Molecular breakpoints of t(11;14)(q13;q32) in multiple myeloma.

We found a t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation in six patients with multiple myeloma (MM) or plasma cell leukemia. In five of them, rearrangements of BCL1 and PRAD1 could be studied. Two patients showed a rearrangement only with the Prad1 probe, located 120 kb telomeric of the major translocation cluster. The three other patients lacked rearrangements with both Bcl1 and Prad1.

Mantle cell lymphoma: a clinicopathological study of 55 cases.

A recently described unifying proposal for mantle cell lymphoma has led to the formulation of strict diagnostic criteria based on morphology, immunology and molecular data to define this specific entity. Previous studies were often based on broader definitions such as centrocytic lymphoma, intermediately differentiated lymphoma or mantle zone lymphoma and, therefore, included a variety of entities with some, but not all, features ascribed to the mantle cell lymphoma. Since the publication of the unifying proposal no comprehensive studies have been published to confirm and support it. We selected 55 cases of mantle cell lymphoma collected in our institution in order to evaluate the validity of the proposal and, by using strict criteria, we analysed the morphological features, their variations and the changes occurring in the course of the disease as well as its clinical behaviour. The analysis of this material demonstrates that mantle cell lymphoma affects predominantly elderly males presenting with an advanced stage of disease. Twenty-four out of 55 patients died with, or of, the disease with a median survival of 32 months, even though most of them received aggressive chemotherapy. In all cases the histological features were strikingly uniform and most cases had a diffuse growth pattern. The neoplastic cells corresponded to small cleaved cells with a minimal variation in shape and size from one case to the other. The phenotype of the neoplastic cells was remarkably constant with expression of several pan-B cell markers, IgM, IgD and CD5, and lack of CD10 and CD23.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia in treated Hodgkin's disease.

A patient who developed Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) 8 years after successful treatment for Hodgkin's disease (HD) is reported. The Ph chromosome with a typical 9(22) translocation was identified by banding techniques in 80% of bone marrow (BM) cells. Southern blot analysis showed breakpoint cluster region (BCR) rearrangement as observed in classical CML. Until now, only three cases of Ph + CML have been reported after treatment for HD. At present, it is not clear whether development of CML after HD represents a therapy-induced complication, an increased susceptibility to secondary malignancies owing to the malignant process itself, a consequence of the immunological deficiencies in HD, or possibly a genetic susceptibility to malignancy.

Bone marrow plasmocytosis in acute leukemia.

A quantitative evaluation of IgA, IgD, IgG and IgM plasmocytes in sequential bone marrow aspirates of patients with acute leukemia using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method was undertaken. Plasmocytosis resembled that of normal controls or was slightly subnormal on admission. When remission was obtained, bone marrow plasmocytosis was similar to normal controls, irrespective of the type of acute leukemia and the cytostatic treatment. Occurrence of infection strongly augmented the number of plasmocytes, with an initial increase in IgM and later in IgG plasmocytes. This suggests that the immune response is preserved in patients with acute leukemia.

Apolipoprotein and lipid composition of plasma lipoproteins in neonates during the first month of life.

In this study the lipid and apoprotein profiles were investigated in newborns at 0, 7, and 30 days of life. The plasma lipoproteins were separated both by ultracentrifugation and gel filtration in order to compare the patterns obtained by the two techniques. At birth, the apo E concentration is comparable to that measured in adults, but its distribution among lipoproteins is significantly different as more than 80% of the plasma apo E belongs to high-density lipoproteins (HDL). At 7 and 30 days the plasma apo E concentrations are close to the values at birth, but a significant redistribution occurs from HDL to very low-density lipoproteins. By analogy with apo B, the plasma apo CIII concentration is low at birth and increases between 0 and 7 days by a factor of about two. Plasma triglycerides increase significantly during the first week of life so that the apo CIII increase is most pronounced in very low-density lipoproteins. These lipoproteins therefore become enriched in apo E, apo CIII and triglycerides between 0 and 7 days. At birth, a distinct HDL fraction, enriched in apo E, apo AII and cholesterol (HDLE), could be detected. To compensate for the low LDL levels, this HDLE fraction might function as an additional source for cholesterol delivery to peripheral tissues via the apo (B, E) receptor. At later age, low-density lipoprotein synthesis is enhanced, apo E is transferred to very low-density lipoproteins, and cholesterol delivery via the HDLE becomes less important.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Discordances of cytoplasmic immunoglobulin G staining with the immunoperoxidase technic in plasma cells from bone marrow, tonsils, and appendix.

Plasma cell cytoplasmic immunoglobulin was stained using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technic in Bouin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human tissues from different origins. Bone marrow (BM), tonsils, and appendices were examined. IgA-, IgD-, and IgM-secreting plasmocytes were easily studied using highly diluted rabbit antihuman antisera in all tissues, including BM. IgG plasmocytes showed good stainability in tonsils and appendices, but variable results were obtained in BM. Bone marrow IgG plasmocytes from persons without infection required a tenfold higher concentration of rabbit antihuman IgG than plasmocytes derived from patients with infection. Stainability of BM plasmocytes from patients with infection was equal to BM plasmocytes from myeloma patients. Because the same rabbit antihuman IgG concentration could be applied for staining plasmocytes derived from tonsils and appendices, it is most probable that the difference in staining ability is due to a difference in activity of the plasmocytes, i.e., a different IgG concentration in the plasmocytes.

A modified immunoperoxidase method for the detection of ABH tissue isoantigens in patients with bladder carcinoma.

Detectable ABH blood group antigens (BGAg) on tumor cells from transitional carcinoma of the urinary bladder, used for diagnosis and prognosis may be evidenced with the existing immunoperoxidase methods. In this study, a modification of the immunoperoxidase method was shown to enable the detection of BGAg in deparaffinized tissue section of normal and malignant human urothelium. To detect antigens A and B a peroxidase-conjugated rabbit anti-human IgM was used and antigen H was visualized by biotinylated lectin.

In vitro adsorption-desorption of phenethylamines and phenylimidazoles by a bentonite and a resin.

The adsorption of phenethylamines (dextroamphetamine, phentermine, mephentermine, diethylpropion), choline, and phenylimidazoles (levamisole and imazalil) was examined in vitro in aqueous solutions on bentonite and on lewatite at 25 degrees C. An ion-exchange mechanism prevails for lewatite and for bentonite up to 0.8 mEq X g-1. The organic cations are more strongly adsorbed on bentonite than on lewatite. On bentonite, the selectivity of adsorption follows the order: primary less than secondary less than tertiary phenethylamines. An interlamellar monolayer is formed. All drugs, except choline and imazalil, are adsorbed in excess of the cation exchange capacity of bentonite without observable Cl- adsorption and pH changes. Desorption is reversible for lewatite and partially irreversible for bentonite.