Mantle cell lymphoma: a clinicopathologic study of 80 cases

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a relatively uncommon yet distinct type of malignant lymphoma whose clinical and pathological characterization has been limited by the small numbers of cases published to date. We studied 80 cases of MCL seen at a single institution over 7 years to determine both clinical and pathological prognostic factors. The patients in this study were predominantly male (70%) and older (mean age, 63 years) and presented with advanced-stage disease (88%). Extranodal involvement was common. Median overall survival (OS) was 43 months. Except for performance status, prognosis was not significantly influenced by clinical prognostic factors. Histologically, MCL architecture was classified as diffuse (78%), nodular (16%), or mantle zone (6%); the OS among these groups was identical. Increased mitotic activity (>20 mitotic figures per 10 high power fields), blastic transformation, and peripheral blood involvement at diagnosis also predicted for a worse outcome, but bone marrow involvement did not. The presence or absence of a translocation t(11; 14) by cytogenetic analysis or a bcl-1 rearrangement by Southern analysis did not significantly predict outcome. In summary, this study of 80 cases of MCL highlights its distinctive clinicopathologic features and shows that increased mitotic activity, blastic morphology, and peripheral blood involvement at diagnosis are prognostically important factors.     

ERCP and CT findings of ectopic drainage of the common bile duct into the duodenal bulb

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate ERCP and CT findings of ectopic drainage of the common bile duct into the duodenal bulb. CONCLUSION: Although rare, the diagnosis of ectopic drainage of the common bile duct into the duodenal bulb is important to prevent inadvertent damage during biliary tract or gastric surgery and to clarify the cause of chronic peptic ulcers.     

Substrate transport and cocaine binding of human dopamine transporter is reduced by substitution of carboxyl tail with that of bovine dopamine transporter

A chimeric dopamine transporter (DAT) cDNA encoding mutant human DAT (hDAT) protein in which the intracellular carboxyl-terminal tail is replaced by that of the bovine dopamine transporter (bDAT) was constructed. The chimeric hDAT cDNA was expressed in COS-7 cells, and [3H]dopamine and [3H]MPP+ uptake and [3H]CFT binding capacities were assessed. Substrate transport and ligand binding of bDAT were reduced by 32-43% as a result of substitution of the carboxyl tail in hDAT, suggesting that the functional characteristics of bDAT arise from differences in the carboxyl tail between human and bovine DAT. Thus, it appears that the sequences encoded within the carboxyl terminal of DAT would be one of the important determinants for its functions.     

Alcohol treatment training in psychology internship programs.

This investigation was designed to study alcohol treatment training by focusing on the components of training provided in psychology internship programs approved by the American Psychological Association. Data from 137 training sites revealed that two content areas—group psychotherapy and relapse prevention—were rated as most relevant to alcohol treatment training. Six other domains (aftercare, Alcoholics Anonymous, marital/family therapy, stress management/relaxation procedures, social skills training, and cognitive therapy) were rated as at least quite relevant. The extent to which interns were exposed to these content areas was variable. These findings are discussed in the context of issues surrounding alcohol treatment training among psychology interns and the provision of clinical services to alcohol-abusing patients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Spinal cholinergic and monoamine receptors mediate the antinociceptive effect of morphine microinjected in the periaqueductal gray on the rat tail, but not the feet

The antinociceptive effects of morphine (5 micrograms) microinjected into the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray were determined using both the tail flick and the foot withdrawal responses to noxious radiant heating in lightly anesthetized rats. Intrathecal injection of appropriate antagonists was used to determine whether the antinociceptive effects of morphine were mediated by alpha 2-noradrenergic, serotonergic, opioid, or cholinergic muscarinic receptors. The increase in the foot withdrawal response latency produced by microinjection of morphine in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray was reversed by intrathecal injection of the cholinergic muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine, but was not affected by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine, the serotonergic receptor antagonist methysergide, or the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. In contrast, the increase in the tail flick response latency produced by morphine was reduced by either yohimbine, methysergide or atropine. These results indicate that microinjection of morphine in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray inhibits nociceptive responses to noxious heating of the tail by activating descending neuronal systems that are different from those that inhibits the nociceptive responses to noxious heating of the feet. More specifically, serotonergic, muscarinic cholinergic and alpha 2-noradrenergic receptors appear to mediate the antinociception produced by morphine using the tail flick test. In contrast, muscarinic cholinergic, but not monoamine receptors appear to mediate the antinociceptive effects of morphine using the foot withdrawal response.     

Structural characterization of a new galactofuranose-containing glycolipid antigen of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

An acidic glycolipid (Band 1), purified from P. brasiliensis by a combination of ion exchange chromatography, HPLC, and HPTLC, was found to be reactive with sera of all patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). Monosaccharide analysis of Band 1 yielded mannose and galactose in a 2:1 ratio, while mild acid hydrolysis and mild periodate oxidation/NaB3H4 reduction indicated the presence of a terminal galactofuranose. Preliminary analysis of 1H-NMR and MS data suggests that the structure of the glycan is Galf beta 1-->6(Manp alpha 1-->3)Manp beta 1-->2Ins (Ins = myo-inositol). Removal of the galacto-furanose decreased by 60-80% the reactivity of sera from PCM patients with Band 1, suggesting that this residue is immunodominant. With the presumed absence of galactofuranose in mammalian hosts, compounds containing this residue may be useful targets for therapy of several parasitic and fungal diseases.     

Influence of the major histocompatibility complex on age at onset of chronic lymphoid leukaemia

Goodpasture syndrome is an often fatal autoimmune disease associated with glomerulonephritis and/or pulmonary hemorrhage. The clinical manifestations of this disease correlate well with the presence of circulating antiglomerular basement membrane (GBM) autoantibodies. The primary target antigen in glomerular and alveolar basement membranes is thought to be the alpha 3 chain of type IV collagen. Nearly all that is known about anti-GBM antibodies in humans comes from work on unbound circulating antibody. We recently had the unique and rare opportunity to obtain early postmortem antibody and tissues from a patient who died with catastrophic Goodpasture syndrome. The specificity of circulating, kidney-bound and lung-bound autoantibodies from this patient was evaluated against a variety of purified basement membrane constituents. The results indicate that the primary target for the circulating and tissue-bound autoantibodies is the NC1 domain of the alpha 3(IV) chain of type IV collagen. Additionally, all the antibodies recognize a cryptic epitope/s on the alpha 3(IV)NC1 hexamer. Furthermore, tissue-bound and circulating antibodies compete with one another for overlapping epitopes on the antigen. These findings demonstrate that circulating autoantibodies in Goodpasture syndrome are highly representative of those bound to organ tissues, strengthening the notion that pathogenic autoantibodies are targeted to the alpha 3(IV)NC1 collagen, and that previous reports of findings in the circulation may be applicable to tissue injury.