Low frequency of FAS mutations in Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells, the neoplastic elements of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), usually lack B-cell receptor expression. Normal germinal center B cells, with lack of or low-affinity B-cell receptor expression, are eliminated via FAS-induced apoptosis. RS cells express FAS, but are rescued from apoptosis by a transforming event.

The added value of embryo cryopreservation to cumulative ongoing pregnancy rates per IVF treatment: is cryopreservation worth the effort?

Purpose: To calculate the added benefit of a cryopreservation program to the cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate over a maximum of three cycles of IVF.

Methods: A total of 1251 couples beginning their first IVF treatment between January 1995 and December 1999 were evaluated. Ongoing pregnancies from fresh and subsequent cryopreserved embryo transfer cycles were analyzed.

Microarray analysis of bone morphogenetic protein, transforming growth factor beta, and activin early response genes during osteoblastic cell differentiation.

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 2, a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF) beta family, is a potent regulator of osteoblast differentiation. In addition, both TGF-beta and activin A can either induce bone formation or inhibit bone formation depending on cell type and differentiation status. Although much is known about the receptors and intracellular second messengers involved in the action of TGF-beta family members, little is known about how selectivity in the biological response of individual family members is controlled.

[The possible suppression of Alzheimer's disease by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs].

Ever since inflammatory mediators were detected in and around amyloid plaques in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease, there has been great interest in the inflammatory hypothesis and the possibility of treating Alzheimer's disease with anti-inflammatory drugs. Various epidemiological studies have now demonstrated that the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is indeed associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The effect of NSAIDs in Alzheimer's disease is probably mediated by activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma.

Gastric lymphoma: the revolution of the past decade.

Background: Gastric MALT type lymphomas are distinct lymphomas that may develop after chronic antigenic stimulation caused by infection with Helicobacter pylori. An early antigen-dependent phase precedes the development of an antigen-independent phase.

Methods: Narrative review.

Genomic deletions of MSH2 and MLH1 in colorectal cancer families detected by a novel mutation detection approach.

Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer is an autosomal dominant condition due to germline mutations in DNA-mismatch-repair genes, in particular MLH1, MSH2 and MSH6. Here we describe the application of a novel technique for the detection of genomic deletions in MLH1 and MSH2. This method, called multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, is a quantitative multiplex PCR approach to determine the relative copy number of each MLH1 and MSH2 exon.

Exposure of procoagulant phospholipids on the surface of platelets in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass using non-coated and heparin-coated extracorporeal circuits.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with a generalized hemostatic defect, in which platelet dysfunction seems to play a central role. The present study was designed to elucidate whether the potential procoagulant activity of platelets, detected as annexin V binding, was altered during coronary bypass surgery, using non-coated and heparin-coated extracorporeal circuits. Thirty patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting were prospectively randomized using either a standard untreated extracorporeal circuit (n = 15) or a heparin-treated extracorporeal circuit (n=15).

Corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis: does it occur in patients with Crohn's disease?

Objective: In Crohn's disease, osteoporosis is frequently found. However, the etiology of osteoporosis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine disease-related variables predictive for impaired bone mineral density (BMD).

Probing the energy landscape of protein folding/unfolding transition states.

Previous molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the thermal denaturation of chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 (CI2) have provided atomic-resolution models of the transition state ensemble that is well supported by experimental studies. Here, we use simulations to further investigate the energy landscape around the transition state region. Nine structures within approximately 35 ps and 3 A C(alpha) RMSD of the transition state ensemble identified in a previous 498 K thermal denaturation simulation were quenched under the quasi-native conditions of 335 K and neutral pH.

Phase I clinical and pharmacologic study of chronic oral administration of the farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor R115777 in advanced cancer.

Purpose: To determine the maximum-tolerated dose, toxicities, and pharmacokinetics of R115777, a farnesyl transferase inhibitor, when administered continuously via the oral route.

Patients And Methods: Patients with advanced solid malignancies were treated with R115777 using an interpatient dose escalation scheme starting at 50 mg bid. Pharmacokinetics were assessed on days 1, 28, and 56.

The oxygen debt during routine cardiac surgery: illusion or reality?

Background: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are often thought to have tissue hypoxia and intraoperative oxygen debt accumulation despite the lack of sufficient data to support this assumption.

Methods And Results: Oxygen uptake and related parameters, including the plasma lactate and pyruvate concentrations, were studied during the perioperative period in a group of 15 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The actual oxygen uptake (VO2) and delivery (DO2) were compared with the individual expected (computed) oxygen transport values.

Adenoviral transfer of murine oncostatin M elicits periosteal bone apposition in knee joints of mice, despite synovial inflammation and up-regulated expression of interleukin-6 and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand.

Oncostatin M (OSM) has been described as a bone-remodeling factor either stimulating osteoblast activity or osteoclast formation in vitro. To elucidate the in vivo effect of OSM on bone remodeling, we injected an adenoviral vector encoding murine OSM in knee joints of mice. OSM strongly induced interleukin (IL)-6 gene expression, a known mediator of osteoclast development.

T(11;18) is a marker for all stage gastric MALT lymphomas that will not respond to H. pylori eradication.

Background & Aims: Eradication of Helicobacter pylori leads to cure of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma in 75% of localized cases. However, prolonged follow-up is necessary to determine whether a lymphoma responds to therapy. In a small series of cases, we showed that t(11;18)(q21;q21)-positive MALT lymphomas failed to respond to H.

Endocrine profiles after triggering of final oocyte maturation with GnRH agonist after cotreatment with the GnRH antagonist ganirelix during ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization.

In a randomized multicenter study, the efficacies of two different GnRH agonists were compared with that of hCG for triggering final stages of oocyte maturation after ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization. Ovarian stimulation was conducted by recombinant FSH (Puregon), and the GnRH antagonist ganirelix (Orgalutran) was coadministered for the prevention of a premature LH rise. Luteal support was provided by daily progestin administration.

Germline FAS gene mutation in a case of ALPS and NLP Hodgkin lymphoma.

FAS germline mutations have been associated with the development of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS). Occurrence of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) has been reported in 2 families with ALPS. In both families an uncle of the index patient developed HL.

Transient relapses ("blips") of plasma HIV RNA levels during HAART are associated with drug resistance.

Introduction: In a large number of patients on HAART who achieved plasma HIV RNA levels below the limit of detection (50 copies/ml), transient relapses of HIV RNA levels ("blips") are observed.

Objective: To determine whether relapses of plasma HIV RNA during HAART are associated with development of drug resistance.

Methods: Plasma samples from 15 patients with a transient viral load relapse during HAART were studied.

Pseudoparasitic pneumonia after bone marrow transplantation.

We present a female patient from Somalia with an acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who received an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and developed several periods of moderate to severe pulmonary symptoms that were accompanied by pulmonary infiltrates and peripheral blood eosinophilia. After several recurrences an open lung biopsy was performed, which initially gave rise to the diagnosis parasitic infection. Later on this diagnosis was questioned and it was suggested that the structures were artifacts that might have been aspirated.

Analysis of hearing loss after shunt placement in patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus.

Object: Following shunt placement for treatment of normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), several patients suffered hearing loss. The authors undertook a study to analyze this outcome.

Methods: Sixteen patients in whom NPH was diagnosed were treated by placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

Is postoperative blood loss, loss of blood? A pilot study in cardiac surgical patients.

The effect of estimating the blood balance using changes in erythrocyte volumes (EVs) instead of the routinely used changes in haematocrit values was studied in 20 patients scheduled for cardiac surgery. We determined the mean haematocrit of the effluent from the postoperative thoracic drainage system at various time intervals. These data were used to more accurately calculate the blood balance.