T+38 Good News!

BOX SCORE
Element	Current	Std. Range	Trend
Hemoglobin	11.1	13-17	^
Platelets	172	140-375	^
ANC	3210	1800-8300	^

Don't you just love good news? Yesterday we received a graduation announcement from a young man who not only attends our church but also serves on the tech team -- you know, the guys who make it possible for us to attend our church's services on Sunday mornings online, since we are a) out of town and b) quarantined. He is graduating from high school this month, and he plans to attend Chemeketa Community College and earn a degree in auto mechanics. He's already completed the first year or the two year Associate of Science degree while in high school! Such good news. 

This young man is the youngest of three siblings from a family comprising himself, his mom, and two older sisters. We are so happy for him and his family that he is doing so well. The family has suffered a good deal of heartache and illness, but their faith in the Lord is unwavering. His graduation brings to a close his mom's 20 years of homeschooling, and his future looks bright. The family gets fatigued but never loses hope. They are an inspiration, and the news of this graduation is another feather in the cap not only for the young man, but for the whole family. 

Indeed, good news is always a boost to the spirit. We received some personal good news this week as well. You may recall that on Monday, I had a bone marrow biopsy (BMBx). Well, the findings of the biopsy have been trickling in, and here is what we have read so far:

"- No morphologic or immunophenotypic evidence of acute myeloid leukemia or mastocytosis

 - Increased hematogone population (~9% of CD45+ events) with an appropriate immunophenotypic pattern; see comment.

Comment: Increased hematogone populations may occur in a close temporal relationship to [soon after] bone marrow transplantations. There is no evidence of acute leukemia or mastocytosis."

"CD3+ T-cells: Undetected Host (100% Donor)
CD33+ Myeloid cells: Undetected Host (100% Donor) 

PCR-based DNA profiling using Short Tandem Repeat (STR) markers on these sorted post-transplant specimens shows no detectable host cells in the T-cell (CD3+), or the myeloid cell (CD33+) lineage.  This result is consistent with complete or near complete engraftment in the T-cell, and myeloid cell lineages."

In other words, there is no evidence of leukemia or mastocytosis, a genetic error that complicates the treatment of AML. In addition, DNA  profiling shows that the transplant has completely or nearly completely displaced my host cells in the production of T-cells  and myeloid cells.  

T-cells are frontline fighters in the immune system. For a complete description of how they work, see this article.  As for myeloid cells, here is a description:

What are myeloid cells?

A myeloid cell is a type of blood cell that originates in the bone marrow. As a myeloid cell matures into an adult blood cell, it will take on a specific role as a basophil, eosinophil, erythrocyte [red blood cells], macrophage, monocyte, neutrophil, or platelet. *

In acute myeloid leukemia, something goes haywire in the production of myeloid cells in the bone marrow. This results in low production of red blood cells and platelets and increased output of immature myeloid white cells, called blast cells. The idea behind bone marrow transplant (BMT), simplistically stated, is to kill off the faulty stem cells in the bone marrow that produce the haywire myeloid cells, and replace the host cells by grafting in healthy stem cells from the donor. 

Once the "engraftment" is complete, new blood cells that are produced are free of the "haywire" that was encountered in the host marrow cells. So, the report from the lab that "This result is consistent with complete or near complete engraftment in the T-cell, and myeloid cell lineages," is good news indeed, because it means the "haywire" has been removed, and the graft can now provide healthy myeloid cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. 

So, there you have it. The good news for the week. There may be other good news coming your way, too. YMMV! 

Remember class, there will be a quiz next period, but don't worry. It will be an Open Blog quiz!! 

For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. (Leviticus 17:14)

*https://www.verywellhealth.com/overview-of-myeloid-cell-line-4114647