Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hematology

Commentary Open Access

T cell engagers targeting CD19 to treat B cell malignancies, and beyond

Xiaoqiang Yan, Ph.D

In the past decade, a tremendous progress has been made in developing T cell engaging bi-specific antibodies (BsAbs) targeting CD19 to treat B cell malignancies. The T cell engaging bi-specific molecule binds to CD3 on a T cell and a tumor-associated antigen (TAA) on a target cell and redirects the T cell to a specific target cell bypassing the MHC restriction mechanism, leading to the formation of immune synapse between the T cell and target cell and target cell lysis.

Commentary Open Access

Taking BAFF-R targeting CAR T-cells on the road

Martha E. Gadd, Hong Qin

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells were first clinically tested in trials against metastatic solid tumors without therapeutic benefit; however, these efforts established the necessary domains that are required for a functional CAR T-cell. With the characterization of cells within the immune system, the expression of CD19 was found to dictate B cell lineage that remains present on normal and malignant B cells.

Commentary Open Access

A commentary on patient and caregiver perceptions of home blood transfusions in the United States

Tara Rakiewicz, Lindsay Wilde, Alexandra Cohen, Adam F. Binder

Patients with transfusion dependent cytopenias from their hematologic malignancies experience a high burden of care. They often visit the cancer center 2-3 times a week for Complete blood count (CBC) checks and possible transfusions – spending hours of their day traveling for and receiving care. Home blood transfusions, while available in other countries, have not been well established in the United States (US). 

Case Report Open Access

Warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, and myelokathexis (WHIM) syndrome and tetralogy of fallot; Case report and literature review

Amer Khojah, Hadeel Alshareef, Lujain Alzahrani, Mohammad Binhussein, Ameera Bukhari, Imad Khojah

WHIM (Warts, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Infections, and Myelokathexis) syndrome is a rare primary immunodeficiency disorder characterized by susceptibility to human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, neutropenia, and hypogammaglobulinemia.

Short Communication Open Access

Recent advancements to characterize human blood via thixo-visco-elasto-plastic modeling

Matthew Armstrong, Andre Pincot

In the previous several years there has been much progress in developing more accurate thixo- lasto- visco-plastic rheological models that can be used to mechanically characterize human blood. In theory as the thixo-elasto-visco-plastic (TEVP) model accuracy and predictive capability improves, the parameterization, as well as insights and parametric correlations will also improve. 

Commentary Open Access

Commentary: Three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound diagnosis of interstitial ectopic pregnancy in a unicornuate uterus: A case report

Yanhua Dong, Hezhou Li, Runwei Liang

Unicornuate uterus represents a congenital uterine anomaly, with an incidence of approximately 0.1%-0.4%. The discourse surrounding the administration of interstitial pregnancy persists as a subject of contention. This uncommon malady is on the rise in terms of frequency, encompassing approximately 2%-6.8% of all instances of ectopic gestations and comprising 2%-4% of tubal ectopic pregnancies.

Commentary Open Access

A commentary on ‘Association between the weight-adjusted-waist index and familial hypercholesterolemia: A cross-sectional study’

Sisi Xu, Weijia Yang, Xuan Lyu, Fangying Wu, Chengjie Wang, Wei Mao, Minchun Yang

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common inherited metabolic disorder characterized by abnormally high blood levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Depending on the mode of inheritance, FH is mainly divided into two subtypes: heterozygous FH (HeFH) and heterozygous FH (HoFH). 

Commentary Open Access

Research progress and prospect of circular RNA in multiple myeloma

Wenjun Yu, Fan Zhou

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal plasma cell neoplasm manifested by anemia, hypercalcemia, impairment of renal function and bone destruction. It is now the second most common malignancy in hematology.

Commentary Open Access

New indications for nailfold videocapillaroscopy in the assessment and diagnosis of rheumatic diseases

Rafael Martín Holguera, Juan Antonio de Juanes Méndez, Belen Miguel Ibañez, Olga Martínez González, Manuel Martín Martínez, Ana Isabel Turrión Nieves

Periungual capillaroscopy is a technique that allows the study of the microcirculation of the periungual beds in a non-invasive and simple way, allowing the papillary dermis to be visualized in vivo. It is one of the fundamental diagnostic tests in clinical practice and teaching in rheumatology today.The basic patterns in capillaroscopy are determined by the structure and architecture of the nail bed, capillary density, the presence of avascular areas, capillary morphology and vascular flow.

Research Article Open Access

Prevalence of anemia and associated factors among Under-five children attended at Bule Hora general hospital, West Guji zone, Oromia region, Southern Ethiopia

Alqeer Aliyo, Abdurezak Jibril, Yonas Dessie

Anemia is a condition that causes decline of erythrocytes concentration in circulation or hemoglobin in the blood and a concomitant impairment of oxygen transportation. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined as hemoglobin (Hgb)<12 g/dL in adult non-pregnant women, Hgb <11g/dL in pregnant females, Hgb <13g/dL in adult men, Hgb <11g/dl in children whose age is 6-59 months, Hgb <11.5 g/dl in children whose age is 5-11years, Hgb<12 g/dl for children whose age is 12-14 years and Hgb <13 g/dL in newborns.

Commentary Open Access

Commentary on “Ultrasmall polyvinylpyrrolidone-modified iridium nanoparticles with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity for acute pancreatitis alleviation”

Wenzhang Jin, Xiang Su

Acute pancreatitis (AP) can lead to severe body damage, including a systemic inflammatory response and multiorgan failure, and current therapies rely heavily on symptomatic treatment and supportive care, with a lack of targeted therapeutic strategies for specific pathologic processes.

Short Communication Open Access

Efbemalenograstim alfa, a long-acting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, a novel dimeric G-CSF Fc fusion protein for reducing the risk of febrile neutropenia following chemotherapy

Simon Xi-Ming Li, Qing-Song Hou, Shu-Fang Wang, Jian-Min Chen, Wei Yao, Yan-Yan Fu, Li- Chuan Liu, Ren-Shu Li, Han Yang Chen, Kai Yang Tang, Xiao Qiang Yan

Chemotherapy?induced neutropenia (CIN) can cause life-threatening complications such as febrile neutropenia (FN) or other infections. Patients who develop FN often require prolonged hospitalizations and treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Commentary Open Access

Reimagining blood delivery: Extending IoTdrone frameworks to hematology logistics

Tejinder Singh Lakhwani

The healthcare landscape worldwide is experiencing a significant shift, with the infusion of emerging technologies in the fundamental logistics operations. One of these innovations concerns integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also referred to as drones, as a potential solution in filling unending gaps in the supply chain of medical supplies. 

Case Report Open Access

Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) - Introducing to hippocampal dose-reduction whole brain radiotherapy (HDR-WBRT)

Kheng-Wei Yeoh, Fang Yue Yong, Charlene Kah Hie Wong, Ashley Li Kuan Ong, Thamizh Isai Swaminathan, Kwang Ping Chan, Muhammad Nur Hidayat Abdul Ghani, Kevin Lee Min Chua

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare and aggressive extranodal Non Hodgkin Lymphoma. Combined modality treatment with high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) followed by whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) has been a commonly used treatment approach.

Case Report Open Access

Activated phosphoinositide-3-kinase delta syndrome presenting with early onset (infantile) autoimmune thrombocytopenia

Amer Khojah, Ameera Bukhari PhD

Activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta syndrome (APDS) is a rare syndrome of immune dysregulation that is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion and results in varying severity of the clinical phenotype. APDS is a result of a gain-of-function mutation in the gene PIK3CD, which codes for a catalytic subunit of the PI3K-Delta kinase.

Research Article Open Access

Gender disparity in the reticulocyte count of HIV-positive patients on HAART management in Ilorin

Pius O. Omosigho, Ayodele O. Ilesanmi, Lydia N. Asonye

Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells (RBCs). In the process of erythropoiesis (red blood cell formation), reticulocytes develop and mature in the bone marrow and then circulate for about a day in the bloodstream before developing into mature red blood cells.

Commentary Open Access

A novel multiparameter comprehensive hemostasis assessment biosensor

Ye Jin, Brian Gao, Zhiquan Shu, Praveen K. Sekar

Rapid, accurate, and comprehensive assessment of hemostasis is of great importance in many clinical settings. Key hematological indices routinely assessed in bleeding patients or patients at risk for bleeding are coagulation function, platelets, and hematocrit. Current clotting assays are limited to a partial analysis of hemostasis (individual faceted clotting elements), thereby providing an incomplete assessment of bleeding and thrombotic risks and status.

Commentary Open Access

The tip of the reproductive screening iceberg: ‘Every mother and every fetus matters’

R Douglas Wilson, MD MSC

The basic maternity preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services support for the ‘beginning of life’ are routinely offered, as outlined in the ‘Every Mother and Every Fetus Matters’ manuscript. The routine maternity screening tests are important and necessary but if the fetal screening or imaging procedures identifies fetal pathology, the routine maternal screening tests are only the tip of the screening and diagnostic iceberg. 

Commentary Open Access

An overview of clinical, molecular, and therapeutic approaches to Niemann-Pick disease

Kamran Hosseini

In animal cells (especially humans), there is an enzyme called acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) (EC 3.1.4.12) which can break the large molecule of sphingomyelin and convert it into smaller structures of ceramide and phosphorylcholine.

Commentary Open Access

How effective are antioxidants without fetal hemoglobin in tackling oxidative stress in sickle cell disease?

Yusuf Ishaya Dogonzo, Christopher Chimaobi Onyeabor

Sickle cell disorder (SCD) remains a disease of public interest, accounting for a significant number of deaths, especially in low and middle-income countries in Africa. Despite years of intensive studies, its cure remains a subject of ongoing investigation.

Commentary Open Access

Acquired cutis laxa: Hematological insights and therapeutic implications in a paraneoplastic context

Joe Khodeir, Paul Ohanian

Acquired cutis laxa (ACL) is a rare dermatological disorder characterized by loose, sagging, and inelastic skin due to the progressive degradation of elastic fibers within the dermis. Unlike the congenital form of cutis laxa, which is present from birth and often linked to genetic mutations, ACL typically develops later in life and can be associated with various underlying conditions.

Commentary Open Access

Commentary on “Beyond infantile hemangiomas: A glimpse into overlapping rare syndromes emphasizing the vigilant screening for PHACE and LUMBAR syndromes”

Marleine E. Negrón, Karla J. Martinez, Luis R. Berríos

Due to their complex etiology and pathogenesis, hemangioma-related syndromes, such as LUMBAR and PHACE, present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Despite advances, standardized diagnostic criteria, screening protocols, and treatment options still need to be developed. We report a rare case of a 1-month-old patient with nonspecific symptoms, including failure to thrive and poor feeding, associated with lumbosacral ulcers.

Commentary Open Access

Artificial intelligence in hematology: A critical perspective

Kavya Singh, Anuradha Singh

The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant pathogens has highlighted the need for innovative approaches in drug discovery, including drug re-purposing. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool in this endeavor, with the potential to revolutionize not only drug re-purposing for infectious diseases but also the field of hematology.

Commentary Open Access

Cardiac toxicities of Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors: The risk of pericarditis and cardiac tamponade

Thomas Erblich

Nearly a decade since the introduction of first-generation Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), their use has expanded with the second-generation agents zanubrutinib and acalabrutinib. These agents show high efficacy particularly in patients with TP53 mutations or del(17p).

Research Article Open Access

Assessment of quality of life in people living with hemophilia: A case study of Yaoundé Hemophilia Treatment Centre, Cameroon

Aurélien Chendjou Kamela, Annick Mintya Ndoumba, Verdiane Mabopda, Kevin Romuald Nana Noumtchue, Dora Mbanya, Claude Tayou Tagny

Hemophilia is a rare, sex-linked congenital bleeding disorder caused by a mutation in the genes responsible for production of coagulation factor VIII (hemophilia A) or factor IX (hemophilia B), resulting in the inability of blood to clot. According to Stonbraker et al., hemophilia occurs in approximately 1 in 10,000 births, with hemophilia A being more common, representing 80-85% of cases.

Commentary Open Access

Methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A) inhibitors as single agents or in combination strategy for cancer therapy 

Yi Kuang, Zhiyong Yu, Feng Zhou

Methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A), one of the rate-limiting enzymes in the methionine cycle, primarily catalyzes methionine into S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). SAM is the global methyl-donor for transmethylation and biosynthesis reactions, which protein arginine N-methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) utilizes for symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) posttranslational modifications.