Leukemia cutis coexisting with dermatofibroma as the initial presentation of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.

: Cutaneous involvement by chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) is often observed in patients with a known history of systemic disease. Rarely, CLL/SLL may initially present with skin lesions. There are also rare reports of cutaneous CLL/SLL occurring in herpes scars and as an incidental finding in excision specimens for carcinoma. We present a 76-year-old woman with an inverted conical firm papule on the upper back that was clinically suggestive of a dermatofibroma. Excisional biopsy demonstrated the presence of a dermatofibroma coexisting with CLL/SLL. We describe the rare occurrence of CLL/SLL initially presenting as leukemia cutis. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of dermatofibroma coexisting with CLL/SLL. This finding further expands the types of skin lesions that may coincide with CLL/SLL.

Genistein induces estrogen-like effects in ovariectomized rats but fails to increase cardiac GLUT4 and oxidative stress.

This study aimed to determine whether a 2-week genistein treatment induced estrogen-like effects in ovariectomized (OVX) Sprague-Dawley rats, after 2 weeks of subcutaneous genistein injections (250 mg/kg of body weight/day). Uterine weight, uterine-to-body weight ratio, femur weight, and femur-to-body weight ratio were all significantly increased with genistein in OVX rats. Body weight was significantly decreased with genistein in OVX rats. Genistein had no effect on the weights of heart, heart-to-body ratio, and fat pad but significantly decreased heart rate and pulse pressure. Genistein had no effect on cardiac GLUT4 protein, oxidative stress, plasma glucose, nonesterified fatty acids, or low-density lipoprotein levels; however, plasma insulin levels were significantly increased. Our results show that a 2-week genistein treatment produced favorable estrogen-like effects on some physical and physiological characteristics in OVX rats. However, based on our experimental conditions, the effects of genistein were not associated with changes in cardiac GLUT4 or oxidative stress.

Effects of acute and 2-day genistein treatment on cardiac function and ischemic tolerance in ovariectomized rats.

BACKGROUND: Genistein, a naturally occurring isoflavonic phytoestrogen associated with reduced incidence of heart disease, may be a possible alternative treatment for postmenopausal women with heart disease. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of genistein on in vitro heart function and ischemic tolerance in ovariectomized (OVX) Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: To examine the acute effects of genistein on cardiac function, isolated working hearts were perfused under aerobic conditions with increasing concentrations of genistein (10-150 microM). A separate group of OVX rats was used to assess ischemic tolerance: treated rats received genistein (250 mg/kg, dissolved in 200 microL dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO]) injected once daily for 2 days, and control rats received DMSO only. After treatment, hearts were perfused for 30 minutes under aerobic conditions and then subjected to 20 minutes of global no-flow ischemia by clamping the preload and afterload lines, followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion. RESULTS: Genistein was associated with improvements in mechanical function in OVX rat hearts (n = 5) with maximum increases in contractility (259 mm Hg/sec above baseline) and cardiac output (7 mL/min above baseline) observed with 30 microM of genistein (both, P < 0.05). Relative to baseline, genistein-treated hearts (n = 5) also had greater ischemic tolerance than did control hearts (n = 6) and significant improvements in mean (SEM) recovery of contractility (to 75.0% [9.7%] of preischemic function; P < 0.05) and cardiac output (to 48.8% [12.3%] of preischemic function; P < 0.05) after reperfusion. These effects occurred without significant changes in myocardial levels of nonprotein thiols or thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, although a reduction in mean glucose transporter protein 4 content (13.2% [2.7%]; P < 0.05) was observed in genistein-treated hearts. No significant changes in blood pressure were observed with genistein. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the lack of significant changes in physical characteristics, 2-day treatment with genistein was associated with significant cardioprotective effects in OVX rats, suggesting a potential therapeutic role in postmenopausal women.