Postanal sinus: single or different etiologies?

Experience with five patients who presented with a postanal sinus (PAS), all of which appeared to have a similar etiology at first hand, is reviewed. All patients were female and presented with a perianal fistula located in the midline posterior to the anus between the internal and external sphincter. All patients had a similar history and age at presentation (the 1st decade of life), which increased our assumption of a similar etiology.

Hematopoietic malignancies demonstrate loss-of-function mutations of BAX.

The BCL-2 gene family regulates the susceptibility to apoptotic cell death in many cell types during embryonic development and normal tissue homeostasis. Deregulated expression of anti-apoptotic BCL-2 can be a primary aberration that promotes malignancy and also confers resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Recently, studies of Bax-deficient mice have indicated that the pro-apoptotic BAX molecule can function as a tumor suppressor.

t(14;18), a journey to eternity.

The t(14;18) is the most frequent chromosomal aberration observed in follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and less frequently in diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL). The t(14;18) does not affect overall survival in follicular NHL or DLCL. It provides a unique lymphoma-specific marker that can be used to quantify residual disease during treatment, and may forward evaluation of new treatment protocols.

New type of t(14;18) in a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma provides insight in molecular events in early B-cell differentiation.

In this report a follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) carrying an unusual t(14;18) is described. This translocation most likely occurred during the VH to D-JH rearrangement process of the IgH locus. From the data combined with data from the literature we conclude that the chance for development of a t(14;18) decreases during progression of the immunoglobulin rearrangement process in the pre-B-cell ontogeny.

Bax mutations in cell lines derived from hematological malignancies.

Many genes are involved in cell cycle control, DNA repair and induction of cell death. Alterations in these genes have been responsible for the development of cancer as well as for resistance to cancer therapy. Recently, an emerging family of bcl2-like genes has been identified that plays a role in the regulation of cell death.

Echo-Doppler diagnosis of renal allograft artery stenosis.

For the diagnosis of allograft artery stenosis in recipients of a renal transplant with hypertension a noninvasive investigation such as echo-Doppler is preferable to invasive methods such as angiography. Therefore we analyzed our experience with echo-Doppler diagnosis of renal allograft artery stenosis. In 131 renal transplant recipients with hypertension echo-Doppler examinations were performed.

Fetal behaviour in uncomplicated pregnancies after 41 weeks of gestation.

The development of fetal behaviour and of fetal behavioural states (FBS) has been well defined in preterm and term fetuses. However, FBS have not yet been studied after term, although this is a potentially very dangerous period and clinical management is controversial. We investigated fetal behaviour in normal pregnancies after 41 weeks of gestation (287 days, menstrual age, GA) as compared to control term fetuses.

Doppler spectrum analysis to diagnose rejection during posttransplant acute renal failure.

During posttransplant acute renal failure (ARF), the diagnosis of allograft rejection constitutes a major problem. We evaluated the value of Doppler ultrasonography in identifying grafts at risk of rejection during ARF. In 184 recipients of a renal allograft, Doppler examinations were performed on the first and fifth postoperative day.

Quantitation of follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cells carrying t(14;18) in a patient before and after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Background: A competitive PCR method was developed, enabling accurate quantitation of residual lymphoma cells carrying the t(14;18) in blood and bone marrow samples of follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients during treatment.

Patients And Methods: A patient with residual lymphoma cells received an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Since BMT, the patient has been in continuing clinical complete remission.

The tolerability of continuous intravenous infusion of interleukin-3 after DHAP chemotherapy in patients with relapsed malignant lymphoma. A phase-I study.

The objective of this phase-I study was to establish the maximum tolerable dose of recombinant human interleukin-3 (rhIL-3) after salvage chemotherapy in patients with malignant lymphoma. Twenty-one patients with relapsed Hodgkin's disease or intermediate/high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma received rhIL-3 after the second cycle of DHAP chemotherapy (cisplatin, cytosine-arabinoside, dexamethasone). Cycles 1 and 3 were given without rhIL-3.

Iliac artery stenosis after kidney transplantation.

In human kidney transplantation hypertension and renal dysfunction are common complications. Diagnosis of vascular involvement may frequently be necessary. Although iliac artery stenosis is a rare complication after renal transplantation, it can be the cause of hypertension and renal dysfunction.

Quantitation of follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cells carrying t(14;18) by competitive polymerase chain reaction.

A competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was developed to quantify residual malignant cells in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of patients with low-grade follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma carrying a translocation between chromosomes 14 and 18. Artificial segments were constructed imitating a translocation between chromosome 14 and 18. These artificial translocation segments were used as competitor molecules in the quantitative PCR.

The intercostal-to-phrenic-inhibitory reflex (IPIR) in normal and intra-uterine growth-retarded (IUGR) human fetuses from 26 to 40 weeks of gestation.

The existence of an IPIR in the healthy fetus between 37 and 40 weeks of gestation has already been demonstrated: compression of the fetal thoracic wall during an epoch of fetal breathing movements (FBM) consistently caused a fetal apnea (> or = 4 s). The apnea durations were similar in fetal behavioural states 1F and 2F, with a wide inter- and intrafetal variability. We therefore hypothesized that the duration of the IPIR-apnea would increase during gestation and would be increased in IUGR-fetuses as compared to healthy fetuses of the same age.

Haemodynamic changes in human kidney allografts following administration of nifedipine: assessment with Doppler spectrum analysis.

Cyclosporin (CyA) has been demonstrated to increase the vascular resistance of renal allografts (RVR), whereas calcium channel blocking agents like nifedipine may counteract this effect. In this study RVR was calculated from renal blood flow (RBF), measured by the clearance of para-aminohippurate (PAH), and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Analysis of Doppler spectra obtained under ultrasonographic guidance was used as a non-invasive method of assessing renal haemodynamics.

Adverse reactions to co-trimoxazole in HIV infection.

The origin of the increased frequency of side-effects to co-trimoxazole in HIV-positive patients is unknown. Data on plasma concentrations of the parent compounds are inconclusive. Evidence points to the hydroxylamine derivatives of sulphamethoxazole as the reactive metabolites that cause adverse reactions to co-trimoxazole.

The use of the internal mammary artery for myocardial revascularisation in patients 70 years of age and older. Does it complicate the early post-operative period?

In the last years common agreement has been reached that the internal mammary artery (IMA) is the conduit of choice for elective myocardial revasculariation. This trend has been stimulated by the long-term patency of the IMA grafts and the better long-term survival. However, with the increase in life-expectancy, an increasing number of elderly patients is referred for coronary artery bypass grafting.