Fasciclin 2 functions as an expression-level switch on EGFR to control organ shape and size in Drosophila.

Fasciclin 2 (Drosophila NCAM) is a homophilic Cell Adhesion Molecule expressed at moderate levels in the proliferating epithelial cells of imaginal discs, where it engages EGFR in a cell autonomous auto-stimulatory loop that promotes growth along larval development. In addition, Fasciclin 2 is expressed at high levels in the pre-differentiating cells of imaginal discs. Gain-of-function genetic analysis shows that Fasciclin 2 acts as a non-cell autonomous repressor of EGFR when high expression levels are induced during imaginal disc growth.

Fasciclin 2 engages EGFR in an auto-stimulatory loop to promote imaginal disc cell proliferation in Drosophila.

How cell to cell interactions control local tissue growth to attain a species-specific organ size is a central question in developmental biology. The Drosophila Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule, Fasciclin 2, is expressed during the development of neural and epithelial organs. Fasciclin 2 is a homophilic-interaction protein that shows moderate levels of expression in the proliferating epithelia and high levels in the differentiating non-proliferative cells of imaginal discs.

The utility of multiparametric flow cytometry in the detection of primary effusion lymphoma (PEL).

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a rare B cell lymphoproliferative disorder that arises predominantly in body cavities causing malignant effusions. The incidence of PEL is very low, accounting for approximately 4% of all HIV-associated non-Hodgkin lymphomas. PEL has also been described in elderly patients and after solid-organ transplantation.

Chromosomal microarray analysis in the genetic evaluation of 279 patients with syndromic obesity.

Background: Syndromic obesity is an umbrella term used to describe cases where obesity occurs with additional phenotypes. It often arises as part of a distinct genetic syndrome with Prader-Willi syndrome being a classical example. These rare forms of obesity provide a unique source for identifying obesity-related genetic changes.

Interobserver variance in myelodysplastic syndromes with less than 5 % bone marrow blasts: unilineage vs. multilineage dysplasia and reproducibility of the threshold of 2 % blasts.

Previous studies have shown the reproducibility of the 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) classification in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), especially when multilineage dysplasia or excess of blasts are present. However, there are few data regarding the reproducibility of MDS with unilineage dysplasia. The revised International Prognostic Scoring System R-IPSS described two new morphological categories, distinguishing bone marrow (BM) blast cell count between 0-2 % and >2- < 5 %.

Reelin sets the pace of neocortical neurogenesis.

Migration of neurons during cortical development is often assumed to rely on purely post-proliferative reelin signaling. However, Notch signaling, long known to regulate neural precursor formation and maintenance, is required for the effects of reelin on neuronal migration. Here, we show that reelin gain-of-function causes a higher expression of Notch target genes in radial glia and accelerates the production of both neurons and intermediate progenitor cells.

Pathogenic human L1-CAM mutations reduce the adhesion-dependent activation of EGFR.

L1-cell adhesion molecule (L1-CAM) belongs to a functionally conserved group of neural cell adhesion molecules that are implicated in many aspects of nervous system development. In many neuronal cells the adhesive function of L1-type CAMs induces cellular signaling processes that involves the activation of neuronal tyrosine protein kinases and among other functions regulates axonal growth and guidance. Mutations in the human L1-CAM gene are responsible for a complex neurodevelopmental condition, generally referred to as L1 syndrome.

Validity test study of JAK2 V617F and allele burden quantification in the diagnosis of myeloproliferative diseases.

Several sensitive methods for the detection of JAK2 V617F mutation have been published recently, most of them based on Real Time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, only some of them have performed studies of diagnostic validity. This study compares three methods based on Real Time PCR to detect JAK2 V617F mutation: two based on hybridization probes (HP) and peptide nucleic acid probe (PNA) and a third employing allele specific oligonucleotide primers for JAK2 V617F quantification.

Genetic analysis of an overlapping functional requirement for L1- and NCAM-type proteins during sensory axon guidance in Drosophila.

L1- and NCAM-type cell adhesion molecules represent distinct protein families that function as specific receptors for different axon guidance cues. However, both L1 and NCAM proteins promote axonal growth by inducing neuronal tyrosine kinase activity and are coexpressed in subsets of axon tracts in arthropods and vertebrates. We have studied the functional requirements for the Drosophila L1- and NCAM-type proteins, Neuroglian (Nrg) and Fasciclin II (FasII), during postembryonic sensory axon guidance.

Activation of EGF receptor kinase by L1-mediated homophilic cell interactions.

Neural cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are important players during neurogenesis and neurite outgrowth as well as axonal fasciculation and pathfinding. Some of these developmental processes entail the activation of cellular signaling cascades. Pharmacological and genetic evidence indicates that the neurite outgrowth-promoting activity of L1-type CAMs is at least in part mediated by the stimulation of neuronal receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), especially FGF and EGF receptors.

[Cytogenetic risk categories in acute myeloid leukemia: a comparison between MRC (Medical Research Council) and SWOG (Southwest Oncology Group) models)].

Background And Objective: Classification of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) based on karyotype provides an important tool for therapy selection. There are two standardized criteria for the classification of patients into groups of cytogenetic risk. One of them was established by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and the other by the US Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG).

Tandem transplants with different high-dose regimens improve the complete remission rates in multiple myeloma. Results of a Grupo Español de Síndromes Linfoproliferativos/Trasplante Autólogo de Médula Osea phase II trial.

Between 1994 and 1999, 88 multiple myeloma (MM) patients were included in a phase II study to evaluate a tandem autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) programme. The first was conditioned with melphalan 200 mg/m2 (MEL200-ASCT1), and the second with cyclophosphamide, etoposide and BCNU (CBV-ASCT2). All patients were in response after MEL200-ASCT1.