mdm-2 oncogene expression in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

The mdm-2 protein is a 90-kD protein that forms a complex with the p53 protein, enabling cells from some human neoplasms to overcome the growth-suppressing activity of p53. Most non-Hodgkin's lymphomas lack p53 mutations, and the mechanism of inactivation of tumor suppressive function remains obscure. To assess the role of mdm-2 in lymphomagenesis, 22 cases were evaluated for mdm-2 gene amplification or rearrangement in Southern blots.

p53 in lymphomas of mucosal-associated lymphoid tissues.

Lymphomas of mucosal-associated lymphoid tissues (MALT) constitute a distinct clinicopathologic entity comprised of centrocyte-like cells with a characteristic morphologic appearance and immunophenotype. The origin of these cells is still undetermined, although evidence suggests that they might derive from marginal zone lymphocytes present in normal lymph nodes and spleens. Recently, marginal zone lymphomas have been shown to have a high rate of p53 mutation.

Expression of p13MTCP1 is restricted to mature T-cell proliferations with t(X;14) translocations.

T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL), a rare form of mature T-cell leukemias, and ataxia telangiectasia clonal proliferation, a related condition occurring in patients suffering from ataxia telangiectasia, have been associated to translocations involving the 14q32.1 or Xq28 regions, where are located the TCL1 and MTCP1 putative oncogenes, respectively. The MTCP1 gene is involved in the t(X;14)(q28;q11) translocation associated with these T-cell proliferations.

[Difference in costs of autologous transplantation of peripheral and bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells. A retrospective analysis over 1 year of transplantation in lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma in a Center].

The study analysed the financial benefits of transplantation with peripheral blood stem-cells primed after chemotherapy and growth factor in comparison with bone marrow transplantation. Twenty-three consecutive transplantations were performed during one year: 14 peripheral blood stem-cell (CSC group) and 9 bone marrow transplantations (MO group). No differences in patients characteristics were seen between the two groups except for higher number of "BEAM" conditioning in CSC group.

[Gastric protein loss and alcoholic cirrhosis. Study by measurement of gastric clearance of alpha 1-antitrypsin].

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess gastric protein loss in alcoholic cirrhotic patients, and to determine its role in the low serum albumin levels frequently observed in these patients.

Methods: Twenty-six alcoholic cirrhotic patients with ascites and serum albumin levels < 30 g/L were studied and compared to 6 healthy volunteers. Gastric protein loss was determined by measuring gastric clearance of alpha 1-antitrypsin.

[Prognostic indicators in patients with liver cirrhosis admitted to an intensive care unit].

Objectives: Assessment of prognosis in patients with cirrhosis admitted to an Intensive Care Unit remains unsatisfactory. The aims of this retrospective study were to determine the survival rates of patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit, and to identify and validate prognostic indicators associated with a high mortality rate.

Methods: Two hundred and forty three patients with cirrhosis consecutively admitted to the Intensive Care Unit were studied.

Paclitaxel (Taxol) in relapsed and refractory ovarian cancer: the UK and Eire experience.

The purpose of our study was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of paclitaxel in patients with relapsed or refractory epithelial ovarian cancer in the context of a large multicentre study performed in the UK and Eire. Patients with previously treated epithelial carcinoma of the ovary or fallopian tube who fulfilled the eligibility criteria were entered in the study. Eligibility criteria included: measurable or evaluable disease; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2; up to three prior chemotherapy regimens, one of which had to contain a platinum agent; adequate haematological, renal and hepatic function; and no significant cardiac history.

[Ganglioneuroma of the mediastinum. Apropos of a case].

The authors report a case of a large ganglioneurinoma located in the mediastinum. The clinical course of this rare benign neurogenic tumour of the posterior mediastinum includes a low risk of medullary compression. The treatment is surgical resection.

Liver disease from surreptitious administration of urethane.

We report subacute necrosis, peliosis hepatis, venoocclusive disease and hepatic angiosarcoma after long-term administration of urethane. We take this to be the 12th case of urethane-induced hepatitis and the first associated with vascular liver tumor.

Click-evoked otoacoustic emissions and hearing threshold in sensorineural hearing loss.

The influence of hearing loss on the click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) were studied in 931 ears. The EOAEs were never found when hearing loss on the best hearing frequency was above 40 dB HL. The presence of EOAEs reflects the hearing threshold at the best hearing frequency, not only at the middle frequencies.

Emergency liver transplantation for acute liver failure. Evaluation of London and Clichy criteria.

Two sets of prognostic indicators were recently proposed for selection of patients with acute liver failure for emergency liver transplantation. According to the London criteria, patients with non-paracetamol-induced acute liver failure should be referred for liver transplantation when the prothrombin time is > 100 s or when any three of the following prognostic indicators are present: age < 10 or > 40 yr; non-A, non-B hepatitis, halothane hepatitis or idiosyncratic drug reaction; duration of jaundice before onset of encephalopathy > 7 days; prothrombin time > 50 s; serum bilirubin > 300 mumol/l. According to the Clichy criteria, in acute viral hepatitis, liver transplantation should be decided in patients with coma or confusion, and Factor V < 20% (age < 30 yr) or < 30% (age > 30 yr).

[Bronchial cancer with normal thoracic image discovered by endoscopy. Apropos of 11 cases].

The authors report about eleven cases, distributed over four years, of bronchial cancers with a normal thoracic image that were discovered on bronchial endoscopy. In this context, they sum up the limitations of medical imaging, the undisputed merits of bronchial endoscopy, and the major epidemiological and therapeutic features of this clinical form of bronchial cancer.