Significant efficacy of 2-CdA with or without rituximab in the treatment of splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL).

BACKGROUND: Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) with or without villous lymphocytes is an indolent lymphoma that typically affects elderly patients. Treatment is required in symptomatic cases. Splenectomy remains one of the first-line options in patients fit for surgery. The best therapeutic strategy has not yet been identified. Among different possible chemotherapeutic approaches, purine analogues, alone or in association with rituximab, seem to be a valid therapeutic choice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty SMZL patients were treated with cladribine with or without anti-CD20 mAb. RESULTS: Forty-six of 50 patients were assessable for response. Overall response rate was 87%: 24 of 46 patients (52%) achieved a complete hematological response (CR), 16 of 46 (35%) a partial response and 6 (13%) were unresponsive. Interestingly, 15 of 24 cases (62%) in CR also achieved a molecular remission. CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicate that this schedule is a valid therapeutic approach in SMZL. Addition of rituximab significantly improved quality of response and consequently the outcome of the disease.

Vascular endothelial growth factor polymorphisms in mantle cell lymphoma.

In this study, we determined the allele and genotype frequencies of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) G+405C, C-460T, C+936T and C-2578A single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 32 patients affected by mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and 58 healthy controls. Real-time PCR combined with melting curve analysis was used for the determination of SNP alleles. A significant difference in the allele frequency of VEGFC-460T and C+936T SNPs in MCL and healthy cases was not observed. On the contrary, VEGF G+405C and C-2578A SNP allele distribution was significantly lower in the patient group than among normal controls (p = 0.014, p = 0.001). This observation suggests that further investigation is warranted, both in vitro and in a larger series of patients, to further examine the role of VEGF polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of MCL. In addition, the use of quantitative real-time PCR combined with a melting curve analysis method in the detection of the 4 VEGF SNPs may have the potential to replace older and more time-consuming PCR-RFLP methods and bears further investigation.

Intracellular and serum levels of aldolase activity in B chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Intracellular and serum activities of aldolase (ALS) were biochemically determined in lymphocyte subpopulations from normal subjects and patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Aldolase activity was significantly lower in T cells of CLL than in normal T cells (2.9 +/- 1.5 vs. 4.7 +/- 2.1 Sigma Units (SU)/6 x 10(6) cells, p < 0.05). The aldolase activity also was significantly (p < 0.001) lower (3.1 +/- 1.9 SU/6 x 10(6) cells) in CLL B lymphocytes than in normal B lymphocytes (18.1 +/- 6.5 SU/6 x 10(6) cells). Moreover, the serum levels of ALS in all patients with B-CLL were higher than that in normal subjects (8.1 +/- 5.8 vs. 2.2 +/- 0.8 SU/ml, p < 0.02). Our findings demonstrate that T lymphocytes from patients with B-CLL display enzyme activity different from that of normal T cells. This may reflect the abnormal maturity of the residual T cell population in B-CLL.

Combined systemic beta-interferon and thymostimulin administration for metastatic brain tumors. A brief report.

Interferon-beta (IFN-B) plus thymostimulin (Th) were administered for eight weeks, intravenously and by intramuscular route to eight patients with metastatic brain tumors. No patient had a complete response. One had a stable disease and seven a progressive disease during that time. The mechanisms of the action of IFN-B and Th, and the possible therapeutic value are discussed.

The influence of hypercholesterolemia on some aspects of immune pattern in the elderly.

In order to investigate if age related dislipidemia was associated with immunological changes in vivo, humoral, soluble and cellular immune parameters were evaluated both in elderly with and without hypercholesterolemia and in young adults. Significantly increased IgG and IgA values were found in hypercholesterolemic aged compared to the other groups. Increased plasma neopterin levels (a pteridine generally used as a marker of macrophage activity) were reported in healthy aged subjects, whereas a lesser degree of the activation of the macrophage system was found in the hypercholesterolemic aged subjects. Compared with the young controls, an increase of interleukin 2 receptor expressing cells and of the IL-2 soluble receptors was noticeable in healthy aged subjects, whereas in hypercholesterolemic aged subjects only a minor increase of the IL-2 membrane receptor was noticed. We suggest that hypercholesterolemia may play a role in immune function in aging.

[The urological complications of fused kidneys in childhood]. / Le complicanze urologiche delle fusioni renali in età pediatrica.

From January 1972 to August 1991 twenty-eight children with renal fusion were observed in the Department of Pediatric Surgery of Regional Hospital of Vicenza. Of the 28 children nine, (32%), had associated congenital malformations. Nineteen children with renal fusion showed twenty major urological complications (68%). Four were treated conservatively and 16 surgically. Results have been excellent in all the cases. Renal fusion often are associated with congenital malformations and fused units are often involved by pathological process. Renal surgery in fusion is conditioned by the renal position degree of malrotation of the renal pelvis and by the abnormal blood supply. The surgical approach must be in children conservative and the long term results are very often good.

[Varicelliform encephalitis: clinical review of a case]. / Encefalite varicellosa: revisione clinica di un caso.

The authors describe on a case of encephalitis varicelliform at levels extremely favorable for the therapy precociously made-up. Therapeutical approach is discussed on the base of literature data.

[Neonatal perirenal urine extravasation and urinary ascites associated with obstructive uropathy]. / Versamento urinoso perirenale ed ascite urinosa in epoca neonatale associati ad uropatia ostruttiva.

We report two cases of perirenal urinary extravasation one of which associated with urinary ascites. An underlying congenital obstructive uropathic condition was discovered in both patients. A localised parenchymal perforation was found in both cases. Prompt treatment with correction of metabolic acidosis and decompression of the tense abdomen and the urinary tract is recommended. The patients survive in good health.

[Perforated stress ulcer in a neonate: a case report]. / Ulcera da stress perforata nel neonato: segnalazione di un caso.

The authors describe a case of duodenal perforated ulcer in a 3 day old, 4.080 Kg term female infant who was apparently well. Stress ulceration with duodenal or gastric perforation may be encountered in the first year of life, usually as a complication superimposed upon a serious illness for which the infant is receiving intensive therapy. The mortality of 40% in this patients, implies that effective preventive and therapeutic measures are not yet available and also emphasizes the serious nature of the underlying disorder.

Extended spectrum â-lactamase producing multidrug resistant clinical bacterial isolates at National Public Health Laboratory, Nepal.

Extended Spectrum â-lactamase (ESBL) producing multidrug resistant bacteria complicate therapeutic management and limit treatment options. Therefore, detection of ESBL-producing multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens has a paramount importance. Between April 2009 and January 2010, a prospective study was carried out in National Public Health Laboratory with an objective to determine the status of ESBL producing MDR bacterial isolates from different clinical samples. Identification of the isolates was done by standard microbiological techniques and antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method following Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guidelines. ESBL screening among MDR isolates was done using Ceftriaxone, Aztreonam, Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime and Cefpodoxime followed by confirmation using MASTDISCS ID ES2L Detection Discs (CPD10). Data analysis was done by SPSS 16 software. Of the 314 bacterial isolates from 1601 different clinical specimens, 199 (63.4%) were MDR. Cefotaxime was found the reliable screening agent for ESBL detection with sensitivity and positive predictive value of 98.6% and 76.4% respectively. Sixtey nine (62.7%) isolates of the 110 tested MDR isolates were ESBL positive with at least one of the Combined Disk (CD) Assays. Escherichia coli (80%) was the major ESBL producer followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (5.8%). A statistically significant relationship was found between increasing spectrum of drug resistance and ESBL production (p<0.05). Thus it is concluded that a higher rate of ESBL production prevail among MDR clinical bacterial isolates underscoring the need for routine ESBL detection in clinical laboratories.

Combination of morphology, flow cytometry and PCR assay to detect bone marrow infiltration in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

AIMS: Morphology on bone marrow biopsy (BMB) samples has historically been the primary method used to detect bone marrow (BM) infiltration in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), while fl ow cytometry (FC) and PCR assays have been generally used as ancillary methods. In this study we evaluated a combined approach utilizing all three methods to detect BM infiltration in patients with NHL both at diagnosis and after therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 193 patients with NHL, who received simultaneous BMB, FC and PCR assays. Morphology on histologic specimens was used to assess infiltration pattern and immunohistochemistry, FC to analyze immunophenotype, PCR to identify IgH rearrangement, BCL-1/JH and BCL-2/JH translocation. RESULTS: Morphology, FC and PCR assays agreed in 142 cases (73.5%) with more concordance at initial diagnosis than during postchemotherapy follow-up. PCR was the single best-performing test, while combination of morphology and PCR yielded a higher sensitivity than individual methods and was similar to PCR + FC. We observed little added benefit using a third approach. CONCLUSION: Given the initial importance of histological information evident by morphology, our data suggest that combination of morphology and PCR should be considered the gold standard for evaluation of BM infiltration at diagnosis, while combination of PCR + FC should be employed during post-treatment follow-up.

[Incidence of peptic ulcer in diabetic disease: a clinic-epidemiological study]. / Incidenza dell'ulcera peptica nella malattia diabetica: studio clinico-epidemiologico.

We have investigated in 400 patients, 159 male and 241 female, mean age 58 years, with type 2 diabetes, the incidence of peptic ulcer and on 127 patients with peptic ulcer, the incidence of diabetes mellitus. In conclusion the incidence of peptic ulcer is no more than 3,9% in diabetic patients. In peptic ulcer the female to male ratio is 1:0,9. The seat of the ulcer is resulted to be in ratio of 1,4:1 more in the duodenal tract than in the gastric tract. The result are attributed to the increased secretion of the gastrointestinal hormones (Bombesin and Somatostatin) in the diabetic patients. However the neuromodulator of gastrointestinal hormones release is mediated of the Dorsal Motor nucleus of the Vagus nerve connected to the endocrine pancreas exclusively via vagal fibers and has a role in neurally mediated insulin release.

Serum levels of 2',5 oligoadenylate synthetase during interferon therapy in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

We assayed 2',5 oligoadenylate synthetase (2'5-AS) activity in the serum of eight patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) who were undergoing therapy with alpha interferon (IFN). Mean pretreatment levels of 2'5-AS were normal, but upon treatment the levels rose to higher than normal values. Moreover, the degree of enzyme induction in serum was significantly higher in CLL responders (P < 0.003) whereas no difference was found in non-responders. The lack of serum 2'5-AS induction in non-responder patients might be related to unresponsiveness to treatment with IFN. These results seem to show that the measurement of serum levels of 2'5-AS activity may be a useful tool in monitoring IFN treatment.

E rosette formation in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

We describe a patient with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia whose B lymphocytes showed the capacity to form rosettes with sheep red blood cells during prolymphocytoid transformation of the disease. In this case, rosette formation was found to be related to the presence of the classic E rosette receptor since the leukemic cells were recognized by the OKT11 monoclonal antibody. This feature was not shown at diagnosis. Evaluation of this phenomenon is discussed.

[The effect of dilazep on circulating platelet aggregation in diabetics]. / Studio dell'azione del dilazep sugli aggregati piastrinici circolanti in diabetici.

The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the effect of the 1,4 bis [3-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl-oxy) propyl] perhydro-1,4 diazepina (dilazep) on reduction of circulating platelet aggregates in 18 patients with type 2 diabetes, 13 female and 5 male, aged 25-65 years. Dilazep was orally given at 100 mg X 3/day for 8 weeks. The platelet activity has valued before and after the treatment trough the evaluation of circulating platelet aggregates with the method of Wu and Hoak. The results confirmed that the dilazep decreased statistically significant after 8 weeks the circulating aggregates.

[Changes in platelet production of malondialdehyde in diabetics treated with dilazep]. / Variazione della produzione piastrinica di MDA in diabetici trattati con dilazep.

We have investigated the effect of dilazep on the prostaglandin synthesis determined as indicator malondialdehyde (MDA) formation. Twenty patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 25-65 years were orally given dilazep at 100 mg X 3/day for 56 daily. The platelet activity has valued before and after the treatment with the production of the MDA. We conclude that the dilazep inhibited statistically significant biosynthesis of prostaglandin endoperoxides from arachidonic acid.