Prognostic value of bone marrow MUC4 expression in acute myeloid leukaemia.

Background: Aberrant expression of mucin-4 (MUC4) is present in a variety of solid cancers, but the expression pattern of MUC4 and its clinical relevance in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the expression level of MUC4 and explore its prognostic value in newly diagnosed adult patients with AML. Methods: Bone marrow from 70 AML patients and 26 healthy donors was obtained. MUC4 levels were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR. Routine blood indices were measured by standard techniques. Results: Bone marrow MUC4 expression levels were significantly elevated in AML patients compared to controls at median (range) 2.77 (0.7-16.6) and 1.14 (0.5-1.99) respectively (p = 0.005). Moreover, lower MUC4 expression was strongly associated with persistent remission (p = 0.001) while higher MUC4 levels were associated with worse overall as well as disease-free survival (p = 0.011 and p = 0.006, respectively). Thus, its level may act as an indicator of disease progression. High MUC4 expression was identified as an independent prognostic predictor for both overall survival and disease-free survival. Conclusion: MUC4 over-expression is an independent predictor of a poor prognosis in AML patients.

Circulating 25-hydroxy vitamin D correlates with serum level of anti-Müllerian hormone in male patients with chronic kidney disease.

This study was designed to assess the relationship between serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone and 25-hydroxy vitamin D in chronic kidney disease male patients. For that, serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D and anti-Müllerian hormone along with follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, prolactin, total testosterone and estradiol were assayed in 59 patients with different stages of chronic kidney disease and 21 healthy participants. Compared to controls, serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone and 25-hydroxy vitamin D were significantly decreased in patients with chronic kidney disease. The decreased anti-Müllerian hormone level correlated positively with estimated glomerular filtration rate and serum levels of testosterone and 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Meanwhile, it was negatively correlated with age and serum levels of urea, creatinine, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone and prolactin. 25-Hydroxy vitamin D and luteinising hormone explained the 65.9% variability of anti-Müllerian hormone in a multiple linear regression model. However, anti-Müllerian hormone in crude correlation was more strongly associated with serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D than luteinising hormone. In conclusion, serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D might be a determinant factor of anti-Müllerian hormone level, and their relationship might explain in part the dysfunction of Sertoli cells and the impaired testicular functions in chronic kidney disease male patients.

Fate and ultra-structural features of chicken skin mucosa around juvenile polyps.

OBJECTIVE: Chicken skin mucosa (CSM) is a common finding around juvenile polyps in children. Its ultrastructural features and fate after polypectomy are not yet clear. The aim was to study ultra-structural features and outcome of this CSM compared to that of the polyps and distant endoscopically normal mucosa. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 240 children with juvenile polyps, 45 needed a second colonoscopy. Thirty six patients showing CSM represented the cohort of this study. One polyp only was studied in each patient. The histologic features of the CSM were compared to normal and polyp mucosa. The fate of CSM was evaluated in the second colonoscopy. RESULTS: The mean numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes, as well as lamina propria inflammatory cellular infiltrates were significantly higher in polyp mucosa than in CSM. Goblet cells were significantly higher in CSM compared to normal mucosa with marked depletion in the polyp mucosa. The muscularis mucosae thickness was significantly higher in CSM compared to polyps (p<0.0001) and both showed higher values than the normal mucosa. The CSM almost disappeared within a month period following polypectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The polyp showed the most intense mucosal inflammatory reaction. CSM with the unique thickening of muscularis mucosae especially around larger polyps almost disappeared after polypectomy. So these results suggest that CSM is a benign compensatory reaction induced by the mechanical effect of the polyp.

Prevalence and type of anaemia in young Egyptian patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Over a 2-month period, 200 type 1 diabetic patients attending a paediatric diabetic clinic in Cairo, Egypt were screened for anaemia and other complications of diabetes. The mean age was 11.2 years and the mean duration of diabetes was 4.0 years. Anaemia was diagnosed in 75 patients [37.5%] overall: 45 had microcytic hypochromic anaemia, 18 normocytic normochromic and 12 macrocytic hyperchromic. Of the 75, 41 patients [54.7%] had iron deficiency, 14 [18.7%] had folate deficiency and 14 [18.7%] had thalassaemia minor. Three patients [4%] had coeliac disease, and 18 patients [24%] had parasitic infections. None of the patients had hypothyroidism, renal failure or vitamin B12 deficiency

Blood supply of the tensor fasciae latae muscle.

The tensor fasciae latae (TFL) muscle has been successfully harvested as a myocutaneous flap in reconstructive surgery. Reports on the vascular supply of this muscle, however, are incomplete or inconclusive. Therefore the arterial pattern was examined by dissection in 100 injected human cadaveric specimens. It was observed that whereas 67 muscles were supplied exclusively by a single vessel derived from the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral (LCF) artery, 13 were supplied by a secondary vessel derived from the same branch, while 20 muscles were supplied by two vessels, the larger one arising as before and the smaller from the descending branch of the LCF. Our observations reveal that although the majority of TFL muscles are clinically Type I (one vascular pedicle) according to the classification of Mathes and Nahai (1981), 20% are actually Type II (major and minor vascular pedicles).

Biochemical studies on proteins from cheese whey and blood plasma by-products.

Efforts have been done to recover proteins from waste liquors rich in protein in a soluble form. Cheese whey and animal bloods are by-products from the manufacture of cheese and meat. It contains a variety of proteins which can be reclaimed. The efficiency of protein precipitation from the sweet-cheese whey by the use of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) was similar to that precipitated by the use of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Both are greater than that precipitated by trichloro acetic acid. The same results of the efficiency of precipitation were attained when the plasma was precipitated. It was found that cheese-whey protein-HEC-complex and plasma protein-HEC-complex contain a large amount of essential amino acids. Electrophoretic separation of whey protein complex showed that beta-Lactoglobulin forms the major fraction while in case of plasma protein complex albumin forms the major fraction. The fractionation patterns of different complexes with HEC, CMC or TCA gave the same components and about the same ratio. It appears from these results that HEC-protein complexes are preferable than CMC-protein complexes or proteins precipitated by TCA. Chemical analysis of whey protein complexes revealed that lactose content of whey protein-HEC-complex was higher than that of CMC-complex or protein precipitated by TCA. Elemental analysis of protein complexes showed that the level of sodium, phosphorus, and potassium was increased while that of copper or zinc decreased. Cellulose derivative protein complexes showed no significant effects on the liver or kidney function of albino rat and these results indicted that no toxic effect was observed from the uses of these protein complexes in feeding.

Comparative study of 3,4,3',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl in male and female rats and female monkeys.

3,4,3',4'-Tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB) is thought to be the most toxic chlorinated biphenyl present in commercial polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) formulations. A comparative study of the distribution and excretion of TCB has been done in made and female rats and female rhesus monkeys in an effort to account for the toxicity of this PCB. The distribution and clearance of TCB were similar in male and female rats, and although TCB was cleared more slowly by monkeys than by rats, the monkeys were able to clear it at an appreciable rate so that tissue levels were negligible 6 wk after TCB administration. The results indicate that the toxicity of TCB cannot be attributed to inability of the animals to metabolize and excrete it or to its persistence in any tissue, with the possible exception of blood. TCB and/or TCB metabolites appear to be more persistent in blood than any PCB studied to date.