Hemolytic anemia, recurrent metabolic acidosis, and incomplete albinism associated with glutathione synthetase deficiency

The clinical and laboratory features of a 3-mo-old black male infant with glutathione (GSH) synthetase deficiency of the generalized type was evaluated. Partial albinism, brisk hemolytic anemia, recurrent febrile episodes, and mental retardation were noted. Also, severe recurrent metabolic acidosis and marked oxoprolinemia and oxoprolinuria were found in the proband but not in his first-degree relatives. The relationship of these disease manifestations to the underlying metabolic defect is discussed.     

Monoclonal antibodies to the human CSF-1 receptor (c-fms proto-oncogene product) detect epitopes on normal mononuclear phagocytes and on human myeloid leukemic blast cells

The first monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to epitopes in the extracellular domain of the human c-fms proto-oncogene product (receptor for the macrophage colony stimulating factor, CSF-1) were used with flow cytometric techniques to study receptor expression on normal human peripheral blood monocytes, bone marrow cells, and leukemic blasts. On normal cells CSF-1 receptors were restricted in their expression to cells of the mononuclear phagocyte lineage. CSF-1 receptors were detected on leukemic blasts from 15 (30%) of 50 children with acute myeloid leukemia, compared with four (15%) of 26 adults. By contrast, detectable CSF-1 receptors were uniformly absent on blasts from 19 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. CSF-1 receptors on normal monocytes and myeloid leukemia cells could be induced to downmodulate by incubation with either human recombinant CSF-1 or phorbol esters, confirming that the receptors had functional ligand- binding sites and responded to transmodulation by inducers of protein kinase C. The numbers of receptors per cell and the percentage of positive cases were highest for leukemic blasts with cytochemical and morphological features of monocytes. However, CSF-1 receptors were also detected on a subset of leukemic blast cells with features of granulocytic differentiation (FAB subtypes M1 through M3). Southern blotting analyses of DNA from 47 cases of acute myeloid leukemia demonstrated no rearrangements within the 32 kb of genomic sequences that contain CSF-1 receptor coding exons or in the 50 kb upstream of the first coding exon. Analysis of the upstream region of the c-fms locus revealed that sequences representing the terminal 112 untranslated nucleotides of c-fms mRNA map 26 kb 5' to the first coding exon, suggesting that at least one c-fms promoter is separated from the receptor coding sequences by a very long intron. Whereas expression of the CSF-1 receptor in myeloid leukemic blasts is not restricted to cells with monocytic characteristics, the apparently aberrant pattern of receptor synthesis in a subset of cases with granulocytic features appears not to be due to chromosomal rearrangements within 50 kb upstream of sequences encoding the receptor.     

Prognostic importance of structural chromosomal abnormalities in children with hyperdiploid (greater than 50 chromosomes) acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Approximately one fourth of children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have hyperdiploid (greater than 50 chromosomes) blasts and a relatively favorable prognosis. Nonetheless, a substantial proportion of these patients fail therapy. We studied 138 children (70 male, 68 female) with hyperdiploid greater than 50 ALL to assess initial clinical and cytogenetic features that might predict treatment failure. In 85 of these cases (62%), structural chromosomal abnormalities were also present; clinical and laboratory features in this group did not differ from those of the 53 cases with only numeric abnormalities. However, of the 28 failures seen at a median follow-up of 4 years, 22 occurred in cases with structural chromosomal abnormalities (P = .03 by Breslow test). In a multivariate analysis, only the presence of structural chromosomal abnormalities and male gender were independently associated with treatment failure. Structural chromosomal abnormalities in cases of ALL with greater than 50 chromosomes may define a biologically different form of leukemia characterized by increased likelihood of drug resistance.     

Serum levels of CD8 antigen in childhood lymphoid malignancies: a possible indicator of increased suppressor cell activity in poor-risk patients

Serum concentrations of CD8 antigen were measured at diagnosis with an enzyme-linked immunoassay in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 344) or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 65). All patients had detectable levels of the serum antigen, which in its soluble nonreduced form appeared to be a 52-Kd homodimer as compared with the 66-Kd surface membrane component on most thymocytes and on a subset of functionally distinct T cells (suppressor/cytotoxic). Increased serum levels of CD8 in leukemia patients were significantly related to recognized high-risk prognostic features: high leukocyte count, large liver and spleen size, high serum lactic dehydrogenase level, T-cell immunophenotype, presence of a mediastinal mass, pseudodiploid karyotype, DNA index less than 1.16, and chromosomal translocation. Children with serum CD8 levels greater than or equal to 450 U/mL were more likely to fail treatment than were those with lower levels (P = .002), even in the group with non-T-cell leukemia (P = .003). In a multivariate analysis, serum CD8 antigen contributed independent prognostic information beyond that conveyed by age, leukocyte count, and race (P = .02). High serum CD8 antigen levels also correlated with advanced stages of disease in children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or B- cell leukemia. Children with higher serum CD8 antigen levels (greater than or equal to 700 U/mL) had a poorer treatment outcome (P = .003), even after results were adjusted for disease stage and serum lactic dehydrogenase level (P = .05). Measurement of serum levels of CD8 antigen not only has important prognostic value in childhood lymphoid malignancies but also could be useful in assessing the immunoregulatory role of T cells in patients with cancer.     

Preferentially expressed genes in chronic myelogenous leukemia

The predominant circulating cells in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) morphologically resemble normal myeloid precursors; however, certain characteristics indicate the two are not identical. Approximately 88% of the patients with clinically typical CML present with a cytogenetic abnormality known as the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1). Additionally, the leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) value is decreased in CML. To investigate if there are selected genes expressed in the CML cell population, poly(A+)RNA from a chronic-phase, Ph1-positive CML patient was used for construction of a complementary DNA (cDNA) library. Recombinant clones representing moderately to abundantly transcribed sequences were selected by annealing [32P]-cDNA transcribed from homologous RNA to the library sequences and assessing radioactivity in the hybrids. From an initial 729 colonies, 417 (57.2%) displayed a hybridization signal more intense than controls, indicating these recombinant plasmids contained sequences homologous to moderately or highly expressed RNAs from this particular patient. Screening of the 417 clones--utilizing 32P-cDNAs derived from normal human placenta, an acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML), and two other CML samples--was used to select clones likely to represent sequences preferentially expressed in CML. Sixteen recombinants were initially selected that repeatedly failed to display hybridization with the placenta and AMML- derived probes. Further analysis of eight of these clones indicated that six contain sequences preferentially expressed in CML. One clone, C-A3, has been studied with 63 different RNA samples. This sequence is found to be highly expressed in peripheral blood cells from the chronic phase of both Ph1-positive and Ph1-negative CML as well as in a Ph1- positive acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Expression is reduced in lymphoblastic crisis of CML (L BC-CML) and essentially absent in myeloblastic crisis of CML (M BC-CML). While preliminary, the results suggest that this probe may be useful as an aid in diagnosing Ph1- negative CML and in distinguishing M BC-CML from L BC-CML and Ph1- positive AML.     

Clinical and biologic features of childhood T-cell leukemia with the t(11;14)

Cytogenetic analysis of cells from 622 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and successful G-banding chromosome studies disclosed seven cases with the t(11;14)(p13;q11) and one with the t(11;14)(p15;q11). Leukemia cells in all eight cases had a T-cell immunophenotype. The t(11;14)(p13;q11) occurred in 6.8% and the t(11;14)(p15;q11) in 1% of T-cell ALL cases (n = 103). The t(11;14) was associated with presenting clinical features typical of T-cell ALL: male predominance (n = 6), age greater than 10 years (n = 3), hyperleukocytosis (white blood cells greater than 100 x 10(9)/L, n = 5), relatively high hemoglobin level (median, 10.8 g/dL), high serum lactic dehydrogenase level (median, 3248 U/L), presence of mediastinal mass (n = 6), and central nervous system leukemia (n = 2). While there were no significant differences in presenting features between T-cell ALL cases with or without the t(11;14), leukemic cells from patients with the translocations were more likely to coexpress CD4 and CD8 antigens (6 of 6 v 35 of 86 cases tested, P less than .05). Adverse events have occurred in six patients: three central nervous system relapses [including the one with t(11;14)(p15;q11)], two secondary acute myeloid leukemia, and one hematologic relapse. Our results indicate that the t(11;14)(p13;q11) occurs exclusively in T-cell malignancies of intermediate- or late-stage thymocyte differentiation. Additional studies are needed to determine the prognostic implications of these translocations.     

Cutaneous lymphoblastic lymphoma with pre-B markers

Two children with cutaneous convoluted lymphoblastic lymphoma are reported. Malignant cells from both patients contained cytoplasmic Mu heavy chains characteristic of pre-B-cells and expressed CALLA and la antigens as well. Most cases of convoluted lymphoblastic lymphoma are T- cell-derived neoplasms. The non-T, non-B phenotype found in these two children demonstrates that histology does not necessarily predict immunophenotype. The association of the pre-B phenotype with cutaneous lymphoma has not been previously reported, but may represent a unique clinical-histopathologic-immunologic entity that occurs in young children.     

Early migration of tibial components is associated with late revision: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 21,000 knee arthroplasties

Purpose

We performed two parallel systematic reviews and meta-analyses to determine the association between early migration of tibial components and late aseptic revision.

Methods

One review comprised early migration data from radiostereometric analysis (RSA) studies, while the other focused on revision rates for aseptic loosening from long-term survival studies. Thresholds for acceptable and unacceptable migration were determined according to that of several national joint registries: < 5% revision at 10 years.

Results

Following an elaborate literature search, 50 studies (involving 847 total knee prostheses (TKPs)) were included in the RSA review and 56 studies (20,599 TKPs) were included in the survival review. The results showed that for every mm increase in migration there was an 8% increase in revision rate, which remained after correction for age, sex, diagnosis, hospital type, continent, and study quality. Consequently, migration up to 0.5 mm was considered acceptable during the first postoperative year, while migration of 1.6 mm or more was unacceptable. TKPs with migration of between 0.5 and 1.6 mm were considered to be at risk of having revision rates higher than 5% at 10 years.

Interpretation

There was a clinically relevant association between early migration of TKPs and late revision for loosening. The proposed migration thresholds can be implemented in a phased, evidence-based introduction of new types of knee prostheses, since they allow early detection of high-risk TKPs while exposing only a small number of patients.Worldwide, several hundred thousand total knee prostheses (TKPs) are implanted each year and this number is expected to increase by a factor of 6 within the next 2 decades (Kurtz et al. 2005, 2007). Most of the new TKP designs have been introduced to the market without being shown to be safe or effective (Sheth et al. 2009). This has resulted in the widespread use of TKPs with failure rates exceeding 10 times the standard of national joint registries (< 5% failures at 10-year follow-up), such as the Accord, St Leger, and Journey-Deuce (Norton et al. 2002, Gilbert et al. 2009, Sheth et al. 2009, Palumbo et al. 2011 (personal communication)). To guarantee patient safety, several countries have developed guidelines, e.g. the NICE guidelines for total hip prostheses (2003). Furthermore, it has become increasingly evident that a phased, evidence-based introduction, as is common for pharmaceuticals, is needed to regulate the introduction of new TKPs to the market (Malchau 2000, McCulloch et al. 2009, Schemitsch et al. 2010). This should include systematic assessment and early detection of the major cause of TKP failure, which is aseptic loosening of the tibial component necessitating revision surgery (2003, AJR 2010).Although it can take 10 years before loosening causes symptoms, it is possible to detect loosening early postoperatively using radiostereometric analysis (RSA) (Selvik 1989, Grewal et al. 1992, Karrholm et al. 1994, Ryd et al. 1995). Since RSA allows in vivo, 3D measurement of the migration of TKPs with an accuracy of 0.2 mm for translations and 0.5 degrees for rotations, only a small number of patients need be exposed to potentially unsafe TKPs (Grewal et al. 1992, Ryd et al. 1995, Nelissen et al. 1998). RSA could therefore play an important role in the phased, evidence-based introduction of new TKPs (Selvik 1989, Karrholm et al. 1994, Ryd et al. 1995). However, the evidence for the relationship between early migration and TKP revision for aseptic loosening is limited to a few studies from the 1990s (Grewal et al. 1992, Ryd et al. 1995). Furthermore, the applicability of these studies is restricted, because surgical technique, fixation methods, implant design, and polyethylene have evolved since their publication.We hypothesized that early migration of the tibial component, measured through RSA, is associated with late revision for aseptic loosening of TKPs. We therefore systematically reviewed the association between early migration and late aseptic revision for the tibial component in TKPs. This could ultimately lead to clinical guidelines to be used in a phased introduction of new TKPs.     

胶原诱导性关节炎的评定与T细胞受体-热休克蛋白70DNA疫苗的保护作用

目的:纯化制备含有编码T细胞受体(TCR)Vβ5.2/8.2基因片段与结核杆菌热休克蛋白(HSP)70的一段保守序列P111-125的嵌合DNA疫苗,观察其对胶原诱导性关节炎的保护性作用。方法:实验于2006-07/2007-02在首都医科大学免疫学系实验室完成。①实验分组:36只Lewis大鼠随机分为6组,即正常对照组、胶原诱导性关节炎对照组、空质粒组、pTARGET-TCRVβ5.2-HSP70重组质粒治疗组、pTARGET-TCRVβ8.2-HSP70重组质粒治疗组及pTARGET-TCRVβ5.2-HSP70和pTARGET-TCRVβ8.2-HSP70重组质粒联合治疗组,每组6只。②实验方法:大量纯化制备重组DNA疫苗pTARGET-TCRVβ5.2-HSP70、pTARGET-TCRVβ8.2-HSP70和空质粒pTARGET,观察重组DNA疫苗对胶原诱导性关节炎的保护效果,包括关节炎指数评分、Eli-spot法测定脾细胞分泌的干扰素γ和白细胞介素4的水平、ELISA法测定血清中抗Ⅱ型胶原抗体的水平;光镜下观察大鼠后肢足关节的病理学变化。结果:36只Lewis大鼠均进入结果分析。重组DNA疫苗pTARGET-TCRVβ5.2-HSP70和pTARGET-TCRVβ8.2-HSP70对胶原诱导性关节炎有较好的保护性作用,与胶原诱导性关节炎对照组相比,关节炎指数(P<0.05)下降,炎性细胞因子干扰素γ水平(P<0.05)和抗Ⅱ型胶原抗体水平(P<0.01)降低,抑制性细胞因子白细胞介素4水平(P<0.05)升高,病理学改变较轻。且两种重组质粒联合治疗的效果要比单种质粒好。结论:重组DNA疫苗pTARGET-TCRVβ5.2-HSP70和pTARGET-TCRVβ8.2-HSP70能明显减轻胶原诱导性关节炎大鼠的关节炎症状和病理改变,二者联合应用效果更佳。     

云南红豆杉中四个新紫杉烷类四环二萜成分的分离和鉴定

从云南红豆杉(Taxus yunnanensis ChengetL.K.Fu)树皮的二氯甲烷部分又分离得到四个新紫杉烷类四环二萜化合物,分别命名为taxayuntin A,B,C和D。应用¹HNMR,¹³CNMR,¹H-¹HCOSY,¹³C-¹HCOSY及¹³C-¹HCOLOC等方法进行结构测定,证明它们都有5/7/6三环稠合的基本骨架,并在C₄和C₅上连有环氧丙烷。