Malignant Melanoma of Soft Parts Involving the Head and Neck Region: Review of Literature and Case Report

Malignant melanoma of soft parts (MMSP) was originally described as a distinct entity by Enzinger in 1965 and was termed “clear cell sarcoma of tendons and aponeuroses” because of its association with tenosynovial structures. It has been shown immunophenotypically and ultrastructurally that this tumor is derived from neuroectoderm and shares a number of features with cutaneous melanoma. Over 95% of MMSPs present in the extremities, with the head and neck region (1.9%) being an unusual site. This study presents an additional case of MMSP of the head and neck region involving the posterior cervical region in a 15-year-old Hispanic male and reviews the literature on MMSP. Ultrastructural examination showed rudimentary cell attachments, smooth cell membranes, discontinuous basal lamina, scanty glycogen, and occasional premelanosomes in some tumor cells. Cytogenetic analysis showed a reciprocal translocation between the long arms of chromosomes 12 and 22 [t(12:22)(q13;q12.2)], characteristic for MMSP and not seen in cutaneous melanoma. Survival in MMSP has been correlated with tumor size, tumor necrosis, and ploidy status. Overall reported clinical outcome for this tumor is as follows: died of disease, 45%; alive with disease, 23%; no evidence of disease, 30%; and died of other causes, 2%. MMSP represents a distinct entity with a characteristic ultrastructural appearance and a tumor defining cytogenetic translocation.     

Binding and antimineralocorticoid activities of spirolactones in toad bladder

The role of the soluble pool (cytoplasmic or cytosolic) of [3H]-aldosterone binding sites in the toad bladder was assessed by the use of two spirolactones, prorenone and spironolactone as a reference drug. Prorenone fulfills all the criteria for a specific competitive antagonist of aldosterone for its effect on Na+ transport. Compared with spironolactone (Ki approximately equal to 1 microM), prorenone was about eightfold less potent (Ki approximately equal to 8 microM). Competition for [3H]aldosterone binding sites by spironolactone and prorenone revealed an order of potency (spironolactone greater than prorenone) that corresponded to their antagonist activities in the Na+ transport assay. There was a linear correlation between the effects of the two spirolactones on the aldosterone-stimulated Na+ transport and their ability to displace [3H]aldosterone from its binding sites in the soluble pool. Finally [3H]prorenone binding sites were detected in the soluble pool but an insignificant number of antagonist-receptor complexes were found associated with the nuclear pool. Our study indicates that the aldosterone binding sites of the soluble pool are indeed mineralocorticoid receptors, which are probably the first intracellular mediators leading to an increased Na+ reabsorption.     

Three highly polymorphic microsatellites at the human myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein locus, 100 kb telomeric to HLA-F : Characterization and relation to HLA haplotypes

The MOG locus, located on chromosomal bands 6p21.3-p22 and mapped about 100 kb telomeric to HLA-F, was isolated from cosmid ICRFcl09A2434 and shown to contain three microsatellites. These CA-repeat polymorphic markers were characterized in a sample of 173 healthy unrelated individuals and 84 DNAs from the HLA Workshop reference panel, by a method combining fluorescence labeling of PCR products and use of an automated DNA sequencer. For the three markers, frequencies of heterozygotes are well predicted from allele frequencies by the Hardy—Weinberg rule, which suggests that problems of allele nonamplification are unlikely. Typing of cell lines homozygous in the HLA region allowed unambiguous definition of 81 HLA-MOG haplotypes and showed that several HLA ancestral haplotypes extended to the MOG region. The high degree of polymorphism (59%, 51%, and 81% at the three loci, respectively, and 87% at the haplotype level) makes these new markers informative for association or linkage studies with diseases such as hemochromatosis or multiple sclerosis, and for studies aimed at precisely delineating the site of crossover in chromosomes in which recombination occurred in the distal part of the HLA class I region.     

Rapid DNA haplotyping using a multiplex heteroduplex approach: Application to duchenne muscular dystrophy carrier testing

A new strategy has been developed for rapid haplotype analysis based on an initial multiplex amplification of several polymorphic sites, followed by heteroduplex detection. Heteroduplexes formed between two different alleles are detected because they migrate differently than the corresponding homoduplexes in Hydrolink-MDE gel. This simple, rapid method does not depend on specific sequences such as restriction enzyme sites or CA boxes and does not require the use of isotope. This approach has been tested using commonly occurring polymorphisms spanning the dystrophin gene as a model. We describe the use of the method to assign the carrier status of females in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) pedigrees. The method may be used for other genetic diseases when mutations are unknown or there are few dinucleotide markers in the gene proximity, and for the identification of haplotype backgrounds of mutant alleles. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Performance status and comorbidity predict transplant-related mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Comorbidity measurements have recently been used to improve estimation of tolerance to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). We sought to determine the independent effect of comorbidity and performance status on HCT outcome and to devise a simple risk classification system for transplant-related mortality. We analyzed 105 consecutively enrolled patients who underwent HCT and received reduced intensity conditioning with fludarabine, melphalan, and alemtuzumab. Comorbid conditions were tabulated using 2 scales, the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and the Kaplan-Feinstein Scale (KFS). Comorbid conditions were found in 47% of patients by the KFS and in 27% by the CCI (P < .001). Using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (PS) scale, 34% had a PS score >0 (range, 0-2). A simple scale combining the KFS and PS enabled separation of high- from low-risk patients, with 6-month cumulative incidences 50% and 15%, respectively for transplant-related mortality (P = .001) and enhanced prognostic power over the CCI alone (P = .018). Prospective studies evaluating more comprehensive functional and comorbidity measurements are warranted.     

Taste and olfaction: Independence vs interaction

Twenty persons sipped and judged overall perceived magnitude, odor magnitude, and taste magnitude of various concentrations of the odorant citral, the tastants sodium chloride and sucrose, and odorant-tastant combinations. In a second experiment, the same twenty persons sniffed and judged perceived odor magnitude for the same set of stimuli. The investigation probed two primary questions: Does the apparent harmony of an olfactory-taste mixture dictate the degree of additivity in that mixture? Does harmony of the components influence the production of any taste-smell confusion? The data from both the harmonious mixture (citral and sucrose) and the dissonant mixture (citral and NaCl) imply absence of sensory inhibition or facilitation between taste and olfaction. Nevertheless, both types of mixtures led to substantial taste-smell confusion whereby olfactory stimulation evoked sensations of taste.     

ASC:SIL ratio following implementation of the 2001 Bethesda System

The 2001 Bethesda system (TBS 2001) eliminated the "satisfactory but limited by" category, benign cellular changes (BCC), and the designations "favor benign" (ASC-B) and "favor low grade" (ASC-L) for atypical squamous cells. We compared the unsatisfactory rate and atypical squamous cells:squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASC:SIL) ratio pre- and postimplementation of TBS 2001 to see if there was an increase in unsatisfactory specimens, ASC rate, and altered ASC:SIL ratio. Pap Tests (569,726) reviewed at the Cytopathology Laboratory of Women and Infants Hospital from 1998-2002 were included. TBS 1991 terminology was used through December 31, 2001. Conversion to TBS 2001 took place on January 1, 2002. The average ASC:SIL ratios pre- and postimplementation of TBS 2001 were 1.52:1 and 1.42:1, respectively. The rates of unsatisfactory specimens and ASC remained unchanged. Conversion to TBS 2001 did not adversely affect the ASC:SIL ratio or the detection rates of abnormalities of Pap tests.     

Intralesion transplantation of serotonergic precursors enhances locomotor recovery but has no effect on development of chronic central pain following hemisection injury in rats

The effects of intralesion grafts of serotonergic precursors on locomotor recovery and development of chronic pain were assessed after chronic spinal cord hemisection injury (SCI) in rats. Serotonin- and brain-derived neurotrophic factor-secreting (RN46A-B14) and RN46A-vector-only cells were transplanted into the site of T13 lateral hemisection 10 days following injury in immunosuppressed animals, and locomotor and pain related behaviors were assessed weekly for 28 days. There were significant improvements in the degree of spontaneous locomotor recovery, but no significant difference was found in the magnitude of development of mechanical allodynia or thermal hyperalgesia in any transplant group. From these results, we conclude that intraparenchymal engraftment of RN46A-B14 cells is largely ineffective in influencing somatosensory outcomes after SCI, in contrast with the efficacy of dorsal intrathecal placement.