Follicular lymphoma grade 3B includes 3 cytogenetically defined subgroups with primary t(14;18), 3q27, or other translocations: t(14;18) and 3q27 are mutually exclusive.

Chromosomal translocations involving t(14;18)(q32;q21) and the chromosome 3q27 region are common in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma of germinal center cell origin. Grade 3B follicular lymphoma (FL), consisting almost exclusively of centroblasts, is a distinct subgroup of follicular lymphomas that has more in common clinically with the aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphomas than with their indolent FL grade 1 and 2 counterparts. We studied the cytogenetic and molecular genetic aberrations by classic cytogenetics, polymerase chain reaction, Southern blot hybridization, and fluorescence in situ hybridization, with special emphasis on t(14;18), affecting bcl-2, and 3q27 rearrangement, affecting bcl-6, in 32 cases of FL grade 3B.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids from Senecio jacobaea affect fungal growth.

We investigated the growth-reducing effects of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) from Senecio jacobaea on nine plant-associated fungi (five strains of Fusarium oxysporum, two of F. sambucinum, and two of Trichoderma sp). Fungal growth was monitored on water agar media containing different concentrations of monocrotaline, retrorsine, or a purified extract of PAs from S.

Epidural anaesthesia in a child with possible spinal muscular atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare lower motor neurone disease in which anaesthetic management is often difficult as a result of muscle weakness and hypersensitivity to neuromuscular blocking agents. Neuraxial anaesthesia is controversial in these patients; however, some cases have been reported in which neuraxial anaesthesia has been used without neurological sequelae. We describe a 7-year-old patient with possible SMA scheduled for a Grice-arthrodesis.

Lack of cell-cycle specific effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on tumor cells in vitro: implications for combination tumor therapy with doxorubicin.

Addition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) to chemotherapy enhances tumor response in several treatment modalities. However, it has been shown that TNF-alpha, and several other cytokines, exert inhibitory effects on cell-cycle progression and by doing so may attenuate sensitivity of these cells to cell-cycle dependent cytotoxic drugs (e.g.

Infantile and adult testicular germ cell tumors. a different pathogenesis?

Most adult testicular germ cell tumors have a characteristic chromosomal abnormality that is an isochromosome 12p [i(12p)]. Furthermore, these tumors are characterized by a chromosome number in the triploid range and gains and losses of (parts of) specific chromosomes. Cytogenetic investigation of three cases of infantile testicular germ cell tumors, all diagnosed as yolk sac tumors, revealed highly abnormal karyotypes.

Allelic gains and losses in distinct regions of chromosome 6 in gastric carcinoma.

In gastric cancer, alterations in the long arm of chromosome 6 are a frequent event. Two regions of heterozygous loss have been described: 6q16.3-6q23 and 6q26-6q27.

Malnutrition, measles, mortality, and the humanitarian response during a famine in Ehiopia.

Context: The World Food Programme estimated that 10 million people were at risk of starvation in Ethiopia in 2000 but later reported that a famine had been averted. However, no population-based data on mortality or nutrition existed for Gode district, at the epicenter of the famine in the Somali region of Ethiopia.

Objectives: To estimate mortality rates, determine the major causes of death, and estimate the prevalence of malnutrition among children and adults for the population of Gode district.

Two unbalanced segregation products due to a maternal t(7;16)inv(16).

We report a prenatal case of a maternally inherited abnormal chromosome 16, originally interpreted as a pericentric inversion only, but after family studies re-interpreted as a pericentric inversion (16) accompanied by an unbalanced (7;16) translocation. Because of the inversion 16 and an elder son with developmental delay and craniofacial dysmorphic features, in the past karyotyped as 46,XY, the chromosomes 16 of the mother and son were carefully re-examined. Using a whole chromosome 16 paint and sub-telomere probes of 16p and 16q, the karyotype of the mother was shown to be 46,XX,inv(16)(p11.

Diagnosis and epidemiology of Trichinella infections in wildlife in The Netherlands.

Trichinella infections in foxes and wild boars were studied to determine the prevalence of infection in wildlife in the Netherlands. Muscles of 429 forelegs of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and diaphragms of 11 wild boars (Sus scrofa) were artificially digested. Single larvae of Trichinella were identified at species level using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD-PCR).

Cardiac gap junction channels: modulation of expression and channel properties.

In the heart, intercellular gap junction channels constructed from connexin molecules are crucial for conduction of the electric impulse. Cardiomyocytes can be interconnected by channels composed of three types of connexin proteins: Cx40, Cx43 or Cx45. In mammalian hearts, these three isoforms are regionally differently expressed and even between the species differences exist.

Estimating the uncertainty of stability for matrix CRMs.

The new version of ISO Guide 34 requires producers of certified reference materials (CRMs) to include contributions of possible instability to the overall CRM uncertainty, to obtain a value for the uncertainty in compliance with the Guide to the Expression of the Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM). A pragmatic approach to estimating the uncertainty of stability is presented. It relies on regression analysis of stability data with subsequent testing of the slope of the regression line for significance.

Estimation of the uncertainty of CRMs in accordance with GUM: application to the certification of four enzyme CRMs.

Uncertainties of four enzyme-CRMs that have recently been certified in a co-operation between the IRMM and the International Federation for Clinical Chemistry were estimated. Estimation was based on the sum of the uncertainties of characterization, homogeneity and stability. Data from the certification collaborative study were used to estimate laboratory uncertainties, which form the basis for the uncertainty of characterization.

An IL-13 promoter polymorphism associated with increased risk of allergic asthma.

IL-13 plays a crucial role in the development of allergic asthma by several mechanisms, including induction of IgE antibodies, airway eosinophilia and hyper-reactivity. We previously established a deregulated production of IL-13 by T cells from allergic asthma patients. In this report we describe the identification of a novel IL-13 promoter polymorphism (C to T exchange) at position -1055.

An overview on the use of TNF-alpha: our experience with regional administration and developments towards new opportunities for systemic application.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is a multifunctional cytokine and its potential as antitumor agent has been extensively investigated for the treatment of cancer: Initial enthusiasm was tempered when systemic treatment with TNF-alpha was found to cause severe toxic side effects in phase I/II studies. Other applications were sought and a revival of the drug was its application in combination with the cytotoxic drug melphalan in isolated limb perfusion (ILP). Here we discuss the pre-clinical and clinical studies which led to the success in treatment of patients with irresectable extremity soft tissue sarcoma and multiple melanoma in-transit metastases confined to the limb.

Paenibacillus granivorans sp. nov., a new Paenibacillus species which degrades native potato starch granules.

From a native potato starch-degrading enrichment culture, strain A30 had been isolated and had tentatively been identified as a member of the Bacillus firmus/lentus group (Wijbenga et al. Appl. Microbiol.

Low-dose tumor necrosis factor-alpha augments antitumor activity of stealth liposomal doxorubicin (DOXIL) in soft tissue sarcoma-bearing rats.

It has previously been demonstrated in the setting of an isolated limb perfusion that application of high-dose TNF-alpha in combination with chemotherapy (melphalan, doxorubicin) results in strong synergistic antitumor effects in both the clinical and preclinical settings. In this study, we demonstrate that systemic administration of low-dose TNF-alpha augments the antitumor activity of a liposomal formulation of doxorubicin (DOXIL(R)). Addition of TNF-alpha to a DOXIL(R) regimen, which by itself induced some tumor growth delay, resulted in massive necrosis and regression of tumors.

Deletion of the multidrug resistance protein MRP1 gene in acute myeloid leukemia: the impact on MRP activity.

Deletion of the multidrug resistance gene MRP1 has been demonstrated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with inversion of chromosome 16 (inv[16]). These AML patients are known to have a relatively favorable prognosis, which suggests that MRP1 might play an important role in determining clinical outcome. This study analyzed MRP1 deletion by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), with a focus on inv(16) AML patients.

TNF-alpha augments intratumoural concentrations of doxorubicin in TNF-alpha-based isolated limb perfusion in rat sarcoma models and enhances anti-tumour effects.

We have shown previously that isolated limb perfusion (ILP) in sarcoma-bearing rats results in high response rates when melphalan is used in combination with tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). This is in line with observations in patients. Here we show that ILP with doxorubicin in combination with TNF-alpha has comparable effects in two different rat sarcoma tumour models.

An evolutionary rearrangement of the Xp11.3-11.23 region in 3p21.3, a region frequently deleted in a variety of cancers.

In searching for a tumor suppressor gene in the 3p21.3 region, we isolated two genes, RBM5 and RBM6. Sequence analysis indicated that these genes share similarity.

Tetrasomy 9p due to an intrachromosomal triplication of 9p13-p22.

To date, approximately 30 patients have been described with a tetrasomy 9p, all being caused by the presence of an isochromosome 9p. We now report on a 3-year-old boy with a de novo intrachromosomal triplication of 9p13-p22, resulting in partial tetrasomy 9p. We compared his phenotype with cases of tetrasomy 9p caused by the presence of an extra isochromosome 9p.

The smallest detectable difference of mandibular function impairment in patients with a painfully restricted temporomandibular joint.

Mandibular functions such as speech, laughing, yawning, mastication, and taking a large bite may be impaired if temporomandibular disorders exist. The Mandibular Function Impairement Questionnaire is a validated instrument that scores perceived difficulty of representative mandibular functions in relation to jaw complaints. However, the reliability of the Mandibular Function Impairment Questionnaire has never been adequately tested.

Loss of the Y-chromosome in the primary metastasis of a male sex cord stromal tumor: pathogenetic implications.

The first published chromosomal pattern of the retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis of a malignant gonadal stroma cell tumor of the adult testis is presented. Karyotyping showed structural chromosomal abnormalities and loss of the Y-chromosome. This loss was confirmed in primary tumor and metastasis using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Photodynamic sterilization of red cells and its effect on contaminating white cells: viability and mechanism of cell death.

Background: Phthalocyanines are useful sensitizers for photodynamic sterilization of red cell concentrates. Various lipid-enveloped viruses can be inactivated with only limited red cell damage. Because white cells are involved in the immunomodulatory effects of blood transfusions, the study of the effect of photodynamic treatment on these cells is imperative.