Measured total cross sections of slow neutrons scattered by gaseous and liquid 2H(2)

The total scattering cross sections for slow neutrons with energies E in the range 300 neV to 3 meV for gaseous and liquid ortho-2H2 have been measured. The cross sections for 2H2 gas are found to be in excellent agreement with both the Hamermesh and Schwinger and the Young and Koppel models. For liquid 2H(2), we confirm the existing experimental data in the cold neutron range and the discrepancy with the gas models. We find a clear 1 / square root[E'] dependence at low energies for both states. A simple explanation for the liquid 2H2 cross section is offered.

Acute myelogenous leukemia in a donor after granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-primed peripheral blood stem cell harvest

This article describes the first case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in a healthy donor at 14 months after granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-primed peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) harvest. In September 2001, a healthy 61-year-old female was given G-CSF prior to PBSC harvest for her brother with multiple myeloma. In spite of successful engraftment, the recipient died from a disease relapse. In November 2002, the donor, admitted with high fever and leukocytosis with 98.5% blastoid cells, was diagnosed as having AML (M1). Her leukemia cells were positive for CD13, CD33, and G-CSF receptor without chromosomal abnormality and responded to G-CSF in vitro. During chemotherapy, she died of progressive pneumonia. If our case is truly the first, the incidence of leukemia in donors may not be higher than that of naturally occurring leukemia. However, efforts towards an international long-term study, or at least to report every case similar to ours, would be required to be conclusive.

Thrombopoietin stimulates ex vivo expansion of mature neutrophils in the early stages of differentiation

We examined the effects of thrombopoietin (TPO) in combination with stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the proliferation and differentiation of human neutrophils. Purified CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells were cultivated with SCF, IL-3, and G-CSF for 7 days (early phase), and thereafter nonadherent cells were further cultivated for 9 days with G-CSF alone (late phase). A large number of highly selected neutrophils (>95%) was obtained on day 16. We compared the expansion capacity in the presence or absence of TPO in each culture phase. The significantly larger number of neutrophils was obtained in the presence of TPO in the early culture phase. The number of expanded cells plateaued at day 16. Ultimately, a 550-fold increase in the number of neutrophils was achieved. These neutrophils gained the ability to respond effectively with chemotaxis and superoxide release, and were appropriately primed by G-CSF, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and IL-1beta for enhanced release of O(2)(-). The responsiveness of these cells was identical to that of peripheral blood neutrophils. However, TPO did not accelerate the maturation of neutrophils supported by G-CSF in the late phase of culture. Furthermore, priming effects and triggering effects of TPO on the production of superoxide metabolites from peripheral blood neutrophils were not observed. These results suggest that TPO regulates the proliferation and differentiation of neutrophils in the early stages, but not the late stages, of differentiation.

E-cadherin expression in lymph nodes of three patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The E-cadherins are a family of cell-cell adhesion molecules. These molecules exhibit Ca2+ dependent cell adhesion and are expressed on epithelial cells. E-cadherin levels in serum are known to be significantly elevated in patients with epithelial carcinomas. We determined serum E-cadherin levels in 30 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) using an enzyme immunoassay and then investigated whether E-cadherin is expressed on lymphoma cells in lymph nodes of three cases selected to analyze from 15 cases of serum E-cadherin levels over mean + 2SD with monoclonal antibody immunohistochemistry. Results indicated that E-cadherin antigen is expressed on the lymphoma cells in these three patients with NHL, and that soluble E-cadherin might be released into blood from lymphoma cells. Expression of E-cadherin may contribute to the morphological appearance of some malignant lymphoma, although no conclusion can be drawn based on such small number of patients analyzed.

Esophageal actinomycosis after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma, nasal type

We report a 19-year-old man with extranodal natural killer (NK)/T cell lymphoma, nasal type treated by allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (allo-PBSCT). His lymphoma was chemoresistant, and disseminated during local radiotherapy. The patient received allo-PBSCT from his HLA-1 locus mismatched sister using busulfan (BU), cyclophosphamide (CY) and VP-16 as the conditioning regimen. His course was complicated by esophageal actinomycosis 9 months after transplantation, which resulted in the rupture of the right common carotid artery. These observations suggest that actinomycosis should be monitored carefully after transplantation in patients who have received local radiation therapy before the procedure.

Urinary trypsin inhibitor levels in the urine of patients with haematological malignancies

The urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) levels in the urine of patients with various haematological malignancies were determined, using automated latex agglutination immunoturbidimetry. The mean UTI levels in urine in acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and multiple myeloma groups were significantly elevated, compared with the normal control group. It was found that the UTI level in urine changed from an elevated value to a normal value with haematological improvement by chemotherapy in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome included in a previous study. These results suggest tha

Analysis of IL-18 bioactivity and IL-18 mRNA in three patients with adult T-cell leukaemia, acute mixed lineage leukaemia, and acute lymphocytic leukaemia accompanied with high serum IL-18 levels

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) bioactivity in sera and IL-18 mRNA expression in leukaemia cells of three patients with adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL), acute mixed lineage leukaemia (AMLL) and acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) accompanied with high serum IL-18 levels have been analysed. There was little serum IL-18 bioactivity in the three patients with ATL, AMLL and ALL, while IL-18 mRNA expression was detected in leukaemia cells of all three patients.

Successful treatment with reduced-intensity stem cell transplantation in a case of relapsed refractory central nervous system lymphoma

A 33-year-old male with refractory relapsed central nervous system lymphoma underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) from an HLA-identical sibling after reduced-intensity conditioning chemotherapy. The preparative regimen for allo-HSCT consisted of fludarabine and busulfan. Cyclosporine (CsA) and short-term methotrexate were used as prophylaxis for acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Although CsA was quickly reduced to induce a graft-versus-lymphoma (GVL) effect, no symptoms of GVHD and GVL effect were evident. Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) was performed on day +40 following transplantation. The patient developed acute GVHD (grade III) after DLI, and lymphoma regression was observed after the occurrence of GVHD. Four months after transplantation, complete remission was achieved with extensive chronic GVHD, and the patient continues to be disease free at 15 months after transplantation.

Electrocardiogram is very useful for predicting acute heart failure following myeloablative chemotherapy with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation rescue

A prospective study was conducted in 71 evaluable patients who received myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at our facility from 1995 to 2002, to find a sensitive marker for post-transplant heart failure, including echocardiographic systolic and diastolic markers and QTc interval. QTc was found to be an independent and significant risk factor for acute heart failure (AHF) on multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR 1.5, P=0.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-2.0), while no significant differences between patients with AHF and those without AHF were found in age, sex, treatment history, type of conditioning regimen, and echocardiographic systolic and diastolic markers. On further analysis, post-transplant risk of AHF appeared to be increased as QTc was prolonged. The post-transplant risk of AHF in the group with longest QTc on multivariate logistic regression analysis was found to be 9.8 times that in the group with shortest QTc (P=0.04, 95% CI 1.0-100). These results suggest that echocardiographic markers are less valuable predictors of post-transplant AHF, but that prolongation of the QTc, an ECG marker, before HSCT is strongly associated with onset of AHF after HSCT.

Platelet recovery after eradication of Helicobacter pylori in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

The association between Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) infection and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) has been reported by several groups. We investigated the prevalence of H. pylori infection and the effectiveness of its eradication in Japanese patients with ITP. H. pylori infection was found in 21 of 30 patients (70.0%) by (13)C urea breath test and presence of serum antibodies to H. pylori. H. pylori was eradicated in 18 of the 21 infected patients (85.7%) by administration of a proton pump inhibitor and two kinds of antibiotics. In only one patient was medication discontinued due to skin rash on the 4th day of treatment. Platelet recovery was obtained in ten patients (55.6%). In two patients with treatment failure, platelet recovery was obtained after successful re-eradication. In three patients without H. pylori infection, platelet counts did not significantly increase with the same treatment. On the other hand, eradication therapy did not affect platelet counts in patients with gastric ulcer. In conclusion, H. pylori eradication can be used for initial treatment with tolerable adverse effects in some ITP patients.

Expression of non-muscle type myosin heavy polypeptide 9 (MYH9) in mammalian cells

Myosin is a functional protein associated with cellular movement, cell division, muscle contraction and other functions. Members of the myosin super-family are distinguished from the myosin heavy chains that play crucial roles in cellular processes. Although there are many studies of myosin heavy chains in this family, there are fewer on non-muscle myosin heavy chains than of muscle myosin heavy chains. Myosin is classified as type I (myosin I) or type II (myosin II). Myosin I, called unconventional myosin or mini-myosin, has one head, while myosin II, called conventional myosin, has two heads. We transfected myosin heavy polypeptide 9 (MYH9) into HeLa cells as a fusion protein with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and analyzed the localization and distribution of MYH9 in parallel with those of actin and tubulin. The results indicate that MYH9 colocalizes with actin stress fibers. Since it has recently been shown by genetic analysis that autosomal dominant giant platelet syndromes are MYH9-related disorders, our development of transfected EGFP-MYH9 might be useful for predicting the associations between the function of actin polymerization, the MYH9 motor domain, and these disorders.

Measurements of ultracold-neutron lifetimes in solid deuterium

We present the first measurements of the survival time of ultracold neutrons (UCNs) in solid deuterium (SD2). This critical parameter provides a fundamental limitation to the effectiveness of superthermal UCN sources that utilize solid ortho-deuterium as the source material. These measurements are performed utilizing a SD2 source coupled to a spallation source of neutrons, providing a demonstration of UCN production in this geometry and permitting systematic studies of the influence of thermal up-scatter and contamination with para-deuterium on the UCN survival time.

Clinical significance of serum E-cadherin levels in patients with haematological malignancies

E-cadherin is a transmembrane glycoprotein that mediates Ca2+-dependent intracellular adhesion in normal epithelial cells. E-cadherin levels in serum are known to be significantly elevated in patients with epithelial carcinomas. However, the role of E-cadherin in haematopoietic cells is less clear. In this study, serum E-cadherin levels were therefore determined in patients with acute or chronic leukaemia, malignant lymphoma or myelodysplastic syndromes. Significant elevation of serum E-cadherin levels was detected in patients with haematological malignancies, and between types of acute leukaemias or subtypes of myelodysplastic syndromes, stages of malignant lymphoma, and phases of chronic leukaemia, respectively, compared with those in healthy adult volunteers. These findings suggest that E-cadherin might be expressed in malignant haematopoietic cells and might be useful as a diagnostic indicator in haematological malignancies.

The HLA-DOB gene displays limited polymorphism with only one amino acid substitution

The HLA-DO molecule is a non-classical class II heterodimer composed of alpha and beta chains. We have previously recognized that all eight of the allelic variations of the HLA-DOA gene represent non-synonymous amino acid substitution. In the present study, to analyze genetic polymorphism and allelic variation of the HLA-DOB gene which may affect the efficiency of class II restricted antigen presentation thereby being involved in the susceptibility of HLA associated diseases, we conducted direct DNA sequencing of HLA-DOB in 36 HLA class II homozygous typing cells and identified six new allelic variations (DOB*0101101, *0101102, *01012, *01022, *0104101 and *0104102) including five single nucleotide polymorphisms with only one amino acid substitution. Furthermore, strong linkage disequilibrium was detected between DOB*01022 and DRB1*1502 only, with no linkage disequilibrium between the DOA and the DOB genes. The HLA-DOB gene has been identified in other mammals, and their nucleotide sequences are well conserved. These facts suggest that limited polymorphism in the DOB gene is profitable to execute their unique function as a co chaperone and so strong selective pressure is operating to prevent generic variation against the DOB molecule interacting with the DM molecule and thus maintaining the specified immunological function of regulating antigen presentation.

Linear and whorled naevoid hypermelanosis: a case with systemic involvement and trisomy 18 mosaicism

We describe a 20-year-old woman with trisomy 18 mosaicism, who presented with skeletal anomalies, epilepsy, mental retardation, and linear and whorled naevoid hypermelanosis.

Effectiveness of washed platelet concentrate and red cell transfusions for a patient with anhaptoglobinemia with antihaptoglobin antibody

A 71-year-old Japanese male with myelodysplastic syndrome progressing to overt leukaemia and hepatocellular carcinoma developed dyspnea and urticaria immediately after infusion of platelet concentrate (PC). He exhibited an identical reaction following blood transfusion. Serum haptoglobin was undetectable. The patient was determined to be homozygous for Hp(del) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibody to haptoglobin was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis. No antibodies against human leucocyte antigen (HLA) or platelet-specific antigens were detected. Washed PC and washed red blood cells were effective in preventing the transfusion-related anaphylactoid reactions.