Biclonal myelodysplastic syndrome involving six chromosomes and monoallelic loss of RB1 - A rare case

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) represents a group of clonal hematological disorders characterized by progressive cytopenia, and reflects to defects in erythroid, myeloid and megakaryocytic maturation. MDS is more frequently observed in older aged patients with cytogenetic abnormalities like monosomy of chromosome(s) 5 and/or 7. In 50% of de novo MDS cases, chromosomal aberrations are found and rearrangements involving the retinoblastoma (<it>RB1</it>) gene in 13q14 are found.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we are presenting a case report of a rare biclonal MDS with a karyotype of 45, XY,-4, der(6)t(4;6)(p15.1;p21.3), der(8)t(4;8)(q31.2;q22), t(13;16)(q21.3;p11.2)<abbrgrp><abbr bid="B11">11</abbr></abbrgrp>/45, XY, der(7)t(7;13)(p22.2~22.3;q21.3),-13 <abbrgrp><abbr bid="B9">9</abbr></abbrgrp>. The patient was diagnosed according to WHO classification as refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB-II).</p> <p>Immunophenotyping was positive for CD11b, CD11c, CD10, CD13, CD15, CD16 and CD33.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We report, a novel and cytogenetically rare case of a biclonal MDS with complex chromosomal aberrations and deletion of <it>RB1</it>-gene in both clones. These findings are associated with a poor prognosis as the patient died 3 months after diagnosis.</p

Evaluation of circulating microparticles in healthy medical workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation: A preliminary study

Objectives Ionizing radiation was known to cause disruption of cytoskeleton. However, the disorganization of the cytoskeleton leads to form microparticles (MP) that carry membrane and cytoplasmic constituents from their parent cells they are released from. Therefore, authors investigated the effect of the occupational exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation on MP levels. Material and Methods The current study was conducted on 38 healthy medical workers occupationally exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation and 29 controls matched by gender, age, and smoking habits. The MP levels measured by flow cytometry were classified as positive or negative phosphatidylserine (PS + or PS – ), and phenotyped according to their cellular origin. Results Total MP (PS–/PS+) levels, regardless of phenotype, were significantly higher in workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation than in healthy individuals (p = 0.0004). Negative phosphatidylserine microparticles were predominant in medical exposed workers and, to a lesser extent, in controls (68% and 57%, respectively). With regard to phenotypic characterization of cellular origin, MP derived from platelets (CD41a+), endothelial (CD146+), leucocytes (CD45+) and erythrocytes (CD235a+) MP were significantly enhanced in exposed workers compared with controls (p < 0.0001). However, no significant difference was found in the proportion of the other blood elements in the peripheral circulation between the 2 groups. Serum levels of C-reactive protein were normal for all individuals. In addition, no association was observed between MP levels and the studied confounding factors. Conclusions The results suggest that elevated circulating MP levels represent an indicator of cellular damage caused by medical exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation. By consequence, the quantification of MP seems to be a useful biomarker for assessing the negative effects of occupational exposure to ionizing radiation. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(6):783–79

Effects of ionizing radiation on the viability and proliferative behavior of the human glioblastoma T98G cell line

Abstract Objective Radiotherapy is the traditional therapy for glioma patients. Glioma has poor response to ionizing radiation (IR). Studying radiation-induced cell death can help in understanding the cellular mechanisms underlying its radioresistance. T98G cell line was irradiated with Co60 source by 2 or 10 Gy. MTT assay was used to calculate the surviving fraction. Cell viability, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis assays were conducted by flow cytometry for irradiated and control cells for the 10 Gy dose. Results The SF2 value for irradiated cells was 0.8. Cell viability was decreased from 93.29 to 73.61%, while, the Sub G0/G1 phase fraction was significantly increased at 10 Gy after 48 h. On the other hand, there was an increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells which reached 40.16% after 72 h at the same dose, while, it did not exceeds 2% for non-irradiated cells. Our results showed that, the T98G cells is radioresistant to IR up to 10 Gy. Effects of irradiation on the viability of T98G cells were relatively mild, since entering apoptosis was delayed for about 3 days after irradiation

Antiproliferative Effects of Pancratium Maritimum Extracts on Normal and Cancerous Cells

Background: Plants are an important natural source of compounds used in cancer therapy. Pancratium maritimum contains potential anti-cancer agents such as alkaloids. In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effects of P. maritimum extracts on MDA-MB-231 human epithelial adenocarcinoma cell line and on normal lymphocytes in vitro. Methods: Leaves, flowers, roots, and bulbs of P. maritimum were collected and their contents were extracted and diluted to different concentrations that were applied on MDA-MB-231 cells and normal human lymphocytes in vitro for different intervals. Cells viability, proliferation, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, and growth were evaluated by flow cytometry and microscopy. Parametric unpaired t-test was used to compare effects of plant extracts on treated cell cultures with untreated control cell cultures. IC50 was also calculated. Results: P. maritimum extract had profound effects on MDA-MB-321 cells. It inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The IC50 values were 0.039, 0.035, and 0.026 mg/ml after 48, 72, and 96 hours of treatment with 0.1 mg/ml concentration of bulb extract, respectively. Those values were 0.051 and 0.03 mg/ml after 72 and 96 hours for root extract, respectively, and 0.048 mg/ml after 96 hours for flower extract. There were no significant effects of P. maritimum bulb extracts on normal lymphocytes proliferation. Conclusion: P. maritimum extract has anti-proliferative effects on MDA-MB-231 cell line in vitro. The effects imply the involvement of mechanisms that inhibits cell growth and arresting cells at S and G2/M phases. Cyclin B1, Bcl-2, and Ki67 expression was also affected

Childhood pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with translocation t(1;19)(q21.1;p13.3) and two additional chromosomal aberrations involving chromosomes 1, 6, and 13: a case report

Abstract Background The translocation t(1;19)(q23;p13), which results in the TCF3-PBX1 chimeric gene, is one of the most frequent rearrangements observed in B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It appears in both adult and pediatric patients with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia at an overall frequency of 3 to 5%. Most cases of pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia carrying the translocation t(1;19) have a typical immunophenotype with homogeneous expression of CD19, CD10, CD9, complete absence of CD34, and at least diminished CD20. Moreover, the translocation t(1;19) correlates with known clinical high risk factors, such as elevated white blood cell count, high serum lactate dehydrogenase levels, and central nervous system involvement; early reports indicated that patients with translocation t(1;19) had a poor outcome under standard treatment. Case presentation We report the case of a 15-year-old Syrian boy with pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with abnormal karyotype with a der(19)t(1;19)(q21.1;p13.3) and two yet unreported chromosomal aberrations: an interstitial deletion 6q12 to 6q26 and a der(13)t(1;13)(q21.1;p13). According to the literature, cases who are translocation t(1;19)-positive have a significantly higher incidence of central nervous system relapse than patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia without the translocation. Of interest, central nervous system involvement was also seen in our patient. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of childhood pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with an unbalanced translocation t(1;19) with two additional chromosomal aberrations, del(6)(q12q26) and t(1;13)(q21.3;p13), which seem to be recurrent and could influence clinical outcome. Also the present case confirms the impact of the translocation t(1;19) on central nervous system relapse, which should be studied for underlying mechanisms in future