A new non-random chromosomal translocation t(3;6)(q27;p21.3) associated with BCL6 rearrangement in two patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

We describe two cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma associated with t(3;6)(q27;p21.3) and BCL6 rearrangement. The first case was in a 78-year old woman, whose performance status (PS) was 1, the serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level was elevated, and the Ann Arbor stage was IIIA with no extra nodal lymphomatous site. The pathological diagnosis from a biopsy of the inguinal lymph node was 'malignant lymphoma (ML), follicular, small cleaved' according to the Working Formulation. Complete remission was achieved. Although she had relapse in 1992, remission was obtained again. The second case was in a 62-year old man, whose PS was 1, the serum LDH was normal, and Ann Arbor stage was IVA with the involvement of the small intestine. Histological diagnosis of the cervical lymph node was 'ML, diffuse, large cell'. Complete remission was obtained without relapse. The 3q27 translocations, found in 20-30% of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, are unique in having multiple chromosomal translocation partners. Chromosome band 6p21.3 is one of these partner sites that may be the site of a novel gene. The two cases presented here show that this translocation is a non-random chromosomal change involving 3q27 and BCL6. Since t(3;6) was the sole karyotypic abnormality in one case, this translocation may play a role in lymphomagenesis.     

NADPH diaphorase activity in mammalian retinas is modulated by the state of visual adaptation

NADPH diaphorase histochemistry is commonly used to identify cells containing nitric oxide synthase (NOS), the enzyme catalyzing the production of nitric oxide from L-arginine. NADPH diaphorase activity and NOS immunostaining was demonstrated in different cells of the vertebrate retina; photoreceptors, horizontal cells, amacrine cells, ganglion cells, and Müller cells. However, the physiological role of nitric oxide (NO) in the retina has yet to be elucidated. In this study, we tested the assumption that NADPH diaphorase activity in the retinas of rabbits and rats depended on the state of visual adaptation. In the rabbit, light adaptation enhanced NADPH diaphorase activity in amacrine cells and practically eliminated it in horizontal cells. Dark adaptation induced the opposite effects; the NADPH diaphorase activity was reduced in amacrine cells and enhanced in horizontal cells. Retinas from eyes that were injected intravitreally with L-glutamate exhibited a pattern of NADPH diaphorase activity that was similar to that seen in dark-adapted retinas. In rats, the NADPH diaphorase activity of amacrine and horizontal cells exhibited adaptation dependency similar to that of the rabbit retina. But, the most pronounced effect of dark adaptation in the rat's retina was an enhancement of NADPH diaphorase activity in Müller cells, especially of the endfoot region. Assuming that NADPH diaphorase activity is a marker for NOS, these findings suggest that NO production in the mammalian retina is modulated by the level of ambient illumination and support the notion that NO plays a physiological role in the retina.     

Isolation identification and quantitative culture of Helicobacter pylori from gastric mucosa

The biopsy specimens were homogenized and diluted ten-fold serially in Hank's solution. Each dilution samples were streaked on Skirrow's selective medium. The plates were incubated at 37 degrees C 5 to 7 days under micro-aerobic condition and counting the viable cell of H. pylori. The positive rate of specimens with H. pylori in active gastric ulcer tissue (62.0%) was higher than that in scarred tissue (51.9%). Number of H. pylori viable cells in active ulcer tissue was significantly larger than in scarred tissue. The positive correlation between Raw's gastritis score of specimens from patients with erosive gastritis and number of H. pylori viable cells was clearly noticed.     

New direct assay of free protein S antigen applied to diagnosis of protein S deficiency

Congenital deficiencies of protein S (PS) are associated with thrombophilia. Their characterization and classification have been hampered by the complex physiology of the protein C-protein S system and the poor standardization and reliability of laboratory assays. The free active form of protein S is usually determined by immunoassay using polyclonal antibodies in the plasma supernate after polyethyleneglycol (PEG) precipitation. A new one step ELISA using two monoclonal antibodies specific for distinct epitopes of the free form of protein S has been developed for the direct measurement of free PS in untreated plasma. We have tested two ELISA assays for free PS. One assay was based on the PEG precipitation (Asserachrom PS, Stago, Asnières, France) whereas the other was a one step ELISA assay (Asserachrom free PS, Stago). Values were obtained in 35 PS deficient patients recruited among 500 consecutive patients evaluated by the laboratory for diagnosis of congenital disorders of coagulation. Values were compared to those obtained in 50 patients with no PS deficiency matched for age and sex with the PS deficient patients as well as in 33 normal subjects and in 12 pregnant women. Strong correlation was found between the two tests (r = 0.81, p < 10(-5)) in the entire population (n = 130), as well as in the separate groups. The new one step ELISA was more accurate than the PEG free PS determination. Determination of PS activity and antigens allowed us to separate quantitative and qualitative deficiencies. Among the qualitative deficiencies, isolated decrease in PS activity was the most frequent defect observed (66%). This fact questions the substitution of PS activity assays by the one step antigenic free PS ELISA assay.     

Method for removing silicide coatings in a medium of low-melting metals

We propose a method for removing silicide coatings from the surfaces of workpieces made of refractory metals. The entire volume of the silicide layer is borated in a melt based on low-melting metals. The boride layer formed as a result is characterized by a large number of defects, low mechanical strength, and high etching susceptibility. Therefore, it can easily be removed by any existing method.Karpenko Physicomechanical Institute, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, L'viv. Translated from Fiziko-Khimicheskaya Mekhanika Materialov, Vol. 30, No. 3, pp. 121–124, May – June, 1994.     

Analytic investigation of the process of formation of a spatially inhomogeneous structural state in a steel plate subjected to rapid cooling

We analyze the process of formation of a spatially inhomogeneous phase composition of several types of steel in cooling with convective heat exchange with the environment. The principles of the classical theory of heat conduction and the theory of interpolational models of structural state formation in rapidly cooled steels are used for numerical prediction. On this basis, we develop a technique for the analysis of phase composition. It is shown that the percentage of the martensitic constituent in steels increases as the external heat removal becomes more intense; at the same time, the tendency to complete hardening in steel is intensified. These observations are in a good agreement with experiment.Pidstrygach Institute of Applied Problems in Mechanics and Mathematics, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, L'viv. Translated from Fiziko-Khimicheskaya Mekhanika Materialov, Vol. 29, No. 6, pp. 101–104, November–December, 1993.     

Acrylonitrile and chemotaxis: in vitro experiments

We have verified that chemotaxis of isolated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was a target of in vitro toxicant effect of acrylonitrile (ACN). This toxicant induced a significant dose dependent decreasing of chemotaxis with 50% inhibition (IC50) occurring at 15 mM. We assume that PMN from workers exposed to ACN reacts vivo in a similar way to PMN exposed in vitro to ACN. We propose therefore to use chemotaxis assay as a biomarker of early biological effect of ACN in workers, since for their monitoring there are so far only internal dose indicators but no suitable effect indicators.