Clinicomorphological characteristics of Sezary's disease and mycosis fungoides

AIM: To try a combined approach to the study of clinicomorphological and immunophenotypical characteristics of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical, histological, genotypic and immunophenotypical parameters were studied in 7 patients (4 male and 3 female, mean age 53.1 +/- 7.8%) with Sezary's disease (SD) and 10 patients (6 male, 4 female, mean age 54.0 +/- 4.0 years) with mycosis fungoides (MF) treated in Hematological Research Center in 1998-2004. RESULTS: Six of seven SD patients had SD stage IV with leukemization, Sezary's cells were found in peripheral blood. Bone marrow and lymph nodes involvement was observed in 5 patients. Morphological signs of transformation into lymphosarcoma were detected in three patients. Skin samples of all the patients showed epidermotropism with lymphoid infiltration of the derma and skin appendages. All the patients had clonal rearrangement of T-cell receptor by gamma-chain. Immunophenotyping (IPT) detected T-cell markers CD45RO, CD43, CD3, CD4 on lymphoid cells. IPT of peripheral blood lymphoid cells was typical for SD in 3 patients. Low density of CD4 and CD2, CD4 and CD5, the presence of CD7 were registered in 1 patient each. The disease history was 3.4 +/- 0.7 years. A lethal outcome was related with septic complications after polychemotherapy. MF history in 10 patients was 10.9 +/- 2.1 years. Stages III and IV were diagnosed in 2 of 10 patients. All the patients had typical pathohistological changes. Polymerase chain reaction test detected clone by rearrangement of gamma-chain of T-cell receptor. In 2 patients IPT detected CD4 absence in the presence of CD8 and CD7. The aberrant clone typical for NK-cells was detected in one case. Two patients died of the disease progression after 7 and 20 years of MF. CONCLUSION: Multiple tests help early diagnosis and conduction of optimal therapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphomas.     

Endothelium and platelets in pregnant women with chronic glomerulonephritis and therapeutic efficacy of acetylsalicylic acid and dipiridamol

AIM: To estimate platelet and endothelial condition in pregnant women with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN), prognostic value of these changes and efficacy of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and dipiridamol in prevention of unfavourable outcomes of pregnancy in CGN. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examination covered 74 CGN pregnant patients, 14 non-pregnant CGN patients, 11 pregnant women with preeclampsia, 19 healthy pregnant women. The levels of fibronectin, endothelin-1,2, 6-keto-PGF1a, thromboxane B2 (TxB2) secretory beta-thromboglobulin in the blood, activity of intrathrombocytic lactate dehydrogenase (LHG), platelet aggregation. ASA (125 mg/day) was given to 33 CGN pregnant women in combination with dipiridamol (150-225 mg/day). Control group consisted of 32 CGN pregnant women. RESULTS: Content of fibronectin, endothelin, TxB2 and beta-thromboglobulin in blood plasm, aggregation with ADP in CGN pregnant women were higher than in healthy pregnant women and nonpregnant CGN patients. Plasmic 6-keto-PGF1a was low. Preeclampsia was accompanied with elevated fibronectin, TxB2 and beta-thromboglobulin, hyperactive LDH. Platelet aggregation was suppressed. Blood beta-thromboglobulin directly correlated with systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, 24-h proteinuria and blood creatinine. Reverse Correlation was seen in blood beta-thromboglobulin with albuminemia, glomerular filtration rate, body mass of the newborn and term of labor. A direct correlation was found between the activity of intrathrombocytic LDH and systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, a weak reverse correlation--between platelet count in capillary blood and systolic pressure, platelet aggregation with ADP and terms of labor. Of the highest prognostic value were the level of beta-thromboglobulin and fibronectin, the activity of intrathrombocytic LDH and platelet aggregation in response to ADP. ASA and dipiridamol reduced the risk of fetal retardation and fetal loss. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with CGN have endothelial-thrombocytic dysfunction because of unidirectional influence of both CGN and pregnancy. We think that endothelial-platelet dysfunction connects renal impairment and placental failure in pregnant women with CGN deteriorating a gestational CGN and pregnancy complications. Correction of endothelial-platelet state with ASA and dipiridamol is effective in prevention of fetal retardation and fetal loss in pregnant women with CGN.     

Effect of chalone-containing aorta extracts on regression in experimental atherosclerosis

The effect of chalone-containing aortic extracts on proliferative activity of smooth muscle cells was examined in conditions of experimental hypercholesterolemia. The tissue-specific cell proliferation inhibitor present in the extract is shown to depress mitotic activity of smooth muscle cells in postnatal rats. The area under aortic atherosclerotic lesion diminished twofold as compared to that of the controls. Morphologically, atherosclerotic changes are seen as lipid plaques.     

MYELIN PROTEIN P-0-SPECIFIC IGM PRODUCING MONOCLONAL B CELL LINES WERE ESTABLISHED FROM POLYNEUROPATHY PATIENTS WITH MONOCLONAL GAMMOPATHY OF UNDETERMINED SIGNIFICANCE (MGUS)

We attempted to develop a mouse model for peripheral neuropathy by a partial injury of the nerve supplying the tail. Under enflurane anesthesia, the unilateral superior caudal trunk was resected between the S3 and S4 spinal nerves. Tests for thermal allodynia were conducted by immersing the tail into 4 or 38°C water. The mechanical allodynia was assessed by stimulating the tail with a von Frey hair (1.96 mN, 0.2 g). After the nerve injury, the experimental animals had shorter tail withdrawal latencies to cold and warm water immersion than the presurgical latency, and exhibited an increase in tail response to von Frey stimulation. We interpret these abnormal sensitivities as the signs of mechanical, cold and warm allodynia following the superior caudal trunk injury in the mouse.