p16INK4A and p15INK4B gene deletions in primary leukemias

The 9p21 locus has been deleted at a high frequency in a wide variety of tumors. Recently, two genes, p16INK4A and p15INK4B (also called MTS1 and MTS2), have been localized in close proximity at the 9p21 locus, encoding cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 inhibitors of relative molecular mass 16 kD and 15 kD, respectively and also found to be deleted at a high frequency in tumor cell lines. We analyzed p16INK4A and p15INK4B genes in 178 cases of primary leukemias including 81 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), seven of hairy cell leukemia (HCL), seven of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), 43 of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), 27 of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and 13 of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) by Southern blot analyses. The ALL cases showed a relatively high frequency of homozygous deletions (22%, 6 of 27) at the p16INK4A gene locus. Interestingly, of the six cases with p16INK4A homozygous deletions, only three showed homozygous deletions at the p15INK4B gene. In 81 CLL patients, we detected one homozygous and five heterozygous deletions at both the p16INK4A and p15INK4B genes and two heterozygous deletions at the p16INK4A gene alone. Deletion of these two genes in AML cases is relatively low (9%). We did not detect deletions in any of the MDS, HCL, and CML cases examined. Sequence analyses of p16INK4A gene of six CLL cases with heterozygous deletion at this locus showed a 27-bp deletion at the splice acceptor site of intron 1 in one case and changes in the coding sequence in three other cases. The data presented in this report showed that (1) p16INK4A and p15INK4B genes are preferentially deleted homozygously in ALL and heterozygously in CLL cases with frequent mutation in the second allele, and (2) p16INK4A gene appears to be more frequently deleted than p15INK4B gene.     

Prevalence and classification of HIV-associated oral lesions

OBJECTIVES: An International Workshop addressed the prevalence and classification of HIV/AIDS associated oral lesions.
DESIGN: Five questions provided the framework for discussion and literature review. What is the prevalence of oral lesions in children and adults? Should the accepted classification of HIV-related oral lesions be modified in the light of recent findings? Why is there a gender difference in the prevalence of oral lesions in developed and developing countries? Are there unusual lesions present in developing countries? Is there any association between modes of transmission and the prevalence of oral lesions?
RESULTS: Workshop discussion emphasized the urgent need for assistance in the development of expertise to obtain accurate global prevalence data for HIV-associated oral lesions. Oral candidiasis has been consistently reported as the most prevalent HIV-associated oral lesion in all ages. Penicilliosis marneffei, a newly described fungal infection, has emerged in South-east Asia. Oral hairy leukoplakia and Kaposi's sarcoma appear to be associated with male gender and male-to-male HIV transmission risk behaviours. These lesions occur only rarely in children.
CONCLUSIONS: Additional prevalence data are needed from developing countries prior to substantially altering the 1993 ECC/WHO Classification of oral lesions associated with adult HIV infection. The workshop confirmed current oral disease diagnostic criteria.     

Arthroscopic chondrectomy as a treatment of cartilage lesions

Although favorable effects of débridement with chondrectomy and drilling or abrasion have been reported in treating of cartilage lesions in the knee joint; however, in most cases an additional intervention is generally performed during arthroscopy. We studied 53 consecutive patients with solitary chondral lesions in the weight-bearing part of the knee and treated 86 cartilage lesions by arthroscopic débridement, including a detailed removal of damaged or undermined cartilage. We evaluated the postoperative course by questionnaire (mean follow-up 6.5 years, response rate 83%). All patients reported a positive effect of chondrectomy: 69% considered the knee considerably better or cured and 77% regarded the effect as permanent. There was no complication of the arthroscopies performed, and no patient noted any deterioration in the condition. We therefore recommend routine chondrectomy of cartilage lesions when these are found during an arthroscopy.     

Evaluation of a new device for measuring oral mucosal surface friction

Abstract – For the objective measurement of oral mucosal dryness or moisture, a device registering oral mucosal surface slide friction has been developed. Two prototypes, Probe I and Probe II, have been tested. Probe I was constructed for initial testing of the method and was based on easily accessible electrical components. Probe I was computerized and developed for more accurate registration and also for easy handling. Reliability and validity tests were carried out on Probe I as well as on Probe II. In repeated in vitro measurements, the probes showed good reproducibility. Validity was assessed on healthy subjects injected with methylscopolamine nitrate submucosally in the labial sulcus. All subjects experienced a pronounced oral mucosal dryness within half an hour. Registration with the surface slide friction device showed maximum friction values 1-2 h after injection. These reliability and validity tests gave good results for both Probe I and Probe II, but Probe II had several practical advantages over Probe I. Both probes were considerably more sensitive to changes of the oral mucosal surface than the previously used simple friction test using the back of a mouth mirror.     

Tracking of blood pressure and anthropometric measures in Nigerian children.

Persistence in ranks (tracking) for blood pressure and anthropometric measures over a one year period was examined in 208 Nigerian children (age 6-17 years). Systolic blood pressure tracked better than diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.52 to 0.72) and r = 0.25 to 0.55, respectively). For systolic blood pressure, 56.5%-70.6% of the Nigerian children remained in the top tertile after one year compared with 45.5%-69.2% for diastolic blood pressure. Weight showed the strongest correlation over the one year period (r = 0.88 to 0.97), whereas skinfolds demonstrated the weakest association (r = 0.54 to 0.82). The association between anthropometric measures at baseline and blood pressure one year later revealed for both males and females that height and weight were positively and significantly correlated with blood pressure.