Haptoglobin-related protein as a serum marker in malignant lymphoma

A novel serum 21 kDa haptoglobin-related protein (Hpr) was investigated in patients with malignant lymphoma, to evaluate its correlation with clinical and histologic features at presentation and its possible role as a tumor marker for patient outcome. One hundred fifty eight serum samples were taken from 88 patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (n=58) and Hodgkin’s disease (n=30) at presentation and in the course of follow-up. Sera from 61 healthy volunteers served as normal controls. Serum Hpr levels in the lymphoma patients (median 430xl0³ u/ml, range 0-4000xl0³) were significantly higher than in the control group (median 68xl0³ u/ml, range 0-180xl0³) (p=0.0001). Higher median Hpr values were detected in patients with advanced disease (p=0.013), “B” symptoms (p=0.029) and in males (p=0.053). There was also a significant correlation between Hpr and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p=0.028). Serial determinations showed a significant decrease of the initial Hpr values obtained after treatment in 41 patients, 38 of whom achieved complete remission. In the follow-up period additional Hpr measurements were taken from 17 patients. Three of them eventually relapsed, and showed increased Hpr levels at the time of relapse. Hpr levels remained low in 11 of 14 patients who maintained complete remission, and increased in three. In conclusion, serum Hpr is a new serum tumor marker of potential use in the clinical setting of lymphoma. This work is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Arie H. Bartal, a dedicated oncologist and friend. This work was supported by Chemotech Thechnologies Ltd., by grant no. 3676 from the Chief Scientist’s Office of the Ministry of Health, Israel, and by the Fund for Promotion of Research in the Technion.     

Neuropathological abnormalities of the corpus callosum in schizophrenia: a diffusion tensor imaging study

OBJECTIVES: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a technique capable of examining water diffusion in different tissues and the organisation of white matter tracts, was used to investigate the neuropathology of the corpus callosum in vivo in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Diffusion tensor imaging was performed in 20 schizophrenic patients and 25 healthy controls. Two complementary measures, mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy, which are considered to be sensitive indices of axonal integrity, were obtained from regions of interest in the genu (anterior) and splenium (posterior) of the corpus callosum. RESULTS: Mean diffusivity was significantly increased and fractional anisotropy significantly reduced in the splenium but not the genu of the corpus callosum in the schizophrenic group compared with controls. There were no significant sex differences in the DTI measures for either the schizophrenic or control group. Clinical variables such as age, duration of illness, dose of antipsychotic medication, and schizophrenic symptoms did not predict the DTI changes in the schizophrenic patients. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of DTI changes in the splenium but not the genu of the corpus callosum suggests that there may be a focal disruption of commisural connectivity in schizophrenia. However, these findings do not exclude the possibility of abnormalities in other areas of the corpus callosum or other regions of white matter and further research using different methods of analysis may enable us to clarify this. Diffusion tensor imaging is a valuable tool in investigating the structure of white matter in schizophrenia.     

Susac syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the clinical manifestations; radiographic, audiometric, and retinal fluorescein angiography findings; pathogenesis and treatment of Susac syndrome with review of the literature. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective case review. SETTING: This study was conducted at a tertiary referral center. PATIENT: A 50-year-old woman presented with recurrent episodes of neurologic symptoms, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and silent retinal artery occlusion. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent complete evaluation, including magnetic resonance image studies, audiometric tests, and retinal fluorescein angiography. She was treated initially with corticosteroids and later with other immunosuppressive agents. RESULTS: The patient was initially diagnosed with left sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Despite comprehensive clinical and laboratory studies that did not reveal systemic disease, 3 weeks later, the patient developed vertigo, sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus in the opposite ear. The neurologic involvement and the bilateral audiologic manifestations raised the possibility of Susac syndrome. CONCLUSION: Susac syndrome is a rare disorder of unknown origin characterized by the triad of encephalopathy, fluctuating hearing loss, and visual loss resulting from microangiopathy of the brain, cochlea, and retina. The multiple organ involvement seen in Susac syndrome raises a differential diagnosis ranging from autoimmune disease, through systemic vasculitis, to multiple sclerosis. Otolaryngologists should be aware of this syndrome as a result of the vestibulocochlear manifestations and the multidisciplinary evaluation that is required.     

A benign congenital myopathy in an inbred Samaritan family.

We describe a novel form of myopathy in a mother and her two daughters from an inbred Samaritan family. The patients displayed severe neonatal hypotonia, lethargy and dysmorphic features. Motor milestones were delayed; however, the hypotonia and muscle weakness gradually improved during the first 2 years of life and independent walking was achieved by 18 months. The mother at the age of 23 years shows myopathic facies and minimal proximal weakness. Her intelligence is normal. Her muscle biopsy revealed central nuclei and disruption of the intermyofibrillary network with moth eaten and spiral fibers. Mutations in SMN, MTM1 and the myotonic dystrophy genes were excluded. We suggest this is a new benign form of congenital myopathy. Inheritance is probably autosomal recessive.     

The HOPA Gene Dodecamer Duplication Is Not a Significant Etiological Factor in Autism

A recent study has suggested that a dodecamer duplication in the HOPA gene in Xq13 may occur in a significant portion of male patients with autism. We have determined the incidence of this duplication in 202 patients from the South Carolina Autism Study. The incidence of the duplication was not significantly different between patients and controls. Three of the female patients inherited the duplication from nonautistic fathers. In addition, there was no systematic skewing of X inactivation in the female patients with the duplication, or in nonautistic mothers and sisters with the duplication. These findings suggest that the dodecamer duplication in the HOPA gene does not play a significant role in the etiology of autism.     

Induction of p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis messenger RNA by chemotherapeutic treatment of locally advanced breast cancer.

PURPOSE: In biopsies of patients with locally advanced breast cancer, we investigated the in vivo changes of the gene expression pattern induced by chemotherapy to find genes that are potentially responsible for the efficacy of the drug. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Early cellular responses to chemotherapy-induced damage, both in vivo and in vitro, were investigated by analyzing chemotherapy-induced changes in gene expression profiles. Core biopsies were taken from nine patients with locally advanced breast cancer, before and at 6 hours after initiation of doxorubicin-based chemotherapy. Both samples were cohybridized on the same microarray containing 18,000 cDNA spots. RESULTS: The analysis revealed marked differences in gene expression profile between treated and untreated samples. The gene which was most frequently found to be differentially expressed was p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA). This gene was up-regulated in eight of nine patients with an average factor of 1.80 (range, 1.36-2.73). In vitro MCF-7 breast cancer cells exposed to clinically achievable doxorubicin concentrations for 6 hours revealed marked induction of PUMA mRNA, as well. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report describing PUMA mRNA to be up-regulated as a response to chemotherapy in patients. Because PUMA is a known member of the family of BH3-only proapoptotic proteins, this finding suggests PUMA's potential importance for the response to anticancer drugs.     

Combining gemcitabine and capecitabine in patients with advanced biliary cancer: a phase II trial.

PURPOSE: Biliary cancer has a poor prognosis, and chemotherapy has had little impact. The objectives of this trial were to determine the response rate, time to disease progression, survival, and safety profile of the combination of gemcitabine and capecitabine (GemCap) in patients with advanced biliary cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had pathologically proven, locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma arising from the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts or gallbladder with no prior chemotherapy. Patients were treated on a 3-week cycle consisting of capecitabine at 650 mg/m(2) orally twice a day for 14 days and gemcitabine at a fixed dose of 1,000 mg/m(2) intravenously over 30 minutes on days 1 and 8. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were enrolled between July 2001 and January 2004. Fifty-three percent of patients had cholangiocarcinoma, 47% had gallbladder cancer, and 89% had metastatic disease. The overall objective response rate was 31%, with an additional 42% of patients with stable disease, for a disease control rate of 73%. The median overall survival time was 14 months (95% CI, 7.3 months to not available), and the median progression-free survival time was 7 months (95% CI, 4.6 to 11.8 months). This chemotherapy combination was generally well tolerated. Transient neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, fatigue, and hand-foot syndrome were commonly observed but were easily managed without discontinuing further treatment. CONCLUSION: The significant antitumor activity combined with a mild toxicity profile seen in this study argue that GemCap chemotherapy may benefit patients with advanced biliary cancer. This regimen warrants further evaluation in a randomized study with survival and quality of life end points.