The importance of CD7 and CD56 antigens in acute leukaemias.

The prognostic significance of immunophenotypical properties of leukaemic cells is well known. However, the biological and clinical significance of CD7 and CD56 antigen expression in acute leukaemias are not clearly established. In patients with acute leukaemias, we identified CD7 and CD56 expression and analysed their associations with markers expressed early in haemopoietic ontogeny and clinical parameters. Among 22 patients with acute leukaemia [12 acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML), 10 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)], we found CD7 positivity in 15 of 22 patients (68%) and CD56 positivity in four patients (18%). CD7 positivity was observed in seven patients (58%) with AML and in eight patients (80%) with ALL. CD56 positivity was observed in three patients (25%) with AML and one patient (10%) with ALL. Lymphadenopathy was present in five patients and associated with hepatosplenomegaly in three patients with ALL. Splenomegaly and hepatomegaly were present in three patients with AML. Central nervous system involvement was seen in one patient with ALL. Complete remission was achieved in nine patients (41%) (five ALL and four AML). Our data showed that CD7 and CD56 positivity at diagnosis associated with low remission rate and biological aggressiveness in a significant proportion of patients. We suggest the evaluation of CD7 and CD56 in all patients with acute leukaemias at the time of diagnosis in view of poor clinical outcome.

The effects of desferrioxamine on cisplatin-induced lipid peroxidation and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in rat kidneys.

Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity is associated with an increase in lipid peroxidation and oxygen free radicals in rat kidneys. In this study, the effects of desferrioxamine were compared to vitamin C and E on cisplatin-induced lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in rat kidneys. Rats were divided into five groups, with 15 Wistar rats in each group. In the control group, rats received 1 mL/100 g isotonic saline solution intraperitoneally (i.p.). In Group II, 10 mg/kg cisplatin i.p. was injected to rats. Thirty minutes before the same dosage of cisplatin administration, 100 mg/kg i.p. vitamin C or E was given to rats in groups III and IV, respectively. Rats in Group V received 250 mg/kg desferrioxamine i.p., before the same dose of cisplatin administration. All rats were killed by cervical dislocation after 72 hours. The kidneys were immediately removed and washed in cold saline. Spectrophotometric method was used for all analyses. While catalase, glutathione reductase (GR), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were found to be significantly decreased (P < 0.001), malondialdehyde (MDA) (P < 0.05) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (P < 0.001) levels were significantly increased in the cisplatin group when compared to the controls. MDA levels were decreased by desferrioxamine (P < 0.005) as well as vitamin C and E (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). These three compounds induced a significant increase in SOD levels (P < 0.05), but only in the vitamin C group, were SOD levels not significantly different than the levels of the controls (P > 0.05). In the desferrioxamine (P < 0.05), vitamin C and E groups (P < 0.001 for both), the cisplatin elevated H2O2 levels were decreased. None of these drugs had any effect on GR and catalase levels (P > 0.05). Desferrioxamine is useful to prevent cisplatin-induced lipid peroxidation, however, vitamin C and E are more effective on antioxidant enzymes than desferrioxamine.

Two autoimmune diseases: Hashimoto's thyroiditis and vitiligo accompanying breast cancer; A coincidence?

Autoimmune diseases can accompany cancer either sporadically or as part of certain genetic abnormalities or syndromes. We report on a breast cancer case with both Hashimoto's thyroiditis and vitiligo. To the best of our knowledge, this case constitutes the first breast cancer patient in the literature with both of these two autoimmune diseases. The patient did not have significant genetic abnormalities, so this might be a simple coincidence. Evaluation of cancer cases for the existence of comorbid autoimmune diseases might yield more such cases, and their genetic analyses may be helpful for better understanding of the pathogenesis of cancer.

Prevalence of Beta Thalassemia Trait in Denizli.

Beta thalassemia, characterized by the deficiency or the absence of beta globulin production, is the most widespread inherited disorder in the world and is also common in Turkey. To determine the prevalence of carriers for beta thalassemia, we screened the couples before their marriage. For this aim, from 1994 to 1999, a total of 14.200 people were screened. The complete blood count and red blood cell indices (hemoglobin: Hb, hematocrite: Hct, median corpusculer volume: MCV, median corpusculer hemoglobin: MCHb, median corpusculer hemoglobin concentration: MHbC, concentration were measured by automated cell counter on the same day of collection. Then for the samples with MCV values of 78 fL or below, hemoglobin electrophoresis were employed. Testing for beta thalassemia was carried out by the conventional cellulose asetate electropheresis at pH 8.4. People who have elevated HbA2 (≥ 3.5%) were accepted as beta-thalassemia carrier or patient. We detected 3300 people with MCV levels of 78 fL or below and 311 cases of beta thalassemia carrier and 11 cases of beta thalassemia. The prevalence of carriers for beta thalassemia in Denizli was 2.2%. This result indicated that the people with anemia in our region should be investigated for the existence of hemoglobinopathy.

Incidence of aplastic anemia in Turkey: a hospital-based prospective multicentre study.

The incidence of aplastic anemia among hospitalized adult patients was prospectively determined in this first study in Turkey. New cases of aplastic anemia among patients 14 years and older who were admitted to the study centers were included in a 3 year survey. Seventy-three patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria, yielding a mean annual incidence rate of 1.14 cases in 10(3) admissions. The male-to-female ratio of the cases (1.6:1) differed from the almost equal ratio of the larger population of Turkey. The median age was 30 years and females were younger at diagnosis. The age distribution of the cases was different from that of the population; showing two incidence peaks in both sexes. The majority of the patients (89%) had severe disease.