HEMATOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF PULSE STEROID-THERAPY

The aim of this study was to determine the haematological effects of 1 g methylprednisolone given intravenously as pulse steroid therapy (PST) to 10 cancer patients who had not received any chemotherapy or immunoactive drugs in the previous 3 weeks. Haematological values as determined with flow cytometry were evaluated before, and I and 24 h after, the pulse therapy. Total leucocyte count was found to be decreased at the first hour and significantly increased at the 24th hour, whereas total lymphocyte count decreased at the first hour and remained low at 24h. CD4 lymphocytes were found decreased al the first hour whereas CD8 lymphocytes were significantly decreased at the 24th hour. The CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratio and the values of haematocrit and platelets did not change significantly. The decrease in the total leucocyte count after 1 hour of steroid administration was notable, in addition to the results which were in accordance with previously reported data about steroid effects on haematological values

MITOCHONDRIA-LYTIC ACTION OF WARFARIN IN LYMPHOCYTES

Warfarin given as a single dose of 20 mg induces lysis of mitochondria in lymphocytes from chronic and acute lymphocytic leukemias studied under the electron microscope. Normal lymphocytes remain unchanged. This cytotoxic actin may be due to superoxide radicals produced in the malignant cells by warfarin, which is a potent electron-transferring substance

Inhibitory effect of Hesperidin on tumour initiation and promotion in mouse skin

A flavonoid, Hesperidin was evaluated for its ability to inhibit tumour initiation by a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and tumour promotion by a phorbol ester in the skin of CD-1 mice. Subcutaneous application of Hesperidin did not inhibit 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced tumour initiation but did inhibit 12-O-tetradecanoyl-13-phorbol acetate-induced tumour promotion. Results provide evidence for a potential chemopreventive activity of Hesperidin

Detection of t(14;18) in Turkish follicular lymphomas using the polymerase chain reaction

A t(14;18) translocation is closely associated with the follicular lymphoma but is also seen in diffuse B cell lymphomas with a previous history of a follicular lymphoma as well as de novo diffuse lymphomas. Estimation of the frequency of t(14;18) in follicular lymphoma vary widely from 33 to 89%. Furthermore, no extensive data have been published on the frequency of t(14;18) in Turkish cases of follicular lymphoma. Representative tissue blocks from 67 patients with follicular lymphoma, 12 cases of diffuse large B cell lymphomas and 11 cases of reactive hyperplasias were examined for the presence of this translocation using PCR. DNA probes capable of detecting rearrangement at both the major and minor break point regions were employed. We could detect t(14; 18) in 46 out of 67 cases (68.7%) of follicular and 25% of diffuse large B cell lymphomas. In follicular lymphomas 64.2% of these break points were at mbr and 4.5% were at the mcr region. Review of the literature showed that comparable results have been obtained previously using molecular techniques. Our data showed that despite the relative infrequency of follicular lymphomas in the Turkish population these lymphomas share a common molecular pathogenesis with involvement of bcl-2 gene and background incidence of such rearrangement is similar in all populations, regardless the incidence of folicular lymphoma. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved