Analysis of telomere length in mantle cell lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a well defined lymphoid neoplasm genetically characterized by the t(11;14)(q13;q32). Telomeres play an essential role in preserving chromosomal integrity and genomic stability; their shortening can lead to telomere dysfunction and chromosomal instability, a critical factor in cancer development. In this study, telomere length (TL) measured by terminal restriction fragments (TRF) assay in DNA samples of tumor cells from 20 patients with MCL was evaluated. Results were correlated with clinical, morphologic and cytogenetic characteristics. In all cases, the presence of the CCND1/IGH@ rearrangement was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization and/or PCR analysis. TL in total MCL patients revealed a mean TRF value (4.51 ± 0.79 kb) significantly shorter than those observed in controls (7.49 ± 1.94 kb) (P < 0.001); 30% of patients had TL shorter than 4.0 kb. TRF length was not associated with patients age (P = 0.07; r = 0.17) nor with sex (females: 4.33 ± 0.51 kb and males: 4.57 ± 0.85 kb; P = 0.63). No significant differences were found between patients studied at diagnosis (13) (4.44 ± 0.81 kb) respect to those analyzed at relapse (7) (4.63 ± 0.82 kb) (P = 0.53). In addition, we compared patients with (4.84 ± 1.09 kb) and without (4.40 ± 0.68 kb) complex karyotypes (P = 0.45) and cases with typical morphology (4.48 ± 0.79 kb) vs. blastoid variant (4.63 ± 1.04 kb) (P = 0.83), and no significant differences between them were found. Although the number of cases of our series is not large, our results showed that TL reduction in MCL is independent of the clinical characteristics, morphology and karyotype.     

Elevated transrenal DNA (cell-free urine DNA) in patients with urinary tract infection compared to healthy controls

ObjectiveTo study whether levels of transrenal DNA (Tr-DNA) are influenced by the presence of urinary tract infections (UTI).MethodsTr-DNA concentrations were measured in 124 donors and 55 patients with UTI. Two methods for DNA extraction were compared.ResultsUTI patients showed higher concentrations than the donors (normal range: 0–147 GE/mL). QIAamp MiniElute Virus Spin Kit was more efficient than QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit.ConclusionIncreased concentrations of Tr-DNA urine DNA are shown in presence of UTI.     

Recovery from paraplegia after the treatment of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula: case report and review of the literature

Background  

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF) is a rare and enigmatic disease. Functional outcome is particularly uncertain for the small group of patients that are unable to stand at the time of diagnosis (grade 5 gait disturbance on the Aminoff-Logue scale, ALS). The objective of this study is to examine the final functional outcome of patients with SDAVF in grade 5 gait ALS before treatment.     

Quality of drinking water and diarrheal diseases in Cuba, 1996-1997]

A study was conducted in 1996 and 1997 in 31 Cuban cities having a population greater than 35,000, in order to determine if there was a relationship between drinking water quality and the frequency of acute diarrheal diseases (ADD). We used the level of disinfection (based on chlorine concentration) as well as the level of bacterial contamination (based on the presence of coliform bacteria) as water quality indicators, and the frequency of ADD was calculated on the basis of the number of visits (per 100,000 inhabitants) to individual family physicians and to physicians on call in hospitals and polyclinics that were prompted by ADD. Weekly determinations of chlorine concentrations and monthly measurements of bacterial contamination were performed by taking daily water samples at 2,045 key sites along the water distribution channels in the cities included in the study. In 1996 and 1997, the percentages of samples with good chlorination (residual chlorine > or = 0.3 mg/L) for the entire country were 72.4% and 74.8%, respectively, whereas the percentages of samples with little bacterial contamination (most probable number [MPN] of fecal coliform bacteria < or = 9.2/100 mL) were 87.0% and 76.5%, respectively. Logistic regression revealed, at the local level, an inverse correlation between each of these percentages and the number of medical consultations for ADD (per 100,000 inhabitants), although it was not statistically significant. These results allowed the authors to stratify the cities included in the study according to their different levels of risk for ADD: high risk (23 cities), moderate risk (8 cities), and low risk (0 cities).     

Nuevos patrones epidemiológicos y factores de riesgo en cáncer renal

Incidence of renal carcinoma, one of the most fatal solid neoplasms, has steadily increased in Western society. Moreover, these tumors are being increasingly detected in their early stages. As with most cancers, the underlying causes of the disease remain unknown. However, understanding of pathogenesis of this tumor is rapidly advancing, and will allow for new treatments for advanced disease. Understanding of the influence of easily avoidable risk factors may allow for prevention of thousands of deaths caused by renal cancer.