Distinguishing species of European sturgeons Acipenser spp. using microsatellite allele sequences.

Five microsatellite markers were analysed and their alleles were sequenced for the three sturgeon species that lived in western Europe: the European sturgeon Acipenser sturio, the Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus and the Adriatic sturgeon Acipenser naccarii. A total of 94 different allele sequences were obtained. Fixed mutations in the flanking regions or in the core repeat of microsatellites provided a clear distinction between the different species. Comparison of allele sequences also provided some insights into microsatellites and the evolution of Acipenser species. These nuclear markers can be used to solve species determination problems, and combined with mitochondrial markers, will be useful to identify introgression and hybridization among the three species. Moreover, because they are short and with a limited allele size range, they are particularly suited for analysis of museum specimens or archaeological remains.

[Cytological diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes. Apropos of 200 cases]. / Diagnostic cytologique des syndromes myélodysplasiques. A propos de 200 observations.

The authors present a cytological study of 200 cases of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) [corrected], classified according to the FAB cooperative group. This analysis involves the conventional parameters of the peripheral blood and bone marrow differential counts, the systematic recording of signs of dysmyelopoiesis on the erythroblastic [corrected], granulocytic and megacaryocytic lineages and the assessment of blood granulocytes myeloperoxidase (MPO). On the outside of the typical acquired idiopathic sideroblastic anaemia (severe, isolated anaemia associated with intense dyserythropoiesis), the diagnosis of MDS requires very astute cytological interpretation: indeed, when the dysgranulopoiesis is pronounced, determination of peripheral blood and bone marrow differential count is especially difficult. Conversely when the dysmyelopoiesis is slight, a systematic search of morphology signs [corrected] of its presence must be done and associated with functional studies such as MPO activity technically easy to realize.

Congenital acute monoblastic leukemia with double translocation (8;16) (p11;p13) and (16;20) (q13;p13).

A new case of congenital acute monoblastic leukemia (AML5) with a rare (8;16) translocation is described: this translocation (or a variant) was previously reported only in 4 infants and 10 older children or adults, practically always in association with AML5 or acute myelomonocytic leukemia. The authors discuss the possible causative implication of band 8p11 with some cytological particularities, i.e. erythrophagocytosis by some blasts and strong peroxidase and esterase activities, observable here and in most of the cases with the t(8;16). The t(8;16) may be added to the other chromosomal abnormalities of congenital AML5.

Tuberculosis associated haemophagocytic syndrome: two cases with a favourable outcome.

Haemophagocytic syndrome is a heterogenous disease characterized by disordered macrophage activation associated with viral, bacterial or parasitic infection. The few reports of haemophagocytosis occurring in the presence of mycobacterial infection show a high mortality rate and we present two further cases notable for their favourable issue. Rapidity of diagnosis and immediate treatment could explain the avoidance of a fatal outcome.