Arterial stiffness in hematologic malignancies.

Malignant and cardiovascular disorders are the top causes of mortality worldwide. This article reviews the main literature data and mechanisms linking hematologic malignancies and arterial stiffness, focusing on recent experimental and clinical results. Several links were found in hematologic malignancies between complete blood count and arterial stiffness. Chemotherapy, especially anthracyclines, cyclophosphamide and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, as well as radiotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are the main known causes of arterial stiffness increase in hematologic malignancies. The mechanisms of arterial stiffness elevation in hematologic malignancies include an increased oxidative stress, impaired vascular wall homeostasis, endothelial dysfunction and apoptosis of endothelial cells, overexpression of inflammatory cytokines, accelerated atherosclerosis, increased blood viscosity and unstable platelet aggregates. Guidelines regarding cardiovascular health screening and cardiovascular risk scores are necessary for hematologic cancer survivors in order to improve prognosis and quality of life of the patients.

Influence of exercise training and eating behavior on arterial stiffness in young healthy students.

AIM: Increased arterial stiffness is an important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to compare arterial function and other anthropometric parameters in trained vs sedentary, healthy young students. Furthermore, the study explores the relationship between arterial stiffness and eating behavior in these students. METHODS: Two groups of healthy university students were recruited for this study. The first group consisted of 10 men and 8 women (mean age: 23.27 ± 3.2 years) with an athletic predisposition. Furthermore, over the course of 6 months this group participated in 60-min training sessions designed as interval training circuits with a frequency of three to five times a week. For comparison, a group of age-matched sedentary students (5 men and 13 women; 24.27 ± 2.6 years) were recruited from the same institution. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), as well as neck and abdominal circumferences (ABs) were recorded. Arterial tension, heart rate, arterial stiffness measurements were simultaneously determined. Lastly, all students completed a 51-item "Eating Behavior Patterns Questionnaire". RESULTS: Age, weight, BMI, AB, and blood pressure were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). The moderately aerobic trained students showed a significantly lower heart rate, neck circumference, and arterial stiffness as compared with their untrained, sedentary counterparts. Additionally, pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements were correlated to a lower weight, heart rate, blood pressure, AB, and neck circumference (p < 0.05) found in trained subjects at the end of the 6-month training period. Furthermore, the nutritional habit analysis showed that in the sedentary group, snacking, emotional eating, and cultural/lifestyle behaviors are positively correlated with PWV (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Healthy subjects with higher PWV may benefit from consistent aerobic exercise training to improve arterial stiffness. Our eating behavior study shows that healthy eating may improve vascular function and therefore can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Bcl-2 expression in Hodgkin's lymphoma progression.

INTRODUCTION: Hodgkin's lymphoma study by immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-2 in Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells can precise these cases evolutive way. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-three cases of classical Hodgkin's disease, hospitalized into the Hematology Department of the County Hospital No. 1 Timisoara, were studied. Histopathological diagnostic was performed using common staining methods, and for revealing the tumoral developments immunohistochemical staining was performed Bcl-2. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In our study, the results were noticed a direct relation between the rise of tumoral proliferation index expressions of Bcl-2 and progression of the disease (p < or = 0.001). For I and II stages Bcl-2 expression does not overcome (-/+) category while the III and IV stages, all the cases are situated in (+/-) and (+) categories. No connection we can be noticed between the histological type and Bcl-2 expression although the classic Hodgkin's lymphoma with lymphocyte depletion is considered the most aggressive histological type (p < or = 1). In our study, we found this correlation very important because the main cause of relapses is inadequate staging. In some cases, this staging is difficult; some little lymph nodes could be overlooked because they can be placed in less accessible areas and cannot be evidenced by the most imagistic methods. CONCLUSIONS: All the cases were Bcl-2 expression higher than (+/-) and are staged as I and II stages should be reinvestigated and restaged. This immunohistochemical reaction, although less used in Romania, is very accurate. That is very important because the therapeutically attitude is different in advances stages compared to earlier stages.

CD30 expression utilization for the accuracy of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma staging.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of Reed-Sternberg malignant cells is absolutely necessary for Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnostic, but it is not always sufficient because can be observed Reed-Sternberg-like cells in other malignant and benign diseases, too. The CD30 expression at Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg level can give us supplementary information in differential diagnostic and can be used as progressive disease factor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our study was composed from 63 cases histopathological diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and hospitalized in Hematology Department of County Hospital Timisoara. CD30 expression was immunohistochemical semi-quantitative evaluated using clone BerH2 as primary antibody and APAAP-New Fuchsin as visualization system. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: The increasing of CD30 expression occurs in the same time with advanced stages and the disease progression (p =0.001). For I and II stages CD30 expression does not overcome (-/+) category while the III and IV stages, all the cases are situated in (+/-) and (+) categories. No connection can be noticed between histological type and CD30 expression (p < or = 1). We consider that using this staining, although less used in Romania, must be done in all Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma-like cases. We say that because the main cause of relapses is represented by inadequate clinical staging and diagnostic. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the increasing of CD30 expression is associated with advanced disease stage. We recommend reinvestigating and restaging all cases that was included into an incipient stages and they have a CD30 expression situated in (+/-) and (+) intervals because some lymph nodes could be overlooked.