Despite the link between HCV and malignant lymphoproliferative disorders has been established, the association between occult hepatitis C virus infection and malignant lymphoproliferative disorders remains obscure. The present study intended to identify the possible association between occult HCV infection and malignant lymphoproliferative disorders. Newly diagnosed patients with LPDs were screened for the presence of HCV-RNA in both plasma and PBMCs. PBMCs of the subjects were also, examined by transmission and immuno-electron microscopy. LPD patients showed a high percentage of HCV infection (71.9%): OCI-HCV (37.5%) and HCV (34.38%). Meanwhile, 28.13% of LPD patients did not show any evidence of HCV infection. Ultrastructural examination of PBMCs revealed the presence of intracytoplasmic vacuoles enclosing viral like particles, which were less prominent in occult HCV patients. The possibility of occult HCV should be considered in patients with LPDs which can be helpful in the management of the treatment protocol in order to set up a balance between the control of the tumor progression and minimizing post chemotherapy complications related to HCV infection.
Background
Canonical wingless-type (Wnt) signaling is a crucial pathway involved in normal hematopoiesis and the self-renewal process of hematopoietic stem cells. Deregulation of this pathway has been associated with different subtypes of leukemia. Lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF-1) is a major transcription factor of this pathway and plays a pivotal role in lymphoid differentiation and granulopoiesis. High LEF-1 expression has been reported as a prognostic marker in several types of adult hematological malignancies. We aimed to assess the prognostic utility of LEF-1 expression in adult de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) Egyptian patients in continuation of our previous work. LEF-1 expression was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 30 adults with newly diagnosed AML and remeasured at day 28 after induction therapy with the assessment of remission status.
Results
Patients were classified according to median expression level into high and low LEF-1 expression groups. LEF-1 levels were dramatically decreased following successful induction therapy. Also, high LEF-1 expression patients had a better response to therapy with better overall survival. ROC curve analysis of LEF-1 expression yielded a cutoff value of < 10.11 log10 (sensitivity of 90.48% and specificity of 100%) for predicting poor outcome. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that for every log10 increase in the LEF-1 expression level, the chance of the patient to achieve hematological remission was increased by 2.29 folds.
Conclusion
Our study showed preliminary results that overexpression of LEF-1 is a favorable prognostic factor in newly diagnosed adult AML patients. The prognostic value of LEF-1 could suggest its utility for further risk classifications of AML and potentiality for being a target for therapy.
Background
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hemoglobinopathy characterized by hemolytic anemia, increased susceptibility to infections and vaso-occlusion leading to reduced quality of life and life expectancy. SCD is caused by a point mutation in a single gene, which results in a mutant β-globin protein (HbS), in which the sixth amino acid is changed from glutamic acid to valine. In the homozygous and some compound heterozygous states, deoxygenated HbS molecules form polymers, which damage the red cell membrane and increase its rigidity.
Aim of the Work
to study the AGE levels in sickle cell patients and determine its relationship to the presence of SCD-related organ complications, in addition to exploring the association of AGE levels to other clinical and laboratory data.
Patients and Methods
This study was conducted on 40 Sickle cell patients, including sickle cell anemia (HbSS) and compound heterozygous states. In addition to 20 race, sex, and age matched healthy control subjects will also be included. They were recruited from patients attending Pediatric Hematology Clinic, Pediatric Hospital, Ain Shams University from September 2017 to September 2018. A verbal informed consent was taken from all patients.
Results
A statistically significant difference was found between SC patients and control group as regards their CBC data; including TLC, which showed a significant statistical difference being higher in patients group (P < 0.001).
Conclusion
Plasma levels of pentosidine and CML are increased and associated with haemolysis and haemolysis-related organ complications in sickle cell patients, suggesting that AGEs might be implicated in vascular damage and chronic organ complications in SCD. Measurement of these AGEs might be useful in assessing disease severity and predicting organ complications in SCD.
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