Heterogeneity of insulin and insulin-like growth factor I binding in a human Burkitt type ALL cell line during the cell cycle and in three Burkitt type ALL sublines.

The expression of hormonal and growth factor receptors in leukemic cell lines might be heterogeneous due to the admixture of different cell cycle phases and the presence of yet unidentified sublines. Therefore, cell cycle-specific separation of Burkitt type ALL cells was performed by counterflow elutriation, and by limited dilution procedure three sublines of this cell line were obtained. Counterflow elutriation enriched to 60-80% purity for G1-, S-, and G2-phase which was shown by DNA flow cytometry. Insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) binding was investigated in the G1, S, and G2 phase. Insulin binding sites decreased from 10 to 15,000 per cell in G1 to 1,000-5,000 in S and increased to 40-50,000 in G2. The affinity of insulin binding remained constant during the cell cycle. IGF-I binding sites increased from 2,000 per cell in G1 to 5,000 in S and 15,000 in G2. The affinity of IGF-I binding decreased from G1 toward S and then remained constant in G2. The three isolated clonal sublines differed in numbers of insulin and IGF-I binding sites/cell without differences in affinity. The fact that IGF-I shows higher affinity binding during G1 than during S and G2 Burkitt type ALL cells suggests that IGF-I might be important for initiation of proliferation. The reduction in insulin binding sites during S-phase may indicate refractoriness of the cell to insulin during DNA replication.

Human leukemic cells: receptor binding and biological effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factors.

Receptor binding and biological effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF I/II) were assessed in three human malignant cell lines: a Burkitt-type ALL-cell line, a ANLL-cell line and a Hodgkin's disease-cell line. Insulin receptor binding could be demonstrated in Burkitt-type ALL cells and ANLL cells, whereas no insulin receptor binding was detectable in Hodgkin cells. IGF I and IGF II binding could be demonstrated in all leukemic cells. Insulin stimulated glycogen synthesis in the insulin receptor bearing cell lines. DNA synthesis was stimulated by insulin, IGF I and II. IGF I was more active in stimulating DNA synthesis than IGF II.

[Diagnosis of reflux in children with CO2 and ultrasound. Technic and preliminary results]. / Diagnostik des kindlichen Refluxes mit CO2 und Ultraschall. Technik und vorläufige Ergebnisse.

So far diagnosis and follow-up of vesico-uretero-renal reflux (VUR) is primarily based on radiological voiding studies. However this is accompanied by significant gonadal radiation doses. The goal of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of real time sonography, following CO2 instillation into the bladder with that of conventional radiography in the diagnosis of VUR in children. By means of sonography 13 out of the 16 grade III, and all 16 grade IV and V VUR were seen. 4 out of 7 grade II VUR could be demonstrated. No grade I reflux has been diagnosed. In conclusion, sonography reflux study is a sensitive and specific screening and follow up procedure for VUR. At present 75 per cent of all VUR's can be diagnosed by sonography alone.

Management and early reconstruction of urinary tract abnormalities detected in utero.

Pre-natal detection of urinary tract anomalies by ultrasound prevents delay in post-natal diagnosis and enables appropriate treatment to be instituted for potentially destructive uropathies. Over a 3-year period 42 cases (60 renoureteric units) of fetal urinary tract abnormality were diagnosed by maternal ultrasound. Sixteen of the 35 survivors underwent corrective urological surgery during the first months of life. Follow-up studies indicate that this early management results in satisfactory preservation of renal function.

Adrenarche is dissociated from gonadarche--studies in patients with Turner's syndrome.

Twenty-two patients with gonadal dysgenesis (14 45,XO; median age 13.6 years; 8 mosaics, median age 12.3 years) were studied regarding their clinical onset of adrenarche (pubarche) and breast development. The latter was considered evidence of gonadarche. 1/22 showed breast development, stage 2; 9/22 had pubarche, stage 2-4. The 24h-urinary excretion of androsterone, etiocholanolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, 16 alpha- and 16 beta-dehydroepiandrosterone was studied in these patients by urinary capillary column gas chromatography profiling. The urinary steroid profiles of twenty-one healthy, normal girls (median age 10.4 years) served as controls. Dehydroepiandrosterone and its 16-hydroxylated derivatives were excreted in significantly greater amounts by the patients with Turner's syndrome as compared to normal girls. These findings support the hypothesis, that adrenarche is independent of gonadarche and proceeds even in instances of gonadal dysgenesis.