Dynamic changes of interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor in intermingled skin graft in burned rats

OBJECTIVE

To compare the dynamic changes of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in intermingled skin graft with those in other types of skin grafts in rats.

METHODS

A 10%-15% third-degree burn was created in 180 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. After removing the scar, skin grafts were performed on the open wounds immediately with autoskin (aus, n=54), alloskin (als, n=54) and intermingled skin (n=36). That is to say, in the intermingled skin graft, a big piece of alloskin (mals) was grafted first, and 3 days later, small pieces of autoskin (maus) wer e embedded in the alloskin. The rest 36 rats were taken as the controls. And the biological activities of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF in graft sheets in each group were detected after skin graft.

RESULTS

The levels of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF in the aus group decreased steadily after their initial elevations, whereas in the als group they increased significantly and kept on the peak level in the later phases. In the in termingled group, there appeared a lowest IL-1 level in the mals and a highest one in the maus simultaneously at 7 (4) days (The number out of parenthesis is t he days after transplanting with alloskin sheets, and the number in parenthesis is the days after embedding autoskin sheets in the intermingled skin graft. Similarly hereinafter.) after skin graft (P<0.01), and the high level in the maus abruptly decreased at 14 (11) days after skin graft. At exactly the same phase on day 7 (4), a prominent peaked IL-6 in the mals occurred. In the later phases, the levels of TNF remained relatively low both in the m als and in the maus. From day 7 (4) on, each cytokine fluctuation in the mals synchronized with that in the maus. The longer the post transplantation period lasted, the more the positive cytokine correlated between the mals and the maus.

CONCLUSIONS

The low levels of IL-1 and TNF may be important f actors to lighten the intensity of local rejection in the intermingled skin graft. The temporarily peaked IL-6 is both an inducer which induces the production of local IL-1 receptor antagonists and soluble TNF receptors and a signal which indicates a local enhancement of Th(2) cells. The mild rejection process and th e synchronized cytokine level during the later phases suggest a possible chimerism between the mals and the maus.

[Inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis by simvastatin in K562 leukemic cell line]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the anti-apoptotic mechanism and explore approach to inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis of chronic myclogenous leukemia (CML) cells.

METHODS

K562 cell line was used to evaluate the effects of simvastatin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, and the combination of simvastatin with chemotherapeutic agents on the proliferation and apoptosis of CML cells.

RESULTS

Simvastatin could significantly inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of K562 cells, and could increase the sensitivity of K562 cells to chemotherapeutic agents. Addition of mevalonate, the immediate product of HMG-CoA, could completely reverse this effect.

CONCLUSION

Simvastatin inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of K562 cells through inhibiting the metabolic pathway of mevalonate. It is promising that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors may be an effective chemotherapeutic approach to the treatment of CML.

Requirement of Ras-dependent pathways for activation of the transforming growth factor beta3 promoter by estradiol

It has been previously observed that the transforming growth factor beta3 (TGFbeta3) gene can be activated by both estradiol (E(2)) and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) in vivo but that only SERMs have a potent stimulatory effect on the TGFbeta3 promoter in cultured cells. We demonstrate in this report that E(2) can act also as a potent inducer of the TGFbeta3 promoter via a novel and specific estrogen receptor (ER)alpha-mediated mechanism. Our results show that treatment with epidermal growth factor or transfection of a constitutively active Ras mutant allows E(2) to induce the TGFbeta3 promoter via ERalpha in cotransfected HeLa and osteosarcoma MG63 cells. Both protein kinase C (PKC) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors can block the combined stimulatory effect of E(2) and epidermal growth factor/Ras. However, E(2) induction of the TGFbeta3 promoter was found to be unaffected by mutation of ERalpha serine 118, a well-characterized target of MAPK. Progressive deletion analysis of the ERalpha amino-terminal region delineated three separate domains modulating the E(2)/activated Ras response, revealing a complex functional organization of the ERalpha A/B domain required for regulation of the TGFbeta3 promoter. In addition, PKC and MAPK inhibitors had no effect on the induction of TGFbeta3 promoter activity by the SERM EM-652. These results indicate that induction of the TGFbeta3 promoter by the E(2)/ERalpha complex requires the concomitant activation of PKC and MAPK signaling and provide a novel framework for the design of more effective estrogen-based therapeutic strategies.

A de novo complex chromosomal rearrangement with a translocation 7;9 and 8q insertion in a male carrier with no infertility

A de novo complex chromosomal rearrangement (CCR) involving chromosomes 7, 8 and 9 in a male carrier was ascertained through his healthy wife's recurrent spontaneous abortions. Six pregnancies over eight years resulted in four spontaneous abortions and two livebirths who died perinatally due to abnormal vital signs. Cytogenetic analyses utilizing high resolution chromosome banding technique showed a deletion of band in a der(7) chromosome and an extra band inserting at 8q21.2. Another extra band was also observed at the band 9p24, but it could not be karyotypically determined. Fluorescent in-situ hybridization using chromosome 7 and 8 specific microdissected library as probes confirmed the insertion of a segment from the translocated chromosome 7 into a chromosome 8, and additionally revealed a translocation between chromosomes 7 and 9. The karyotype of the CCR carrier was determined as 46,XY,t(7;9)(q22;p24),ins(8;7)(q21.2;q22q32).ish der(9)(wcp7+);ins(8;7)(wcp8+,wcp7+). Comparing with previously reported male CCR carriers with our case, we conclude that male CCR carriers may not always present with infertility or subfertility phenotypes. This may suggest that rare transmission of male carriers could result from abnormal chromosomal rearrangements during meiosis and gametogenesis in addition to frequent infertility.

[Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in code region of beta2-adrenoceptor gene with hypertension in Chinese population]

OBJECTIVE

To detect single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) existing in code region of beta(2)-adrenoceptor(2-AR) gene and to investigate association of the identified SNPs with essential hypertension in Chinese Han population.

METHODS

Beta(2)-AR gene was sequenced with fluorescent labelling automatic sequencing method in unrelated Chinese Han population from Dabie Mountain in Anhui Province. Genotype of the SNPs were typed with PCR-RFLP method.

RESULTS

Two SNPs were identified in length of 774bp, at position + 1053 with G-->C substitution and + 1239 with A-->G substitution respectively. The frequency of genotype of the two SNPs complied well with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in normal group. Distribution of genotype AA, GA, GG of the SNPs at locus + 1239 in hypertension group was significantly different from that in normal group (chi(2) = 6.70, df = 2, P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in distribution of genotypes of the SNPs at locus + 1053 between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that the SNPs at locus + 1239 of beta(2)-AR gene is associated with EH. The SNPs at position + 1053 was not linked to hypertension.

A bicistronic retroviral vector to introduce drug resistance genes into human umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells to improve combination chemotherapy tolerance

OBJECTIVE

To study whether human umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells transduced with human aldehyde dehydrogenase class-1 (ALDH-1) and multidrug resistance gene (MDR1) have increases resistance to 4-Hydroperoxycyclo-phosphamide (4-HC) and P-glycoprotein effluxed drugs.

METHODS

A bicistronic retroviral vector G1Na-ALDH1-IRES-MDR1 was constructed and used to transfect the packaging cell lines GP + E86 and PA317 by LipofectAMINE method, using the medium containing VCR and 4-HC agents for cloning selection and ping-ponging supernatant infection between the ecotropic producer clone and the amphotropic producer clone, we obtained high titer amphotropic PA317 producing cells with high titers up to 5.6 x 10(5) CFU/ml. Cord blood CD34+ cells were transfected repeatedly with supernatant of retrovirus containing human ALDH-1 and MDR1cDNA under the stimulation of hemopoietic growth factors.

RESULTS

Bicistronic retroviral vector construction was verified by restriction endonuclease analysis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, Southern blot, Northern blot, fluorescenceactivated cell sorting (FACS) method and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) analyses showed that dual drug resistance genes have been integrated into the genomic DNA of cord blood CD34+ cells and expressed efficiently. The transgenes recipient cells confered 4-fold stronger resistance to 4-HC and 5.5 to 7.2-fold P-glycoprotein effluxed drug than untransduced cells.

CONCLUSION

The bicistronic retroviral vector-mediated transfer of two different types of drug resistance genes into human cord blood CD34+ cells and co-expression provided an experimental foundation for improving combination chemotherapy tolerance in tumor clinical trial.

Y chromosome haplotypes reveal prehistorical migrations to the Himalayas

By using 19 Y chromosome biallelic markers and 3 Y chromosome microsatellite markers, we analyzed the genetic structure of 31 indigenous Sino-Tibetan speaking populations (607 individuals) currently residing in East, Southeast, and South Asia. Our results showed that a T to C mutation at locus M122 is highly prevalent in almost all of the Sino-Tibetan populations, implying a strong genetic affinity among populations in the same language family. Furthermore, the extremely high frequency of H8, a haplotype derived from M122C, in the Sino-Tibetan speaking populations in the Himalayas including Tibet and northeast India indicated a strong bottleneck effect that occurred during a westward and then southward migration of the founding population of Tibeto-Burmans. We, therefore, postulate that the ancient people, who lived in the upper-middle Yellow River basin about 10,000 years ago and developed one of the earliest Neolithic cultures in East Asia, were the ancestors of modern Sino-Tibetan populations.

Distribution of three HIV-1 resistance-conferring polymorphisms (SDF1-3'A, CCR2-641, and CCR5-delta32) in global populations

Chemokine receptors (CCR5, CXCR4 and CCR2) have been shown to be important co-receptors for HIV infection. Mutations at CCR5 (CCR5-delta2), CCR2 (CCR2-641), and stromal-derived factor SDF1 (SDF1-3'A), a primary ligand for CXCR4, are known to have protective effects against HIV-1 infection and the onset of AIDS symptoms. We studied the three-locus genotype frequency distributions in 70worldwide populations from a sample of 2341 individuals without any known history of HIV-1 infection and AIDS symptoms. From these data, we estimated the risk of AIDS onset (relative hazard, RH) of each population. This survey shows that the substantial allele frequency differences of each of these mutations translate into an extensive variation in relative hazards for AIDS in worldwide populations. However, no evidence of natural selection against the mutant gene carriers is detected. Finally, the combined three-locus genotype data predict the highest relative hazard (RH) in South-East Asia and Africa where AIDS is known to be more prevalent.

[Study on the relation between hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy in very old people with neurohormonal factors and ventricular arrhythmias]

OBJECTIVE

To study the relation between hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in very old people (> 80 year) with neuro-hormone factors and ventricular arrhythmias.

METHODS

Measurements were made on the heart rate variation, renin (Ren), angiotensin-II (AT-II), aldosterone (Ald), insulin (Ins), Holter and ambulatory blood pressure monitor in 60 cases of 2 groups: 30 with primary hypertension in very old people and LVH (group A); 30 with simple primary hypertension in very old people (group B).

RESULTS

(1) There was no significant difference of AT-II and Ren among group A and B (P > 0.05); (2) Ins and Ald value in group A was much higher than group B (P all < 0.01); (3) Very lower frequency (VLF) and low frequency (LF) and LF/HF (high frequency) in group A were significantly higher than group B (P < 0.01, 0.05, 0.05, respectively); (4) incidence of premature ventricular beats and myocardial ischemia in group A were higher than those in group B.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) Sympathetic nerve excitability in group A was greatly increased; (2) Hypertensive LVH were closely associated with Ald and Ins level, but not with AT-II and Ren; (3) There was obvious correction between group A and premature ventricular beats and ischemia.

[The application of competitive RT-PCR to detect minimal residual disease in patients with 8;21 translocation]

OBJECTIVE

To construct and evaluate the competitive quantitative RT-PCR method for detecting the fusion gene of AML1-ETO in the patients of t(8;21)AML(acute myeloid leukemia).

METHODS

The authors used the method of splicing by overlapping extension (SOE) to obtain the competitive DNA fragment, with which they set up the competitive quantitative RT-PCR assay to detect AML1-ETO chimeric genes in the patients of t(8;21) AML.

RESULTS

The competitive DNA fragment has been obtained; the sensitive competitive RT-PCR method is developed, which allows the quantitation of the number of AML1-ETO transcriptions in t(8;21)AML patients at different phases.

CONCLUSION

The competitive quantitative RT-PCR method, based on SOE, is simple and convenient; t(8;21) AML patients in different survival conditions express AML1-ETO gene quite differently.

[In vitro study on transduction of human O(6)-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase cDNA into human umbilical cord blood CD34(+) cells]

OBJECTIVE

To explore human umbilical cord blood hematopoietic progenitor cells transduced with human O(6)-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) gene increase resistance to 1,3-Bis(2-Chloroethyl)-1-Nitrosourea(BCNU).

METHODS

The present authors obtained a full length cDNA fragment encoding the human MGMT from a patient with cholelithiasis liver tissue by RT-PCR method and confirmed by DNA sequencing. The fragment was cloned into pGEM-T vector and further subcloned into G1Na retrovirus vector. Then the G1Na-MGMT was transfected into the packaging cell lines GP+E86 and PA317 by LipofectAMINE method; using the medium containing BCNU for cloning selection and ping-ponging supernatant infection between ecotropic producer clone and amphotropic producer clone, the authors obtained high titer amphotropic PA317 producer clone with the highest titer up to 1.6x10(6) CFU/ml. Cord blood CD34(+) cell were transfected repeatedly with supernatant of retrovirus containing human MGMT cDNA under stimulation of hemopoietic growth factors.

RESULTS

PCR, RT-PCR, Southern blot, Northern blot, Western blot and MTT analyses showed that MGMT gene had been integrated into the genomic DNA of cord blood CD34(+) cells and expressed efficiently in the transfected cells. The transgene recipient cells conferred 4 folds stronger resistance to BCNU than that of the non-transduced.

CONCLUSION

The retrovirus vector-mediated transfer of MGMT drug resistance gene into human cord blood CD34(+) cells and expression could confer the resistance of transgene cells to BCNU toxicity.

[The design, functions and clinic applications of lip bumper]

OBJECTIVE

This paper introduced the principle of design, methods of fabrication, indications and functions of lip bumper, and advocated the application of lip bumper in orthodontic clinic.

METHODS

Two typical cases treated with lip bumper were introduced. Some notices and experiences of applying lip bumpers were summed up.

RESULTS

There were following functions of lip bumper: as a space maintainer, Fränkel effect, headgear effect, post-maxillary expansion retention, derotation of molars, and combined using with headgear.

CONCLUSION

The advantages of lip bumper are inclusions of a wide range of indication, wearing for 24 hours per day, easily fabricating and prefabricating, comfortable and hidden for patients.

Spinal cord injury in rat: treatment with bone marrow stromal cell transplantation

We tested the hypothesis that transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) into the spinal cord after a contusion injury promotes functional outcome. Rats (n = 31) were subjected to a weight driven implant injury. MSCs or phosphate buffered saline was injected into the spinal cord 1 week after injury. Sections of tissue were analyzed by double-labeled immunohistochemistry for MSC identification. Functional outcome measurements using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnehan score were performed weekly to 5 weeks post-injury. The data indicate significant improvement in functional outcome in animals treated with MSC transplantation compared to control animals. Scattered cells derived from MSCs expressed neural protein markers. These data suggest that transplantation of MSCs may have a therapeutic role after spinal cord injury.

Quantitative diffusion measurements in focal multiple sclerosis lesions: correlations with appearance on TI-weighted MR images

OBJECTIVE

Relative hypointensity on T1-weighted MR imaging has been suggested as a putative disability marker. The purpose of our study was to determine if there are quantifiable diffusion differences among focal multiple sclerosis lesions that appear differently on conventional T1-weighted MR images. We hypothesized that markedly hypointense lesions on unenhanced T1-weighted images would have significantly increased diffusion compared with other lesions, and enhancing portions of lesions would have different diffusion compared with nonenhancing lesions.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Average apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was calculated for 107 lesions identified on T2-weighted images in 16 patients with multiple sclerosis and was compared with the ADC of normal white matter in 16 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Seventy-five nonenhancing lesions (29 isointense, 46 hypointense) and 32 enhancing lesions (6 isointense, 26 hypointense) were categorized on the basis of unenhanced T1-weighted MR imaging.

RESULTS

Hypointense and isointense nonenhancing lesions both showed significantly higher ADC than normal white matter (p < 0.0001). Hypointense nonenhancing lesions showed higher ADC values than isointense nonenhancing lesions (p < 0.0001). Diffusion in enhancing portions of enhancing lesions was decreased when compared with nonenhancing portions.

CONCLUSION

Quantitative diffusion data from MR imaging differ among multiple sclerosis lesions that appear different from each other on T1-weighted images. These quantitative diffusion differences imply microstructural differences, which may prove useful in documenting irreversible disease.

The role of the central zinc fingers of transcription factor IIIA in binding to 5 S RNA

In the nine-zinc finger Xenopus transcription factor TFIIIA the central group of fingers, fingers 4 to 7, have been shown to bind to 5 S RNA. In this study, we have attempted to assess the role of this region of the TFIIIA molecule in more detail than hitherto. High-resolution footprinting by RNases A and CV1 has been used to probe the binding to 5 S RNA of three TFIIIA peptides Tf(1-6), Tf(4-6) and Tf(4-7), consisting of fingers 1 to 6, 4 to 6, and 4 to 7, respectively, and of full-length TFIIIA. The results pinpoint the outer margins of binding of the central fingers within helices IV and II of TFIIIA. A comparison of the footprints reveals that the presence of finger 7 affords protection at positions C19 and U55, the distal portion of helix II and the proximal portion of loop B. In addition, our footprints suggest that the central fingers bind in the same manner, whether in an isolated group or in the intact TFIIIA molecule. In a companion study, we have determined the binding affinities of Tf(4-6) and Tf(4-7) for full-length and three truncated 5 S RNA molecules, the latter selected on the basis of the regions of the 5 S RNA molecule known to be important in the binding of TFIIIA. The analysis uses only fully active protein involved in the binding and the results are consistent with the corresponding footprinting results. This is the first time that a detailed study of the binding site of one particular zinc finger to RNA has been reported; the results should be of use in the design of 5 S RNA molecules and TFIIIA peptides for structural studies of the interaction between zinc fingers and RNA.

[Determination of Ni in biological samples with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometpy]

In this paper, Ni was determined in biological samples such as blood, serum and urine by HGAAS. This method was simple, rapid, good precision and high accuracy. The sensitivity of blood, serum and urine is 0.48 microgram.L1, 0.24 microgram.L1, 0.50 microgram.L1. The relative standard deviation is 2.9-5.4% and the recovery is 71-103%.

Diffusion measurements in intracranial hematomas: implications for MR imaging of acute stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The purpose of our study was to analyze the diffusion properties of intracranial hematomas to understand the effects of hematomas on diffusion-weighted MR images of patients with acute stroke and to further our understanding of the evolution of signal intensities of hematomas on conventional MR images. We hypothesized that hematomas containing blood with intact RBC membranes (ie, early hematomas) have restricted diffusion compared with hematomas in which RBC membranes have lysed.

METHODS

Seventeen proven intracranial hematomas were studied with conventional and diffusion MR imaging. Hematomas were characterized using conventional images to determine the stage of evolution and their putative biophysical composition, as described in the literature. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements for each putative hematoma constituent (intracellular oxyhemoglobin, intracellular deoxyhemoglobin, intracellular methemoglobin, and extracellular methemoglobin) were compared with each other and with normal white matter.

RESULTS

Hematomas showing hemoglobin within intact RBCs by conventional MR criteria (n = 14) showed equivalent ADC values, which were reduced compared with hematomas containing lysed RBCs (P = .0029 to .024). Compared with white matter, hematomas containing lysed RBCs had higher ADC measurements (P = .003), whereas hematomas containing intact RBCs had reduced ADC measurements (P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

Restricted diffusion is present in early intracranial hematomas in comparison with both late hematomas and normal white matter. Therefore, early hematomas would be displayed as identical to the signal intensity of acute infarction on ADC maps, despite obvious differences on conventional MR images. These data also are consistent with the biochemical composition that has been theorized in the stages of evolving intracranial hematomas and provide further evidence that paramagnetic effects, rather than restriction of water movement, are the dominant cause for their different intensity patterns on conventional MR images.

[Preparation of monoclonal antibodies against malaria through immunization of mice with recombinant plasmid DNA]

BALB/c mice were immunized by injection of recombinant plasmid DNA carrying MSP1-31 fragment of Plasmodium falciparum. After antiserum was induced, McAbs were prepared by fusing SP2/0 myeloma cells with spleen cells. Specific McAbs were detected in hybridoma culture supernatant and mouse ascites by ELISA, positive hybridomas were cloned by technique of limiting dilutions. Two McAbs, 9H9 and 8A2, against the malaria protein were produced and characterized. The titers of the two McAbs in acites were 1:10,000 and 1:2500 respectively. The Ig subclass of these McAbs was IgG1. Western blot test showed that the McAb specifically reacted with MSP1-31 antigen. These results proved that monoclonal antibodies could be produced by use of immunization of mice with plasmid DNA or DNA vaccine.

Identification of the residues in the extracellular region of KDR important for interaction with vascular endothelial growth factor and neutralizing anti-KDR antibodies

The kinase domain receptor (KDR) of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the main human receptor responsible for the angiogenic activity of VEGF. The extracellular region of KDR is comprised of seven immunoglobulin-like domains, of which the first three have been shown to be required for ligand binding. We have previously described antibodies directed against the extracellular region of KDR, including MAB383 and MAB664, which were shown to block the binding of VEGF to the receptor and to inhibit both VEGF-induced mitogenesis of human endothelial cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Here we generated a series of KDR deletion mutants consisting of truncated extracellular regions and mapped out the domain(s) responsible for binding to VEGF and the neutralizing anti-KDR antibodies. All neutralizing antibodies were found to require domain 3 for efficient binding. Alanine-scanning mutagenesis of domain 3 identified two different sets of five residues, Ile(256), Asp(257), Glu(261), Leu(313), and Thr(315) and Tyr(262), Pro(263), Ser(264), Ser(265), and Lys(266), that were critical for binding to MAB383 and MAB664, respectively. Combination of alanine mutations affecting both MAB383 and MAB664 binding resulted in a variant that also lost binding to VEGF. These results suggest that the residues within this region of domain 3 are critical for VEGF binding. Our studies provide a basis for the mechanism of action of our anti-KDR antibodies and establish a functional foundation for the development of other classes of antagonists to the receptor.

The effect of transient balloon occlusion of the mitral valve on left atrial appendage blood flow velocity and spontaneous echo contrast: a comparison in sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation patients

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and left atrial appendage (LAA) blood flow velocity using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy (PBMV) in patients with atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients (21 in sinus rhythm and 14 in atrial fibrillation) with rheumatic mitral stenosis underwent PBMV with intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography monitoring. We measured LAA blood flow velocities and observed the left atrium for various grades of SEC (from 0 = none to 4 = severe), before and after each balloon inflation.

RESULTS

Left atrial appendage maximal emptying velocity (LAA MEV) was reduced from 35 +/- 14 cm/s to 6 +/- 2 cm/s at peak balloon inflation and increased to 40 +/- 16 cm/s after balloon deflation. Comparison of the values before balloon inflation and after balloon deflation showed that LAA velocities were significantly lower (P < 0.001). During balloon inflation, both maximal emptying velocity (MEV) and maximal filling velocity (MFV) were significantly decreased, compared to those before inflation and after balloon deflation (P < 0.01). And both MEV and MFV were significantly higher after balloon deflation relative to those before balloon inflation. Patients with atrial fibrillation had significantly lower MEV and MFV before and during balloon inflation and after balloon deflation than patients with sinus rhythm. At peak balloon inflation, new or increased SEC grades were observed during 54 of 61 (88%) inflations and unchanged during 7 (12%) inflations. SEC grades were reduced after 55 balloon deflations (90%), completely disappeared after 18 deflations (30%) and remained unchanged after 6 deflations (10%). At peak balloon inflation, left atrium spontaneous echo contrast (LASEC) grade 4 was observed during 14 of 27 (93%) inflations in the atrial fibrillation patients, significantly higher than in patients with sinus rhythm (8 of 34, 24%; P < 0.05). LASEC completely disappeared after 16 of 34 deflations (47%) in the patients with sinus rhythm, significantly higher than in the atrial fibrillation patients (2 of 27 deflations; P < 0.01). The mean time to achieve maximal SEC grade (2.5 +/- 1.2 s) correlated with the mean time to trough LAA velocities (2.3 +/- 1.1 s) after balloon inflation. Both the time to lowest LAA velocity and the time to highest LASEC were significantly longer in the patients with sinus rhythm than in the atrial fibrillation patients (2.6 +/- 1.1 s vs 1.7 +/- 1.0 s, P < 0.05 and 2.8 +/- 1.4 s vs 1.9 +/- 1.3 s, P < 0.05, respectively). Upon deflation, the mean time to lowest SEC grade (2.9 +/- 1.8 s) correlated with the mean time to achieve maximal LAA velocities (2.7 +/- 1.6 s). Both intervals are significantly shorter in the patients with sinus rhythm than in the atrial fibrillation patients (2.0 +/- 1.6 s vs 3.5 +/- 1.5 s, P < 0.01 and 2.2 +/- 1.7 s vs 3.6 +/- 1.6 s, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Reducing the blood flow velocity in the human left atrium by balloon occlusion of the mitral valve may enhance SEC, whereas restoring blood flow after balloon deflation would cause enhanced echogenic blood to disappear or decrease in both groups of patients. Patients with atrial fibrillation demonstrate more severe blood stagnation of the left atrial body and appendage during transient balloon inflation at mitral valve orifice and slower recovery from the stagnation, decreasing to a lesser extent after balloon deflation, when compared to patients with sinus rhythm.

Two cases of AML (M2) with a t(8;19)(q22;q13): a new cytogenetic variant

"Simple" variants of the t(8;21) translocation involving chromosome 8 and a chromosome other than number 21 are rare. To our knowledge, only t(3;8)(q29;q22), t(8;11)(q22;q13), t(8;16)(q22;q24), t(8;20)(q22;p13), and t(8;22) have been reported in the literature. This paper describes for the first time two patients with acute myelogenous leukemia with a consistent t(8;19)(q22;q13) translocation. Their myelograms were compatible with the FAB-M2 subtype. The blasts from case 2 expressed CD34, CD33, CD13, and CD19. Karyotype analyses were performed on bone marrow cells using R- and G-banding at presentation. A t(8;19)(q22;q13) translocation was found in 28/30 metaphases for case 1 and in 23/25 metaphases for case 2. The latter case also had a deletion of chromosome 9, del(9)(q12q22) as an additional abnormality. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction study revealed no AML1/ETO fusion transcript in case 2. Dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay using two probes (BAC92 and YAC412A4) convincingly demonstrated that the chromosomal material from 8q was translocated onto 19q rather than 19p in case 2. Thus, we consider t(8;19)(q22;q13) a true "simple" variant of t(8;21), and assume that a fusion gene resulting from the t(8;19) may contain the ETO gene located at 8q22 and an unknown partner gene from 19q13, which probably is a new transcription factor, whose molecular entity warrants further study.

Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy and malignant lymphoma involving the same lymph node: a report of four cases and review of the literature

Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML), also known as Rosai-Dorfman disease, is a disorder of unknown cause. Rarely, patients with SHML also have malignant lymphoma, usually involving anatomic sites different from those involved by SHML We report four patients in whom SHML and malignant lymphoma were identified in the same lymph node biopsy specimen. The SHML in each case was present as a small focus, less than 1 cm. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the abnormal histiocytes were positive for S-100 and negative for CD1a. The malignant lymphomas included two cases of follicular lymphoma and two cases of Hodgkin's disease, nodular lymphocyte predominant type. The presence of SHML in these patients did not impact clinical decisions, and there was no evidence of SHML elsewhere. Thus, the presence of focal SHML associated with malignant lymphoma in these cases was an incidental histologic finding that seems not to have had any clinical significance.

[The analysis of the changes of tongue shape and position, hyoid position in Class II, division 1 malocclusion treated with functional appliances (FR-I)]

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to analyze the changes of tongue shape and position, hyoid position with FR-I therapy in class II, division 1 malocclusion.

METHODS

12 patients with class II, division 1 malocclusion treated with FR-I appliance(8 male, 4 female, average 11 years old) were chosen. The acceptable standard of this experiment was an horizontal growth pattern with normal maxilla, retracted mandible and short lower facial height. The average period of treatment was about 8 months. The assessment was made from a lateral cephalogram taken in habitual occlusion before and after treatment. The shapes and sizes of tongue can be measured from the occlusal films with template. These seven lines from six angles of 30 degrees which can be marked in millimeter. Fig 2 showed the reference points and lines: Is1 (the incisal margin of the lower incisors), Mc (the tip of the distobuccal cusp of the lower fist molar), V(the most caudal point on the shadow of the soft palate or its projection onto the reference line). Is1 connected Mc by a straight line extended to V to form the reference lines. After the lines were constructed, the middle point between Is1 and V was called O, and a perpendicular line was constructed from it to the palate contour. The baseline of the template was coincided with the constructed reference line, and the vertical line intersected the reference line at O. The template was placed over the constructed lines, and the exact measurements of the root, the dorsum and the tip of tongue were taken. This was done along the seven constructed lines, and the measurement gived a relative size of the tongue(e.g. the size related to the oral cavity).

RESULTS

After treatment, the shape of tongue changed as a result of the increase of oral cavity. There was a tendency that the position of the tongue shifted forwarded and the tip of tongue lied further forward. At the same time, the position of hyoid moved forward in a horizontal dimension and downward in a vertical dimension.

CONCLUSION

It confirms that the therapeutic mechanism of FR-I is to induce an anterior shift of mandible and lead to a forward position of tongue, hyoid and cervical soft tissue, which modify the saggital relationship of jaws. The shape of tongue changes due to the increase of oral cavity.