Physical mapping and microsynteny of Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis genome corresponding to a 222 kbp gene-rich region of Arabidopsis chromosome 4 and partially duplicated on chromosome 5

We constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library, designated as KBrH, from high molecular weight genomic DNA of Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis (Chinese cabbage). This library, which was constructed using HindIII-cleaved genomic DNA, consists of 56,592 clones with average insert size of 115 kbp. Using a partially duplicated DNA sequence of Arabidopsis, represented by 19 and 9 predicted genes on chromosome 4 and 5, respectively, and BAC clones from the KBrH library, we studied conservation and microsynteny corresponding to the Arabidopsis regions in B. rapa ssp. pekinensis. The BAC contigs assembled according to the Arabidopsis homoeologues revealed triplication and rearrangements in the Chinese cabbage. In general, collinearity of genes in the paralogous segments was maintained, but gene contents were highly variable with interstitial losses. We also used representative BAC clones, from the assembled contigs, as probes and hybridized them on mitotic (metaphase) and/or meiotic (leptotene/pachytene/metaphase I) chromosomes of Chinese cabbage using bicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization. The hybridization pattern physically identified the paralogous segments of the Arabidopsis homoeologues on B. rapa ssp. pekinensis chromosomes. The homoeologous segments corresponding to chromosome 4 of Arabidopsis were located on chromosomes 2, 8 and 7, whereas those of chromosome 5 were present on chromosomes 6, 1 and 4 of B. rapa ssp. pekinensis.

p67 isoform of mouse disabled 2 protein acts as a transcriptional activator during the differentiation of F9 cells

The mouse disabled 2 (mDab2) gene is a mouse homologue of the Drosophila disabled gene and is alternatively spliced to form two isoforms, p96 and p67. Although p96 has been known to regulate the Ras-Sos G-protein signal transduction pathway by interacting with Grb2, little is known about the biological function of p67. Recent studies have shown that the expression of mDab2 is markedly up-regulated during the retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation of F9 cells, suggesting another role for mDab2 in cell differentiation [Cho, Lee and Park (1999) Mol. Cells 9, 179-184). In the present study, we first elucidated the biological function of p67 isoform of mDab2 and identified its binding partner. Unlike p96, p67 largely resides in RA-treated F9 cell nuclei. In this system, p67 interacts with mouse androgen-receptor interacting protein 3, termed the mDab2 interacting protein, which acts as a transcriptional co-regulator. By using a fusion protein with a heterologous DNA-binding domain (GAL4), we showed that p67 had an intrinsic transcriptional activation function. These results suggest that mDab2 p67 may function as a transcriptional co-factor for certain complexes of transcriptional regulatory elements involved in the RA-induced differentiation of F9 cells.

A case of lymphomatoid papulosis occurred simultaneously with Ki-1-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma

Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is a chronic self-healing skin eruption that is clinically benign but histologically mimics a malignant lymphoma. However, lymphomatoid papulosis with anaplastic large cell lymphoma responds poorly to medical treatments, including chemotherapies. We experienced a 60-year-old male patient with lymphomatoid papulosis occurred simultaneously with relapsed Ki-1-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma who was treated with salvage chemotherapy but, unfortunately, failed to be rescued. We report it with a review of the literature.

Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia/fibrosis: clinical manifestations, histologic and radiologic features

OBJECTIVES

Customarily used classification of IPF did not satisfy a sizable group of patients with IPF that in the past had been lumped with UIP and now currently has begun to be recognized as nonspecific interstitial pneumonia/fibrosis (NIP). There are few reports about the clinical features of NIP.

METHODS

The pathologic slides of 66 patients having open lung biopsy (OLB) for the differential diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases (ILD) from 1984 to 1995 were reviewed. Seven cases were confirmed as NIP. The clinical record, pulmonary function tests (PFT), chest PA and HRCT were reviewed and analysed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Six patients with NIP were female. The median age was 56 years. Mean duration of symptoms was 4 months. Five patients had systemic flu-like symptoms, the most common respiratory symptom was gradual dyspnea. Two patients revealed a mild degree of anemia. Four cases had leukocytois of more than 10,000/mm3. ESR and CRP O.K. elevated in all measured cases. Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) was positive in three of six patients and ds-DNA antibody was positive in one of six patients. Restrictive pattern of PFT was predominant. Diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) decreased markedly. In bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), total cell counts elevated about three times of normal value. On differential counts of BAL cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils were higher than those of normal controls. The prominent finding of chest radiology was bilaterally patchy opacifications in parenchyme of lower lung zones. On HRCT, bilaterally patchy areas of ground-glass attenuation and/or areas of alveolar consolidation were commonly shown. The number of pathologic type was one case of group I, four cases of group II and two cases of group III. The average period from diagnosis to the last follow-up was 24.8 months. Five patients were clinically recovered to the previously well-being state.

CONCLUSION

Patients with NIP had different clinical features from UIP, AIP and DIP. They also had characteristic findings of radiology and their prognosis seems to be better than UIP.

A case of granulocytic sarcoma of the brain in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome

Granulocytic sarcoma is rare extramedullary tumor composed of myeloblasts and other granulocytic precursors. The majority of cases have been reported in association with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myeloproliferative disorders. Granulocytic sarcoma may occur in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Reports are very rare, especially in the brain. We report an unusual case of granulocytic sarcoma of the parenchyma of the brain, occurring in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome, diagnosed by cerebro-spinal fluid cytology and magnetic resonance imaging brain scan.