To assess the influence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV)-induced immunodeficiency on the clinical, radiographic, and pathologic features of disseminated tuberculosis (TB), we studied 79 patients presenting in 1984 through 1987 with miliary or focal disseminated disease due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as well as 4 additional non-HIV patients diagnosed after 1987. Clinically defined acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex (ARC) was present in 51 (Group 1). A total of 20 had TB unrelated to HIV disease (Group 2). The remaining 12 were excluded because the role of HIV could not be determined. Clinical features were similar between groups aside from younger age; lower hemoglobin, total leukocyte, lymphocyte, and platelet counts; and more frequent tuberculin anergy (90 versus 40%) in AIDS/ARC patients (p less than or equal to 0.03). Chest radiographs showed a miliary pattern in about half of each group. Pleural effusion occurred only in AIDS/ARC patients (24%, p = 0.02), but intrathoracic lymphadenopathy was present in about a third of each group. Tissue biopsies (n = 70) usually revealed necrotizing granulomatous inflammation in each group, with a tendency to greater necrosis and more numerous acid-fast bacilli in Group 1. Granulomas were usually poorly formed in AIDS/ARC patients (59 versus 18%, p = 0.01). Autopsy of 9 AIDS/ARC patients with overwhelming miliary TB revealed a "nonreactive" histologic pattern with poorly organized or absent granulomas, extensive necrosis, and numerous bacilli. HIV-related disseminated TB causes a major constitutional illness with a high short-term mortality (25%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Radiotherapy is the primary form of treatment in patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma. However for residual disease in the form of the persistent lymph nodes, surgery or chemotherapy is recommended. As surgery is not acceptable by every patient and chemotherapy has associated side effects, we hereby report the positive outcome of in vitro expanded natural killer cell and activated T lymphocyte based autologous immune enhancement therapy (AIET) for the residual lymphadenopathy in a patient with locally advanced cervical cancer after radiation. After six transfusions of AIET, there was complete resolution of residual lymph nodes and there was no evidence of local lesion. The patient also reported improvement in quality of life. As AIET has been reported as the least toxic among the available therapies for cancer, combining AIET with conventional forms of therapy in similar patients might not only improve the outcome but may also help the patients achieve a good quality of life.

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Abstract. Cancer stem cells in breast cancer migrating to the bone marrow may cause future metastasis, particularly during periods of decreased immunity. Natural killer (NK) cells have a role in immune surveillance and are able to target cancer stem cells. The present study reported a case in which NK cell-based autologous immune enhancement therapy was used combined with conventional treatments in a patient with stage IIIA breast cancer, yielding >28 months of disease-free survival. However, there was a gradual decline in the in vitro expansion of NK cells with subsequent chemotherapeutic treatments. As this NK cell decline following chemotherapy may contribute to cancer cell immune evasion and future metastasis; modifying current cancer therapies in order to avoid potentially compromising the immune system may lead to improved treatment outcomes.

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