A4070G (His 1299 Arg) polymorphism in exon 13 of factor V gene can influence factor V levels and contribute to the activated protein C resistance. We are presenting our data concerning Turkish population and postulate that homozygosity for the HR2 haplotype may be an important risk factor for thrombosis.

There are many genes involved in vitamin D dependent differentiation of acute myeloid leukaemia cell line HL-60 cells. Involvement of HOX genes in leukaemia and differentiation is just beginning to be appreciated. In order to understand the relationship with 1,25(OH)2D3 dependent differentiation of myeloid leukaemia, we studied the expression of HOX A9 gene. HL-60 cells were exposed to 1,25(OH)2D3 for 24 and 72 hours. Gene expression were investigated using quantitative real-time RT-PCR (LightCycler). HOX A9 levels were found upregulated after 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment, compared to housekeeping RPS9 and HPRT genes. Our study is the first attempt to quantification of HOX A9 gene during 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment, using this technology. We suggest that there is a clear relationship between differentiation induction and over-expression of HOX A9 gene in HL-60 cells. Possible correlation of high expression levels of HOX A9 gene in AML pathogenesis remains to be established.

R506Q (FV Leiden) mutation in exon 10 of the factor V (FV) gene is highly prevalent in European populations and it has been suggested that the coinheritance of FV Leiden mutation may be an important modifier of hemophilia A phenotype. One other substitution R485K in the same exon, with no functional consequences in vitro, is significantly higher in Thailand and has been associated with thrombophilia. In order to see if any correlation exists between R506Q and hemophilia phenotype and between R485K and thrombosis in Turkish patients, DGGE analysis of exon 10 of the FV gene is carried out among deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and hemophilia A patients. Our results indicate that the allelic frequency of the R485K polymorphism is similar to the frequency detected in Europe, and apparently, is not associated with an increased risk of thrombosis in the Turkish population. It is also not possible to show a modifier effect of FV Leiden on hemophilia A phenotype among the limited number of patients included in this study.

Patients with profound neutropenia have increased risk of septicemia associated with significant morbidity. To provide the appropriate broad-spectrum antimicrobial cover, documentation of causative agents and their antimicrobial susceptibilities should be established in each hospital. During 2001 in Ibn-i Sina Hospital Hematology unit, among 125 isolates from blood cultures of febrile neutropenic patients, gram-negative bacteria was prevalent (56.8%). Among the gram-positives (34.4% of isolates) coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were the predominant bacteria (15/43) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (12/43). Escherichia coli (23/71) and Klebsiella spp. (15/71) were the most common species among 71 gram-negative bacteria. Nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli were 21.6% of the isolates. Increase in the isolation rate of Acinetobacter baumannii (7 strains) and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (6 strains) was noticed.

Platelet alloimmunization occurs frequently in multitransfused patients. To prevent the posttransfusion complications donor white blood cells (WBCs) must be removed from the platelet concentrates (PC). But sometimes the centrifugation and filtration of WBC is not enough and in such conditions HLA-matched PC are recommended. Cryopreservation of autologous PC offers a potential solution to this problem. We investigated the feasibility of supporting the aplastic period after chemotherapy in a 54-year-old leukemia patient with autologous platelets collected by apheresis and cryopreserved. Our case report demonstrates that autologous apheresis platelet transfusion might be a feasible approach to high risk patients with bleeding tendencies.

The use of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has greatly increased in the last years. With broader use of immunoglobulin, the numbers of reported side effects are also growing. IVIG have also been used in the treatment of myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. Here we reported a child with presumed acute myocarditis who has developed severe hemolytic anemia following high-dose IVIG administration. As our knowledge, this is the first case report with myocarditis or dilated cardiomyopathy who developed hemolytic anemia following high-dose IVIG administration.

Cutaneous lymphomas tend to be of T-cell origin, less commonly of B-cell origin. We report a 68-year-old male patient suffering from extensive cutaneous nodules which were found to be B-cell large cell lymphoma in nature. Our case is a good example to unexpected cutaneous involvement of diffuse large cell lymphomas. It may be debated whether it is a primary cutaneous lymphoma or cutaneous involvement of a systemic lymphoma. The case differs from other primary cutaneous lymphomas in the clinical course and in the pathologic and immunohistochemical features. Systemic B-cell lymphomas may also involve the skin. We think that our case demands attention because systemic B-cell lymphomas with such a great skin involvement is not reported in the literature before.