ABSTRACT
A 76-year old patient was referred to our Oncology Unit due to hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia, elevation of lactat dehydrogenase and leucocytosis with occurrence of myeloid and erythroid precursors in the peripheral blood. Histopathological examination of the bone marrow and molecular genetics showing a c-kit-D816V-mutation confirmed the diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis without evidence of idiopathic myelofibrosis. After starting of prednisone treatment anemia, thromocytopenia and the patient's performance status rapidly improved.
Subject(s)
Mastocytosis/diagnosis , Mastocytosis/drug therapy , Prednisone/therapeutic use , Aged , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Male , Primary Myelofibrosis/diagnosis , Primary Myelofibrosis/drug therapy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The effects of histamine on synaptic transmission were studied at 37 degrees C and 22 degrees C with extracellular recordings of stimulus-induced population action potentials in area CA1 of hippocampal slices prepared from hibernating (HTH) and warm-acclimated Turkish hamsters (WTH) and rats. In rat slices, application of 50 microM histamine had no effects on population spikes and field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs). In HTH as well as WTH slices, 50 microM histamine generally increased the population spike amplitude. The slope of the field EPSP was unchanged. At 37 degrees C, the sensitivity for histamine was significantly higher in HTH slices than in WTH slices. At 22 degrees C, the effects of histamine were less pronounced in HTH as well as WTH slices. Hibernation-related improvement of sensitivity for histamine is interpreted as supporting hippocampal function during arousal from hibernation.
Subject(s)
Hibernation/physiology , Hippocampus/physiology , Histamine/pharmacology , Synaptic Transmission/drug effects , Acclimatization/drug effects , Action Potentials/drug effects , Animals , Cricetinae , Electrophysiology , Hippocampus/drug effects , Hot Temperature , Organ Culture Techniques , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
Tetanus-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) of population action potentials at 22 degrees C was investigated in area CA1 of hippocampal slices prepared from hibernating (HH) and warm-acclimated Turkish hamsters (WH) and rats. LTP elicited at this temperature was significantly stronger in HH slices compared to WH and rat slices. Hibernation-related improvement of the ability to develop long-lasting enhancement of synaptic transmission at low temperatures is interpreted as supporting hippocampal function during arousal from hibernation.
Subject(s)
Acclimatization , Body Temperature Regulation , Hippocampus/physiology , Long-Term Potentiation , Animals , Cricetinae , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Synaptic Transmission/physiology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The effects of adenosine on synaptic transmission were studied with extracellular recordings of stimulus-induced population action potentials in area CA1 of hippocampal slices prepared from hibernating (HH) and warm-acclimated Turkish hamsters (WH) and rats. In HH as well as WH and rat slices, adenosine generally reduced the population spike amplitude and the slope of the field EPSP. The sensitivity for adenosine was significantly lower in HH slices than in WH and rat slices. The results are discussed with regard to the involvement of endogenous adenosine in the regulation of neuronal activity during entrance into and arousal from hibernation.
Subject(s)
Adenosine/pharmacology , Hippocampus/drug effects , Synaptic Transmission/drug effects , Animals , Cricetinae , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Evoked Potentials/drug effects , Rats , Rats, Wistar , TemperatureABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Acanthosis nigricans (AN) comprises a broad spectrum of etiologic subtypes. The underlying pathomechanisms have not yet been completely clarified. We present a patient affected with a syndromelike AN subtype including disturbed epidermopoiesis as evidenced by immunohistologic findings and in situ hybridization. OBSERVATIONS: A 54-year-old white man contracted AN during childhood. There were connate malformations consisting of webbed toes II/III on the right side and a supernumerary left mammilla. As an adult he developed psoriasis vulgaris, obesity, and latent diabetes mellitus, polycystic kidney and liver disease. With regard to keratin 6 mRNA, and the protein expression of keratin 6/16, KI-67, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, the AN lesion showed moderate hyperproliferation. A much higher degree of hyperproliferation was evident in psoriatic areas of the patient's skin. In contrast to psoriatic tissue, basal keratinocytes of the AN showed an unusually high expression of keratin 18 and 19 protein. CONCLUSIONS: The observation thus deals with a unique, syndromelike constellation of AN characterized by a particular epidermal pattern of moderate hyperproliferation. A further dysregulation of protein expression in the epidermis is indicated by the demonstration of the rare keratins 18 and 19 in basal keratinocytes of the AN lesion.
