Detection of cytogenetics abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia using FISH technique and their prognostic impact

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia [CLL] is a clonal lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by progressive accumulation of morphologically and immunophenotypically mature lymphocytes. Characterization of genomic aberrations may help to understand the pathogenesis of CLL and may give prognostic information independent from conventional clinical markers for a risk-adapted management of CLL patients. The aim of the present study is to determine the most common cytogenetics abnormalities between patients with CLL and its prognostic impact. The present study was carried out on 20 adult patients presented with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The patients were diagnosed on the basis of standard clinical [lymph node involvement and/or hepatosplenomegaly], hematological and immunophenotypic criteria for diagnosis of B-CLL. All cases were studied at the time of their diagnosis. FISH technique was successfully performed on PB samples using CLL LSI probes for ATM [11q22] / GLI [12q13] and 13q14/ p53 [17pl3]. For comparative statistical studies, the patients were divided into group I [patients with favorable outcome] and group II [patients with unfavorable outcome]. All patients showed one or more cytogenetic abnormality with the prevalence of p53 in 16 patients out of 20 that perfectly correlated with the poor outcome of the patients. This is followed by deletion in the 13q14 and to a lesser extent deletion in ATM gene, but no one has exhibited amplification in the 12q13 locus. p53 deletion as a sole abnormality has a higher prognostic power than other cytogenetics abnormalities. The cytogenetics study using FISH panel for CLL patients in a complementary fashion to the other clinical and laboratory findings may overcome the pitfalls in the diagnosis and may also assess the assignment of therapeutic protocols for CLL patients according to the results of their cytogenetic analysis at the time of diagnosis

Effect of subcutaneous phosphatidylcholine injection used in the treatment of localization obesity on the histological structures of human skin and subcutaneous tissue: a pilot study

Multiple clinical trials have supported the idea that subcutaneously injected phosphatidylcholine [PPC] leads to a reduction in localized fat collection. However, only a few histological studies that explain the mechanism of action of PPC have been published. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and detailed histological changes in the skin and subcutaneous tissue after PPC injection. Ten female patients with local fat deposits [upper outer thigh] were assessed after a single session of subcutaneous injection with PPC on the basis of thigh circumference measurement, and histological examination of skin biopsy specimens was carried out before and 1 and 2 months after treatment. Histological sections were stained with H and E, Masson's trichrome [for collagen fibers], and by aldehyde fuchsin [for elastic fibers], followed by morphometric study and statistical analysis. Two months after injection, a statistically significant reduction in thigh circumference was found [P=0.045], with leathery tight skin texture at the injected area. Histological examination revealed dermal inflammatory responses 1 month after injection, with destruction of fat cells. These observations were reduced after 2 months with evidence of regenerating fat cells. Statistical analysis showed a significant increase in collagen area% [P=0.025] and statistically nonsignificant increase in elastic fiber area% at the end of the study. A single session of subcutaneous PPC injection had an evident lipolytic effect, with noticeable contouring and skin tightening due to regenerative effect on skin connective tissue, particularly dermal collagen. However, lipolytic effect was partially temporary because of regeneration of fat cells

Ptyrggium and tear film abnormalities

The purpose of this study was to assess state of the precorneal tear film in eyes with pterygium. Thirty patients with unilateral primary pterygium were enrolled. Schirmer's I, basic tear secretion, marginal tear strip and tear film break-up time tests were evaluated in both eyes of each patient. A conjunctival biopsy was taken from both eyes of 12 patients to evaluate goblet cell density. Values of Schirmer's I and basic tear secretion tests were not significantly different between the pterygium and control eyes. BUT, goblet cell density were significantly reduced, as well as abnormalities in the marginal tear strip were detected in eyes with pterygium. Accordingly, tear film dysfunction can be considered as a predisposing factor in the pathogenesis of pterygium