Acute leukemia: Diagnosis improved by flow cytometry in addition to morphology

Aims:   Immunophenotyping using flow cytometry (FCM) has become an essential component of acute leukemia (AL) diagnosis. This study evaluated the judicious application of FCM as an adjunct to well-informed morpho-cytochemical assessment in patients with acute leukemia.
Methods:   100 untreated patients with AL were studied using morpho-cytochemistry and immunophenotyping through FCM.
Results:   There were 29 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 47 with B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 20 with T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and four with biphenotypic acute leukemia (BAL). Morpho-cytochemistry without FCM could provide definite diagnosis only in the AML cases. It failed to provide definite diagnosis in ALL patients. Over half (55%) of ALL patients were given the noncommittal label, AL. The remaining 45% patients were labeled a more definite, probable ALL.
Conclusion:   FCM thus had a role to play in ALL patients to confirm a definite and a probable diagnosis, to define therapeutically and prognostically groups such as B and T lineage ALL and to distinguish AML – M0 from ALL. FCM helps in diagnosing AML cases as well, but is a less essential mode of investigation in this group purely from the perspective of the therapy regime. But its role in defining different subgroups in AML is its major use. While morpho-cytochemistry provides a first-line investigation of great therapeutic value, and more so in AML, it needs to be supplemented by flow cytometry, particularly in ALL.     

克拉霉素治疗慢性鼻-鼻窦炎的临床效果及安全性评价

目的 研究慢性鼻-鼻窦炎(CRS)患者行克拉霉素治疗的临床效果.方法 选择2019年1月～2019年12月间襄阳市第一人民医院收治的84例CRS患者,采用随机数表法分为观察组(克拉霉素)与对照组(鼻用激素布地奈德)各42例,比较两组白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、血清总IgE(TIgE)、嗜...     

Five‐year follow up of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor: Recurrence‐free survival by risk group

Aim: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. There is limited published data on GIST from the Indian subcontinent. This 5‐year retrospective analysis of 49 patients treated for GIST reports clinical and pathological features and survival outcome by risk stratification. Methods: We reviewed 49 cases of GIST from January 2004 to December 2008. Imatinib was administered after surgery in patients with either high‐risk, residual or metastatic disease and at onset of recurrence or metastatic disease in patients with intermediate risk. Results: The mean age was 50 years (range, 17–80 years). Patients with localized tumor were classified as low (n = 2), intermediate (n = 4) and high risk (n = 32), based on the primary tumor and mitotic index. At a median follow up of 21 months, 2‐year and 3‐year recurrence or progression‐free survival rates were 61 and 39%, respectively, for all patients. The median recurrence‐free survival rate in the intermediate‐risk and high‐risk groups were 7 and 49 months, respectively. The median progression‐free survival in the residual (n = 4) and metastatic disease group (n = 7) was 10 and 29 months, respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the role of imatinib in adjuvant and therapeutic settings. Responses have been durable and most patients tolerate the drug well at clinically effective doses. In view of high recurrence rates in the intermediate‐risk group in our study, it would be better to keep these patients on strict follow up to detect recurrence at the earliest opportunity.     

Plasma Catecholamines in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and in Cardiac Arrest

Plasma catecholamine concentrations in cardiac arrest (ventricularfibrillation and asystole) are significantly higher than aftermyocardial infarction. The levels reached are well above thosenormally required to stimulate cardiac activity. Possible reasonsfor the failure of the myocardium to respond to the catecholaminesare discussed and the rationale for giving more catecholaminesis questioned.     

Arterial to end tidal carbon dioxide tension difference during Caesarean section anaesthesia

The relationship between arterial carbon dioxide tension and end tidal carbon dioxide tension was studied in 19 patients during general anaesthesia for Caesarean section. Thirteen patients scheduled for elective abdominal hysterectomy formed a nonpregnant group. There was significant correlation between arterial and end tidal CO2 tensions in both groups. During Caesarean section, this difference was significantly less than in the nonpregnant group.     

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the seminal vesicle

A case of leiomyosarcoma of the seminal vesicle detected as a prerectal mass on routine per-rectal examination is described in a 37-year-old man. Computed tomography scan confirmed it to be arising from the right seminal vesicle. Per-rectal trucut biopsy showed malignant cells. Radical cystoprostatectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy with anterior resection of rectum and urinary diversion with ileal conduit was performed. Microscopic examination of the resected specimen showed moderately differentiated leiomyosarcoma from the seminal vesicle. The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy and sandwiched radiotherapy. He is well and free of tumor 20 months after surgery.     

Changes in Angiotensin Converting Enzyme in Testes and Epididymes of Rat Due to Serotonin Administration

Effect of exogenous serotonin and blockade of its endogenous production on Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) in testes and epididymis was studied. Serotonin (30 mg/kg) and p-chlorophenylalanine (100 mg/kg) were injected for 4 and 3 days respectively. Serotonin reduced the weights of testes, seminal vesicle and ventral prostate whereas epididymal weight increased due to fluid accumulation. ACE was significantly reduced in tissue and fluid fractions of testes and epididymis of serotonin treated rats. pCPA had no effect on ACE levels. Serotonin seems to have direct effect on epididymis also.