Is 5q deletion in de novo Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) with excess blasts a surrogate marker for the cryptic t(7;21)(p22;q22)? A case report and review of literature.

Although the 5q- syndrome is common in both de novo and treatment related myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and the World Health Organization defined 5q- syndrome as a specific type of MDS, it is less common in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Recently, it was suggested that AML with diploidy/tetraploidy and/or 5q alterations may be associated with the cryptic translocation, t(7;21)(p22;q22) resulting in RUNX1-USP42 gene fusion and this association may have been underestimated. Here, we report another case of de novo AML with cryptic t(7;21)(p22;q22) associated with a 5q deletion.

Long-term ethanol consumption promotes changes in ß-defensin isoform gene expression and induces structural changes and oxidative DNA damage to the epididymis of rats.

Chronic alcohol ingestion causes sexual dysfunction, impairs sperm motility and fertility, and changes semen quality. Considering the key role of epididymis in sperm development, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of long-term ethanol consumption on epididymis changes, including alterations in ß-defensin isoform gene expression, oxidative stress, and pathological changes, such as cell proliferation and fibrosis in the epididymis of rats. In this study, male Wistar rats were equally divided into control and ethanol (4.5 g/kg BW) groups. After six weeks of treatment, the results revealed the proliferation of epididymis cells, fibrosis in the epididymis tissue, and a significant rise in the level of 8-OHdG and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase in the ethanol group, compared with the control group. Moreover, the ethanol group showed an increase in the gene expression of epididymal ß-defensin isoforms 15 and 21 and a reduction in the gene expression of ß-defensin isoforms 27 and 30, compared with the controls. These findings indicate that ethanol-induced epididymal damage and sperm abnormalities might be partly associated with changes in ß-defensin isoforms and epididymal structure, mediated by the increased activities of 8-OHdG and NADPH oxidase.

Design and synthesis of a morphine-6-succinyl-bovine serum albumin hapten for vaccine development.

A morphine-6-succinyl-BSA (M-6-S-BSA) hapten was designed in an effort to obtain a potent, long-lasting anti-morphine immune response for the treatment of morphine abuse. The analogue incorporated a succinic anhydride linker moiety in place of hydroxy group at C-6 of the morphine framework. Then morphine 6-hemisuccinate was conjugated to BSA in aqueous solution in the presence of water-soluble carbodi-imide. M-6-S-BSA was synthesized in three chemical steps starting from morphine sulphate, and the extent of conjugation was determined by base hydrolysis of the conjugate, extraction and measurement of free morphine. An average of 6.5 molecules of morphine were conjugated to each molecule of protein. Six male mice, Swiss White strain, immunized with various doses of the conjugate, were found to be producing antibody 8 weeks later, as determined by a modification of the (NH(4))(2)SO(4) method, which measures primary binding of antigen by antibody.