Background: Normal reference values in healthy subjects for T-lymphocytes for both types of receptors, alpha beta and gamma delta, and their subsets are yet to be defined. The aim of this study was to measure peripheral blood alpha beta and gamma delta total T-lymphocytes and their subsets in a population of healthy subjects, in order to obtain valid reference values for studies in human pathology. Methods: We studied a total of 157 healthy subjects, 78 men and 79 women, establishing their levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD56+, alpha beta CD3+, alpha beta CD3+CD4+, alpha beta CD3+CD8+, alpha beta CD3+CD56+, gamma delta CD3+, gamma delta CD3+CD4-CD8-, gamma delta CD3+CD8+, and gamma delta CD3+CD56+ T-cells by flow cytometry. The T-cell subsets were compared for different age and gender groups. Results: A significant decrease in CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD4+ alpha beta, and CD3+ gamma delta T-cells was observed in elderly subjects. CD3+, CD3+ alpha beta, and CD3+CD4+ alpha beta T-cells increased in women, while CD3+CD56+ alpha beta T-cells increased in men. Conclusions. These reference values could be useful in further research studies for assessing changes that occur in the different a beta and gamma delta T subsets in human pathology. (c) 2012 International Clinical Cytometry Society

We found an association between tonsillectomized patients and subsequent appendicitis. We also observed that MALTectomy significantly decreased secretory IgA levels in serum of patients, being this decrease more pronounced when both operations (tonsillectomy and appendectomy) had been performed. The elevated humoral responses detected previously by us in BALB/c mice immunized with Kudoa sp. pseudocyst extracts and the high IgG1 and IgE levels induced by the oral administration of Kudoa sp. pseudocysts to BALB/c mice showed the possible immunopathological effects in man from the ingestion of Kudoa sp. infected fish. We use the ELISA method to investigate the possible relationship between MALTectomy (tonsillectomy and appendectomy) and specific antibody levels to Kudoa sp. Both anti-Kudoa sp. specific antibody levels and the number of patients that recognized Kudoa sp. antigens were greater in tonsillectomy patients when compared to the control and the other studied groups (appendectomized and appendectomized+tonsillectomies patients). Tonsillectomy was associated to a switch in the class of immunoglobulins involved in these responses and these responses may be abrogated by appendectomy. Tonsils and appendix may respond in different ways to Kudoa sp. antigens and these different reactions may be involved in some immunopathological reactions.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a genetically unstable malignancy of postgerminal center B-cells. Almost 40% of intramedullary MM tumors show primary translocations that affect immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene. These include t(4;14)(p16;q32) which results in the dysregulated expression of two potential oncogenes, MMSET on der(4) and FGFR3 on der(14), and has been associated with poor outcome. The main goals of this study were to determine the incidence and clinical significance of t(4;14) among our MM patients. Therefore, we studied bone marrow specimens from 65 patients with MM by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). All cases were screened for IgH rearrangements, t(4;14), t(11;14), and 13q14 deletions using the locus-specific probes LSI IgH dual color, break apart, LSI IGH/FGFR3, LSI IGH/CCND1, and LSI D13S319 (Vysis). FISH analysis revealed 35 cases (54%) involving IgH locus. 8 patients (12.3%) had a t(4;14), and 13 cases (20%) showed a t(11;14). In the remaining 14 samples (21.5%), IgH rearrangements were observed, but the translocation partner was not one of the loci for we tested. Furthermore, 13q14 deletions were more frequent among patients with t(4;14) than among those with t(11;14) (62.5% vs 30.7% respectively, p=0.03). Regarding clinical parameters, presence of t(4;14) was significantly associated with anemia (mean value: 9.0 g/dl, p=0.049), elevated LDH levels (mean value: 535.4 U/l, p=0.05), Durie III stage (p=0.049), and number of lytic bone lesions >2 (p=0.007). Finally, the survival median of patients with t(4;14) was 23 months vs 48 months for the group without this abnormality. Cases with t(11;14) did not show adverse correlation with survival.Based on these data, FISH is a successful technique to detect translocations affecting telomeric localization of both chromosomal partner loci. In addition, we confirmed t(4;14) as an important factor of poor prognostic in MM. Its detection is essential to lead a correct evaluation of patients at diagnosis.

A retrospective multivariate analysis of 37 clinical, biochemical, and hematological data was performed in 107 cases of primary myelodisplastic syndromes (MDS) in order to recognize their prognostic significance. The most important individual variables, isolated in a previous univariate analysis, were placed in a multiple regression modeling procedure to identify major significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis tends to identify prognostic variables containing significant independent predictive information. Characteristics were examined on both continuous and binary bases. The FAB classification was the first parameter entered in regression equations on both models, followed by platelet count, hemoglobin level, and circulating erythroblasts in the binary model, and by hemoglobin level, systemic symptoms, platelet count, age, and dyserythropoiesis in the continuous model. Our analysis confirms FAB classification as the main prognostic factor in MDS, supports the previously noted predictive value of platelet count, hemoglobin level, and age, and recognises the importance of circulating erythroblasts, systemic symptoms, and dyserythropoiesis as prognostic characteristics in MDS.

We present herein a case of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, type M2 of the FAB classification, in which the cytogenetic study of the bone marrow cells showed a trisomy 4 as the only alteration. This case was detected from among 118 cases of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia under cytogenetic study.

We present the cytogenetic and hematologic study of a 6-year-old child with a variant form of acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3) who died of a brain hemorrhage. The brief survival and the hyperleukocytosis (greater than 200,000 mm3) suggests a very bad prognosis in children with this variant form of M3 leukemia.