Genomewide profiling of copy‐number alteration in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a benign condition with an approximate 1% annual risk of symptomatic plasma cell disorder development, mostly to multiple myeloma (MM). We performed genomewide screening of copy‐number alterations (CNAs) in 90 MGUS and 33 MM patients using high‐density DNA microarrays. We identified CNAs in a smaller proportion of MGUS (65.6%) than in MM (100.0%, P = 1.31 × 10^?5) and showed median number of CNAs is lower in MGUS (3, range 0–22) than in MM (13, range 4–38, P = 1.82 × 10^?10). In the MGUS cohort, the most frequent losses were located at 1p (5.6%), 6q (6.7%), 13q (30.0%), 14q (14.4%), 16q (8.9%), 21q (5.6%), and gains at 1q (23.3%), 2p (6.7%), 6p (13.3%), and Xq (7.8%). Hyperdiploidy was detected in 38.9% of MGUS cases, and the most frequent whole chromosome gains were 3 (25.6%), 5 (23.3%), 9 (37.8%), 15 (23.3%), and 19 (32.2%). We also identified CNAs such as 1p, 6q, 8p, 12p, 13q, 16q losses, 1q gain and hypodiploidy, which are potentially associated with an adverse prognosis in MGUS. In summary, we showed that MGUS is similar to MM in that it is a genetically heterogeneous disorder, but overall cytogenetic instability is lower than in MM, which confirms that genetic abnormalities play important role in monoclonal gammopathies.     

Lung Transplantation in Children. Specific Aspects

Lung transplantation has become in recent years a therapeutic option for infants with terminal lung disease with similar results to transplantation in adults. In Spain, since 1996 114 children lung transplants have been performed; this corresponds to 3.9% of the total transplant number. The most common indication in children is cystic fibrosis, which represents between 70-80% of the transplants performed in adolescents. In infants common indications are interstitial lung disease and pulmonary hypertension. In most children a sequential double lung transplant is performed, generally with the help of extracorpo-real circulation. Lung transplantation in children presents special challenges in monitoring and follow-up, especially in infants, given the difficulty in assessing lung function and performing transbronchial biopsies.There are some more specific complications in children like postransplant lymphoproliferative syndrome or a greater severity of respiratory virus infections. After lung transplantation children usually experiment a very important improvement in their quality of life. Eighty eight per cent of children have no limitations in their activity after 3 years of transplantation. According to the registry of the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) survival at 5 years of transplantation is 54% and at 10 years is around 35%.     

Epidemiologic and Clinical Implications of Second-Generation Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines

This review is based on published literature about some of the potential advantages and challenges of the second generation of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, with special reference to 13-valent vaccine in children and adults.     

Mydriasis model in rats as a simple system to evaluate α2-adrenergic activity of the imidazol(in)e compounds

Imidazol(in)e compounds show the diversity of pharmacological effects including mydriasis, hypotension, sedation, bradycardia and hypothermia. At first it was postulated that these effects are mediated via α₂-adrenoceptors exclusively. Clonidine is well known as a model agent to produce pupillary dilation in rats. However, it became obvious later that clonidine-like imidazol(in)e adrenoceptor agonists which produced mydriasis in rats, exhibit also a high affinity for imidazoline I₁-receptors. That short report attempts to review the present status of studies to confirm that the mydriasis model in rats can be a selective system to evaluate the α₂-adrenergic activity of potential pharmacologically active compounds of imidazol(in)e structure.     

Validation of the Anhysteretic Magnetization Model for Soft Magnetic Materials with Perpendicular Anisotropy

The paper presents results of validation of the anhysteretic magnetization model for a soft amorphous alloy with significant perpendicular anisotropy. The validation was carried out for the Jiles-Atherton model with Ramesh extension considering anisotropy. Due to the fact that it is difficult to measure anhysteretic magnetization directly, the soft magnetic core with negligible hysteresis was used. The results of validation indicate that the Jiles-Atherton model with Ramesh extension should be corrected to allow accurate modeling of the anhysteretic magnetization. The corrected model may be applied for modeling the cores of current transformers operating in a wide range of measured currents.     

An unusual interatrial septum

The images focus on a very rare atrial septal anatomy known as "double atrial septum with persistent interatrial space.” Only scarce reports of this anomaly are found in literature. Due to increasing use of catheter-based interventions requiring a transseptal puncture, the recognition of this anomaly is essential for performing safe and effective procedures.