Low leukotriene B4 receptor 1 leads to ALOX5 downregulation at diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia

ALOX5 is implicated in chronic myeloid leukemia development in mouse leukemic stem cells, but its importance in human chronic myeloid leukemia is unknown. Functional ALOX5 was assessed using an LTB4 ELISA and ALOX5, and LTB4R1 mRNA expression was determined via a TaqMan gene expression assay. LTB4R1 and 5-LOX protein levels were assessed by cell surface flow cytometry analysis. At diagnosis ALOX5 was below normal in both blood and CD34⁺ stem cells in all patients. On treatment initiation, ALOX5 levels increased in all patients except those who were destined to progress subsequently to blast crisis. LTB4 levels were increased despite low ALOX5 expression, suggesting that the arachidonic acid pathway is functioning normally up to the point of LTB4 production. However, the LTB4 receptor (BLT1) protein in newly diagnosed patients was significantly lower than after a period of treatment (P<0.0001). The low level of LTB4R1 at diagnosis explains the downregulation of ALOX5. In the absence of LTB4R1, the arachidonic acid pathway intermediates (5-HEPTE and LTA4) negatively regulate ALOX5. ALOX5 regulation is aberrant in chronic myeloid leukemia patients and may not be important for the development of the disease. Our data suggest caution when extrapolating mouse model data into human chronic myeloid leukemia.     

The changing sella: internal carotid artery shift during transsphenoidal pituitary surgery

Purpose

Injuries to the internal carotid artery (ICA) are potentially lethal complications in transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for pituitary lesions. The intercarotid distance (ICD) is thus a major parameter, determining the width of the surgical corridor in TSS. The purpose of the study is to investigate changes in ICD at different levels of the ICA during and after TSS using high definition intraoperative MRI (3T-iMRI).

Methods

Pre-, intra- and 3 months postoperative MRI images of 85 TSS patients were reviewed. ICD was measured at the horizontal (ICDC4h) and vertical (ICDC4v) intracavernous C4 segment as well as at the C6 segment (ICDC6). Association between ICD change at different levels and time points were compared and potential factors predicting ICD reduction were analyzed.

Results

ICD decreased intraoperatively at all three segments of ICA by ?3% (median decreases: ICDC4h: ?0.5 mm, ICDC4v: ?0.7 mm ICDC6: ?0.4 mm). At 3 months postoperative MRI, ICD reduced by a further ?4%, ?2% and ?4% respectively (median decreases ICDC4h: ?0.7, ICDC4v: ?0.4 mm, ICDC6: ?0.5 mm). Postoperative narrowing in ICD occurred independent of further resection after 3T-iMRI. ICD change correlated between different levels of the ICA indicating a uniform shift perioperatively. Preoperative ICD was significantly associated with the intraoperative reduction in ICDC4v and ICDC6.

Conclusions

We have demonstrated a uniform narrowing in ICD at different levels of the ICA during and after TSS adenoma resection. Surgeons should be aware of this change since it determines the width of the surgical corridor and can thus influence the ease of surgery.

     

Strongyloides stercoralis in a bronchial washing specimen processed as conventional and Thin‐Prep smears: Report of a case and a review of the literature

Strongyloidiasis is an opportunistic infection which may result in a fatal hyperinfection syndrome in immunocompromised patients. We report the case of a pulmonary infection with Strongyloides stercoralis in a 61‐year‐old male with a history of a long‐term administration of corticosteroids. Cytologic examination of a bronchial washing specimen, processed both as conventional and as Thin‐Prep smears, revealed an abundance of the typical larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis, amidst a cellular population comprising several acute inflammatory cells as well as bronchial epithelial cells with features of basal cell hyperplasia or regenerative atypia. To the best of our knowledge there is only one previous report describing Strongyloides stercoralis in thin‐layer smears, and there are no previous studies comparing its morphology in conventional and thin‐layer preparations. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

A case of ectopic cilia in nail–patella syndrome

Both ectopic cilia and nail–patella syndrome (NPS) are rare entities. To our knowledge we report the first case of the two anomalies coexisting in one patient. We present the case of a 2-year-old girl, with no other ophthalmic complication of NPS, who had an excellent cosmetic outcome and no lesion recurrence following surgical excision of ectopic cilia.     

Biological interactions of a calcium silicate based cement (Biodentine™) with Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous teeth

Objective

To investigate the biological interactions of a calcium silicate based cement (Biodentine?) with Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous teeth (SHED), focusing on viability/proliferation, odontogenic differentiation, biomineralization and elemental release/exchange.

Transient micro-elastography: A novel non-invasive approach to measure liver stiffness in mice

AIM:To develop and validate a transient micro-elastography device to measure liver stiffness(LS) in mice.METHODS:A novel transient micro-elastography(TME) device,dedicated to LS measurements in mice with a range of measurement from 1-170 kPa,was developed using an optimized vibration frequency of 300 Hz and a 2 mm piston.The novel probe was validated in a classical fibrosis model(CCl4) and in a transgenic murine model of systemic amyloidosis.RESULTS:TME could be successfully performed in control mice below ...     

Intra-operative intravenous fluid restriction reduces perioperative red blood cell transfusion in elective cardiac surgery,especially in transfusion-prone patients: a prospective,randomized controlled trial

Background  

Cardiac surgery is a major consumer of blood products, and hemodilution increases transfusion requirements during cardiac surgery under CPB. As intraoperative parenteral fluids contribute to hemodilution, we evaluated the hypothesis that intraoperative fluid restriction reduces packed red-cell (PRC) use, especially in transfusion-prone adults undergoing elective cardiac surgery.     

Allergens responsible for allergic contact dermatitis among children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background. Multiple studies have evaluated diverse allergens in paediatric populations. Consensus is still lacking on which allergens are most commonly implicated in allergic contact dermatitis. Objectives. To evaluate the proportion of positive reactions for allergens tested in children and to identify allergens with positive reactions in at least 1% of them. Methods. This was a systematic review of studies in PubMed (1966–2010) investigating allergens in at least 100 enrolled children. Proportions of positive reactions for each allergen were combined with random effects models across studies. Results. We included 49 studies with available data on 170 allergens. Each study tested a median of two allergens. Among the 94 allergens evaluated by at least two studies, 58 had estimates of positive reactions of at least 1% by random effects calculations, and for 21 of them the 95% confidence interval ensured that the proportion of positive reactions was at least 1%. The top five allergens tested by at least two studies included nickel sulfate, ammonium persulfate, gold sodium thiosulfate, thimerosal, and toluene‐2,5‐diamine (p‐toluenediamine). For most allergens, the proportion of positive reactions was higher in studies published after 1995 than in earlier studies (p = 0.0065). Conclusions. This meta‐analysis offers guidance on which allergens are most prevalent in the paediatric population and should have priority for inclusion in standardized allergen series.     

Genotyping of presenilin-1 polymorphism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The mechanisms underlying motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are not fully understood. Recent studies suggest that apoptosis is involved in the abnormal neural death that occurs in this devastating disease. Presenilin-1, a transmembrane protein, seems to be implicated in apoptosis. To determine whether presenilin-1 intron 8 polymorphism has an influence in the course of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, we examined this polymorphism genotypes in a large group of patients (n=72) with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and in a random sample of 213 healthy individuals. The results showed a significant difference in genotype (P < 0.04) and allele (P < 0.03) distribution between patients and controls. These results suggest a possible intervention of presenilin-1 in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Received: 14 February 2000 / Received in revised form: 20 April 2000 / Accepted: 4 June 2000