[Development of Lomentospora prolificans infection during induction therapy with venetoclax and azacitidine for acute myeloid leukemia].

Lomentospora prolificans is a rare filamentous fungus that causes invasive fungal disease (IFD) in immunocompromised patients with hematological malignancies, as well as hematopoietic cell or solid organ transplant recipients. A 75-year-old woman was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, and started induction therapy with azacitidine and adjusted-dose venetoclax along with antifungal prophylaxis with fluconazole. On day 7, she became febrile and chest CT imaging showed multiple nodules in both lung fields, and the serum galactomannan antigen index became positive, indicating probable IFD. Anti-fungal therapy with liposomal amphotericin B was immediately initiated; however, the patient's condition rapidly deteriorated, and she died on day 15. L. prolificans was later identified in blood culture tests that had been repeatedly performed while she had been febrile. L. prolificans is generally resistant to most antifungal agents, which can make it fatal. As early definitive diagnosis is difficult, it may be appropriate to consider combination therapy when conventional anti-IFD therapy seems inadequate.

A Structurally Robust Chiral Borate Ion: Molecular Design, Synthesis, and Asymmetric Catalysis.

Catalysis by chiral weakly-coordinating anions (WCAs) remains underdeveloped due to the lack of a molecular design strategy for exploiting their characteristics, such as the non-nucleophilic nature. Here, we report the development of a chiral borate ion comprising an O,N,N,O-tetradentate backbone, which ensures hitherto unattainable structural robustness. Upon pairing with a proton, the hydrogen borate acts as an effective catalyst for the asymmetric Prins-type cyclization of vinyl ethers, providing access to structurally and stereochemically defined dihydropyrans. The key to selectivity control is the distinct ability of the borate ion to discriminate the prochiral faces of the acyclic oxonium ion intermediate and dictate the regiochemical outcome. We anticipate that this study paves the way for exploring the untapped potential of WCA catalysis for selective chemical synthesis.

[Multiple myeloma diagnosed due to development of amyloid arthritis].

Here, we present the case of a 72-year-old male who presented with swelling, stiffness, and dysesthesia in the bilateral fingers, wrists, and ankles. Although rheumatoid arthritis was initially suspected, laboratory tests were negative for rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody. Based on the findings of immune globulin G (IgG)-λ M proteins and 26% plasma cells in the bone marrow, multiple myeloma was diagnosed. Joint sonography revealed thickening of the tendon synovial sheaths around the bilateral wrist joints, palmar flexor tendon sheaths, and extensor digitorum tendon sheaths, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed soft tissue masses around the bilateral hip joints. Carpal tunnel syndrome associated with amyloid arthritis was suspected. Amyloid deposits were observed in synovectomy specimens, and the patient was then diagnosed with amyloid arthritis. He had concurrent pulmonary fibrosis, and treatment with lenalidomide/dexamethasone (Ld therapy) was initiated. The symptoms in the bilateral fingers, wrists, and ankles improved with the treatment course, and joint sonography revealed that thickening of tendon sheath and soft tissue masses disappeared after seven courses of Ld therapy. However, MRI still revealed soft tissue masses around the bilateral hip joints. In patients with joint symptoms that do not fulfill the diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis, differentiation with amyloid arthritis is necessary.

Potential mechanisms of nafamostat therapy for severe COVID-19 pneumonia with disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Nafamostat, a serine proteinase inhibitor with various actions including antithrombin, antiplasmin, and antitrypsin effects, has been used in clinical practice to treat disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and pancreatitis. This case report describes the clinical course of a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia whose severe hypoxemia, probably caused by DIC and pulmonary embolism, showed remarkable improvement with combination heparin and nafamostat therapy. In addition, beneficial mechanisms of nafamostat against COVID-19 and the necessity of attention to hyperkalemia as an adverse effect are discussed.

Human herpesvirus-8-unrelated primary effusion lymphoma of the elderly not associated with an increased serum lactate dehydrogenase level: A benign sub-group of effusion lymphoma without chemotherapy.

Human herpesvirus-8-unrelated primary effusion lymphoma characterized by lymphomatous effusion without nodal lesions occasionally exhibits spontaneous remission. To elucidate the factors associated with a good prognosis, this study analyzed the clinical parameters of four patients treated in the department and 109 patients reported in case reports. The median age was 71 years and the median overall survival was 20 months. Patients possessing two independent favorable factors, an elderly status (≥ 70 years) and low serum lactate dehydrogenase (< 500 IU/L) showed a markedly higher 1-year survival than patients lacking either of the two factors in the absence of chemotherapy (94% vs 20%, p = 3 × 10(-5)), which was similarly observed in the chemotherapy group (94% vs 51%, p = 0.002). The use of rituximab was also a strong predictor of survival (89% vs 49%, p = 7 × 10(-6)). Elderly patients not exhibiting an increased lactate dehydrogenase may represent a benign sub-group of effusion lymphoma, which do not require chemotherapy to achieve remission.