factors is determined, and the indexes of the core competitiveness of Chinese women s volleyball team in Rio Olympic cycle are analyzed. It is found that the core competitiveness of Chinese women s volleyball team has obvious dynamic characteristics. With the passage of time, its core competitiveness is bound to change dynamically. Suggestions: the core competitiveness of the coaching skills of the coaches of Chinese women s volleyball team should be attached importance; "all-around, interdisciplinary" players athletes should be cultivated; the construction of women's volleyball reserve teams at all levels should be put a high premium; and the advantages of the whole nation system should be given a full play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between serum albumin level and clinical outcomes has been reported for several hematological malignancies. Our study aimed to identify the relationship between serum albumin level at the time of diagnosis and subsequent clinical outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) other than acute promyelocytic leukemias (APLs). A total of 243 patients with de novo non-M3 AML were enrolled in this study. Variables including gender, age, serum albumin, white blood cell (WBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb), platelet (PLT) count, blasts at peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM), immunophenotype and cytogenetics at diagnosis, BM response after one course of chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) treatment were studied. We found that normal albumin level (serum albumin >3.5 g/dL) was significantly associated with superior overall survival (HR = 0.375, p <.001) and leukemia-free survival (HR = 0.411, p <.001). These results demonstrate that albumin could serve as a simple, cheap, and objective prognostication factor in refinement of AML regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]