[Hematologic improvement with deferasirox following tandem antithymocyte globulin treatment in a transfusion-dependent patient with severe aplastic anemia]

A 62-year-old man with transfusion-dependent severe aplastic anemia received immunosuppressive therapy (IST) with rabbit antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporine A in April 2010. However, his transfusion dependency did not improve. As more than 100 red blood cell (RBC) transfusions had been performed, he was administered iron chelation therapy (ICT) with deferasirox (DFX) to improve iron overload starting in July 2011. Consequently, both RBC and platelet transfusion dependency gradually improved concomitant with a decrease in serum ferritin. The bone marrow (BM) biopsy findings before administration of DFX showed severe iron accumulation and strong positive immunostaining for 8-OHdG, a marker of oxidative stress due to free iron. One year after ICT, the number of BM hematopoietic cells was increased and both iron deposition and oxidative stress were decreased. These findings suggest that DFX may contribute to hematological improvement in patients with IST-refractory aplastic anemia.

[Clinicopathological features of intestinal complications in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma -a single institution analysis-]

We evaluated the clinicopathological features of patients who developed intestinal complications following surgery for gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and determined the risk factors for complications. We retrospectively analyzed 28 patients with gastrointestinal NHL who were treated at our institution between January 2007 and June 2012. Seven patients (25.0%) underwent surgery for bleeding, perforation, or ileus caused by the gastrointestinal NHL, particularly those with involvement of the jejunum or ileum. Half the patients with small intestinal NHL required surgery for complications; patients with this form of NHL were therefore considered to be at a high risk of complications. Those with semicircular ulcerative lesions, a protruding deformity, or systemic NHL involving the small intestine were also considered to be at a particularly high risk of intestinal complications.

[Bendamustine-rituximab therapy is effective for transformed follicular lymphoma with significant expression of p53]

We describe a patient with transformed follicular lymphoma(FL), expressing p53 but remaining in complete remission(CR) due to bendamustine-rituximab(BR)therapy. She was a 64-year-old female diagnosed with stage IV FL(grade 3A)in July 2007 when she was admitted with right lower abdominal pain and body weight loss. Colonoscopy revealed Bauhin' valve lymphoma of the terminal ileum, and computed tomography(CT)scan showed lymphadenopathy, involving the cervical, mediastinal para-aortic lymph nodes and right tonsil. She received chemotherapy with eight courses of CHOP therapy with rituximab and achieved CR. Two and a half years later, mediastinal lymph node swelling relapsed, and ibritumomab tiuxetan therapy induced the second CR. After ten months, however, a third relapse occurred as a submucosal tumor(SMT)of the stomach. Gastric SMT biopsy showed diffuse large B cell lymphoma(DLBCL)transformation with immunohistochemical expression of p53. Although gastric SMT disappeared after radiotherapy, which achieved the third CR, lymph node swelling was detected again in the para-aortic and-iliac artery lymph nodes in September 2011. Subsequently, she was treated with five courses of BR therapy, because bendamustine had been reported to be effective for p53 gene-deficient B cell neoplasms. The therapy was successful and achieved the fourth CR, demonstrating that BR therapy was effective for p53-expressing DLBCL.

[Acute promyelocytic leukemia presenting with central nervous system involvement at initial diagnosis]

We describe a rare case of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) presenting with central nervous system (CNS) involvement at the time of initial diagnosis. A 58-year-old male was hospitalized with palpitations, dyspnea, high grade fever, photophobia, and disturbance of consciousness in March 2010. APL was diagnosed by bone marrow (BM) examination. The cytogenetic analysis of BM cells demonstrated t(15;17)(q22;q11), and PML-RARA chimeric gene was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed several high intensity regions in the cerebrum and cerebellum. CNS involvement was diagnosed based on the appearance of APL blasts in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The patient was treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), and systemic chemotherapy consisting of idarubicin and cytarabine according to the Japan Adult Leukemia Study Group (JALSG) APL 204 protocol. He was then treated with continuous intrathecal administration of cytotoxic drugs (methotrexate, cytarabine, prednisolone) after systemic chemotherapy, achieving complete remission (CR) in both BM and the CNS. To date, he has been maintained in complete molecular remission in both BM and the CSF for 28 months, to date.

[A case of serous cystadenoma of the pancreas communicating with the main pancreatic duct synchronously diagnosed with pancreatic ductal carcinoma]

A 65-year-old woman who had been followed up for a cystic lesion of the tail of the pancreas was found to have cancer of the body of the pancreas. ERP showed stenosis of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) with dilatation of the distal side of the duct, and communication between the cystic lesion and MPD. She underwent distal pancreatectomy under a diagnosis of intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasm associated with cancer of the body of the pancreas. Clinicopathologic investigation revealed that the diagnosis of the cystic lesion was serous cystadenoma having the communication with MPD. It was also indicated by the histopathologic findings that inflammatory changes of MPD caused by stenosis might contribute to the development of serous cystadenoma.

Relationship between cytokine single nucleotide polymorphisms and sarcoidosis among Japanese subjects

Several susceptibility genes for sarcoidosis have been identified, but their relationship to the clinical state and prognosis remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between sarcoidosis and five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of three cytokines expected to play an important role in the inflammatory response. A case-control study was performed with 208 unrelated patients who met the diagnostic criteria for sarcoidosis used in Japan since 2006, and 328 control subjects. Five SNPs were analyzed: interleukin (IL)-10-819T/C (rs1800871), IL-10-592A/C(rs1800872), IL-6-634C/G (rs1800796), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-857C/T (rs1799724), and TNF-alpha -1031T/C (rs1799964). No significant differences in SNPs were observed between the total sarcoidosis and control groups. However, the prevalence of rs1800871 and rs1800872 polymorphisms differed significantly in the sarcoidosis with eye involvement group compared with the control group [rs1800871 TT (vs. TC + CC): OR = 1.67, P = 0.034; rs1800872 AA (vs. AC + CC): OR = 1.66, P = 0.036]. Analyzing the cardiac involvement group, the prevalence of the rs1799724 polymorphism was significantly different from that of the control group [rs1799724 TT (vs. CC + CT): OR = 6.01. P = 0.006]. We concluded that the rs1799724 C/T polymorphism may affect susceptibility to cardiac sarcoidosis, while the rs1800871 T/C and rs1800872A/C polymorphisms may affect susceptibility to sarcoidosis with eye involvement.

[Chronic hepatitis C presenting with hepatic involvement by chronic lymphocytic leukemia responding to polyethylene glycol interferon-α-2b]

Hepatic involvement by chronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL)is common, but rarely presents with liver injury. We report a case of chronic hepatitis C(CH-C)in a patient who had suffered from liver injury as a result of hepatic involvement by CLL. A 74-year-old man was hospitalized because of an examination confirming him positive for leukocytosis. Computer tomography scan showed mild hepatosplenomegaly, lymph node swelling of the neck and axilla, and abdominal lymphadenopathy. He was diagnosed as CLL by bone marrow examination. His laboratory data revealed hepatis C virus(HCV)antibody-positive, and elevated levels of both aminotransferase and HCV-RNA. Liver biopsy demonstrated significant CLL involvement of portal areas and a mild T lymphocyte invasion of centrilobular and portal areas. After treatment with polyethylene glycol interferon (PEG-IFN)-α-2b for CH-C, the CLL count was decreased in both peripheral blood and the liver. The hematological response was significantly correlated with the disappearance of HCV-RNA. The patient has maintained a sustained virological response(SVR)status for the past 9 months after PEG-IFN-α-2b administration. Thus, PEG-IFN-α-2b therapy could be effective not only for CH-C but also for hepatic involvement of CLL as seen in our patient.

[Complete response by rituximab monotherapy in a patient with leukemic mantle cell lymphoma diagnosed by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis]

An 85-year-old male was admitted to a hospital with abdominal discomfort in October, 2010. Severe splenomegaly and mild para-aortic lymphoadenopathy were detected. In addition, an increase in atypical lymphocytes was noticed by bone marrow analyses with weak positive staining of cyclin D1. Subsequently, the fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH)method confirmed cyclin D1 reconstruction, and the fusion signals of the BCL1 and IgH genes were detected, thus providing a definitive diagnosis of leukemic mantle cell lymphoma. After treatment with rituximab monotherapy, the Ki-67 index was stabilized to within 10%, and complete response was obtained.

[T-cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for malignant lymphoma-report of three cases and a review of the literature]

There have been only three reports in the literature of T-cell large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) leukemia occurring after autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation (APBSCT). We describe 3 patients in whom a transient monoclonal T-LGL developed after APBSCT for malignant lymphoma. Case 1: A 58-year-old man with peripheral T-cell lymphoma in second complete remission (CR) who underwent APBSCT. Case 2: A 51-year-old man with follicular lymphoma in second CR who underwent APBSCT. Case 3: A 65-year-old man with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in second CR who underwent tandem APBSCT. One month after transplant, fever followed by the proliferation of CD8+/CD57+ T-LGL in peripheral blood occurred in all three cases. Because clonal rearrangements of the T-cell receptor were detected in peripheral blood samples, T-LGL leukemia was diagnosed. The first patient had episodes of Epstein-Barr virus viremia. The other patients suffered from cytomegalovirus colitis after APBSCT. These data show that T-LGL leukemia can occur after viral infection followed by APBSCT.

A case of delayed encephalopathy after carbon monoxide poisoning longitudinally monitored by diffusion tensor imaging

A woman with DE after CO poisoning was longitudinally evaluated by DTI, performed during the following periods: at the phase of acute CO poisoning, the lucid interval, neurologic deterioration due to DE, and neurologic recovery. The present case revealed the long-term course of DTI parameters after CO poisoning and the usefulness of DTI for quantifying neurologic damage after CO poisoning.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of substituted bicyclic ethers through oxy-Favorskii rearrangement: total synthesis of (±)-communiol E

The potential of the oxy-Favorskii rearrangement to form branched cis-fused bicyclic ethers was explored. Both tertiary and quaternary centers were constructed in highly stereospecific manners. Methanol and primary amines were effective nucleophiles for the rearrangement. The total synthesis of (±)-communiol E was achieved based on this method.

Pain in neuromyelitis optica and its effect on quality of life: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the features of pain and its impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in neuromyelitis optica (NMO).

METHODS

We analyzed 37 patients with NMO or NMO spectrum disorders seen at the Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan, during the period from November 2008 to February 2009. A total of 35 of them were aquaporin-4 antibody-positive. We used Short Form Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) to assess pain and Short Form 36-item (SF-36) health survey to evaluate the HRQOL. Fifty-one patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were also studied for comparison.

RESULTS

Pain in NMO (83.8%) was far more common than in MS (47.1%). The Pain Severity Index score in BPI was significantly higher in NMO than in MS, and patients' daily life assessed by BPI was highly interfered by pain in NMO as compared with MS. Pain involving the trunk and both legs was much more frequent in NMO than in MS. SF-36 scores in NMO were lower than MS, especially in bodily pain.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that pain in NMO is more frequent and severe than in MS and that pain has a grave impact on NMO patients' daily life and HRQOL. Therapy to relieve pain is expected to improve their HRQOL.

[Effective treatment by both anti-androgen therapy and chemotherapy for a patient with advanced salivary duct carcinoma]

Salivary ductcarcinoma (SDC)is a high-grade malignant tumor arising predominantly in the parotid gland. Androgen receptor(AR)expression was mainly restricted to SDC in salivary cancer. We report successful treatment of a patient with advanced SDC using an endocrine chemotherapy. A 76-year-old man was hospitalized with lumbalgia and swelling of left submandibular region. Radiological examination indicated a tumor in left submandibular gland and metastatic tumors in lumbar vertebra, accompanied by swollen lymph nodes of the neck, mediastinum. Needle biopsies of both vertebral tumor and cervical lymph node revealed SDC. Positive nuclear staining was observed against AR in tumor cells of our patient by immunohistochemical analysis. He obtained a partial response after 1 course of treatment with both anti-androgen therapy and palliative chemotherapy using paclitaxel. In contrast to previous reports of poor response to chemotherapy alone and short-term survival of patients with SDC, our patient has demonstrated that chemotherapy combined with anti-androgen therapy may be an effective modality as a therapeutic regimen for SDC.

[Successful induction of complete remission by gemtuzumab ozogamicin following chemotherapy in three patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia]

The institutional review board of our hospital approved FLAG-MG therapy (G-CSF 300 microg day 1-6, fludarabin 30 mg/m(2) day 2-6, Ara-C 1 g/m(2) day 2-6, mitoxantrone 5 mg/m(2) day 2-4, gemtuzumab ozogamicin 3 mg/m(2) day 9) for relapsed or refractory elderly acute myeloid leukemia patients. We conducted this therapy for two refractory patients aged 56 and 63 and one relapsed 58-year-old patient. All three patients were induced complete remission after FLAG-MG therapy without serious complications.

Late onset neutropenia and immunoglobulin suppression of the patients with malignant lymphoma following autologous stem cell transplantation with rituximab

BACKGROUND

Recently, decrease of immunoglobulin concentrations or neutrophil counts were reported in some cases several months after administration of rituximab. We examined a number of episodes of late onset neutropenia or immunoglobulin decrease in patients with malignant lymphoma who were in complete remission following autologous transplantation with or without rituximab.

METHOD

Patients with follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B cell lymphoma transplanted with or without rituximab in our institutes were analyzed. Immunoglobulin concentrations and neutrophil counts after transplantation, both with and without rituximab were measured serially.

RESULTS

Four weeks after transplantation, blood samples revealed lower concentrations of IgG and IgA in the rituximab group than in the non-rituximab group. Neutrophil numbers did not fall below 0.5x10(9) /L four weeks or more after transplantation in the non-rituximab group. Neutrophil numbers dropped below 0.5x10(9) /L in 6 of 14 cases in the rituximab group.

CONCLUSION

Although the present study was retrospective and disease composition and pre-transplantation regimens differed between the two groups, the addition of rituximab to autologous transplantation might bring about a decrease of immunoglobulin levels and transient LON.

[Fifth-line chemotherapy for metastatic gastric cancer--a case responding to modified FOLFOX 6]

According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) clinical practice guideline for gastric cancer (2006, the first edition), 5-FU/Leucovorin (LV), 5-FU-based, cisplatin (CDDP)-based, oxaliplatin (L-OHP)-based, taxane-based, and irinotecan (CPT-11)-based, ECF are recommended. We used modified FOLFOX 6 (mFOLFOX 6) for pretreatment, that is oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, for a patient who had received 5-FU-based, CDDPbased, taxane-based, and CPT-11-based treatment for an unresectable gastric cancer case responding to mFOLFOX 6. A 73-year-old male admitted to our hospital for treatment of advanced gastric cancer was diagnosed to be inoperable. A combination chemotherapy docetaxel and CDDP and S-1 as first-line treatment, CPT-11 and CDDP as second-line treatment, weekly paclitaxel treatment as third-line treatment, and MTX and 5-FU as fourth-line treatment were performed. He had progressed after 5-FU-based, CDDP-based, taxane-based, and CPT-11-based chemotherapy. There are no effective approved drugs for gastric cancer in Japan. Oxaliplatin was reportedly effective for metastatic gastric cancer, but it is still non-approved in Japan. After receiving an explanation of oxaliplatin-based therapy, he gave informed consent. Oxaliplatin-based therapy for this patient was then evaluated and approved under an institutional review board of Higashi Sapporo Hospital. mFOLFOX 6 used for the oxaliplatin-based therapy. After 2 courses of mFOLFOX 6, he showed a partial response. Oxaliplatin-based treatment was thought to be promising for previously CDDP-treated patients with unresectable gastric cancers.

[Acute myelogenous leukemia with multilineage myelodysplasia, positive direct Coombs test, and elevated levels of platelet-associated IgG]

A 75-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in October, 2005 for examination of pre-diagnosed pancytopenia. His bone marrow showed myeloid dysplasia, and 30.4% of the nucleated cells were blasts. Our diagnosis was acute myelogenous leukemia with multilineage myelodysplasia (AML with MLD; WHO classification). A direct Coombs test proved positive, and the platelet-associated IgG (PA-IgG) level was elevated. After treatment with CAG (Ara-C + ACR + G-CSF), complete remission was obtained, showing negative on the direct Coombs test with PA-IgG levels returned to normal. The patient subsequently relapsed, testing positive on the direct Coombs test and experiencing a re-elevation of PA-IgG levels. We report here a first case of AML with MLD, direct Coombs test and PA-IgG assay.