Long-term endocrine toxicity of myeloablative treatment followed by autologous bone marrow/blood derived stem cell transplantation in patients with malignant lymphohematopoietic disorders

The effect of myeloablative treatment with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT)/autologous blood derived stem cell transplantation (ABSCT) in patients with acute leukemias or lymphomas was studied in 32 adult patients with a mean observation time of 15.8 months after transplantation. The conditioning regimen consisted of hyperfractionated total-body irradiation (TBI) and high-dose cyclophosphamide or the cyclophosphamide, carmustine, and etoposid (CBV) regimen. In all of the female patients, we observed primary ovarian failure requiring estradiol replacement therapy. In all of the male patients, testosterone levels were normal but follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were increased, suggestive of germinal aplasia which was proved by semen analysis in several patients. In contrast to the reports of other groups, we did not find any abnormalities in thyroid function, most likely because TBI was hyperfractionated. Moderate toxicity to the adrenal cortex was noticed and was more pronounced in women than in men. Our results are similar to findings reported after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, with the exception of normal thyroid function in our patients. These results should be taken into consideration when counseling patients about the long-term consequences of myeloablative treatment. Cryopreservation of semen should be offered to men before myeloablative treatment. Estrogen replacement should be initiated after transplantation in women to prevent adverse effects of long-term ovarian failure.

Studies on the mechanism of benzene toxicity

Using the 59Fe uptake method of Lee et al. it was shown that erythropoiesis in female mice was inhibited following IP administration of benzene, hydroquinone, p-benzoquinone, and muconaldehyde. Toluene protected against the effects of benzene. Coadministration of phenol plus either hydroquinone or catechol resulted in greatly increased toxicity. The combination of metabolites most effective in reducing iron uptake was hydroquinone plus muconaldehyde. We have also shown that treating animals with benzene leads to the formation of adducts of bone marrow DNA as measured by the 32P-postlabeling technique.

Technical requirements for high-quality scalp DC recordings

An easily applicable procedure for obtaining high-quality scalp DC recordings is described. A sophisticated amplifier technique, skin potential reduction and stabilisation of electrode potential make up this procedure.

An in vivo study of benzene metabolite DNA adduct formation in liver of male New Zealand rabbits

Rabbits were treated with benzene (586 mg/kg/b.i.d./4 days) after which DNA was isolated from liver and analyzed for adduct formation using the [32P] post-labeling method of Randerath and coworkers (Randerath et al. 1981; Reddy et al. 1984, 1986, 1987). Liver 500 g and 9000 g fractions were analyzed for adducts. There appeared to be several adducts in both the 500 g and 9000 g fractions observed on radioautographs of cellulose-TLC plates. Several adducts were also observed when the 9000 g fraction was studied using HPLC.

The TP1 isolate of feline sarcoma virus encodes a fgr-related oncogene lacking gamma actin sequences

We have isolated a new feline sarcoma virus, TP1-FeSV. The virus encodes a myristilated 83 kD gag-onc fusion protein displaying tyrosine kinase activity. We have established nonproducer cell lines lacking the TP1-FeSV associated helper virus (FeLV) and TP1-FeSV transfected NIH cell lines. Southern Blot analysis of genomic DNA and Northern Blot analysis of RNA isolated from these cell lines revealed that the oncogene of the TP1-FeSV isolate is related to the fgr oncogene of the GR-FeSV, but shows no hybridization to the gamma actin homologous sequences of the GR-FeSV. We have isolated TP1-FeSV specific clones from a genomic library. Restriction enzyme and sequence analysis showed that the TP1-FeSV genome consists of the first 1651 nucleotides of the gag gene, followed directly by fgr sequences. The TP1-FeSV fgr sequence starts 43 nucleotides after the beginning of the GR-FeSV fgr sequence. In contrast to the GR-FeSV fgr which has lost 13 amino acids of the c-fgr carboxy terminus, the TP1-FeSV fgr contains the complete carboxy terminus of the cellular fgr gene. The TP1-FeSV fgr sequence is followed by a unique 328 nucleotide long sequence of unknown origin. The 3' recombination site occurs within the pol gene, 460 nucleotides from the start of the env leader sequence. Comparison of the subcellular localization of the transforming proteins of TP1-FeSV and GR-FeSV show no striking difference; both molecules are in part associated with subcellular membrane/cytoskeletal fractions and form complexes with the cellular pp90 and pp50.

Acute renal vein thrombosis in renal allografts: detection with duplex Doppler US

Renal allograft recipients were routinely monitored by means of duplex Doppler ultrasound. In a 20-month survey period, four instances of acute renal vein thrombosis were detected among 75 patients. All episodes occurred within the first 3 postoperative days. The examinations disclosed peaked, abruptly dropping systolic frequency shifts and retrograde plateaulike frequency shifts during diastole at the level of the main renal artery and its proximal branches. A venous Doppler signal could not be recorded. The findings are interpreted as indicating renal impedance exceeding diastolic pressure with nonpropulsive blood flow within the arterial vasculature.

Dumb-bell ganglioneuroma of the spine misinterpreted as progressive idiopathic scoliosis. Case report

A giant ganglioneuroma generating a progressive scoliosis in a 16-year-old girl is presented. The interval between the start of the orthopaedic treatment and the diagnosis of the true nature of the disease was more than 4 years, thus allowing the development of a giant partly intracanalicularly partly retroperitonealy expanding tumor mass. The report emphasizes and describes the combined neurosurgical, general surgical and orthopaedic surgical treatment and presents the results of light- and electron microsopical, immunohistochemical and quantitative neurochemical investigations of the resected tumor.

Glucocorticoid receptors and dissociation constant (Kd) are decreased in mononuclear leukocytes of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP) as compared to normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY)

We were able to show that spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats (SHR-SP) have a lower number of glucocorticoid receptors (P-value is of borderline significance, 0.01 greater than P less than 0.05) with a highly significant lower Kd (P less than 0.0005), i.e higher affinity in their mononuclear leukocytes, compared to normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The plasma levels of corticosterone, aldosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone of the two strains do not differ.

Lipoprotein binding to cultured human hepatoma cells

Binding of various 125I-lipoproteins to hepatic receptors was studied on cultured human hepatoma cells (Hep G2). Chylomicrons, isolated from a chylothorax, chylomicron remnants, hypertriglyceridemic very low-density lipoproteins, normotriglyceridemic very low-density lipoproteins (NTG-VLDL), their remnants, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and HDL-E (an Apo E-rich high-density lipoprotein isolated from the plasma of a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis) were bound by high-affinity receptors. Chylomicron remnants and HDL-E were bound with the highest affinity. The results, obtained from competitive binding experiments, are consistent with the existence of two distinct receptors on Hep G2 cells: (a) a remnant receptor capable of high-affinity binding of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and HDL-E, but not of Apo E free LDL, and (b) a LDL receptor capable of high-affinity binding of LDL, NTG-VLDL, and HDL-E. Specific binding of Apo E-free LDL was completely abolished in the presence of 3 mM EDTA, indicating that binding to the LDL receptor is calcium dependent. Specific binding of chylomicron remnants was not inhibited by the presence of even 10 mM EDTA. Preincubation of the Hep G2 cells in lipoprotein-containing medium resulted in complete suppression of LDL receptors but did not affect the remnant receptors. Hep G2 cells seem to be a suitable model for the study of hepatic receptors for lipoprotein in man.

[Cytomegaly infection in infancy in a family with demonstrated HIV antibodies]

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was isolated from the urine of babies from two consecutive pregnancies of a mother. The first baby had died of pneumonia at the age of six months, two years before the second confinement (twins of different sexes). The male twin was examined at the age of eight months on account of generalized lymphomas, pulmonary infiltrates and thrombopenia. He excreted CMV in the urine, and HIV antibodies were found in the serum. All members of the family (also the baby who died in 1983, from whom serum samples had been stored at -20 degrees C) finally proved to be carriers of antibodies against HIV. The parents and the female twin did not show any clinical symptoms indicating a HIV infection; however, CMV was also isolated from a urine sample from the mother.

gp140v-fms molecules expressed at the surface of cells transformed by the McDonough strain of feline sarcoma virus are phosphorylated in tyrosine and serine

Cells transformed by the McDonough strain of feline sarcoma virus express at their surface a v-fms-specific transmembrane glycoprotein designated gp140v-fms. By labeling with 32Pi, gp140v-fms was shown to be phosphorylated 30-fold more in serine residues than were the cytosolic v-fms polypeptides gp180gag-fms and gp120v-fms. By using the phosphotyrosine phosphatase-specific inhibitor sodium orthovanadate, an additional tyrosine phosphorylation was observed in vivo, again involving predominantly gp140v-fms. In vitro studies showed that the v-fms proteins were phosphorylated by protein kinase C in a calcium- and phosphatidylserine-dependent manner.

[Thrombocytopenia following intracervical prostaglandin priming]

Thrombocyte aggregation with normochromic anaemia occurred in a gravida III of 27 years of age with sonographically confirmed foetal hydrocephalus, after prostaglandin E2 cervical priming. The authors discuss the differential diagnostic possibilities, but the actual genesis of the changes remains unclear. Hence, it is recommended to check with particular care especially in induction of abortion, the coagulation system with the thrombocytes, over and above the well-known prostaglandin side effects. Special attention must be paid to the occurrence of allergic reactions, and it must always be borne in mind that induction of abortion after the 14th week of gestation is a risky matter (1).

Spontaneous cortical DC-potential shifts: modulation stereotypy; relationships to higher EEG-frequencies

A description of scalp-recorded, spontaneous, cerebral DC-potential shifts is given independent of other variables (shift stereotypy), in relationship to higher frequencies (theta, alpha 1, alpha 2: 4-13 Hz) and as analyzed pairwise across the median sagittal line (Fz, Cz, Pz) separately according to frequency and condition (relaxation and moderate mental load). Spontaneous DC-shifts are shown to behave unpredictably. Whether measured jointly (up to triads) or as dyad and triad context entropy, the frontal DC-shifts are calculated as being random, whereby their definition as such within the context of the Principle Component Analysis is supported by the analysis of longitudinal registrations. Cross-correlation analysis of the cerebral slow potential's relationship to each of the higher frequencies (theta, alpha 1, alpha 2) reveals it to be highly independent, the highest correlation accounting for merely 11% of the common variance, the average being 9% (R congruent to 0.3). By matching the conjoint activity of the DC-potential between Fz-Cz, Cz-Pz, and Fz-Pz to that of theta, alpha 1, alpha 2 at the same paired sites, the DC-activity is shown to be operating at higher levels of synchronous activity than the higher frequencies, regardless of pairing and/or condition, although the general level of synchronous activity (DC, theta, alpha 1, alpha 2) is remarkably high along the median sagittal line, 75% of the correlation averages of all analysis-pairings being above 0.60.

Cytotoxic T cell lysis of H-2-negative murine sarcoma cells

The DOH cell line was established from C3H.OH (H-2Kd,Dk) embryonic fibroblasts transformed with Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) in vitro. When injected into syngeneic mice, DOH cells were very weakly tumorigenic and induced a cytotoxic immune response. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) specifically lysed DOH cells but not other RSV-induced sarcoma cells, which shared the H-2Kd or H-2Dk antigen, respectively, with DOH. Serological and immunochemical analysis of H-2 antigens subsequently showed that DOH sarcoma cells did not express syngeneic H-2K and H-2D antigens. Surprisingly, a H-2Kk-specific monoclonal antibody (100-5) bound to DOH cells and was inhibitory for syngeneic CTL specific for DOH. In addition, DOH cells were lysed by alloreactive H-2Kk-specific CTL. The demonstration of immunogenic H-2-negative sarcoma cells suggests that either the H-2K antigens have been extensively altered or that hitherto unidentified major histocompatibility complex class I molecules are expressed on DOH sarcoma cells surfaces, acting as target antigens for tumor-specific CTL.