Malignant pleural effusion in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia

A case of malignant pleural effusion due to chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia is reported.     

Expression of tandem glutathione S-transferase recombinant genes in COS cells for analysis of efficiency of protein expression and associated drug resistance.

Expression vectors were designed and constructed to achieve optimum production of two different isozymes of rat glutathione S-transferase (GST) (EC 2.5.1.18) in COS cells, for studies of drug resistance. Promoter-enhancer elements from the simian virus 40 (SV40) early-region or the mouse alpha 2(I)-collagen gene, GST cDNAs encoding the rat Ya or Yb1 isozymes, and an SV40 replicative origin (ori) were positioned in the vector to express two GSTs at high levels in the same cell. The optimized construct yielded levels of both GST proteins (1% of postmitochondrial protein fraction) that were up to 1.3-fold greater than the sum of those produced individually by two single-unit expression constructs. The best production of the tandem recombinant gene products was observed when the genes were placed in a head to head orientation in close proximity (1 kilobase). With the recombinant genes configured in this way, the plasmid DNA was also amplified in COS cells to higher levels (30% increase over single-unit expression constructs), as ori elements were placed on both DNA strands. Cells expressing the recombinant GSTs were viably sorted by flow cytometry on the basis of a GST-catalyzed conjugation of glutathione to monochlorobimane. Sorted COS cells that expressed both GST Ya and Yb1 from recombinant genes in a tandem, head to head configuration were 25 or 70% more resistant to the alkylating agent chlorambucil than cells that expressed GST Ya or Yb1 alone.     

Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue and Skeletal Health

Purpose of Review

To summarize and discuss recent progress and novel signaling mechanisms relevant to bone marrow adipocyte formation and its physiological/pathophysiological implications for bone remodeling.

Recent Findings

Skeletal remodeling is a coordinated process entailing removal of old bone and formation of new bone. Several bone loss disorders such as osteoporosis are commonly associated with increased bone marrow adipose tissue. Experimental and clinical evidence supports that a reduction in osteoblastogenesis from mesenchymal stem cells at the expense of adipogenesis, as well as the deleterious effects of adipocyte-derived signaling, contributes to the etiology of osteoporosis as well as bone loss associated with aging, diabetes mellitus, post-menopause, and chronic drug therapy. However, this view is challenged by findings indicating that, in some contexts, bone marrow adipose tissue may have a beneficial impact on skeletal health.

Summary

Further research is needed to better define the role of marrow adipocytes in bone physiology/pathophysiology and to determine the therapeutic potential of manipulating mesenchymal stem cell differentiation.

     

Positive selection of the peripheral B cell repertoire in gut-associated lymphoid tissues

Gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs) interact with intestinal microflora to drive GALT development and diversify the primary antibody repertoire; however, the molecular mechanisms that link these events remain elusive. Alicia rabbits provide an excellent model to investigate the relationship between GALT, intestinal microflora, and modulation of the antibody repertoire. Most B cells in neonatal Alicia rabbits express V(H)n allotype immunoglobulin (Ig)M. Within weeks, the number of V(H)n B cells decreases, whereas V(H)a allotype B cells increase in number and become predominant. We hypothesized that the repertoire shift from V(H)n to V(H)a B cells results from interactions between GALT and intestinal microflora. To test this hypothesis, we surgically removed organized GALT from newborn Alicia pups and ligated the appendix to sequester it from intestinal microflora. Flow cytometry and nucleotide sequence analyses revealed that the V(H)n to V(H)a repertoire shift did not occur, demonstrating the requirement for interactions between GALT and intestinal microflora in the selective expansion of V(H)a B cells. By comparing amino acid sequences of V(H)n and V(H)a Ig, we identified a putative V(H) ligand binding site for a bacterial or endogenous B cell superantigen. We propose that interaction of such a superantigen with V(H)a B cells results in their selective expansion.     

Chemopreventive efficacy and anti-lipid peroxidative potential of Jasminum grandiflorum Linn. on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced rat mammary carcinogenesis

The aim of this study was to investigate the chemopreventive efficacy and anti-lipid peroxidative potential of Jasminum grandiflorum Linn. on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary carcinogenesis. Mammary tumors were developed by a single subcutaneous injection of 25 mg DMBA in 1 mL emulsion of sunflower oil and physiological saline. The tumor incidence and tumor volume that formed in the breast were determined. Oral administration of ethanolic extract of J. grandiflorum flowers (JgEt) at a dose of 300 mg/kg body weight for 14 weeks to DMBA-injected animals completely prevented the formation of tumors in the pre-initiation period. JgEt also exerted significant anti-lipid peroxidative effect and improved the antioxidant defense system in DMBA-treated rats. The results of this study clearly indicate that JgEt has potent chemopreventive efficacy in experimental mammary carcinogenesis and further studies are warranted to isolate and characterize the bioactive principle from JgEt.     

Assessment of renal artery stenosis: side-by-side comparison of angiography and duplex ultrasound with pressure gradient measurements.

AIMS: A ratio of distal renal pressure to aortic pressure (P(d)/P(a)) <0.90 can be considered a threshold for defining a significant renal artery stenosis (RAS). The aim of this study was to compare renal angiography (QRA) and colour duplex ultrasound (CDUS) to pressure measurements in assessing RAS. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 56 RAS, percent diameter stenosis (DS(angio)), minimal luminal diameter (MLD), Doppler-derived peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and renal-to-aortic ratio (RAR) were obtained and compared with the P(d)/P(a) measured with a 0.014" pressure wire. P(d)/P(a) correlated with angiography- and CDUS-derived parameters. The best correlation was observed with EDV (R = -0.61). To identify stenosis associated with a P(d)/P(a) < 0.90, the diagnostic accuracy of DS(angio) > 50%, MLD < 2 mm, PSV > 180 cm/s, EDV > 90 cm/s and RAR > 3.5 were, respectively, 60%, 77%, 45%, 77% and 79%, yet, with a high proportion of false positives (38%, 15%, 55%, 11% and 15%, respectively) indicating an overestimation of the severity of the RAS by both QRA and CDUS. New cut-off values for QRA- and CDUS-derived indices were proposed. CONCLUSION: Generally accepted QRA and CDUS-derived indices of RAS severity overestimate the actual severity of RAS. This 'overdiagnosis' is likely the main cause of the disappointing results of renal angioplasty for renovascular hypertension.     

Oxalate measurement in the picomol range by ion chromatography: values in fasting plasma and urine of controls and patients with idiopathic calcium urolithiasis

Oxalate was measured by ion chromatography in the ultrafiltrate of heparinized plasma from peripheral venous blood, using a membrane with a cut-off molecular weight (Mr). The following criteria were established: sensitivity 0.7 mumol.l-1; intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation 4% and 12%, respectively; precision of duplicate determinations (expressed as standard deviation) 0.08 mumol.l-1; overall recovery (oxalate added and diluted, respectively) 100.7%. These qualified the method for assessment of plasma oxalate in healthy human controls (males: n = 12) as well as patients with idiopathic renal calcium urolithiasis (males: n = 22; females: n = 16). Renal calcium urolithiasis patients were subclassified into those with normocalciuria and idiopathic hypercalciuria. In male and female controls the mean values (and range) of plasma oxalate were 1.98 (1.4-2.5) and 1.78 (0.7-2.9) mumol.l-1, respectively. In male controls ultrafiltration (membrane cut off Mr 10,000) revealed that 11-16% plasma oxalate was bound to constituents having an apparent Mr above 10,000, and that with use of membranes with smaller pore size, the ultrafilterability of oxalate decreases further. In renal calcium urolithiasis the following values were elicited (mumol.l-1): male normocalciuria 1.78 (0.8-4.0), idiopathic hypercalciuria 1.58 (1.2-2.2); female normocalciuria 1.69 (0.8-3.6), idiopathic hypercalciuria 1.21 (0.8-2.1). The difference from controls is significant in idiopathic hypercalciuria (males and females). In contrast, in fasting urine of renal calcium urolithiasis the oxalate excretion rate (5-45 mumol per 120 min) and oxalate clearance (21-328 ml per min) resemble those in controls, whereas in renal calcium urolithiasis the fractional oxalate clearance (30-357% of creatinine clearance) tended to higher values (p less than 0.01, in male idiopathic hypercalciuria versus controls). It is suggested that 1) ion chromatography allows the reliable assessment of ultrafiltrable plasma oxalate in health and disease states, 2) in renal calcium urolithiasis this technique may help to elucidate oxalate pathophysiology, especially the mode of renal handling of oxalate.