Cytogenetically distinct leukemic cell lines displaying in vitro specific proliferative and differentiation capacities may account for early disease relapse in the blast phase of CML

The cytogenetic features and the proliferative and differentiation capabilities of blast cell fractions purified on a density gradient were studied in one patient with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in blast crisis, both at the emergence and at relapse of the disease. The results show that relapse was due to the appearance of a new leukemic cell line that was characterized by peculiar chromosomal, growth, and differentiation features, which seemingly accounted for early refractoriness to therapy and disease progression.     

Gastric emptying and anxiety in chronic duodenal ulcer

The authors have evaluated in a group of patients afflicted with duodenal ulcer whether anxiety might be in some way linked to gastric emptying. The 23 patients studied were subdivided into two groups: "fast" emptiers (n = 12; t 1/2 less than 90 min) and "normal" emptiers (n = 11; t 1/2 greater than 90 min). There were no significant differences between the two groups for the following parameters: sex, age, marital status, educational level, social class, number of cigarettes smoked per day, type of treatment undergone for the duodenal ulcer and maximal acid output. Anxiety levels measured with the Q4 and QII factors of the Cattell's PF 16 were found to be the same in the two groups. The authors conclude that anxiety does not seem to be linked to gastric emptying in chronic duodenal ulcer.     

Derivative 11 marker chromosome in bladder carcinoma

Cytogenetic studies on bladder carcinomas from two patients were carried out on preparations obtained by a direct method. The chromosome mode was 49 and 55, respectively. Several karyotypic changes were found in the tumors. Moreover, the analysis of Q-banded chromosomes revealed the presence in both cases of a chromosome 11p+. These rearranged chromosomes showed a very similar banding pattern. The finding of a der(11) chromosome marker in two patients is intriguing, and suggests the possibility of nonrandom chromosome changes in bladder carcinoma, as already found in other kinds of tumors. The occurrence of chromosome #11 aberrations in tumors of the urinary tract is discussed in connection with the current theories on oncogenesis.     

Full pancreatic endocrine differentiation in a mediastinal teratoma

In a mediastinal teratoma containing pancreatic tissue rich in islet cells, immunofluorescence studies showed a high degree of differentiation of the endocrine tissue. Insulin-, glucagon-, somatostatin-, and pancreatic polypeptide(PP)-containing cells were all consistently represented. They showed the same precise topographic distribution that is seen in normal islets (i.e., a central core of insulin-containing cells with the other cell types in a peripheral position) and that is thought to be important for the integrated function of the islets. This may explain the absence of clinical symptoms of hypoglycemia. In addition, a nonrandom distribution of endocrine cell types, with PP-rich and PP-poor areas, similar to that found in pancreatic regions embryologically derived from the ventral and dorsal anlagen, respectively, was observed. This finding suggests that the unknown mechanisms responsible for the dissimilar endocrine cell contents in pancreatic regions of different embryologic origins were operating in the teratoma.     

Inhibition of animal virus production by means of translation inhibitors unable to penetrate normal cells

The correlation between virus and host protein synthesis, membrane leakiness, and virus production has been studied in vesicular stomatitis virus-infected L cells, herpes simplex virus (type 1)- and Sendai virus-infected 37RC cells. In all three systems, membrane leakiness, as measured by an altered permeability to low-molecular-weight translation inhibitors (e.g., hygromycin B), is detectable at a time when the cells are very actively engaged in virus protein synthesis. The alteration of the membrane increases as the virus life cycle goes on so that an almost total and specific inhibition of viral translation by hygromycin B is achieved late in infection. Although the overall protein synthesis is not shut off in Sendai virus-infected cells, a gradual replacement of host protein synthesis by viral translation parallels an increasing plasma membrane permeability to hygromycin B, which is also correlated with the ever increasing fraction of infected cells. These results indicate that cells actively engaged in viral protein synthesis have lost, at least partially, the permeability barrier that plasma membrane maintains in uninfected cells. The presence of hygromycin B in the culture medium significantly reduces the production of mature virus in the three systems studied suggesting that this approach may prove useful in the search for antiviral agents.     

Marked karyotype abnormalities in two cases of acute myelogenous leukemia

Two patients with acute myelogenous leukemia with severe chromosome abnormalities are described. The cytogenetic analysis shows the following karyotype: patient No. 1: 41,XY, ?1,?2,?4,?5,?13,?15,?17,?17,?18,?22,+5 markers; patient No. 2: 46,XY,?2,?5,?7,?13,+16,?21,?21,+5 markers. In each patient one set of double minute chromosomes was observed.     

Karyotype evolution in a case of chronic myelogenous leukemia with an unusual Philadelphia chromosome translocation,t(4;22), and an additional translocation,t(3;5)

A patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia was found, at the time of diagnosis, to have an unusual Philadelphia chromosome translocation, t(4;22) (q35;q11) and an additional previously unreported translocation, t(3;5) (q27;q22). The blastic crisis, which occurred after 14 months, was characterized by the appearance of i(17q). Ten months later, two different hyperdiploid cell lines with 50 chromosomes were found in about 20% of the metaphases examined.     

Effects of drugs on the characteristics of cat's saccadic eye movements

Eye movements were measured in concious adult cats with 4 previously implanted electro-oculographic (EOG) electrodes. Saccade characteristics were studied after parentoral administration of amphetamines, diazepam and pentothal. Control parameters were obtained in cats before drugs administration. Pentothal increases duration and decreases maximum velocity of saccades. These observations resemble those observed in men under fatigue and in drowsy animals. A possible relation between pentothal effects and saccadic movements impairment observed in certain cerebellar neurologic diseases is discussed. Amphetamines greatly modify maximum velocity of saccades in a way similar to that observed in increased alertness states. Diazepam has a weak effect on spontaneous saccades and this is similar to that observed in animals with a little decrease in the level of alertness.     

Near-triploid Ph-positive leukemia

Tetraploid populations have been observed in various types of leukemia, but relatively few reports exist of triploid cell populations in acute or chronic leukemia. We report two cases of Ph-positive leukemia with a modal triploid cell population. Examination of peripheral blood from a 3-year-old boy with Ph-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and a 68-year-old male with Ph-positive chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) in blastic crisis revealed modal populations of 72 and 63 chromosomes, respectively. G-banding analysis of both cases revealed the following: karyotypic instability (no clonality), dominant trisomy, and the random association of the Ph chromosome with gains and losses of chromosomes involved in this translocation. The cytogenetic evidence obtained suggests that the triploid cell populations were not derived from a duplication of a hypodiploid cell population, but resulted from random loss of chromosomes from tetraploid cell populations derived from duplication of pseudodiploid cells.     

Chromosomal alterations in the course of viral leukemogenesis in the rat

A cytogenetic study of 35 primary thymic lymphomas induced in rats by the Gross leukemia virus revealed the presence of widespread aneuploidies, ranging from cells with 35 chromosomes or less to triploid and tetraploid cells. Analysis by G banding revealed that chromosomes No. 1, 2, 9, 12, 18–20, X in females, and Y in males were lost preferentially; unidentified marker chromosomes of various morphology and length were present in a high percentage of aneuploid mitoses. Similar alterations were observed in preleukemic thymi from rats sacrificed 30 days after virus injection, when clinical or histologic signs of the disease had not yet appeared. In rats that were sacrificed 7 or 15 days after virus injection, chromosomal anomalies were much more limited, although significantly more abundant than in the controls. Rats that were free of tumor at 130–160 days after virus injection showed a regression of the chromosomal anomalies, suggesting that these are not irreversible and are not necessarily followed by the development of a lymphoma.     

Normal bone marrow karyotype in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria—A cooperative European study

Sixteen patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) from five European centers have been submitted to chromosome analysis. All of them had a normal bone marrow karyotype. The associations between some chromosomally abnormal cases reported in the literature and “typical” PNH or PNH phenomenon during the course of other hematological disorders are discussed.     

Acute nonlymphocytic leukemias and dysmyelopoietic syndromes in patients treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma

The clinical, hematological, and cytogenetical features of six patients with hematological disorders secondary to Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), are described. Three patients developed a dysmyelopoietic syndrome (DMS); three, an acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). Chromosomal analyses showed a normal karyotype in one case and an abnormal one in five cases: one with a 53-chromosome clone, two with a pseudodiploid pattern plus hyperdiploid subclones, and two with a hypodiploid pattern. Trisomy 21 was observed in two cases, tetrasomy 21 in one case, monosomy 5 and monosomy 7 in two cases. The correlations of chromosomal changes with hematological abnormalities or clinical aspects are discussed.     

Primary antibody response of rabbit blood lymphocytes in vitro

This paper describes a method for in vitro induction of a primary response of rabbit peripheral blood lymphocytes to sheep red blood cells. The response is measured by visualizing and enumerating the plaque-forming cells (PFC).Removal of an adhering suppressor cell and use of a low cell concentration in culture are among the crucial requirements.Maximum response was usually reached after 10–15 days of culture. The number of PFC then decreased or stayed at roughly plateau level at least up to the fourth week of culture, when most of the experiments were terminated.In several instances the response had a cyclical character with repeating peaks of PFC.Only plaques of the direct type were found.     

Action mechanisms of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine on rat cortical neurons

The actions of GABA and glycine (Gly), iontophoretically applied to rat cortical neurons, were compared. These amino acids hyperpolarized the membrane cell, decreasing the membrane resistance. The results show that the ionic mechanisms involved in the inhibitory actions of GABA and Gly are probably the same in contrast with the results obtained in cat cortical neurons.