Circulating haemopoietic progenitor cells in primary and secondary myelofibrosis: relation to collagen and reticulin fibrosis

The relationship between the extent of bone marrow reticulin and collagen fibrosis and the concentration of granulocytic (CFU-GM), erythroid (BFU-E) and megakaryocyte (CFU-Mk) progenitor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with primary agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (AMM) and secondary myelofibrosis (sMF) has not been definitively correlated. We studied 23 patients with established diagnosis of AMM and 12 patients with sMF for the extent of reticulin and collagen bone marrow fibrosis and for the spontaneous colony (sCFU-GM, sBFU-E and sCFU-Mk) formation. The control group consisted of 11 healthy volunteers. Trephine biopsy of the posterior iliac crest was performed in all individuals studied to determine the type and degree of reticulin and collagen fibrosis. Gomori's silver impregnation technique was used. sCFU-GM, sBFU-E and sCFU-Mk colony formation was related positively to spleen size, the white blood cell counts and the degree of collagen fibrosis in AMM (p < 0.01). Stimulated CFU-GM were also significantly correlated with the degree of bone marrow reticulin and collagen fibrosis. There was no correlation between the extent of peripheral blood progenitor concentration and the degree of bone marrow reticulin or collagen fibrosis in sMF and in control individuals. In conclusion, the extent of bone marrow fibrosis is significantly correlated with the peripheral blood progenitor colony formation in AMM but not in sMF.     

Malignant mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis: an extremely rare case presenting without risk factors

Testicular tumours have many different manifestations, including hydrocele formation. Herein, we present an extremely rare case of testicular mesothelioma presenting with left hydrocele, but without risk factors. Left radical inguinal orchidectomy was performed, and pathological examination revealed a malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis of the testis. No infiltration of the spermatic cord was evident, and upon advanced radiological evaluation, no sign of metastasis was detected. Follow-up was still ongoing in our urology outpatient clinic at the time of this report. Although hydrocele is a simple and common condition that is easy to diagnose, a detailed investigation should be performed. Thus, when encountering a patient with hydrocele, the clinician should evaluate the possibility of the presence of an underlying testicular/paratesticular tumour, including a rare one such as mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis.     

Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn Apparently Caused by Anti-Lua

Report of the first example of pure anti-Lu^a associated with hemolytic disease of the newborn. Of special interest is the fact that this serum demonstrated a marked prozone reaction in saline, papain and indirect Coombs titrations, and is the first anti-Lu^a serum to react well by the indirect Coombs technic.     

Thoracic empyema: a study of 56 patients

Fifty seven children with thoracic empyema (37 boys and 20 girls) aged less than 12 years were seen at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between January 1989 and December 1991. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated from the pus of these patients (36 (63%) patients). Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the next most common organism, was isolated in 10 (18%) patients. The most common symptoms at presentation were acute illness with fever and cough (51 (89%) patients). All the patients were treated with closed intercostal tube drainage and appropriate antibiotics. Decortication was resorted to in only one patient. There were two deaths and the overall survival rate was 97%.     

Catch-up growth up to ten years of age in children born very preterm or with very low birth weight

Background  

Improved survival due to advances in neonatal care has brought issues such as postnatal growth and development more to the focus of our attention. Most studies report stunting in children born very preterm and/or small for gestational age. In this article we study the growth pattern of these children and aim to identify factors associated with postnatal catch-up growth.     

Megakaryocytopoiesis in experimentally induced chronic normobaric hypoxia

It was recently proposed that prolonged hypoxia produces hypomegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia by reducing the pool of committed megakaryocyte progenitor cells at the expense of a greatly expanded erythroid progenitor pool. In order to test this hypothesis we have studied the relationship between megakaryocytopoiesis, erythropoiesis, and granulopoiesis at the level of progenitor cells (megakaryocyte colony-forming unit, CFU-Mk; erythroid CFU, CFU-E; erythroid burst-forming units; BFU-E; and granulocyte-macrophage CFU, CFU-GM) in the marrow of rats exposed for 4 weeks to normobaric hypoxia. We have found that hypomegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia was accompanied by decreased CFU-Mk, increased CFU-E, and a normal number of BFU-E and CFU-GM. These results support the hypothesis that prolonged hypoxia reduces the precursor cell commitment to differentiate into the megakaryocyte series by enhancing demand for differentiation into the erythroid cell line. However, the underlying mechanism needs further investigation.     

Blood Group Chimerism as a Clue to Generalized Tissue Mosaicism

Blood group studies disclosed mosaicism of the red cells in a healthy male Negro donor who was subsequently also found to have mosaicism of skin and bone marrow with respect to XX-XY chromosomal constitution and whose skin showed unequal pigmentation. The two red cell populations were unequal in numbers with a ratio of approximately 10:1. The major population was group A, Jk^a negative and showed the sickling trait in wet films and by electrophoresis. The minor population was group B, Jk^a positive, did not sickle and contained only hemoglobin A. Both red cells were Le^a positive despite the fact that the propositus was a secretor. However, only A substance was secreted and it was demonstrated by salivary studies and with the help of complete family studies, that the minor genetic product which had produced the group B erythrocytes represented the gene contribution se se and was the source of Le^a substance sufficient to coat both red cell populations. The family studies showed that the propositus had received a 2 allele contribution from each parent and was therefore the result of double fertilization of a double egg nucleus presumably an ovum and a polar body.     

骨髓单个核细胞移植对心肌修复相关因子的调节作用

目的:干细胞移植后可以通过分化为心肌细胞、减少心肌重构等方面发挥改善心功能的作用。观察急性心肌梗死后进行骨髓单个核细胞移植对相关细胞因子的调节作用,探讨干细胞发挥改善心脏重构的可能机制。方法:实验于2006-01/2007-02在福建省高血压研究所完成。①实验材料:清洁级SD大鼠由上海实验动物公司提供。②实验方法:取SD大鼠骨髓,分离出单个核细胞,以DAPI标记骨髓单个核细胞。取体质量200～250g雄性SD大鼠24只,建立急性心肌梗死模型后,随机分为2组,实验组从股静脉注入同种异体大鼠骨髓单个核细胞1.0×107,对照组注入等量的生理盐水。③实验评估:于移植后4周采用免疫组组织化学法检测DAPI阳性细胞、肌钙蛋白阳性细胞、基质细胞源性因子1、转化生长因子β及大鼠心功能改变。结果:24只大鼠均进入结果分析。移植后4周实验组基质细胞源性因子1表达较对照组明显升高,转化生长因子β表达较对照组下降;实验组在免疫荧光显微镜下可观察到DAPI和肌钙蛋白阳性细胞,心功能较对照组明显改善。结论:骨髓单个核细胞移植改善急性心肌梗死大鼠心功能的同时伴有基质细胞源性因子1表达增加及转化生长因子β表达下降。