Bone marrow trephine biopsy involvement by lymphoma: pattern of involvement and concordance with flow cytometry, in 10 years from a single institution.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the features of bone marrow (BM) biopsy involvement by lymphoma, pattern of infiltration, morphological analysis and flow cytometry were reviewed at all lymphoma patients over a period of 10 years. METHODS/PATIENTS: 413 cases were included in the study if BM biopsy slides were available. Only 356 patients had both BM trephine biopsy and flow cytometry. RESULTS: The most frequent subtype was diffuse large B cell (31.2%), followed by follicular lymphoma (18.9%). The predominant pattern was mixed (nodular-interstitial) (9.2%). Morphological marrow infiltration was found in 138 cases, and flow cytometry identified 117 cases with BM involvement. A concordance between the two methods was detected in 305 cases (85.7%). There was discordance in 51 cases (14.3%): morphology positive/FC negative in 33 cases and morphology negative/FC positive in 18. CONCLUSIONS: Flow cytometry is slightly more useful in detecting involvement when the BM is affected, but this finding is not conclusive.

The inhibitor of apoptosis gene (iap-3) of Anticarsia gemmatalis multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) encodes a functional IAP.

Programmed cell death or apoptosis is one of the defense mechanisms used by insect cells in response to baculovirus infection. Baculoviruses harbour antiapoptotic genes to prevent apoptosis and to maintain the normal course of infection. In this work, we showed that, like other baculoviruses, Anticarsia gemmatalis multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) has a functional inhibitor of apoptosis gene (iap-3). The iap-3 gene was cloned, sequenced and its transcription confirmed by RT-PCR. The putative iap-3 gene of the baculovirus AgMNPV has 864 nucleotides and codes an ORF of 287 amino acids. We have found two BIR motifs (baculoviral iap repeats) at the amino-terminal region and a carboxi-terminal RING finger motif. The IAP-3 protein of AgMNPV is closely related to IAP-3 proteins of baculoviruses and lepidopteran IAPs, with most amino acid identity (75%) with the IAP-3 protein of CfDefNPV (Choristoneura fumiferana DEF nucleopolyhedrovirus). Transcriptional analysis of the AgMNPV iap-3 gene showed that iap-3-specific transcripts could be detected early and late in the infection. The iap-3 gene of AgMNPV was shown to encode a functional IAP since insect cells transfected with increasing amounts of a plasmid containing the iap-3 of AgMNPV showed increased resistance to apoptosis induced by a AgMNPV mutant virus.

Characterization of the ecdysteroid UDP-glucosyltransferase (egt) gene of Anticarsia gemmatalis nucleopolyhedrovirus.

The Anticarsia gemmatalis nucelopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) egt gene was cloned, sequenced and its expression characterized by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. Sequence analysis of the gene indicated the presence of an open reading frame (ORF) of 1482 nucleotides, which codes for a polypeptide of 494 amino acids. ATATA box and a conserved regulatory sequence (CATT) found in other baculovirus early genes were present in the promoter region of the egt gene. A poly-A consensus sequence was present in the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the gene. Homology comparisons showed that the EGT protein of AgMNPV is most closely related (95.9% amino acid sequence identity) to the EGT from the Choristoneura fumiferana DEF nucleopolyhedrovirus (CfDEF). Transcriptional analysis of the AgMNPV egt gene showed that egt-specific transcripts can be detected both early and late in infection. The EGT protein was detected, by western blot analysis, in the intra- (from 12 to 48 h post-infection) and extra-cellular (from 12 to 96 h post-infection) fractions of infected insect cells. The AgMNPV Bgl II-F fragment, which has homology to the AcMNPV ie-1 gene, was cloned and used to cotransfect SF21 cells with the cloned AgMNPV egt gene. EGT activity was observed, suggesting that AgMNPV ie-1 can transactivate egt expression.

Asymptomatic gallstones and duration of cyclosporine use in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Cyclosporine (CsA) use has been associated to the development of cholelithiasis in transplant recipients. We herein explored the role of time under CsA on this association in asymptomatic adult kidney transplant recipients (KTR). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 140 KTR with variable post-transplant follow-up (PTFU), and without history of symptomatic biliary disease. Upper abdominal ultrasound was performed in all patients. According to the immunosuppressive schedule, patients were classified in three groups: Azathioprine + prednisone (group 1, n = 37), azathioprine + prednisone < 24 months CsA (group 2, n = 58), or azathioprine + prednisone > or = 24 months CsA (group 3, n = 45). Age at time of ultrasound performance, gender, PTFU, chronic viral liver disease, parity, oral contraceptives, serum lipids, diabetes and body mass index were analyzed concomitantly. RESULTS: Median age was 38, 31, and 36 years in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The male:female ratio in the same groups was 1.5:1, 1:1, and 2:1. Mean PTFU was 130, 48, and 53 months, respectively (p = 0.0001). Gallstones were found in three (8%) group 1 KTR, in nine (16%) group 2 KTR, and in 10 (22%) group 3 KTR (p = 0.214). Adjusting for PTFU, the association between length of CsA and prevalence of lithiasis was significantly stronger among those with longer use of CsA (odds ratio = 6.1, p = 0.046). No significant differences were found among groups in the other variables. CONCLUSIONS: KTR receiving CsA for more than two years show increased prevalence of gallstones.