Bodil Laub Petersen

Prevalence of Parvovirus B19 and Parvovirus V9 DNA and Antibodies in Paired Bone Marrow and Serum Samples from Healthy Individuals

ABSTRACT Parvovirus B19 (hereafter referred to as B19) exhibits a marked tropism to human bone marrow (BM), and infection may lead to erythema infectiosum, arthropathy, hydrops fetalis, and various hematologic disorders. Recently, a distinct parvovirus isolate termed V9 with an unknown clinical spectrum was discovered. In contrast to the many studies of B19 serology and viremia, valid information on the frequency of B19 or V9 DNA in the BM of healthy individuals is limited. To develop a reference value, paired BM and serum samples from healthy subjects were tested for the presence of B19 and V9 DNA and specific antibodies. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) was not found in any of the serum samples. The prevalence of IgG showed a gradual and steady increase from 37% in children aged 1 to 5 years to 87% in people aged >50 years. When 190 well-characterized subjects were examined, B19 DNA was detected in the BM of 4 individuals (2.1%; 95% confidence interval, 0.58 to 5.3%) while none of the paired serum samples showed evidence of circulating viral DNA. V9 DNA was not found in any of the BM or serum samples. The finding of B19 DNA probably indicated a primary infection in one 7-year-old individual and reinfection or reactivation of persistent infection in the remaining three persons, aged 47 to 58 years. Serving as a benchmark for future studies, these findings are useful when interpreting epidemiologic data, performing BM transplantation, or considering clinical implications of parvovirus infection.

45,X/46,XY mosaicism: phenotypic characteristics, growth, and reproductive function--a retrospective longitudinal study.

CONTEXT Most previous studies of 45,X/46,XY mosaicism are case reports or have described single aspects of the disease. OBJECTIVE The objective was to provide longitudinal data of patients with 45,X/46,XY mosaicism. DESIGN This was a retrospective, longitudinal study conducted from June 1990 to January 2012. SETTING The study took place at a tertiary pediatric and andrological referral center. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Twenty-five patients (18 boys, seven girls) with 45,X/46,XY mosaicism and its variants were included and were compared to healthy controls. INTERVENTION(S) No interventions were included in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Phenotypes were scored using external masculinization scores. Serum LH, FSH, testosterone, estradiol, and inhibin B levels were reported in male patients. IGF-I levels and height were reported in all patients. Available biopsies/gonadectomies were histologically examined. RESULTS Fourteen of 18 males had external masculinization scores consistent with normal virilization. Ten of 11 male patients experienced spontaneous puberty. Median height sd score was -2.0 (range, -3 to 0.3) for males and -2.2 (range, -2.5 to -1.4) for females, both considerably below genetic potential. Median 1-yr height gain after GH treatment in seven patients was 0.5 sd (0.1 to 1.2). All tissue samples from 15 patients (eight males, seven females) revealed abnormal gonadal histology. Four patients had carcinoma in situ (CIS); two had tissue samples available from early childhood, one showing CIS. CONCLUSIONS Gonadal function in most 45,X/46,XY males, even those with genital ambiguity, seems sufficient for spontaneous puberty. Short stature and 45,X/46,XY mosaicism seem associated, but patients appear to benefit from GH treatment. Histology from two patients with biopsies from early childhood indicates that CIS originates before puberty.

Parvovirus B19 transmitted by bone marrow

We describe a case of symptomatic parvovirus B19 infection transmitted by bone marrow (BM). The infection caused prolonged anaemia, thrombocytopenia, arthralgia and erythema infectiosum in a 16‐year‐old girl with acute myeloid leukaemia receiving a BM transplant (BMT). The BM donor was a 19‐year‐old asymptomatic brother who had parvovirus B19 viraemia at the time of BM harvest. Sequencing of the VP2 gene from the patient and the donor showed a perfect match of DNA sequences, confirming the mode of transmission. Parvovirus B19 represents a potential complicating factor in patients undergoing BMT, but screening by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of donor BM may reduce the risk of infection.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue: optimizing the method.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is widely used to study numerical and structural genetic abnormalities in both metaphase and interphase cells. The technique is based on the hybridization of labeled probes to complementary sequences in the DNA or RNA of the cells. Interphase FISH is most often applied on cytologic material such as hematologic smears or imprints, but the method is also used to study genetic changes in tissue sections when morphology is important or when cytologic material is not available. In cases in which the presence of intact nuclei is of importance, such as quantitation of signals as in triploidy, it is possible to isolate nuclei from paraffin-embedded tissue. However, using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue, either in thin sections or as isolated nuclei, one encounters a range of technical problems, paralleling those met in immunohistochemistry. Variations in time lapse between removal of tissue and fixation, duration of fixation, enzymatic pretreatment, hybridization conditions, and posthybridization washing conditions are important factors in the hybridization. In this study, we have listed the results of a systematic approach to improve FISH on isolated nuclei and tissue sections from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue.

Germ cell development in the postnatal testis: the key to prevent malignancy in cryptorchidism?

To permit normal postnatal germ cell development, the mammalian testis undergoes a complex, multi-staged process of descent to the scrotum. Failure of any part of this process leads to congenital cryptorchidism, wherein the malpositioned testis finds itself at the wrong temperature after birth, which leads to secondary germ cell loss and later infertility and risk of cancer. Recent studies suggest that neonatal gonocytes transform into the putative spermatogenic stem cells between 3 and 9 months, and this initial postnatal step is deranged in cryptorchid testes. In addition, it is thought the abnormality high temperature may also impair apoptosis of remaining gonocytes, allowing some to persist to become the possible source of carcinoma in situ and malignancy after puberty. The biology of postnatal germ cell development is of intense interest, as it is likely to be the key to the optimal timing for orchidopexy.

MMSET Is Highly Expressed and Associated with Aggressiveness in Neuroblastoma

MMSET (WHSC1/NSD2) is a SET domain-containing histone lysine methyltransferase the expression of which is deregulated in a subgroup of multiple myelomas with the t(4;14)(p16;q32) translocation associated with poor prognosis. Recent studies have shown that MMSET mRNA levels are increased in other tumor types as well. We have carried out immunohistochemical staining of tissue microarrays and found that MMSET protein is frequently and highly expressed in neuroblastoma (MMSET positive in 75% of neuroblastomas, n = 164). The expression level of MMSET in neuroblastomas was significantly associated with poor survival, negative prognostic factors, and metastatic disease. Moreover, a subset of neuroblastomas for which pre- and postchemotherapy biopsies were available displayed a strong decrease in MMSET protein levels after chemotherapy. In agreement with neuroblastomas becoming more differentiated after treatment, we show that retinoic acid-induced differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells in vitro also leads to a strong decrease in MMSET levels. Furthermore, we show that the high levels of MMSET in normal neural progenitor cells are strongly downregulated during differentiation. Importantly, we show that MMSET is required for proliferation of neuroblastoma cells and brain-derived neural stem cells. Taken together, our results suggest that MMSET is implicated in neuroblastomagenesis possibly by supporting proliferation of progenitor cells and negatively regulating their differentiation. In this respect, MMSET might be a strong candidate therapeutic target in a subset of neuroblastomas with unfavorable prognosis.

18F-FDG PET/CT as a Diagnostic Tool in Patients with Extracervical Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Site: A Literature Review

BACKGROUND Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) represents a heterogeneous group of metastatic malignancies for which no primary tumor site can be identified after extensive diagnostic workup. Failure to identify the primary site may negatively influence patient management. The aim of this review was to evaluate (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) as a diagnostic tool in patients with extracervical CUP. MATERIALS AND METHODS A comprehensive literature search was performed and four publications were identified (involving 152 patients) evaluating (18)F-FDG PET/CT in CUP patients with extracervical metastases. All studies were retrospective and heterogeneous in inclusion criteria, study design, and diagnostic workup prior to (18)F-FDG PET/CT. RESULTS (18)F-FDG PET/CT detected the primary tumor in 39.5% of patients with extracervical CUP. The lung was the most commonly detected primary tumor site (∼50%). The pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in the detection of the primary tumor site were 87%, 88%, and 87.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The present review of currently available data indicates that (18)F-FDG PET/CT might contribute to the identification of the primary tumor site in extracervical CUP. However, prospective studies with more uniform inclusion criteria are required to evaluate the exact value of this diagnostic tool.

Congenital biliary atresia: liver injury begins at birth

BACKGROUND The timing of onset of liver injury in biliary atresia (BA) is not known, although in approximately 10% of cases, biliary pathologic condition associated with the biliary atresia splenic malformation syndrome must begin well before birth. METHODS The study involved retrospective case-note review for infants with definite BA who underwent laparotomy within first week of life. RESULTS Three infants were identified who had occlusive BA evident on the first day of life. In all cases, their liver was grossly normal, and histologic changes were trivial. CONCLUSION This suggests that the detrimental cholestatic liver injury, later characteristic of BA, only begins from the time of birth despite a prenatal occlusive biliary pathology. It may be that tissue injury only occurs with the onset of the perinatal bile surge initiating periductal bile leakage and the triggering of an inflammatory and ultimately fibrotic response.

Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma in the Ocular Region : Clinical, Immunophenotypical, and Cytogenetical Characteristics

PURPOSE To evaluate clinical, immunophenotypical, and cytogenetical characteristics of 116 patients with a diagnosis of extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (EMZL) presenting primarily in the ocular region. METHODS Specimens from all patients with a diagnosis of ophthalmic lymphoma in Denmark during the period 1980 to 2005 were reviewed and reclassified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Cases reclassified as EMZL were selected and reviewed with respect to clinical characteristics and outcome. The presence of translocations involving IGH and/or MALT1 was investigated in 42 specimens by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS Median age was 69 years. Most lymphomas were located in the orbit. Approximately one fourth of the patients had disseminated disease at presentation. One third experienced a relapse or progression of disease after initial therapy, and relapses were frequently found at extraocular sites. Five-year progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) rates were 71% and 75%, respectively. Translocations involving the IGH- or MALT1-gene loci were detected in 2 (5%) of 42 specimens. In Cox regression multivariate analysis, IGH-translocation was the only factor associated with PFS, whereas a favorable International Prognostic Index (IPI) score was the most reliable predictor of OS. CONCLUSIONS EMZL presenting in the ocular region usually runs an indolent course, but relapses are frequently seen. The IPI-score was the most reliable independent parameter for estimating risk of death in our cohort of patients. Furthermore, we found that the frequency of translocations involving the MALT1- and IGH-gene loci is low in ocular region EMZL.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis: an evaluation of histopathological parameters, demonstration of proliferation by Ki-67 and mitotic bodies.

Purpose. Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a disease with a variable clinical manifestation, being localised (SS) or disseminated (MS). The etiology and pathogenesis of LCH is unknown. It is a proliferative disorder of monoclonal origin, but not necessarily neoplastic. In our study we evaluated histopathological parameters and proliferative activity in LCH. Materials and Methods. Infiltrates from 43 patients with LCH were investigated (nSS=32, nMS=11). We evaluated different histopathological parameters semiquantitatively, demonstrating proliferation using immunohistochemistry for Ki‐67. Results. Overall, the histopathological picture of LCH was heterogeneous. The degree of eosinophilia and presence of necroses was significantly higher in SS‐infiltrates compared to MS‐infiltrates. Mitotic figures were detected in more than half the infiltrates. The Langerhans origin was verified by CD1a. Ki‐67 was highly expressed in all but one infiltrate. Conclusion. The presence of necrosis and the degree of eosinophilia are related to SS‐disease in our study. Ki‐67 expression and the presence of mitotic figures indicate that local proliferation contributes to the accumulation of Langerhans cells. Supported by the histopathological appearance of the lesions and a level of Ki‐67 expression lower than that of neoplastic tissue, we suggest that LCH is a reactive condition, possibly induced by immunostimulation caused by unknown agents.