Leukemia blast cell identification

Acute leukemia is a heterogeneous group of disorders, characterized by different laboratory and prognostic features. An adequate diagnosis of acute leukemia, based on the identification of a leukemic cell population and the hematopoietic lineage assessment, is the first goal toward defining correct risk stratification of patients and tailoring specific therapies to patients. Diagnosis of acute leukemia underwent an important change since the 1970s when the only available diagnostic tools were cytomorphology and cytochemistry. Nowadays, the development of modern techniques and their combined use in a multimodal approach lead to a better identification and sub-classification of acute leukemia. Thus, blast identification in acute leukemia required a comprehensive global approach, by combining cytomorphology, cytochemistry, multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC), cytogenetic, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and molecular genetic methods. At least, new sequencing technologies, such as gene expression profiling (GEP) and whole-genome sequencing, DNA methylation arrays, and comparative genomic hybridization array, could represent the new frontiers in the characterization of genetic heterogeneity in acute leukemia. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2015, 5:74-85. doi: 10.1002/widm.1146 For further resources related to this article, please visit the

Suspected Case of Drug-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome following Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Treatment

In this article, we reported the case of a child patient who was admitted to our PICU for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) while being treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) for osteomyelitis. Based on the timing of exposure, lack of alternative explanations, and clinical course similar to previously described cases, we suspect that TMP-SMX may have triggered ARDS. Despite meeting criteria for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation, conservative management and lung recruitment with high-frequency percussive ventilation could avoid the latter