Determination of allelic deletion of multiple endocrine neoplasm type 1 (MEN1) gene in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by application of FISH-TSA technique

We have used the single and dual color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique combined with a new detection system, tyramide signal amplification (TSA), by using the multiple endocrine neoplasm type 1 (MEN1) gene and chromosome 11 specific alpha satellite DNA probes for the study of the allelic deletion of the MEN1 gene. The MEN1 gene is a new tumor suppressor gene and has been recently cloned on chromosome 11q13. FISH combined with the TSA detection system was performed on bone marrow interphase nuclei of 22 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The FISH-TSA analysis revealed the mono allelic deletion of the MEN1 gene in 4 out of 22 patients (18.18%), 2 of 9 AML-M2 patients (22.2%), 1 of 6 AML-M4 patients (16.6%), and 1 of 4 AML-M5 patients (25.0%). Our study indicates that allelic deletion of the MEN1 gene is not a major cause or a primary event in tumorigenesis of AML, although the long arm (q13 region) of chromosome 11 involves a chromosomal rearrangement in AML.     

BHK cell attachment and growth on EDA-plasma-modified poly(L-lactide/epsilon-caprolactone) biodegradable films

In this study, attachment and growth of Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK) cells on ethylene diamine (EDA)-plasma-treated poly(L-lactide/epsilon-caprolactone) biodegradable copolymer films were investigated. The co-polymer (Mw: 58000; Mn: 35000 and PI 1.60) was synthesised by ring-opening polymerization of the respective dimers with using stannous octoate as the catalyst. The final ratio of L-lactide to epsilon-caprolactone obtained by 1H-NMR was 87:13. The co-polymer films were treated with the EDA-plasma in a glow-discharge apparatus. The BHK-30 cell line was cultured on plain and EDA-plasma-treated films and their pre-wetted forms (with ethanol and/or cell culture medium before use). Cell attachment and growth were followed. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and glucose uptake in cell culture medium were also investigated. There was no attachment in the first 12 h. Glow-discharge treatment increased significantly the attachment and growth. Pre-wetting with ethanol and cell culture medium was also increase significantly both the attachment and growth.     

Myoepithelial carcinoma in the nasopharynx: an unusual localization

Myoepithelial carcinoma is an extremely rare, malignant epithelial tumor which is usually encountered in the parotid region. In this report, a myoepithelial carcinoma arising from a minor salivary gland in the nasopharynx is presented, along with a discussion of the clinical, histopathological and immunocytochemical characteristics of this rare disorder. Larger clinical series and longer follow-up periods are needed in order to establish the best therapy option for these patients.     

Effectiveness of the caverno-dorsal vein shunt (Barry shunt) on prolonged ischaemic priapism and its effect on the post-operative long-term erectile function

Ischaemic priapism is the most common form of priapism and requires urgent treatment. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the caverno-dorsal vein shunt on resolution of ischaemic priapism and on the post-operative long-term erectile function in patients presenting with priapism. The study included 10 patients admitted to our hospital for priapism between 2010 and 2018. The median age of the patients was 31 (24–66) years. The median priapism time was 13.5 (7–38) hours. The blood gas measurements were taken from the corpus cavernosum, and the drainage of the corpus cavernosum was performed as an emergency intervention. Then, the corpus cavernosum was irrigated with 0.01% adrenaline 5 times in 20-min intervals. The caverno-dorsal vein shunt procedure was performed in cases without regression of priapism. Two months after, the operation shunt was closed. Detumescence occurred in all patients. Eight of 10 patients maintained their erectile function. In 2 patients, severe erectile dysfunction occurred at post-operative 2 months following a priapism attack and penile prosthesis implantation was performed in these 2 patients. Our study showed that caverno-dorsal vein shunt procedure is effective in providing detumescence and maintaining potency in cases with ischaemic priapism. In our opinion, caverno-dorsal vein shunt can be considered as the first treatment of choice for refractory low-flow priapism.     

New antimicrobial agents for the treatment of Gram-positive bacterial infections.

Since the 1970s, resistance to antimicrobial agents has become an escalating problem. In the last 25 years, treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria has been more problematical than ever, with infections being caused by multidrug-resistant organisms, particularly methicillin-resistant staphylococci, penicillin- and erythromycin-resistant pneumococci, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. There is a continuing effort in the pharmaceutical industry to develop new antimicrobial agents for the treatment of resistant infections. Linezolid, quinupristin-dalfopristin, daptomycin, tigecyline, new glycopeptides and ceftobiprole are the main agents recently introduced or under clinical development. This review summarises their major properties, the results of recent studies with these agents, and future treatment possibilities.     

带有蛋白转导结构域的bcr/abl癌蛋白片段表达及其跨膜转运

0　引言　人类免疫缺陷病毒 (human immunodeficiencyvirus,HIV) - 1编码的反式激活蛋白 TAT具有独特的跨膜运转方式 ,而且有转导速度快 ,效率高的特点 ,被称为蛋白转导结构域 (protein transduction domain,PTD) [1 ,2 ] .本研究用PCR扩增了慢性粒细胞白血病慢粒 bcr/ abl融合蛋白的基因片段 ,在其 5′端融合 PTD结构域的编码区后在大肠杆菌中进行了表达 .表达产物经纯化后 ,加入培养的 HL 6 0细胞 ,表达的蛋白可直接进入细胞内 .这一结果为用外源蛋白负载(L oading)免疫细胞提供了新的途径 .1　材料和方法1.1　 DNA重组　人工合…     

In vitro and in vivo comparison of three MR measurement methods for calculating vascular shear stress in the internal carotid artery

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vascular abnormalities, such as atherosclerosis and the growth and rupture of cerebral aneurysms, result from a derangement in tissue metabolism and injury that are, in part, regulated by hemodynamic stress. The purpose of this study was to establish the feasibility and accuracy of determining wall shear rate in the internal carotid artery from phase-contrast MR data. METHODS: Three algorithms were used to generate shear rate estimates from both ungated and cardiac-gated 2D phase-contrast data. These algorithms were linear extrapolation (LE), linear estimation with correction for wall position (LE*), and quadratic extrapolation (QE). In vitro experiments were conducted by using a phantom under conditions of both nonpulsatile and pulsatile flow. The findings from five healthy volunteers were also studied. MR imaging-derived shear rates were compared with values calculated by solving the fluid flow equations. RESULTS: Findings of in vitro constant-flow experiments indicated that at one or two excitations, QE has the advantage of good accuracy and low variance. Results of in vitro pulsatile flow experiments showed that neither LE* nor QE differed significantly from the predicted value of wall shear stress, despite errors of 17% and 22%, respectively. In vivo data showed that QE did not differ significantly from the predicted value, whereas LE and LE* did. The percentages of errors for QE, LE, and LE* in vivo measurements were 98.5%, 28.5%, and 36.1%, respectively. The average residual of QE was low because the residuals were both above and below baseline whereas, on average, LE* tended to be a more biased overestimator of the shear rate in volunteers. The average and peak wall shear force in five volunteers was approximately 8.10 dyne/cm2 and 13.2 dyne/cm2, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that LE consistently underestimates the shear rate. Although LE* and QE may be used to estimate shear rate, errors of up to 36% should be expected because of variance above and below the true value for individual measurements.