X-linked syndrome of platelet dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, and imbalanced globin chain synthesis with hemolysis

An unusual family is described with a congenital bleeding disorder present in four males belonging to three generations. Of the three surviving affected males, all had splenomegaly and petechiae. The three had moderate thrombocytopenia (55-90 X 10(9)/liter) and markedly prolonged Ivy-template bleeding times (greater than 30 min). They were also noted to have reticulocytosis and, upon further investigation, imbalanced globin chain synthesis resembling that of beta-thalassemia minor. Studies on nine additional family members in four generations were normal except for slight elevations of reticulocyte counts in female members, one of whom had the abnormal globin chain synthesis ratio. In male members, the bleeding tendency and clinical signs always occurred in the presence of the globin chain synthesis defect and reticulocytosis. This previously undescribed condition was apparently transmitted as an X-linked disorder.     

Spinning top urethra: not a normal variant

Spinning top urethra (STU) is a term used to describe a widened posterior urethra seen mainly in girls. It is commonly regarded as a normal variant. The authors studied 30 girls with STU using videourodynamics. Twenty-eight showed bladder instability; 21, a congenital wide bladder neck anomaly; and 20, both instability and a wide bladder neck. One patient had a sensitive bladder. All patients had a urodynamic abnormality. The authors believe that the STU is nearly always an indication of bladder instability or wide bladder neck anomaly. The most common mechanism for the dilatation of the posterior urethra is that unstable contractions are resisted by a voluntary increase in distal sphincter tension so as to prevent leakage of urine. The resulting pressure rise produces distention of the posterior urethra, which will be maximal in subjects with a weak bladder neck mechanism as in the congenital wide bladder neck anomaly. The authors believe that STU is seldom if ever a normal variant.     

Thrombin-induced secretion of serotonin from platelets can occur in seconds

The platelet release reaction was studied by a new quenched-flow approach. Platelets labeled with 14C-serotonin were reacted for short times (up to 5 sec) with thrombin and then quenched with glutaraldehyde or paraformaldehyde. Serotonin secretion began within 1 sec and was nearly complete by 4 sec. Aggregation recorded by a resistive-particle counter was similarly fast. Therefore, the quenched-flow system reveals that serotonin secretion can occur more rapidly than estimated in earlier studies.     

Identification of sites responsible for the potentiating effect of niflumic acid on ClC-Ka kidney chloride channels

Background and purpose:

ClC-K kidney Cl⁻ channels are important for renal and inner ear transepithelial Cl⁻ transport, and are potentially interesting pharmacological targets. They are modulated by niflumic acid (NFA), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in a biphasic way: NFA activates ClC-Ka at low concentrations, but blocks the channel above ∼1 mM. We attempted to identify the amino acids involved in the activation of ClC-Ka by NFA.

Experimental approach:

We used site-directed mutagenesis and two-electrode voltage clamp analysis of wild-type and mutant channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Guided by the crystal structure of a bacterial CLC homolog, we screened 97 ClC-Ka mutations for alterations of NFA effects.

Key results:

Mutations of five residues significantly reduced the potentiating effect of NFA. Two of these (G167A and F213A) drastically altered general gating properties and are unlikely to be involved in NFA binding. The three remaining mutants (L155A, G345S and A349E) severely impaired or abolished NFA potentiation.

Conclusions and implications:

The three key residues identified (L155, G345, A349) are localized in two different protein regions that, based on the crystal structure of bacterial CLC homologs, are expected to be exposed to the extracellular side of the channel, relatively close to each other, and are thus good candidates for being part of the potentiating NFA binding site. Alternatively, the protein region identified mediates conformational changes following NFA binding. Our results are an important step towards the development of ClC-Ka activators for treating Bartter syndrome types III and IV with residual channel activity.     

THE IMPACT OF PRE-CLERKING CLINICS ON SURGICAL OPERATION CANCELLATIONS: A PROSPECTIVE AUDIT

Pre-clerking of all patients undergoing elective general surgical operations was introduced at our hospital in an attempt to reduce an unacceptably high operation cancellation rate. A prospective audit has been performed on the effect of this policy on the cancellation rate. Before the introduction of pre-clerking there was a marked seasonal variation in the number of patients who failed to attend for surgery, which could be explained by absence on holiday. This seasonal variation disappeared after the start of pre-clerking clinics, but there has been no reduction in the number of cancellations for medical reasons.     

Hyaluronan-dependent motility of B cells and leukemic plasma cells in blood, but not of bone marrow plasma cells, in multiple myeloma: alternate use of receptor for hyaluronan-mediated motility (RHAMM) and CD44

We investigated the ability of blood B cells, bone marrow (BM) plasma cells, and terminal leukemic plasma cells (T-PCL) from patients with multiple myeloma (MM) to migrate on extracellular matrix proteins. Hyaluronan (HA), but not collagen type I, collagen type IV, or laminin, promoted migration of MM blood B cells, as determined by time-lapse video microscopy. Between 13% and 20% of MM blood B cells migrated on HA with an average velocity of 19 micron/min, and greater than 75% of MM blood B cells exhibited vigorous cell movement and plasma membrane deformation, as did circulating T-PCL and extraskeletal plasma cells from patients with MM. In contrast, plasma cells obtained from BM of patients with MM lacked motility on all substrates tested and did not exhibit cell membrane protrusions or cellular deformation. MM blood B cells and MM plasma cells from all sources examined expressed the HA- binding receptors receptor for HA-mediated motility (RHAMM) and CD44. On circulating MM B cells, both RHAMM and CD44 participated in HA- binding, indicating their expression ex vivo in an activated conformation. In contrast, for the majority of BM plasma cells in the majority of patients with MM, expression of RHAMM or CD44 was not accompanied by HA binding. A minority of patients did have HA-binding BM plasma cells, involving both RHAMM and CD44, as evidenced by partial blocking with monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to RHAMM or to CD44. Despite HA binding by both RHAMM and CD44, migration of MM blood B cells on HA was inhibited by anti-RHAMM but not by anti-CD44 MoAbs, indicating that RHAMM but not CD44 mediates motility on HA. Thus, circulating B and plasma cells in MM exhibit RHAMM- and HA-dependent motile behavior indicative of migratory potential, while BM plasma cells are sessile. We speculate that a subset(s) of circulating B or plasma cells mediates malignant spread in myeloma.