Absence of FGFR3-TACC3 rearrangement in hematological malignancies with numerical chromosomal alteration.

FGFR-TACC, found in different tumor types, is characterized by the fusion of a member of fibroblast grown factor receptor (FGFR) tyrosine kinase (TK) family to a member of the transforming acidic coiled-coil (TACC) proteins. Because chromosome numerical alterations, hallmarks of FGFR-TACC fusions are present in many hematological disorders and there are no data on the prevalence, we studied a series of patients with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome who presented numerical alterations using cytogenetic traditional analysis. None of the analyzed samples showed FGFR3-TACC3 gene fusion, so screening for this mutation at diagnosis is not recommended.

Minimal residual disease negativity in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia may indicate different postremission strategies than in younger patients.

In the present analysis, we evaluated whether in elderly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients (>60 years), minimal residual disease (MRD) assessed by flow cytometry may have a role in guiding choice of postremission strategies. We analyzed 149 young and 61 elderly adults who achieved morphological CR after induction course of EORTC/GIMEMA protocols. Elderly patients reached a postconsolidation MRD negative status less frequently than younger ones (11 vs 28 %, p = 0.009). MRD negativity resulted in a longer 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) both in elderly (57 vs 13 %, p = 0.0197) and in younger patients (56 vs 31 %, p = 0.0017). Accordingly, 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) of both elderly (83 vs 42 %, p = 0.045) and younger patients (59 vs 24 % p = NS) who were MRD positive doubled that of MRD negative ones. Nevertheless, CIR of MRD negative elderly patients was twofold higher than that of younger MRD negative ones (42 vs 24 %, p = NS). In conclusion, elderly patients in whom chemotherapy yields a MRD negative CR have duration of DFS and rate of CIR significantly better than those who remain MRD positive. Nonetheless, the high CIR rate observed in the elderly suggests that MRD negativity might have different therapeutic implications in this population than in the younger counterpart.

Ultrasonic sensor to characterize wood pulp during refining.

A novel sensor concept has been developed for measuring the degree of refining, the water retention value (WRV), and the weight percentage of wood pulp during the refining process. The measurement time is less than 5 min and the sensor can operate in a slip-stream of the process line or as an at-line instrument. The degree of refining and the WRV are determined from settling measurements. The settling of a pulp suspension (with a weight percentage less than 0.5 wt%) is observed, after the mixer, which keeps the pulp uniformly distributed, is turned off. The attenuation of ultrasound as a function of time is recorded and these data show a peak at a time designated as the "peak time." The peak time T increases with the degree of refining, as demonstrated by measuring pulp samples with known degrees of refining. The WRV can be determined using the relative peak time, defined as the ratio T(2)/T(1), where T(1) is an initial peak time and T(2) is the value after additional refining. This method offers an alternative WRV test for the industry to the current time-consuming method.

The kinetics of reduction of minimal residual disease impacts on duration of response and survival of patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

UNLABELLED: We assessed by multiparametric flow cytometry the levels of minimal residual disease (MRD) in 100 adult patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) achieving complete remission after intensive chemotherapy. The aim of the study was to determine the optimal threshold, in terms of residual leukemic cells, and the time point of choice, that is, post-induction (post-Ind) or post-consolidation (post-Cons), able to better predict outcome. By applying the maximally selected log-rank statistics, the threshold discriminating MRD- from MRD+ cases was set at 3.5 x 10(-4) residual leukemic cells, a level that allowed the identification of distinct subgroups of patients, both at post-Ind and post-Cons time points. Post-Cons MRD- patients had a superior outcome in terms of relapse rate, overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) (P<0.001, for all comparisons), regardless of the MRD status after induction. In particular, patients entering MRD negativity only after consolidation showed the same outcome as those achieving early negativity after induction. Multivariate analysis, including karyotype, age, MDR1 phenotype, post-Ind and post-Cons MRD levels, indicated that the post-Cons MRD status independently affected relapse rate, OS and RFS (P<0.001, for all comparisons). IN CONCLUSION: (1) the threshold of 3.5 x 10(-4) is valid in discriminating risk categories in adult AML and (2) post-Cons MRD assessment is critical to predict disease outcome.

Subretinal fluid ferning test in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

PURPOSE: The ferning test involves a process of crystallization achieved simply by removing water and is feasible for all ocular fluids. The ferning test of subretinal fluid (SRF) from patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) reveals three different patterns: type 1 showing thin crystals, type 2 with larger crystals and type 3 with small, curvilinear structures with no tree-like appearance. The present study was designed to determine whether the SRF ferning test is correlated with the clinical features and the surgical outcome of RRD. METHODS: A series of 65 consecutive patients with RRD at the first onset were considered. Particular attention was paid to duration, extension, and surgical outcome of RRD. SRF samples were collected during scleral buckling surgery. The fluid was dropped onto the slide of a light microscope, left to dry, and examined under the microscope. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between SRF ferning types 1 and 2 as regards, duration and extension (both p < 0.001). There was also a significant difference between SRF ferning types 2 and 3 as regards duration (p<0.001), extension (p<0.001), and surgical outcome (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The ferning test of SRF is quick and simple and can be regarded as a useful tool for obtaining information about clinical features, such as duration or extension of first, onset in uncomplicated cases of RRD especially for purposes of forensic medicine.

New reciprocal translocation t(6;10) (q27;q11) associated with idiopathic myelofibrosis and eosinophilia.

Idiopathic myelofibrosis (IM), is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder (MPD) characterised by marrow fibrosis, extramedullary haematopoiesis and a leuco-erythroblastic picture of the peripheral blood. Cytogenetic data of IM is scarce: no specific karyotypic anomalies have been yet described. Trisomy 1q, del(13q), del(20q) and trisomy 8, appear in two-thirds of the cases with chromosome aberrations. We report on a 41-year-old patient diagnosed with IM associated with eosinophilia, bearing a novel translocation t(6;10)(q27;q11) as the sole chromosome anomaly. The patient, progressed to AML-M5a within 18 months from diagnosis. Recently new specific chromosomal translocations have been described in chronic MPD. These findings have allowed the classification of new syndromes with defined molecular abnormalities. The case we describe, because of the peculiar clinical features and the association with a previously unreported chromosomal translocation, might be a noteworthy addition.

Hyperfluorescence associated with serous retinal pigment epithelial detachment on indocyanine green angiography.

PURPOSE: Indocyanine green angiography has been reported to improve detection and delineation of occult choroidal neovascularisation in serous pigment epithelium detachment in age-related macular degeneration. The study aims to evaluate the visual acuity results of eyes affected by serous pigment epithelium detachment in age-related macular degeneration, having had indocyanine green-directed laser photocoagulation, and to correlate them to the pattern of serous pigment epithelium detachment on indocyanine green angiography. METHODS: Thirty-four eyes of 31 patients affected by serous pigment epithelium detachment in age-related macular degeneration were prospectively considered. Each patient underwent an ophthalmological examination including fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography one day before, and 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months and 24 months after krypton-laser treatment. The serous pigment epithelium detachment was classified in the late-phases angiograms as either hypofluorescent, isofluorescent or hyperfluorescent comparing the fluorescence of the serous pigment epithelium detachment with the choroidal background fluorescence. RESULTS: The indocyanine green-guided laser treatment was associated with a temporary stabilization and a long-term progressive reduction of visual acuity: after 24 months visual acuity improved in 2.9%, stabilized in 26.5% and worsened in 70.5% of cases. Serous pigment epithelium detachment presenting a pretreatment hyperfluorescence had a final visual acuity of 0.06, with subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation development in 100% of cases, whereas serous pigment epithelium detachment presenting a pretreatment hypofluorescence and isofluorescence showed a final visual acuity of 0.12, with subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation development in 43.5% of eyes, with statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: Overall visual acuity decreases with time after indocyanine green-guided laser treatment of choroidal neovascularisation in serous pigment epithelium detachment, and serous pigment epithelium detachment becoming hyperfluorescent in the late-phases of indocyanine green angiography has the worst functional outcome.

A novel t(11;12)(q23-24;q24) in a case of minimally-differentiated acute myeloid leukemia (AML-M0).

Acute myeloid leukemia with minimal signs of myeloid differentiation (AML-M0) is a recent addition to the FAB group classification. Chromosome data is scarce, but existing reports describe a high incidence of complex karyotypes and myelodysplastic syndrome-like chromosome alterations, while single chromosome translocations have rarely been reported. We describe the case of a 60-year-old woman diagnosed with AML-M0 with a novel translocation t(11;12)(q23-24;q24) as the sole karyotypic marker. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis to assess MLL gene splitting did not show rearrangement of this oncogene.