If it is in the marrow, is it also in the blood? An analysis of 1,000 paired samples from patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Staging of B-cell non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) routinely involves bone marrow (BM) examination by trephine biopsy (BM-TB). The evidence of disease in the BM-TB results in a clinical stage IV classification affecting therapeutic strategies for NHL patients. BM immunophenotyping by flow cytometry (FC) is also used, although its clinical value is still under debate.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using FC we analyzed 1,000 paired BM aspirates and peripheral blood (PB) samples from 591 NHL patients to investigate the concordance between BM and PB. B-lymphocytes were defined monoclonal when a ratio of 0.3 < κ/l > 3 was observed. Aberrant immunophenotypes present in the B-cell subpopulation were also investigated. BM-TB was also performed in 84.1% of samples (841/1000), and concordance between BM-TB and BM-FC was evaluated. Concordance was defined as the presence of a positive (in terms of disease detection) or negative result in both BM-FC and PB-FC or BM-TB and BM-FC.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using FC, the overall concordance between BM and PB was 95%. Among the discordant cases (ie presence of neoplastic B-lymphocyte in the BM but under the sensibility of the technique in the PB) the most frequent diagnosis was Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM, accounting for 20.8% of all discordant cases). The expression of CXCR4, a receptor involved in B-cell trafficking and homing, was found to be down regulated in WM compared to other NHL types, thus suggesting a possible role of CXCR4 in WM cell homing in the BM. WM excluded, FC investigation of BM and PB in NHL patients gives overlapping information.</p> <p>BM involvement was observed by FC in 38% of samples, and concordance between BM-FC and BM-TB was 85%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The finding that FC data from BM and PB samples overlap in NHL might have major implications for the design of future clinical studies and for patients' follow-up.</p

Radiographic progression in PsA Personal non-commercial use only

ABSTRACT. Objective. To describe early radiographic findings in patients from the Swedish psoriatic arthritis (SwePsA) registry, progression of destruction, correlations with clinical disease variables, and predictors of destruction. Methods. Hand and foot radiographs were available for 72 of 197 SwePsA patients followed for 5 years. Clinical data were collected according to the SwePsA protocol. Results. Disease characteristics and clinical improvement were similar in men and women. Radiographic abnormalities were more pronounced in men. Total Wassenberg radiographic score at baseline was 0 in 45% of men and 51% of women. One man and one woman had a score &gt; 10. At 5 years, total score was 0 in 14% of men and 40% of women (p = 0.018); 17% of men and 7% of women had scores &gt; 10. Mean total scores for men and women had increased. Baseline erythrocyte sedimentation rate was associated with baseline total radiographic score. In men, swollen joint count was positively, and in women tender joint count negatively, correlated to total radiographic score. After 5 years, only male scores, mainly hand scores, significantly correlated with 28-joint Disease Activity Score and Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis scores, swollen joint count, and dactylitis. Achieving remission or minimal disease activity after 5 years protected against structural damage, mainly in men. Conclusion. Radiographic progression in early PsA was generally slow but substantial. Male sex appears to be a risk factor for early radiographic damage while the presence of baseline radiographic damage and dactylitis developing during followup seem to predict further destruction. Hand and foot radiograph scoring cannot be substituted with clinical signs. (J Rheumatol First Release October 15 2015; doi:10.3899/jrheum.150165

Contribution of spores to the ability of Clostridium difficile to adhere to surfaces.

Clostridium difficile is the commonest cause of hospital-acquired infection in the United Kingdom. We characterized the abilities of 21 clinical isolates to form spores; to adhere to inorganic and organic surfaces, including stainless steel and human adenocarcinoma cells; and to germinate. The composition of culture media had a significant effect on spore formation, as significantly more spores were produced in brain heart infusion broth (Student's t test; P = 0.018). The spore surface relative hydrophobicity (RH) varied markedly (14 to 77%) and was correlated with the ability to adhere to stainless steel. We observed no correlation between the ribotype and the ability to adhere to steel. When the binding of hydrophobic (DS1813; ribotype 027; RH, 77%) and hydrophilic (DS1748; ribotype 002; RH, 14%) spores to human gut epithelial cells at different stages of cell development was examined, DS1813 spores adhered more strongly, suggesting the presence of surface properties that aid attachment to human cells. Electron microscopy studies revealed the presence of an exosporium surrounding DS1813 spores that was absent from spores of DS1748. Finally, the ability of spores to germinate was found to be strain and medium dependent. While the significance of these findings to the disease process has yet to be determined, this study has highlighted the importance of analyzing multiple isolates when attempting to characterize the behavior of a bacterial species

Adhesion Mechanisms of Bacterial Spores to Solid Surfaces

The initial adhesion of different Bacillus spores to solid surfaces was investigated. By changing environmental parameters and studying the subsequent adhesion, conclusions have been drawn concerning the different mechanisms responsible for adhesion. Bacillus species are common microorganisms and in food industry they are common food spoilers. The endospores they form are very resistant to heat, drying and chemicals. In this investigation, these endospores have been found very adhesive to different solid surfaces. It is suggested that their adhesiveness contributes to problems of contamination from Bacillus species. The surfaces of Bacillus spores were found to be highly hydrophobic. Hydrophobic interactions were shown to enhance their adhesion capacities, especially to hydrophobic surfaces. Electrostatic repulsion is another interaction of demonstrated importance. The adhesion process is, however, complex and other interactions are also involved, such as steric stabilization, solvation forces, van der Waals attraction, etc. Spores from some species have long appendages on the surface. These appendages were shown to enhance adhesion. The spore species found to have the highest adhesion capacity was B. cereus. This finding is of practical interest since B. cereus is considered a pathogen. B. cereus spores have several surface qualities that were found to enhance adhesion. The spores are relatively hydrophobic with low negative surface potential and surfaces covered with several long appendages

Adhesion Mechanisms of Bacterial Spores to Solid Surfaces

The initial adhesion of different Bacillus spores to solid surfaces was investigated. By changing environmental parameters and studying the subsequent adhesion, conclusions have been drawn concerning the different mechanisms responsible for adhesion. <p> Bacillus species are common microorganisms and in food industry they are common food spoilers. The endospores they form are very resistant to heat, drying and chemicals. In this investigation, these endospores have been found very adhesive to different solid surfaces. It is suggested that their adhesiveness contributes to problems of contamination from Bacillus species. <p> The surfaces of Bacillus spores were found to be highly hydrophobic. Hydrophobic interactions were shown to enhance their adhesion capacities, especially to hydrophobic surfaces. Electrostatic repulsion is another interaction of demonstrated importance. The adhesion process is, however, complex and other interactions are also involved, such as steric stabilization, solvation forces, van der Waals attraction, etc. Spores from some species have long appendages on the surface. These appendages were shown to enhance adhesion. <p> The spore species found to have the highest adhesion capacity was B. cereus. This finding is of practical interest since B. cereus is considered a pathogen. B. cereus spores have several surface qualities that were found to enhance adhesion. The spores are relatively hydrophobic with low negative surface potential and surfaces covered with several long appendages

Hållbar kunskap? En studie om metoden spaced learning för ökad bildning av långtidsminnen

Nya kunskaper om hur hjärnan fungerar när långtidsminnen bildas ligger till grund för undervisningsmetoden spaced learning. Metoden utvecklades i Storbritannien i samarbete mellan lärare, hjärnforskare och socionomer och går ut på att inlärning sker i tre korta, intensiva block separerade av två tydliga pauser om 10 minuter då eleverna får göra en distraherande aktivitet som att rita, arbeta med lera eller jonglera. Just dessa pauser anses kritiska för bildning av långtidsminnen. I denna studie testades metoden inom biologiundervisning med ett slumpmässigt urval elever i en gymnasieklass. Elevernas minnen av de fakta som presenterades under lektionen kvantifierades i ett test 7 dagar efter testlektionen. Antalet poäng på minnestestet jämfördes med en population elever från samma klass som istället för spaced learning fått en lektion med en sammanhängande, mer traditionell, genomgång av samma fakta. Resultatet visar att elever som tillägnat sig kunskaperna i formatet spaced learning har signifikant högre poäng på minnestestet efter 7 dagar, vilket tyder på att dessa elever har fått fler långtidsminnen från undervisningen. Strategier i undervisningen som gör att eleverna minns det de lär sig sparar både tid och resurser i skolan och gör att elevernas kunskaper blir mer varaktiga

Hållbar kunskap? En studie om metoden spaced learning för ökad bildning av långtidsminnen

Nya kunskaper om hur hjärnan fungerar när långtidsminnen bildas ligger till grund för undervisningsmetoden spaced learning. Metoden utvecklades i Storbritannien i samarbete mellan lärare, hjärnforskare och socionomer och går ut på att inlärning sker i tre korta, intensiva block separerade av två tydliga pauser om 10 minuter då eleverna får göra en distraherande aktivitet som att rita, arbeta med lera eller jonglera. Just dessa pauser anses kritiska för bildning av långtidsminnen. I denna studie testades metoden inom biologiundervisning med ett slumpmässigt urval elever i en gymnasieklass. Elevernas minnen av de fakta som presenterades under lektionen kvantifierades i ett test 7 dagar efter testlektionen. Antalet poäng på minnestestet jämfördes med en population elever från samma klass som istället för spaced learning fått en lektion med en sammanhängande, mer traditionell, genomgång av samma fakta. Resultatet visar att elever som tillägnat sig kunskaperna i formatet spaced learning har signifikant högre poäng på minnestestet efter 7 dagar, vilket tyder på att dessa elever har fått fler långtidsminnen från undervisningen. Strategier i undervisningen som gör att eleverna minns det de lär sig sparar både tid och resurser i skolan och gör att elevernas kunskaper blir mer varaktiga