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Multiple Abnormalities (multiple + abnormality)
Selected AbstractsPolyamine metabolism and cancerJOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE, Issue 2 2003Thresia Thomas Abstract Polyamines are aliphatic cations present in all cells. In normal cells, polyamine levels are intricately controlled by biosynthetic and catabolic enzymes. The biosynthetic enzymes are ornithine decarboxylase, S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, spermidine synthase, and spermine synthase. The catabolic enzymes include spermidine/spermine acetyltransferase, flavin containing polyamine oxidase, copper containing diamine oxidase, and possibly other amine oxidases. Multiple abnormalities in the control of polyamine metabolism and uptake might be responsible for increased levels of polyamines in cancer cells as compared to that of normal cells. This review is designed to look at the current research in polyamine biosynthesis, catabolism, and transport pathways, enumerate the functions of polyamines, and assess the potential for using polyamine metabolism or function as targets for cancer therapy. [source] Role of videofluorography in assessing functional abnormalities in patients of head and neck cancer treated with chemoradiotherapyASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Punita LAL Abstract Aim: The major toxicity following treatment for head neck cancer is swallowing dysfunction which can be easily assessed by videofluorography (VFG), allowing documentation of the site and extent of abnormality thereby facilitating directed management. Methods: Between October 2003 and January 2007, 56 patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer were treated by an accelerated radiotherapy schedule with concurrent weekly cisplatin chemotherapy. Three months following treatment, these patients were locally disease free clinically, but complained of varying degrees of dysphagia and were subjected to a VFG evaluation. Results: This group comprised 52 men and four women with a median age of 56 years. The primary site distribution was: oral cavity (9), oropharynx (22), larynx (19), hypopharynx (5) and unknown primary (1). Swallowing function abnormalities in the form of structural displacement and temporal delays were documented and recorded as weakness of the tongue musculature (n = 6), palatal kink (n = 8), premature leak into the oropharynx (n = 20), impaired hyoid elevation (n = 23), impaired epiglottic tilt (n = 26), unilateral pharyngeal wall impairment (n = 16), residuum in vallecula or pyriform fossa (n = 30), aspiration in trachea (n = 29) and loss of nasopharyngeal seal (n = 7). Multiple abnormalities of different sub-sites were seen in each patient. Conclusion: VFG can document dysmotility disorders of upper aero-digestive tract like dysfunction of the base of tongue, larynx and pharyngeal musculature leading to stasis of the bolus and vallecular residuum, epiglottis dysmotility resulting in silent aspirations, and inadequate nasopharyngeal seal leading to nasal regurgitation. A clinical correlation alongwith quantification of VFG findings is required. [source] Peripheral blood MDS score: A new flow cytometric tool for the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes,CYTOMETRY, Issue 1 2005Sindhu Cherian Abstract Background Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of hematopoietic disorders diagnosed using morphologic and clinical findings supported by cytogenetics. Because abnormalities may be subtle, diagnosis using these approaches can be challenging. Flow cytometric (FCM) approaches have been described; however the value of bone marrow immunophenotyping in MDS remains unclear due to the variability in detected abnormalities. We sought to refine the FCM approach by using peripheral blood (PB) to create a clinically useful tool for the diagnosis of MDS. Methods PB from 15 patients with MDS was analyzed by multiparametric flow cytometry using an extensive panel of monoclonal antibodies. Patterns of neutrophil antigen expression were compared with those of normal controls (n = 16) to establish light scatter and/or immunophenotypic abnormalities that correlated with MDS. A scoring algorithm was developed and validated prospectively on a blinded patient set. Results PB neutrophils from patients with MDS had lower side scatter and higher expression of CD66 and CD11a than did controls. Some MDS PB neutrophils demonstrated abnormal CD116 and CD10 expression. Because none of these abnormalities proved consistently diagnostic, we sought to increase the power of the assay by devising a scoring system to allow the association of multiple abnormalities and account for phenotypic variations. The PB MDS score differentiated patients with MDS from controls (P < 0.0001) in the test set. In a prospective validation, the PB MDS score successfully identified patients with MDS (sensitivity 73%, specificity 90%). Conclusions FCM analysis of side scatter and only four additional immunophenotypic parameters of PB neutrophils using the PB MDS score proved more sensitive than standard laboratory approaches and may provide an additional, more reliable diagnostic tool in the identification of MDS. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Analyses of serum levels of type 1, type 2 and type 3 cytokines reveal multiple abnormalities in lupus-prone (NZB × NZW) F1 miceINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES, Issue 1 2004Deijanira A. De Albuquerque Abstract Aim:, Inherent in vivo cytokine milieu may help protect normal subjects from developing clinical autoimmunity, whereas changes in cytokine milieu may contribute to the development of lupus-like autoimmunity. Method:, Here, we measured circulating levels of the three prototypic cytokines, type 1 (IFN-, and IL-2), type 2 (IL-4) and type 3 (TGF,) in the NZB/NZW F1 model of lupus and MHC-matched nonautoimmune mice. Results:, Our results demonstrate that circulating IFN-, and IL-4 levels were higher and active TGF, levels were lower in lupus-prone animals than in nonautoimmune mice. Conclusion:, Such an in vivo cytokine milieu may contribute to the development of lupus in NZB/NZW F1 mice and to the nonautoimmune phenotype in normal animals. [source] Use of Laboratory Evaluation and Radiologic Imaging in the Diagnostic Evaluation of Children With Sensorineural Hearing Loss,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 1 2002Derek D. Mafong BS Abstract Objective Laboratory testing and radiologic imaging are commonly used to delineate syndromic from nonsyndromic sensorineural HL (SNHL). The aim of this study was to examine the yield of laboratory tests and radiologic imaging commonly used in the diagnostic evaluation of SNHL in children. Study Design Retrospective analysis of 114 (54 female, 60 male) consecutively investigated children with SNHL between 1998 and 2000 at a tertiary-care university hospital. Methods Results of routine laboratory testing to assess autoimmunity, blood dyscrasias, endocrine abnormalities, renal function, infection, and cardiac testing were reviewed. Results of radiologic evaluation were also reviewed. In general, computed tomography (CT) was obtained in patients with symmetric SNHL, whereas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with or without CT was obtained in asymmetric SNHL. Results Laboratory evaluation of the blood did not yield the etiology of SNHL in any patient. Blood tests for autoimmune disease were often positive but did not correlate with clinical disease. Nonspecific elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and antinuclear antibody (ANA) was present in 22% of cases. An abnormal electrocardiogram with a prolonged QT interval resulted in the diagnosis of Jervall and Lange-Nielsen syndrome. In the 97 patients who underwent radiologic studies, abnormalities were present in 38 of 97 studies (39%). Isolated inner ear malformations were twice as common as multiple abnormalities with large vestibular aqueducts as the most common isolated finding. Conclusion In the evaluation of children with unexplained SNHL, routine laboratory evaluation should be reconsidered given its low diagnostic yield. However, radiologic abnormalities of the inner ear are common. Identification of inner ear malformations has direct impact on management of these children, suggesting that all children should undergo radiologic imaging as an integral component of evaluation of SNHL. [source] | ||||||||||