(Oral) Ankaferd Blood Stopper in a Patient with Glanzmann Thrombasthenia

Background: Glanzmann Thrombasthenia (GT) is a genetic platelet dysfunction and a life threatening disease. Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) is a topical hemostatic agent of herbal origin which has been recently made available for clinical use. Its hemostatic effect is independent from blood clotting factors and occurs as a result of the aggregation of focal red blood cells by an encapsulated protein web.Case Report: In this paper, a patient with GT is presented in whom 3 months of gastrointestinal bleeding refractory to all medical therapies was controlled within a short time of using oral ABS.Conclusion: The difference between this patient and other cases presented in the medical literature is the oral use of ABS. Thus, this patient may contribute to the medical community in showing the safety and efficacy of systemic (oral) ABS in patients with disorders of coagulation. However, there is a need for more patient experiences

cyclophosphamide plus rhG-CSF

Cyclophosphamide along with recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) is a commonly used strategy for mobilization. However, the optimal timing for rhG-CSF initiation after cyclophosphamide has not been determined as conclusively as has the G-CSF dose. In this paper, we aimed to present gradual dose increment of rhGCSF between the third day of mobilization and time to apheresis that is started with 5 mu g/kg (from day 3 to day 7) and continued with 10 mu g/kg (from day 8 to time to apheresis) for peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization in multiple myeloma (MM) patients and its effect on stem cell yield and mobilization success. Data from 30 consecutive patients with MM who underwent PBSC mobilization between October 2011 and June 2013, were retrospectively reviewed. While twenty-eight of 30 patients (93.3%) were successfully mobilized, 2 patients (6.7%) had mobilization failure. The final median CD34+ cell dose harvested from the patients was 9.5 x 10(6)/kg. The median number of apheresis was 2.5 (range, 0-3). Twenty-four patients (80%) yielded >2 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg in one apheresis procedure. In conclusion, our regimen might be used to decrease the mobilization failure regarding the low dose rhG-CSF use and provide a cost effective strategy. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Kaposi's sarcoma and Merkel cell carcinoma

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia often has a clinical presentation characterised by increased neoplastic lymphocytes which are mostly mature looking due to B lymphocytes. Increased secondary cancer prevalence has been detected among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia diagnosis. In this report, we present three chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients who developed secondary rare cancers during their follow-up at our clinic. Case 1: A 54-year-old female patient was diagnosed with stage I chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in 2003 and was diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma in February 2013. Case 2: A 66-year-old male patient was diagnosed with stage II chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in 2009 and was diagnosed with Kaposi's sarcoma in March 2013. Case 3: A 77-year-old male patient was diagnosed with stage I chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in 2006 and was diagnosed with Kaposi's sarcoma in 2011. In conclusion, secondary cancers are observed in patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Therefore, follow-up of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia requires additional attention in this context

Two rare diagnoses during chronic lymphocytic leukaemia follow-up: Kaposi's sarcoma and Merkel cell carcinoma.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia often has a clinical presentation characterised by increased neoplastic lymphocytes which are mostly mature looking due to B lymphocytes. Increased secondary cancer prevalence has been detected among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia diagnosis. In this report, we present three chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients who developed secondary rare cancers during their follow-up at our clinic. Case 1: A 54-year-old female patient was diagnosed with stage I chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in 2003 and was diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma in February 2013. Case 2: A 66-year-old male patient was diagnosed with stage II chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in 2009 and was diagnosed with Kaposi's sarcoma in March 2013. Case 3: A 77-year-old male patient was diagnosed with stage I chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in 2006 and was diagnosed with Kaposi's sarcoma in 2011. In conclusion, secondary cancers are observed in patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Therefore, follow-up of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia requires additional attention in this context

The effect of pneumatic tube system on complete blood count parameters and thrombocyte donation in healthy donors.

This paper is the first report whether or not pneumatic tube system affects the selection of apheresis donors according to the results of complete blood count. According to the apheresis guidelines, hemoglobin level must be ≥12.5g/dL and platelet level ≥150/μL to be a donor. Paired blood samples of 26 healthy volunteers were transported by either hand delivered or a pneumatic tube system to the laboratory. No statistically significant differences were observed in order to mean values of routine complete blood cell count and white cell differential parameters that were send for selection of apheresis donor before the procedure. Therefore, all healthy volunteers decided as a donor according to the laboratory results independent from transport method

myeloma

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the procedure and product kinetics differ according to age groups in advanced-age MM patients who underwent autologous HSCT. 59 patients who underwent autologous HSCT were retrospectively analyzed. Then, the patients were divided into two groups as 60-65 years and >= 65 years. It was significantly lower in >= 65 years group (p=0.008) and proportionally, the procedure duration was also significantly shortened in this group (p=0.013). Total number of collected CD34 positive stem cells was 6.20 x 106 (+/- 3.83) in 60-65 years group while it was 5.51 x 106 (+/- 2.48) in >= 65 years group with no statistically significant difference. (p=0.825). In conclusion, there was no significant difference in terms of the number of collected CD34-positive stem cells in this study that investigates the mobilization data, procedure and product kinetics, we think that successful stem cell mobilization can be performed in appropriately selected patients regardless of age. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Lymphomas

Background: Myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MYD88) is a common adaptor protein that is responsible for signaling from several receptors; mutations in this gene may play a role in the pathogenesis of lymphoma. Aim: We aimed to determine the MYD88 L265P mutation frequency, the level of MYD88 expression, and their associations with clinicopathological parameters in mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). Methods: A total of 68 patients were included in the study. The presence of the MYD88 L265P mutation was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. MYD88 protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using two different scoring systems. Results:MYD88 L265P mutation was present in eight (18.6%) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. We also observed a significant association between the loss of MYD88 expression and advanced stage in both mature B-cell NHL and DLBCL according to the first IHC scoring systems (p=0.015 and p=0.024, respectively). An association was also seen between MYD88 overexpression and low clinical risk in both mature B-cell NHL and DLBCL according to the second IHC scoring system (p=0.027 and p=0.024, respectively). Conclusions: The L265P mutation may be helpful for understanding the pathogenesis of immune-privileged site-associated DLBCLs. The presence of the mutation, together with its protein overexpression, could also be used as a prognostic marker in advanced stage DLBCLs

Lymphoma: Does It Affect the Progression and Tissue Involvement?

Objective: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma among adults and is characterized by heterogeneous clinical, immunophenotypic, and genetic features. Different mechanisms deregulating cell cycle and apoptosis play a role in the pathogenesis of DLBCL. Growth arrest DNA damage-inducible 45 (GADD45 gamma) is an important gene family involved in these mechanisms. The aims of this study are to determine the frequency of GADD45 gamma methylation, to evaluate the correlation between GADD45 gamma methylation and protein expression, and to investigate the relation between methylation status and clinicopathologic parameters in DLBCL tissues and reactive lymphoid node tissues from patients with reactive lymphoid hyperplasia.Materials and Methods: Thirty-six tissue samples of DLBCL and 40 nonmalignant reactive lymphoid node tissues were analyzed in this study. Methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting analysis was used for the determination of GADD45 gamma methylation status. The GADD45 gamma protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry.Results: GADD45 gamma methylation was frequent (50.0%) in DLBCL. It was also significantly higher in advanced-stage tumors compared with early-stage (p=0.041). In contrast, unmethylated GADD45 gamma was associated with nodal involvement as the primary anatomical site (p=0.040).Conclusion: The results of this study show that, in contrast to solid tumors, the frequency of GADD45 gamma methylation is higher and this epigenetic alteration of GADD45 gamma may be associated with progression in DLBCL. In addition, nodal involvement is more likely to be present in patients with unmethylated GADD45 gamma

autologous stem cell transplantation?

Central venous access is often used during apheresis procedure in stem cell collection. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether central or peripheral venous access has an effect on stem cell yield and the kinetics of the procedure and the product in patients undergoing ASCT after high dose therapy. A total of 327 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The use of peripheral venous access for stem cell yield was significantly more frequent in males compared to females (p = 0.005). Total volume of the product was significantly lower in central venous access group (p = 0.046). As being a less invasive procedure, peripheral venous access can be used for stem cell yield in eligible selected patients. (c) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved