Erythrophagocytosis in a patient with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with t(12;21) (p13.2; q22.1); ETV6-RUNX1: Case report and review of the literature

Erythrophagocytosis (EP) is extremely rare in de novo acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We document a rare case, which in addition, showed extensive blast vacuolization. A detailed literature review has also been incorporated with the aim of unraveling the prognostic import of our morphological observations if any. A five-year-old male presented with fever and progressive pallor for 1 month. He had hepatosplenomegaly and bicytopenia. Peripheral smear examination showed 43% blasts. Nuclear and cytoplasmic vacuolations were seen in 75% blasts and EP in 4% blasts. The blasts showed block positivity on periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain. Marrow aspirate smears showed 58% blasts displaying a similar morphology. Flow cytometry showed features of a common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA) positive B-cell ALL with aberrant, dim CD 33 expression in 53.4% of the gated blasts. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed translocation (12; 21) (p13;q22). The patient responded well to standard induction therapy. To conclude, EP is rarely seen in de novo ALL and is associated with a favorable translocation, t(12;21).

Spectrum of Reactive Morphological Alterations in Leucocytes in HIV Patients.

Background: The earliest hematological manifestation of HIV infection can occur at the time of primary infection. Several peripheral blood abnormalities are known in HIV. However, not many studies have reported morphological changes in white blood cells in antiviral naïve patients and even fewer have compared them with HIV seropositive patients. Material and methods: Peripheral blood smears from 100 patients were studied. 50 of them were newly diagnosed HIV seropositive cases and 50 were HIV seronegative. A peripheral blood smear was made to study morphology of various white blood cells A written informed consent was taken. Statistical analysis of the data obtained was done. Results: Morphological abnormalities in the lymphocytes had been the most significant finding, which included nuclear lobulation, nuclear convolution and plasmacytoid and monocytoid features. Neutrophils also showed various morphological abnormalities. Most common were hypogranulation, hypersegmented nuclei and cytoplasmic vacuolations in descending order of frequency. Monocytes also revealed few morphological abnormalities including nuclear irregularities and cytoplasmic vacuolations. Conclusion: The observations from this study will serve as a guide to clinicians as treatment of these patients should include supplements to monitor and improve these changes.

Evaluation of phytoaccumulation potential of toxic metals from sewage sludge by high- value aromatic plant geranium

Aim: The present study aimed to assess the phytoextraction potential of plant geranium (CIM BIO-171) to remove metals from sewage sludge and to investigate the growth, yield and quality of essential oil of this aromatic plant grown in contaminated sludge.Methodology: The experiment was conducted at research farm of CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow during 2017-18 in vertical cemented column pots dug into soil. Six treatment groups of sewage sludge and soil were taken with four replication, i.e., T1-100% sewage sludge, T2-80% sewage sludge + 20% soil, T3-60% sewage sludge + 40% soil, T4-40% sewage sludge + 60% soil, T5-20% sewage sludge + 80% soil and T6-soil (only soil). Experimental soil was analysed at pre-harvest and post-harvest stage for soil characters. All plant attributes were recorded at the time of harvesting. Results: Result of the present study showed reduction in the heavy metals in the soil at harvest in comparison to the contents observed in soil at initial stage. All the parameters of growth, yield, biomass and essential oil were found to increase with the application rate of sewage sludge in geranium (CIM BIO-171). Interpretation: The results of the present study clearly indicate the phytoextraction capability of geranium plant (CIM BIO-171). Furthermore, the plants grown in contaminated sludge has all the beneficial impact on growth, yield and quality of essential oil.

Histo-cytological responses of the prolactin cells of the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis to cadmium exposure / Respuesta histológica y citológica frente a la exposición a cadmio de las células prolactínicas del pez gato Heteropneustes fossilis

Cadmium is an important metal for modern industrial processes and, being biologically non-essential, poses health hazards to the organisms. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effect of cadmium exposure on the histo-cytology of prolactin cells in the freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes (H.) fossilis. Fish were subjected to 288 mg/L (0.8 of 96 h LC50) and 72 mg/L (0.2 of 96 h LC50) of cadmium chloride for short-term and long-term, respectively. After sacrificing the fish, the blood was collected on 24, 48, 72 and 96 h in short-term and after 7, 14, 21, and 28 days in long-term experiment and analyzed for plasma calcium levels. Also, pituitary glands were fixed on these intervals. The plasma calcium levels of short-term cadmium exposed fish remain unchanged after 24 h. The levels exhibit a progressive decrease from 48 h onwards. The fish exposed to cadmium for 7 days exhibit a decrease in the plasma calcium level. Thereafter, the levels progressively decrease till the end of the experiment (28 days). The prolactin cells of the control fish exhibit structural resemblance to the description given for the prolactin cells of normal H. fossilis. No change in the histological structure and nuclear volume of prolactin cells of cadmium non-exposed fish has been noticed throughout the experiment. In cadmium treated fish, the prolactin cells remain unchanged till 14 days. On day 21, the nuclear volume of these cells exhibits an increase and the cells degranulate. These changes increased profoundly on day 28. In addition, vacuolization and cytolysis were also encountered on day 28 following cadmium treatment. It is concluded that cadmium affects the prolactin cells of the fish H. fossilis thus disturbing the ionic balance.

El cadmio es un metal importante para los procesos industriales modernos, siendo no esencial biológicamente, representa riesgos para la salud de organismos. En este estudio tratamos de evaluar el efecto de la exposición al cadmio por el aspecto histológico y citológico de células secretoras de prolactinas del pez gato de agua dulce Heteropneustes (H.) fossilis. Los peces fueron sometidos a una exposición de 288 mg/L (0,8 de 96 h CL50) and 72 mg/L (0,2 de 96 h CL50) de cloruro de cadmio por a corto y largo término respectivamente. Después del sacrificio de los peces, la sangre fue colectada, tomando muestras de 24, 48, 72 y 96 hs en el corto término y de 7, 14, 21 y 28 días en las sometidas a largo término, la cuales se analizaron para medir niveles de calcio. Además, las glándulas pituitarias fueron fijadas en esos intervalos El nivel plasmático de calcio en los experimentos de exposición a corto tiempo se mantuvo sin cambio tras 24 h. Los niveles exhibieron una caída progresiva a partir de las 48 hs. Los peces expuestos a cadmio por 7 días presentaron una disminución en el nivel plasmático de calcio. Después de esto, los niveles decayeron progresivamente hasta el fin del experimento (28 días). Las células prolactínicas de los peces controles mostraron semejanza estructural a la descripción dada para estas células normales en H. fossilis. No se observaron cambios en la estructura histológica y el volumen nuclear de las células prolactínicas de los peces no expuestos a cadmio a través de todo el experimento. En los peces tratados con cadmio las células prolactínicas se mantuvieron sin cambios hasta los 14 días. En el día 21, el volumen nuclear de esas células se incrementó y estas células presentaron desgranulación. Estos cambios aumentaron profundamente en las muestras del día 28. Adicionalmente en el día 28 posterior al tratamiento con cadmio se encontró vacuolización y citólisis. Se concluyó en que el Cadmo afecta las cñelupas prolactínicas de H fossilis, produciendo disturbios en el balance iónico.

Ultimobranchial gland of freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis, in response to calcitonin administration

The absence o!!f a hypocalcemic effect of calcitonin (CT) in fishes has been suggested due to exceedingly high plasma levels of CT; the fish may be saturated with respect of circulating CT and therefore unable to respond to exogenously administered CT. Earlier it has been suggested that a hypocalcemic action of injected CT may be obscured by changes in the release of endogenous CT and other calcium regulating hormones. In this study we have used artificial freshwater, calcium-deficient freshwater and calcium-rich freshwater and injected the fish with CT. The aim behind selecting these media were (i) in calcium-deficient medium there would be reduced circulating levels of CT, (ii) in calcium-rich medium there would be diminished secretion of prolactin (this hormone is hypercalcemic in fish), and (iii) by keeping the fish in calcium-rich medium we can test the antihypercalcemic action of CT. Moreover, the present study would reveal the changes in the ultimobranchial gland (UBG) after keeping the fish in all the above three media and/or injecting the fish with CT. Freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis, were administered intraperitoneally daily with vehicle or 0.5 U/100g body wt of salmon calcitonin (CT) and kept in artificial freshwater, calcium-rich freshwater and calcium-deficient freshwater for 10 days. Blood samples were collected on 1, 3, 5, and 10 days following the treatment and analyzed for serum calcium levels. The ultimobranchial gland (UBG) was also fixed for histological studies on these intervals. In artificial freshwater there was no change in the serum calcium levels of calcitonin-injected fish. The ultimobranchial gland of calcitonin-injected fish exhibited a progressive decrease in the nuclear volume from day 5 onwards. On day 10 vacuolization in the gland was also noticed. In vehicle-injected fish (control) kept in calcium-rich freshwater hypercalcemia has been noticed which persists till the end of the experiment. ...

Removal of copper by Pseudomonas putida strain S4 isolated from copper mines.

A bacterial strain, Pseudomonas putida S4, was isolated from smelter drainage of copper mines. The strain exhibited resistance to several heavy metals, like aluminium (Al), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) besides copper (Cu). Strain S4 could accumulate Cu from the Cu-supplemented growth medium. In the present study, we have demonstrated the Cu2+ removal capacity of this strain from various samples such as mine effluent, low-grade ore and ore-tailings, collected from the mining site. Moreover, approximately 80% of the accumulated Cu2+ could be recovered from the loaded biomass by a simple desorption procedure.

Serial echocardiography in transplanted heart: an initial report of five cases.

Role of echocardiography including Doppler is established in selection of donor and in the care of patients after cardiac transplantation. Its value for recognition of transplant rejection is however still evolving. We present here, serial echocardiographic findings in five male patients, aged 22 to 46 years who underwent cardiac transplantation at our institution. There was no appreciable change on follow-up in the left ventricular dimensions, thickness of left ventricular posterior wall and interventricular septum and left ventricular systolic function. Transient pericardial effusion was noted in two patients. Trivial to mild mitral and tricuspid regurgitation was observed. The diastolic function of the left ventricle, as assessed by mitral valve inflow wave pattern, was normal in four patients. However in the fifth patient, there was evidence of diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle and this change was accompanied by rejection episode (IIIB changes) in the endomyocardial biopsy. With resolution of rejection in biopsy, the diastolic function by Doppler also returned to normal. We conclude that echocardiography has a definite role in the general care of patients after cardiac transplantation. Transient small pericardial effusion and mild atrioventricular valve regurgitation are common after the operation. Echocardiography may also be of use in recognition of rejection episode by demonstrating evidence of diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle. Currently, endomyocardial biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis of rejection.