Use of engineering controls and personal protective equipment by certified pesticide applicators

A convenience survey of 702 certified pesticide applicators was conducted in three states to assess the use of 16 types of engineering controls and 13 types of personal protective equipment (PPE). Results showed that 8 out of 16 engineering devices were adopted by more than 50% of the respondents. The type of crop, size of agricultural operation, and the type of pesticide application equipment were found to influence the adoption of engineering controls. Applicators working on large farms, users of boom and hydraulic sprayers, and growers of field crops were more likely to use engineering devices. Respondents reported a high level of PPE use, with chemical-resistant gloves showing the highest level of compliance. An increase in pesticide applicators wearing appropriate headgear was reported. The majority of respondents did not wear less PPE simply because they used engineering controls. Those who did modify their PPE choices when employing engineering controls used tractors with enclosed cabs and/or were vegetable growers.

Hematologic masquerade of rhabdomyosarcoma

We present the case of a 12-year-old boy admitted with the diagnosis of acute leukemia, but found to have an infiltration of the marrow by an alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) as determined by the cytogenetic demonstration of a t(2;13)(q25;q14). A primary tumor could not be found. With this case as a basis, we have tabulated features of all similar cases in the literature and discuss the possible optimal approaches to establishing the correct diagnosis in such patients.

Protective headgear for midwestern agriculture: a limited wear study

Baseball caps are popular with farm workers, but have been criticized because they do not sufficiently shade the face, neck, and ears. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards require workers to wear chemical-resistant hoods or chemical-resistant hats with wide brims during the application of pesticides whose labels call for head protection. In this study, four farm workers wore baseball caps and two alternative types of headgear with wide brims for 20 to 36 hours during planting of corn and soybeans to compare performance features and practicality. Afterwards, researchers analyzed the headgear fabrics by gas chromatography or high-performance liquid chromatography to determine the levels at which five herbicides were deposited on the headgear: 2,4-D, metolachlor, acetochlor, ethalfluralin, and glyphosate. Chemical analysis revealed that 12 percent of specimens had detectable residue: levels of glyphosate in the nanograms-per-square-centimeter (ng/cm2) range and levels of 2,4-D in the micrograms-per-square-centimeter (microgram/cm2) range. Workers, however, preferred the baseball caps because of problems with the wind and feelings of embarrassment about wearing other types of headgear. An acceptable, protective substitute for the baseball cap has yet to be designed.

Identification of a novel amplicon at 1q31 in pancreatic cancer cell lines

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a highly lethal malignant tumor that is increasing in frequency, now ranking fifth in the United States as a cause of death attributed to cancer. Patients with pancreatic carcinoma have one of the poorest prognoses of all cancer patients, with the number of deaths being approximately 75% of the total number of cases. The use of comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) has gained widespread use in the study of some types of solid tumors, and it seems to be a very good approach in pancreatic adenocarcinomas, in which just a few cases have been studied cytogenetically, mostly owing to the fact that these tumors are very difficult to grow in culture. Fourteen pancreatic cancer lines were examined with CGH. In 11 of these lines, we found an amplicon at 1q31, not previously reported in pancreatic cancer. More studies need to be done in primary tumors to determine the involvement of 1q31 in this type of tumor.

The Philadelphia chromosome as a secondary change in leukemia: three case reports and an overview of the literature

Three cases of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia with a Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) as a secondary abnormality are reported. The Ph was late-appearing in one patient and appeared as an additional anomaly in the other two patients. Fluorescence in situ hybridization studies of the first patient identified the presence of a minor BCR/ABL rearrangement. The findings of these cases support the conclusion that the Ph plays a role not only in leukemogenesis, but also in disease progression. An overview of the literature dealing with similar cases is also presented.

The role of antibiotics and timing of repair in flexor tendon injuries of the hand

The use of antibiotics and the timing of repair in the management of flexor tendon injuries of the hand have never been specifically addressed in the literature. In a retrospective study, 140 patients treated for simple open flexor tendon injuries were evaluated for postoperative wound infection. Patients were divided into four groups on the basis of early or late repair and use of parenteral perioperative antibiotic therapy. No significant differences were found among groups with respect to the low incidence of infectious complications observed. There is no evidence that mandates the use of prophylactic antibiotics and immediate repair in these types of injuries.

Some observations on fluorescence in situ hybridization evaluation of chronic myelocytic leukemia

Cosmid probes specific for the major BCR/ABL rearrangement (commercially available probes) were employed by us to evaluate 134 patients with the clinical diagnosis of chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). The following represent our main observations: 1) No significant statistical difference regarding a false positive fusion signal was seen in the distribution pattern between the Ph negative (-) cases (110) and the normal controls (3.23 +/- 1.97 vs 2.8 +/- 1.92, respectively). 2) The mean percentage of cells with a positive fusion signal in the Ph positive (+) CML cases at presentation was 70 +/- 12.3 in bone marrow samples (12 cases) and 45 +/- 12.4 in blood samples (3 cases). 3) A significant discrepancy was seen between the interphase FISH and cytogenetics data in the monitoring of four out of eight patients post-therapy. The clinical significance of this observation needs to be clarified. 4) Three Ph(-) patients with significant leukocytosis had closely adjacent but not fused signals (20%, 16%, and 20% of cells, respectively, vs. the control: 4%). This may indicate a temporal and spatial association between chromosomes 9 and 22 prior to the BCR/ABL rearrangement (Ph chromosome formation).

Maternal balanced translocation leading to partial duplication of 4q and partial deletion of 1p in a son: cytogenetic and FISH studies using band-specific painting probes generated by chromosome microdissection

A 9-month-old boy with pre- and post-natal growth retardation, microcephaly, plagiocephaly, and several minor anomalies had the initial karyotype: 46,XY,der(1)t(1;?) (p36.1;?). Further analysis showed that the der(1) was derived from an unfavorable segregation of a maternal complex chromosome rearrangement, i.e., 46,XX,der(1)t(1;?) (p36.1;?), der(4)t(4;?)(q?;?). Whole chromosome fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and chromosome microdissection were used to clarify the maternal karyotype as: 46,XX,der(1)t(1;4)(4qter-->4q33::1p36.13-->1qter),der( 4)t(1;4)inv(4)(4pter-->4q31.3::1p36.33-->1p36.13::4q33 -->4q31.3::1p36.33-->1pter). Therefore, the karyotype of the boy actually was 46,XY,der(1)t(1;4) (p36.13;q33). Clinical comparison of the patient's clinical findings showed similarities to individuals with partial del(1p) and dup(4q). To our knowledge the above cytogenetic abnormalities have not been described previously. This case further demonstrates the advantages of chromosome microdissection and FISH in the identification of anomalous chromosome regions and breakpoints.

Increased chromosome 20 copy number detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in malignant melanoma

DNA amplification is an important mechanism of tumor progression that allows cancer cells to up-regulate the expression of critical genes such as oncogenes and genes conferring drug resistance. Recent studies using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) revealed increased DNA copies of 20q sequences in 7 melanoma cell lines and B archival metastatic melanoma lesions. To evaluate chromosome 20 abnormalities in more detail and to resolve discrepancies between karyotype and CGH findings, we performed FISH analysis of metaphase cells in 13 melanoma cell lines (including the 7 lines used for CGH) and 9 primary melanoma specimens by using a whole chromosome paint specific for chromosome 20. All 13 cell lines (100%) and 8/9 primary tumors (89%) showed extra copies of chromosome 20 relative to tumor ploidy. Additionally, 6/14 cell lines (43%) and 2/8 primary tumors (25%) showed translocated chromosome 20 material previously undetected by standard cytogenetics. Cytologic evidence for gene amplification was also found in one cell line, which contained an add(20)(p13), with additional DNA being derived from 20q sequences. These data suggest that overrepresentation of a gene or genes important for melanoma pathogenesis resides on the long arm of chromosome 20.

Molecular and clinical studies of three cases of female pseudohermaphroditism with caudal dysplasia suggest multiple etiologies

Female pseudohermaphroditism with caudal dysplasia is a clinical entity in which normal-appearing male genitalia may occur in the apparent absence of testosterone or the sex-determining gene (SR Y). We have extended observations of two previously reported cases, and report a third case, which strongly suggests multiple etiologies. The first case was one of identical twins. The other identical twin did not show female pseudohermaphroditism with caudal dysplasia, but both patients had the rare birth defect of neonatal cataracts. We have explored skewed X-inactivation as a possible difference between the two twins, with a negative result. The second case had a deletion at 10q25.3-->ter. This is near the location of PAX2, and we searched for mutations in PAX2 in both this and the first case, with negative results. Neither patient had a scrotal raphe, suggesting that a failure of division of the cloacal membrane was an important step in their development of female pseudohermaphroditism. The final case is newly described and differed from the above two in the presence of a scrotal raphe and an elevated testosterone level. Although no source for the testosterone was found, this case suggests that the etiology in this patient was different and that the presence of a scrotal raphe can be used to distinguish between at least two etiologies.

Trisomy 10: age and leukemic lineage associations

We observed three cases of acute leukemia with trisomy 10 (+10) as the sole abnormality, two were adult patients with ANLL (subtype M0 and M1 respectively), and the third that of a child with ALL. The literature describes nine additional cases, four with ALL (all of whom were children) and five with ANLL (all of whom were adults). Cell marker studies on the ANLL cases showed a common positivity for CD7 and CD33 in our two cases, as well as in four of the previously reported cases, whereas in ALL the only two informative cases were classified as early pre-B ALL. There appears to be an age-related pattern in the specificity of the leukemic lineage. Trisomy 10 appears to be associated exclusively with ALL in children and with ANLL (usually M0-M1) in adults. The prognosis appears to be also divided between the two groups, being good in the pediatric group and moderate in the adult group.

Unbalanced chromosomal translocation, der(17)t(13;17)(q14;p11) in a solid and cystic papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas

We report on a solid and cystic papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas containing the unbalanced chromosome translocation der(17)t(13;17)(q14;p11), resulting in loss of 13q14-->qter and 17p11-->pter. Although the clinical and pathologic characteristics of this case are largely typical of this uncommon pancreatic neoplasm, the presence of cellular pleomorphism, tumor giant cells, and a DNA tetraploid tumor population suggest that this tumor may have an increased metastatic potential. The unbalanced translocation between chromosomes 13 and 17 and the genes flanking the breakpoints may prove to be markers for solid and cystic papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas and provide insight into its histogenesis.

A case of therapy-related extramedullary acute promyelocytic leukemia

We report a patient with extramedullary acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) occurring after radiation therapy for carcinoma of the prostate. To the authors' knowledge, this patient represents the first case of cytogenetically and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed therapy-related extramedullary APL. In contrast to the majority of previously reported t-APL, this case underwent a very unfavorable course.

FISH in the evaluation of pleural and ascitic fluids

Pleural and ascitic fluids (PAF) are complications of both nonmalignant and malignant conditions, such as congestive heart failure and chronic infections, as well as neoplasias, such as mesothelioma, lymphoma, and adenocarcinomas of the lung, ovary, endometrium, breast, colon, stomach, and pancreas. Differentiation between malignant and nonmalignant PAF is not always easy to assess on the basis of clinical, cytologic, and other criteria. A review of the chromosomal anomalies in neoplasms which can cause PAF revealed aneusomies of chromosomes 1, 3, 7, 8, 10, and 11 in about 40% to 80% of these malignancies. We performed FISH using centromere-specific probes for chromosomes 1, 3, 7, 8, 10, and 11 and chromosomal analysis on PAF cells from 21 patients, including 3 with ovarian cancer, 2 with lymphoma, 5 with adenocarcinoma of unknown origin, 1 with breast cancer, and 10 with atypical lymphocytosis of unknown cause. The results indicate a) a high correspondence between FISH and the clinical diagnosis (9 of the 11 cases of malignant fluid showing FISH abnormalities); b) that FISH is more sensitive than cytogenetics in detecting abnormal clones (10 vs. 6); and c) that FISH is a valuable adjunct to cytology in the interpretation of atypical lymphocytosis (3 of the 10 cases were shown to be abnormal by FISH). Thus, the FISH technique can be a very useful adjunct to conventional cytogenetics in yielding crucial information on the origin of PAF.

Sex chromosome aneuploidy and aging

Loss of an X chromosome in females and of the Y chromosome in males are phenomena associated with aging. X chromosome loss occurs in and may be limited to PHA stimulated peripheral lymphocytes. In males, the loss of the Y is most evident in bone marrow cells, but also occurs to a lesser extent in PHA stimulated peripheral lymphocytes. X chromosome loss is associated with premature centromere division leading to anaphase lag and elimination in micronuclei. The mechanism of Y chromosome loss has not been elucidated. No pathological consequence of either X or Y chromosome loss has been convincingly demonstrated. With the advent of FISH technology, measurement of sex chromosome aneuploidy may prove to be a convenient assay for cellular senecence and aging.

A "balanced" Y;16 translocation associated with Turner-like neonatal lymphedema suggests the location of a potential anti-Turner gene on the Y chromosome

A male patient with Turner-like hydrops in the newborn period (Bonnevie-Ullrich syndrome) was studied. The karyotype was 46,X,t(Y;16)(q11.2;q24) in 100 cells. Chromosome painting with the heterochromatic Y chromosome-specific long arm repeat DYZ2 disclosed that all the hybridization was on the derivative 16. This was confirmed by chromosome painting with DYZ1, the other major Y long arm heterochromatic repeat, and DYZ3, the Y alphoid, centromeric repeat which showed chromosomal separation of the 2 stained regions. To further localize the breakpoint, FISH was performed using individual YACs from a Y-YAC contig (Foote et al., 1992). This disclosed two YACs (yOX111 and yOX123) which hybridized to both the Y and der16 chromosomes. The YACS spanning the translocation breakpoint region were located just proximal to the Y heterochromatin boundary. The recent discovery of a candidate gene for the azoospermia factor (AZF) in this region (Ma et al., 1993) suggests the possibility that there are several Y-expressed genes adjacent to the heterochromatin boundary (as there are near the pseudoautosomal boundary) which may include a gene involved with lymphedema which is disrupted by the translocation in this patient.

Appreciation of the significance of cytogenetic and FISH analysis of bone marrow in clinical oncology

Due to some empiric reasons, bone marrow (BM) has never been emphasized and appreciated as a valuable alternative source for metaphases of tumor nature. In the present study, we report the cytogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) studies of BM in 172 patients with various tumors. Our results indicate that cytogenetic and FISH analyses of BM provide a valuable biologic approach concerning the diagnosis of tumors, evaluation of metastasis, and assessment of secondary hematologic malignancies. Thus, we suggest strongly that these studies become a standard part of clinical pathologic investigations in dealing with clinical oncology.

Involvement of 10q22 and 11q13 in hibernoma

A hibernoma studied cytogenetically had the karyotype 46,XY,t(9;10;11)(q34;q22;q13),t(17;19) (q21.3;q13). The findings are discussed and compared with those of the previous case described in the literature.

Identification of complex t(15;17) in APL by FISH

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) provides a sensitive and effective approach in identifying the RAR-alpha/PML fusion event in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with the t(15;17). In the present study we describe the use of this assay for the identification of the RAR-alpha/PML fusion in bone marrow (BM) cells from three APL patients with complex t(15;17) translocations.

Identification of masked and variant Ph (complex type) translocations in CML and classic Ph in AML and ALL by fluorescence in situ hybridization with the use of bcr/abl cosmid probes

In the present study, three chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients with variant Philadelphia (Ph) chromosomes (complex types), two CML patients with a masked Ph, one case with Ph positive acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and one with Ph positive acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) were analyzed by standard cytogenetic techniques (G-banding), Southern blot studies, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) procedures using probes from portions of the bcr and abl genes. It has been previously shown that this FISH approach could detect the bcr/abl fusion event in CML patients with classic or variant (simple type) Ph. Our results demonstrate that this FISH assay can also detect the bcr/abl fusion status in CML patients with masked or variant (complex type) Ph chromosomes and in some patients with Ph positive ALL or AML.

FISH: a useful technique in the verification of clonality of random chromosome abnormalities

Random chromosome abnormality is an important issue in clinical cytogenetics, especially in cancer cytogenetics. The significance of random abnormalities needs to be well defined. In the present study, ten patients with malignant hematologic disorders were analyzed by classical cytogenetic techniques and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) procedures. Cytogenetic studies showed all ten patients to have a single cell with trisomy, i.e., +8, +8 (5 cases), +12, +15, +18, +20, and +21, respectively. FISH necessitated revision of the cytogenetic diagnosis and confirmed the clonality of these "random" abnormalities.

Cytogenetic and FISH studies of abnormal X chromosomes in a patient with ANLL

We report a case of idic(X)(q13),r(X)(p22q13), and del(X)(:p11-->cen-->q11:) in a 71-year-old female patient with de novo acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), FAB-M4. The abnormal X chromosomes of this patient were identified cytogenetically by G-banding technique and were further confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using an alpha-satellite probe to chromosome X centromere. The features of this are compared with other cases reported in the literature.

On the heat-pulse method for the measurement of apparent sap velocity in stems

The velocity of a heat pulse moving through the xylem of a stem is generally not the same as the sap velocity. One can measure the sap velocity by carefully characterizing the shape of such a pulse. In much contemporary work the phase relations of sap flow are more important than the actual velocity. It is shown that the measurement of the time for the peak of a heat pulse to reach a sensor can characterize an "apparent heat-pulse velocity". A theoretical analysis shows that this velocity is expected to be in phase with the sap velocity.A temperature-compensated system for the measurement of apparent sap velocity in the stem of a cotton plant is presented. Output variations caused by changes in the ambient air temperature are eliminated through use of opposing thermistors in a bridge circuit. One thermistor was used as a sensor while the other served as compensator for ambient temperature changes.