Lineage relationship of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and hairy cell leukemia: studies with TPA

The tumor promoting agent TPA (phorbol ester; 1.6 X 10(-8)M) was used to induce the differentiation in vitro of B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells from 14 untreated patients. The uninduced phenotype was SIg+, Mrbc+, RFT-1+, RFA-4-, FMC7-. After 72 h incubation with TPA, B-CLL cells became RFA-4+, FMC7+ and lost the capability of Mrbc rosetting. Large proportions of the "induced" cells also showed morphological and ultrastructural changes, such as undulating membranes and bleblike protusions and became strongly positive for tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP+) and also contained cytoplasmic immunoglobulins. These features are very similar to the features of hairy cell leukemia (HCL). These observations confirm previous clinical findings that B-CLL and HCL are related disorders of the B lineage. The development of "hairy" features in induced B-CLL and in HCL seems to be a malignancy-associated feature because the Mrbc+ normal B cells (B-CLL-equivalent cells) isolated from tonsil also develop TRAP positivity but no membrane aberrations.     

Microsurgical versus endoscopic trans-sphenoidal approaches for clivus chordoma: a pooled and meta-analysis

Neurosurgical Review - Chordoma is a rare slow-growing neoplastic bone lesion. However, they show an invasive local growth and high recurrence rate, leading to an overall survival rate of 65% at 5...     

Modulatory effects of phosphatidylserine on the binding of muscarinic cholinergic receptor ligands

The modulation of the binding of muscarinic cholinergic receptor ligands by phosphatidylserine purified from bovine cerebral cortex (BC-PS) was examined in vitro and in vivo. The enrichment of bovine cerebral cortical synaptosomal membranes with BC-PS, using a fusion technique, produced a concentration-dependent decrease in the affinity (increase in K _d ) of [³H]quinuclidinyl benzylate (³H-QNB) specific binding to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR), without changes in their maximal number (Bmax). Similar results were observed when [³H]oxotremorine (³H-OXO) was used to label a high affinity subpopulation of mAChR. On the other hand, preincubation of BC-PS liposomes with synaptosomal membranes in a nonoptimum fusion condition (at pH 7.4) did not alter the binding properties of both radioligands. Fusion experiments using a pure phosphatidylserine preparation from spinal cord revealed a similar decrement in the affinity of³H-QNB specific binding. Five day’s intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of 15 mg/kg of BC-PS liposomes in rats increased the maximal number of cerebral cortical binding sites for³H-OXO. Scatchard analysis revealed no changes in the apparent dissociation constant. This modification is selective in relation to the neural structure studied. Thus, BC-PS treatment did not modify³H-OXO binding in the hippocampal formation and cerebellum. In contrast, parallel experiments using the muscarinic antagonist³H-QNB showed no alteration in the binding properties of mAChR. Five day’s i.p. administration of 15 mg/kg/d of phosphatidylcholine from bovine cerebral cortex (BC-PC) liposomes produced quite similar results to those obtained with BC-PS. These results indicate that mAChR are under the modulatory action of phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylcholine (PC), and suggest that this endogenous phospholipids may play a regulatory role on the mAChR. The possible implications of these findings on the effects of PC or PS treatment in neurological disorders involving a decrease in central cholinergic functions are discussed.     

Contribution of computerized tomography to the diagnosis of patients with non-calcified solitary pulmonary nodule, without known neoplasm]

We define a solitary pulmonary noncalcified nodule (NPS) as a single focal rounded or ovoid lesion in the lung parenchyma, less than 4 cm in diameter, without associated adenopathy, atelectasis or pneumonia. An NPS, in the absence of a known primary malignancy, can be lung cancer (NPSM), a metastasis of unknown origin (NPSMT), or a benign lesion (NPSB). The best approach to the management of NPS and the value of CT are still controversial and uncertain. The finding on cross-section CT of a bronchus leading directly to, or contained within, the nodule is called "positive CT bronchus sign" (CT-BS). Our study was aimed at investigating the usefulness of CT bronchus sign, as studied on thin-slice (2 mm thick) CT sections, in order to establish the most appropriate diagnostic sequence in patients with solitary noncalcified pulmonary nodules (NPS). We evaluated 47 NPS (9 NPSB, 34 NPSM and 4 NPSMT) with thin-slice CT to detect the presence of CT bronchus sign. Seventeen cases had CT-BS (15 NPSM; 1 NPSB; 1 NPSMT); of them, 13 were diagnosed by means of transbronchial biopsy and brushing (TBB). Only one case (NPSM) of the 30 (19 NPSM; 3 NPSMT; 8 NPSB) without CT-BS, was diagnosed by TBB. TBB was negative in the 9 NPSB. The CT-BS is not pathognomonic of malignancy; in fact, the sign was observed in NPSB (one tuberculoma) too. Our results suggest that the CT bronchus sign is valuable in predicting the success of TBB in malignant solitary pulmonary nodules. On the other hand, it seems to be useless for NPSB. Therefore, to establish the most appropriate diagnostic sequence, thin-section CT should be performed in each patient with peripheral noncalcified lung lesions to plan whether TBB or transthoracic needle aspiration should come next. If biopsy results are poor, either surgery or the "wait and watch for growth" approaches can be suggested. The choice can be guided by the presence of predisposing factors for cancer or infection.     

A descriptive analysis of STD prevalence among urban pregnant African-American teens: data from a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among a sample of African-American adolescent females at the time of their first prenatal visit and to assess key characteristics of those testing positive for sexually transmitted diseases. The study also determined differences in these characteristics between adolescents who were and those who were not diagnosed with an STD. METHODS: One-hundred-and-seventy pregnant African-American adolescents (aged 14-20 years; mean = 17.5 years) receiving their first prenatal visit were recruited at a prenatal clinic located in a large urban hospital. Biological assessment included nucleic acid amplification testing for gonococcal, chlamydial, and trichomonal infections. Rapid plasma reagin testing assessed infection with syphilis. A self-administered survey and in-depth face-to-face interview were used to collect detailed information assessing adolescents' sociodemographic characteristics, psychosocial indices, and their recent sexual risk behaviors. Data were analyzed using Student's t-tests and contingency table analyses, respectively, for continuous and categorical variables. RESULTS: Overall, 23.5% tested positive for one of the four STDs. Thirteen percent were infected with Chlamydia trachomatis, 1.2% with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 8.9% with Trichomonas vaginalis, and 1.2% with Treponema pallidum. More than one-half reported recent (past 6 months) treatment for an STD, 30% of these tested positive for at least one of the four STDs assessed. Adolescents testing positive for STDs held favorable attitudes toward condom use, but levels of sexual risk were generally high. There were no sociodemographic, psychosocial, and sexual-risk differences between those testing positive and negative. CONCLUSION: Findings support STD screening efforts targeting pregnant adolescents. Providing clinic-based counseling and prevention education programs to pregnant adolescents regardless of apparent risk factors may also be warranted.     

The biology of Helicobacter pylori infection, a major risk factor for gastric adenocarcinoma.

Helicobacter pylori infection of the human stomach is the most important risk factor for development of gastric cancer. Whereas persistent viral infection leads to a number of cancers, H. pylori was the first bacteria linked to a human cancer. The exact mechanisms that lead to cancer induction are not clear, but study of the bacterial factors important for colonization and the host responses to the infection are starting to yield important clues.     

Stereotactic body radiotherapy for castration-sensitive prostate cancer bone oligometastases

To evaluate outcome in patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) on bone oligometastases from castration-sensitive prostate cancer after primary treatment. We retrospectively collected data of patients with less than five lesions at time of SBRT and hormone-naïve disease at the first extra-regional localization, treated between 03/2012 and 11/2016. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was measured every 3 months after SBRT. Imaging was performed in case of progression. Survival analysis was performed with Kaplan–Meier (log-rank test) approach. Fifty-five patients were treated on 77 bone oligometastases. Median age, initial PSA and pre-SBRT PSA were 72 years, 9.12 and 3.5 ng/mL, respectively. Twenty-five patients (45%) received SBRT alone while the remaining 30 patients (55%) received concomitant ADT. Median follow-up was 24.6 months (range 3.0–67.2 months). No acute or late toxicity of grade?>?1 was reported. Clinical progression was observed in 38 (69%) patients. 1-year biochemical progression-free survival (b-PFS), clinical progression-free survival (c-PFS), prostate-specific survival (PCSS) and local control (LC) rates were 51, 56, 100 and 83%, respectively. Comparing patients treated with SBRT alone and with concomitant ADT, no significant differences were found for those outcomes. SBRT is safe and allows high 1-year LC rate (83%) with low toxicity profile. No significant improvement in outcomes was registered with the addition of ADT to SBRT.