Sister chromatid exchange and mitotic index of cultured lymphocytes in patients with measles

Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies and mitotic index in cultured human lymphocytes of ten patients suffering from measles were studied. The frequency of sister chromatid exchange in patients observed was not different to normal control, but it was observed that the patients with measles were having low mitotic index as compared to the normal control.     

Febrile neutropenia in cancer patients in Kuwait: microbial spectrum and outcome

A sample of 100 consecutive febrile neutropenic episodes in cancer patients in Kuwait was studied. Acute leukaemias (44%) and lymphomas (29%) were the most frequent underlying cancers; 21 bacteraemias (gram-positive 10, gram-negative 9, polymicrobial 2) were encountered. Staphylococcous epidermidis and Escherichia coli were the commonest organisms. Urinary tract infection occurred in 30% of the microbiologically documented cases. A total of 84 episodes responded to therapy and 9 of the 14 deaths were secondary to infection.     

Actions of tramadol on micturition in awake,freely moving rats

1 (+/-)-Tramadol, a widely used analgesic, is a racemate stimulating opioid receptors and inhibiting reuptake of noradrenaline and serotonin, that is, pharmacological principles previously shown to influence rat micturition. 2 We studied both (+/-)-tramadol and its enantiomers in conscious Sprague-Dawley rats undergoing continuous cystometry. The effects of these agents were compared to those of morphine ( micro -opioid receptor agonist) and tested after pretreatment with naloxone ( micro -opioid receptor antagonist). Cystometries were evaluated before and after intravenous (i.v.), intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intrathecal (i.t.) drug administrations. 3 The most conspicuous effects of i.v. (+/-)-tramadol (0.1-10 mg kg(-1)) was an increase in threshold pressure and an increase in micturition volume. 4 These effects were mimicked by (+)-tramadol (0.1-5 mg kg(-1) i.v.), whereas (-)-tramadol (5 mg kg(-1) i.v.) did not influence threshold pressure and micturition volume. 5 The effects of (+/-)-tramadol 5 mg kg(-1) on micturition volume were blocked by pretreatment with naloxone 0.3 mg kg(-1). Morphine (0.3-10 mg kg(-1) i.p.) increased threshold pressure but did not significantly increase micturition volume in doses not resulting in overflow incontinence. 6 (+/-)-Tramadol 10 mg kg(-1) increased urine production, an effect blocked by desmopressin 25 ng kg(-1). 7 (+/-)-Tramadol effectively inhibits micturition in conscious rats by stimulating micro -opioid receptors. A synergy between opioid receptor stimulation and monoamine reuptake inhibition may contribute to the micturition effects.     

Genetic analysis of early- versus late-stage ovarian tumors

In the United States, ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women. The most important prognostic factor for this cancer is tumor stage, or extent of disease at diagnosis. Although women with low-stage tumors have a relatively good prognosis, most women diagnosed with late-stage disease eventually succumb to their cancer. In an attempt to understand early events in ovarian carcinogenesis, and to explore steps in its progression, we have applied multiple molecular genetic techniques to the analysis of 21 early-stage (stage I/II) and 17 advanced-stage (stage III/IV) ovarian tumors. These techniques included expression profiling with cDNA microarrays containing approximately 18,000 expressed sequences, and comparative genomic hybridization to address the chromosomal locations of copy number gains as well as losses. Results from the analysis indicate that early-stage ovarian cancers exhibit profound alterations in gene expression, many of which are similar to those identified in late-stage tumors. However, differences observed at the genomic level suggest differences between the early- and late-stage tumors and provide support for a progression model for ovarian cancer development.     

Characterization of ataxia telangiectasia fibroblasts with extended life-span through telomerase expression

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by progressive cerebellar degeneration, immunodeficiencies, genomic instability and gonadal atrophy. A-T patients are hypersensitive to ionizing radiation and have an elevated cancer risk. Cells derived from A-T patients require higher levels of serum factors, exhibit cytoskeletal defects and undergo premature senescence in culture. We show here that expression of the catalytic subunit of telomerase (hTERT) in primary A-T patient fibroblasts can rescue the premature senescence phenotype. Ectopic expression of hTERT does not rescue the radiosensitivity or the telomere fusions in A-T fibroblasts. The hTERT+AT cells also retain the characteristic defects in cell-cycle checkpoints, and show increased chromosome damage before and after ionizing radiation. Although A-T patients have an increased susceptibility to cancer, the expression of hTERT in A-T fibroblasts does not stimulate malignant transformation. These immortalized A-T cells provide a more stable cell system to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the cellular phenotypes of Ataxia-telangiectasia.     

Application of comparative genomic hybridization, spectral karyotyping, and microarray analysis in the identification of subtype-specific patterns of genomic changes in rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) in children occurs predominantly as two major histologically defined subtypes called embryonal RMS (RMS-E) and the prognostically less favorable alveolar RMS (RMS-A). Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was performed on 21 RMS and identified consistent gains affecting chromosomes 2 (8/10), 5 (5/10), 6 (3/10), 7 (7/10), 8 (9/10), 11 (6/10), and 12 (5/10) in RMS-E. Losses/deletions involved chromosomes 19 (2/10) and chromosomes 4, 9, 10, 17, 21 (1/10 each). High copy number amplification, involving the 2p24 region (5/11) and less frequently, the 12q13-21 (2/11), 9p22 (1/11), and 17q22-25 (1/11) regions, was detected in RMS-A. Gene amplification at band 2p24 was present in 6/12 alveolar tumors, and in each case, MYCN was amplified, together with the distally placed DDX1 gene. For these patients there was a shorter disease free interval and a higher mortality than patients with tumors without amplification. Detailed spectral karyotype analysis (SKY) was performed on two RMS cell lines (one of each subtype) and identified a surprisingly high level of structural change. Gene expression studies with the Atlas Human Cancer Array (588 genes) showed that 153 genes generated a signal of similar intensity in both cell lines, and 45 genes appeared to have subtype-specific expression. The chromosomal location of differentially expressed genes was compared to the pattern of genomic alteration in RMS as determined by CGH in this study and the literature.     

Trochanteric Bursitis Following Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: Incidence,Predictors, and Treatment

Background

Trochanteric bursitis (TB) remains a common complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA), with an incidence between 3% and 17%, depending on the surgical approach, with the posterior approach (PA) being relatively protective compared to the lateral approach. The purposes of this study were to determine the incidence of TB after primary THA, identify potential risk factors for TB, and examine the utility of different modes of treatment.