The reciprocal translocation of genetic material between chromosomes 8 and 21, t(8;21), is usually restricted to cases of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Cases of AML with t(8;21) exhibit characteristic dysplastic features in myeloid and erythroid lineages with reduction in megakaryoctes. We report details of three patients presenting with myelodysplastic features; two had a typical t(8;21), and the thir had a variant t(8;21) translocation. We discuss the signifcance of t(8;21) in the aetiology of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and implications for the management of such patients.
We designed experiments to study the effects on P210BCR/ABL expression of introducing antisense oligonucleotides into K562 cells. We used two antisense oligonucleotides: one (AS1) is complementary to the first coding codon of the BCR/ABL mRNA and the two 5' and three 3' codons, and the other (AS2) to BCR coding codons 5 to 11 inclusive. To facilitate entry of the oligonucleotides the K562 cells were subjected to electroporation on three occasions at 24 hr intervals (0, 24 and 48 hr). P210BCR/ABL expression was assayed by in vivo phosphorylation followed by immune precipitation with a BCR antibody. Introduction of AS1 inhibited P210BCR/ABL expression at 72 and 96 hrs, whereas AS2 and the control oligonucleotide had no effect. AS1 also killed K562 cells. We conclude that selected antisense oligonucleotides can modify leukaemia-specific protein expression in K562 cells. This approach could prove valuable for purging CML bone marrow cells in vitro.
Association of fatness with chronic metabolic diseases is a well-established fact, and a high prevalence of risk factors for these disorders has increasingly been reported in the third world. In order to incorporate any preventive strategies for such risk factors into clinical practice, decision-makers require objective evidence about the associated burden of disease. A cross-sectional study of 1321 adults from one of the districts of Balochistan, among the most economically challenged areas of Pakistan, was carried out for the measures of fatness and self-reported comorbidities. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were measured and demographic information and self-reported comorbidities were documented. The prevalence of obesity was 4.8% (95% CI: [3.8, 6.1]) and 21.7% (95% CI: [19.5, 24.0]), as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) international and Asia/Asia-Pacific BMI cut-offs, respectively. The proportion exhibiting comorbidity increased with increasing levels of fatness in a dose-response relationship (p value < .001). An interaction of weight status with gender was observed to produce a significantly (p=.033) higher comorbidity among overweight women (odds ratio (OR) = 6.1 [1.2, 31.7]) compared with overweight men (OR = 1.1 [0.48, 2.75], p=.762).
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