Germinal center and activated b-cell profiles separate Burkitt lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in AIDS and non-AIDS cases

Morphologic features of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) overlap. No single phenotypic marker or molecular abnormality is pathognomonic. We tested a panel of 8 germinal center (GC) and activated B-cell (ABC) markers for their ability to separate BL and DLBCL. We diagnosed 16 BL and 39 DLBCL cases from 21 patients with AIDS and 34 without AIDS based on traditional morphologic criteria, Ki-67 proliferative index, and c-myc rearrangement (fluorescence in situ hybridization). After immunohistochemically staining tissue microarrays of BL and DLBCL for markers of GC (bcl-6, CD10, cyclin H) and ABC (MUM1, CD138, PAK1, CD44, bcl-2), we scored each case for the percentage of positive cells. Hierarchical clustering yielded 2 major clusters significantly associated with morphologic diagnosis (P < .001). For comparison, we plotted the sum of the GC scores and ABC scores for each case as x and y data points. This revealed a high-GC/low-ABC group and a low-GC/high-ABC group that were associated significantly with morphologic diagnosis (P < .001). Protein expression of multiple GC and ABC markers can separate BL and DLBCL.     

Routes to transplant tolerance versus rejection; the role of cytokines

The alloimmune response can be divided into specific junctures where critical decisions between tolerance and immunity are made which define the outcome of the transplant. At these "decision nodes" various cytokines direct alloresponsive T cells to develop either a proinflammatory response aimed at graft destruction or an immunoregulatory response facilitating graft acceptance. This review will focus on the role of these cytokines in influencing the progression of an alloimmune response leading ultimately to either allograft survival or rejection.     

Suppression of charge movement by calcium antagonists is not related to calcium channel block

The calcium channel-inhibiting drugs nitrendipine and diltiazem represent two important classes of organic calcium antagonists. In the present study, the effect of these drugs on calcium currents and charge displacement currents in bullfrog semitendinosus muscle fibers was examined using a vaseline gap voltage clamp. Nitrendipine (10 M) reduced the quantity of charge that moved both during the ON phase (Q_ON) and the OFF phase (Q_OFF) of charge movement. This action appeared to be most selective for Q_ON. However, at this same concentration, nitrendipine had no blocking action on inward calcium currents. In contrast to these findings, diltiazem blocked calcium currents in a concentration-dependent manner, while slightly increasing the quantity of charge moved during Q_ON and Q_OFF. The enhancement of charge movement by diltiazem resulted from two actions. First, diltiazem shifted the voltage-dependence of charge movement to more negative potentials. Second, diltiazem increased the maximum amount of charge moved. (Supported by NIH NS 03178 and HL 07382.)     

Supraependymal cells in the third ventricle of the neonatal rat

Supraependymal cells in the third ventricle of neonatal male and female rats were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Supraependymal cells in the third ventrical of adult male rats were also studied with SEM. Many neonate supraependymal cells were round to oval in shape and exhibited varying degrees of surface irregularity. Small finger-like processes or narrow pseudopodia projected from the cell bodies over the underlying ependymal cells. Some neonatal supraependymal cells exhibited flattened cell bodies with broad pseudopodia and few surface irregularities. TEM revealed a variety of cell profiles. Prominent within the cytoplasm of many supraependymal cells were lysosomes, smooth and coated vesicles suggesting pinocytosis, subplasmalemma vacuoles, and occasional lipid droplets. The morphological characteristics of neonatal supraependymal cells suggested they were mononuclear phagocytes. Adult supraependymal cells exhibited more pleomorphic cell shapes with numerous cell processes, varying widely in size and shape, and often extending over the ventricular surface for considerable distances. These observations, in combination with previous studies by other investigators, suggest that some adult supraependymal cells may also be phagocytic in nature. The differences in morphology between adult and neonatal supraependymal phagocytes may relate to the differing third ventricle environment between adult and neonates and/or differences in the origin of the phagocytes with age.     

In situ characterization of T lymphocyte subpopulations in leprosy in the mangabey monkey.

Leprosy in the mangabey monkey is an experimental model which is similar both clinically and histologically to human lepromatous leprosy. The immunopathology of these diseases was compared using monoclonal antibodies against T lymphocyte subpopulations in frozen tissue sections with an immunoperoxidase technique. In both mangabey and human lepromatous granulomas OKT4 (or Leu 3a) and Leu 2a cells were scattered among macrophages with greater numbers of Leu 2a as compared with OKT4 (or Leu 3a) cells. The results suggest that from an immunopathological standpoint experimental leprosy in mangabeys will provide a suitable model for the investigation of the pathogenesis of human lepromatous leprosy and for the evaluation of new antileprosy vaccines.     

Immunocytochemical localization of a granuliberin-like peptide in Rana pipiens brain

The histamine-releasing peptide “granuliberin”, originally isolated from the skin of Rana rugosa, was localized by immunofluorescence within nerve cell bodies and fibers in the brain of Rana pipiens. The granuliberin-positive neurons were characterized ultrastructurally by electron microscopic observation of ultrathin sections stained either with immunoperoxidase or with conventional stains. Granuliberin-positive nerve cell bodies were seen throughout the hypothalamus, from the suprachiasmatic area rostrally to the full length of the periinfundibular grey matter caudally. Similarly positive nerve fibers were localized in the hypothalamus radiating upwards to the optic vesicles in the midbrain, extending through the preoptic area into the subpallium in the forebrain, and throughout the white matter surrounding the floor and lateral walls of the fourth ventricle in the brainstem. The granuliberin-positive nerve cells showed the presence of variable numbers of small cytoplasmic neurosecretory granules. Possessing an electron dense elongated core, and measuring 250–350 nm in their largest diameter. The functional significance of a granuliberin-like peptide in neurons of the frog brain is not known.     

Preoperative gentling does not attenuate septal-lesion induced hyperreactivity

Rats were either gentled or not gentled for 10 minutes a day for 7 days. At the end of this time a lesion was made in the region ventral to the anterior septum or in the lateral septum, or the rat was given a sham lesion. Reactivity to the experimenter was tested at 2, 7, and 14 days postoperatively. The reactivity scores of animals gentled preoperatively were not different from those of animals which had not been gentled but the animals of both groups were significantly more reactive than animals given a sham lesion. It is concluded that preoperative handling does not attenuate the increase in defensive behavior induced by lesions of the lateral septum or of the region ventral to the anterior septum.     

Maxillary artery embolisation in the management of epistaxis

Serious consideration needs to be given to the importance of early embolisation of the maxillary artery in severe and refractory epistaxis. This is particularly true in the young fit person with traumatic epistaxis and in the elderly person who is unfit for general anaesthesia. Embolisation is now a safe and reliable technique. Six patients were embolised. In the two institutions from 1999 - 2000. All responded well to embolisation without complication. This paper describes the technique used in our hospitals and suggests that with the advent of platinum coils and pre embolisation arteriography, the chances of cerebrovascular accident is very small.