Seronegative hepatitis C virus infection in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders.

It has been reported that hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA may be present in serum and/or lymphoid cells in the absence of specific circulating antibodies. The current study analysed seronegative HCV infection in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders. We studied 77 anti-HCV-negative patients (45 male and 32 female, mean age 54.8 ± 14.2 years) with various lymphoproliferative disorders. HCV-RNA was detected by RT-PCR in plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and bone marrow. Furthermore, the presence of viral nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) was determined in PBMC and bone marrow by immunostaining. HCV-RNA was detectable in at least one compartment in 27 (35.1%) patients. Viral RNA was found in bone marrow in 22 patients (28.6%), in PBMC in 13 (16.9%) and in plasma in 10 (13%) patients. In nine patients, evidence of infection was confined to the bone marrow compartment. Viral load in HCV-RNA-positive plasma ranged from 15 to 1.17 × 10(3) IU/mL. NS3 was detected in all but two HCV-RNA-positive bone marrow samples and in all but one HCV-RNA-positive PBMC samples. All 27 HCV-RNA-positive patients remained anti-HCV-negative when tested again after 6-12 months, but only four remained HCV-RNA positive. In conclusion, among patients with lymphoproliferative disorders, HCV can be present in plasma, PBMC and bone marrow despite the lack of circulating specific antibodies. Further studies are required to analyse the phenomenon of seronegative infection and to determine whether such patients are infectious.

Distribution of cytoskeletal elements in the ovarioles of Mutilla sp. (Insecta, Hymenoptera).

The ovaries of Mutilla sp., as those of other hymenopterans, consist of meroistic-polytrophic ovarioles. Within each ovariole, a terminal filament, a germarium, and a vitellarium can be distinguished. The germaria contain numerous dividing and/or differentiating groups (clusters) of germ cells. The vitellaria are composed of several, linearly arranged, ovarian follicles; each follicle consists of an oocyte and a group of nurse cells. Distribution of cytoskeletal elements (microfilaments and microtubules) throughout the ovarioles of Mutilla sp. has been studied on whole mount preparations stained with rhodamine-conjugated phalloidin and FITC-labelled anti-tubulin.

Development of terminal filaments and ovariole envelopes in Thermobia domestica (Insecta, Zygentoma) larvae.

The 3rd instar female larvae of Thermobia domestica have five pairs of gonad primordia, each enclosed within a basal lamina (tunica propria). At the end of the 3rd instar some somatic cells scattered on the outer surface of the lamina are seen. During the 4th larval instar the gonad primordia start to form the ovarioles. Each ovariole is elongated and polarized, having anterior and posterior ends. The anterior group of outer somatic cells proliferate to form the terminal filament. At the 6th larval stage the ovarioles are already formed. The terminal filament is separated from the germarium by a thick basal lamina (transverse septum). There are three types of cell building the terminal filament. 1/Basal cells with numerous fingerlike projections; 2/Cells with electron lucent cytoplasm and large nuclei, and 3/Cells with darker cytoplasm containing bundles of fibers and more compact nuclei. The outer surface of the filament is covered by a thick, fibrous basal lamina. The somatic cells that in the previous stages were scattered on the tunica propria as distinct cells, in the 6th larval stage form a cellular envelope (tunica externa). This envelope is formed by a layer of flat cells, and contains numerous tracheae.

Detection of active hepatitis C virus and hepatitis G virus/GB virus C replication in bone marrow in human subjects.

We have analyzed the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis G virus (HGV) sequences in bone marrow and serum samples from 48 patients of a hematologic outpatient clinic. HCV RNA was detected in 18 (38%) and 15 (31%) and HGV RNA was detected in 6 (13%) and 9 (19%) of serum and bone marrow samples, respectively. In 3 patients, HGV RNA was detectable in bone marrow but not in the serum; 2 of these patients were negative for the presence of specific antibodies. Using a highly strand-specific Tth-based reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the presence of HCV RNA and HGV RNA negative strand was demonstrated in 4 and 5 bone marrow samples, respectively. Our study shows that HCV and HGV can replicate in bone marrow; in the case of HGV, analysis of serum may underestimate the true prevalence of infection. (Blood. 2000;95:3986-3989)

Predetermination of cytokinesis and transition from holoblastic to partial superficial cleavage in early embryonic development of Tetrodontophora bielanensis (Collembola).

In the T. bielanensis embryo, only karyokinesis occurs during the first cleavage division, and a two-nuclear syncytial embryo forms. Then, two cytoplasmic concentrations in the form of elongated rolls perpendicular to each other develop below the periplasm at the animal pole of the egg. The second cleavage division is also associated with karyokineses only. After the embryo reaches the four-nuclear stage, cytokinesis occur at its animal pole, and two cleavage furrows perpendicular to each other develop in the periplasm above the cytoplasmic concentrations. The cell membranes forming within the furrows do not invade the cytoplasmic concentrations, but their growing tips push them into the egg interior, where they merge and form the central cytoplasmic concentration. The developing cell membranes do not invade the central cytoplasm; they band and grow above its surface. Four pyramidal blastomeres form as a result of this. The eight-blastomere embryo forms through both karyokinesis and cytokinesis, but the growing cell membranes now band below the previous ones and cut off anucleate parts of the mother blastomeres, which fuse with the central cytoplasm. Thus, during this phase of development the transition from holoblastic to partial superficial cleavage is initiated. Morphological analysis suggests that the formation of the first two cytokinesis is predetermined by and depends on factors connected with the animal pole periplasm. It also suggests that the central cytoplasm constitutes the morphological field, inducing the transition from holoblastic to partial superficial cleavage.

[Hematologic syndromes in hepatitis C virus infection]. / Zespoly hematologiczne w zakazeniu wirusem zapalenia watroby typu C.

HCV infection may affect not only the liver but also various nonhepatic tissues. This paper presents current information on association between HCV infection and haematological disorders. The pathogenic role of HCV in hepatitis-associated aplastic anaemia development has not been confirmed. The thrombocytopenia has been observed more frequently during chronic hepatitis C than during infections with other hepatotropic viruses. This disorder may be associated with antiplatelet autoantibodies production. However the most common haematological complication of HCV infection is mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC), observed in 40-50% of patients. In some subjects non-Hodgkin B cell lymphoma (B-NHL) may evolve from MC, but it is also reported in acryoglobulinemic HCV infected patients. The frequency of HCV infection in population of patients with B-NHL exceeds 20% in some countries and it is significantly higher than for other lymphoproliferative disorders. There are also data suggesting that HCV may play a role in MALT lymphoma development, too. The observed disorders are explained by HCV lymphotropism and direct or indirect influence of continuous antigenic stimulation by replicating virus on lymphatic system. The paper presents also beneficial results of interferon treatment in patients with HCV-related MC or B-NHL. The authors show that haematological syndromes should be taken under account in diagnostics of hepatitis C patients and interferon treatment should be administered as soon as possible when HCV related cryoglobulinaemia is diagnosed.

Holoblastic early cleavage of Tetrodontophora bielanensis (Collembola) eggs, with special reference to its irregularity.

The fertilized eggs of Tetrodontophora bielanensis start to cleave 6 to 8 days after oviposition and initially only karyokineses occur. The cytokinesis begins after two karyokineses, when four nuclei are observed in the ooplasm. Two cleavage furrows, perpendicular to each other, appear simultaneously at the egg poles where polar bodies are located and gradually the furrows encompass the whole egg diameter. The furrow formation is initiated by the bundle of microfilaments that contract and pull superficial fragments of the oolemma into the yolk and subsequently new membranes, separating the daughter cells, start to form. However, they do not grow towards the egg centre but bifurcate, leaving the central part of the ooplasm outside of the newly formed blastomeres. Starting from the fourth or fifth cleavage division, the bifurcations permanently occur and multiple cleavage furrows are formed on the embryo surface. Moreover, fragments of the ooplasm, enclosed within the cell membrane but devoid of cell nucleus are observed. During further development such cell fragments become reincorporated into the embryo. This mode of cleavage leads eventually to the formation of cellular blastoderm on the embryo surface. The results presented in the paper suggest that the control of cleavage in T. bielanensis acts not at the level of cytoplasmic determinants but rather at the level of positional information of blastomeres.

[Monoclonal IgG lambda protein in a patient with hereditary spherocytosis]. / Bialko monoklonalne IgG lambda u chorej na sferocytoze wrodzona.

Three cases are presented of hereditary spherocytosis that occurred in one family. In one of those cases the presence of monoclonal IgG lambda protein was stated. This protein's level has not increased for 8 year of observation. The latest pathogenetic theories of hereditary spherocytosis are presented as well as the possibility of its coexistence with other diseases.

[Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in erythrocytes observed in two cases]. / Niedobór dehydrogenazy glukozo-6-fosforanu krwinek czerwonych w swietle obserwowanych dwóch przypadków.

In two male patients the deficiency of G-6-PD in erythrocytes became manifested in 27th year of age with severe hemolytic crisis. In the first case hemolysis appeared after three days of heavy alcohol drinking. There was no evident relation between alcohol and hemolysis. In the second patient (an Iraqi Student) suffering from diabetes since adolescence, hemolysis was provoked by respiratory tract infection, antiinflammatory drugs and concomitant ketosis. Pneumonia, renal insufficiency and acute pancreatitis complicated the course of illness. The patient required a consecutive erythrocyte concentrate transfusions. Aplastic crisis was treated with folic acid.