Breakpoint clusters of the PML gene in acute promyelocytic leukemia: Primary structure of the reciprocal products of the PML-RARA gene in a patient with t(15;17)

DNA studies of the translocation t(15;17) in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) have shown that the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) gene on chromosome 17 is juxtaposed to the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) gene on chromosome 15. The PML breakpoints have been mapped to 3 clusters: bcr1, bcr2, and bcr3. We have examined the PML breakpoint distribution in a series of 33 Chinese patients with APL Twenty-two patients fell within bcr1, 2 within bcr2, and 9 within bcr3. The primary structure of the reciprocal chromosome translocation joints of one patient and that of their normal counterparts have been determined and compared to those of 2 previously reported cases. These studies revealed possible topoisomerase II cleavage sites close to the breakpoints and suggested implications of DNA attachment sites to nuclear matrix. We propose that these features are relevant to the process of illegitimate recombination generating the translocation. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Lack of STK11 gene expression in homozygous twins with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Clinical features of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), an autosomal dominant disorder, include clusters of melanotic spots on the lips and limbs, polyposis of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and propensity to develop neoplasms of the GI tract, ovaries, testes, and other sites. We report twin sisters with PJS who were found to be homozygous, based on analyses of 9 DNA markers containing short tandem repeats (STR). Aberrant expression of a putative tumor suppressor gene, STK11, which encodes a serine threonine kinase, has been suggested as the etiologic factor in PJS. In both of the twin sisters with PJS, mRNA analyses by RT-PCR demonstrated a complete lack of STK11 gene expression. These results provide direct evidence that STK11 gene expression is abnormal in PJS. Detecting abnormal expression of the STK11 gene may serve as a molecular approach to the diagnosis of PJS and may facilitate genotype-phenotype correlations in PJS patients.     

Continuous estimation of systolic blood pressure using the pulse arrival time and intermittent calibration

A continuous noninvasive method of systolic blood pressure estimation is described. Systolic blood pressure is estimated by combining two separately obtained components: a higher frequency component obtained by extracting a specific frequency band of pulse arrival time and a lower frequency component obtained from the intermittently acquired systolic blood pressure measurements with an auscultatory or oscillometric system. The pulse arrival time was determined by the time interval from QRS apex in electrocardiogram to the onset of photoplethysmogram in a fingertip beat-by-beat via an oximetric sensor. The method was examined in 20 patients during cardiovascular surgery. The estimated values of systolic blood pressure were compared with those measured invasively using a radial arterial catheter. The results showed that the correlation coefficients between estimated values and invasively obtained systolic blood pressure reached 0.97±0.02 (mean±SD), and the error remained within ±10% in 97.8% of the monitoring period. By using a system with automatic cuff inflation and deflation to acquire intermittent systolic blood pressure values, this method can be applicable for the continuous noninvasive monitoring of systolic blood pressure.     

Antibodies to HIV-1 gp41 recognize synthetic peptides of human IFN-alpha and IFN-beta

Based on our finding that a common epitope exists between HIV-1 gp41 and human type I interferons (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta), and increased levels of antibodies against human IFN-alpha and IFN-beta were observed in HIV-1-infected individuals, we tried to explain the mechanism of increased levels of antibodies. Mouse antisera recognizing HIV-1 recombinant soluble (rs) gp41 (aa 539-684) interacted with two synthetic peptides sequence-corresponding to the IFN-alpha/beta receptor binding site on human IFN-alpha and IFN-beta, while normal mouse serum (pooled normal sera) did not. The anti-rspg41 antisera after adsorption by IFN-beta sepharose column lost the activity of interaction with both synthetic peptides. In another experiment, rsgp41 could bind to sepharose column conjugated with anti-IFN-beta polyclonal antibodies (IgG). These results indicate that the common epitope on gp41 and type I interferons could induce antibodies recognizing the receptor binding site on IFN-alpha and IFN-beta, suggesting that increased levels of antibodies against IFN-alpha and IFN-beta in HIV-1-infected individuals could be induced by gp41.     

Porphyromonas gingivalis RgpA and Kgp proteinases and adhesins are C terminally processed by the carboxypeptidase CPG70

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a bacterial pathogen that produces the polyproteins RgpA and Kgp, which are proteolytically processed into proteinases and adhesins. We have demonstrated that the RgpA and Kgp proteinases and adhesins are C terminally processed by carboxypeptidase CPG70 by sequencing C-terminal peptides from both the wild type and an isogenic CPG70 mutant, using ion trap mass spectrometry.     

18例恶性苗勒混合瘤临床病理分析

目的：探讨女性生殖系统恶性苗勒混合瘤（MMMT）的临床与病理特征。方法：对18例女性生殖系统MMMT进行光镜观察及免疫组化染色，结合临床资料进行分析，对9例进行了术后随访。结果：各部位MMMT的形态特征相似，均含有上皮及间叶两种组织成分，相互间有穿插和移行变化，组织成分形态多样，免疫组化有助于判断。恶性度与异型性、核分裂数及出血坏死程度有关。预后与临床分期有关。化疗有效。结论：MMMT的诊断主要依据组织形态学，预后与临床分期有关。     

淋巴结血管内T细胞淋巴瘤1例报道及文献复习

目的　探讨血管内淋巴瘤 (IVL)的临床病理特征。方法　对 1例腹股沟淋巴结IVL临床、病理组织学及免疫表型进行观察分析并复习文献。结果　男性 31岁 ,不明原因高热伴消瘦 5 0天 ,右腹股沟直径 1cm淋巴结 1枚 ,B超示肝脏轻度增大 ,血LDH明显升高伴ESR及转氨酶轻度升高 ,外周血WBC 3 3× 10 7/L ,骨髓像、多种病原及各肿瘤相关抗原检测均无异常。病理活检 :腹股沟淋巴结大部分破坏 ,代之以大量扩张的中小血管 ,腔内充满大量异型淋巴样细胞 ,局部伴管壁、管周浸润并累及结外脂肪组织。瘤细胞免疫表型CD4 5、CD4 5RO、CD3阳性 ,CK、CD6 8、CD79α、CD2 0均阴性 ,血管壁及内皮细胞CD31、CD34阳性。行CHOP化疗后症状缓解 ,现仍在随访中。结论　IVL是一罕见的非霍奇金淋巴瘤 ,好发于中枢神经系统及皮肤 ,其他部位少见 ,绝大数为B细胞型 ,T型罕见 ,以浅表淋巴结活检确诊者尚无报道。临床表现有一定提示性 ,确诊靠组织病理学检查 ,部分病例对化疗敏感 ,但多数病例预后差     

γ-干扰素基因修饰人肝癌细胞的免疫原性研究

目的研究ＩＦＮ－γ基因修饰后人肝癌细胞的免疫原性。方法利用逆转录病毒载体ＬＸＳＮ分别建立了四种ＩＦＮ－γ基因修饰人肝癌细胞，经Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ及Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ杂交进行鉴定分析，流式细胞仪（ＦＡＣＳ）分析细胞表面ＭＨＣ分子表达，灭活肿瘤细胞体外刺激诱导细胞毒Ｔ淋巴细胞（ＣＴＬ）产生。结果Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ及Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ杂交结果表明，ＩＦＮ－γ基因在宿主细胞中获得了正确整合和表达。ＦＡＣＳ分析结果表明，ＩＦＮ－γ基因修饰后人肝癌细胞表面ＨＬＡⅠ类分子表达强度显著增强，Ⅱ类分子的表达阳性百分率有显著提高。一些ＩＦＮ－γ基因修饰人肝癌细胞在体外诱导细胞毒Ｔ淋巴细胞的能力有所提高。结论ＩＦＮ－γ基因修饰可增强人肝癌细胞的免疫原性，为基因工程瘤苗的临床应用提供了一定依据。