Diagnostic tools for assessment of urinary dysfunction in MS patients without urinary disturbances.

Many guidelines are available for the management of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, but no agreement exists on the best approach for subjects without LUTSs. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether LUTSs can be detected in MS patients asymptomatic for urinary dysfunction, comparing three different tools [measure of post-void residual volume (PRV), bladder diary (BD), a focused questionnaire (IPSS)], and whether disability, disease duration and signs of pyramidal involvement are linked to their subclinical presence. 178 MS patients (118 women) have been included (mean age 41.2 years, mean disease duration 11.3 years, mean EDSS 2.2), and tested with the above-mentioned tools. PRV was abnormal in 14 subjects (7.8%), associated to abnormal findings at IPSS in 3 cases, at BD in 2 cases, at both in 1. BD was abnormal in 37 subjects (20.8%), with concomitant abnormal PRV in 2, abnormal IPSS in 10 cases, abnormal IPSS and BD in 1. IPSS was ≥ 9 in 43 subjects (24.1%). At least one test was abnormal in 76 patients (42.7%): 1 in 57 patients (32.0%), 2 in 17 (9.5%), and 3 tests in 2 (1.1%). Patients with at least one abnormal urinary variable, compared to patients without urinary abnormalities, had a more frequent pyramidal involvement (69.5 vs. 16.8%, χ(2) = 48.6, p < 0.00001), a more frequent occurrence of EDSS ≥2 (83.1 vs. 23.5%, χ(2) = 56.9, p < 0.00001), and a longer disease duration (15.7 ± 7.3 vs. 9.1 ± 7.1, t = 5.7, p < 0.00001). Asymptomatic LUTS were frequent but none of the tests used permitted to better identify asymptomatic patients.

Chromosome painting in biological dosimetry: assessment of the ability to score stable chromosome aberrations using different pairs of paint probes.

We exposed human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro to 0.3 and 1 Gy of 60Co gamma rays to evaluate whether the ability and sensitivity to detect chromosomal aberrations by chromosome painting is independent or not to the specific paint probes. To detect structural aberrations (translocations), we painted chromosome spreads simultaneously with two whole-chromosome libraries for chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 13, 16, and 18. To compare the rate of chromosome translocations detected by the different pairs of chromosomes, data were normalized according to the fraction of genome painted and evaluated by unconditional logistic regression. Our results show that any combination of paint probes can be used to score induced chromosomal aberrations. We observed that the amounts of translocations are dose dependent and quite homogeneous within each dose of radiation, independently of chromosomes painted. However, the use of small chromosome probes is not recommended because of the high number of cells to be analyzed due to the small amount of genome painted and because it is more difficult to detect translocations in small chromosomes.

Delineation of a duplication map of chromosome 3q: a new case confirms the exclusion of 3q25-q26.2 from the duplication 3q syndrome critical region.

We report on the clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular characterization of a propositus and his mother with a duplication of 3q25-q26, minor anomalies, and mental retardation. The duplication, detected by cytogenetic analysis, was confirmed and delineated by comparative genomic hybridization and fluorescence in situ hybridization using probes previously mapped to the region. Comparison of the mapping data obtained in these patients and those obtained in patients that present with a typical dup(3q) syndrome phenotype shows that the segment duplicated in these patients lies proximally to the reported dup(3q) syndrome critical region, thus explaining the absence in our patients of the characteristic phenotype of dup(3q) syndrome patients. Accumulation of mapping data in patients with segmental duplications of 3q will eventually allow us to build a duplication map of the region and a genotype-phenotype correlation.

Interferon alpha treatment of accelerated-phase chronic myeloid leukemia in relapse after bone marrow transplantation: a case with complete cytogenetic and molecular remission.

We describe here a patient with Philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukemia who had a hematologic and cytogenetic relapse after bone marrow transplantation. A diagnosis of accelerated phase was made when an additional malignant clone was detected. This clone was probably derived from the primitive Philadelphia clone, with duplication and rearrangement of the Philadelphia chromosome. The patient was treated with interferon alpha 2a and experienced a complete cytogenetic and molecular remission, with full reconstitution of the donor marrow.

Interferon alpha for chronic myeloid leukemia relapsing after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Interferon alpha (IFN alpha) induces cytogenetic responses in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who relapse after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The purpose of this study was to analyze the therapeutic role of IFN alpha in this setting. The experience of a single institution and the published results on this topic were evaluated. We have included patients who received IFN alpha as a single agent, excluding those patients who received previous or simultaneous donor leukocyte infusions. The outcomes of 11 patients treated in our center and those of 108 previously reported patients have been analyzed. Five out of 11 patients treated in our institution obtained a complete cytogenetic response (CGR). Two patients continue in complete cytogenetic response 3.5 and 8.2 years later, and the qualitative RT-PCR is negative for bcr-abl RNA. The CGR has been transient in one patient, and follow-up is short in the other two. Secondary effects have been acceptable, with myelosuppression as the main toxic effect. Graft-versus-host disease did not occur. The literature review identified 108 patients treated with IFN alpha as sole therapy for relapsed CML. Cytogenetic response and CGR seem to be better in patients with cytogenetic relapse, as compared to patients with hematologic relapse (61% vs. 45% and 45% vs. 28%, respectively). Several patients remained in CGR for more than 5 years. This overview also suggests that CGR is more frequent when IFN alpha is used in patients relapsing after non T-depleted BMT. IFN alpha induces complete cytogenetic response in nearly half of the patients with CML who relapse after allogeneic BMT, with acceptable toxicity. We believe that these results using IFN alpha as a front-line therapy for CML relapsing after BMT warrant a randomized comparison with donor lymphocyte infusions.

Translocation (11;14) in B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders.

A number of chromosomes other than chromosome No. 8 participate in formation of the 14q+ marker in lymphoproliferative disorders. Among them is chromosome No. 11 which appears to be important because its break points are constant; it is also possibly significant because of its participation in cytogenetic alterations in B-cell disorders.

Occurrence of BCR-ABL rearrangement in a Philadelphia chromosome-negative patient with 5q and 13q deletions and myeloproliferative syndrome.

We report the case of a patient with a myeloproliferative syndrome and traits of myelodysplasia and myelofibrosis whose karyotype showed 5q and 13q deletions, as well as Philadelphia chromosome negativity. A molecular biology study performed by Southern blot, with a probe covering the M-bcr region, led to detection of three bands other than the germinal ones, which hints at the possible existence of two cut points in the M-bcr region of an allele, or participation of both alleles. The patient presented a complex hematological picture, which might be explained on the basis of the cytogenetic and molecular findings.

Interstitial del(12)(q15q22) in myelodysplastic syndromes.

A patient with a myelodysplastic syndrome and a 12q deletion was studied and followed-up. After 10 years and several cytogenetic studies, it is suggested that this abnormality can be the sole chromosomal change in myelodysplastic syndromes.

Chromosomal disorder and neoplastic diseases in a family with inherited fragile 16. Causality or casualty?

We describe a family with an inherited fragile chromosome 16 with the concurrence of a constitutional chromosome abnormality, together with neoplastic pathology within the family. The following findings should be pointed out: in relation to the constitutional chromosome pathology, of the proband's 3 children, the eldest daughter was a carrier of the fragile 16, the same as the father, and the second child, a son, had Down syndrome (trisomy 21). Regarding the tumoral pathology of this family, one of the proband's daughters died in childhood from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, whereas the proband developed two different malignant hematologic disorders: a follicular lymphoma and an acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (M5 type). Moreover, two independent acquired chromosome disorders coexisted in the proband; each of these was related to one of the respective hematologic disorders.

Association of t(9;11)-MLL AF9 and trisomy 8 in an AML-M5 preceded by pancytopenia.

The implication of MLL gene rearrangements in the prognosis of acute myeloblastic leukemia is an issue of considerable current interest. We report a case of a young man who initially presented with a pancytopenia and went on to develop a highly-aggressive acute myeloblastic leukemia. At this time, the karyotypic study revealed trisomy 8, a t(9;11) was demonstrated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and the MLL/AF4 rearrangement by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Trisomy/ tetrasomy of chromosome 8 and +i(8q) as the sole chromosome abnormality in three adult patients with myelomonocytic leukemia.

We report three cases of tetrasomy 8 associated with myeloid disease. Two patients had chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL) and the other had acute monocytic leukemia (AML M5 FAB). Two patients had trisomy/tetrasomy chromosome 8 as the sole abnormality. The other patient with CMMoL had two normal 8 chromosomes plus one isochromosome 8q; this is the first case of long arm chromosome 8 tetrasomy without short arm 8 monosomy. This cytogenetic finding suggests the importance of the genes located in the long arms of chromosome 8.

Ph-positive chronic myeloid leukemia with t(8;21)(q22;q22) in blastic crisis.

A patient diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia was studied periodically during his illness. The result showed the presence of a Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome by a 9;22 translocation as a single abnormality to the time of blastic crisis. At that time, the chromosome studies showed a clonal evolution. Furthermore, a second derivated line was added to the Ph line. This new anomaly consisted of a 8;21 translocation, considered as specific of M2 type acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia of French-American-British classification.

Burkitt lymphoma with a duplication of der(8)t(2;8). Interpretation of a complex karyotype by chromosome painting.

A 51-year-old male patient was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma 3 months after cardiac transplantation. The bone marrow karyotype was very complex, and to better define the complex karyotype we used the in situ suppression hybridization technique. Previously we interpreted this karyotype to be: 48,XY,t(2;8)(p11;q24), +der(2)t(2;8)(p11;q24),del(2)(q23), +7, +der(8)t(2;8)(p11;q24), +12, -13, -18, by G banding techniques, with a duplication of the t(2;8) derivatives. After in situ hybridization we changed to a: 48,XY,t(2;8)(p11;q24),t(2;18)(q23;q22), +7, +der(8)t(2;8)(p11;q24), +12, -13, which implies duplication of only one t(2;8) derivative.

Unusual translocations and other changes in acute leukemia.

We report three cases of ANLL and one case of ALL in which we found chromosome abnormalities not previously described. The first patient had a (9;11;16)(p22;q23;p13) translocation in the relapse after bone marrow transplantation. In the second case, a secondary leukemia following a Wilms' tumor, there was a single chromosome anomaly, an inversion of chromosome 13. The third case also presented an isochromosome 13q. In the fourth patient we observed a translocation between two achrocentric chromosomes, as in the third patient, but not of the Robertsonian type: t(21;21)(q22.1;q22.5).

Translocation (4;11) in ALL: a new morphologic aspect?

We have observed three patients with t(4;11)(q21;q23) among the 50 cases of ALL studied. Two were classified as L1 and the third as L3. We comment on the relationship between the morphologic classification of leukemias and the association with a t(4;11).

High resolution chromosome analysis of constitutional and acquired t(15;17) maps c-erbA to subband 17q11.2.

High resolution chromosome analysis was performed on bone marrow cells from four patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia and t(15;17), and in lymphocytes from two unrelated, phenotypically normal persons with an apparently identical constitutional translocation. Scrutiny of prophase-prometaphase chromosomes localized the breakpoints in all six cases to subbands 15q22.3 and 17q11.2. Molecular genetic studies have localized the oncogene c-erbA to chromosome #17 between the breakpoints of the constitutional and the acquired anomaly. The present results, therefore, map c-erbA to subband 17q11.2.

Triplication of 1q in Fanconi anemia.

We report herein a 38-year-old male patient with Fanconi anemia but with few phenotypic manifestations--short stature, sterility, and hypoplasic anemia with several years of evolution-who developed a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Bone marrow karyotype showed long arm triplication of chromosome 1 (q12-21q31-q32), and two markers add(11)(p15) and add(21)(q22) which had extra material of chromosome 3 besides the normal chromosome 3 pair. Peripheral blood showed chromosome instability; SCE was normal. Both the patient and his family showed a high prevalence of malignant diseases. 1q duplication and, in a few cases, triplication of 1q has been related to Fanconi anemia, being of unknown significance.

Cytogenetic study of neuroendocrine carcinoma of Merkel cells.

We describe the cytogenetic study of a neuroendocrine tumor of Merkel cells which appeared in a patient following a heart transplant. An abnormal karyotype was observed in a metastatic lymph node. The abnormality includes two markers derived from the long arm of chromosome 1, while maintaining two normal chromosomes 1.

Interferon alpha 2A in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase. Results of the Spanish Group.

Fifty-one patients with CML in chronic phase, less than two years after diagnosis, were included in one multicentric study aiming to assess the therapeutic value of interferon alpha 2a (IFN alpha 2a) in this setting. The therapeutic scheme was biphasic: The patients were first treated with hydroxyurea, and afterwards only received IFN alpha 2a, at a planned dose of 5MU/m2/day, s.c. Thirty-eight patients (81%) achieved an hematologic response, which was complete in 57% of the total group. The median time to response was of 42 days. In the last evaluation, a complete hematologic response was sustained in 21 patients (47%). Philadelphia suppression was obtained in 44% of the patients who achieved hematologic responses; major cytogenetic responses were obtained in 16% of the patients. The patients who obtained genetic responses were significantly younger and had a shorter interval from diagnosis to IFN than the patients who did not respond. At the moment of evaluation, 90% of the patients are alive, but the median follow-up of the series (217 days, range 21-1150) is too short to analyze any impact of IFN over survival. Six patients (12%) discontinued IFN because of toxicity, three of them because of severe flu-like syndrome. Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were frequent, but rarely severe. Hypertriglyceridemia has been a very frequent finding.

Detection and morphology of thymic remnants after video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (VATET) in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Thymectomy is often an extremely useful therapeutic procedure in myasthenia gravis (MG) and is usually indicated for adult patients with generalized disease. Because remnants of thymus may remain in extrathymic fat, an extended thymectomy is recommended. A new surgical approach without sternotomy: video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (VATET) was performed in 30 MG patients. The weight of removed thymus ranged from 10.8 to 113 grams. The weight of fatty tissue removed from pretracheal, anterior mediastinal and costophrenic areas ranged from 6.3 to 74.8 grams. Histological examination revealed thymic remnants in 14.8% of pretracheal fat samples and in 33.3% of samples from anterior mediastinal plus costophrenic areas. These findings indicate that VATET is a radical procedure and may be the first choice surgery for young female MG patients, since aesthetic sequelae are reduced compared to procedures involving sternotomy.