[Immunohistochemical and Molecular Genetic Profile of Mantle Cell Lymphoma of the Lacrimal Gland: A Case Series of an Uncommon Tumour of the Lacrimal Gland]. / Immunhistochemisches und molekulargenetisches Profil von Mantelzelllymphomen der Glandula lacrimalis: eine detaillierte Beschreibung einer seltenen Tumorentität der Tränendrüse.

BACKGROUND: Mantle cell lymphomas (MCL) represent a rare subclass of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma affecting the lacrimal gland (GL). AIM: To extensively describe the immunohistochemical profile of GL-MCL. MATERIAL UND METHODS: Single center, retrospective electronic records review of 3 patients with biopsy proven LG-MCL. RESULTS: The herein presented case series of three patients comprises a focal case involving solely the lacrimal gland, a symptomatic LG-MCL manifesting as the first sign of a systemic disease as well as a case of LG-MCL presenting as a relapsed systemic lymphoma. The three patients presented positive CD19 and CD20, negative CD10 and CD23. One patient showed an uncommon negativity for CD5. The increased expression of cyclin D1 caused by the classical translocation t(11;14) (q13;q32) in the fluorescence-in-situ-hybridisation were observed in all cases. B-cell-lymphoma-2 protein (BCL-2) and transcription factor SOX-11 (SOX-11) were also overexpressed. DISCUSSION: LG-MCL show an immunohistochemical profile corresponding to the classical profile of MCL. Overexpression of molecules for target therapies was found in all cases (CD20 for rituximab, BCL2 for Bruton-kinase-inhibitors and CD19 for CAR-T cell therapy). The removal of the GL can potentially drive to severe complications, even if aimed to confirm diagnosis. Therefore, the choice between GL-biopsy and exstirpation should be carefully evaluated, especially in cases of suspected lymphoma.

A comparison of the lateral tarsal strip with everting sutures and the Quickert procedure for involutional entropion.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To provide evidence of statistically significant difference in the surgical outcome of the lateral tarsal strip with everting sutures (LTS + ES) versus the Quickert procedure (QP) in the treatment of involutional entropion. METHODS: In a prospective randomized comparative trial, 66 eyelids of 52 patients with primary involutional lower eyelid entropion were recruited. Thirty-six eyelids were randomized to QP, and 30 eyelids were randomized to LTS + ES. Surgery was performed by a single surgeon. Postoperative follow-up was scheduled after 2 weeks, 8 and 14 months. Successful surgery was defined as a normal eyelid position at rest and inability to induce entropion on forced eyelid closure at or before the 14-month follow-up visit. RESULTS: A total of 66 eyelids of 52 patients were enrolled in the study. Three patients did not complete follow-up (1 did not attend the 8 months follow-up visit; 2 did not attend 14 months follow-up visit). Of the 63 patients, a single eyelid [success probability 0.97; confidence interval (CI) 0.92-1] in the QP group and two treated eyelids [success probability of 0.93; CI: 0.85-1] in the LTS + ES group had a recurrence of a lower eyelid entropion after 14 months. There was no statistically significant difference in surgical failure between the LTS + ES versus QP (Log-rank test: p = 0.46). CONCLUSION: These data provide strong evidence that success rates at 14 months are similar in patients treated with either techniques (LTS + ES versus QP).

Epidemiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in agricultural areas.

A prevailing opinion is that the strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that infects both plants and humans are two separate species. This study strongly disputes that notion until the modern molecular technology proves otherwise. This paper examines a spectrum of strains occurring in nature, their habitats, dissemination, their relationship to clinical strains, and the environmental conditions that favor their colonization of plants. The isolates were obtained from clinical specimens, plants, soil, and water. The identity of these strains was confirmed using pyocin typing and biochemical assays. The data reveal that agricultural soils, potted ornamental plants, hoses, fountains, and faucets frequently harbored P. aeruginosa. However, it was not commonly found in semi-arid areas, suggesting that moisture and high humidity is necessary for colonization and survival. Though found in soil, P. aeruginosa was seldom isolated on edible plant parts. The pathogenicity of various strains on plants was tested by inoculating vegetables, lettuce slices (Lactuca sativa L. "Great Lakes"), celery stalks (Apium graveolens L. var. Dulce], potato tuber slices (Solanum tuberosum L. "Whiterose"), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. Mill), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), rutabaga (Brassica campestris L.), and carrot (Daucus carota L. var sativa). There was considerable variation in the strains' ability to cause rot, but no difference was observed between clinical isolates and others from agricultural fields, water, and soil. Two of the clinical isolates from burn patients, P. aeruginosa PA13 and PA14, exhibited the greatest virulence in causing rot in all the plants that were tested, especially on cucumber, lettuce, potato, and tomato. The study discusses how closely the epidemiology of P. aeruginosa relates to many plant pathogens, and the ability of human isolates to colonize plants and food material under favorable conditions. The biochemical and phenotypic similarity among strains from the clinical and agricultural material is strongly indicative that they are the same species and that plants and soil are natural reservoirs for P. aeruginosa.

Resistance to a DNA and a RNA virus in transgenic plants by using a single chimeric transgene construct.

Tomato leaf curl Taiwan virus (ToLCTWV) and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) are two major tomato viruses that cause serious economic losses. In this study, a partial C2 gene from ToLCTWV and the middle half of the N gene of TSWV were fused as a chimeric transgene to develop multiple virus resistance in transgenic plants. This construct was introduced into Nicotiana benthamiana and tomato by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Several transgenic lines showed no symptom post agro-inoculation with ToLCTWV and displayed high resistance to TSWV. The detection of siRNAs indicated that the resistance was via RNA silencing. This study demonstrated that linkage of gene segments from two viruses with distinct genomic organization, one DNA and the other RNA, can confer multiple virus resistance in transgenic plants via gene silencing.

Transgenic tomato plants expressing the Arabidopsis NPR1 gene display enhanced resistance to a spectrum of fungal and bacterial diseases.

Development of effective disease-resistance to a broad-range of pathogens in crops usually requires tremendous resources and effort when traditional breeding approaches are taken. Genetic engineering of disease-resistance in crops has become popular and valuable in terms of cost and efficacy. Due to long-lasting and broad-spectrum of effectiveness against pathogens, employment of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) for the genetic engineering of crop disease-resistance is of particular interest. In this report, we explored the potential of using SAR-related genes for the genetic engineering of enhanced resistance to multiple diseases in tomato. The Arabidopsis NPR1 (nonexpresser of PR genes) gene was introduced into a tomato cultivar, which possesses heat-tolerance and resistance to tomato mosaic virus (ToMV). The transgenic lines expressing NPR1 were normal as regards overall morphology and horticultural traits for at least four generations. Disease screens against eight important tropical diseases revealed that, in addition to the innate ToMV-resistance, the tested transgenic lines conferred significant level of enhanced resistance to bacterial wilt (BW) and Fusarium wilt (FW), and moderate degree of enhanced resistance to gray leaf spot (GLS) and bacterial spot (BS). Transgenic lines that accumulated higher levels of NPR1 proteins exhibited higher levels and a broader spectrum of enhanced resistance to the diseases, and enhanced disease-resistance was stably inherited. The spectrum and degree of these NPR1-transgenic lines are more significant compared to that of transgenic tomatoes reported to date. These transgenic lines may be further explored as future tomato stocks, aiming at building up resistance to a broader spectrum of diseases.