Expression of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF–II) in human hepatocellular carcinomas: An immunohistochemical study

Recent results obtained using molecular biology techniques have suggested a possible role for insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To investigate this phenomenon, a monoclonal anti-body was used against IGF-II to study 54 patients with HCC. The presence of HBsAg was also tested both in serum and liver tissue. A positive immunoreaction was found in 9/15 (60%) of the HCC arising in cirrhotic livers of patients who had serum markers for HBV (HBV+ positive patients). These results provide further evidence that HBV might play a role in the expression of IGF-II. In HCC of patients without any markers of HBV infection (HBV- negative patients), IGF–II was detected in 10/39 (25.6%) of the tumors, and in some benign neoplastic lesions. It was found not only in neoplastic cells but also in some dysplastic nodules. The speculation arises that IGF–II expression may play a role in some steps of hepato-carcinogenesis.     

The urinary myeloma cast. Frequency of detection and clinical correlations in 30 patients with multiple myeloma

The authors examined urine specimens from 30 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) to determine the usefulness of cytodiagnostic urinalysis in evaluating such patients. Nine patients had clinical evidence of renal failure. In six of these nine patients (67%), or 20% of all patients, the urine sediment contained unique "MM-casts." These were characterized by a waxy to granular matrix surrounded by reactive, syncytial, giant cells with occasional renal cells embedded in the cast matrix. These casts were not observed in urine specimens from patients with normal renal function. Renal biopsy in two patients with MM-casts confirmed that cytologic diagnosis of "MM-kidney." The patient groups with or without MM-casts were comparable with respect to age, sex, and clinical stage of disease. In contrast, those with MM-casts were more likely to have clinical evidence of renal disease (100% vs. 13%), Bence Jones proteinuria (100% vs. 35%), hypercalcemia (50% vs. 8%), and hyperuricemia (50% vs. 4%). The two groups could not be distinguished reliably by urine physicochemical determinations. However, there were marked differences in the frequency of microscopic abnormalities. All patients with MM-cast formation excreted other pathologic casts as well and had evidence of tubular injury, while five of six had evidence of ischemic necrosis. This compared with 17%, 13%, and 21%, respectively, of those without MM-casts. Thus, cytodiagnostic urinalysis is of value in distinguishing MM-kidney from the numerous other causes of renal failure in patients with MM.     

Thyrotoxicosis developing within one year following migration to the United States

Two members of a family from Guyana, South America, developed thyrotoxicosis within one year of migration to the United States. Both patients had pre-existing multinodular goiters. Their clinical manifestation was consistent with that of iodide-induced thyrotoxicosis. This syndrome may be more common than previously reported in the United States. Physicians practicing in inner-city areas with a significant immigrant population should be more aware of this entity.     

Biomedical applications of tunable diode laser spectrometry: Correlation between breath carbon monoxide and low level blood carboxyhemoglobin saturation

Tunable diode laser spectrometry was used to measure breath carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations in nonsmoking subjects. Corresponding blood carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) saturations between physiological levels and levels after 1 and 8 hours exposure to 9 ppm CO, the maximum permissible concentration in the air under federal regulations, were also determined. A good linear correlation between breath CO and blood COHb saturation for low levels representing ambient conditions was established, with a correlation coefficient better than 0.999 for the means and 0.945 for the individual data points. Similar studies on the other compounds of concern are also possible using tunable diode laser spectrometry, requiring only a breath sample and with no sample preparation. This technique will facilitate fast, noninvasive environmental health effect and biomedical studies.     

True hermaphroditism with XX/XY sex chromosome mosaicism: Report of a case

A case of true hermaphroditism with 46, XX/46, XY karyotype is reported. The propositus, reared as a male, showed ambiguous external genitalia with perineoscrotal hypospadias, and internal genitalia represented by bilateral ovotestes, normal uterus and tubes. Periodic menstrual bleedings appeared at puberty. The endocrinologic data demonstrated the secretory activity of both the ovarian and the testicular tissue. The analysis of red cell, lymphocyte and serum markers, done on the propositus and on his parents, failed to show any evidence of double fertilization. On this basis, the origin of the XX/XY condition (mosaicism versus chimerism) and its developmental consequences are discussed.     

Retrospective analysis of antiretroviral HIV treatment success based on medical history or guided by the reverse hybridisation LiPA HIV genotyping system

The changes in viral load and CD4(+) count at 3 and 6 months in a group of 166 HIV-infected patients was evaluated. The new therapy was chosen based on the medical history procedures for 70 patients, and in 96 patients it was guided by the partial or complete result of the line probe assay (LiPA) HIV RT and Protease resistance tests. The absolute difference from the baseline of the log viral load at 3 and 6 months was significantly different between the two groups when adjusted for baseline viral load (P < 0.0001) and stayed significant when intention-to-treat analysis was carried out (P < 0.001). The absolute difference of the CD4(+) count was not significantly different when adjusted for baseline CD4(+) (P = 0.854, 3 months; P = 0.06, 6 months). The proportion of patients with a viral load 相似文献   

Complementary DNA sequence of the HLA‐B*3924 allele1

We have isolated the complete coding region of HLA‐B*39 from a Spanish Caucasoid, using a new PCR primer for its 5′ untranslated region. The cDNA matched partial genomic sequences of B*3924, an allele whose distribution appears to be restricted to Mediterranean and Arabian Caucasoids. A single amino acid change exclusive to B*3924 (threonine‐98) distinguishes it from B*3903.     

Lower serum vitamin E concentrations in major depression. Another marker of lowered antioxidant defenses in that illness

OBJECTIVE: Major depression is associated with defective antioxidant defenses. Vitamin E is the major fat soluble antioxidant in the body. The aim of the present study is to examine serum vitamin E concentrations in major depressed patients versus normal volunteers. METHOD: Serum vitamin E concentrations were measured in 26 healthy volunteers and 42 major depressed patients by means of HPLC. Since vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin, and serum vitamin E concentrations are strongly related to these of low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides, we have adjusted the results for possible differences in these lipids. The numbers of peripheral blood leukocytes were measured. RESULTS: Patients with major depression had significantly lower serum vitamin E concentrations than healthy controls. The area under the ROC (receiver operating characteristics) curve was 83%. There were significant and negative correlations between serum vitamin E and number of total leukocytes and neutrophils. CONCLUSIONS: Major depression is accompanied by significantly lower serum vitamin E concentrations, suggesting lower antioxidant defenses against lipid peroxidation. The results could, in part, explain previous findings, which suggest increased lipid peroxidation in major depression.