Clinicopathological Profile of Myelomatous Pleural Effusion: Single-center Real-world Experience and Review of Literature

Background

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy of plasma cell origin. MM primarily affects bone marrow, but extramedullary sites can also be involved. Myelomatous pleural effusion (MPE) is an atypical and rare complication of MM. We aimed to systematically study the incidence and clinicopathologic profile of patients with MPE in a real-world setting.

Diencephalic syndrome of emaciation in an adult associated with a suprasellar craniopharyngioma--a case report

An unusual association of diencephalic syndrome of emaciation, pituitary insufficiency for 2 years and suprasellar craniopharyngioma is described in a 45-year-old male. The tumour was found to be adherent to the anterior hypothalamic structures. Following partial excision, irradiation and hormonal replacement he regained his appetite, subcutaneous fat and body weight gradually.     

Analgesic nephropathy in Hungary: the HANS study.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of analgesic nephropathy has improved significantly with modern imaging techniques. We reviewed a large portion of the Hungarian dialysis population to obtain additional insight into the problem. METHODS: Twenty-two participating dialysis units enrolled 1400 patients on renal replacement therapy between 1 January 1995 and 1 January 1998. Patients with no known aetiology (n = 284) were interviewed and studied with renal imaging. We assessed the presence of decreased renal mass combined with either bumpy contours, papillary calcification, or both. The subjects studied were interrogated extensively. RESULTS: Our survey suggested analgesic nephropathy in 47 of 1400 patients (3.3%), 3-fold higher than the EDTA database estimate for Hungary. The analgesics most commonly abused were phenacetin-containing mixtures. The driving symptoms were mainly headache and joint pain. Cardiovascular complications were more common than in the rest of the dialysis population, independent of smoking and lipid values (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Phenacetin should be banned. Our study results support the need for longitudinal cohort and case-control studies in Hungary.     

Induction of FMLP-mediated calcium mobilization requires crosslinking of surface immunoglobulin in Daudi cells.

We have explored the requirements for the induction of the N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) response in Daudi cells after anti-immunoglobulin treatment. Our results indicate that (a) induction of responsiveness to FMLP was observed in Daudi only after crosslinking of surface immunoglobulin by anti-immunoglobulin; (b) this induced responsiveness was not observed in Ramos or Wil-2 cells; (c) the F(ab')2 fragment was sufficient for the induction of the FMLP response, but the Fab fragment and the Fc fragment were ineffective; (d) of the many agents active in B lymphocyte regulation which were tested, none were as effective as anti-immunoglobulin in the induction of the FMLP response; and (e) three inhibitors of calcium mobilization (W-7 (N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalene sulfonamide), PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate), and colchicine), acting on distinct mechanisms, inhibited both the calcium mobilization due to anti-immunoglobulin and the induction of responsiveness to FMLP. Our results suggest important determinants in the induction of a calcium-mobilizing FMLP response in cells of B lymphocyte lineage include (a) the cell type, (b) a selective requirement for activation via surface immunoglobulin, and (c) crosslinking of the surface immunoglobulin.     

Relative carriage rates of nuclear dehydrogenating clostridia in two populations of different colorectal cancer risk

Carriage of nuclear dehydrogenating clostridia has been associated with colon cancer and implicated in its aetiology. This study has compared the carriage of these organisms in a British population at high risk for the development of colon cancer with a low risk Nigerian population. Clostridia were found in all of the stools from both populations. Nuclear dehydrogenating clostridia were only found in the stools of the British subjects (32%). These results support the suggestion that the carriage rate of nuclear dehydrogenating clostridia in a population is related to the risk of colon cancer.     

Cap formation in a B-lymphocyte cell line is inhibited by pertussis toxin and phorbol ester.

We have examined concanavalin A (Con A)-induced cap formation in a B-lymphocyte derived cell line, LAZ-559. Treatment with pertussis toxin (PT) or phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) prior to exposure of the cells to Con A abolished the capping reaction. The possible role of calcium mobilization was tested using cells pre-loaded with the fluorescent dye Quin2. Both PT and PMA caused inhibition of calcium mobilization at concentrations similar to those observed for the inhibition of capping. The possible identity of the substrate for pertussis toxin was examined by carrying out ADP-ribosylation of the isolated plasma membranes using [alpha-32P]NAD and pertussis toxin. Several bands were observed at molecular weights of 109,000, 43,000, 34,000 and 22,000. Comparative labelling with cholera toxin revealed a separate band at 42,000. The bands at 43,000 and 34,000 are PT specific. Of these, the 43,000 band comigrated with the PT substrate that has been shown to regulate capping in human neutrophils (Lad et al., 1985a, 1986b). PMA-induced phosphorylation was examined in 32P-loaded cells, and multiple bands were observed to be labelled in a dose-dependent manner, at least two of which were very similar in mobility to the PT substrate. Our results suggest that regulation of calcium mobilization and the control of capping via a PMA-sensitive, GTP-binding protein are probably general phenomena observable in multiple cell systems.