Is Treosulfan-Based Conditioning Attractive as a Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Regimen in Korea?

Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was not actively performed in elderly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome patients who are at a high-risk based on hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI). The advent of reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens has made HSCT applicable in this population. However, the selection of appropriate conditioning is a major concern for the attending physician.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio as new possible minor criteria for diagnosis of polycythemia vera.

Introduction: The role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of polycythemia vera (PV) is important. The presence of JAK2 mutations is important in the diagnosis of PV, and serum levels of erythropoietin (EPO) also play a supporting role. However, serum EPO levels show some limitations.

Comparison of antibody response to coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination between patients with solid or hematologic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Aim: This study examined the serum antibody response of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in solid and hematologic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Levels of various inflammatory cytokines/chemokines after full vaccination were analyzed.

Methods: Forty-eight patients with solid cancer and 37 with hematologic malignancy who got fully vaccinated either with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 messenger RNA (mRNA) or vector vaccines or their combination were included.

Effects of Omicron Infection and Changes in Serum Antibody Response to Wild-Type, Delta, and Omicron After a Booster Dose With BNT163b2 Vaccine in Korean Healthcare Workers.

Background: Although the primary vaccine coverage rate for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in South Korea has exceeded 80%, the coronavirus continues to spread, with reports of a rapid decline in vaccine effectiveness. South Korea is administering booster shots despite concerns about the effectiveness of the existing vaccine.

Methods: Neutralizing antibody inhibition scores were evaluated in two cohorts after the booster dose.

Clinical Experience of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Elderly Patients Aged 60 Years and Older in South Korea.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to share our outcomes and experiences on allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in elderly patients aged 60 years and older with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in South Korea, and to compare them with other studies.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed the clinical outcomes of 116 patients with AML or MDS aged 60 years and older who underwent allogeneic HSCT. We also analyzed which pretreatment factors affect the overall survival (OS) after allogeneic HSCT.

Clinical, Mutational, and Transcriptomic Characteristics in Elderly Korean Individuals With Clonal Hematopoiesis Driver Mutations.

Background: Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), which is defined as the presence of blood cells originating from somatically mutated hematopoietic stem cells, is common among the elderly and is associated with an increased risk of hematologic malignancies. We investigated the clinical, mutational, and transcriptomic characteristics in elderly Korean individuals with CHIP mutations.

Methods: We investigated CHIP in 90 elderly individuals aged ≥60 years with normal complete blood counts at a tertiary-care hospital in Korea between June 2021 and February 2022.

TET2 Mutation and High miR-22 Expression as Biomarkers to Predict Clinical Outcome in Myelodysplastic Syndrome Patients Treated with Hypomethylating Therapy.

Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (TET2) is one of the most frequently mutated genes in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). TET2 is known to involve a demethylation process, and the loss of TET2 is thought to cause DNA hypermethylation. Loss of TET2 function is known to be caused by genetic mutations and miRNA, such as miR-22.

Clinical Experience of Male Primary Choriocarcinoma at the Samsung Medical Center.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe and analyze the clinicopathological features of primary choriocarcinoma (PCC) observed in male patients treated at the Samsung Medical Center between 1996 and 2020.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the clinical records of 14 male patients with PCC retrospectively to assess their demographic, histological, and clinical characteristics at the time of diagnosis as well as identify the treatment outcomes.

Results: The median age of the patients was 33 years.

Whole leukemia cell vaccines: Past progress and future directions.

It has long been recognized that allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can reduce the risk of leukemia relapse by inducing the graft-versus-leukemia effect. However, allogeneic stem cell transplantation is also known to be able to cause graft-versus-host disease, which can cause considerable morbidity and even mortality in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Therefore, to elicit leukemia-specific immune responses without alloimmune reaction, the possibilities of active immunotherapy methods such as leukemia vaccines have been studied for decades.

Clinical utility of far-infrared therapy for improvement of vascular access blood flow and pain control in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Maintenance of a well-functioning vascular access and minimal needling pain are important goals for achieving adequate dialysis and improving the quality of life in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Far-infrared (FIR) therapy may improve endothelial function and increase access blood flow (Qa) and patency in HD patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of FIR therapy on Qa and patency, and needling pain in HD patients.

Does anti-thymocyte globulin have a place in busulfan/fludarabine conditioning for matched related donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation?

Background/aims: There is controversy about the prophylactic effect of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) on graft versus host disease (GVHD) in the setting of matched related-donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This study assessed the inf luences of ATG on the incidences of acute and chronic GVHD and other clinical outcomes in matched related-donor HSCT.

Methods: Sixty-one patients received allogeneic HSCT from human leukocyte antigen-matched, related donors.