Outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients who underwent myeloablative TBI-free conditioning regimen.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) predominantly affects children but has poorer outcomes in adults. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a key consolidation therapy for high-risk patients, but the more commonly employed total body irradiation (TBI) regimen may be inaccessible in resource-limited settings, requiring alternative regimens. This retrospective study evaluated outcomes of 829 adult ALL patients who underwent HLA-matched allo-HSCT with a myeloablative, TBI-free regimen over two decades.

Stem cell transplantation cost in Iran.

Introduction: Stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a crucial treatment for various blood disorders and cancers. This procedure involves the transfer of healthy stem cells to replace damaged or diseased cells, restoring healthy blood cell production and alleviating symptoms. This study aimed to calculate the total cost of SCT at Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

MR-AIV reveals brain-wide fluid flow with physics-informed AI.

The circulation of cerebrospinal and interstitial fluid plays a vital role in clearing metabolic waste from the brain, and its disruption has been linked to neurological disorders. However, directly measuring brain-wide fluid transport-especially in the deep brain-has remained elusive. Here, we introduce magnetic resonance artificial intelligence velocimetry (MR-AIV), a framework featuring a specialized physics-informed architecture and optimization method that reconstructs three-dimensional fluid velocity fields from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI).

Safety and Feasibility of Blockade of NK Group-2 Member-A Receptor in Natural Killer Cells Combined with Cetuximab Antibody in Patients with Advanced Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: Blocking of inhibitory receptors such as NK group-2 member-A (NKG2A) enhances tumor immunity of natural killer (NK) cells. Additionally, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) is an important cytotoxic modality of action of NK cells, which act as a functional bridge between innate and adaptive immunity. Here, we investigated the safety and feasibility of anti-NKG2A antibody-pretreated NK cells combined with IgG1 antibody (cetuximab) in patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC).

Allogeneic CART progress: platforms, current progress and limitations.

Allogenic chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells have advantages compared to autologous T cell therapies such as availability cells for production, a suitable HLA-matched donor (if graft-vs-host-disease and rejection effects are to be avoided and also lower risks associated with transduction methods in process of autologous CAR-T cells). In recent years, the additional editing and non-editing technologies are helping to make allogenic CAR-T therapies a hopeful future treatment. Universal off-the-shelf CAR-T cells can be solved key issues include preventing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and time consumption and other challenges faced to allogenic CAR-T cells.

Cytogenetic Abnormalities and Their Impact on Acute Myeloid Leukemia Outcomes Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Background And Aims: Cytogenetic abnormalities at diagnosis are detected in over half of adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of these abnormalities on the outcomes of AML patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in an Iranian cohort.

Methods: This retrospective study included 206 AML patients aged over 15 who underwent allogeneic HSCT at a single center.

Acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease treatment and management in the Eastern Mediterranean region: A Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation survey.

Background: The treatment of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) remains a challenge, particularly in cases of steroid-refractory GvHD. The management of GvHD varies between institutions, and little is known regarding the practices in different regions of the world. Thus, the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation has developed a questionnaire to understand the current practices of GvHD management in the Eastern Mediterranean (EM) region.

Non-coding RNAs: Emerging contributors to chemoresistance in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), is a myeloproliferative disease characterized by unregulated growth of blood forming cells in bone marrow and blood. The t(9;22)(q34;q11.2) translocation, which results in the formation of a hyperactive tyrosine kinase (), is a hallmark of this disorder.

Reduced Cish expression by siRNA knockdown in Natural Killer cells promotes anti-tumor effects against gastric cancer cell lines.

Improving immune cell functions in tumors remains a main challenge in cancer immunotherapy. NK are main innate effector cells with anti-tumor activity against various tumors. Consequently, NK cells are proper candidates for cancer immunotherapy, including gastric cancer.

Age-Related Considerations in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Acute Leukemia: A 10-Year Retrospective Study.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has long been a curative intervention for acute leukemia, though outcomes in older patients remain suboptimal due to higher non-relapse mortality (NRM) and relapse rates. Innovations in conditioning regimens and supportive care have made HSCT accessible to patients over 50, but age-related disparities in outcomes persist. This 10-year retrospective cohort study reviewed all patients who underwent first-time allogeneic HSCT for acute leukemia.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan versus trastuzumab emtansine for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive metastatic breast cancer: cost-effectiveness analysis from Iranian experience.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), compared to trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) as second-line treatments for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients in Iran.

Methods: A partitioned survival model was developed based on time-to-event data from the DESTINY-Breast 03 trial to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of T-DXd versus T-DM1 from a societal perspective and over a lifetime horizon. Costs and utility inputs were derived from published literature and official Iranian sources.

Development of ZnO-NPs reinforced chitosan nanofiber mats with improved antibacterial and biocompatibility properties.

This paper studied the possibility of fabricating a nano-composite based on chitosan incorporated with ZnO-NPs as a promising textile for wound dressing purposes. The nanofiber mat was obtained from dispersions of ZnO-NPs in chitosan-based solution blended with PVA (Cs/PVA/ZnO-NPs scaffold). The extracted chitosan was characterized using FTIR, FE-SEM, XRD, and TGA analysis.

Plasma-circulating miR-638, miR-6511b-5p, miR-3613-5p, miR-455-3p, miR-5787, and miR-548a-3p as noninvasive biomarkers of immune reconstitution post-allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia patients.

Introduction: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a viable treatment option for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), though it carries risks including delayed immune reconstitution and hematopoietic reconstitution failure. This study aimed to explore the potential of circulating miRNA levels as biomarkers for post-transplant immune reconstitution.

Methods: This observational study was carried out on de novo non-M3 AML patients receiving allo-HSCT from HLA-matched sibling donors at Shariati Hospital, Iran in 2020-2023.

Evaluating the safety and feasibility of allogeneic NK cell infusion in high-risk lymphoma patients post-autologous stem cell transplantation.

Lymphoma, a cancer with poor prognosis is a growing global health challenge that encompasses two primary types, Hodgkin (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), each further divided into various subtypes with distinct biological behaviors. Conventional therapeutic strategies include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT). Natural killer (NK) cells exhibit intrinsic cytotoxicity against tumor cells without the need for prior immunization or activation.

Preparedness, Uncertainty, and Distress Among Family Caregivers in the Care of Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Objectives: To determine the level of preparedness, uncertainty, and distress of family caregivers (FCs) of patients before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Sample & Setting: This study is a longitudinal cohort panel study involving 69 FCs of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Methods & Variables: Data were collected during the first week of hospitalization (T0) and two weeks after discharge (T1) via FCs' demographic information, a clinical status form for patients, two scales, and a psychological distress instrument.

Cell Therapy Using Anti-NKG2A Pretreated Natural Killer Cells in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: The activities and functions of natural killer (NK) cells are regulated by a limited repertoire of activating and inhibitory receptors. Thus, we provided a study of inhibition of the NKG2A using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), and as a primary endpoint, we evaluated whether it can be translated to enhance adoptive NK cell immunotherapy, as the secondary endpoint, we investigated safety and feasibility.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the safety of anti-NKG2A-pretreated NK cells in improving ADCC function to manage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Efficacy of Low-Dose Fluconazole for Primary Prophylaxis of Invasive Candida Infections in Patients With Acute Leukemia: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs), particularly Candida infections, are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with acute leukemia. While fluconazole is widely used for prophylaxis, the optimal dosing regimen remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose fluconazole for primary prophylaxis against invasive Candida infections in patients with acute leukemia receiving intensive chemotherapy.

Biomacromolecule chitosan carrying meglumine antimoniate coated on a silver/polyurethane nanocomposite as a wound dressing: Therapeutic efficacy on cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major in BALB/c mice.

The high drug-carrying capacity and biocompatibility of chitosan (CS), a versatile biomacromolecule, have received special attention in recent years. This study focused on CS containing meglumine antimoniate (MA) for treating leishmaniasis, which was coated onto a silver/polyurethane (Ag.MA.

Immune checkpoints and ncRNAs: pioneering immunotherapy approaches for hematological malignancies.

Hematological malignancies are typically treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy as the first-line conventional therapies. However, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a rapidly expanding field of study in cancer biology that influences the growth, differentiation, and proliferation of tumors by targeting immunological checkpoints. This study reviews the results of studies (from 2012 to 2024) that consider the immune checkpoints and ncRNAs in relation to hematological malignancies receiving immunotherapy.

Predictive modeling of outcomes in acute leukemia patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using machine learning techniques.

Background: Leukemia necessitates continuous research for effective therapeutic techniques. Acute leukemia (AL) patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) focus on key outcomes such as overall survival (OS), relapse, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the capability of machine learning (ML) models in predicting OS, relapse, and GVHD in AL patients post-allo-HSCT.

Immediate hypersensitivity reactions to parenteral cyclosporine in patients with thalassemia major undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a definitive cure for eligible patients with thalassemia major, and calcineurin inhibitors are essential for preventing graft-versus-host disease. Although invaluable, there are few reports of life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions associated with calcineurin inhibitors. These reactions are generally rare but seem to be more prevalent among patients with thalassemia.