Localized perineal cutaneous nodules: a case of recurrent systemic anaplastic large-cell lymphoma

We report an unusual case of localized cutaneous nodules heralding the recurrence of systemic CD30+ anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL). A 47-year-old woman developed numerous violaceous nodules in the perineal and upper thigh area 3 years after multimodal treatment and complete remission of primary anaplastic large-cell CD30+ lymphoma. Using immunohistochemical and T-cell gene rearrangement analysis, a recurrence of her anaplastic large-cell lymphoma was diagnosed.

Targeted transgenesis at the HPRT locus: an efficient strategy to achieve tightly controlled in vivo conditional expression with the tet system

The tet-inducible system has been widely used to achieve conditional gene expression in genetically modified mice. To alleviate the frequent difficulties associated with recovery of relevant transgenic founders, we tested whether a controlled strategy of transgenesis would support reliable cell-specific, doxycycline (Dox)-controlled transgene expression in vivo. Taking advantage of the potent hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine selection strategy and an embryonic stem (ES) cell line supporting efficient germ-line transmission, we used hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase ( HPRT) targeting to insert a single copy tet-inducible construct designed to allow both glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and β-galactosidase (β-Gal) expression. Conditional, Dox-dependent GR and β-Gal expression was evidenced in targeted ES cells. Breeding ES-derived single copy transgenic mice with mice bearing appropriate tet transactivators resulted in β-Gal expression both qualitatively and quantitatively similar to that observed in mice with random integration of the same construct. Interestingly, GR expression in mice was dependent on transgene orientation in the HPRT locus while embryonic stem cell expression was not. Thus, a conditional construct inserted in single copy and in predetermined orientation at the HPRT locus demonstrated a Dox-dependent gene expression phenotype in adult mice suggesting that controlled insertion of tet-inducible constructs at the HPRT locus can provide an efficient alternative strategy to reproducibly generate animal models with tetracycline-induced transgene expression.

Acute toxicity testing in cultures of mouse neuroblastoma cells

Cultured mouse neuroblastoma cells (C1300) may be used as models for nerve cells since they have a number of properties in common with their normal counterparts in vivo. In order to test the possibility of using C1300 cells as alternative to experimental animals when testing for acute toxicity, cells (clone 41A3) were exposed to a number of common chemicals (CH3HgCl, CdCl2,HgCl2 ppDDT, n-butanol, benzene, dioxan, n-propanol, aceton and t-butanol). The toxic effect was quantified by measuring the degree of cell detachment in the cultures. The concentrations of chemicals that caused 25% of the total cell number to detach (TD25) were used for comparison with LD50 values. In spite of the very simplified situation in culture, where the toxicity of a substance is little or not at all influenced by factors like penetration, storage, metabolism and excretion a good correlation (corr. coeff. 0,98) was obtained between TD25 values and LD50 values. Good correlations between in vitro and in vivo tests have also been reported by others. One possible explanation to these findings could be simplified in vivo toxicokinetics of these substances when tested in high doses for general effects like animal death. If so, simple in vitro tests may be used for predicting acute toxicity of certain groups of substances.

Differential gene expression during terminal erythroid differentiation

Terminal erythroid differentiation in mammals is the process whereby nucleated precursor cells accumulate erythroid-specific proteins such as hemoglobin, undergo extensive cellular and nuclear remodeling, and ultimately shed their nuclei to form reticulocytes, which then become mature erythrocytes in the circulation. Little is known about the mechanisms that enable erythroblasts to undergo such a transformation. We hypothesized that genes involved in these mechanisms were likely expressed at restricted times during the differentiation process and used differential display reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction as a first step in identifying such genes. We identified three differentially expressed cDNAs that we termed late erythroblast (LEB) 1-3. None of these cDNAs were previously identified as being expressed in erythroblasts and their patterns of expression indicated they are likely to be involved in the differentiation process. LEB-1 cDNA was derived from the gene A330102K04Rik (approved gene symbol Apoll1), and shares homology with members of the apolipoprotein L family in humans. LEB-3 cDNA was derived from the novel gene D930015E06Rik, that has no known function. LEB-2 cDNA was derived from the gene ranBP16 (approved gene symbol Xpo7), a nuclear exportin. D930015E06Rik mRNA is also strongly expressed in the testis and was localized to a region of the seminiferous tubule where secondary spermatocytes and early spermatids are found, suggesting a role for D930015E06Rik in spermatogenesis as well as terminal erythroid differentiation. We have thus identified three genes not previously described as being expressed in erythroblasts that could be relevant in elucidating mechanisms involved in terminal erythroid differentiation.

Early Functional Loading of Brånemark Dental Implants: 5-Year Clinical Follow-up Study

BACKGROUND

Short-term clinical studies have indicated the possibility of one-stage surgery and early loading of machined titanium implants. However, long-term data comparing the outcome to the conventional two-stage technique are missing.

PURPOSE

A clinical and radiographic study was performed to compare the outcome of oral rehabilitation of the edentulous mandible by fixed suprastructures connected to implants installed according to either (1) a one-stage surgical procedure and early loading (experimental group--EG) or (2) the original two-stage concept (reference group--RG). The EG and RG comprised 16 and 11 subjects, respectively.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The following specific inclusion criterion were adopted: (1) all patients had to consider themselves to be in good general health, (2) the amount of bone had to enable the installation of five to six, at least 10-mm long fixtures (Mk II fixtures; Nobel Biocare AB, Göteborg, Sweden) between the mental foramina, and (3) the patients had to be available for the follow-up and maintenance program. A total of 88 implants were placed in the EG compared to 30 in the RG. In the EG, fixed appliances were connected to the implants within 20 days following implant installation while the fixed appliances in the RG were connected about 4 months following fixture installation. At delivery of the suprastructures, all patients were radiographically examined, an examination that was repeated at the 18- and 60-month follow-ups.

RESULTS

The analysis of the radiographs from the EG disclosed that during the observation period, between 18 and 60 months, the mean loss of bone support amounted to 0.2 mm (SD = 0.4). The corresponding value observed in the RG was 0.0 mm (SD = 0.5). During the 60-month observation period, no fixture was lost in any of the two groups examined. The implants under study as well as those in the reference material were at all observation intervals found to be clinically stable.

CONCLUSIONS

This clinical study demonstrated that it is, at least based on a 5-year observation period, possible to successfully load via a permanent fixed rigid cross-arch suprastructure titanium dental implants soon after installation. However, such a treatment approach has to be strictly limited to the interforamina area of the edentulous mandible. Furthermore, the bone resorption was found to be within the same range around such implants as around implants installed and loaded according to the original two-stage protocol.

Evaluation of a macrofoam swab protocol for the recovery of Bacillus anthracis spores from a steel surface

A protocol to recover Bacillus anthracis spores from a steel surface using macrofoam swabs was evaluated for its accuracy, precision, reproducibility, and limit of detection. Macrofoam swabs recovered 31.7 to 49.1% of spores from 10-cm2 steel surfaces with a < or =32.7% coefficient of variation in sampling precision and reproducibility for inocula of > or =38 spores.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha promoter polymorphisms in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the potential association of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) promoter alleles within subtypes of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) compared to healthy controls in a Caucasian population.

METHODS

TNF-alpha promoter polymorphisms at positions -163, -238, -244, -308, -376 were determined in 228 patients with JIA and 196 healthy individuals. Genomic DNA was isolated and a PCR fragment of about 500 base pairs of the TNF gene promoter were amplified by PCR. Detection of polymorphisms was achieved by a single sequencing procedure.

RESULTS

The TNF -238A allele was more frequent in the psoriatic arthritis JIA subgroup compared to healthy controls as well as to non-psoriatic JIA patients (p < 0.001, chi-square-test) and was associated with the more frequent occurrence of joint erosion (p < 0.05, chi-square-test). The frequency of the TNF -308A allele was significantly lower in patients with rheumatoid factor negative polyarthritis JIA patients compared to healthy controls, respectively (p < 0.05, chi-square-test). Joint erosions were detectable more often in rheumatoid factor negative polyarthritis JIA patients with the G/A genotype (80%) than in those with the G/G genotype (45%) (p = 0.20). The rare alleles at position -376 or at positions -163 and -244 were found very infrequently.

CONCLUSION

TNF promoter polymorphisms may play a role in the pathogenesis of JIA. The TNF-238A allele seems to be associated with juvenile psoriatic arthritis. The TNF-308A allele is less frequently found in rheumatoid factor negative but not in rheumatoid factor positive polyarthritis and may therefore be associated with a more severe disease, while the more common TNF-308G allele may be protective.

The South East Queensland Forests Agreement: Lessons for Biodiversity Conservation

In Australia, regional forest agreements formed the cornerstone of strategies for resolving disputes over the logging of native forests in the last decade of the twentieth century. These disputes, driven by an increasingly vocal and influential conservation movement, coincided with changes in the nature of relationships between Commonwealth and State Governments, with the Commonwealth adopting an increasing role in environmental management (Lane 1999). Following very public disputes about the renewal of export woodchip licenses from native forests (which culminated in log truck blockades of the Commonwealth Parliament, Canberra), the Commonwealth Government adopted regional forest agreements as the mechanism for achieving sustainable management of Australia?s native hardwood forests. This was underpinned by the National Forest Policy Statement (Commonwealth of Australia 1992), which outlined principles for ecologically sustainable management of the nation?s production forests. The Commonwealth and several State Governments reached agreement to develop regional forest agreements (RFAs) for the long-term management and use of forests in ten regions (Fig. 1) (Commonwealth of Australia 2004). Key goals of the agreement were to: reconcile competing commercial, ecological and societal demands on forests in a way that was consistent with the principles and goals of ecologically sustainable forest management (Davey et al. 1997, 2002; Lane 1999); and to establish a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system, based on the nationallyagreed JANIS criteria (JANIS 1997).

The marrow cell continuum: stochastic determinism

Traditional models of hematopoiesis have been hierarchical in nature. Over the past 10 years, we have developed data indicating that hematopoiesis is regulated in a continuum with deterministic and stochastic components. We have shown that the most primitive stem cells, as represented by lineage negative rhodamine(low) Hoechst(low) murine marrow cells are continuously or intermittently cycling as determined by in vivo BrdU labeling. When marrow stem cells are induced to transit cell cycle by in vitro exposure to cytokines, either IL-3, IL-6, IL-11, and steel factor or thrombopoietin, FLT3 ligand, and steel factor, they progress through cycle in a highly synchronized fashion. We have determined that when the stem cells progress through a cytokine stimulated cell cycle the homing, engraftment, adhesion protein, global gene expression, and hematopoietic differentiation phenotypes all change in a reversible fashion. This has led to the continuum model, in which, with cycle transit, chromatin is continually changing altering open transcription areas and providing a continually changing landscape of transcriptional opportunity. More recently, we have extended the changing differentiation profiles to differentiation into lung cells and found that non-hematopoietic differentiation also shows cycle related reversibly modulation. These observations all together support a continuum model of stem cell regulation in which the phenotype of the marrow stem cells is continually and reversibly changing over time.

54 COMPOSITION OF ALLANTOIC FLUID IN CATTLE PREGNANT WITH AI-, IVP-, OR NUCLEAR TRANSFER-GENERATED EMBRYOS

Abnormal placentation, pregnancy failure, and hydroallantois are associated with somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in cattle. Identification of diagnostic markers for abnormal placentation in early gestation would permit therapeutic intervention. Ultrasonography and transvaginal sampling of amniotic and/or allantoic (fetal) fluid enables regular monitoring of fetal health. We report on the composition of serial samples of fetal fluid from individual cows between Days 70–130 of gestation and the potential of steroid and electrolyte composition as an early diagnostic marker for the subsequent occurrence of hydroallantois in SCNT pregnancies in cattle. On Day 70, pregnancy rates were 50% and 60% for cows or heifers implanted with single in vitro-fertilized (IVP, 20/40) or SCNT (25/42) embryos, respectively, and 67% for pregnancies generated by artificial insemination (AI, 12/18). Resulting fetuses were either clones (SCNT) or offspring (IVP/AI) of a donor Holstein bull. Fetal fluids, sampled using ultrasound-guided transvaginal puncture, were collected on Days 70, 100, and 130 of gestation (n = 12 and 139 for amniotic and allantoic samples, respectively). Placental and fetal morphological data were collected following slaughter between Days 135–163 of gestation (n = 14, 20, and 10 for SCNT, IVP, and AI groups, respectively). Fetal fluids were analyzed for progesterone, estrone sulphate, sodium, chloride, potassium, creatinine, urea, calcium, magnesium and phosphate. Pregnancy outcomes for the SCNT group were retrospectively classified as: Fail 100 (pregnancies failing between Days 70–99; n = 6); Fail 130 (failing between Days 100–129; n = 5); Hydrops (greater than 10 L combined amniotic and allantoic fluid at postmortem between Days 135–163; n = 8) and SCNT Pregnant 150 (pregnant between Days 135–163; n = 6). IVP and AI pregnancies were classified as IVP or AI Pregnant 150. Fluid composition was analyzed by ANOVA on log-transformed data. On Day 70, allantoic progesterone and estrone sulphate concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for the SCNT cows compared to the IVP/AI Pregnant 150 cows. On Day 70, allantoic potassium, chloride, creatinine, and urea concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for the SCNT Hydrops cows compared to the IVP/AI Pregnant 150 cows. In addition, Day 70 allantoic creatinine and urea concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for the SCNT Hydrops cows compared to other SCNT groups. By Day 100, allantoic chloride, creatinine, and urea concentrations in SCNT Hydrops cows were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than in IVP/AI Pregnant 150 groups. We conclude that elevated Day 70 allantoic urea and creatinine concentrations are potential early diagnostic markers predicting hydroallantois in recipient cattle carrying SCNT fetuses. Further investigation of these markers in other somatic donor cell lines used for nuclear transfer is warranted to determine their general utility.

High ice nucleation temperature of zebrafish embryos: slow-freezing is not an option

Although fish embryos have been used in a number of slow-freezing cryopreservation experiments, they have never been successfully cryopreserved. In part this is because little is known about whether ice forms within the embryo during the slow-freezing dehydration process. Therefore, we examined the temperature of intraembryonic ice formation (T(IIF)) and the temperature of extraembryonic ice formation (T(EIF)), using a cryomicroscope. We used both unmodified zebrafish embryos and those with water channels (aquaporin-3 or AQP3) inserted into their membranes to increase permeability to water and cryoprotectants, examined at 100% epiboly to the 6-somite stage. In these experiments we examined: (1) the spontaneous freezing of (external) solutions; (2) the spontaneous freezing of solutions containing embryos; (3) the effect of preloading the embryos with cryoprotectants on T(IIF); (4) whether preloading the embryos with cryoprotectant helps in survival after nucleating events in the solution; and (5) the damaging effects of extracellular nucleation events versus solution toxicity on the embryos. The solutes alone (embryo medium--EM, sucrose culture medium, 1 M propylene glycol in EM, and 1 M propylene glycol in a sucrose culture medium) froze at -14.9 +/- 1.1, -17.0 +/- 0.3, -17.8 +/- 1.0, and -17.7 +/- 1.4, respectively. There was no difference amongst these means (P > 0.05), thus adding cryoprotectant did not significantly lower the nucleation point. Adding embryos (preloaded with cryoprotectant or not) did not change the basic freezing characteristics of these solutes. In all these experiments, (T(EIF)) equaled (T(IIF)), and there was no difference in the freezing point of the solutions with or without the embryos (P > 0.05). Additionally, there was no difference in the freezing characteristics of embryos with and without aquaporins (P > 0.05). The formation of intraembryonic ice was lethal to the zebrafish embryos in all cases. But this lethal outcome was not related to solution injury effects, because 88-98% of embryos survived when exposed to a higher solute concentration with no ice present. Taken together, these data suggest that slow-freezing is not a suitable option for zebrafish embryos. The mechanism of this high temperature nucleation event in zebrafish embryos is still unknown.

Preparations for the Safe Management of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Research Protocol Patients

ISSUE: The Warren G Magnuson Clinical Center (CC) strives to achieve a balance between its mission and worker and patient safety.

PROJECT: As part of its mission as one of the government's primary research facilities, the CC must be able to address epidemiologically significant public health concerns as they arise. After its initial description in the fall of 2002, the global threat of SARS became readily apparent. To address its mission, investigators working at the CC designed two protocols to study this new disease. To protect our patients and our staff, we quickly developed infection control guidelines based on what was known about the epidemiology and pathogenesis of this new disease.

RESULTS: We created a multidisciplinary team to identify risk points during the admission and treatment phases of these protocols. This group met once or twice weekly for 6 months. New policies and procedures were created which were patterned after the CDC guidelines but which met the unique needs of our existing infrastructure and patient populations. We created a new position (isolation monitor) to ensure compliance with infection control precautions. We also conducted a failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) to identify additional areas of risk. Policies and procedures were reviewed by: 1) a multi-institute physician committee, 2) an external expert in hospital epidemiology, and 3) the CC Medical Executive Committee. Detailed practice sessions have been held to ensure compliance with these new and detailed precautions.

LESSONS LEARNED: Readiness for complex infectious diseases is multifaceted and requires advance planning and detailed assessments. Preparing for SARS has placed our organization in a much better position to deal with emerging airborne infectious diseases.

The amount of neurofilaments aggregated in the cell body is controlled by their increased sensitivity to trypsin-like proteases

Neurofilaments are synthesised and assembled in neuronal cell bodies, transported along axons and degraded at the synapse. However, in several pathological situations they aggregate in cell bodies or axons. To investigate their turnover when separated from their normal site of degradation, we used a previously described transgenic model characterised by perikaryal retention of neurofilaments, and compared the basic features of both neurofilament synthesis and degradation with that observed in normal mice. Despite the massive perikaryal aggregates, neurofilament transcript levels were found to be unchanged, whereas the total accumulation of neurofilament proteins was markedly reduced. Neurofilaments isolated from transgenic samples are more sensitive to both trypsin and α-chymotrypsin mediated proteolysis. Consistent with their greater in vitro sensitivity, trypsin immunolabeling of cell bodies was stronger in transgenic mice. These results show a novel mechanism to regulate the amount of neurofilaments when they abnormally aggregate.

Assessment of cognitive functioning in men who batter

The present investigation examined neuropsychological functioning in 50 male batterers court-ordered into treatment and 23 nonpatient controls. Subjects were administered a neuropsychological screening battery consisting of the Screening Test for the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery, the Stroop Color and Word Test, two memory subtests from the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery-III (Figural Memory and Delayed Figural Memory), and two subtests from the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery (Trails A & B). Subjects were categorized as having neuropsychological dysfunction if their scores exceeded the statistical cut offs on two or more subtests. Results indicated that 24 (48%) of the male batterers exhibited cognitive dysfunction, as compared to only 1 (4.3%) of the nonpatient controls. Inspection of individual neuropsychological measures indicated poorer performance across all subtests for impaired male batterers as compared to both nonimpaired batterers and normal controls. In contrast, no significant differences on any of these measures emerged between nonimpaired male batterers and normal controls. Implications for the appropriate screening and treatment of male batterers are discussed.

Sleep disturbance after burn injury

This study describes sleep disturbance and related factors in a group of 74 patients at 1 week after discharge using a sleep problems questionnaire developed by the authors. Results indicated that a significant proportion of patients reported a problem with their sleep (73%). Several items were identified as highly prevalent, including frequent nighttime awakenings (87%), napping during the daytime (65%), sleeping alone (64%), experiencing pain during the night (62%), and difficulties with sleep onset (62%). Results suggest numerous possible interventions to improve patients' sleep quality. The usefulness of a more extensive questionnaire was also indicated.

Regulation of proliferation of prostate epithelial cells by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is accompanied by an increase in insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3

The biologically active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) has been shown to regulate the proliferation of human prostate epithelial cell lines. Since the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is involved in the transformation process of epithelial cells, the following study was undertaken to determine if the IGF system, in particular IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), is altered by 1,25-(OH)2D3 in normal prostate epithelial cells as part of a mechanism for inhibition of transformation. Two cell systems were used in this study: (1) primary cultures of benign human prostate epithelial cells (PECs) and (2) an SV40-T immortalized prostate epithelial cell line (P153) that is non-tumorigenic. 1,25-(OH)2D3 was added to parallel sets of PECs and P153 cells in addition to the presence or absence of IGF-I or des(1-3)IGF-I. Treatment with 1,25-(OH)2D3 resulted in significant growth inhibition of both PECs and P153 cells. Furthermore, 1,25-(OH)2D3 inhibited IGF-induced proliferation, but this was partially reversed by high concentrations of IGF-I. Western ligand blots of condition media demonstrated a significant increase in IGFBP-3; likewise Northern blots demonstrated an increase in mRNA for IGFBP-3. Proliferation assays using an antibody designed to block the IGF-independent effects of IGFBP-3 failed to reverse the inhibitory effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3. Thus, IGFBP-3 acts in an IGF-dependent manner to inhibit cell growth of benign prostate epithelial cells.