Contrasting patterns of protein kinase activities among normal peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations and lymphoid cell lines

Human peripheral mononuclear cell suspensions were separated into E-rosette-positive (T cell) and E-rosette-negative (non-T cell) fractions and assayed for cAMP binding activity and histone and casein kinase activity, in the presence and absence of cAMP. Each of these activities was higher in E-rosette-positive than E-rosette-negative fractions. Cyclic AMP binding and histone kinase activities were further noted to be higher in T lymphoblastoid cell lines when compared to lines of non-T lymphoid cell origin. In addition. DEAE-cellulose chromatography revealed a qualitative contrast of isoenzymic composition of protein kinase from these cell lines. Cyclic AMP-independent casein kinase activity was high in both types of cell lines. These results suggest that high protein kinase activity is characteristic of T cells and may be related to their higher sensitivity to cAMP agonists in comparison to non-T cells. This study also provides further evidence for an association between increased cAMP-independent protein kinase activity and the transformed state, which has been noted for a variety of other cell types.

Cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent and -independent protein kinase in acute myeloblastic leukemia

Determination of levels and isozymic patterns of protein kinase activities was performed upon extracts from two human leukemia cell lines (K562 and HL-60) and blast cells from five untreated patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia and compared to activities from normal human peripheral blood granulocytes and bone marrow samples enriched for proliferative myeloid cells. The leukemic cells studied were found to have higher specific activities of cytosol cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-independent casein kinase and lower activation by cAMP of their cytosol histone kinase compared to the normal myeloid cells studied. Diethylaminoethyl-cellulose chromatography revealed correspondingly higher amounts of cAMP-independent protein kinase isoenzymes (two casein kinase and one histone kinase peaks) in the leukemic cells, as well as altered ratios of the two cAMP-dependent isozymes. Casein phosphorylating activities extracted from the nuclei of the leukemic cell lines were also high compared to normal myeloid cells. Further purification and estimation of molecular weights of the isoenzymes present in leukemia were accomplished by gel filtration, using Sephacryl S-200. Resolution of the acute myeloblastic leukemia cell line nuclear casein kinase activity into two peaks was also thereby accomplished. The nuclear peaks eluted earlier than the corresponding cytoplasmic peaks; thus, the nuclear isoenzymes may not be identical to those from the cytoplasm. The increased protein kinase activity noted in such cells may be an important biochemical concomitant of transformation.

"Trigger finger" secondary to partial rupture of the superficial flexor tendon

A case of "trigger finger" due to flexor digitorum superficialis tendon "tag" following a hyperextension injury to the metacarpophalangeal joint is reported. The tag formed as a result of avulsion of the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon slip from its insertion in the middle phalanx.

Reinduction therapy for adult acute leukemia with adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisone: a Southwest Oncology Group study

In an attempt to improve remissions and survivals in previously treated patients with adult acute leukemia, we gave Adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisone for induction therapy, followed by 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate for maintenance therapy to patients attaining complete remission (CR). The study group consisted of 18 patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), ten with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and one with acute undifferentiated leukemia. Only one patient had previously received Adriamycin. Overall, there were ten CRs and two partial remissions. The five CRs and one partial remission in patients with AML occurred among those with one prior induction attempt; none of the eight AML patients with more than one prior induction attempt responded. The actuarial median duration of CR was 15 weeks and was similar for AML and acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. Responders had a longer median survival (30 weeks) than nonresponders (9 weeks). Thus, although a reasonable number of responses in previously treated patients were obtained with this program, improvements in maintenance therapy are clearly needed.

Differences in age and sex distributions among patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The records of a group of 337 adult patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma seen at the Stanford University Medical Center, Division of Oncology were examined for relationships between stage and histopathological classification and simple demographic characteristics. Patients with Stages I and II of disease and diffuse varieties of lymphoma were found to be younger than patients in other categories. An excess of male patients was noted particularly in younger patients with diffuse lymphoma and Stages I and II of disease. Male patients with Stages I and II disease were noted to be bimodally distributed with respect to age, with peak number of patients in the fourth and sixth decades. This was particularly apparent among patients with diffuse histiocytic lymphoma. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Combination chemotherapy of diffuse histiocytic lymphoma with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP)

Twenty-three patients with diffuse histiocytic lymphoma who had not had prior chemotherapy were treated with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisone). Sixteen of these patients had previously been treated with radiation therapy. Nine of these 23 patients had a pathologically documented complete response at the conclusion of CHOP with an overall complete response rate of 39%. In patients whose disease was confined to lymph nodes, the complete response rate was 7 of 8 or 88%, while in patients with stage IV disease, only 2 of 15 or 13% had complete responses. Although prior radiation therapy could not be demonstrated to be an adverse prognostic factor in this small series, it could have accounted for the low overall complete response rate noted. Complete response in this series was well sustained with an actuarial relapse-free survival of 75% and an actuarial survival of 89% at two years. No complete responses occurred in five patients who had received prior chemotherapy.

Divergent patterns of marrow cell suspension culture growth in the myeloid leukemias: correlation of in vitro findings with clinical features

Cellular recovery, maturation, and colony-forming cell (CFC) generation patterns of bone marrow cells from 23 patients with acute, subacute, and chronic myeloid leukemia (AML, SML, and CML) were studied using liquid and agar culture techniques. Increased recovery of proliferative myeloid cells from liquid culture was noted in 6 of 8 AML patients at diagnosis or relapse and 5 of 7 untreated SML patients. Patients with either AML or SML with rapid clinical progression exhibited greater recovery of cells in vitro with less maturation than patients with more stable disease. Studies from 3 patients with CML showed normal to increased cellular recovery with normal maturation. Three of 4 studies of AML patients followed sequentially in apparent remission, but with impending relapse, exhibited increased numbers of myeloblasts and promyelocytes, whereas 28 of 32 studies performed during stable remission were normal. The normally observed increase in CFC during liquid culture was absent in most leukemic marrow samples studied (3 of 4 AML, 4 of 6 SML, and 2 of 3 CML). Persistent low recovery of CFC during AML remission was associated in 3 patients with short remission duration. These studies indicated the potential utility of these techniques for the clinical evaluation of patients with myeloid leukemia and for studying factors involved in the progression of these diseases.

Remission maintenance therapy in acute myelogenous leukemia

Because no conclusive evidence as to the efficacy of maintenance chemotherapy in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) existed, a study to obtain such information was done. Twenty-six adult patients with AML in whom complete remission had been achieved following induction chemotherapy were randomly assigned to receive either maintenance chemotherapy consisting of cytarabine and 6-thioguanine for two days each month or to receive no maintenance therapy. The data showed a significant difference in remission duration between the two groups, with median remission lengths for the maintained and unmaintained groups being 10.3 and 6.7 months, respectively (p<.05). In 46 percent of the maintained patients there were remissions lasting longer than 11 months, whereas in none of the unmaintained patients was there such a prolonged remission. No significant drug-induced toxicity was observed. That the prolonged exposure to these chemotherapeutic agents, which were also used in our induction program, did not adversely affect the rate of successful reinduction therapy was shown by identical 50 percent complete remission rates for second inductions in both groups. In patients with palpable splenomegaly at the time of diagnosis, there was no prolongation of remission with maintenance therapy. These data indicate the potential utility of maintenance chemotherapy for prolonging remission duration in acute myelogenous leukemia.

ABSOLUTE RATE MEASUREMENTS OF O-ATOM REACTIONS WITH ETHYLENE AND WITH BUTANE

The absolute rate constants for the primary reactions of O-atoms with ethylene and with butane have been determined in a fast-flow system. The O-atoms were produced by electrodeless discharge of O2 and allowed to react with the hydrocarbon introduced downstream. Addition of a small amount of NO to the gas stream enabled a photometric monitoring of the O-atoms in the reaction zone. The initial atom concentration was determined by NO2 titration. The reaction could be stopped at any point in the reaction zone by means of a movable surface of cobalt oxide. The hydrocarbon concentration at any point could then be determined by condensation downstream and analysis of the products.Rate measurements were carried out over the temperature range −50° to 200 °C. The rates were found to be consistent with a two-body mechanism. For O-atoms with ethylene, k = 1.8(±0.6) × 10−11e−1600/RT cm3 molecule−1 sec−1 and for O-atoms with butane, k = 5.0(±1.6) × 10−11e−4200/RT cm3 molecule−1 sec−1.

THE STUDY OF ELECTRICALLY DISCHARGED O2 BY MEANS OF AN ISOTHERMAL CALORIMETRIC DETECTOR

Molecular oxygen was subjected to an electrodeless discharge in the pressure range 0.1–3 mm Hg. The oxygen atom concentration was measured as a function of time in a flow system by means of a movable atom detector which consisted of a platinum wire coated with a suitable catalyst for atom recombination. The atom concentration was calculated from the heat liberated when the detector was operated under isothermal conditions. The surface recombination was found to be first order in the atom concentration. A value of 7.7 × 10−5 was obtained for the recombination coefficient (γ) on Pyrex. No temperature dependence for γ was observed. The gas phase recombination of oxygen atoms was found to be consistent with the mechanism[Formula: see text]The rate constant for the third-order reaction was found to have a value of 1.0 × 1014 cc2 mole−2 sec−1, and a small negative temperature dependence.Evidence was also obtained for the presence of considerable amounts of excited molecular oxygen in electrically activated O2.