Efficacy of stem cell in improvement of left ventricular function in acute myocardial infarction - MI3 Trial.

Background & objectives: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is characterized by irreparable and irreversible loss of cardiac myocytes. Despite major advances in the management of AMI, a large number of patients are left with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), which is a major determinant of short and long term morbidity and mortality. A review of 33 randomized control trials has shown varying improvement in left ventricular (LV) function in patients receiving stem cells compared to standard medical therapy. Most trials had small sample size and were underpowered. This phase III prospective, open labelled, randomized multicenteric trial was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy in improving the LVEF over a period of six months, after injecting a predefined dose of 5-10 × 108 autologous mononuclear cells (MNC) by intra-coronary route, in patients, one to three weeks post ST elevation AMI, in addition to the standard medical therapy. Methods: In this phase III prospective, multicentric trial 250 patients with AMI were included and randomized into stem cell therapy (SCT) and non SCT groups. All patients were followed up for six months. Patients with AMI having left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 20-50 per cent were included and were randomized to receive intracoronary stem cell infusion after successfully completing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Results: On intention-to-treat analysis the infusion of MNCs had no positive impact on LVEF improvement of ≥ 5 per cent. The improvement in LVEF after six months was 5.17 ± 8.90 per cent in non SCT group and 4.82 ± 10.32 per cent in SCT group. The adverse effects were comparable in both the groups. On post hoc analysis it was noted that the cell dose had a positive impact when infused in the dose of ≥ 5 X 108 (n=71). This benefit was noted upto three weeks post AMI. There were 38 trial deviates in the SCT group which was a limitation of the study. Interpretation & conclusions: Infusion of stem cells was found to have no benefit in ST elevation AMI. However, the procedure was safe. A possible benefit was seen when the predefined cell dose was administered which was noted upto three weeks post AMI, but this was not significant and needs confirmation by larger trials.

V-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF) mutations in hairy cell leukaemia.

Introduction: Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma with distinct clinical, morphological and immunophenotypic features; however, there are many other B-cell lymphomas, which closely mimic HCL. Accurate diagnosis of HCL is important as treatment with 2-chloro-2’-deoxyadenosine (cladribine) is associated with >80% chance of complete cure. The recent description of BRAF p.V600E mutations in almost all HCL cases in various studies has not only improved the pathogenetic understanding of this entity but also increased the diagnostic accuracy of this disorder. Aim: The aim of the study was to standardize a molecular test for diagnosis of HCL and compare with standard established morphological, cytochemical and immunophenotypic parameters for HCL diagnosis. Materials and Methods: The incidence of this mutation was sought in 20 patients with either classical HCL or HCL variant (HCLv) by Sanger sequencing and allele-specifi c polymerase chain reaction. BRAF p.V600E mutation was present in all HCL cases and absent in the only HCLv case. Results: A high degree of correlation was noted between the presence of BRAF p.V600E and established diagnostic criteria in 20/20 patients with HCL/ HCLv. Our data supports the observation that this mutation is present in all cases of HCL and is absent in HCLv. Hence, detection of the BRAF p. V600E mutation can be a useful adjunct in the diagnostic algorithm.

A rapid & sensitive liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantitation of busulfan levels in plasma & application for routine therapeutic monitoring in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background & objectives: Busulfan (Bu) in combination with cyclophosphamide is widely used in myeloablative conditioning regimen prior to haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Its narrow therapeutic range and toxic side effects at high systemic exposure and graft rejection at low exposure emphasize the need for busulfan dose optimization using targeted dose adjustment prior to HSCT. We report here a rapid and sensitive method to quantitate busulfan plasma levels in patients receiving busulfan as part of pre-transplant conditioning. Methods: The method involves simple protein precipitation of the plasma followed by analysis using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with tandem mass spectrometry - electrospray ionization technique (LC-ESI MS/MS) in positive ionization mode and quantified using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Deuterated busulfan (d8-busulf`an) was used as the internal standard. Results: The method was linear for the concentration ranging from 0 to 4000 ng/ml of busulfan with a limit of detection of 2 ng/ml and limit of quantitation of 5 ng/ml. The assay was accurate for serial concentrations of Bu in plasma for five consecutive days and the CV was less than 10 per cent. Conclusion: Using this rapid and sensitive method, busulfan levels were targeted and subsequent doses adjusted at our center in 26 patients receiving high dose busulfan in combination with cyclophosphamide or fludarabine.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization patterns of BCR/ABL1 fusion in chronic myelogenous leukemia at diagnosis.

Background : Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is characterised by the t(9;22)(q34;q11.2) which results in the formation of the BCR/ABL1 fusion gene. Occasionally, the t(9;22) may be associated with submicroscopic deletions of chromosomes 9 and/or 22 which appear to be associated with a worse prognosis. Three or four-way variant t(9;22) may also occur. All these changes as well as gain of the Philadelphia chromosome which represents disease progression can be detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. FISH analysis at presentation is used to determine the number of cells with BCR/ABL1 fusion and establish whether the patterns are typical or atypical. Response to therapy can then be monitored by serial testing. Patients and Methods : The study group consisted of all patients diagnosed or suspected to have CML who had interphase FISH analysis at presentation on peripheral blood/bone marrow using a commercially available BCR/ABL1 dual colour, dual fusion probe. The study was performed at a tertiary hospital in India between 2004 and 2010. Results: There were 1076 diagnostic samples which were positive for BCR/ABL1 fusion. Typical dual fusion signals (two fusions, one red and one green, 2F1R1G) were seen in 801 cases (74 %). Atypical signal patterns were seen in 275 cases (26%). These were: 1F1R2G (4%), 1F2R1G (2.5%) and 1F1R1G (11%) representing deletions of the derivative 9 involving chromosome 9 sequences, chromosome 22 sequences, or both respectively; 3F1R1G (6.5%) usually representing gain of an additional Philadelphia chromosome and 1F2R2G (1%) representing a three- or four-way variant translocation. More than one signal pattern was seen in 1%. Conclusions: Our findings were similar to the literature with respect to the distribution of signal patterns except that we had a lower number of patients with variant translocations. While each signal pattern is typically associated with a particular abnormality, there can be more than one explanation for each pattern. Hence, metaphase FISH analysis is the "gold standard" for the interpretation of signal patterns.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS): a rare cause of immune cytopenia.

Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is an inherited disorder manifesting with autoimmune cytopenia, lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. The differential diagnosis includes infections, autoimmune disorders or malignancies. The disease is characterized by accumulation of double negative (CD3+ CD4- CD8-) T cells (DNT) in the peripheral blood. We describe a case and review the literature.