Hepatitis B and C virus infection in Polish children with malignancies

Infections by hepatotropic viruses belong to the most common complications of chemotherapy in children suffering from neoplastic diseases. The rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the effectiveness of passive immunization against HBV were studied in 285 children; 148/285 with lymphoproliferative diseases and 137/285 with solid tumours. HBV infection was observed in 10.2% children receiving hepatitis B immune globulin as compared to 36.8% without passive immunization against HBV. Anti-HCV antibodies were similar in both groups amounting 38.7% and 32.6% respectively. Conclusion The results show that hepatitis B immune globulin administration is effective and that HCV might become the main cause of hepatitis among immunosuppressed patients in the future. Received: 13 December 1994 / Accepted: 18 October 1996     

Expression of Daxx sensitizes Jurkat T-cells to the apoptosis-inducing effect of chemotherapeutic agents.

BACKGROUND: The role of Daxx, in particular its ability to promote or hinder apoptosis, still remains controversial. In order to elucidate the functional relevance of Daxx in the extrinsic signaling of malignant lymphocytes Jurkat T-cells were stably transfected with a Daxx-expressing vector or with the respective Daxx-negative control vector. RESULTS: Assessing first the impact of Daxx expression on the rate of proliferation we demonstrate that overexpression of Daxx alone is not sufficient to alter proliferation in neoplastic lymphocytes. Nevertheless, expression of Daxx down-regulates anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and up-regulates pro-apoptotic BID. In addition, Daxx-overexpressing Jurkat cells exhibit a decreased expression of the pro-caspase-8, -10, -9 and -3 and a concomitant increase of the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins survivin, XIAP, cIAP-1 and -2. We further demonstrate, that upon incubation with various chemotherapeutic agents these Daxx-induced molecular alterations sensitize Jurkat T-cells to the apoptosis-inducing effects of specific chemotherapeutic agents. CONCLUSIONS: We here outline the molecular changes elicited by Daxx on major components of the apoptotic cascade of malignant lymphocytes and demonstrate the capacity of Daxx to sensitize these cells to the apoptosis-inducing effect of various chemotherapeutic agents.     

Increased fluorine-18 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) uptake in childhood CNS tumors is correlated with malignancy grade: a study with FDG positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging coregistration and image fusion.

PURPOSE Positron emission tomography (PET) has been used in grading of CNS tumors in adults, whereas studies of children have been limited. PATIENTS AND METHODS Nineteen boys and 19 girls (median age, 8 years) with primary CNS tumors were studied prospectively by fluorine-18 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) PET with (n = 16) or without (n = 22) H(2)(15)O-PET before therapy. Image processing included coregistration to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in all patients. The FDG uptake in tumors was semiquantitatively calculated by a region-of-interest-based tumor hotspot/brain index. Eight tumors without histologic confirmation were classified as WHO grade 1 based on location, MRI, and clinical course (22 to 42 months). Results Four grade 4 tumors had a mean index of 4.27 +/- 0.5, four grade 3 tumors had a mean index of 2.47 +/- 1.07, 10 grade 2 tumors had a mean index of 1.34 +/- 0.73, and eight of 12 grade 1 tumors had a mean index of -0.31 +/- 0.59. Eight patients with no histologic confirmation had a mean index of 1.04. For these 34 tumors, FDG uptake was positively correlated with malignancy grading (n = 34; r = 0.72; P < .01), as for the 26 histologically classified tumors (n = 26; r = 0.89; P < .01). The choroid plexus papilloma (n = 1) and the pilocytic astrocytomas (n = 3) had a mean index of 3.26 (n = 38; r = 0.57; P < .01). H(2)(15)O-uptake showed no correlation with malignancy. Digitally performed PET/MRI coregistration increased information on tumor characterization in 90% of cases. CONCLUSION FDG PET of the brain with MRI coregistration can be used to obtain a more specific diagnosis with respect to malignancy grading. Improved PET/MRI imaging of the benign hypermetabolic tumors is needed to optimize clinical use.     

Tear of the distal biceps branchii tendon: A new method of ultrasound evaluation

Tear of the distal biceps brachii tendon is an uncommon injury. Ultrasound evaluation of the distal tendon using an anterior approach is often difficult because of technical factors. We describe a new method of ultrasound evaluation of the distal biceps tendon insertion. This involves a posterior approach with the forearm pronated. With pronation of the forearm, the radial tuberosity faces posteriorly, bringing the distal biceps tendon insertion into view. A surgically proven case of distal biceps tendon tear is presented to illustrate our technique.     

培养创新型临床医学人才的思考

文章从创新及创新型人才的概念入手，通过调研指出，目前临床医学人才培养存在的主要问题，提出在新时期要转变教育教学观念、强化创新意识教育、增强创新思维训练、着力创新人格塑造，以培养创新型临床医学人才。     

YD383、YD439对JAK-STAT6信号传导通路作用的特异性研究

目的:探讨化合物YD383和YD439对STAT6信号传导通路的作用是否具有特异性.方法:通过瞬时转染的方法将分别依赖于STAT1和STAT6活性的带有荧光素酶报告基因的质粒转染至HeLa细胞株,两种细胞株在各自相应的细胞因子(IFN-γ或IL-4)刺激下激活JAK-STAT1或JAK-STAT6信号传导通路.通过测定荧光素酶的活性来评价细胞株在化合物存在的情况下报告基因的表达.结果:YD383和YD439均能降低相应细胞因子刺激引起的报告基因的表达,并且具有剂量依赖性.随着化合物剂量的增加,报告基因的表达降低(P＜0.05).但化合物引起的两种转染细胞报告基因表达降低的差异比较无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论:两种化合物对JAK-STAT1和JAK-STAT6信号传导通路均有抑制作用,对JAK-STAT6通路的抑制不具有特异性.     

microRNA调控NK细胞KIR3DL1表达初探

目的初步探寻人外周血自然杀伤细胞（Nature Killer,NK）杀伤细胞免疫球蛋白样受体（Killer Cell Immnoglobulin-Like Receptor,KIR3DL1）表达可能存在的microRNA（miR）调控机制。方法利用生物信息学方法,从miR信息库中筛选出可能与KIR3DL1相关的miRs,构建含KIR3DL1 3’非翻译区（UTR）的PGL3质粒,分别将含相应miR的PcDNA3.0质粒与前者共转染293T细胞,通过荧光素酶报告实验及之后的突变实验筛选出可能调控KIR3DL1的miR。结果通过TARGET SCAN信息库筛选了miR-146b等10个miR;转染miR-146b后,荧光素酶活性下降最多（61.3%）,突变其KIR3DL1 3’UTR靶位点后荧光素酶活性恢复（91.4%）。结论 miR-146b可与KIR3DL1’UTR在靶位点特异结合,很可能参与KIR3DL1表达的调控。