<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bcl11b</Emphasis>mutations identified in murine lymphomas increase the proliferation rate of hematopoietic progenitor cells

Background  

The telomeric region of mouse chromosome 12 has previously shown frequent allelic loss in murine lymphoma. The Bcl11b gene has been identified and suggested as a candidate tumor suppressor gene within this region. In this study, we aimed to elucidate whether Bcl11b is mutated in lymphomas with allelic loss, and whether the mutations we detected conferred any effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis.     

Biology and Biomechanics in Osteosynthesis of Proximal Humerus Fractures

Abstract Surgical treatment of proximal humeral fractures still remains a challenge. This is primarily due to the fact that sufficient implant fixation in humeral head fractures is often not achieved due to substantial bone tissue loss with increasing age. In the last few years the locking plates and locking nails have been introduced into clinical practice with varying results. The biomechanical studies have focused on locking plate osteosynthesis as well. The following paper focuses on bone quality, biomechanical studies and biology of proper osteosynthesis and reviews the most recent literature.     

Intravesical instillation therapy with bacillus Calmette-Guérin for superficial bladder cancer: Study of the mechanism of bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy

AIM: In order to clarify the initial step of the mechanism by which bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) exhibits antitumor activity via the immune response induced in the bladder submucosa after intravesical BCG therapy for human bladder cancer, various cytokines secreted in the urine after BCG instillation were measured. METHODS: After transurethral resection of bladder cancer, a 6-week course of BCG instillation was performed. At the first and sixth weeks' dosings, spontaneously excreted urine was collected before and 4, 8, and 24 h after BCG instillation. The urinary cytokines were determined by Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using monoclonal antibodies against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-8, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and IL-12. RESULTS: After the BCG therapy, various cytokines, such as GM-CSF, TNF-alpha, G-CSF, IL-1beta, IL-8, IFN-gamma, and IL-12 were secreted, comprising the immune response cascade. The mean urinary excretions of GM-CSF and TNF-alpha 4 h after the sixth week's instillation were significantly higher than the pre-instillation levels. There were no significant increases in the urinary IFN-gamma or IL-12 levels between 4 and 24 h after the sixth week's instillation. The TNF-alpha level 4 h after the sixth week's instillation had a strong tendency towards the absence of recurrence, with a mean follow-up of 54.1 months. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed the 2, 5, and 10-year recurrence-free survival rates were 72.4%, 65.8%, and 56.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We suggested that the urinary levels of TNF-alpha might be essential in antitumor activity after BCG therapy and might play an important role in the prevention of bladder tumor recurrence.