Extramedullary plasmacytoma arising from the lacrimal gland

An 80‐year‐old man presented with an 8‐week history of painless swelling in the right lacrimal gland region with infero‐medial dystopia of the globe. The lesion was excised and histology confirmed an orbital plasmacytoma. Multiple myeloma screening was negative and a solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma arising from the lacrimal gland was diagnosed. The patient was subsequently treated with radiotherapy.     

Nitric oxide synthase activity and localization do not change in uterus and placenta during human parturition

Animal studies have suggested that nitric oxide, a smooth muscle relaxant, is a fundamental mediator in the initiation of parturition. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the onset of human labour is associated with a reduction in the activity of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS), within the uterus. Samples of myometrium, placenta, decidua and fetal membranes were collected during Caesarean section from 11 women before and 11 women after the onset of labour at term. Immunocytochemistry was used to localize each of the three isoforms of NOS (endothelial NOS, brain NOS, and inducible NOS) in each of these tissues and the intensity of staining was qualitatively assessed. NOS enzyme activity was determined in homogenates of frozen myometrium, placenta and fetal membranes (with attached decidua), by measuring conversion of radio-labelled L-arginine to L-citrulline. Each of the three isoforms of NOS was localized in each of the tissues. We found no difference in either the expression or enzyme activity of NOS in myometrium, placenta or fetal membranes before and during labour at term. These results suggest that, in contrast to animal studies, a decrease in NOS enzyme activity may not be involved in the onset of parturition at term in the human.      

Quinone-induced DNA single strand breaks in a human colon carcinoma cell line

It has been demonstrated that synthetic quinones, such as menadione, cause DNA damage in different cell systems, possibly being mediated by free radicals generated during redox cycling. It has been suggested that the damage caused could be related to tumor induction in different sites. To our knowledge it has not yet been demonstrated that the natural quinones, vitamin K1 and K2, exert the same activity. Using a colon carcinoma cell line, HT-29, we examined the extent of DNA damage induced by menadione, vitamin K1 and K2. Menadione caused significant DNA damage at low concentrations (25-200 microM) with a linear correlation of r = 0.95. In the presence of dicoumarol, a DT-diaphorase inhibitor, the damage was detected at concentrations five times lower indicating that free radicals generated during the redox cycling play a key role. Neither vitamin K1, incorporated in micelles, nor K2 caused detectable single strand breaks with respect to the controls either in the presence or in absence of dicoumarol. Our results demonstrate that, despite their redox cycling properties, the natural forms of vitamin K do not cause DNA damage in HT-29 cells as menadione does in the experimental conditions used.      

The HLA Dictionary 2004: a summary of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1/3/4/5 and -DQB1 alleles and their association with serologically defined HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR and -DQ antigens

This report presents serologic equivalents of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DRB3, -DRB4, -DRB5 and -DQB1 alleles. The dictionary is an update of the one published in 2001. The data summarize equivalents obtained by the World Health Organization Nomenclature Committee for factors of the HLA System, the International Cell Exchange, the National Marrow Donor Program, recent publications and individual laboratories. This latest update of the dictionary is enhanced by the inclusion of results from studies performed during the 13th International Histocompatibility Workshop and from neural network analyses. A summary of the data as recommended serologic equivalents is presented as expert assigned types. The tables include remarks for alleles, which are or may be expressed as antigens with serologic reaction patterns that differ from the well-established HLA specificities. The equivalents provided will be useful in guiding searches for unrelated hematopoietic stem cell donors in which patients and/or potential donors are typed by either serology or DNA-based methods. The serological DNA equivalent dictionary will also aid in typing and matching procedures for organ transplant programs whose waiting lists of potential donors and recipients comprise of mixtures of serologic and DNA-based typings. The tables with HLA equivalents and a questionnaire for submission of serologic reaction patterns for poorly identified allelic products will be made available through the WMDA web page: www.worldmarrow.org. and in the near future also in a searchable form on the IMGT/HLA database.     

Phase II trial of continuous low -dose temozolomide for patients with recurrent malignant glioma

BACKGROUND:In this phase II trial,we investigated the efficacy of a metronomic temozolomide schedule in the treatment of recurrent malignant gliomas(MGs).METHODS:Eligible patients received daily temozolomide(50 mg/m2)continuously until progression.The primary endpoint was progression-free survival rate at 6 months in the glioblastoma cohort(N=37).In an exploratory analysis,10 additional recurrent grade III MG patients were enrolled.Correlative studies included evaluation of 76 frequent mutations in glioblastoma(iPLEX assay,Sequenom)aiming at establishing the frequency of potentially"drugable"mutations in patients entering