Karyological studies on two HeLa lines

Summary Two HeLa cell lines grown under different conditions were studied karyologically. The monolayer line was found to posses a stemline chromosome number of 69 (but not typically triploid in chromosomal characteristics), whereas the clot line had 74 chromosomes in its stemline cells. In the discussion it was decided that the differences in growth behaviour of these two lines should not be attributed to mere numerical differences of their stemline karyotypes, but should be related to the differences in the nature of their stemline karyogrammes. It was stressed that a more detailed characterization of the stemline karyogramme (following the Denver-system) is necessary.

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Karyologische Untersuchungen an zwei Unterlinien des HeLa Stammes

Zusammenfassung Zwei Unterlinien des menschlichen Tumorstammes HeLa, welche mit verschiedenen Methoden in vitro gezüchtet werden und verschiedene Wachstumsgeschwindigkeit aufweisen, wurden karyologisch untersucht. Bei der sog. monolayer Linie wurde in der Stammlinie eine Chromosomenzahl von 69 festgestellt, welche jedoch in ihrer Zusammensetzung nicht einem tripoloiden Chromosomensatz entspricht. In der Stammlinie der sog. clot Linie ließ sich eine Chromosomenzahl von 74 nachweisen.Es wurde in der Diskussion besprochen, daß die Unterschiede im Wachstumsverhalten beider Linien nicht einfach auf die verschiedene Anzahl von Chromosomen in beiden Linien zurückgeführt werden sollten, sondern mit den Unterschieden in der Zusammenstellung der Chromosomen verschiedener Typen zusammenhängen. Es wurde betont, daß die Charakterisierung einer Stammlinie nach der Zahl ihrer Chromosomen als unzureichend angesehen werden muß und daß eine detailliertere Analyse der Stammzellen-Karyogramme (nach dem Denver-System) notwendig erscheint.

     

Chemoimmunotherapy with ofatumumab in combination with CHOP in previously untreated follicular lymphoma

An international, Phase II trial was conducted to assess two doses of ofatumumab, a human CD20 monoclonal antibody, combined with cyclophosphamide (750 mg/m²), doxorubicin (50 mg/m²), prednisone (100 mg days 3–7) and vincristine (1·4 mg/m²) (O‐CHOP), as frontline treatment for follicular lymphoma (FL). 59 patients with previously untreated FL were randomized to ofatumumab 500 mg (n = 29) or 1000 mg (n = 30) day 1, with CHOP on day 3 every 3 weeks for six cycles. Median duration of FL was 0·1 years for both dose groups; 34% and 38% of patients had high‐risk Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) scores in the 500‐ and 1000‐mg dose groups, respectively. Overall response rate was 90% for the 500‐mg group and 100% for the 1000‐mg group. 62% of patients achieved complete response (CR)/unconfirmed CR (CRu). 76% of patients with FLIPI score 3–5 attained CR/CRu. Longer follow‐up time is needed for analysis of survival end points. The most common Common Terminology Criteria grade 3–4 investigator‐reported adverse events were leucopenia (29%) and neutropenia (22%). No deaths have been reported. O‐CHOP was safe and efficacious in patients with previously untreated FL, including high‐risk FLIPI groups. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00494780).     

Assessing clinical discharge data preferences among practicing surgeons

Background

It is believed that many postoperative patient readmissions can be curbed via optimization of a patient's discharge from hospital, but little is known about how surgeons make the decision to discharge a patient. This study explored the criteria that surgeons preferentially value in their discharge decision-making process.

Materials and methods

All surgical faculty and residents at a U.S. academic medical center were surveyed about the relative importance of specific criteria regularly used to make a discharge decision. Demographic and professional information was collected about each surgeon as well. A Kruskal–Wallis and Fisher's exact test were used to describe one-way analysis of variance between groupings of surgeons. Ordered logit regressions were used to analyze variations across multiple subgroups. Factor analysis was used to further characterize statistically relevant groupings of criteria.

Results

In total, 88 (49%) of the invited surgeons responded to the survey. Respondents reported statistically less reliance on common Laboratory tests and Patient demographics when making discharge decisions preferring Vital signs, Perioperative factors, and Functional criteria. Surgeon-specific factors that influenced discharge criteria preferences included years of clinical education and gender. Factor analysis further identified subtle variations in preferences for specific criteria groupings based on clinical education, gender, and race.

Conclusions

Surgeons use a wide range of clinical data when making discharge decisions. Typical measures of patient condition also appear to be used heterogeneously with a preference for binary rather than continuous measures. Further understanding the nature of these preferences may suggest novel ways of presenting discharge-relevant information to clinical decision makers to optimize discharge outcomes.     

Unstable SCFE: Review of Treatment Modalities and Prevalence of Osteonecrosis

Background

The treatment of unstable slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is rapidly evolving with the ability to correct epiphyseal alignment using the modified Dunn technique. Adopting a new treatment method depends on confirming that it achieves its goals, produces few, nonserious complications with no lasting sequelae, and improves the natural history of the disorder compared with known treatment methods. As such, the rates of osteonecrosis and complications after current treatments of unstable SCFE must be compared with those of newer surgical techniques.

Questions/purposes

We therefore addressed the following questions: (1) What is the rate of osteonecrosis of the femoral head after treatment of unstable SCFE? (2) What treatment modalities have been used for unstable SCFE and (3) what are the reported complications?

Methods

We performed a systematic electronic literature search for the keywords unstable and slipped capital femoral epiphysis and identified 199 articles. Of these, 60 met our inclusion criteria. Fifteen articles were included for analysis.

Results

The literature concerning the treatment and results of unstable SCFE is retrospective Level IV data that suggest an overall rate of osteonecrosis of 23.9%. Multiple treatment modalities were used for unstable SCFE treatment with varying, inconsistently recorded complications over the reporting period.

Conclusions

We found limited data concerning the rate of osteonecrosis and complications after treatment of unstable SCFE. Considering recent widespread interest in the modified Dunn procedure and the possibility of iatrogenic osteonecrosis, there is a need for prospective studies to identify complications and establish outcome based on standardized scores for established and emerging treatments of unstable SCFE.