The simultaneous occurrence of multiple myeloma and JAK2 positive myeloproliferative neoplasms - Report on two cases.

Multiple myeloma and JAK2 positive chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms are hematologic malignancies with a completely different cellular origin. Two cases of simultaneous occurrence of multiple myeloma, one with primary myelofibrosis and another one with essential thrombocythemia are reported in this article. In such cases, an accurate diagnosis requires a molecular testing, including gene sequencing and differential diagnosis of pancytosis associated with splenic amyloidosis. In general, in such cases, of two coexisting malignant hematologic diseases, the treatment of the most aggressive one is recommended. For our two cases, it was decided to start a Velcade based therapy. The main concern was the medullar toxicity, especially when a multiple myeloma was associated with a primary myelofibrosis.

Dose dependent effects of serotonergic agents on anxiety.

UNLABELLED: The role of serotonin in depression and anxiety is still highly controversial. In this experiment the effect of two substances upon anxiety was studied in rats. METHODS: Forty adult (45-55 weeks old) male Wistar rats were used to study the following behavioral parameters on elevated plus maze test: open arm and closed arm entries; open arm, closed arm and central square activity duration, open arm preference and total distance traveled. RESULTS: A single injected dose of the antidepressant fluoxetine had no significant effect on animals' activity in the open-arm test, neither in a small dosage (5 mg/kgbw) nor in a higher one (10 mg/kgbw), whereas a single high dose of buspirone significantly impeded the open-arm activity of the rats. None of the substances influenced the general locomotor activity significantly, but the higher doses of buspirone mainly blocked the closed-arm entries and they even decreased the total distance traveled. CONCLUSION: Acute fluoxetine and buspirone administration influenced the rats' behavior in the elevated plus-maze test in a dose dependent manner. Anxiolytic effects occur after small doses but anxiogenic-like effects were noticed in rodents when higher doses were used.

Prenatal molecular diagnosis of beta-thalassemia: report on the first two cases in Romania.

Thalassaemia major is a classical example of a disease that can be prevented by prenatal diagnosis. In Romania there are currently 300 patients with thalassaemia major under the management of specialized institutions. Prenatal diagnoses of thalassemia have offered a new dimension to the prevention of this disease, but in order to implement prenatal diagnosis, knowledge of mutations and of their incidence is essential. Molecular testing using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) scanning and direct mutation detection with Amplificaton Refractory Mutation System-PCR (ARMS-PCR) and Restriction endonuclease Analysis of PCR fragments (PCR-RFLP) was performed by using amplified DNA from amniotic cells samples, while mutations in the parents were determined in advance. Using our experience in molecular diagnosis, we were able to perform the first prenatal diagnosis for two young couples at risk for thalassaemia major. Foetal samplings were collected by amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling in the second trimester of the pregnancies. Maternal contamination of the foetal DNA was ruled out by STR genotyping. The prenatal diagnosis revealed affected foetuses with homozygous status of beta-thalassemia major. The IVSI-110 (G-A)/IVS II-745 (C-G) genotype in the first case foetus and ed 8 (-AA)/cd 8 (-AA) in the second case foetus were reported. The results of this study point to a successful future prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassnemia in Romania, using a rapid and accurate molecular method. Together with the implementation of proper preventive health measures and the education of parents regarding their carrier status, we are hoping that this method will be used as the common application approach to decrease the incidence of thalassacmia major.

[The retinal fold in premature infants]. / Studiul pliului retinian la prematuri.

More and more authors point out the existence of the retinal folds at the prematures with retrolental fibroplasia. This form is considered to be achieved. The survey has been done during 3 years on 27 children, divided in 2 groups: the former was the group of the prematures with retinal fold present in retrolental fibroplasia, and the later was the group of children with congenital retinal fold, but born at time. Clinically, the difference between the two types of folds is not so obvious, but from the morphoscopical aspect they differ. The therapy of the diagnosed children was the usual one done in complications: strabismus, cataract, retinal detachment. The conclusions is that, besides the malformative retinal fold of the child born at time, another similar lesion provoked by the prematurity and abusive oxygenation is possible.

Sweat gland tumors with stromal haemangiomatous component: an undescribed type of skin tumors. Report of four cases.

An undescribed type of skin tumour, discovered in four cases, is reported. It is characterized by sweat-gland tumours (benign or malignant), with a common stromal haemangiomatous component which confers to it a peculiar pattern. Histogenetic possibilities are discussed. A collision mechanism between a pre-existent hamartomatous component (haemangioma) and a recent sweat-gland growth may be responsible for the appearance of this type and we think that this picture is more frequent but unidentified because, to our knowledge, it was not described up to the present paper.

Histopathological study on inflammation in cholecystoses.

At present, according to the unanimously accepted data, cholecystoses are noninflammatory, nonlithiasic, gallbladder diseases. However the authors' experience has proved that the inflammatory process is much more frequent than it is believed and often associated also with lithiasis, a fact which, in the authors' opinion, would justify a reconsideration of this group of diseases. This study, based on histopathologic examination, was carried out in 1,630 gallbladder specimens, surgically removed. Out of these, 278 (17.05 per cent) were identified as cholecystoses; 156 out of them were cholesteroloses and 122 diverticular diseases of the gallbladder. Inflammation as a well defined morphologic process was found in 104 cases (66.67 per cent) of cholesterolosis and in 119 cases (97.54 per cent) of diverticular disease, therefore 80.21 per cent of the cases of cholecystosis examined were associated with inflammation. As regards lithiasis, it was present in 131 of the cases (46.76 per cent). The inflammatory process presented a chronic aspect with no other particular morphologic characteristics. By correlating the histopathologic data with the clinical evolutive ones, it was observed that the presence of inflammation corresponded with a clinical evolution of the disease of about three years. The authors believed that the group of cholecystoses should be reconsidered bearing in mind that inflammation is present in most of the cases and in almost half of them it is associated with lithiases. Under these conditions the sphere of chronic nonlithiasic, noninflammatory gallbladder diseases becomes considerably reduced today.