Myeloid-derived suppressor cells level and expression in de novo acute myeloid leukemia

BackgroundAcute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia occurring in adults. It is an aggressive myeloid neoplasm with maturation arrest of myelopoiesis, leading to an accumulation of myeloblasts in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. ObjectiveTo evaluate alterations in myeloid-derived suppressor cells level and gene expression in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia concerning disease characteristics and response to induction chemotherapy. Patients and methodsThe study was performed on 50 AML patients and 50 healthy controls. Detection of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in peripheral blood was performed by mononuclear separation and flow cytometry. gene expression was performed by RNA extraction, reverse transcription, and real-time PCR at Hematology Department Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University. ResultsWe have demonstrated that AML patients had both increased presence of MDSCs in peripheral blood as well as MUC1 overexpression in comparison to normal controls. MDSCs showed a significant correlation regarding response to induction chemotherapy on day 28. While MDSCs and not MUC1 are associated with inferior response to induction chemotherapy on day 28. ConclusionThe current data suggested that AML patients exhibit an increased presence of MDSCs as well as gene overexpression in comparison with normal controls. While MDSCs showed a significant correlation regarding response to induction chemotherapy on day 28, MDSCs and not MUC1 are associated with inferior response to induction chemotherapy on the same day

PCR: a sensitive diagnostic tool for Trypanosoma evansi in camels in Egypt

Camel Trypanosomiasis, or Surra, or El Debab as better known, caused by Trypanosoma evansi constitutes an economically important disease that affects the health and production of camels. Two-hundred and ninety-five samples from camels of different ages and sexes were collected from five geographic locations in Egypt (Behera, Cairo, South Sinai, Matrouh, Halayeb and Shalateen). Giemsa-stained smears that were prepared from blood samples were examined microscopically, while PCR coupled with DNA sequencing was applied for molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis. Microscopic and molecular findings revealed a prevalence of 0.34% and 50.51% in the examined camels through stained blood smears and PCR techniques, respectively. T. evansi is enzootic in Egypt, and the PCR technique could preferably be applied in surveillance studies as a more sensitive detection method