Effect of incorporation of silane-treated silver and aluminum microparticles on strength and thermal conductivity of PMMA.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to study the effect of addition of metal filler particles on different strengths of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and to evaluate the thermal perception in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out in two parts. Part 1 of the study was an in vitro investigation regarding the effect of addition of metal fillers (aluminum and silver) in concentrations of 10%, 20%, and 30%, by volume on the tensile, compressive, and flexural strength of PMMA. Part 2 of the study comprised the clinical evaluation of the thermal perception by 10 edentulous patients provided with two sets of complete dentures, one fabricated with unfilled PMMA and another with 20% aluminum particle filled PMMA on the palatal portion of the maxillary denture. Recorded data were subjected to Student's t-test and ANOVA test. RESULTS: The mean tensile and flexural strength values among control and other groups were found to have statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) except for Al1 and Al2 groups. Mean compressive strength values among control and other groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the clinical study, all 10 participants reported higher perception of hot and cold sensations in dentures with a metalized palatal portion. CONCLUSIONS: Compressive strength increased progressively on increasing the filler concentration for both silver- and aluminum-filled PMMA. Silane-treated metalized PMMA showed reduction in tensile and flexural strength at 30% concentration. Metalized dentures led to an appreciable increase in thermal perception by the participants of this study.

A case of Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia with partial trisomy of chromosome 1q involving chromosome 13 as the acceptor-A novel cytogenetic finding.

The Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome is infrequently found in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is associated with poor prognosis. We present a case of Ph chromosome positive B cell-acute lymphoblastic leukemia with the partial trisomy of chromosome 1q involving chromosome 13 as the acceptor which has never been reported in the English literature. Jumping translocation (JT) of chromosome 1 is rare and is associated with disease progression and poor prognosis. Herein, we report the first case of Ph chromosome positive B cell-acute lymphoblastic leukemia with coexisting jumping translocation of chromosome 1 leading to trisomy of chromosome 1q. Dismal prognosis associated with synchronous presence of a Ph chromosome and JT leading to a partial trisomy of chromosome 1q may carry significant prognostic and therapeutic implications. This may be an incidental finding and further studies with large patient cohorts and clinical outcomes are needed to definitively determine the predictive value of this cytogenetic finding.

Flow Cytometry in Diagnosis of Myelomatous Pleural Effusion: A Case Report.

Plasma cell myeloma is a multifocal plasma cell neoplasm associated with increased monoclonal protein in serum and/or urine. Pleural effusions in patients with myeloma are uncommon (6 %). However, effusions due to direct infiltration of the pleura by plasma cells (myelomatous pleural effusion) are extremely rare (<1 %) and usually seen with IgA myeloma. The diagnosis of such cases requires pleural fluid cytology, electrophoresis or pleural biopsy. We present a case of myelomatous pleural effusion diagnosed using flow cytometry immunophenotyping in addition to the pleural fluid cytology. A 45 year old female was diagnosed as plasma cell myeloma (IgG kappa) in 2007. She received multiple lines of therapy during the course of her treatment including thalidomide, dexamethasone, lenalidomide, bortezomib, and doxorubicin based regimens. However, the patient had progressive extramedullary disease and developed pleural effusion in 2014. Cytological examination of the pleural fluid showed degenerative changes. Few preserved areas showed mononuclear cells including morphologically abnormal plasma cells. Immunophenotyping of these cells by flow cytometry revealed a pattern indicating neoplastic plasma cells. There was expression of CD38, CD138, and CD56, with absence of CD19, CD10 and CD45. This confirmed the diagnosis of myelomatous pleural effusion. Subsequently, the patient was offered a dexamethasone, cyclophosphamide, etoposide and cisplatin based regimen but, she declined further treatment and succumbed to her disease 3 months later. Myelomatous pleural effusion is a rare complication of plasma cell myeloma. Flow cytometry can be used as an adjunctive technique in its diagnosis particularly in cases with equivocal cytology and electrophoresis findings.

"Tear drops" in the cerebrospinal fluid: Correct by scatter, but pathognomonic by site.

Extramedullary relapse in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is rare, but occurs most commonly in central nervous system (CNS), generally in high-risk cases (total leucocyte count≥10,000/µL, atypical morphology or disseminated intravascular coagulation at presentation), and concomitant with bone marrow (BM) relapse. Here, we describe a case of APL who except for CD56 positivity was low risk but had a CNS relapse without concomitant BM involvement. Diagnosis of isolated CNS relapse was based on characteristic tear-drop pattern for CD45/side scatter plot on flow cytometry, a full compatible immunophenotype and cytomorphology in the cerebrospinal fluid. The case illustrates the value of the latter and the importance of including CD56 in risk assessment of APL.

"Tear drops" in the cerebrospinal fluid: correct by scatter, but pathognomonic by site.

Extramedullary relapse in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is rare, but occurs most commonly in central nervous system (CNS), generally in high-risk cases (total leucocyte count ≥10,000/µL, atypical morphology or disseminated intravascular coagulation at presentation), and concomitant with bone marrow (BM) relapse. Here we describe a case of APL who except for CD56 positivity was low-risk, but had a CNS relapse without concomitant BM involvement. Diagnosis of isolated CNS relapse was based on characteristic tear-drop pattern for CD45/side scatter plot on flow cytometry, a full compatible immunophenotype and cytomorphology in the cerebrospinal fluid. The case illustrates the value of the latter and the importance of including CD56 in risk assessment of APL. © 2014 Clinical Cytometry Society.