Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy following fludarabine treatment in a chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a neurological disease caused by infection of the central nervous system (CNS) with the JC polyomavirus (JCV). JCV is endemic and infects a large proportion (70–90%) of healthy individuals worldwide, but infection is latent. JCV reactivation may occur, if the immune function is compromised. Aim: To present a PML case in a CLL patient after a long course of disease and treatment with fludarabine. JCV virus infection in this patient was proven both in brain biopsy material and blood. Methods: Patient with a nine-year history of CLL was hospitalized with the weakness in the right leg and left hand, tremors, speech difficulties. An MRI diagnosed infiltrative glial tumor of the left hemisphere, proliferating predominantly in the frontal lobe, more in the gyrus frontalis superior region. CNS tumor biopsy performed. Results: Morphology and immunoprofile of the lesion consistent with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. The material from biopsy was diagnosed as positive for JCV DNA. JCV and HHV-7 genomic sequences were found in patient’s PBL DNA sample. In a plasma DNA sample, only genomic sequences were detected. Conclusion: The present case draws attention to the fact that the use of fludarabine and its combinations in CLL therapy increases the risk of JCV infection reactivation and development of serious complications like PML

SSR-Based Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Structure of Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) from 19 Countries in Europe

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a temperate fruit species whose production might be highly impacted by climate change in the near future. Diversity of plant material could be an option to mitigate these climate risks by enabling producers to have new cultivars well adapted to new environmental conditions. In this study, subsets of sweet cherry collections of 19 European countries were genotyped using 14 SSR. The objectives of this study were (i) to assess genetic diversity parameters, (ii) to estimate the levels of population structure, and (iii) to identify germplasm redundancies. A total of 314 accessions, including landraces, early selections, and modern cultivars, were monitored, and 220 unique SSR genotypes were identified. All 14 loci were confirmed to be polymorphic, and a total of 137 alleles were detected with a mean of 9.8 alleles per locus. The average number of alleles (N = 9.8), PIC value (0.658), observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.71), and expected heterozygosity (He = 0.70) were higher in this study compared to values reported so far. Four ancestral populations were detected using STRUCTURE software and confirmed by Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA), and two of them (K1 and K4) could be attributed to the geographical origin of the accessions. A N-J tree grouped the 220 sweet cherry accessions within three main clusters and six subgroups. Accessions belonging to the four STRUCTURE populations roughly clustered together. Clustering confirmed known genealogical data for several accessions. The large genetic diversity of the collection was demonstrated, in particular within the landrace pool, justifying the efforts made over decades for their conservation. New sources of diversity will allow producers to face challenges, such as climate change and the need to develop more sustainable production systems

Evaluation of Image Quality of Overweight and Obese Patients in CT Using High Data Rate Detectors

Background/Aim: To evaluate the impact of high data rate and sampling frequency detector technology compared to standard scan equipment on the image quality in abdominal computed tomography (CT) of overweight and obese patients. Patients and Methods: A total of 173 patients were retrospectively included in this study. Objective image quality in abdominal CT was evaluated using comparative analysis with new detector technology prior to market launch and standard CT equipment. Contrast noise ratio (CNR), image noise, volumetric computed tomography dose index (CTDIVol), and figures of merit (Q and Q1) were assessed for all patients. Results: Image quality was superior in the new detector technology for all parameters evaluated. The dose dependent parameters Q and Q1 showed a significant difference (p<0.001). Conclusion: A significant increase in objective image quality could be demonstrated using a new generation detector setup with increased frequency transfer in abdominal CT of overweight patients.ISSN:0258-851XISSN:1791-754