High-power, widely tunable, room-temperature picosecond optical parametric oscillator based on cylindrical 5%MgO:PPLN

We report a high-power picosecond optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on cylindrical MgO:PPLN synchronously pumped by an Yb-fiber laser. The singly resonant OPO is tunable in the near-infrared signal across 1413-1900 nm and mid-infrared idler over 2418-4307 nm by angle tuning of the crystal at room temperature. With non-optimized output coupling of ∼10%, the OPO simultaneously delivers 2.4 W of signal at 1664 nm and 1.7 W of idler at 2950 nm at an overall extraction efficiency of ∼45% with high beam-pointing stability <30  μrad and <14  μrad for the signal and idler, respectively. The generated signal and idler exhibit passive power stability better than 1% rms and 0.8% rms over 15 h, respectively, in high beam quality with TEM(00) profile. The extracted signal pulses from the OPO have duration of 15.2 ps with a spectral bandwidth of 0.7 nm, corresponding to a time-bandwidth product of ΔυΔτ∼1.2.

Magneto- to electroactive transmutation of spin waves in ErMnO3

The low-energy dynamical properties of the multiferroic hexagonal perovskite ErMnO3 have been studied by inelastic neutron scattering as well as terahertz and far infrared spectroscopies on a synchrotron source. From these complementary techniques, we have determined the magnon and crystal field spectra and identified a zone center magnon excitable only by the electric field of an electromagnetic wave. Using a comparison with the isostructural YMnO3 compound and crystal field calculations, we propose that this dynamical magnetoelectric process is due to the hybridization of a magnon with an electroactive crystal field transition.

Catalyst-free synthesis of quinazolin-4-ones from (hetero)aryl-guanidines: application to the synthesis of pyrazolo[4,3-f]quinazolin-9-ones, a new family of DYRK1A inhibitors

A small library of heterocycle-fused quinazolin-4-ones was prepared and evaluated as kinase inhibitors. The key step of the two-step process involves the environmental friendly thermolysis of N-ethoxycarbonyl-N'-(hetero) arylguanidines at 130 °C in water. The cyclization is fully regioselective. The most active molecules, 7-(2-hydroxyethylamino)- and 7-(3-hydroxypropylamino)-pyrazolo[4,3-f]quinazolin-9-ones, inhibit DYRK1A and CLK1 at submicromolar concentrations, indicating the potential interest of this new heterocycle in drug design.

Swift and efficient synthesis of 4-phenylquinazolines: involvement of N-heterocyclic carbene in the key cyclization step

An original route to 2-alkyamino-4-phenylquinazolines in three steps from simple (hetero)aromatic amines is reported here. The key step involves the intramolecular cyclization of benzoyl arylguanidines performed in [OMIm]Cl ionic liquid. The basic (hetero)aromatic guanidines deprotonate the imidazolium-based ionic liquid, thus triggering the cascade process ultimately leading to the intramolecular cyclization. This reaction is the first example of a Friedel-Crafts-type reaction in which an N-heterocyclic carbene is involved in the formation of the electrophilic intermediate.

Montmorillonite K-10 catalyzed cyclization of N-ethoxycarbonyl-N'-arylguanidines: access to pyrimido[4,5-c]carbazole and pyrimido[5,4-b]indole derivatives

Two new heterocycles, pyrimido[4,5-c]carbazole and pyrimido[5,4-b]indole, were prepared in three steps from 3-aminocarbazole and 3-aminoindole, respectively. The key Friedel-Crafts intramolecular cyclization was realized under microwave irradiation using montmorillonite K-10 clay as a catalyst. The pyrimido[4,5-c]carbazole derivative shows significant micromolar IC(50) against cancer cell lines. Unlike similar carbazole and indolocarbazole compounds, the molecule does not interfere with topoisomerase activity.

Synthesis and evaluation of fused bispyrimidinoacridines as novel pentacyclic analogues of quadruplex-binder BRACO-19

The present article reports on the design and the synthesis of a series of mono- and bis-pyrimidinoacridines and their evaluation as a novel family of quadruplex-binders. It is shown that bispyrimidinoacridines represent an interesting compromise between easy synthetic access and efficiency in terms of quadruplex interaction (both affinic and selective), as judged by G4-FID assay and molecular modelling. The present study also highlights that control of the pi-stacking interactions taking place between the ligand and the accessible G-tetrad of a quadruplex-DNA is indeed essential for good recognition but not exclusively (key role of direct and water-mediated H-bonds). The introduction of additional amino side chains, valuable in the acridine series, results here in steric perturbations of the ligand/quadruplex recognition and lowers the quadruplex/duplex selectivity.

Concise synthesis of 2-amino-4(3H)-quinazolinones from simple (Hetero)aromatic amines

A novel and simple method of preparation of 2-alkylaminoquinazolin-4-ones with fused heteroaromatic rings from easily accessible (hetero)aromatic amines is described. The method is very efficient, and the 2-alkylaminoquinazolinone derivatives are obtained in three steps without chromatographic purification. The key step is the ring closure of the N-protected guanidine intermediates by intramolecular Friedel-Craft's type substitution.

[Contribution of a hematologic cytogenetic laboratory to the diagnosis, classification and prognosis of various hematologic malignancies]

The presence of an haematological cytogenetic laboratory into a clinical unit allowed to realize a close collaboration between clinicians and cytogeneticists, and to achieve a maximal exploitation of the results of the bone marrow cytogenetic studies in some haematological malignancies. It made it possible to perform sequential bone marrow karyotypes studies during the different phases of a disease: We could thus establish: The diagnostic value of cytogenetic findings for chronic myelocytic leukaemia, secondary acute leukaemia, but not for dysglobulinemias. The prognostic value of cytogenetic abnormalities in chronic myelocytic leukaemia where additional abnormalities to the Ph1 are a hallmark of blastic transformation; in primitive dysmyelopoiesis where they represent a bad prognostic factor; in dysglobulinemias, where they are a signal of terminal evolution. In all these diseases, only complex and multiple abnormalities have a prognostic significance pointing out the emergence of a malignant clone, where as rare and single abnormalities are of no significance. Nowadays, haematological cytogenetic must be bound to molecular biology.

[IgM myeloma: 6 cases and a review of the literature]

IgM myeloma is a rare plasma cell neoplasia, with an estimated incidence of 0.5% in patients with myeloma. Approximately, between 2 and 3.3% of IgM monoclonal gammopathy are IgM myeloma. Six unpublished cases of IgM myeloma, association of an IgM monoclonal gammopathy and an exclusive plasma cell neoplasia, are reported. Forty-six other cases have been found in the literature. The initial clinical characteristics of these patients are: sex-ratio of 1.1, mean age of 62 years, fatigue in 95% of the cases, bone pain in 80%, osteolytic lesions in 78%, fever in 13%, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly in 8%, lymphadenopathy in 10%, hemorrhagic diathesis in 35% and neurologic involvement in 18%. Initial biological features are: anemia in 62% of the cases, creatininemia greater than 20 mg/l in 10%, calcemia greater than 120 mg/l in 24%. Mean serum IgM level is 33 g/l, mean medullary plasmocytosis is 52%. 80% of the patients presented with IgM kappa and only 20% with IgM lambda. Proteinuria with light chains are found in 65%. One-year survival is estimated at 82%, 2-year at 62%, 3-year at 46% with a median of 30 months. No prognostic factor is found. IgM myeloma with characteristics of both myeloma and macroglobulinemia appears well individualized among B-cell neoplasia. However, the distinction between Waldenström's macroglobulinemia and IgM myeloma can be difficult in case of lympho-plasmocytic bone marrow proliferation with osteolytic lesions.

Refractory anemia with excess of blasts in transformation. Clinical, hematologic, and cytogenetic findings in nine patients

Clinical, hematologic, and cytogenetic data of nine patients with refractory anemia with excess of blasts in transformation (RAEB-t), classified according to the French-American-British Cooperative Group for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), are reported. At diagnosis, eight out of nine cases, had chromosomal abnormalities and three out of nine developed acute leukemia. Karyotype studies allowed individualization of two groups of patients: five with nonrandom major karyotype abnormalities (MAKA) including hypodiploidy, chromosomes 5 and 7 involvement, at least four other abnormalities, and a poor prognosis (survival always under 3.5 months); and four patients with either normal karyotypes or minor karyotype abnormalities (MIKA) (no more than three abnormalities) and a better prognosis (survival from 14 to 38 months). Karyotype appears to be a major prognostic factor among RAEB-t.

[Chemotherapy in cancer of colon. General review]

The results of surgery as sole treatment of colon cancer are summarized before dealing with those of chemotherapy. Curative or palliative chemotherapy remains controverted. The results of single drug treatments and of the conventional protocols with 5-fluorouracil and nitrosoureas have been disappointing. A promising approach is modulation of 5-fluorouracil by folinic acid, with a response rate of up to 45 p 100, and potentiation of 5-fluorouracil by cisplatin. Intra-arterial chemotherapy has been, and still is, an interesting method in liver metastases, but recent studies and the experience acquired with prolonged follow-ups have thrown doubts on some of its results, notably survival. Adjuvant chemotherapy is even more controversial than curative chemotherapy; however, a recent controlled study has yielded favourable results, and the best drug combinations have not yet been tested. It is concluded that cancers of the colon have shown some chemosensitivity, even though it has not reached the same level as that of cancers of other organs.

Sequential karyotype study on Ph-positive chronic myelocytic leukemia. Significance of additional chromosomal abnormalities during disease evolution

Twenty-eight patients with Ph-positive chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML), who all died of the disease, had cytogenetic studies throughout the progression of the disease: at diagnosis, during chronic phase (CP), accelerated phase (AP), and blastic transformation (BT). The aim of this sequential study was to appreciate the frequency and the significance of additional chromosomal abnormalities (ACA) during CML evolution, especially in the CP. In our series ACA were rare (five of 28 patients) and simple (four of five) in CP. They were much more frequent and complex in AP (11 of 16) and in BT (22 of 24) with complex abnormalities (13 of 24). In CP, ACA predictive value for metamorphosis was poor: only three of 13 patients had ACA within 1 year before BT, and only two of 11 within 1 year before AP. ACA were mainly observed during the last period before BT: ten of 17 patients studied within 6 months prior BT had ACA, but by then two of three were in AP. ACA, especially when complex, appear to be a hallmark of CML metamorphosis.

Antibody against human lipoprotein lipase

A polyclonal antibody against human lipoprotein lipase (LPL) was prepared. LPL from post-heparin plasma was first purified by heparin Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. Protein impurities co-eluted with LPL were then eliminated by electrophoresis in the presence of ampholytes. Antithrombin III was identified in this fraction of protein impurities by immunodiffusion against a human antithrombin antiserum, while no antithrombin III could be detected in the purified LPL fraction. Immunodiffusion revealed a single line of precipitation between this antibody and human post-heparin plasma LPL. When pre-incubated with a constant activity of highly purified post-heparin plasma LPL (2.7 mU/75 microliters), an equal volume of the anti-LPL antiserum, either pure or diluted to 1/32 caused complete inhibition of the enzyme activity. Half maximal inhibition was observed at a dilution of approximately 1/200. By using a secondary antibody, it was shown that antiserum inhibited LPL activity by means of its immunoglobulins. This antibody was able to inhibit LPL from human adipose tissue, indicating that human LPL released from endothelial cell membranes has common antigenic determinants with adipose tissue LPL.

Cytogenetic studies in twelve patients with primary myelofibrosis and myeloid metaplasia

Chromosome studies on bone marrow and/or peripheral blood cells without phytohemagglutinin were performed on 12 patients with primary myelofibrosis with myeloid meta-plasia (PMMM) between 1980 and 1984. Abnormal clones were found in six patients (50%). In five cases the abnormal clone involved the long arm of chromosome #7, two of which also had partial trisomy of chromosome #1 and trisomy of 9. Additional abnormalities involving chromosomes #3, #5, #11, #13, #15, and #21 were each found once. Review of the literature showed few studies on the cytogenetics of PMMM. No specific chromosomal pattern can be established; however, abnormalities described are nonrandom.

Spontaneous regression of cytogenetic and haematologic anomalies in Ph1-positive chronic myelogenous leukaemia

We report a case of a 27-year-old man with Ph1-positive chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). At the time of diagnosis 100% Ph1-positive cells were found with a trisomy 8 in 50% of them. In absence of therapy, his haematological status remained stable for 3 years. Subsequently a progressive regression of haematologic and cytogenetic data was observed. Eight years after diagnosis the karyotype showed only 37% Ph1-positive cells and the trisomy 8 had disappeared.

[Anemia in the elderly subject secondary to jejunal vascular malformation. Apropos of 2 cases]

Two cases of normocytic regenerative anemia in two patients aged 84 and 86 respectively were related to gastrointestinal bleeding. Abdominal angiography was negative in both cases. Only laparotomy provided a diagnosis of jejunal vascular malformation with the aid of peroperative endoscopy. Angiodysplasia was diagnosed in one case and capillary hemangioma in the other. In these very old people with very somber prognosis, anemia was corrected by surgery without recurrence after 8 and 10 months respectively. Gastrointestinal malformations are found in about 20 p. 100 of unexplained digestive hemorrhages. In most cases they are localized in the right large bowel, especially in old patients. Jejunal localizations are 7 to 8 times less frequent and have been described in younger patients. Up to now, selective abdominal angiography has been the main diagnostic procedure. We must insist on the value of peroperative endoscopy when angiography is negative.

Translocation 1;7 in preleukemic states

A translocation t(1;7) interpreted as t(1;7)(p11;p11) was first reported by Scheres et al. in eight patients with various hematologic disorders. The karyotype of the abnormal cells was trisomic for 1q and monosomic for 7q. Those investigators reported having found four other cases in the literature. We report herein studies of two patients with the same t(1;7).

[Familial myeloma. Apropos of a case]

2 cases of multiple myeloma, both with IgG kappa, are reported in a man and his daughter. 33 other cases of myeloma involving two or more first degree relatives have been reported in the literature. Reported cases showed no major specific characteristics of the myelomas involved. Monoclonal protein family members were rarely identical. Our observation of identical monoclonal protein in two family members has only been found in 4 other reports. Occurrence of several cases of myeloma in one family is unlikely to be due to chance alone and the possibility of familial myeloma must be considered. Reports of benign monoclonal gammapathy in other members of the family of a patient with myeloma is also in favor of genetic factors. HLA-typing has shown an increase in frequency of the 4c complex and HLA-A9 in myeloma, and the latter was present in our patients. A genetic predisposition is further supported by experimental observations in mice. Finally, the short delay between onsets of myeloma in family members, less than 5 years in 20 families out of 27, and 4 years in our case, suggests a possible role of environmental factors.

Extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma: case report and review of the literature

A case of extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma in a 62-year-old woman is reported. This unusual sarcoma was localized in the right thigh (quadriceps) and treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Sixty-three cases were found in the literature, with neurologic localization in 29 cases and muscular localization in 34 cases. Among clinical features, a significant difference in age at the time of diagnosis was found between the two localizations, which strongly suggests the possibility of two different types of extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma.

Acquisition of a Philadelphia chromosome concomitant with transformation of a refractory anemia into an acute leukemia

The authors present a case of Philadelphia (Ph1) positive acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) following a refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB) that had been Ph1-negative for 17 months. During the transformation of RAEB into AML, the Ph1 was discovered in 100% of the examined cells. With therapy a partial remission was obtained, during which some 46,XY cells reappeared mixed with Ph1 cells along with a new clone: 47,XY,+11 originating from a Ph1-negative cell. During the terminal blast crisis, the karyotype returned to 46,XY,Ph1. The AML lasted 21 months. The authors discuss: (1) the significance of Ph1-positive AML with a review of the literature; (2) the de novo acquisition of a Ph1 during the course of a blood disorder; and (3) the meaning of a second abnormal clone originating from 46,XY cells.

Quantification of bone lytic lesions and prognosis in myelomatosis

Degree and extent of lytic bone lesions were quantified at diagnosis in 69 patients with myelomatosis (MM). longest survival was found in patients with minimal lytic lesions and shortest survival was found in those either without bone lesions or with severe and extensive lesions. Among the 12 patients without bone lesions only 6 were Durie & Salmon stage I and only 1 later developed a single lesion. Based on these data, bone involvement in MM does not seem to be a reliable predictive factor of survival in all cases. This suggests the existence of 2 distinct types of MM: 1 with tumour and 1 without. Lytic lesions could have a prognostic value only in the 1st type.

[Retinal vasculitis in lupic disease]

Three cases of retinal vasculitis in SLE-type diseases are reported. The first was central retinal vein occlusion occurring during clinical remission of SLE in a 55 year old black female. Prednisone maintenance therapy was unchanged and visual loss rapidly regressed with heparin therapy. The second case was a 33 year old black female in whom SLE was discovered following relapsing bilateral optic neuritis. A progressive visual improvement was obtained with high dose of prednisone (1 mg/kg/day). The third cas was a 17 year old white girl with retinal vasculitis. She had an unclassified connective tissue disease inaugurated by optic neuritis at the age of 10. High dose prednisone (1 mg/kg/day) was effective on the visual loss. Retinal vasculitis lesions in SLE and their therapy are reviewed.

[Immunoallergic hemolytic anemia, thrombopenia and acute renal failure induced by aspirin]

The first case of haemolytic anaemia with thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure induced by ingestion of aspirin in a 22-year old woman is reported. An IgM anti-aspirin antibody which agglutinated erythrocytes of the patient and of ABO compatible donors in the presence of aspirin was isolated in the serum. In addition, the allergic nature of the patient's hypersensitivity to aspirin was confirmed by positive lymphocyte transformation and basophil degranulation tests in the presence of the drug.

[Treatment of advanced ovarian cancer]

Forty patients with stage III or IV ovarian epithelial carcinoma, mean age 61 +/- 12 years, were treated either with cyclophosphamide-methotrexate-5-FU or with cisplatinum-adriamycin-5-FU-hexamethylmelamine. Median survival from initial surgery was 16 months, 18 months in stage III and 2 months in stage IV disease. 15 patients over 70 years had a median survival of 9 months. Median survival was higher with the regimen without cisplatinum (18 months against 13 months). Clinical response rate was 62.5%. Ten patients clinically free of disease underwent second look laparotomy which showed persistent disease in six. Based on these results and on a review of the literature, a new therapeutical approach is discussed.

Two cases of acute leukemia following treatment of malignant glioma

Two female patients, 42 and 30 years old, respectively, died of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia 43 and 38 months, respectively, after a subsequent treatment: chemotherapy for one and irradiation and chemotherapy for the other, following excision of a malignant glioma. At the time of death, both seemed to be in complete remission of their brain tumor. Both had been treated with procarbazine and nitrosoureas. The latter were responsible for severe myelosuppressive episodes and seem to have played an essential role in the induction of the leukemia. In one case, a myelodysplasia was observed before the onset of the AL and the diagnosis of refractory anemia with excess of blasts seemed warranted. Secondary acute leukemias are rare in the evolution of malignant gliomas and the usefulness of subsequent radiochemotherapy cannot be questioned at the present time. The risks involved in this therapy are minor when compared to the short-term fatal prognosis of this type of tumor.

Hematologic and cytogenetic study of two cases of acute leukemia associated with breast cancer

The authors present two cases of patients with breast cancer with lymph node extension and who both had surgery. As a pancytopenia with hypercellular bone marrow was discovered at the same time in the first patient, she received no complementary treatment; 4 months later, she presented with an acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) for which a remission was easily induced, but she died of a pulmonary infection. The second patient received local radiotherapy (50 grays) and adjuvant chemotherapy (Alkeran for 26 months). Forty-seven months after the diagnosis of breast cancer and 16 months after the end of the treatment, an acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL; M6) was diagnosed after 8 months of a preleukemic state. Treatment did not produce any results and death occurred on the 17th day. Cytogenetic studies on the bone marrow cells of both patients were performed. In the first patient in the ALL phase normal cells coexisted with a 47 chromosome clone, the extra chromosome being a D (+ 13?). In the second patient, several karyotype abnormalities were already present in the preleukemic state and also during the acute leukemic phase. No normal mitoses were found; hypodiploidy was present as well as major abnormalities such as markers, rings, and, among others, the systematic loss of a #5 and a #7. The first patient seems to have presented with a de novo ALL, associated with the malignant tumor; whereas, the second patient showed all the characteristics of an induced ANLL. The clinical, hematologic, and cytogenetic characteristics of these two patients are analyzed and compared to those of other cases in the literature.

[Association of Kaposi's sarcoma with acute myeloblastic leukemia. Apropos of a case]

The authors report the case of a 73-year-old woman from Central Europe with acute myeloid leukemia and Kaposi's sarcoma. The two diseases were discovered simultaneously. The inefficacy of leukemia chemotherapy and the widespread cutaneous diffusion of the Kaposi's sarcoma explain the unfavorable outcome. The different pathogenic hypotheses which can account for the association of these two different malignancies are reviewed.

[Anti-smooth-muscle antibody activity of monoclonal IgM in Waldenström's disease]

The authors report a case of Waldenstrom disease in which the IgM kappa immunoglobulin had an anti-smooth-muscle activity at a very high titre (1/100 000). This activity was found in the purified IgM but not in the Fab fragment; nevertheless, the immunofluorescence inhibition by this fragment is evidence in support of the anti-smooth-muscle activity of the IgM. The IgM specificity in this patient is different from the anti-smooth-muscle antibodies already described.