Treatment challenges and outcomes of older patients with acute myeloid leukemia from India.

Globally, overall survival (OS) of older patients with AML continues to be suboptimal with very little data from India. In a multicenter registry analysis, we evaluated 712 patients with AML older than 55 years. Only 323 (45.3%) underwent further treatment, of which 239 (74%) received HMAs, and 60 (18%) received intensive chemotherapy (IC). CR was documented in 39% of those receiving IC and 42% after HMAs. Overall, 100 (31%) patients died within 60 days of diagnosis, most commonly due to progressive disease (47%) or infections (30%). After a median follow-up of 176 days, 228 (76%) of patients had discontinued treatment. At one year from diagnosis, 211 (65%) patients had died, and the median OS was 186 days (IQR, 137-234). Only 12 (3.7%) patients underwent stem cell transplantation. Survival was significantly lower for those older than 60 years (p < 0.001). Patients who died had a higher median age (p = .027) and baseline WBC counts (p = .006). Our data highlights suboptimal outcomes in older AML patients, which are evident from 55 years of age onwards, making it necessary to evaluate HMA and targeted agent combinations along with novel consolidation strategies to improve survival in this high-risk population.

Bleeding risk assessment in immune thrombocytopenia.

The bleeding risk in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is related not only to low platelet count but also to the presence of platelet dysfunction. However, diagnosing a concomitant platelet dysfunction is challenging as most of the available platelet function assays (PFAs) require a platelet count of greater than 100,000/µL. Sonoclot coagulation and platelet function analyzer works on the principle of viscoelastometry, and results remain unaffected by the platelet counts. To assess the platelet function in adult acute ITP patients with the help of sonoclot coagulation and platelet function analyzer and correlate it with the risk of bleeding. Newly diagnosed acute ITP patients with a platelet count less than 20,000/µL were divided into two groups based on WHO bleeding grade: ITP non-bleeder (ITP-NB) group (WHO bleeding grade ≤1) and ITP bleeder (ITP-B) group (WHO bleeding grade ≥2). Platelet function was assessed by sonoclot in both groups. The patients without significant bleeding (ITP-NB) were followed up monthly for six months with the assessment of platelet function during each contact. Eighty patients (30 ITP-B and 50 ITP-NB) were prospectively included in this study. The median age of patients in the two groups was 37 years and 30 years, respectively. The female-to-male ratio was 4:1 and 1:1 in ITP-B and ITP-NB groups. The median platelet count in ITP-B and ITP-NB was 12000/µL (range 1000-19000/µL) and 8000/µL (range 1000-19000/µL), respectively. Mean platelet functions by sonoclot in both groups were lower than the normal cut-off (>1.6). However, the mean platelet function in the ITP-B group (0.2 + 0.17) was significantly lower than the ITP-NB group (1.2 ± 0.52) (p = 0.01). During the follow-up period of 6 months, patients in ITP-NB with a normal platelet function (>1.6) on sonoclot had lesser episodes (one episode) of clinically significant bleeding than patients with a low platelet function (4 episodes). Patients with acute severe thrombocytopenia and bleeding phenotype have a greater abnormality on platelet function by sonoclot than patients with non-bleeding phenotype. This information may help in taking therapeutic decisions in patients with acute ITP.

Clinico-laboratory Profile and Outcomes of Megaloblastic Anemia presenting as Severe Pyrexial Illness mimicking Tropical Infection.

BACKGROUND: Anemia-causing fever has been described in patients with megaloblastic anemia. Although the exact mechanism of this is unknown, high-grade fever is relatively less reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study included all new cases of megaloblastic anemia presenting with febrile illness (>101°F) during a 3-year period. Patients with existing anemia, comorbidities, and other causes of macrocytosis were excluded. A detailed evaluation for megaloblastic anemia and workup for excluding tropical infections was done. The patients were treated with parenteral vitamin B12, folic acid, and other hematinics. RESULTS: Around 24 cases of megaloblastic anemia presenting with high-grade fever were included, with 14 (58.3%) males, mean duration of fever 7.7 days (4-18 days), and 09 (37.5%) having temperature >103°F. The mean hemoglobin (Hb) was 8.15 g/dL (3.7-11.1 g/dL), the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was 111 ± 7.8 fL, 18 (75%) had unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, the mean lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was 814 ± 24 IU/L, and 21 (87.5%) had low B12 or folate levels. Most showed good therapeutic response to B12 or folic acid with defervescence in 1-5 days (mean 2.6 days) and improvement in lab parameters in 1 week. The study population was divided into those with temperature ≥103°F, and temperature <103°F it was seen that there was a significant association (p < 0.05) with leucocyte count of ≤3000/cumm, and MCV ≥110 fL, in patients with temperature ≥103°F Conclusion: Megaloblastic anemia should be considered in the differentials of a patient presenting with a febrile illness with no clinical localization and a negative initial fever workup. Early identification and prompt therapy of this easily treatable disorder are very essential.

Role of Matrix Degradation, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation & Trace Elements in COVID-19 Patients: A Multivariate Study from India.

The interrelationship between matrix degradation, oxidative stress, inflammation and trace elements can be speculated in COVID-19. The objective of the study was to evaluate the oxidative stress, inflammation and matrix degradation markers and trace elements in COVID-19 positive patients. A group of confirmed severe COVID-19 positive patients (n = 30) along with COVID-19 negative patients (n = 30) with similar symptoms were included. Both group of patients were assessed for oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)s and their inhibitors along with trace elements in blood. All the data were subjected to univariate as well as multivariate analysis including PCA, PLS-DA, OPLS-DA. Diagnostic accuracy was tested by ROC curve analysis. Further relationship with Neutrophil/ lymphocyte (N/L) ratio was established if any. Increased oxidative stress, inflammation and matrix degradation is evidenced by significant rise in oxidative markers, inflammatory cytokines and MMP9/TIMP-1 ratio. Decreased Cu/Zn ratio is also observed in COVID-19 positive patients. Multivariate analysis identified SOD, Cu/Zn ratio, IL-6 and TOS, as effective discriminant among the two groups of patients. Further, accuracy was confirmed by ROC curves. Neutrophil/ lymphocyte (N/L) ratio, shows significant negative association with SOD (r= -0.75, p < 0.005) and Cu/Zn ratio (r = -0.88, p < 0.005). These data suggest the attributes of these biomarkers in disease severity. The potential use of these blood-based laboratory markers in disease prognosis seems promising and warrants further attention. Given by the symptoms and severity of the disease, it will be promising to monitor Cu/Zn ratio along with other prognostic indicators.

Successful T replete haploidentical HSCT with post-transplant cyclophosphamide in two patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

We describe two young patients with Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS) who were treated by T-replete hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from the HLA haploidentical father according to a modified Baltimore protocol. Whereas similar protocols have been successfully used in various malignant and non-malignant diseases, this is the first report for this particular disease. The data being presented pertains to the report about two successful haploidentical transplants with post transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCY) after busulfan-based conditioning.

Bone marrow transplant: A two-decade single centre hematology experience.

Background: Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) is a curative form of therapy for many hematological disorders in both the adult and pediatric patients. The availability of BMT in the AFMS at AHRR for the last 02 decades has been a game changer for the patients. Methods: We reviewed our BMT data since the inception of the program till Feb 2023. Results: Over 700 patients with more than 23 different types of hematological disorders have undergone this procedure 58%% patients underwent an Autologous BMT and 42% an allogenic BMT. Autologous BMT for Multiple Myeloma and Allogenic BMT for Aplastic Anemia and Acute Leukemias have been the most common indications. 73% patients were adults, and 27% patients were of the pediatric age group. The male: female ratio was 2:1. The spectrum of allogenic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) has expanded from Matched Sibling Donor (MSD) transplants to Matched Unrelated Donor (MUD) Transplants and Haploidentical Donor Transplants. 93% of our Allogenic BMT patients underwent a MSD BMT, 1% MUD BMT and 06% Haploidentical BMT. Today no patient with a malignant hematological disorder requiring a BMT is denied the procedure due to the lack of an HLA donor due to the availability of haploidentical BMT. Conclusion: The evolution of a BMT program has a long learning curve and the expanded pool of eligible donors has led to a situation of "transplant for all". Haploidentical HSCT for nonmalignant hematological disorders is an unmet need. CART cell therapy and Cellular therapies need to be prioritized for future inclusion.

Real-world experience of anti-D immunoglobulin in immune thrombocytopenia.

In developing countries, anti-D has been used in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) as a cheaper alternative to human immunoglobulin. We aim to analyze the response and safety profile of anti-D in patients with severe ITP. A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Northern India. Patients received a single intravenous infusion of 75 µg/kg anti-D. In total, 36 patients (20 females) were included in this study. The median duration from ITP diagnosis to anti-D therapy was 235 days (range 1-1613 days). Four (11.1%) patients received anti-D as an upfront treatment. The patients' platelet counts rose significantly by the end of day three and continued to be significantly high until day 30 of receiving anti-D (p ≤ 0.001). The overall response rate (ORR) by day seven was 88.89%. There was no effect of age, sex, duration of disease, prior therapy, and platelet count on the ORR. Patients were followed up for a median duration of 52 days (longest follow-up: 3080 days). Six (6/36, 16.67%) patients continued to be in remission till the last follow-up. The hemoglobin fall was statistically significant on day three and day seven (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001) and got normalized by day 30. We observed equally good ORR in mixed populations and different phases of ITP along with long-term sustained response. The study demonstrates a quick and high response rate along with good safety profile to anti-D in all forms of ITP.

Transcriptome Analysis of Developing Grains from Wheat Cultivars TAM 111 and TAM 112 Reveal Cultivar-Specific Regulatory Networks.

Wheat flour's end-use quality is tightly linked to the quantity and composition of storage proteins in the endosperm. TAM 111 and TAM 112 are two popular cultivars grown in the Southern US Great Plains with significantly different protein content. To investigate regulatory differences, transcriptome data were analyzed from developing grains at early- and mid-filling stages. At the mid-filling stage, TAM 111 preferentially upregulated starch metabolism-related pathways compared to TAM 112, whereas amino acid metabolism and transporter-related pathways were over-represented in TAM 112. Elemental analyses also indicated a higher N percentage in TAM 112 at the mid-filling stage. To explore the regulatory variation, weighted correlation gene network was constructed from publicly available RNAseq datasets to identify the modules differentially regulated in TAM 111 and TAM 112. Further, the potential transcription factors (TFs) regulating those modules were identified using graphical least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (GLASSO). Homologs of the OsNF-Y family members with known starch metabolism-related functions showed higher connectivities in TAM 111. Multiple TFs with high connectivity in TAM 112 had predicted functions associated with ABA response in grain. These results will provide novel targets for breeders to explore and further our understanding in mechanisms regulating grain development.

Effect of treatment regimens in severe COVID pneumonia at an Indian tertiary care hospital: An observational, real-world study.

Background: Corticosteroids have attracted attention as a treatment option for severe Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, published data on steroid therapy is debatable, and real-world data is lacking. This study evaluated the effect of treatment regimens, especially Pulse steroid therapy (Injection Methyl Prednisolone 250 mg iv once a day for three days) in severe-COVID-19 pneumonia at an Indian tertiary care hospital. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included severe COVID-19 pneumonia patients aged >18 years, requiring assisted ventilation. As part of the hospital protocol, patients received either pulse steroid therapy, remdesivir or tocilizumab in addition to the recommended steroid doses i.e., injection of dexamethasone 6 mg iv once a day. The association of factors and treatment regimens to patient outcomes was evaluated. Results: Data of eighty-three patients were assessed, majority being above 60 years (n = 30, 36.14%) and males (n = 45/83, 54.21%). The commonest comorbidities were hypertension (n = 26), diabetes (n = 23) and obesity (n = 19), fifty-five patients (66.26%) reported at least one comorbidity. Sixty-one patients (73.49%) had received pulse steroid regimen, forty-eight patients (57.83%) were administered remdesivir-based regimen while twelve patients (14.46%) had received tocilizumab treatment. 54.1% patients managed with pulse steroid regimens were discharged after treatment, statistically similar to remdesivir-managed subgroup (62.5%, p > 0.05). On sub-group analysis, pulse steroids showed better outcomes in young males with no comorbidities. No comorbidity had significant relationship with patient outcomes (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Pulse steroid therapy is an effective therapy in management of patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia in a real-world setting, with better outcomes in young males without comorbidities. Pulse steroids can be considered a viable option for severe-COVID-19 pneumonia management.

Disease profile and patient outcomes in vaccinated COVID-19 patients at a tertiary care Indian hospital: An observational, real-world study.

Background: There is a lack of real-world evidence evaluating the disease outcomes and patient features in vaccinated coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases. This study aimed to address this scientific need gap and also compare characteristics between the partially vaccinated and fully vaccinated COVID-19 patients in India. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included data of adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at a tertiary care Indian hospital with a history of at least single-dose COVID-19 vaccination. Overall evaluation of patient features and disease characteristics was done. Patients were segregated into two groups based on vaccination status (partial or fully vaccinated), and characteristics were compared between these two groups along with COVID-19 outcomes. Results: Data of 403 vaccinated patients treated for breakthrough COVID-19 infection postvaccination was evaluated. The mean age was 47.7 ± 15.3 years (range: 19-87 years), with the majority being males (73.94%); 54.1% of evaluated cases were fully vaccinated; 74.93% of cases were asymptomatic. The majority of the symptomatic cases (60.39%) suffered from only mild-moderate symptoms; 72.7% of cases needed only home isolation, while only 1.99% died. A significantly higher number of partially vaccinated COVID-19 patients had severe COVID-19 pneumonia vs. fully vaccinated ones (14.59% vs. 5.96%, p < 0.05). The relative risk (RR) for the development of severe COVID-19 infection was 0.32 for the fully vaccinated subgroup, which was a significant finding (CI: 0.19-0.55, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The majority of vaccinated COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic or suffer from mild clinical features, which can be managed with home isolation. Fully vaccinated patients have a lower risk of developing severe COVID-19 infection in comparison to partially vaccinated cases.

Pembrolizumab-induced severe rejection and graft intolerance syndrome resulting in renal allograft nephrectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Pembrolizumab is a selective anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits PD-1 activity by binding to the PD-1 receptor that is found on activated T-cells. The goal of the treatment is to allow the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells by preventing cancer cells from binding to PD-1 receptors, leading to decreased tumor growth. The activation of T-cells by pembrolizumab not only leads to the destruction of malignant cells but also attacks the donor alloantigens that are present in a renal transplant, resulting in graft rejection. CASE REPORT: We present a case of a 46-year-old African American female with history of renal transplant who was treated with pembrolizumab for stage IV B endometrial adenocarcinoma and experienced renal transplant rejection and severe graft intolerance syndrome.Management and outcome: Due to ongoing graft intolerance, a transplant nephrectomy was performed. Allograft pathology was consistent with non-viable kidney with tubulitis, interstitial fibrosis and necrosis consistent with transplant rejection without any evidence of malignancy. DISCUSSION: As emphasized in our case, there is a very high risk of graft rejection in patients who need to be placed on immunomodulators such as pembrolizumab, so the risk versus benefit needs to be assessed and discussed. Our case is unique because pembrolizumab not only caused graft rejection but also severe graft intolerance syndrome which led to transplant nephrectomy. Further guidelines are needed in renal transplant patients requiring PD-1 inhibitors to establish the ideal treatment plan of immunosuppression management and anti-cancer treatments.

A single-center experience in use of tocilizumab in COVID-19 pneumonia in India.

BACKGROUND: IL-6 receptor antagonist tocilizumab (TCZ) has been used in several reported studies in the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia and pieces of evidence are still emerging. METHODS: All patients with COVID-19 pneumonia showing features of hyperinflammatory syndrome receiving TCZ at a tertiary care center in India were included in the study and a retrospective descriptive analysis was done. RESULTS: Between May 2020 to August 2020, 21 patients received TCZ out of which 13 survived and 8 died. All non-survivors had longer duration (median 12 days, minimum 9, maximum 15 days compared to median 6 days, minimum 3 and maximum 14 days in survivors) of symptoms and severe disease requiring mechanical ventilation at the time of TCZ administration. Among survivors, 8 patients had severe disease, 3 had moderate disease, and 2 patients had mild disease. Six out of 8 (75%) among non-survivors and 8 out of 13 (62%) among survivors had preexisting medical comorbidities. The non-survivors had higher baseline neutrophil-to-leukocyte ratio (10.5 vs 8.8), serum ferritin (960 ng/ml vs 611 ng/ml), lactate dehydrogenase (795 IU/L vs 954 IU/L), and D-dimer (5900 µg/ml vs 1485 mg/ml) levels. No drug-related serious adverse effect was noted among the patients. CONCLUSION: In a scenario of emerging evidence for the role of TCZ in the management of severe COVID-19, our study provides useful data on its use in the Indian scenario. Deliberate patient selection and timing initiation of TCZ at a crucial stage of the disease may be beneficial in COVID-19 pneumonia with good safety returns.

HLA-G dimer targets Granzyme B pathway to prolong human renal allograft survival.

Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G), a nonclassic HLA class Ib molecule involved in the maintenance of maternal tolerance to semiallogeneic fetal tissues during pregnancy, has emerged as a potential therapeutic target to control allograft rejection. We demonstrate here that the level of soluble HLA-G dimer was higher in a group of 90 patients with a functioning renal allograft compared with 40 patients who rejected (RJ) their transplants. The HLA-G dimer level was not affected by demographic status. One of the potential mechanisms in tissue-organ allograft rejection involves the induction of granzymes and perforin, which are the main effector molecules expressed by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes and function to destroy allogeneic transplants. Using genomics and molecular and cellular analyses of cells from T-cell-mediated RJ and nonrejected kidney transplant patients, cells from leukocyte Ig-like receptor B1 (LILRB1) transgenic mice, humanized mice, and genetically engineered HLA-G dimer, we demonstrated a novel mechanism by which HLA-G dimer inhibits activation and cytotoxic capabilities of human CD8+ T cells. This mechanism implicated the down-regulation of Granzyme B expression and the essential involvement of LILRB1. Thus, HLA-G dimer has the potential to be a specific and effective therapy for prevention of allograft rejection and prolongation of graft survival.-Ajith, A., Portik-Dobos, V., Nguyen-Lefebvre, A. T., Callaway, C., Horuzsko, D. D., Kapoor, R., Zayas, C., Maenaka, K., Mulloy, L. L., Horuzsko, A. HLA-G dimer targets Granzyme B pathway to prolong human renal allograft survival.

Solitary serum methotrexate level 36 hours post high-dose methotrexate: A safe, efficacious, and cost-effective strategy to monitor methotrexate toxicities in childhood leukemia in resource-limited centers.

BACKGROUND: The standard practice during high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to mitigate toxicity is to serially monitor levels till serum MTX < 0.01 µmol/L. Most resource-limited centers lack in-house access to MTX levels, and therefore repeated monitoring is costly and cumbersome. We studied the efficacy and safety of "solitary 36 hours post HD-MTX levels (MTX36 )." PROCEDURE: This prospective observational study consecutively enrolled children with ALL receiving HD-MTX. Cycles with unavailable MTX36 and MTX36  > 10 µmol/L were excluded. HD-MTX was administered over 24 hours (BFM-2009 protocol) with 12 hours of prehydration. MTX36 were performed at other centers. Leucovorin was given in six hourly doses 36 hours post HD-MTX. Hydration was continued until the last dose of leucovorin. MTX toxicities, including change of creatinine from baseline at 36 hours (∆Cr36 ), were noted. Two groups depending on MTX36 (≤1 µmol/L vs > 1 µmol/L) received six versus eight doses of leucovorin, and toxicities were compared. RESULTS: Twenty-nine children with median age five years (1-11) who received 100 HD-MTX cycles with a median MTX dose of 3 g/m2 (2-5) were analyzed. The median MTX36 level was 1.165 µmol/L (0.1-7.32). Toxicities of HD-MTX (CTCAE-4.0): transaminitis-22%; creatinine elevation ≥ 1.25 times baseline-24%; cytopenias-16%; mucositis-17%; acute kidney injury (AKI)-6%. All toxicities were ≤CTCAE grade 3. Creatinine elevation, AKI, and mucositis were significantly higher in the group with higher MTX36 . There was no correlation (r = 0.3) between ∆Cr36 and MTX36 . MTX36 was thrice more economical than the standard protocol. CONCLUSION: MTX36 is a potential cost-effective, efficacious, and safe limited sample strategy to monitor HD-MTX, particularly in centers where in-house MTX levels are unavailable.

Cardiovascular disease in the kidney transplant recipient: epidemiology, diagnosis and management strategies.

Kidney transplantation (KT) is the optimal therapy for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), resulting in significant improvement in survival as well as quality of life when compared with maintenance dialysis. The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in ESKD is reduced after KT; however, it still remains the leading cause of premature patient and allograft loss, as well as a source of significant morbidity and healthcare costs. All major phenotypes of CVD including coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease, arrhythmias and pulmonary hypertension are represented in the KT recipient population. Pre-existing risk factors for CVD in the KT recipient are amplified by superimposed cardio-metabolic derangements after transplantation such as the metabolic effects of immunosuppressive regimens, obesity, posttransplant diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and allograft dysfunction. This review summarizes the major risk factors for CVD in KT recipients and describes the individual phenotypes of overt CVD in this population. It highlights gaps in the existing literature to emphasize the need for future studies in those areas and optimize cardiovascular outcomes after KT. Finally, it outlines the need for a joint 'cardio-nephrology' clinical care model to ensure continuity, multidisciplinary collaboration and implementation of best clinical practices toward reducing CVD after KT.

Speciation of fungi using real time PCR with molecular beacons: Can we solve the enigma of diagnosis of invasive fungal disease?

BACKGROUND: Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) are difficult to diagnose and associated with high mortality rates, especially in the immunosuppressed. Species of Aspergillus and Candida are the cause of majority of invasive fungal disease however IFDs are also caused by Fusarium, Zygomycetes, Trichosporon, etc. Early detection is crucial for appropriate antifungal therapy. Blood cultures usually fail to isolate filamentous fungi, while detection of circulating beta-d-glucan or galactomannan antigens show variable sensitivity and specificity. There is a need of reliable, sensitive and specific diagnostic tests for IFDs. METHODS: A real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay with a universal primer/molecular beacon system was developed for detecting and speciating most of the pathogenic fungi implicated in IFD. A single-reaction assay was designed targeting a carefully selected region of the ITS2 and ITS5 subunits of the fungal rDNA gene along with four molecular beacons capable of differential hybridization to the amplicons of different species. This generated a signature set of melting temperatures using the standard strains. The assay was tested on clinical specimens from patients with suspected invasive fungal disease. RESULTS: The assay was tested on 72 clinical samples and 72 healthy controls. Of these, 22 clinical samples (6/8 proven; 13/29 probable; 3/35 possible IFD, classified by the EORTC/MSG criteria) were positive by PCR and generated a set of melting temperatures enabling identification of the causative fungus. The assay was negative in all healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The molecular beacon assay is a promising tool providing a rapid method for detection and monitoring of invasive fungal disease in immunosuppressed patients.

Are thalassemia patients oxidatively challenged?

BACKGROUND: Repeated blood transfusions is the mainstay of treatment for beta thalassemia major patients. Multiple blood transfusions lead to significant iron overload in these patients. Iron overload causes liberation of oxygen free radicals and peroxidative lipid injury. This study has been designed to study whether thalassemics suffer from oxidative injury. It also aims to study the quantum of oxidative injury. METHODS: It is a cross sectional study using cases and controls. Thirty thalassemic patients receiving multiple blood transfusions were included in this study and thirty healthy age and sex matched controls were recruited for the study. Serum ferritin levels, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide levels were estimated. RESULTS: Levels of all the three parameters were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the cases compared to controls. Mean levels of all three parameters were correlated with serum ferritin levels and number of blood transfusions in increasing order. All the parameters showed fair degree of correlation (r ≥ 0.25, p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Thalassemic patients receiving multiple blood transfusion suffer from iron overload which results in increased oxidative stress.

PRES in Pediatric HSCT: A Single-Center Experience.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) has diverse etiologies and is closely linked to hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Headache and seizures are the most common clinical presentations. Although near total recovery is seen in the majority of patients with appropriate management, the implications of its occurrence in the setting of an HSCT is much more than the residual neurological deficits. Graft rejection and occurrence of graft versus host disease has been reported. We analyzed retrospectively our data of 35 pediatric HSCT recipients over the last 2 years at our center. In total, 17% (n=6) patients developed PRES. Headache and seizures were the most common clinical presentations. All patients were on calcineurin inhibitors at the onset of symptoms. The median time after HSCT to the onset of PRES was 21 days. In total, 34% (n=2) patients developed residual neurological deficit. One patient died of acute graft versus host disease at a later date, and 50% (n=3) patients had graft rejection and return to transfusion dependence. The implications of PRES on HSCT outcomes are grave, and better immunosuppression transition protocols need to be developed.

Thrombophilia Profile of Portal Vein Thrombosis in Young.

The abdominal vein thrombosis is an unusual and rare, but potentially a life threatening form of thrombosis. Much is known, studied and published about the venous thrombosis in the lower limbs and to some extent in upper limbs, where as the abdominal vein thrombosis still remains an unexplored area. The diagnosis of abdominal venous thrombosis has increased with awareness of the entity and the availability of better imaging modalities. Despite advances made in the management of venous thrombosis, the knowledge of events predisposing to abdominal thrombosis is largely unknown. This gap in knowledge needs to be studied and analyzed for better patient management. The study aims at analysing various risk factors in patients of abdominal venous thrombosis.

Clinicohematological Profile of Febrile Neutropenia in Childhood Acute Leukemia and Utility of Serum Procalcitonin Levels in Neutropenic Patients.

INTRODUCTION: This study was planned to explore the clinical and hematological profile of febrile neutropenia (FN) in Indian children with focus on correlation of degree of neutropenia with fever and procalcitonin (PCT) level and the utility of serum PCT levels in cases of FN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children below 12 years, receiving chemotherapy for hematological malignancy having oral temperature more than 100°F and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) below 500/mm3 were included. The aim of this study was to observe the clinicohematological profile of FN and utility of serum PCT levels in neutropenic patients. PCT was done by two-step two-site electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Serum PCT values were reported as nanogram/ml. RESULTS: Four categories were made based on serum PCT levels which had negative correlation with ANC but no correlation with microbiologically detected infections. DISCUSSION: PCT is generally used to support the diagnosis of bacterial infection or sepsis in the emergency department or to monitor the treatment of sepsis with regard to reviewing antimicrobial treatment. The use of PCT has been well established as a marker for infection in adults and in nonneutropenic children, but similar data are lacking in pediatric population, more so in children with FN in Indian contexts. This study aims to fulfill this lacuna. CONCLUSION: The higher levels of PCT had a high negative correlation with ANC but low correlation with microbiologically detected infections.