No regression of renal AL amyloid in monoclonal gammopathy after successful autologous blood stem cell transplantation and significant clinical improvement.

BACKGROUND: High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous blood stem cell transplantation induces remission of plasma cell dyscrasia in patients with AL amyloidosis. The impact of this treatment on the glomerular amyloid mass is still unknown. METHODS: In the present study, the quantity of the renal amyloid mass before and more than 3 years after high-dose melphalan treatment and autologous blood stem cell transplantation was assessed in two patients. At the time of the second renal biopsy, both patients were in complete remission without detectable serum and urinary monoclonal IgA-lambda and a normal percentage of plasma cells in the bone marrow. RESULTS: In both patients with biopsy-proven AL amyloidosis, urinary protein excretion decreased from 7 g/24 h to <2 g/24 h more than 3 years after autologous blood stem cell transplantation. In contrast, glomerular amyloid deposits persisted, as shown in the second biopsy. CONCLUSION: Despite complete remission of the plasma cell dyscrasia and improvement of glomerular permeability, the amount of glomerular amyloid mass did not regress.     

Psychiatric symptoms, type A behavior, and arrhythmias following coronary bypass

One hundred four patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery were evaluated for psychiatric symptoms and their association with postoperative arrhythmias occurring within 48 hours after surgery. Patients high in type A behavior had increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias, while those scoring relatively high in depression and anxiety had fewer atrial arrhythmias than patients low in these measures. No significant association was found between postoperative arrhythmias and obesity, heavy tobacco use, or number of bypasses. A history of arrhythmias correlated significantly with postoperative arrhythmias. Anxious or depressed patients who deny their symptoms may be at increased risk for postoperative atrial arrhythmias.     

Translocation (6;9)(p23;q34) in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia: Three new cases

Several recent reports have described cases of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia with a unique chromosome translocation, t(6;9)(p23;q34). We have studied three additional patients who have acute nonlymphocytic leukemia and t(6;9)(p23;q34). Our findings provide additional support for the suggestion that this translocation is yet another distinct cytogenetic abnormality associated with myeloproliferative disorders.     

The septal arteries in the differential diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis

Angiographic study of the motion of the septal and left marginal arteries was performed in patients with restriction in ventricular diastolic filling in order to separate patients with constrictive pericarditis from those with restrictive cardiomyopathy. Twelve patients with constrictive pericarditis (group I) and 10 patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy (group II) were evaluated and compared with 21 patients with normal coronary angiograms (group III). The displacement of the septal arteries (23 +/- 2.04 mm) was abnormally exaggerated in group I and normal (9 +/- 0.81 mm) in groups II and III. The displacement of the left marginal arteries as seen by the "corrugating index" was similar in all groups. We conclude that study of the displacement of the septal arteries is a useful angiographic sign that helps to separate constrictive pericarditis from restrictive cardiomyopathy and normals.     

Comparative patterns of i-antigen expression, F-cell frequency and Hb A2 level in acute myeloid leukemia and in acute lymphoid leukemia

Hb F, Hb A₂ and i-antigen expression were investigated in adulthood acute leukemias. The study of i-antigen expression by immuno-agglutination and immunofluorescence showed that it is preferentially increased among AML patients. A similar result was obtained for F-cell frequency which was often increased in AML, while it was normal in ALL. Hb A₂ level was significantly lower in AML than in ALL. These differences between AML and ALL red cell patterns further suggest that the leukemic clone involves the erythroid lineage in AML but not in ALL.     

急性白血病患者血清bFGF与TSGF水平的研究

目的探讨急性白血病(AL)患者血清碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)及恶性肿瘤相关物质群(TSGF)的水平及其临床意义。方法应用酶联免疫法(ELISA)及化学显色法分别对47例AL初治(AL初治组)、8例AL复发(AL复发组)患者化疗前后血清bFGF及TSGF的水平进行检测,并与正常人对照组比较;47例AL初治患者化疗后,根据疗效观察,其中11例CR(完全缓解组,CR组)、13例NR(未缓解组,NR组),对CR组与NR组患者血清bFGF及TSGF的水平进行对比分析。结果AL初治组及AL复发组血清bFGF水平均明显高于正常人对照组水平,有非常显著性差异(t=6.71、6.18,P均<0.001);AL初治组及AL复发组血清TSGF水平均明显高于正常人对照组水平,差异非常显著(t=6.847、5.009,P均<0.001);CR组血清bFGF水平及TSGF水平均明显下降,与正常人对照组相比较,均无显著性差异(t=1.11、1.482,P均>0.05);ALLNR组化疗前血清bFGF水平明显高于ALLCR组化疗前的水平,具有显著性差异(t=2.43,P<0.05),AMLNR组与AMLCR组化疗前血清bFGF水平无显著性差异(t=0.76,P>0.05);ALL与AMLNR组化疗前血清TSGF水平均高于CR组化疗前的水平,且均具有显著性差异(t=3.29,2.13;P<0.01,0.05);血清bFGF水平与TSGF水平呈正相关(γ=0.5263,P<0.01)。结论联合检测血清bFGF及TSGF水平对了解AL的发生、发展     

Role of live animals in the training of microvascular surgery: a systematic review

As training in microvascular surgery often involves the use of live animals, it is important that such a practice is regularly revisited and justified, particularly in the context of emerging training strategies such as virtual simulation. This systematic review was therefore designed to assess the ongoing need for their use over other methods. A search of PubMed and MEDLINE using the major MeSH terms: anastomosis, surgical vascular procedures, microsurgery, and training, yielded 1386 titles from which 153 abstracts were read, 70 papers analysed, and 17 included. Nine of these papers were randomised studies that compared different methods of training. Other publications were included if the use of live animals was assessed or commented upon, or both (8 publications). Only one study randomised trainees to a non-living animal model or a living model, with detailed assessment that included clinical transfer to live surgery. It showed no significant difference in the quality of training, and excellent techniques of assessment. There was much discussion on the advantage of regular training and opportunities to practise without tuition, but there was no clear advantage for the use of live animals. Our review emphasises the lack of evidence regarding the need for live animals in the training of microsurgical or microvascular skills. Although the assumption remains that the use of live rats is essential, there is a clear need for a high-quality, comparative study to justify the continued use of such models given the quality of the alternatives now available.     

Une cause rare d’hypertension artérielle pulmonaire : l’amylose thoracique

Isolated thoracic involvement in amyloidosis is a rare and serious condition. Its association with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) usually weakens the prognosis. We report the case of a 40-year-old man with a smoking history, hospitalized for chest pain, abdominal pain and acute respiratory distress. The cardiac ultrasound revealed a circumferential pericardial effusion as well as a pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PAPS) at 80 mmHg. Chest imaging (computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging) showed a tissue process developed in the pericardial sheath (60 × 45 mm) sheathing the ascending aorta and infiltrating the trunk of the pulmonary artery and its right branch. Anatomopathological and immunohistochemical study of the process revealed AL amyloidosis. Note that the patient had no signs of extrathoracic amyloidosis. Blood and urine electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis as well as bone marrow mylogram and biopsy were normal. The patient was put on oral anticoagulant as he presented with PAH. A therapeutic protocol with thalidomide and dexamethasone has been initiated. The course of the disease was marked by total regression of the clinical signs, a marked decrease in the amyloid process on imaging and a normalization of the PAPS; our follow-up being three years.