Autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation in adult ALL: the Swedish Adult ALL Group experience.

Adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) have been treated according to national protocols in Sweden since 1986. Stem cell transplantation (SCT) has been recommended in first remission for patients with risk factors for relapse, and for standard risk patients only after relapse. In this retrospective study, the results of autologous and allogeneic SCT in these populations were evaluated. In total, 187 patients with a median age of 34 years (17-66 years) underwent SCT. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS), for all patients, was 26% (Confidence intervals (CI) 20-32%). The 5-year DFS was higher for patients transplanted in first remission 32% (CI 24-40%) compared to 14% (CI 5-23%; P<0.0001) in patients transplanted beyond first remission. No significant differences in DFS (P=0.06) were determined between autologous, related donor and unrelated donor SCT in the whole cohort. A lower relapse rate was counterbalanced by higher treatment-related mortality in patients undergoing allogeneic SCT. In Philadelphia-positive ALL, allogeneic SCT was superior to autologous SCT, with a 5-year DFS of 30% (CI 12-47%) vs 0% (P=0.04). Limited chronic graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) was associated with an improved DFS of 53% (CI 38-69%) compared to no chronic GVHD of 22% (CI 10-36%; P=0.0008), indicating a clinically important graft-versus-leukaemia effect.

Development of humoral cross-reactivity to the nucleocapsid protein of heterologous hantaviruses in nephropathia epidemica.

A hantavirus infection is followed by a prominent antibody response to the viral nucleocapsid protein. Antibodies from patients infected with one hantavirus cross-react to varying degrees with the nucleocapsid protein of other viruses of the genus. We studied the cross-reactivity in serially obtained blood samples from 17 patients with nephropathia epidemica, a European form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome caused by Puumala virus. Recombinant truncated nucleocapsid protein (aa 1-117) of Puumala virus and four other hantaviruses, Hantaan, Seoul, Dobrava and Sin Nombre viruses, were used as antigens in an indirect ELISA. In most patients, an IgG response to the Puumala virus derived recombinant protein was detected within 2-8 days of onset of disease, remained high for 2-5 months, and declined gradually within 2-3 years. All patients had IgG antibodies cross-reacting with the nucleocapsid protein of Sin Nombre virus. The ratio of the ELISA values obtained with Sin Nombre vs. Puumala virus protein as antigen increased with time after onset of disease. To a lesser extent, cross-reacting IgG antibodies also occurred to Hantaan, Seoul, and Dobrava virus antigens. In the acute phase of the disease, two patients showed IgG antibodies to one or more of these viruses whereas 2-5 months later, 11 of 16 patients had IgG antibodies to all three viruses. IgM and IgA responses to the nucleocapsid protein of Puumala virus were transitory and cross-reactivities were weak. In conclusion, after onset of nephropathia epidemica the IgG response to the Puumala virus nucleocapsid protein was associated with a gradually increasing cross-reactivity to the nucleocapsid protein of heterologous hantavirus. Our findings have implications for the interpretation of serological data, both in the diagnostics of nephropathia epidemica and in seroprevalence studies.

Central nervous system and ophthalmic involvement in nephropathia epidemica (European type of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome).

Central nervous system (CNS) - related symptoms occur in haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). To study the CNS and ophthalmic involvement in nephropathia epidemica (NE), the European type of HFRS, we included 26 patients in a prospective study. Most common CNS-related symptoms were headache (96%), insomnia (83%), vertigo (79%), nausea (79%), and vomiting (71%). Ophthalmic symptoms were reported by 82% of patients; 41% had photophobia and 50% had impaired vision. A transient loss of vision was recorded in one patient, who also had a generalized seizure. Minor white matter lesions were found in about half of the patients investigated with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Electroencephalography (EEG) showed severe alterations in only one patient, and slight and reversible patterns in another two patients. Neopterin, interleukin-6 and interferon-gamma levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were elevated, which may indicate immune activation. However, we found no evidence of intrathecal NE virus replication. We conclude that CNS-related symptoms are common in NE, and transient ophthalmic involvement can be demonstrated in about half of the patients.

Shorter survival-times following adjuvant endocrine therapy in oestrogen- and progesterone-receptor positive breast cancer overexpressing HER2 and/or with an increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor.

PURPOSE: To investigate the possible correlation between expression of HER2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and to determine the predictive value of these factors in patients receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy including the group with a breast cancer (BC) positive for both oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: By enzyme immuno-sorbent assays (ELISA) tumour levels of HER2 and VEGF proteins were determined in 679 consecutive primary BC patients, median age 63 years, median follow-up time 92 months. A total of 404 patients received adjuvant endocrine therapy, mainly tamoxifen, out of them 295 had an ER and PgR positive BC. In 160 patients, HER2 status was also determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using the monoclonal antibody CB11. RESULTS: Overexpression of HER2 by IHC was found in 15% of the patients. Overexpression of HER2 by ELISA correlated with HER2 by IHC (P < 0.001) and a higher VEGF expression (P = 0.004). Patients receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy with high VEGF (RFS P = 0.0087, BCCS P = 0.0012) or over-expressing HER2 (RFS P = 0.0116, BCCS P = 0.0036) had significantly shorter survival. Factors retaining statistical significance in multivariate analyses for recurrence-free survival (RFS) were nodal status (P < 0.001), tumour size (P = 0.005) and VEGF (P = 0.032) and for breast cancer corrected survival (BCCS) nodal status (P < 0.001), tumour size (P = 0.001), ER status (P = 0.022), and VEGF (P = 0.016). Both factors were significantly correlated with survival in the group with a BC positive for both ER and PgR; VEGF (RFS P = 0.0177, BCCS P = 0.0321) and HER2 (RFS P = 0.0143, BCCS P = 0.0311). In multivariate analyses, nodal status (P < 0.001) and VEGF (P = 0.021) were independent factors for RFS. Nodal status (P < 0.001) and tumour size (P = 0.016) retained independent factors for BCCS. Combined analysis identified a high-risk group (HER2 positive and high VEGF) with significantly reduced survival. CONCLUSION: The results from this retrospective analysis suggest that overexpression of HER2 and higher VEGF expression may add information on patient's outcome after adjuvant endocrine therapy in ER and PgR positive BC.

Children and adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia have similar gene expression profiles.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the gene expression pattern in children and adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in order to improve our understanding of the difference in disease biology and prognosis. METHODS: The gene expression profiles in diagnostic samples from 29 children and 15 adults with ALL were analysed using the oligonucleotide chip Hu95ver2a, produced by Affymetrix. RESULTS: Unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that, in spite of differences in outcome, patients clustered irrespective of age, first by T-cell or B-precursor immunophenotype, and second by cytogenetic changes within the B-precursor group. The expression pattern analysis allowed the reclassification of some samples into the proper cytogenetic group. We also showed that separate clustering of samples with the BCR/ABL translocation could be explained by different breakpoint regions in the BCR. No significant difference in gene expression was observed between samples with and without CDKN2A deletion within the B-precursor group. Analysis of different age groups revealed a similarity in expression profiles when infants with the MLL translocation and adults over 40 yr of age were compared irrespective of karyotype. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the difference in clinical outcome, the gene expression pattern in children and adults with ALL is very similar and is primarily dependent on immunophenotype and cytogenetic aberrations. However, when age groups are compared, the expression patterns of infants and adults over 40 show a remarkable similarity.

Evaluation of six commercially available kits using purified heterophile antigen for the rapid diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis compared with Epstein-Barr virus-specific serology.

BACKGROUND: Novel commercial kits based on antibody reactivity to purified heterophile antigens have recently been introduced for the diagnosis of Epstein-Barr (EB) virus-associated infectious mononucleosis (IM). It is important to determine possible improvements in the performance and reliability of such tests for the diagnosis of IM. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability of six commercially available kits for the rapid diagnosis of IM in comparison to EB-virus-specific serology. STUDY DESIGN: In total, 100 sera, 53 from patients with serologically verified primary EB virus infection and 47 from EB-virus-immune or -susceptible patients, were used to evaluate the six rapid test kits: Monolatex, Mono-Latex, Mono-Lex (latex agglutination-based kits), Mono-Plus, IM-Check and Clearview IM (solid-phase-based kits). EB-virus-specific serologies including detection of viral capsid antigen IgM and IgG and EB nuclear antigen-1 IgG, were used as reference methods. RESULTS: Compared with the reference methods, the sensitivities and specificities of the heterophile antibody test kits were 70-92% and 96-100%, respectively. IM-Check had a low sensitivity and was difficult to read. The remaining kits performed well. CONCLUSION: Monolatex, Mono-Latex, Mono-Lex, Mono-Plus and Clearview IM can be recommended for the confirmation of EB-virus-associated infectious mononucleosis. Clearview IM combined a high sensitivity and specificity with very simple one-step solid-phase-based procedure.

Comparative evaluation of nine kits for rapid diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis and Epstein-Barr virus-specific serology.

Rapid diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated infectious mononucleosis was compared by using nine kits and EBV-specific serology. Specific antibodies indicative of primary EBV infection were detected in 46 of 108 (43%) serum samples of infectious mononucleosis patients. The sensitivities and specificities of the rapid kits varied from 63 to 84% and 84 to 100%, respectively.

Increased production of nitric oxide in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome--relation to arterial hypotension and tumor necrosis factor.

In 15 consecutive subjects hospitalized with nephropathia epidemica, a European form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, the plasma concentrations of nitrate plus nitrite, stable metabolites of nitric oxide, were determined. From day 3 of onset of disease the concentrations increased, peak levels being reached on days 5 to 7. Maximal plasma concentrations of nitrate plus nitrite were correlated to the degree of hypotension (r = -0.64, p = 0.02) and levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (r = 0.51, p = 0.05) and soluble TNF receptors p55 and p75 (r = 0.58, p = 0.03 and r = 0.54, p = 0.04, respectively) but not to levels of interferon-gamma or interleukin-10 (p > 0.05). The results are compatible with the well-known capacity of TNF-alpha to enhance production of nitric oxide, and suggest that nitric oxide may be of physiologic importance in hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

Pulmonary involvement in nephropathia epidemica as demonstrated by computed tomography.

In a prospective study 19 adult patients with nephropathia epidemica were examined in the acute phase of disease with computed tomography (CT) of the lungs and conventional chest radiography. Infiltrates and/or pleural effusions were seen in ten of 19 patients. In two of the patients, abnormalities were disclosed only by CT. Patients with pathologic radiography findings had a more pronounced inflammatory response, as measured by C-reactive protein and leukocyte count, than did those with normal radiography findings. It is concluded that radiological evidence of pulmonary involvement is a common finding early in the course of nephropathia epidemica. The possibility that the lung may be a site of viral replication merits further investigation.

The clinical usefulness of a Puumalavirus recombinant nucleocapsid protein based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the diagnosis of nephropathia epidemica as compared with an immunofluorescence assay.

BACKGROUND: Nephropathia epidemica (NE), a hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) predominantly encountered in northern Europe, is a febrile disease, commonly associated with acute renal impairment. A rapid and reliable serological diagnosis is required to differentiate NE from other acute febrile illnesses in endemic areas. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a Puumala (PUU) virus recombinant nucleocapsid protein (rN) based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the serological diagnosis of NE as compared with an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) in a clinically relevant patient sample. STUDY DESIGN: During a four-month period, 618 serum samples from 512 patients with an illness suggestive of NE, sent to the Department of Clinical Virology for serological analysis, were included in the study. All sera were tested by PUU rN ELISA for presence of specific IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies and by IFA using PUU virus infected cells as antigen for presence of IgG and IgM antibodies. Patients with discordant results by IFA and rN ELISA were further serologically and/or clinically evaluated to assess the probability of NE. RESULTS: Compared to IFA, the specificities of the IgM and IgG rN ELISA were 100% and the corresponding sensitivities were 94.0%. The positive and negative predictive values of the PUU IgM rN ELISA in diagnosing NE infection was 100 and 98.6%, respectively. The positive predictive values for present NE infection of IgG rN ELISA and IFA were 68.3 and 71.4%, respectively. The positive predictive value of IgA rN ELISA was 95.8% and the negative 92.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The demonstration of specific IgM by rN ELISA is a highly specific and reliable method for the serological confirmation of NE. Detection of IgG antibodies by rN ELISA or IFA has a low predictive value to diagnose NE in an endemic area. The diagnostic value of IgA determination is in between IgM and IgG determinations.

Moving and stationary boundaries in immobilized pH gradients.

The relations describing the concentration changes at moving boundaries in a medium containing bound, buffering group are derived for a system which, except for hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, contains one anionic and one cationic mobile constituent. The relations found have been used to calculate concentrations and conductivities in zones developing in immobilized pH gradients. Assumptions used in the calculations as well as conductivity ratios between zones have been experimentally controlled and were found to reasonably agree with expectations. It is also shown how difference in transference numbers between sample droplet and gel will cause concentration and pH changes at the gel-sample droplet interfaces and it is explained how these changes are related to ionic concentrations in the gel. The high concentration zone generated at one of the interfaces will be transported into the gel. This transport has been numerically simulated and experimentally verified. The low concentration generated at the opposite interface will cause titration impeding sample entrance in the gel through this interface even when the gel contains ions other than H+ or OH- transported towards the interface. The described phenomena explain the dependence of lateral spreading, precipitation at the application site as well as streaking and smearing along sample lanes, on the type and concentration of low molecular weight ions originally present in the gel.

Endocarditis caused by a group B Streptococcus strain, type III, in a nonencapsulated phase.

A nontypeable blood isolate of group B streptococci (GBS) from a patient with endocarditis is suggested to be the nonencapsulated phase of a GBS strain, type III. From the original high-density isolate, a low-density, encapsulated phase was selected by Percoll gradient centrifugation. This phenomenon should be considered before a GBS strain is classified as truly nontypeable.

Elevated plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, soluble TNF receptors, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

Plasma levels of cytokines were measured by EIA in 15 subjects hospitalized with nephropathia epidemica, a European form of hantavirus-induced hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 were increased in all patients at admission, and the concentration of IL-10 was increased in most. TNF-alpha concentrations were still increased 1 week after onset of disease; levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were normalized. TNF-alpha was undetectable by the WEHI cell assay in serum samples obtained throughout the acute phase of disease. Serum levels of the two soluble TNF receptors p55 and p75 correlated with levels of the cytokine, indicating that receptor binding may be the reason for lack of bioactivity in vitro. TNF-alpha is known to induce pathophysiologic and clinical changes similar to those seen in nephropathia epidemica and in diseases caused by other hantaviruses.

Prevalence of serum IgG antibodies to Puumala virus (haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome) in northern Sweden.

A stratified and randomly-selected population sample was identified in 1990 in order to study the seroprevalence of nephropathia epidemica (haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome) in Northern Sweden. Sera from 1538 subjects (750 men, 788 women), 25-64 years of age, were analysed for the presence of Puumala virus (PUV) specific-IgG by the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test. Specific IgG was detected in sera from 83 subjects (5.4%). Men and women had similar seroprevalence rates. The highest seroprevalences were found in subjects 55 years or older (8.0%) and among farmers and forestry workers (15.9%). The geographic distribution of seropositive individuals was uneven and there were significantly more seropositive persons in rural than in urban areas (P < 0.05).

Increased plasma levels of soluble CD23 in haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome; relation to virus-specific IgE.

In 15 consecutive patients hospitalized with nephropathia epidemica, a European form of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Puumala virus, plasma concentrations of soluble CD23 (sCD23) and Puumala virus-specific IgE were determined. In the acute phase of illness, 11/15 patients had increased sCD23 levels (> 91 U/ml), whereas in convalescence, values of 8/10 patients were normalized. Maximal sCD23 values were correlated to maximal concentrations of Puumala virus-specific serum IgE (r = 0.597; P = 0.025). The results are compatible with a known ability of sCD23 to augment IgE production.

Impaired pulmonary function in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

Pulmonary and cardiac functions were investigated in 13 patients hospitalized with nephropathia epidemica, a European form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. As compared with reference values, the patients' diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide was decreased (P = .002) and pulmonary clearance of inhaled technetium-99m-labeled diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid was increased (P = .002). In four of 11 patients, arterial blood gas analysis disclosed a reduction in partial pressure of O2 (< 10 kPa) and oxygen saturation (< 94%). In three of 13 patients, chest radiography revealed interstitial infiltrates or pleural effusions. Lung volumes and expiratory flow rates of the patients were not significantly changed. By electrocardiography and echocardiography, no significant cardiac dysfunction was demonstrable. The pulmonary dysfunction was best explained by an alveolocapillary lesion. The two hantavirus-caused clinical syndromes, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, may be pathophysiologically more similar than appears from the clinical presentations.

Local host response in the lower respiratory tract in nephropathia epidemica.

Various lines of evidence suggest a respiratory route of transmission of nephropathia epidemica (NE). To study the response of the respiratory tract in NE, fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in 5 patients in the acute phase of the disease. Compared to a reference group of 15 healthy individuals, BAL fluid of NE patients contained significantly higher total numbers of cells (p < 0.05) and significantly higher numbers of lysozyme-positive macrophages (p < 0.01), CD8+ T cells (p < 0.01), and natural killer (NK) cells (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in numbers of CD4+ T cells, B cells, or neutrophils. When blood samples of 16 patients were examined at various intervals after onset of NE, a significant decrease in the number of NK cells (p < 0.01) was found in the acute phase of the disease. The findings are compatible with the presence of a local host response in the lower respiratory tract to NE virus infection.