bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sweet syndrome in multiple myeloma: a series of six cases
Authors: Bayer‐Garner I. B. , Cottler‐Fox M. , Smoller B. R. 
Published: December 2004

Background:  Sweet syndrome (SS), a paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by fever, neutrophilia, multiple erythematous painful plaques, and a dense dermal neutrophilic infiltration, has a known association with hematologic malignancies such as acute myelogenous leukemia. However, no clear association with multiple myeloma (MM) has been reported.Materials and methods:  Pathology reports of the 2357 patients with multiple myeloma at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences were reviewed to retrieve cases who had developed SS. Cytogenetic studies and immunoglobulin secretory status were retrieved. Five cases of SS in MM and 25 cases of SS in patients without MM underwent syndecan‐1 immunohistochemistry.Observations:  Six cases of SS occurring in the setting of MM showed a predominance in patients secreting IgG paraprotein. Five of the six patients received granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor while the sixth received granulocyte‐monocyte‐colony stimulating factor. Fifty percent showed a non‐specific cytogenetic anomaly.Conclusions:  There is no specific cytogenetic anomaly associated with SS in the setting of MM. This paraneoplastic syndrome may be secondary to elevated levels of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF), possibly with a component of enhanced sensitivity to endogenous G‐CSF. The immunoglobulin secretory status parallels that seen in MM with cutaneous involvement, but IgG secretors may be at an increased risk of developing SS compared with their counterparts who secrete other immunoglobulins.
The APOPTOSIS of dermatopathology?
Authors: Bhawan Jag 
Published: December 2004

It is a privilege and an honor for me to have served as your president in this past year and to have the opportunity to address you today. In this presentation, I am using the term ‘APOPTOSIS’ as an acronym (Fig. 1). I do not necessarily mean to imply apoptosis here in its literal meaning; you may well infer it to be so after listening to my presentation and your own personal experience. For reasons of logic, I will not be discussing the various letters in order.Apoptotic cells are seen in the epidermis on the right in a patient with sunburn. Various topics under ‘APOPTOSIS’ are listed on the left.image
Intraepidermal neutrophils – a clue to dermatophytosis?
Authors: Meymandi Simin , Silver Shane G. , Crawford Richard I. 
Published: December 2004

Background:  Dermatophyte infections are occasionally diagnosed by histopathology. Spongiotic or psoriasiform features are typical but non‐specific, and neutrophils may be present within the stratum corneum. Traditionally, this latter finding has been felt to be a diagnostic clue for dermatophytosis, and usually precipitates a periodic acid Schiff (PAS‐D) stain to confirm the presence of hyphae in the stratum corneum. Our objective was to evaluate whether the presence of neutrophils within the stratum corneum is a sensitive or specific test for dermatophytosis.Methods:  We performed a retrospective case–control study on 303 cases of spongiotic or psoriasiform dermatitides over a 35‐month period. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and PAS‐D stains were utilized to identify intraepidermal neutrophils and fungi.Results:  The sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing dermatophyte infection based upon neutrophils within the stratum corneum were 62 and 59%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values in our population were 4 and 98%, respectively.Conclusion:  The histologic feature of neutrophils within the stratum corneum is neither sensitive nor specific in the diagnosis of dermatophytosis.
Clear cells of Toker in accessory nipples
Authors: Willman Joseph H. , Golitz Loren E. , Fitzpatrick James E. 
Published: December 2004

Background:  Clear cells of Toker are intraepithelial cells with clear to pale staining cytoplasm and bland cytologic features found in approximately 10% of normal nipples. Toker cells have been hypothesized as a precursor of extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD), although the distribution of Toker cells outside of the nipples has not been studied. Using immunohistochemistry, we studied 20 cases of accessory nipples for the presence of Toker cells.Methods:  A retrospective study of 20 cases of accessory nipples was performed using routine hemotoxylin and eosin staining, as well as immunohistochemical staining for CK7, CK20, EMA, and GCDFP‐15.Results:  Thirteen out of 20 accessory nipples (65%) demonstrated Toker cells with CK7 staining. Toker cells in six of the 13 cases were also positive for EMA. Only one case with Toker cells showed immunoreactivity for antibodies to GCDFP‐15.Conclusions:  Toker cells occur outside the normal nipple epidermis in the epidermis of accessory nipples. The distribution of Toker cells along the milk line correlates with the distribution of most cases of EMPD along the milk line, especially in the groin and axillae. Further studies are necessary to define the relationship between Toker cells and EMPD.
A novel technique for the examination of skin biopsies by laser capture microdissection
Authors: Agar N. S. , Halliday G. M. , Barnetson R. St C. , Jones A. M. 
Published: December 2004

Background:  Skin is an inherently heterogeneous tissue, thus the procurement of pure cell populations is critical for the accurate correlation of a molecular profile to a particular cell type or histological location. Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) permits the efficent procurement of cells and mapping of genetic changes from histologically prepared samples.Methods:  This paper describes a robust LCM protocol established in our laboratory for the extraction of high quality DNA which sequenced from 100% of microdissected samples without the need for cloning. The unique properties of skin, in particular its strong intercellular adhesive forces, have dictated a significant modification to the normal procedure of tissue preparation to ensure reliable cell procurement.Results:  Using the methods outlined below we were able to precisely map the pattern of genomic mutations in our target gene of interest in normal skin, actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma.Conclusions:  The capability to select pure cell populations from the skin will revolutionise our ability to understand the processes involved in cutaneous tumourigenesis.
Mycosis fungoides‐like reaction in a patient treated with Gleevec
Authors: Clark Sandra H. , Duvic Madeleine , Prietol Victor G. 
Published: December 2004

Background:  Gleevec™ is a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Currently, Gleevec is also being used in protocols for treatment of other malignancies such as melanoma. A few, non‐descript cutaneous eruptions have been reported in patients receiving Gleevec.Case report:   A patient with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor developed a centripetal, slightly pruritic, predominantly macular eruption. Histologically, there was a superficial and mid‐perivascular cellular infiltrate of hyperchromatic, large lymphocytes with focal epidermotropism, thus resembling mycosis fungoides. The infiltrate was composed predominantly of T cells (CD3), with a 1:1 CD4:CD8 ratio, therefore consistent with a reactive process, i.e. a drug reaction induced by Gleevec.Conclusion:  Gleevec should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pseudolymphoma drug eruptions.
Actin expression in purely nodular versus nodular‐infiltrative basal cell carcinoma
Authors: Law Allison M. , Oliveri Cecilia V. , Pacheco‐Quinto Xavier , Horenstein Marcelo G. 
Published: December 2004

Background:  The prognosis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) correlates with its histological subtype. Actin is a microfilament that contributes to cell motility and invasiveness of cancer cells. Actin has been found to be more prominently expressed in the tumor cells and stroma of the more aggressive BCC subtypes. Here we compare actin expression in purely nodular (N‐BCC) versus nodular‐infiltrative (NI‐BCC) tumors.Methods:  We studied seven cases of N‐BCC and 13 cases of NI‐BCC with immunohistochemistry for alpha‐smooth muscle actin (SMA) and common muscle actin (CMA) within the tumor cells and stroma. A semiquantitative method was used to determine the degree of actin present in the tumor aggregates (on a scale of 0–4).Results:  Actin was present in the nodular component of 2/7 (28%) purely N‐BCC and 11/13 (85%) mixed NI‐BCC (p = 0.001). Actin was present in the infiltrative component of 13/13 (100%) NI‐BCC. The average SMA score was 0.57 within the N‐BCC compared with 1.77 within the nodular component of NI‐BCC (p = 0.04); and 2.46 within the infiltrative component of the NI‐BCC. The CMA score was 0.57 within the N‐BCC, 1.54 within the nodular component of NI‐BCC, and 1.92 within the infiltrative component of the NI‐BCC. Actin was not found in the stroma of any of the N‐BCC, while it was present in 8/13 (62%) of the NI‐BCC (p = 0.0009).Conclusions:  Actin expression is more prominent in the nodular component of mixed NI‐BCC when compared with purely N‐BCC. This suggests that the nodular components of NI‐BCC and N‐BCC are different, and that actin expression in the nodular component may be associated with potential invasiveness. This finding may be relevant when examining incompletely sampled nodular BCC.
Differences in BCL‐XL expression and STAT5 phosphorylation in chronic myeloid leukaemia patients
Authors: Gutiérrez‐Castellanos Sergio , Cruz Miguel , Rabelo Laura , Godínez Rocio , Reyes‐Maldonado Elba , Riebeling‐Navarro Carlos 
Published: December 2004

Abstract:Chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) cells show expression of BCL‐XL, an anti‐apoptotic oncogene. This expression is induced by BCR‐ABL protein kinase through activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription‐5 protein (STAT5). To date, however, the contribution of BCL‐XL and STAT5 to the transforming phenotype in CML is still unclear. This study was aimed at defining the status of activated STAT5 and BCL‐XL expression and their relation to BCR‐ABL rearrangement in CML cells derived from patients at different clinical stages. Twenty‐seven consecutive patients with CML were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were lysed and subjected to immunoprecipitation and Western blotting to analyse phosphorylated STAT5. The p210 BCR‐ABL rearrangements were determined by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and BCL‐XL expression by semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR. We found that increased transcription of BCL‐XL gene was associated with phosphorylated STAT5 in the majority of blast crisis patients and in a few accelerated and chronic phase patients. Moreover, BCL‐XL expression levels were found to be decreased in chronic phase, contrary to a marked increase in blast crisis. We found no difference in expression of BCL‐XL and phosphorylated STAT5 when related with b3a2 and b2a2 BCR‐ABL rearrangements. These results suggest that STAT5 activity and BCL‐XL overexpression may reflect a stage of differentiation among CML phases, and this could contribute to BCR‐ABL‐dependent transformation.
Constitutive expression of the FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP51) in bone marrow cells and megakaryocytes derived from idiopathic myelofibrosis and non‐neoplastic haematopoiesis
Authors: Bock Oliver , Neusch Michael , Büsche Guntram , Mengel Michael , Kreipe Hans 
Published: December 2004

Abstract:Objectives:  Overexpression of FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP51) in megakaryocytic progenitor cells generated from purified CD34+ cells in patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) has been demonstrated. It has been suggested that FKBP51 is involved in the dysregulation of the apoptotic programme with consecutive prolongation of cell survival. The knowledge of FKBP51 and its expression in bone marrow cells and mature megakaryocytes in non‐neoplastic haematopoiesis and IMF is sparse.Methods:  To evaluate a potential overexpression of FKBP51 in patients with IMF (n = 37) compared with non‐neoplastic haematopoiesis (n = 31), total bone marrow cells as well as single megakaryocytes, isolated by laser microdissection, were quantitatively analysed by real‐time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). By applying immunohistochemistry, FKBP51 gene expression was correlated with staining pattern and cellular localisation of the corresponding FKBP51 protein.Results:  We demonstrated that FKBP51 is constitutively expressed in non‐neoplastic haematopoiesis. FKBP51 gene expression by total bone marrow cells as well as megakaryocytes was not significantly different in IMF. FKBP51 protein expression could be localised to myeloid progenitor cells as well as megakaryocytes. In particular, megakaryocytes were stained almost exclusively nuclear for FKBP51. No differences in expression patterns between both IMF and control cases could be demonstrated.Conclusions:  For the first time, FKBP51 expression, in particular gene expression and subcellular localization was described in bone marrow cells of non‐neoplastic and neoplastic haematopoiesis grown in vivo. We conclude that FKBP51 could be temporarily overexpressed in megakaryocytic progenitors rather than contribute to the accumulation of mature megakaryocytes in IMF.
Can a therapeutic dose of amphetamine during pre‐adolescence modify the pattern of synaptic organization in the brain?
Authors: Diaz Heijtz Rochellys , Kolb Bryan , Forssberg Hans 
Published: December 2004

AbstractStimulant drugs such as amphetamine have, for many decades, been the drugs of choice in the treatment of children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder. However, little is known about their therapeutic mechanisms or about the consequences of their long‐term exposure. In the present study we investigated whether repeated exposure of a low dose of amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg) to juvenile rats could induce long‐term morphological alterations in the prefrontal cortex. In addition, to assess possible behavioural consequences of prolonged exposure to this drug, we examined whether changes in the motor response to various dopamine agonists occurred after this treatment. We found that this dose of amphetamine promotes plasma concentrations of amphetamine sulphate in juvenile rats to levels corresponding to the clinical range used for children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg; s.c.) was administered twice daily during postnatal days 22–34, and then the brains of the animals were evaluated 2 weeks later. This treatment produced an increase in dendritic length and branches of pyramidal neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex, but not in the nucleus accumbens. These changes were associated with an increase in the expression of calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II, a highly abundant signalling protein in the postsynaptic densities of excitatory synapses. Interestingly, amphetamine pre‐treatment did not alter the motor response to various dopamine agonists, including amphetamine. These data suggest that clinical doses of stimulant drugs may be acting as a trophic support at the glutamatergic synapses, thereby enhancing dopamine–glutamate interactions in the prefrontal cortex.
An audit of the positive predictive value of high‐grade dyskaryosis in cervical smears: 2001–2002
Authors: Wadehra V. , Johnson S. J. 
Published: December 2004

The positive predictive value (PPV) of high‐grade dyskaryosis for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) or worse on histology is published annually for the laboratories in the UK National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP). The PPV fell in 2001 compared with 2000 for four of the five consultants reporting cervical smears in our laboratory, the greatest fall being from 91.6% to 77.9%. Investigation of the possible reasons for the fall suggested the main cause lay outside the laboratory in the type of biopsy taken at colposcopy. We conclude that biopsy type affects accuracy of PPV calculations. There is variation in collection and submission of KC61 data including PPV across laboratories. This factor needs to be taken into account when publishing and comparing laboratory data for the NHSCSP.
Ontogenetic change of prey preference in the generalist predator Zelus renardii and its influence on predator–predator interactions
Authors: CISNEROS JORGE , ROSENHEIM JAY 
Published: December 2004

1. Two field experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that the intensity of predation by a generalist predator on two species of prey changes with the developmental stage of the predator. The generalist predator studied was Zelus renardii Kolenati (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) and the prey were the lacewing larva, Chrysoperla carnea Stephens, and the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover.2. Zelus renardii and lacewings feed on aphids, thereby acting as potential competitors. In addition, Z. renardii feeds on lacewings. Thus, Z. renardii is an intraguild predator of lacewings.3. Zelus renardii exhibited changes in prey preferences across developmental stages. The older stages of Z. renardii exerted greater mortality on lacewings and fed on larger lacewing larvae than did the younger stages.4. Lacewings suppressed aphid population growth strongly. In contrast, none of the stages of Z. renardii was an effective control agent of the cotton aphid.5. The addition of Z. renardii frequently disrupted the effective control of aphids generated by lacewings. In one of the two replicates of the experiment, the disruption increased with the developmental stage of Z. renardii, paralleling the increase in lacewing mortality.6. Although the developmental stage of Z. renardii can influence the prevalence of intraguild predation and the intensity of the disruption of the aphid biological control, these experiments have demonstrated that even the youngest instars of Z. renardii can cause substantial lacewing mortality and release aphid populations from regulation.
Seasonal variation in freezing tolerance of the New Zealand alpine cockroach Celatoblatta quinquemaculata
Authors: SINCLAIR BRENT 
Published: December 2004

1. The cold hardiness of the alpine cockroach Celatoblatta quinquemaculata was investigated. This species is found at 1360 m a.s.l. beneath schist slabs on the Rock and Pillar Range (Central Otago, New Zealand). Cockroaches were collected monthly from January to December 1996, and their LT50 and supercooling points determined.2. Celatoblatta quinquemaculata was freezing tolerant throughout the year, with a lower lethal temperature in winter of – 8.9 °C. Celatoblatta quinquemaculata was also found frozen under rocks in the field when the under‐rock temperature was below – 3 °C, and could survive being frozen at – 5 °C for 4 days in the laboratory.3. There was a marked decrease in LT50 temperature from – 5.5 °C in April to – 7.5 °C in May. This coincides with decreasing temperatures from summer through autumn to winter, during which temperatures beneath snow‐covered rocks may reach – 7.3 °C.4. Supercooling points fluctuated during the year, with an increase from – 4.2 °C in autumn to – 3.4 °C in winter. Supercooling point was highest in spring, and changes in supercooling point do not appear to be related to changes in LT50.5. Recordings of environmental temperatures from the Rock and Pillar Range suggest that cockroaches may undergo up to twenty‐three freeze–thaw cycles in the coldest month of the year, and that they may remain frozen for periods of up to 21 h. Maximum cooling rates recorded in the field (0.01 °C min–1) were 100‐fold slower than laboratory cooling rates, so survival estimates from laboratory experiments may be underestimates.
Direct and feeding‐induced interactions between two rice planthoppers, Sogatella furcifera and Nilaparvata lugens: effects on dispersal capability and performance
Authors: Matsumura Masaya , Suzuki Yoshito 
Published: December 2004

Abstract. 1. A series of laboratory experiments was conducted to explore the effects of inter‐specific interactions, both direct interactive effects and those induced through previous feeding, on the dispersal capability (proportion of macropterous adults) and performance (development time and survival) of two wing‐dimorphic planthoppers, the whitebacked planthopper Sogatella furcifera and the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens, two pests of rice throughout Asia.2. An asymmetric effect of inter‐specific crowding on dispersal capability was detected between the two planthoppers. With density controlled, the proportion of macropterous adults in N. lugens was higher when raised in mixed populations with S. furcifera than in pure cultures comprised of conspecifics, suggesting that interspecific effects on dispersal capability are stronger than intraspecific effects. In contrast, interspecific effects on macroptery (%) were weaker than intraspecific impacts for S. furcifera.3. This trend was parallelled by adverse competitive effects on survival, with interspecific effects stronger than intraspecific impacts for N. lugens and intraspecific effects stronger for S. furcifera.4. Crowding also affected the incidence of macroptery indirectly through feeding‐induced changes in plant physiology. Rearing N. lugens on plants fed on previously by heterospecifics resulted in a higher incidence of macroptery in females and protracted development than for N. lugens raised on plants fed on previously by conspecifics. By contrast, the intraspecific effect of previous feeding was stronger than the interspecific effect in S. furcifera, with higher macropter production and prolonged development occurring on plants exposed previously to conspecifics.5. The results suggest that interspecific interactions between herbivorous insects, both direct and via feeding‐induced changes in plant physiology, can have negative consequences for performance and survival and promote the production of flight‐capable adults that can disperse.
Colonisation ability of the threatened tenebrionid beetle Oplocephala haemorrhoidalis and its common relative Bolitophagus reticulatus
Authors: Jonsson Mattias 
Published: December 2004

Abstract. 1. Life‐history traits associated with colonisation ability were compared in the threatened tenebrionid beetle Oplocephala haemorrhoidalis and its common relative Bolitophagus reticulatus. Both species feed and breed exclusively in fruiting bodies of the wood‐decaying fungus Fomes fomentarius.2. The presence and status of flight wings, flight muscles, and mature eggs were determined by dissection. Flight willingness was studied in a field experiment, and flight duration in a flight‐mill experiment.3. Females of O. haemorrhoidalis had fewer but larger eggs in their abdomen than B. reticulatus females.4. All beetles of both species had fully developed flight wings but a larger proportion of B. reticulatus than O. haemorrhoidalis had developed flight muscles.5. Bolitophagus reticulatus was more willing to take off than O. haemorrhoidalis, however both species, especially O. haemorrhoidalis, were powerful fliers, with many individuals being able to fly several kilometres. Oplocephala haemorrhoidalis tended to make few flights of long duration whereas B. reticulatus made several, but mostly shorter, flights.6. The results indicate that B. reticulatus has a suite of life‐history traits that makes it better adapted than O. haemorrhoidalis to exploit the scattered trees with fruiting bodies present in managed forests. This may explain why O. haemorrhoidalis is restricted primarily to sites with a high density of suitable substrates that have been available continuously for a long time.