Hematology Commons^™

Transfection Of Human Platelets With Short Interfering Rna., Wei Hong, Altaf A Kondkar, Srikanth Nagalla, Wolfgang Bergmeier, Ying Jin, Jay Herman, Paul Bray

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

Platelets contain mRNAs and are capable of translating mRNA into protein, and it has been previously demonstrated that platelets increase their levels of integrin β3 overtime while in blood bank storage conditions. We are unaware of prior attempts to introduce nucleic acids into platelets. Considering the potential clinical and research utility of manipulating platelet gene expression, we tested whether small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) could be transfected into normal human platelets. Multiple conditions were tested, including lipofectamine versus electroporation, different amounts of siRNA, the effect of different buffers and the presence of plasma during transfection, and the time for optimal siRNA …

Randomized Phase Iii Trial Of Paclitaxel/Carboplatin With Or Without Pf-3512676 (Toll-Like Receptor 9 Agonist) As First-Line Treatment For Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer, Vera Hirsh, Luis Paz-Ares, Michael Boyer, Rafael Rosell, Gary Middleton, Wilfried Eberhardt, Aleksandra Szczesna, Pavel Reiterer, Mansoor Saleh, Oscar Arrieta

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

Purpose: This phase III study examined efficacy of the synthetic Toll-like receptor 9–activating oligodeoxynucleotide PF-3512676 in combination with standard paclitaxel/carboplatin chemotherapy in patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients and Methods: Chemotherapy-naive patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive up to six courses of paclitaxel/carboplatin (intravenous paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 and carboplatin at area under the [concentration-time] curve 6 on day 1 of a 3-week cycle) alone (control arm) or in combination with 0.2 mg/kg subcutaneous PF-3512676 on days 8 and 15 (investigational arm). Primary end point was overall survival (OS).

Results: Baseline demographics …

Sunitinib Plus Paclitaxel Versus Bevacizumab Plus Paclitaxel For First-Line Treatment Of Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer: A Phase Iii, Randomized, Open-Label Trial, Nicholas Robert, Mansoor Saleh, Devchand Paul, Daniele Generali, Laurent Gressot, Mehmet Copur, Adam Brufsky, Susan Minton, Jeffrey Giguere, John W. Smith Ii

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

Introduction: A multicenter, open-label phase III study was conducted to test whether sunitinib plus paclitaxel prolongs progression-free survival (PFS) compared with bevacizumab plus paclitaxel as first-line treatment for patients with HER2− advanced breast cancer.

Patients and Methods: Patients with HER2− advanced breast cancer who were disease free for ≥ 12 months after adjuvant taxane treatment were randomized (1:1; planned enrollment 740 patients) to receive intravenous (I.V.) paclitaxel 90 mg/m2 every week for 3 weeks in 4-week cycles plus either sunitinib 25 to 37.5 mg every day or bevacizumab 10 mg/kg I.V. every 2 weeks.

Results: The trial was terminated early …

Septic Shock: Current Management And New Therapeutic Frontiers, R. Phillip Dellinger, Md

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Presentations and Grand Rounds

No audio is available for this presentation.

Dr. R. Phillip Dellinger is a Professor of Medicine who holds a faculty appointment in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He is also the Vice-Chair, Department of Medicine and the Director, Medical/Surgical/Cardiovascular Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the Cooper Medical Center in Camden New Jersey. In 2006-2007, he was selected as South Jersey Top Docs by South Jersey Magazine. Dr. Dellinger's interests are in the treatment and outcomes of septic shock.

Incidence And Impact Of Baseline Electrolyte Abnormalities In Patients Admitted With Chemotherapy Induced Febrile Neutropenia., Asim Jamal Shaikh, Samira Ahmed Bawany, Nehal Masood, Ausaf Ahmed Khan, Ahmed Nadeem Abbasi, Syed Najeeb Niamutullah, Adnan Zaidi, Salman Adil, Shiyam Kumar

Section of Haematology/Oncology

Background: Febrile neutropenia (FN) and myelosupression remain a challenging oncologic medical emergency and dose limiting toxicity associated with chemotherapy for cancers. Various factors are known to affect the outcomes for Patients diagnosed with FN. Electrolyte abnormalities have commonly been observed, but the real incidence and their impact has been only scarcely studied in literature. Methods: This was a prospective, observational study. A total of two hundred and fifteen (215) Patients admitted between January 2007 and August 2008 were included. Analysis of data was made using SPSS version16.0. Toxicity profile was graded according to CTC version 3.0. Results: Almost equal number …

The Nurse's Knowledge Of Blood Conservation As A Part Of Blood Management, Lindsey Putnam Austin

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Medicine has historically regarded blood transfusion as an integral component of major surgery or illness. However, clinical studies have shown that allogeneic blood transfusions are associated with increased morbidity and decreased survival. Knowledge of this research and the concepts of blood conservation so as to avoid unnecessary blood transfusions is needed in order to deliver holistic care and serve as patient advocate. This knowledge reaches every specialty of nursing care.

This study of the nurse's knowledge of blood conservation as a part of blood management utilizes The Conservation Model developed by Myra E. Levine in 1973. Levine's work is a …

Identification Of Genes Involved In Hematopoietic Stem Cell Differentiation And Leukemia Differentiation And Leukemia, Jasjeet Bhullar

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Hematopoiesis is maintained by a proper balance between self renewal and multipotent differentiation of the hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is characterized by the blockage in the differentiation of HSC, while self renewal and proliferation is preserved. It is important to understand the mechanisms involved in the inhibition of hematopoietic differentiation and maintenance of the HSC state in order to develop better therapies for AML. In these studies I have explored the role of Hsp90, omega-3 fatty acids and YB-1 in hematopoietic differentiation. EML, a hematopoietic precursor cell line, was used as a model for the hematopoietic …

Eltrombopag For Management Of Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia (Raise): A 6-Month, Randomised, Phase 3 Study, Gregory Cheng, Mansoor Saleh, Claus Marcher, Sandra Vasey, Bhabita Mayer, Manuel Aivado, Michael Arning, Nicole Stone, James Bussel

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

Background: Eltrombopag is an oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist for the treatment of thrombocytopenia. We aimed to compare the response to once daily eltrombopag versus placebo in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia during a 6-month period.

Methods: We undertook a phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in adults with previously treated immune thrombocytopenia of more than 6 months’ duration who had baseline platelet counts lower than 30 000 per μL. Patients were randomly allocated (in a 2:1 ratio) treatment with local standard of care plus 50 mg eltrombopag or matching placebo once daily for 6 months. Randomisation was done centrally with a …

Pemetrexed With Or Without Matuzumab As Second-Line Treatment For Patients With Stage Iiib/Iv Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Joan Schiller, Joachim Von Pawel, Philipp Schütt, Rafat Ansari, Michael Bijoy Thomas, Mansoor Saleh, Robert D. Mccroskey, Wolfgang Pfeife, Thomas Marsland, Goetz Kloecker

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

Introduction: This randomized phase II study investigated pemetrexed in combination with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting monoclonal antibody matuzumab compared with pemetrexed alone as second-line therapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods: Patients received pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 every 3 weeks either alone (n = 50) or in combination with matuzumab at either 800 mg weekly (n = 51) or 1600 mg every 3 weeks (n = 47). The primary end point was objective response, as assessed by an independent review committee.

Results: Tumor EGFR expression was detected in 87% of randomized patients. The objective response rate …

Phase Iii, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Evaluation Of Pregabalin For Alleviating Hot Flashes, N07c1, Charles L. Loprinzi, Rui Qin, Ernie P. Baclueva, Donald J. Jurgens

Articles

PURPOSE:

Hot flashes are a common problem for which effective and safe treatments are needed. The current trial was conducted on the basis of preliminary promising data that pregabalin decreased hot flashes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial design was used to compare pregabalin at target doses of 75 mg twice daily and 150 mg twice daily with a placebo. Hot flash frequencies and scores (frequency times mean severity) were recorded daily during a baseline week and for six treatment weeks. The primary end point for this study was the change-from-baseline hot flash score during treatment week 6 …

Rhnull: A Rare Blood Group Phenotype, Adnan Qureshi, Muhammad Salman, Bushra Moiz

Section of Internal Medicine

Rhnull phenotype is a rare blood group characterized by the lack of expression of all Rh antigens (D, C, c, E and e) on the red cells. The phenotype is further classified into the regulator and amorph type based on underlying genetic defect. The clinical significance of its recognition is that such patients suffer from Rhnull syndrome associated with osmotically fragile red cells called stomatocytes with subsequent chronic haemolytic anaemia of varying degree. Another importance is that such subjects readily form alloantibodies on exposure to Rh antigens. We report herein rare Rhaull phenotype in a young pregnant female which was …

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Subsequent To Temozolomide Use In A 26-Year-Old Man: A Case Report., Asim Jamal Shaikh, Nehal Masood

Section of Haematology/Oncology

Introduction: We report the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a Patient in whom temozolomide was used for the treatment of a brain tumor. Unlike that of other alkylating agents, the leukemogenic potential of temozolomide is considered to be very low, and very rarely are such cases reported. Case Presentation: A 26-year-old Pakistani man who was treated for glioblastoma with temozolomide in an adjuvant setting was diagnosed to have acute lymphoblastic leukemia one year after stopping temozolomide. Conclusion: Temozolomide is a highly active agent, used in the management of high-grade brain neoplasms. The agent is generally regarded to be safe, …

Successful Use Of Rituximab In Evans Syndrome And Refractory Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Muhammad Kashif, Adnan Qureshi, Salman Naseem Adil, Mohammad Khurshid

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Immune cytopenias are mediated by auto-antibodies produced by B-lymphocytes. Conventional treatment of immune-mediated haematological disorders includes immunosuppression with steroids and other immune modulating therapies and in some refractory cases, splenectomy. Response rates to conventional and second-line agents are variable and a proportion of patients require lifelong immunosuppression to maintain the disease in remission. Rituximab, an anti- CD 20 monoclonal antibody has gained widespread acceptance in the management of B-cell malignancies. Additionally, it has been used to treat the disorders associated with autoantibody production. We report herein the successful use of Rituximab in the treatment of two patients with autoimmune cytopenias …

Proteomic Analysis Of Plasma Exosomes Reveals That Kappa:Lambda Ratio Predicts Severe Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease, Joseph Alge

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Background: Acute Graft-Versus-Host disease (acute GVH D) is an often fatal, inflammatory multi-organ disease driven by T cell alloreactivity directed toward host tissues. One of the chief obstacles to improving outcomes of acute GVHD patients is timely diagnosis. Currently, acute GVHD is diagnosed clinically, once the symptoms are fully manifested. However, it is clear that important immunologic events occur prior to the occurrence of symptoms. A biomarker that could predict disease during the asymptomatic period could improve patient outcomes by allowing for earlier intensification of immunosuppressant therapy. Exosomes are an attractive target for acute GVHD biomarker discovery. They contain a …