Rubella vaccine-induced granulomas are a novel phenotype with incomplete penetrance of genetic defects in cytotoxicity.

Background: Rubella virus-induced granulomas have been described in patients with various inborn errors of immunity. Most defects impair T-cell immunity, suggesting a critical role of T cells in rubella elimination. However, the molecular mechanism of virus control remains elusive.

JAK2V617F mutation status identifies subtypes of refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts associated with marked thrombocytosis.

Background: Refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and marked thrombocytosis (RARS-T) was recently shown to be a JAK2-V617F mutation-related disorder. To determine the frequency and the prognostic significance of this mutation, we retrospectively evaluated 23 patients with platelet counts more than 600 x 10(9)/L, 15% ringed sideroblasts or more, and at least erythroid marrow dysplasia.

Design And Methods: An allele-specific polymerase chain reaction for JAK2-V617F was used to determine the allelic ratio of the mutated JAK2 allele in DNA samples extracted from bone marrow biopsies.

The Ki67+ proliferation index correlates with increased cellular retinol-binding protein-1 and the coordinated loss of plakophilin-1 and desmoplakin during progression of cervical squamous lesions.

Aims: To investigate the modulation of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP)-1 and the desmosomal plaque proteins plakophilin (PKP)-1 and desmoplakin (DP) in correlation with the Ki67+ proliferation index (PI) during the progression of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: Using in situ imaging by brightfield and confocal laser scanning microscopy, the expression of CRBP-1 protein and transcripts, PKP-1, DP and the Ki67 PI were analysed in 38 low-grade (L) SIL, 56 high-grade (H) SIL, 49 SCC, 30 control cervices and 10 human papillomavirus-positive condylomatous lesions.

Results: CRBP-1+ cells increased from 11.

Coordinated expression of cyclin D1 and LEF-1/TCF transcription factor is restricted to a subset of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: While the Wnt pathway has been widely implicated in hepatocarcinogenesis, the role of cyclin D1 as a direct downstream target gene of beta-catenin-lymphoid enhancer factor-1 (LEF-1)/T-cell factor (TCF) signaling is controversely discussed.

Methods: By immunohistochemical analyses we studied the subcellular localization of LEF-1/TCF and cyclin D1 in 162 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Single- and double-label imaging by brightfield and confocal laser scanning microscopy was quantitated and correlated with beta-catenin, the Ki67(+) proliferation fraction (PF), tumor size, grade, the Okuda stage and patient survival.