Relapse of TEL-AML1--positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood: a matched-pair analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether, in relapsed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the frequent genetic feature of TEL-AML1 fusion resulting from the cryptic chromosomal translocation t(12;21)(p13;q22) is an independent risk factor.

Patients And Methods: A matched-pair analysis was performed within a homogeneous group of children with first relapse of BCR-ABL-negative B-cell precursor (BPC) ALL treated according to relapse trials ALL-Rezidiv (REZ) of the Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster Study Group. A total of 249 patients were eligible for this study: 53 (21%) were positive for TEL-AML1, and 196 (79%) were negative.

Gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography of the breast: is breast cancer associated with ipsilateral higher vascularity?

The aim of this study was to assess a possible association between breast malignancy and ipsilateral higher vascularity on gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography. One hundred six patients were examined by dynamic gadolinium-enhanced 3D MR imaging. Magnetic resonance angiographic views were generated by image subtraction and maximum intensity projection.

Adhesion molecules in different treatments of acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Tissue damage after ischemia and reperfusion involves leukocyte endothelial interactions mediated by cell adhesion molecules. This study was designed to determine the time course of soluble adhesion molecules in patients with acute myocardial infarction after attempted reperfusion by thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or streptokinase (SK), or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).

Methods: In 3 x 10 randomly selected patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing thrombolysis with tPA or SK, or treated with PTCA, plasma concentrations of soluble L-selectin, P-selectin, E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, 30 min and 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours after intervention.

Toll-like receptor-2 mediates Treponema glycolipid and lipoteichoic acid-induced NF-kappaB translocation.

Recently Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been found to be involved in cellular activation by microbial products, including lipopolysaccharide, lipoproteins, and peptidoglycan. Although for these ligands the specific transmembrane signal transducers TLR-4, TLR-2, or TLR-2 and -6 have now been identified, the molecular basis of recognition of lipoteichoic acids (LTAs) and related glycolipids has not been completely understood. In order to determine the role of TLRs in immune cell activation by these stimuli, experiments involving TLR-2-negative cell lines, TLR-expression plasmids, macrophages from TLR-4-deficient C3H/HeJ-mice, and inhibitory TLR-4/MD-2 antibodies were performed.

Specific reverse transcription-PCR quantification of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) splice variants by LightCycler technology.

Background: Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is associated with increased angiogenesis, growth and invasion in solid tumors, and hematologic malignancies. The expression of isoforms of VEGF, which mediate different effects, can be discriminated by splice-variant-specific quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), but current methods have only modest sensitivity and precision and suffer from heteroduplex formation.

Methods: We used a real-time RT-PCR assay on the LightCycler system.

Expression analysis and characterization of alternatively spliced transcripts of human IL-7Ralpha chain encoding two truncated receptor proteins in relapsed childhood all.

In the family of cytokines and cytokine receptors, alternative splicing of pre-mRNA is a frequently observed process that generates different protein isoforms from a single genetic locus. The splicing-derived cytokine receptor protein isoforms are mostly soluble receptors or show alterations in their cytoplasmic domain. It is possible that receptor abnormalities or a pathological ratio of different isoforms may contribute to leukaemia by circumventing normal growth factor control or altering the balance of proliferation and differentiation.

Feasibility and analysis of thermal parameters for the whole-body-hyperthermia system IRATHERM-2000.

The infrared system IRATHERM-2000, with water-filtered infrared A wavelength underwent 20 treatments of whole body hyperthermia in conjunction with chemotherapy. In all the sessions, the aimed systemic temperature (41.8 degrees C, maximum 42.

Electron microscopic and functional aspects of the human vomeronasal organ.

The vomeronasal organ or Jacobson's organ is essential for pheromone detection and reproductive behavior in most mammals. The purpose of this article is to describe the fine structure of the adult human vomeronasal organ in 14 specimens and to discuss functional aspects. Our studies show a duct-like invagination of the epithelium, surrounded by numerous exocrine glands with short ducts; their fine structure suggests serous secretion.

Circulating L-selectin concentrations in children with recent-onset IDDM.

To clarify conflicting claims of altered serum concentrations of soluble L-selectin (sCD62L) in recent-onset IDDM, sCD62L was measured in 89 children and adolescents with IDDM (35 recent-onset, 12 during the first year of insulin treatment, and 42 with long-standing (> 1 yr) treatment) alongside 124 controls. Children < 14 yr of age both with and without IDDM (n = 160) had grossly elevated sCD62L concentrations (20.2 +/- 4.

Phenylketonuria and hyperphenylalaninemia in eastern Germany: a characteristic molecular profile and 15 novel mutations.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an important error of amino acid metabolism which results in most patients from phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency. PKU displays a marked genotypic heterogeneity both within and between different populations. The aim of this study was to establish the genotypic spectrum of PKU in eastern Germany, and to compare this to the distribution of mutations in western Germany.

L-selectin in trauma patients: a marker for organ dysfunction and outcome?

Background: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) are important factors affecting morbidity and mortality after trauma. Adhesion molecules, e.g.

Whole body hyperthermia: a secure procedure for patients with various malignancies?

Objective: To establish the safety of systemic Cancer Multistep Therapy (sCMT) including whole body hyperthermia, by means of hemodynamic, laboratory and clinical investigations.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: University clinic.

Neurofibromatosis 1 associated with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder.

A 10-month-old boy presented with a 6-week history of abdominal pain. The pain was due to a large, stage IV embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder. The rhabdomyosarcoma was found in association with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) manifesting multiple café au lait spots and bowing of the right calf.