Genetic characterisation of the Uruguayan Creole horse and analysis of relationships among horse breeds.

The genetic variability within the Uruguayan Creole horse and its relationship to a group of geographically or historically related breeds (Spanish Pure-bred, Barb, Quarter horse, Paso Fino, Peruvian Paso, Arabian and Thoroughbred horse), was evaluated using 25 loci (seven of blood groups, nine of protein polymorphisms and nine microsatellites) analyzed on a total of 145 Uruguayan Creole horses. In this study, blood group and protein polymorphism variants that are considered to be breed markers of Spanish Pure-bred and Barb horses were detected in the Creole breed. Conversely, some microsatellites and protein polymorphisms alleles were found uniquely in the Creole horse. American horse breeds together with Barb and Arabian horses clearly formed a separate cluster from the Spanish pure-bred and Thoroughbred breeds, as shown by an UPGMA dendrogram based on Nei's standard genetic distance. Data in this study provided evidence for considerable genetic variation within Uruguayan Creole horses and of a distinctive breed profile. Both traits were most likely inherited from the XVIth century Spanish horses, more closely related to Barb than to Spanish Pure-bred.

Expression of CD61 (beta3 integrin subunit) on canine cells.

A monoclonal antibody (JM2E5) specific for the integrin beta3 chain, or CD61 or GPIIIa subunit, has been employed to determine the expression of the canine homologue CD41/CD61 or CD51/CD61 complex on different canine cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, platelets, erythrocytes, lymph-node cells, spleen cells and breast tumour cells). The canine homologue CD41/CD61 or CD51/61 was present on peripheral blood lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, breast tumour cells and spleen cells as well as on platelets and it was absent from erythrocytes and lymph-node cells. An antigen with components of molecular masses of 25/100/120 kDa (under reducing conditions) was immunoprecipitated from canine peripheral lymphocytes and platelets, but not from granulocytes or monocytes. Expression on canine lymphocytes of the canine homologue of the human beta3 integrin chain was unexpected, based on the expression pattern of this molecule in human tissue.

Serologically defined lymphocyte alloantigens in Spanish sheep.

Using segregation and population analysis of serological data prepared in our laboratory, we have tentatively defined five OLA antigenic specificities: CO1.1, CO1.2, CO2.1 and CO2.2, whose genetic control would fit a model of two class I OLA loci (CO1.1 and CO1.2 first locus, CO2.1 and CO2.2 second locus, and CO3.1, that could represent a subtype of CO2.2. Alloantisera were obtained from Spanish Merino sheep by intrafamilial cross-immunization and from serum of primiparous and multiparous ewes. Screening of alloantisera for antilymphocyte reactivity was carried out by a two-step dye exclusion microcytotoxicity test against 216 animals belonging to different local breeds: Spanish Merino, Merino Landschaft, Manchega and Churra. Lymphocyte antigen specificities were characterized by cluster and correlation analysis, as well as family studies. Comparison of CO alloantisera with reference reagents from Scotland (CA reagents) showed an excellent correlation between CO1.1 and CA2, and CO2.1 and CA5. The reagents described can be used in various breeds, a characteristic important for their future applications.

Bolus versus infusion regimens of etoposide and cisplatin in treatment of non-small cell lung cancer: a study of the North Central Cancer Treatment group.

In an effort to test clinically the hypothesis that the duration of cellular exposure to etoposide (VP-16) and cisplatin (CDDP) is an important determinant of cytotoxicity, we performed a phase III randomized trial comparing an outpatient bolus regimen of combined VP-16 and CDDP with a sequential infusion over 72 hours of these same two drugs. All patients had stage IV non-small cell lung cancer, and survival was the primary end point. Of 113 patients randomly allocated to the study, 108 were assessable for response, survival, and toxicity. A major response was observed in 20 (37%) of 54 patients on the bolus regimen and in 16 (30%) of 54 patients receiving infusion therapy. The median time to progression was 61 and 88 days for bolus and infusion therapy, respectively. The median survival time was 148 and 157 days, respectively (P = .71). Study results were not consistent with the possibility that infusion therapy could be associated with a 50% improvement in median survival, i.e. from 5 months to 7 1/2 months. Toxicity was primarily myelosuppression and was significantly greater with the infusion regimen. We conclude that infusion therapy as tested in this protocol with VP-16 and CDDP does not offer any advantage in response rate, time to disease progression, or survival as compared with bolus therapy. In addition, infusion therapy is associated with a greater degree of neutropenia and more treatment-related deaths.

Mediastinal osteosarcoma with extension to lungs in a patient treated for Hodgkin's disease.

This article reports a patient with Hodgkin's disease in remission after combined modality therapy who developed metastatic pulmonary osteosarcoma, subsequently found to originate in soft tissue of the mediastinum, within a field irradiated 11 years previously. This patient developed a series of radiotherapy-induced complications in addition to osteosarcoma. Only 16 cases of extraskeletal osteosarcoma after radiation treatment have been reported, none originating in the mediastinum. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of extraskeletal osteosarcoma occurring in a patient previously treated for Hodgkin's disease and with the sarcoma originating within the irradiated field.

Unilateral simultaneous renal angiomyolipoma and oncocytoma.

A 70-year-old woman with simultaneous unilateral renal angiomyolipoma and renal oncocytoma presented to the hospital with syncope and abdominal pain. Diagnostic studies indicated a left renal neoplasm consistent with renal cell carcinoma and a radical nephrectomy was performed. Histological examination of the resected specimen demonstrated the presence of the 2 unusual renal neoplasms.