Basal cell carcinoma of the nose requiring amputation arising after irradiation for childhood hemangioma

A 49-year-old female, who had undergone irradiation at six years of age as a treatment for a cutaneous nasal hemangioma, developed later a devastating basal cell carcinoma requiring sub-amputation of the nose and subsequent reconstruction with a pre-expanded forehead flap. Basal cell carcinomas are now frequently reported as late sequelae of previous low-dose irradiations after 10-20 years, and patients should be aware of this possible evolution.

A simple chromosomal marker can reliably distinguishes Poncirus from Citrus species

Several chromosome types have been recognized in Citrus and related genera by chromomycin A(3 )(CMA) banding patterns and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). They can be used to characterize cultivars and species or as markers in hybridization and backcrossing experiments. In the present work, characterization of six cultivars of P. trifoliata ("Barnes", "Fawcett", "Flying Dragon", "Pomeroy", "Rubidoux", "USDA") and one P. trifoliata x C. limonia hybrid was performed by sequential analyses of CMA banding and FISH using 5S and 45S rDNA as probes. All six cultivars showed a similar CMA(+) banding pattern with the karyotype formula 4B + 8D + 6F. The capital letters indicate chromosomal types: B, a chromosome with one telomeric and one proximal band; D, with only one telomeric band; F, without bands. In situ hybridization labeling was also similar among cultivars. Three chromosome pairs displayed a closely linked set of 5S and 45S rDNA sites, two of them co-located with the proximal band of the B type chromosomes (B/5S-45S) and the third one co-located with the terminal band of a D pair (D/5S-45S). The B/5S-45S chromosome has never been found in any citrus accessions investigated so far. Therefore, this B chromosome can be used as a marker to recognize the intergeneric Poncirus x Citrus hybrids. The intergeneric hybrid analyzed here displayed the karyotype formula 4B + 8D + 6F, with two chromosome types B/5S-45S and two D/5S-45S. The karyotype formula and the presence of two B/5S-45S chromosomes clearly indicate that the plant investigated is a symmetric hybrid. It also demonstrates the suitability of karyotype analyses to differentiate zygotic embryos or somatic cell fusions involving trifoliate orange germplasm.

Tumor stem cell vaccine for NSCLC and GBM-assessment of feasibility, adverse events and efficacy

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Background: Only a small part of the total cell population of a malignancy has the potential to grow and regenerate the total tumor mass. The rest are only differentiated forms of those stem cells. This biologic characteristic seems to be responsible for the failure to achieve long term remission for several peptide based vaccines. Method: To overcome this obstacle, we have established a technique that uses tumor stem cells (TSC) to develop a TSC-B cell vaccine. To test efficacy and best administration form of this vaccine, we have proceeded as follow: First: Pieces from total or partial resections of GBM or NSCLC were mechanically dissociated to a single cell suspension. Cells were cultured in an appropriate tissue culture medium and allowed to grow for two weeks or until they reach a semi confluent stage. Then, cells were harvested and re-seeded. This procedure was repeated 6 to 24 weeks according to vitality and growth characteristics of cells. Finally, Tumor cells were fused with autologous B cells. The hybrid was kept in culture and used for an intra lymph node immunization every 3 weeks. To potentiate its action, 3 days prior to its administration we co-incubated the hybrid with either autologous dendritic cells or autologous mononuclear cells. Adverse events were evaluated by the “Common terminology criteria for Adverse Events (AE), 2004” developed by NIH. Definitions are available on the web at http://ctep.cancer.gov/reporting/ctc.html . Clinical efficacy of this procedure was evaluated according RESIST criteria for NSCLC and a combination of MRI and spectroscopy for GBM. Results: At present 8 patients with GBM with post surgical second relapse and who had received complete radiotherapy doses were treated. We have also treated 6 patients with NSCLC:4 with minimal residual disease and 2 with measurable residual disease. Patients have presented minor adverse events, mainly referred to inflammation of the injection site. The median survival rates registered to the present are 22 months for GBM patients and 3 years for patients with stage IV NSCLC who had minimal residual disease at the beginning of the treatment. Conclusion: A tumor stem cell vaccine seems to be a feasible and effective therapy with very low toxicity for the treatment of advanced GBM and NSCLC patients.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Mitotic Microtubule Development and Histone H3 Phosphorylation in the Holocentric Chromosomes of Rhynchospora Tenuis (Cyperaceae)

In the present work we report the phosphorylation pattern of histone H3 and the development of microtubular structures using immunostaining techniques, in mitosis of Rhynchospora tenuis (2n = 4), a Cyperaceae with holocentric chromosomes. The main features of the holocentric chromosomes of R. tenuis coincide with those of other species namely: the absence of primary constriction in prometaphase and metaphase, and the parallel separation of sister chromatids at anaphase. Additionaly, we observed a highly conserved chromosome positioning at anaphase and early telophase sister nuclei. Four microtubule arrangements were distinguished during the root tip cell cycle. Interphase cells showed a cortical microtubule arrangement that progressively forms the characteristic pre-prophase band. At prometaphase the microtubules were homogeneously distributed around the nuclear envelope. Metaphase cells displayed the spindle arrangement with kinetochore microtubules attached throughout the entire chromosome extension. At anaphase kinetochoric microtubules become progressively shorter, whereas bundles of interzonal microtubules became increasingly broader and denser. At late telophase the microtubules were observed equatorially extended beyond the sister nuclei and reaching the cell wall. Immunolabelling with an antibody against phosphorylated histone H3 revealed the four chromosomes labelled throughout their entire extension at metaphase and anaphase. Apparently, the holocentric chromosomes of R. tenuis function as an extended centromeric region both in terms of cohesion and H3 phosphorylation.

Acetylcholinesterase and molecular interactions at the neuromuscular junction

The efficiency and the tight control of neurotransmission require the accumulation of synaptic proteins in discrete domains. In neuromuscular junctions, the main form of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a hetero-oligomer in which the catalytic subunits are associated to a specific collagen, ColQ. This structural protein is responsible for the insertion and the accumulation of AChE in the synaptic basal lamina. We have analyzed the time-course of acetylcholinesterase and acetylcholine receptors (AChR) mRNAs during mouse muscle cell differentiation in culture. In parallel, we have visualized the formation of AChE and AChR aggregates. We show that AChR clusters form first which correlates with high gamma-subunit mRNA levels. Then, AChE clusters appear with the onset of contraction and correlate with a dramatic increase in AChE, ColQ1 and ColQ1A mRNA levels in muscle cells. At that stage, AChR gamma-subunit levels drop while the expression level of epsilon-subunits increase. AChE aggregates are organized by a ternary complex, which involves direct interactions between ColQ, perlecan and MuSK.

Mitotic instability in wheat x Thinopyrum ponticum derivatives revealed by chromosome counting, nuclear DNA content and histone H3 phosphorylation pattern

To evaluate the mitotic stability of Triticum aestivum x Thinopyrum ponticum derivatives (BC(2)F(7) and BC(2)F(5) doubled haploids), chromosome counting by both conventional and immunostaining techniques, and measurement of DNA content were performed. The wheat progenitor line, PF 839197, the wheat recurrent parent CEP 19 and the control Chinese Spring were also investigated. In the hybrid derivatives, chromosome number ranged from 2n=36 to 60, with a predominance of chromosome numbers higher than 2n=42, that was confirmed by determination of nuclear DNA content. Chinese Spring' and PF 839197 were stable, but CEP 19 showed chromosome number variation (20%). Analyses of non-pretreated cells revealed the presence of anaphase bridges, lagging chromatids, chromosome fragments and micronuclei. Immunostaining with an antibody recognizing histone H3 phosphorylated showed dicentric chromatids forming anaphase bridges and pericentromeric phosphorylation at centric chromosome fragments but not at lagging chromatids. The possible causes of the observed mitotic instability are discussed.

The relationships among lemons, limes and citron: a chromosomal comparison

Lemons, limes and citron constitute a group of closely related Citrus species, whose species delimitations and taxonomic relationships are unclear. In order to identify karyotypic similarities and species relationships within this group, the CMA+/DAPI- banding pattern and the distribution of the 5S and 45S rDNA sites of 10 accessions of lime, lemon, and citron were investigated. The four cultivars of C. limon analyzed showed the same pattern of CMA+ bands and rDNA sites, suggesting that they originated from a single germplasm, later differentiated by distinct somatic mutations. The lemons C. jambhiri, C. limonia and C. volkameriana displayed karyotypes very similar to each other, but they differed from C. limon by the absence of a single chromosome with one band in each telomere. The limes, C. aurantifolia and C. limettioides, seemed less related to each other and exhibited different heteromorphic chromosome pairs. In C. aurantifolia, the presence of a chromosome type unknown in all other Citrus species cytologically known so far supports the assumption that this accession may be derived from a hybrid with a species from the subgenus Papeda or from another genus. Citrus medica was the only homozygous accession of this group and all of its chromosome types were clearly represented in limes and lemons, some of them forming heteromorphic pairs. The analysis of the distribution of rDNA sites allowed a further refinement of the comparison among accessions. The lemons and limes were heterozygous for all rDNA sites, whereas C. medica was entirely homozygous. These data support the hypothesis that C. medica is a true species while the other nine accessions are hybrids.

[Intracellular pH changes induced by sclerosing agents in peritoneal fibroblasts]

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis secondary to peritoneal dialysis has been associated to acetate-containing dialysis fluids, hypertonic glucose and disinfectants. Physiopathologic mechanisms of fibrotic proliferation that implicate those agents are not totally explained. With an experimental approach using cultured peritoneal fibroblasts, we have studied intracellular pH changes and Na+/H+ antiporter activity under cells perfusion with peritoneal dialysis liquids containing acetate, lactate, hypertonic glucose and interleukin-1. All experiments were performed at extracellular pH 7.4 and physiologic HCO3/CO2 concentration.

RESULTS

35 mM acetate produced a huge intracellular acidosis (ipH = 6.80 +/- 0.08). Lactate effect was less important (6.95 +/- 0.07), with a slow ipH recovery in about 30 min in both cases. IL-1, 10(-6) M also reduced ipH to 7.10 +/- 0.03. Acidosis was linked to Ca2+ outflow via Ca/H exchange and was blocked with Cd 20 nM. Extracellular Na = 0 and amiloride totally inhibited ipH recovery after acetate, lactate, or interleukin-induced acidosis. Hypertonic glucose perfusion increased ipH (7.31 +/- 0.06) for 5-7 min. This increase was also inhibited by amiloride or extracellular Na absence. Na+/H+ exchanger activity increased to 58%, and kept activated after ipH recovery. In conclusion, acetate, hypertonic glucose and IL-1 showed the common effect of stimulating the sodium-proton exchanger by different mechanisms, giving a possibility of potentiation. Activated Na+/H+ exchanger may act as a signal-transduction increasing fibroblast proliferation and explaining the cellular mechanism of sclerosing peritonitis.

Leiomyosarcoma of the popliteal artery: case report and review of the literature

Vascular leiomyosarcomas are rare tumors, and only 21 have been described as developing in the systemic arteries. We present a case, the sixth in the literature, of a leiomyosarcoma originating in the popliteal artery of a 67-year-old woman treated with en bloc excision of the neoplasia and the artery followed by a popliteal tibioperoneal trunk bypass. The patient then was underwent adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. After 31 months of follow-up, the patient has mild claudication but does not have either recurrence or metastasis.

Prosthetic replacement of the inferior vena cava and the iliofemoral vein for urologically related malignancies

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility and results of prosthetic venous replacement, as inferior vena cava (IVC) and iliofemoral vein resection and replacement are sometimes necessary when they are extensively involved by a large and fixed tumour thrombus from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) or other urological malignancies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Five men and two women (age range 41-75 years) were treated over a 10-year period (1991-2001) by aggressive venous surgery to achieve complete tumour resection, with prosthetic graft replacement to re-establish venous flow. The tumours included RCC of the right kidney (two), retroperitoneal liposarcoma (two), bladder cancer (one), retroperitoneal fibrosarcoma (one) and inguino-pelvic lymphoma (one). Two patients had a vena caval replacement, of whom one had a circular reinforced PTFE and one a Dacron silver graft; five patients had either an iliofemoral or an ilio-iliac circular reinforced PTFE graft. The prosthetic diameter was 18-20 mm for the IVC grafts and 8-10 mm for the iliac grafts. In all the patients, graft patency was evaluated during the follow-up by colour flow duplex imaging, and in one it was determined by angio-computed tomography scan and venography.

RESULTS

One patient died 30 days after surgery; of the remaining six patients one had no evidence of regional recurrence or metastatic disease at 12 months, and five died from recurrent tumour 8-30 months after surgery. The mean time to death was 23 months. At 3 months all six prosthesis were patent; at 6 months four were patent and at 12 months three of five prostheses were patent.

CONCLUSION

Resecting and replacing the IVC allows complete tumour resection and avoids renal failure, providing durable relief from the symptoms of venous obstruction. Iliofemoral prosthetic reconstruction for urological-related malignancies represents a viable option to avoid venous engorgement and lower extremity swelling, at least in the early postoperative period. The mean time to death for the present patients must be considered the limit for these aggressive operations.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization in plant polytene chromosomes

Polytene chromosomes are found in specialized tissues, with high metabolic activity, of a few angiosperm genera. They differ from Diptera polytenics in several aspects, mainly because their chromatids on each chromosome are not tightly paired, nor are they so highly endoreplicated as those of Diptera. In situ hybridization with isotopic and non-isotopic probes has been successfully used in plant polytene chromosomes, mainly in Phaseolus coccineus and Vigna unguiculata, where they have been best investigated. The results reported for mitotic and polytene chromosomes of these species, and a few others, are compared aiming to ascertain the efficiency and limitations of FISH in plant polytenics. In general, polytene chromosomes either from embryo suspensor cells of P. coccineus or from anther tapetal cells of V. unguiculata proved to be quite a suitable system for localizing DNA sequences by FISH. The partially unsynapsed chromatids, typically found in plant polytenics, seem to be the most important hindrance for a precise chromosome mapping. On the other hand, the interphase polytene nucleus is a valuable system for localizing FISH signals since they conserve a spatial organization similar to that of mitotic interphase and produce much amplified signals.

Ten years of prophylactic treatment with fresh-frozen plasma in a child with chronic relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura as a result of a congenital deficiency of von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease

We report the results of 10 years of prophylactic fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) infusion therapy in a 14-year-old girl with chronic relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), in whom a severe congenital von Willebrand factor (VWF)-cleaving protease deficiency has been documented. Severe haemolytic crises triggered by infections were prevented and her present renal and neurological functions have been preserved. Sequential measurements of protease activity and platelet count after FFP infusion led us to conclude tentatively that 5% may be sufficient to degrade very large and adhesive VWF multimers.

Identification, cellular and subcellular distribution of 21 and 72 kDa proteins (tuberalins?) secreted by specific cells of the pars tuberalis

The cell types of the pars tuberalis (PT) are the follicular cells, the pars distalis cells and the so-called PT-specific cells. The latter are distinct endocrine cells displaying melatonin receptors. Although the nature of the secretory product(s) of the PT-specific cells has not yet been clarified, the function of these cells has started to be unfolded. For practical reasons, previous authors have designated the, as yet, unidentified PT hormone(s) as tuberalin(s). PT-specific cells synthesise the common alpha subunit of the pars distalis glycoprotein hormones, and it has been suggested that tuberalin would correspond to the beta chain of a specific glycoprotein secreted by these cells. The aims of the present investigation were to identify the compounds secreted by the specific cells of bovine PT, and to establish their cellular and subcellular distribution. For this purpose, proteins secreted into the culture medium of PT explants were separated by electrophoresis and used to raise antibodies. Two of these proteins, with an apparent molecular mass of 21 and 72, generated antibodies (Ab-21 and Ab-72) that differentially immunoreacted with PT-specific cells. These two antibodies were used for immunoblotting of conditioned medium and of PT explants, and for light and electron microscopy immunocytochemistry. In immunoblots, Ab-21 reacted with compounds of 21, 22, 47 and 52 kDa, whereas Ab-72 revealed a compound of 72 kDa only. Ab-72 immunoreactive material corresponded to a protein, here designated as tuberalin I, secreted by a small population of PT-specific cells (type 2 cells), and stored in 140 nm secretory granules. Immunoreactive tuberalin I was missing from bovine pars distalis and from rat PT. The predominant population of PT-specific cells (type 3 cells) secreted and stored, within 280 nm secretory granules, an Ab-21 immunoreactive protein, here designated as tuberalin II. All cells of rat PT immunoreacted with Ab-21. In the cells of bovine and rat PT, immunoreactive tuberalin II was mostly confined to a paranuclear spot; this spot also bound wheat germ agglutinin and reacted with an antibody against the alpha chain of glycoprotein pars distalis hormones. It is suggested that tuberalin II would correspond to the beta chain of a specific glycoprotein secreted by type 3 PT-specific cells. In bovine PT, the cells displaying immunoreactive tuberalins I and II did not react with any of the antibodies against pars distalis hormones.

[Effects of organic acids on corrosion of orthodontic appliances]

BACKGROUND

During the last years orthodontic practitioners and patients have developed an increasing interest on the possible undesired effects originated by the growing use of treatments in this field. Among the several undesirable effects, we have analyzed those due to allergic phenomena or cases of direct toxicity resulting from the emission of metallic ions contained in the metallic parts of the orthodontic equipment. One of the essential requirements of metals for orthodontic use is biocompatibility; international regulations (CE, ISO) value the biocompatibility of materials for orthodontics. The analysis of biocompatibility in orthodontic equipment cannot leave out of consideration the evaluation of ion emission.

METHODS

In our research we have considered the release of metallic ions from orthodontic equipment in water solutions of organic acids kept at a constant temperature of 37 degrees C for 28 days. The evaluation has been possible by ionic absorption spectrophotometry.

RESULTS

The results show that the release of metallic ions, low as an absolute value, has a particular trend in time. The nickel, chromium and copper concentrations have been higher during the first day than in the following 27 days.

CONCLUSIONS

These data reassure about the use of orthodontic equipment, since the emission of ions is low, even if allergic problems not linked to the quantity of ions emitted cannot be excluded.