Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 37
Filter
1.
Transplant Proc ; 45(1): 182-4, 2013.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23375295

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Preemptive therapy is a valid option for cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease prevention in kidney transplant recipients. However, there are controversies regarding the appropriate threshold value to be reached before starting antiviral drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of a low threshold of the CMV pp65 antigenemia test as a guide to initiate the therapy. METHODS: We performed a prospective study on 47 consecutive kidney recipients. The CMV pp65 antigenemia test was performed over 6 months posttransplantation; patients who displayed ≥ 2/200,000 CMV antigen-positive leukocytes were treated for 2 months with valgancyclovir (450 mg twice a day). RESULTS: Twenty-five patients developed CMV infections, which were initially diagnosed at 55 ± 25 days posttransplantation. The number of CMV antigen-positive cells/200,000 leukocytes on the first positive test was 17 ± 22. The test first became negative at 17 ± 8 days after the diagnosis. A positive correlation was observed between the number of CMV antigen-positive cells and the time to obtain the first negative test (P = .01). At the end of follow-up (35.3 ± 16.4 months), none of the patients had developed CMV syndrome. Among the CMV-positive recipients, the creatinine levels showed no differences from the values before the CMV infection. No difference in creatinine levels was noted between CMV infection positive versus negative patients. CONCLUSION: Our data suggested that a CMV antigenemia titer ≥ 2/200.000 leucocytes can be considered to be an appropriate threshold to start anti-CMV preemptive therapy.


Subject(s)
Cytomegalovirus Infections/prevention & control , Kidney Failure, Chronic/drug therapy , Kidney Transplantation/methods , Phosphoproteins/immunology , Viral Matrix Proteins/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Creatinine/metabolism , Cytomegalovirus Infections/complications , Female , Ganciclovir/analogs & derivatives , Ganciclovir/therapeutic use , Humans , Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications , Kidney Failure, Chronic/surgery , Kidney Failure, Chronic/virology , Kidney Transplantation/adverse effects , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Period , Prospective Studies , Time Factors , Valganciclovir , Young Adult
2.
Transplant Proc ; 40(10): 3460-5, 2008 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19100413

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The evaluation of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is becoming an important measure of the outcomes of kidney transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether deterioration of renal function was associated with a worse HRQOL in kidney transplant patients (KTP) compared with patients experiencing chronic native kidney insufficiency. PATIENTS AND METHODS: HRQOL was assessed in 128 stable KTP and 102 chronic kidney disease patients (CKDP) using the SF-36 health survey. The 2 groups were matched for age, sex, sociodemographic conditions, and renal function, the only difference being that KTP had experienced hemodialysis treatments before transplantation. RESULTS: Overall, KTP revealed a satisfactory HRQOL compared with CKDP. At variance with CKDP, KTP with estimated creatinine clearances >60 mL/min versus <60 mL/min showed higher scores among 7 of 8 SF-36 categories: physical function (PF), role physical (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), vitality (VT), role emotional (RE), and mental health (MH). Estimated creatinine clearance showed a significant positive correlation with PF (P = .0004), RP (P = .008), BP (P = .01), GH (P = .0001), VT (P = .001), RE (P = .03), and MH (P = .02), but exclusively in KTP. Multiple regression analysis confirmed in KTP that the scale scores of PF, RP, GH, VT, and RE were significantly dependent on creatinine clearance. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that among KTP deterioration of renal function was associated with a worse HRQOL.


Subject(s)
Health Status , Kidney Transplantation/physiology , Quality of Life , Blood Pressure , Creatinine/blood , Employment , Feeding Behavior , Female , Glomerular Filtration Rate , Humans , Kidney Diseases/classification , Kidney Diseases/surgery , Kidney Transplantation/adverse effects , Kidney Transplantation/psychology , Life Style , Male , Patient Selection , Retrospective Studies , Treatment Outcome
3.
Reumatismo ; 56(1): 31-5, 2004.
Article in Italian | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15105907

ABSTRACT

Herniated disc patients represent a limited subset of patients with low back pain. Incidence of surgical intervention for lumbar disc pathology is 3% to 4%. The goal of surgery is to achieve neural decompression and relief neurological symptoms. Discectomy through laminotomy is the most common approach. More recently percutaneous approaches to lumbar discectomy, include the use of suction, laser and spinal endoscopy have evolved with mixed results. Microendoscopic discectomy (MED) combines endoscopic technology with the principles of microdiscectomy: open surgical principles are used through a tubular retractor using endoscopic visualization. We present our experience with MED in 149 patients who underwent this procedure. The patient population consisted of 83 men and 66 women aged 18 to 88 years. All patients had substantial relief of their radiculopathy.


Subject(s)
Arthroscopy , Cervical Vertebrae , Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery , Lumbar Vertebrae , Arthroscopy/methods , Female , Humans , Male , Microsurgery , Middle Aged
4.
Vet Res Commun ; 24(3): 197-202, 2000 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10836278

ABSTRACT

A retrospective study was performed on skin samples from an outbreak of cutaneous papillomatosis in Merino sheep that occurred in 1995. The samples were processed for routine histology, electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry for papilloma viruses. Particles of approximately 55 nm diameter were found in some nuclei of the stratum granulosum cells, while immunocytochemistry gave positive staining of cell nuclei in this layer. This study confirms that papillomas associated with papillomaviruses occur in sheep in Patagonia.


Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks/veterinary , Papilloma/veterinary , Sheep Diseases/epidemiology , Skin Neoplasms/veterinary , Animals , Argentina/epidemiology , Papilloma/epidemiology , Papilloma/virology , Papillomaviridae/isolation & purification , Retrospective Studies , Sheep , Sheep Diseases/pathology , Sheep Diseases/virology , Skin/pathology , Skin Neoplasms/epidemiology , Skin Neoplasms/virology
5.
Bone Marrow Transplant ; 25(12): 1307-10, 2000 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10871738

ABSTRACT

We report a 38-year-old patient affected by refractory adult onset Still's disease who achieved a prolonged remission following CD34-selected ABMT. The conditioning regimen was based on the use of CY and anti-thymocyte globulin. A 3.0 and 2.0 log reduction of T (CD3+) and B (CD19+) lymphocytes, respectively, was obtained using a Ceprate device to select CD34+ cells from PBSC. In the pre-transplant period (1994-1998) the patient had a chronic persistent disease course with frequent and recurrent systemic articular flares and loss of some functional abilities, despite daily prednisone, pulses of CY and immunosuppressive therapy (CYA or MTX). At the time of ABMT the patient had become non-ambulatory. Within 3 weeks of ABMT the patient showed a marked decrease in joint swelling, and morning stiffness. Joint pain and systemic symptoms disappeared, the patient was able to walk and run and gained general well being. ESR, C-reactive protein and WBC count were significantly decreased, while Hb level increased. This partial remission persisted for at least 1 year after ABMT, although at 15 months of follow-up a reappearance of moderate synovitis in the knees and wrists was noted. Our data further showed that both patient BM microenvironment and stem-progenitor cell function (as assessed by LTC-IC assay) were damaged even 1 year after CD34-selected ABMT, suggesting that the persistence of these alterations could have facilitated the favorable outcome of the disease following ABMT. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 1307-1310.


Subject(s)
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , Still's Disease, Adult-Onset/therapy , Adult , Humans , Male , Remission Induction , Transplantation, Autologous
6.
J Vasc Access ; 1(2): 66-9, 2000.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17638227

ABSTRACT

The jugular vein catheterism (JVC) is adopted for blood access in patients with acute renal failure, in chronic renal failure and when patients show failure of traditional vascular access. The technique of catheter insertion in the jugular vein is quick and easy. Usually correct catheter positioning, before starting the dialytic procedure, is controlled by chest X-ray or by intra-cavitary electrocardiogram. The aim of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of the real-time ultrasound guidance to control the correct positioning of the catheter instead of the usual chest X-ray control. We have studied 158 patients with JVC insertion before the hemodialytic procedure; 54 patients have undergone both ultrasound and a chest X-ray control while 104 were only submitted to ultrasound control. The ultrasound procedure includes an under xifoid scanning, with a convex 3.5 Mhz drill to evaluate the four heart cavities. When the right atrium is identified a second operator rapidly infuses in the venous catheter 15 ml of physiological solution thus creating a blood turbolence easily observed in real time as a light jet inside the atrium. This turbolence appears to be the main evidence for good catheter positioning and we were able to show the light jet in 156 (98%) patients. All light jet positive patients were submitted to the hemodialytic procedure without any complications during and after dialysis. We concluded that the intraoperative ultrasound control technique is an alternative to the chest X-ray evaluation because it offers the possibility for safe intraoperative immediate control thus reducing the total costs of the procedure.

7.
Haematologica ; 84(11): 969-77, 1999 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10553156

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: So far several reports have described changes in the expression of surface antigens in progenitor cells and blasts following cryopreservation. However, there are no data on the effects of cryopreservation on the expression of the three CD34 epitope classes, and on their relationship with the clonogenic capacity of PBPC collected by leukapheresis. DESIGN AND METHODS: In order to analyze the effects of freezing/thawing procedures (Eth 80C storage for 3 months) and use of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on the immunophenotype profile and colony production of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) in apheresis products derived from 20 patients with stage 0-III non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (nHL), a flow cytometry study was undertaken using different CD34 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) capable of recognizing the 3 epitope classes of CD34 molecule (class III: HPCA-2/FITC, HPCA-2/PE, 581/FITC, 581/PE; class II: Q-Bend 10/PE; class I: ICH3/PE, BI3C5-PE, Immu-133-PE). CD34 epitope expression was also analyzed in thawed CD34+ blasts obtained from 14 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), who were analyzed using a larger number (#17) of CD34 epitope class I, II, and III reactive MoAbs. RESULTS: Under our experimental conditions it was found that class III and class II CD34 epitopes (differentially resistant to enzymatic cleavage with neuraminidase, chymopapain and glycoprotease) are better preserved than class I epitope Eth sensitive to degradation Eth after cell exposure to cryoprotectant DMSO and the freezing- thawing procedures. Results further showed a concomitant decrease in class I CD34+ counts and in BFU-E colony production. A significant increase in CD34 antigen expression levels (i.e. antibody binding capacity, ABC) by cryopreserved cells stained with CD34 epitope class III, and class II reactive MoAbs was also documented, while no changes after cryopreservation were noted using class I-reactive MoAbs. The slight increase in the percentage of CD34+ cells detected after frozen storage was correlated to a concomitant decrease in the number of more mature myeloid cells (CD15+, CD13+, CD33+). Compared to pre-cryopreservation values, a slight reduction in class I CD34 epitope expression was also found in thawed CD34+ AML blasts. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: As far as the reduction of class I CD34 epitope is concerned, it may be hypothesized that the freezing procedure, use of DMSO, and/or lysis methodology may either damage a CD34 subset, or induce distinct alterations of the CD34 glycoprotein, possibly determining a reduction in their immunoreactivity with some CD34 MoAbs. In conclusion, this study has shown that exposure to the cryoprotectant DMSO and the freezing/thawing procedures modifies the distribution of CD34 epitopes as well as the clonogenic capacity of PBPCs from nHL patients, and CD34+ blasts from AML. These findings need to considered when selecting CD34 MoAbs for enumeration and positive selection of stem/progenitor cells for research and clinical purposes.


Subject(s)
Antigens, CD34/blood , Cryopreservation , Epitopes/analysis , Hematopoietic Stem Cells/immunology , Leukemia, Myeloid/blood , Acute Disease , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , Antigen-Antibody Reactions , Antigens, CD34/immunology , Epitopes/chemistry , Flow Cytometry , Hematopoietic Stem Cells/chemistry , Humans , Leukemia, Myeloid/pathology , Lymphocyte Activation , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/blood , Middle Aged
8.
Br J Haematol ; 103(1): 110-23, 1998 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9792297

ABSTRACT

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (UPA-R-CD87) is a GPI-anchored membrane protein which promotes the generation of plasmin on the surface of many cell types, probably facilitating cellular extravasation and tissue invasion. A flow cytometric quantitative analysis of expression levels for UPA-R was performed on fresh blast cells from patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML, n = 74), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL, n = 24), and biphenotypic leukaemia (BAL, n = 3) using two CD87 monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) (3B10 and VIM5). Peripheral blood and bone marrow (BM) cells from 15 healthy adults served as controls. Using 3B10 McAb, UPA-R was expressed (>99%) by blood monocytes, neutrophils, and BM myelomonocytic precursors in controls, whereas resting T and B lymphocytes, and CD34+ cells were UPA-R negative. We also attempted to clarify whether UPA-R has a role in mediating neutrophil functions. Oriented locomotion induced by different chemotaxins and lysozyme release by granules stimulated with fMLP or PMA were significantly decreased when UPA-R was neutralized by CD87 McAb. In contrast, the anti-UPA-R McAb had no effect on superoxide anion generation of normal neutrophils. Blasts from AML showed a heterogenous pattern of expression for the UPA-R McAbs, with reactivity strictly dependent on FAB subtype. The highest UPA-R expression was seen in the M5 group: all patients tested (n = 20) showed strong positivity for the UPA-R McAb whereas only 12% (3/24) of ALL patients were CD87 positive, and 2/3 of BAL patients showed a dim expression for CD87. The number of receptors expressed by blast cells in 6/74 (8.1%) AML patients was higher than those of normal samples: in addition, since co-expression of UPA-R and CD34 was not found in normal haemopoietic cells, it may be postulated that CD87 can be used alone (when overexpressed) or in combination with CD34 for the detection of minimal residual disease. Results also indicated that patients with UPA-receptors >12 x 10(3) ABC/cell, irrespective of FAB subtype, had a greater tendency for cutaneous and tissue infiltration and a higher frequency of chromosome abnormalities, thus suggesting the concept that cellular UPA-R content positively correlates with the invasive potential of AML cells. The combination of higher UPA-R positivity, abnormalities of chromosome 11, and M5 FAB morphology may identify a peculiar subset of AML, characterized by a more aggressive clinical course.


Subject(s)
Leukemia/metabolism , Plasminogen Activators/metabolism , Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism , Acute Disease , Female , Flow Cytometry , Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism , Humans , Male , Neutrophils/metabolism , Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
9.
Leukemia ; 11(10): 1700-10, 1997 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9324292

ABSTRACT

A quantitative analysis of expression levels of GM-CSF receptors was performed by flow cytometry in different disease categories, ie AML (n = 72), ALL (n = 18), and MDS (n = 12), as well as 12 healthy volunteers, using three different unconjugated GM-CSF/R monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) (HGM-CSFR (CD116), M5D12, 4B5F5), and appropriate standards. By using the reference HGM-CSFR McAb, in healthy subjects we found detectable levels of GM-CSF/R on blood monocytes (mean MESF (molecules of equivalent soluble fluorochrome)/cell: 36.1 x 10[3]), neutrophils (mean MESF/cell: 7.4 x 10[3]), bone marrow (BM) myelo-monocytic precursors (MESF range for the myeloid component, ie promyelocytes, myelocytes, metamyelocytes: 11.7-40.5 x 10[3], and for the monocytic lineage: 25.7-69.2 x 10[3]), and in two distinct subsets of BM CD34+ progenitor cells (GM-CSF/R dim: 2.5 x 10[3] MESF/cell, GM-CSF/R bright (10% of the total number of CD34 cells: 22.0 x 10[3] MESF/cell). In these subjects, there was no correlation between the expression levels of GM-CSF/R and CFU (CFU-GM, CFU-GEMM, BFU-E) colony production. Among the AML samples, M5D12 McAb was positive in 33%, 4B5F5 McAb in 90%, and HGM-CSF/R McAb in 78% of the cases examined (range of MESF/cell for the HGM-CSFR McAb: 0.9 x 10[3]-106.7 x 10[3]). The highest MESF values were seen in the M5 FAB subvariety (mean: 39.4 x 10[3]), where all the patients tested (n = 20) showed a strong positivity for the HGM-CSFR McAb. On the contrary, all ALL samples were GM-CSF/R negative except in two patients, who displayed a dim GM-CSF/R positivity (My+ALL: 1.3 x 10[3] MESF/cell; pro-B ALL: 1.0 x 10[3] MESF/cell). In most (>70%) M1 FAB subtypes, GM-CSF/R+ blasts co-expressed CD34low, HLA-DRhigh, CD33, CD38 antigens, and had little or no capacity to form CFU-GM colonies. GM-CSF/R+ blasts from the M5 FAB category were also positive for CD14, CD11c, CD33 and CD87. Furthermore, the number of GM-CSF/R expressed by leukemic cells from five out of 72 (7%) AML patients was above the highest values seen in normal samples (>69.2 x 10[3] MESF/cell), allowing the possibility of using this marker for the monitoring of the minimal residual disease (MRD) in a subset of AML. Cell culture studies aimed at evaluating GM-CSF receptor modulation following AML blast exposure to rhGM-CSF showed two distinct patterns of response; in the first group (6/10 cases) rhGM-CSF down-modulated GM-CSF receptors, whereas in the second group (4/10 cases), rhGM-CSF treatment was associated with either an increase or no change in the number of GM-CSF/R. In conclusion, cellular GM-CSF/R expression was variable and ranged from undetectable (ALL and a minority of AML) to very high intensities in M5 AML, and were also documented in some M0 AML, thus suggesting the concept that GM-CSF/R detection may be of help in lineage assignment of undifferentiated forms. Since the number of GM-CSF/R on AML blasts may be modulated after GM-CSF treatment, it can be postulated that the clinical use of GM-CSF in this disease may be optimized by a dynamic analysis of the number and the affinity status of GM-CSF-R in blasts and normal hemopoietic cells.


Subject(s)
Hematopoietic Stem Cells/ultrastructure , Leukemia, Myeloid/metabolism , Lymphocytes/ultrastructure , Myelodysplastic Syndromes/metabolism , Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/analysis , Acute Disease , Adolescent , Adult , Flow Cytometry , Humans , Middle Aged , Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/blood
10.
Cytometry ; 30(3): 134-44, 1997 Jun 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9222099

ABSTRACT

Using a direct one-color (fluorescein isothiocyanate; FITC) staining method with a Facscan flow cytometer, we evaluated the intracellular expression of two granular constituents of myeloid cells [myeloperoxidase (MPO) and lysozyme] on leukemic cells from 21 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and 6 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Three different permeabilization techniques were used [FACS Lysing Solution (FLy), B.Dis; Ortho-PermeaFix (OPF); Fix and Perm (F&P), Caltag] prior to monoclonal antibody (McAb) staining, in order to verify the specificity and the sensitivity of the three labelling methods towards the two model antigens. Peripheral blood cells from 15 healthy subjects and Ortho Absolute Control served as controls. Data were expressed as percentage of positivity, net fluorescence intensity, ratio between mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of positive cells and that of isotypic controls (P/N ratio; evaluated in both geometric and arithmetic scale), and, in 12 representatives cases (7 AML, 5 normal samples), in the form of both molecules of equivalent soluble fluorochromes (MESF) and antibody binding capacities (ABC). As far as the antigenic expression of MPO and lysozyme in normal samples is concerned, F&P resulted, in our hands, in the most specific and sensitive staining, followed by FLy solution and OPF, which showed positivity for MPO, and, to lesser extent, for lysozyme in a considerable manner of lymphocytes (means 64% and 54%, respectively, for OPF and FLy; range of ABC/cell: 0.9-5.2 x 10(3)) obtained from healthy subjects. With the reference F&P permeabilizing solution, 90% and 80% of FAB M1-M5 cases were found to be positive for MPO and lysozyme, respectively. However, M1, M2, and M3 AML FAB (French-American-British) subvarieties were characterized by a brighter expression for MPO (mean ABC/cell: 89 x 10(3)) than that of lysozyme (mean ABC/cell: 12.5 x 10(3D)), whereas blast cells from patients with M5a FAB subtypes showed higher levels of lysozyme (mean ABC/cell: 65 x 10(3)) than that of MPO (mean ABC/cell: 0.1 x 10(3)). One of five cases of FAB MO AML showed a dull positivity for MPO-7 McAb. Patients with ALL were MPO and lysozyme negative using both F&P and FLy reagents, although a certain degree of positivity was documented in some cases with OPF. Taking these data together, it can be stated that the use of anti-MPO McAbs may be of great value for the diagnosis and monitoring of acute leukemia and, along with lysozyme McAb, can provide useful information in the distinction of myeloid from monocytic leukemias and in the lineage assignment of apparently biphenotypic forms. However, the methodology used for the detection of these myeloid-associated antigens is critical for a correct interpretation of cytofluorimetric data and should be taken into account when evaluating data coming from multicenter trials dealing with leukemias. A standardization of cytofluorimetric analysis of intracellular antigens is needed in order to improve the reproducibility and comparability of results in multicenter studies.


Subject(s)
Cell Membrane Permeability , Cytoplasmic Granules/chemistry , Flow Cytometry/methods , Leukemia, Myeloid/immunology , Muramidase/analysis , Peroxidase/analysis , Adult , Antibodies, Monoclonal , Bone Marrow Cells , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Fixatives , Fluorescent Dyes , Humans , Immunophenotyping/methods , Leukemia, Myeloid/pathology , Leukocytes/cytology , Muramidase/immunology , Peroxidase/immunology , Sensitivity and Specificity
15.
Cancer Genet Cytogenet ; 86(2): 120-3, 1996 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8603336

ABSTRACT

Although p53 mutations have been described frequently in high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), they have only been reported occasionally in low-grade NHL. We therefore describe clincobiologic and molecular genetic findings in two patients with p53 mutations and leukemic mantle cell lymphoma featuring an unusually aggressive course. Circulating malignant cells showed irregularity of nuclear outline with frequent deep clefts in both cases. Immunologic studies of neoplastic cells from peripheral blood samples and from cells obtained from an involved lymph node showed a mantle B-cell phenotype (CD5+, CD19+, CD22+, CD23- or weakly+ and bright expression for surface immunoglobulins). Malignant cells were shown to be hyperdiploid by cytofluorimetric study of DNA content and the presence of the t(11;14)(q13q32) was documented in one case. An altered electrophoretic mobility of p53 exon 5 was seen in both cases, with a missense mutation at codon 158 present in one case and a CAG to TAG mutation resulting in a 167-stop codon present in the second case. The percent of reactive cells with the 1801 monoclonal antibody detecting an epitope of the p53 was 37% in one case and 1% in the second case, supporting the notion that immunologic overexpression cannot be used for a selection criterion for the detection of p53 mutations. From these findings and from data available in the literature the conclusion can be drawn that p53 gene mutations at codons 158 and 167 may be associated with lymphoproliferative disorders and that low- or intermediate-grade NHL, including leukemic mantle cell lymphoma, may frequently carry this genetic change.


Subject(s)
Exons , Genes, p53 , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/genetics , Mutation , Aged , Base Sequence , DNA, Neoplasm , Humans , Male , Molecular Sequence Data , Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational
18.
Clin Rheumatol ; 14(4): 407-12, 1995 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7586976

ABSTRACT

Forty-three female patients with systemic sclerosis divided into subgroups based on the extent of skin involvement and the presence of calcinosis, and 50 sex and age-matched healthy controls were investigated for bone mineral density (BMD) on the basis of radial (dual photon absorptiometry, Osteograph, NIM), lumbar, and total body measurements (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, Lunar DPX, Lunar Corp.), and for parameters of calcium metabolism. The patients showed a lower BMD (mean +/- SD; mg/cm2) than the controls at the radial (313 +/- 69 vs 347 +/- 73; p < 0.005), lumbar (974 +/- 143 vs 1081 +/- 154; p < 0.005), and total body (997 +/- 82 vs 1075 +/- 109; p < 0.05) determinations. The patients with the diffuse form of skin involvement had lower values than those with the limited form. There was a negative correlation between BMD and the duration of the disease. The presence of calcinosis was not found to have any effect on BMD. Calcium metabolism was found to be normal in each subgroup. It may be concluded that generalized osteoporosis is a feature of systemic sclerosis, with and without calcinosis. The extent and duration of the disease may play a role in determining bone loss.


Subject(s)
Bone Density , Calcinosis/physiopathology , Calcium/metabolism , Scleroderma, Systemic/physiopathology , Absorptiometry, Photon , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Calcinosis/complications , Calcinosis/metabolism , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/complications , Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/metabolism , Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/physiopathology , Scleroderma, Systemic/complications , Scleroderma, Systemic/metabolism
19.
Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper ; 71(5-6): 141-7, 1995.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8519488

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate by flow cytometry the expression of the UPA-R (Urokinase type plasminogen activator receptor-CD87) on the blastic population of AML and ALL patients in order to evaluate whether the presence of this molecule could be associated with peculiar clinical and biologic features of leukemic cells. Five different monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) (clones: 3B10#; VIM5*; 109#; 68#; 100#) were used in order to detect the distinct forms of this cellular receptor. Cell reactivity varied significantly from case to case, also depending on the MoAb used for the flow cytometry analysis. In brief, 3B10# and VIM5* MoAbs were found to be positive in more than 90% of monocytes and neutrophils from healthy subjects, while the number of positive cells was decreased (60%) using the 109# MoAb. However, either 68# and 100# MoAbs recognised only a low number of blood monocytes and neutrophils (8-20%), while lymphocytes were unreactive with all the five UPA-R MoAbs. ALL cells were found to be CD87 negative in all cases. Blasts from AML showed a heterogeneous pattern of expression for the UPA-R MoAbs, being the reactivity strictly dependent on the MoAb used, and, to a higher extent, on the degree and type of maturation of the blastic cells. The number of blasts recognising 3B10# and VIM5* MoAbs was significantly higher than that reacting with the remaining MoAbs irrespective of the FAB subtype. Since proteolytic enzymes, like UPA, play a key role in the dissolution of the extracellular matrix, and in facilitating the cell egress from the bone marrow, it is conceivable that the expression of the UPA-R could contribute to the invasive properties and, possibly, metastatic potential of leukemic cells.


Subject(s)
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/enzymology , Neoplasm Proteins/analysis , Neoplastic Stem Cells/enzymology , Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator/analysis , Acute Disease , Flow Cytometry , Humans , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/enzymology , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/pathology
20.
Leuk Lymphoma ; 18 Suppl 1: 25-30, 1995.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7496351

ABSTRACT

CD34 monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) are widely used to identify and isolate hemopoietic progenitors and to classify acute and chronic leukemias. We assessed the reactivity of 17 CD34 McAbs from the 5th International Workshop on Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens with a variety of cells types: normal bone marrow hemopoietic progenitors, 10 AML, 6 ALL, 11 CML. The reactivity for these McAbs was compared with that of reference CD34 McAbs (Q-Bend 10 and 8G12). For each cell population the % of McAb binding cells, the peak channel and the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of the positive cells was evaluated. The peak channel, the MFI and the number of positive cells varied significantly from case to case, depending on the McAb and the type of leukemia. According to the spectrum of reactivity three groups of McAbs were defined; however, 7 McAbs do not belong to any of these subgroups. These groups were not entirely in accordance with McAb classification based on enzyme cleavage that identified three epitopes of the CD34 molecule. Some reagents were found to be more specific for AML, other for ALL, CML or normal CD34+ cells. Normal bone marrow light density cells showed a significantly higher percentage of positive cells for 43A1 and MD34.2 McAbs compared to that documented for the remaining McAbs. AML cells showed the most variable pattern of expression for the CD34 McAbs. In leukemic samples, MESF (molecular equivalents of soluble fluorochrome) values ranged from 18,200 to 322,000 and the number of binding sites per cells was 5,000-81,000.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , Antigens, CD34/analysis , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/immunology , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/immunology , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/immunology , Antibody Specificity , Humans , Immunophenotyping , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/pathology , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/pathology
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL
...