Prognostic significance of mutation profile at diagnosis and mutation persistence during disease remission in adult acute myeloid leukaemia patients.

In this multi-centre study, we analysed the prognostic impact of mutations in 19 genes associated with myeloid malignancies in 258 newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia patients (aged 19-70 years) undergoing intensive therapy. We identified five patient groups with different prognostic risks and different benefits from allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) within the intermediate cytogenetic risk group patients (n = 184). The most adverse prognosis was observed in patients with DNMT3A and FLT3-ITD co-mutation, whose survival could be significantly improved with alloHSCT.

The influence of mutational status and biological characteristics of acute myeloid leukemia on xenotransplantation outcomes in NOD SCID gamma mice.

Purpose: This study aimed at analyzing the association of gene mutations and other acute myeloid leukemia (AML) characteristics with engraftment outcomes in immunodeficient mice and to select the engraftment outcomes that best reflect patient survival.

Methods: Mutations in 19 genes as well as leukemia- and patient-related characteristics were analyzed for a group of 47 de novo AML samples with respect to three engraftment outcomes: engraftment ability, engraftment intensity (percentage of hCD45 cells) and engraftment latency. Leukemia-related characteristics were additionally analyzed in an extended group of 68 samples that included the 47 de novo samples, and additional 21 samples from refractory and relapsed cases.

[Molecular Genetic Testing for Acute Myeloid Leukemia].

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clinically complex and very heterogeneous disease at the molecular level. Conventional cytogenetic analysis and FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) tests provide important information about the biological and clinical background of the disease and enable the classification of AML patients into three risk groups. However, up to half of patients have normal cytogenetics.

[The incidence of Streptococcus pneumonia strains with resistance to penicillin].

In the submitted paper the authors give an account of the incidence of 10 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae resistant to penicillin and other antibacterial substances in children under one year. In the majority otitis media was involved (8 x), in one instance with septic manifestations and detection of pneumococci also from the haemoculture. From a total number of 580 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from the end of 1986 to the first half of 1988 the ratio of penicillin resistant strains was 1.

The immune profile of contact allergy patients.

Nonspecific parameters of antibody-related and cellular immune responses were studied in a group of 30 patients treated for manifest contact allergy to metals (chromium, cobalt, nickel) or non-metals (epoxy resin, rubber) confirmed in each of them by specific patch test positivity. In addition, every patient was tested for the pattern of skin reactivity to the Immunoskintest (USOL, Prague) antigens administered intradermally. The group of 20 metal allergy patients had decreased suppressor index values, enhanced formation of immediate active rosettes and an elevation of serum IgM and IgA immunoglobulins.

Adjuvant activity of muramyldipeptide in a guinea pig model of contact allergy to chromium.

New chemical agents encountered increasingly in the human environment underline the urgent need for a routine testing of their sensitizing potential for man and the development of a suitable experimental model appears to be essential for a reliable assessment of this potential. In our present experiment we studied a guinea pig model of contact hypersensitivity to chromium using as immunoadjuvants Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) and Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA) emulsified with muramyldipeptide. The study showed that the use of adjuvants was essential for inducing the state of hypersensitivity in experimental animals.

Experimental skin sensitization in guinea pigs verified by the skin test and the lymphocyte migration inhibition test.

The sensitization properties of a number of chemicals were estimated on experimental models, using white female guinea pigs. Sensitization as effected in four ways a) intradermal application jointly with Freund's complete adjuvants (FCA), b) repeated epicutaneous applications together with FCA intradermally, c) a single intradermal application of the tested substance to the ear lobe, d) a single injection of the substance together with FCA into the paws. The results were evaluated with the skin test (ST) and in vitro with the macrophage migration inhibition test (MIT).

[Dermatomycosis of the nilgai antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus) caused by the dermatophyte trichophyton mentagrophytes].

The authors described a dermal lesion in seven antelopes of the species Boselaphus tragocamelus (Pallas 1776), kept in a zoo-park. Mycological examination revealed the dermatophyte Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Robin) Blanchard 1896 as the causative agent of the lesion. The clinical picture of the dermatophytosis was manifested by a non-inflammatory desquamation of the epidermis with focal hair shedding.