Clinical, histologic and genetic characterization of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in Mexicans

We describe the anatomical distribution, histological and molecular characteristics of 32 cases of NHL. Staging of the NHL was made according to conventionally accepted schemes. Histologically the NHL were classified in grades following the criteria defined by the Working Formulation. Rearrangements in one or more Ig or TcR receptor genes were detected in Southern blots and allowed us to determine the cell type and stage of differentiation. Serological analysis of 26 serum samples revealed the existence of antibodies against EBV epitopes; eight of these patients carried viral sequences in the tumor genome as determined by slot blot hybridization. Our studies indicate that the use of various methods is of paramount importance in order to improve our understanding of the natural history of NHL.

Progesterone metabolism during storage of blood samples from Gyr cattle: Effects of anticoagulant, time and temperature of incubation

Ten Gyr cows with a functional corpus luteum were used to evaluate the effects of time and temperature of incubation of blood samples on progesterone (P4) concentrations detected in plasma or serum. From each cow, a blood sample was collected into a flask containing no anticoagulant, another into an heparinized flask and a third into a flask containing sodium fluoride. The blood from each flask was divided into 46 aliquots. One of them was centrifuged within 5 min of collection. The remaining 45 aliquots were divided into three groups and kept at three different temperatures: 4 degrees C, 17 degrees C, or 37 degrees C. For each anticoagulant, aliquots from every cow and incubation temperature were centrifuged every 30 min for 6 h, and then at 8, 12 and 24 h. Plasma or serum were separated immediately after centrifugation and were kept frozen at -20 degrees C until assayed for progesterone. The mean initial concentration of P4 in serum (8.3 ng/ml) significantly diminished (P<0.05) to 6.7 ng/ml after 5 h of incubation at 4 degrees C, 3 h at 17 degrees C, or 2 h at 37 degrees C. In plasma from heparinized blood the initial concentration (7.8 ng/ml) declined significantly after 6 h of incubation at 4 degrees C, 2 h at 17 degrees C, or 1 h at 37 degrees C. Sodium fluoride used as anticoagulant prevented the degradation of P4 since the initial concentration of P4 (6.7 ng/ml) never declined during incubation at either 4 degrees C or 37 degrees C; the only significant reduction occurred after 24 h of incubation at 17 degrees C.

Effect of time and temperature of incubation of heparinized caprine blood on concentrations of progesterone detected in plasma

Blood samples from 12 pregnant does were collected in flasks containing heparin. Each sample was divided into 31 aliquots, the first of which was immediately centrifuged for plasma separation. Fifteen of the remaining aliquots from each goat were kept at 17 degrees C, while the remaining is were refrigerated at 4 degrees C. Centrifugation of these aliquots was carried out at half-hour intervals until completion of 6 h, and then at 8, 12 and 24 h post collection. The mean concentration of progesterone in the aliquots centrifuged initially was 4.0 +/- 0.3 ng/ml, and it was not significantly altered during incubation of the blood at 17 degrees C. In contrast, the concentrations of progesterone increased significantly to 5.0 +/- 0.3 (P < 0.05) during the first hour of incubation at 4 degrees C, remaining elevated most of the time. The stability of progesterone during incubation of heparinized caprine blood at 17 degrees C indicates that immediate centrifugation is not necessary. Refrigeration during the storage of blood samples is not recommended since progesterone levels are altered, probably due to separation of progesterone from the membranes of red blood cells during the hemolysis that is caused by incubation at low temperatures.

[Therapeutic aspects of condylar disc subluxation of temporomandibular joint]

We described therapeutical aspects for treatment of moderated temporomandibular subluxation of the joint disc, with emphasis about the concepts of reduction and immobilization of traumatology, previous to the functional rehabilitation. We used a technique in 14 patients that were previously diagnosed clinical and radiographically, and within the diagnostic procedures we estimated temporomandibular disturbances as an important factor in pre and post treatment to obtain articular stabilization.

Prevalence of gestational diabetes and macrosomic newborns in a Mexican population

Prevalence of gestational diabetes was investigated in 693 pregnant patients between the 24th and 28th wk of gestation. A glucose screening test (GST) was performed with a 50-g glucose load, followed by a blood sample 1 h later. Patients with glucose levels greater than 140 mg/dl 1 h after the GST were scheduled for a full oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). One hundred seven patients had an abnormal GST, and 30 patients (4.3%) were diagnosed as having gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The percentage of GDM increased significantly when glucose levels were greater than 180 mg/dl to a maximum of 84.61% when glucose levels were greater than 200 mg/dl. Also, patient age was directly related to GDM, which increased in incidence to 20% when patients greater than 26 yr had an abnormal GST. After delivery, newborn weights were compared between those born to mothers with GDM (n = 30) and those born to mothers with an abnormal GST (n = 77). Patients with an abnormal GST and normal OGTT had 12 (15.58%) macrosomic and 2 premature newborns. However, patients with GDM had 5 (16.66%) macrosomic and no premature newborns. Patients with a normal GST had 7.33% of the macrosomic newborns. There was no perinatal mortality in newborns of GDM mothers; only 1 of the 5 macrosomic newborns presented transient hypoglycemia. Evaluation of 26 GDM patients was possible after delivery, disclosing 3 (11.53%) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and 5 (19.23%) with impaired glucose tolerance. These results showed 4.3% undetected GDM in our population and no differences in the proportion of macrosomic newborns between those born to mothers with GDM and those born to mothers with an abnormal GST.

Breeding studies reveal segregation of a canine Robertsonian translocation along Mendelian proportions

Six matings of golden retriever-type mongrel dogs with a 13/23 Robertsonian translocation were studied. Three matings between normal dogs and dogs heterozygous for the translocation produced 12 normals and 11 heterozygotes. In three matings between heterozygotes, the distribution of normal, heterozygous, and homozygous proteny was Mendelian (8:12:5). No gross phenotypic anomalies were observed with the exception of congenital inguinal hernia in two female homozygotes. Nondisjunction in the form of trisomic or monosomic individuals for either autosome 13 or 23 was not observed.

Mouse red cell rosette formation by subpopulations of human lymphocytes

In six separate experiments, 7-2% of purified peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal donors were shown to form rosettes with mouse erythrocytes. Normal T and B lymphocytes were separated according to their membrane properties, by E-rosette formation or fractionation on anti F (ab')2 column. The results obtained in both the separation procedures used were in good agreement: T lymphocytes were never found to form mouse red cell rosettes. On the contrary, enrichment of suspensions in B lymphocytes resulted in an increased percentage of mouse red-cell rosette-forming cells. Under the technical condition used, peroxidase-positive monocytes were not shown to form such rosettes. However, if all the mouse red cell rosette-forming cells were shown to be of B nature, not all the B lymphocytes form rosettes with mouse erythrocytes and it is not unlikely that this marker could be characteristic for a subset of Ig-bearing B lymphocytes.

Induction and Survival of Hemoglobin-Less and Erythrocyte-Less Tadpoles and Young Bullfrogs

Injection of two 25-microgram-per-gram doses of the hemolytic agent phenylhydrazine reduced the hemoglobin level and the erythrocyte count to less than 1 percent of normal tadpole and young blullfrog blood. These anemic animals survive for weeks with little change in overall metabolism. A slow recovery of hemoglobin levels was observed. The implications of this observation for comparative biochemistry are considered.