Diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis by the polymerase chain reaction using blood, bone marrow and lymph node samples from patients from the Sudan

We have evaluated the sensitivity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a diagnostic tool for Leishmania donovani using blood, bone marrow and lymph node samples from Sudanese patients with a confirmed infection. Forty patients were diagnosed by microscopic examination of bone marrow or lymph node samples. The PCR was able to detect parasite DNA in 37 out of 40 blood samples. In bone marrow and lymph node samples, the PCR was able to detect parasite DNA in all 7 and 6 samples, respectively. We suggest that the PCR should be considered as a valuable and sensitive tool for the diagnosis of L. donovani infection. However, if PCR diagnosis is to supplement or even replace microscopic diagnosis in developing countries, a large number of patients with no apparent signs of infection and patients with other diseases have to be tested in order to evaluate its true potential.     

Colorectal cancer and lymph nodes:The obsession with the number 12

Lymphadenectomy of colorectal cancer is a decisive factor for the prognostic and therapeutic staging of the patient.For over 15 years,we have asked ourselves if the minimum number of 12 examined lymph nodes(LNs)was sufficient for the prevention of understaging.The debate is certainly still open if we consider that a limit of 12 LNs is still not the gold standard mainly because the research methodology of the first studies has been criticized.Moreover many authors report that to date both in the United States and Europe the number"12"target is uncommon,not adequate,or accessible only in highly specialised centres.It should however be noted that both the pressing nature of the debate and the dissemination of guidelines have been responsible for a trend that has allowed for a general increase in the number of LNs examined.There are different variables that can affect the retrieval of LNs.Some,like the surgeon,the surgery,and the pathology exam,are without question modifiable;however,other both patient and disease-related variables are non-modifiable and pose the question of whether the minimum number of examined LNs must be individually assigned.The lymph nodal ratio,the sentinel LNs and the study of the biological aspects of the tumor could find valid application in this field in the near future.     

河南省1例输入性内脏利什曼病的实验室诊断

目的　分析河南省1例输入性内脏利什曼病病例，探讨内脏利什曼病的实验室诊断方法。方法　分析患者的流行病学资料和临床资料，镜检观察骨髓涂片中杜氏利什曼原虫无鞭毛体；rK39试纸条检测血清中利什曼原虫抗体；用两对引物K13A?K13B和 LITSR?L5.8S分别扩增利什曼原虫动基体DNA和核糖体DNA内转录间隔区基因片段。结果　 该患者曾去过内脏利什曼病流行区，有不规则发热、脾肿大、全血细胞减少、白蛋白/球蛋白比例倒置等症状，骨髓涂片查见杜氏利什曼原虫无鞭毛体，rK39试纸条检测阳性，两对引物K13A?K13B和 LITSR?L5.8S分别扩增出87 bp和285 bp的片段。两片段序列与杜氏利什曼原虫相应序列的相似性分别为94%和100%。结论　结合患者的流行病学资料和临床表现以及实验室检测结果，确诊该病例为内脏利什曼病病例，病原体为杜氏利什曼原虫。     

河南省1例输入性内脏利什曼病的实验室诊断

目的　分析河南省1例输入性内脏利什曼病病例,探讨内脏利什曼病的实验室诊断方法。方法　分析患者的流行病学资料和临床资料,镜检观察骨髓涂片中杜氏利什曼原虫无鞭毛体;rK39试纸条检测血清中利什曼原虫抗体;用两对引物K13A?K13B和 LITSR?L5.8S分别扩增利什曼原虫动基体DNA和核糖体DNA内转录间隔区基因片段。结果　 该患者曾去过内脏利什曼病流行区,有不规则发热、脾肿大、全血细胞减少、白蛋白/球蛋白比例倒置等症状,骨髓涂片查见杜氏利什曼原虫无鞭毛体,rK39试纸条检测阳性,两对引物K13A?K13B和 LITSR?L5.8S分别扩增出87 bp和285 bp的片段。两片段序列与杜氏利什曼原虫相应序列的相似性分别为94%和100%。结论　结合患者的流行病学资料和临床表现以及实验室检测结果,确诊该病例为内脏利什曼病病例,病原体为杜氏利什曼原虫。     

RA型骨髓增生异常综合征79例相关资料分析

目的：探讨骨髓增生异常综合征RA型（MDS-RA）的血液、骨髓涂片、骨髓病理组织学等的改变,为其疑难病例提供诊断价值。方法：将近几年的MDS资料中筛选MDS-RA被诊断时的资料,进行相关指标统计分析。结果：外周血：以二系或三系减少者为多见;49％的患者可见幼红细胞,44％的患者可见白细胞异常改变;骨髓涂片：以增生活跃和增生低下多见,病态造血者占83％（66／79）例,骨髓病理：以增生活跃为多见;粒系前体细胞增多者32例（41％）,可见或偶见“幼稚前体细胞异常定位”（ALIP）者56例（71％）;幼红细胞发育滞停,可见原红细胞岛、同一发育阶段的幼红细胞岛占58（73％）例,有异型巨核细胞者56（71％）例,纤维组织增多占72（91％）。结论：骨髓活组织检查对MDS-RA必不可少的联合诊断方法。     

Molecular diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis: Identification of Leishmania species by PCR-RFLP and quantification of parasite DNA by real-time PCR

The efficacies of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedures for the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL), and of PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis for the identification of Leishmania species, have been assessed. Quantitative real-time PCR employing a SYBR Green dye-based system was standardised for the quantification of Leishmania kDNA minicircles. Skin, peripheral blood and bone marrow samples collected from 217 dogs, asymptomatic or symptomatic for CVL, were analysed. The PCR method, which was based on the amplification of a 120 bp kDNA fragment conserved across Leishmania species, was able to detect the presence in clinical samples of protozoan parasite DNA in amounts as low as 0.1 fg. Bone marrow and skin samples proved to be more suitable than peripheral blood for the detection of Leishmania by PCR and presented positive indices of 84.9% and 80.2%, respectively. PCR-RFLP analysis indicated that 192 of the PCR-positive dogs were infected with Leishmaniainfantum chagasi, whilst L. braziliensis was identified in two other animals. Quantitative PCR revealed that bone marrow samples from dogs presenting positive conventional tests contained a higher number of copies of Leishmania kDNA than peripheral blood, although no significant differences were detected between symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs in terms of parasite load. This study demonstrates that PCR can be used for the detection of Leishmania in clinical samples derived from naturally infected dogs, and that PCR-RFLP represents a rapid and sensitive tool for the identification of Leishmania species. Additionally, qPCR is effective in quantifying Leishmania DNA load in clinical samples.     

A simple technique for processing of bone marrow for human marrow transplantation

Summary A simple stainless steel device is described for the processing of marrow for intravenous infusion to marrow graft recipients. The device can be cleaned easily and sterilized for re-use.     

骨髓穿刺与骨髓活检在结直肠癌贫血诊断中的临床意义

目的:探讨骨髓穿刺和骨髓活检在结直肠癌贫血中的诊断价值。方法:对257例结直肠癌患者行骨髓穿刺和骨髓活检,检测癌细胞浸润,分析其贫血状况。结果:结直肠癌贫血发生率为47.86%(123/257例)。右半结肠癌和直肠癌以缺铁性贫血为主(P0.05)。左半结肠癌以多因素贫血和巨幼细胞性贫血为主,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结直肠癌伴贫血患者中肿瘤骨髓侵润占8.13%,以低/未分化患者肿瘤骨髓侵润发生率较高(P0.05),骨髓穿刺与骨髓活检诊断符合率为70%,所有骨髓侵润患者均有不同程度的骨髓纤维组织增生。结论:骨髓穿刺和骨髓活检在结肠癌贫血的诊断中有重要临床意义。     

Eosinophilic inflammation in lymph nodes of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis

Eosinophils are traditionally associated with the immune response against helminth parasites. However, several studies have demonstrated that these cells have a role regarding protective immunity in leishmaniasis. Here, we examined the relationship between the presence of eosinophils and parasite load in biopsy samples from dogs, obtained through fine needle puncture and aspiration of lymph nodes. Histological slides containing biopsy material from lymph nodes of dogs with canine visceral leishmaniasis and healthy dogs were used to obtain baseline eosinophil counts. Subsequently, scrapings were taken from slides for DNA extraction and determination of parasite load, using real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR). Additionally, production of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels by eosinophils in the peripheral blood of dogs with canine visceral leishmaniasis and healthy dogs was measured. The eosinophil percentage were higher in lymph nodes of infected group, and the parasite load showed a significant negative correlation with the eosinophil count. The production of NO and ROS by eosinophils in the peripheral blood was higher in the dogs with canine visceral leishmaniasis. All the results together suggest that eosinophils may participate in antileishmanial immunity in canine visceral leishmaniasis.     

Audit of bone marrow aspirates and trephine biopsies in multiple myeloma – a single centre study

We compared 79 simultaneous marrow aspirates and trephine biopsies from multiple myeloma patients for sensitivity, concordance, quality and clinical relevance. A total of 60 examinations had been performed for initial diagnosis, i.e. in cases of suspected myeloma and 19 at follow‐up. Of which, 45 (57%) of trephine biopsies were less than 1.6 cm before processing and 33 (42%) were crushed and/or fragmented. Overall, only 19/79 (24%) of trephine biopsy specimens were of at least 1.6 cm length prior to processing and not disrupted. On the other hand, 75% of aspirates were particulate and satisfactory. Mean time between receipt of a trephine biopsy specimen and issuance of a histopathological report was 9 days. Although 40% of trephine biopsies yielded information that could not be reliably obtained from a bone marrow aspirate such information was in all cases clinically irrelevant or obtainable by non‐invasive means. In all cases where myeloma was detected in a trephine biopsy it was also detected in a simultaneous bone marrow aspirate, if particulate. However, there were four (5%) cases in which myeloma was detected in such aspirates but not in simultaneously taken trephine biopsies. In cases (n = 19) where repeat aspirates/trephine biopsies were taken for surveillance, concordance was found between reported changes in plasma cell ratio. Our data failed to demonstrate any added benefit from routinely performing trephine biopsies after a particulate specimen had been aspirated for the diagnosis or surveillance of myeloma. Furthermore, they suggest that particulate aspirates may be at least as sensitive as trephine biopsies for detecting myeloma.     

犬骨髓间叶干细胞的分离培养和生物学特性

目的 建立犬骨髓间叶干细胞的体外分离、培养、扩增与鉴定方法，了解其生物学特性，为心肌梗死、心力衰竭及缓慢性心律失常的干细胞移植提供细胞材料。方法 抽取犬骨髓液10ml，以DMEM1：1稀释，用1.063g／ml percoll密度分离液，以600g离心力、30min分离骨髓单个核细胞；以LG-DMEM及10% FBS添加100U／ml青霉素，100μg／ml链霉素，25μg／ml两性霉素B培养骨髓干细胞；利用细胞贴壁筛选法分离、培养、扩增骨髓间叶干细胞；应用干细胞表面标志蛋白检测，诱导剂诱导分化间叶组织细胞等方法进行犬骨髓间叶干细胞的鉴定。结果 分离出的犬骨髓单个核细胞约占细胞总数的10^-4～10^-6，在LG-DMEM与选择性血清培养基上生长良好。犬骨髓间叶干细胞孵育24h即可见细胞贴壁生长，贴壁细胞约占接种单个核细胞总数的10^-6。犬骨髓间叶干细胞增殖分裂迅速，38～48h内增殖多个细胞，约72h即可增殖形成大的细胞克隆，7～1Od即可布满瓶底。细胞融合时类似成纤维细胞，呈纺锤状，细胞小而密集，螺旋梳状排列。连续培育10代以上，未见细胞形态、增殖特性发生改变。未见骨髓间叶干细胞自发分化其它类型细胞，仍维持原代培养细胞的增殖特性。犬骨髓间叶干细胞的表面标志SH2阳性，CD45则阴性。在化学诱导液的作用下，犬骨髓间叶干细胞能定向分化为心肌细胞、脂肪细胞、成骨细胞等多种间叶组织类型细胞。结论 密度梯度分离法与贴壁筛选法能较好地进行犬骨髓间叶干细胞的体外分离、培养与扩增，犬骨髓间叶干细胞具备易于分离培养，巨大增殖潜力，独特细胞表型，多系分组能力等细胞生物学特性。为心肌梗死、心力衰竭与心律失常的细胞移植修复治疗提供了理想细胞材料。     

Comparison of buffy coat preparation to direct method for the evaluation and interpretation of bone marrow aspirates

Bone marrow differential and French, American, British (FAB) classification of buffy coat preparation (BCP) was compared to direct method (DM) in 69 pediatric patients with various hematologic and oncologic disorders. The marrow evaluation differed significantly in 12 of 69 patients (17.4%). The differential counts were discordant in 9 out of 69 patients (13%), and the FAB classifications were discordant in 3 out of 25 patients (12%) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Underestimation of the percent blasts occurred with buffy coat preparation in patients with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL). While buffy coat preparations can facilitate morphologic evaluation in marrow malignancies, significant errors can occur in determination of the differential count. Direct smear should be used in conjunction with buffy coat smears in the evaluation of bone marrow aspirates.     

Tumor cell colonies in bone marrow cultures from patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung

Summary Bone marrow specimens from 27 patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung (17 with limited and 10 with extensive disease) were plated in a culture system that supports the growth of multilineage haemopoietic progenitors CFU-GEMM. In five patients (three with extensive and two limited disease) atypical colonies could be observed that were not identifiable as haemopoietic colonies. Cytological staining and cytochemical examination as well as electronic micrographs suggest that these colonies are derived from metastatic carcinoma cells. The histological examination of marrow cells from three out of these five patients revealed no bone marrow involvement. Additional studies might provide further evidence whether bone marrow cultures are a useful probe in order to monitor bone marrow involvement in patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung.Dedicated to Dr. Werner Lay on his 65th birthday     

冠状动脉内多种自体骨髓干细胞移植治疗心绞痛对比研究

目的 对比评价骨髓单个核细胞、间充质干细胞和CD34+干细胞移植治疗心绞痛的安全性和有效性.方法 72例心绞痛患者,接受目前最佳药物治疗,随机分为单个核细胞组(24例)、间充质干细胞组(24例)和CD34+干细胞组(24例).常规前降支病变PCI术后,进行冠状动脉内自体骨髓干细胞移植,于冠状动脉病变近端注入骨髓干细胞.所有患者于术前和术后6个月进行二维超声、单光子体层扫描(SPECD和动态心电图检测,术中,术后3、6个月评价心肌梗死、心律失常等并发症和心绞痛的疗效.结果 未观察到因冠状动脉内注射而导致的心肌梗死、心肌酶升高、心肌穿孔、心包积液、室性心动过速或室颤发生,无严重不良事件发生.从治疗有效性指标心绞痛发作频率、硝酸甘油用量、运动时间及加拿大心血管学会心绞痛分级方面评价,CD34+干细胞组与前两组相比,差异具有统计学意义(均为P＜0.05,P＜0.01);前两组间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 冠状动脉内注射自体骨髓干细胞治疗心绞痛是安全和有效的,其中CD34+干细胞移植优于骨髓间充质干细胞和骨髓单个核细胞.     

Visceral leishmaniasis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: Dilemma in diagnosis and management

Patients with systemic lupus erythemasus (SLE) have an increased risk of bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infections, especially if they are receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Leishmaniasis is a group of diseases caused by intracellular flagellate protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Leishmania. We present a 48-year-old female patient, diagnosed with SLE many years ago, who presented with high fever and pancytopenia. We thought that the patient's hematologic findings were related to SLE hematologic involvement. However, we investigated other possible causes when there was no response to drugs for the treatment of SLE. A second bone marrow biopsy showed Leishmania amastigotes and the patient was diagnosed with leishmaniasis. The patient was treated with liposomal amphotericin-B (treatment completed at 40 days). She showed rapid clinical improvement and showed no signs of disease after 4 months.     

Prognostic assessment of different lymph node staging methods for pancreatic cancer with R0 resection: pN staging,lymph node ratio,log odds of positive lymph nodes

Background and aimsSurvival after surgical resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is poor. Several prognostic factors such as the status of the resection margin, lymph node status, or tumour grading have been identified. The aims of the present study were to evaluate and compare the prognostic assessment of different lymph nodes staging methods: standard lymph node (pN) staging, metastatic lymph node ratio (LNR), and log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS) in pancreatic cancer after pancreatic resection.Materials and methodsData were retrospectively collected from 143 patients who had undergone R0 pancreatic resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Survival curves (Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard models), accuracy, and homogeneity of the 3 methods (LNR, LODDS, and pN) were compared to evaluate the prognostic effects.ResultsMultivariate analysis demonstrated that LODDS and LNR were an independent prognostic factors, but not pN classification. The scatter plots of the relationship between LODDS and the LNR suggested that the LODDS stage had power to divide patients with the same ratio of node metastasis into different groups. For patients in each of the pN or LNR classifications, significant differences in survival could be observed among patients in different LODDS stages.ConclusionLODDS and LNR are more powerful predictors of survival than the lymph node status in patients undergoing pancreatic resection for ductal adenocarcinoma. LODDS allows better prognostic stratification comparing LNR in node negative patients.     

Validity of the polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of clinically suspected cases of American visceral leishmaniasis

To test the validity of the polymerase chain reaction for diagnosing American visceral leishmaniasis, 88 suspected cases were studied. Diagnosis was confirmed in 47 (53.5%) and ruled out in 41 (46.5%) patients. Samples of bone marrow and peripheral blood were processed by polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the test and its agreement beyond chance with microscopy examination. The polymerase chain reaction was positive in bone marrow of 100% of the patients with amastigotes seen with microscopy examination, and in 59.5% in those where no parasite were seen. Agreement beyond chance between visualization of the parasite in bone marrow aspirates and polymerase chain reaction was considered weak (Kappa = 0.41). Concordance between polymerase chain reaction of bone marrow aspirates and of peripheral blood was considered excellent (Kappa = 0.88). The test turned out positive in all bone marrow aspirates of those with the disease and whereas the positivity rate was 58.5% among those without the disease, with specificity rate of 41.5%.     

Impact of the number of examined lymph nodes on outcomes in patients with lymph node-negative gallbladder carcinoma

AIM To determine whether the number of examined lymph nodes(LNs) is correlated with the overall survival of gallbladder carcinoma(GBC) patients. METHODS Patients were collected from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database(2004-2013) and categorized by the number of LNs into six groups: 1 LN, 2 LNs, 3 LNs, 4 LNs, 5 LNs, and ≥ 6 LNs. Survival curves for overall survival were plotted with a KaplanMeier analysis. The log-rank test was used for univariate comparisons.RESULTS In a cohort of 893 patients, the median number of examined LNs was two for the entire cohort. The survival for the 1 LN group was significantly poorer than those of the stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ disease groups and for the entire cohort. By dichotomizing the number of LNs from 1 to 6, we found that the minimum number of LNs that should be examined was four for stage Ⅰ, four or five for stage Ⅱ, and six for stage ⅢA disease. Therefore, for the entire cohort, the number of examined LNs should be at least six, which is exactly consistent with the American Joint Committee on Cancer criteria.CONCLUSION The examination of higher numbers of LNs is associated with improved survival after resection surgery for N0 GBC. The guidelines for GBC surgery, which recommend that six LNs be examined at least, are statistically valid and should be applied in clinical practice widely.     

Immunophenotyping of B lymphocytes by multiparametric flow cytometry in bone marrow aspirates of healthy adults

Establishing reference ranges by multiparametric immunophenotyping of mature B cells in bone marrow of healthy adults is of interest because the detection of bone marrow infiltration and persistence of light chain restriction, as well as discrimination between reactive and malignant lymphocytes are important applications of B-cell immunophenotyping. To determine the pattern of antigens as expressed by malignant mature B lymphocytes in the present study, bone marrow aspirates of healthy adults were investigated for the presence and percentage frequency of those antigens as defined for immunophenotyping of B cells by the REAL Classification. For this purpose, analysis of CD19-positive B lymphocytes by live gate analysis was performed. The established two-color as well as threecolor stainings will serve as a basis for future investigations designed to test multiparametric analysis of B lymphocytes in bone marrow aspirates. All investigated antibodies stained with varying percentage frequency on B-cell subtypes, and no statistical significant difference was found between bone marrow aspirates of women and those of men. On the basis of this analysis, all the reported lineage antigen combinations are present both in malignant B lymphocytes and in normal B cells in considerable percentage frequency. These findings are of importance for follow-up investigations of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas by multiparametric immunophenotyping.