Helene Duval

Fish Growth Hormone Receptor: Molecular Characterization of Two Membrane-Anchored Forms

Abstract A RT-PCR approach was used to clone and sequence the full-length growth hormone receptor (GHR) of a teleost fish, the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). Total liver RNA was amplified by RT-PCR with degenerate primers designed in extracellular and cytoplasmic regions, and a single DNA fragment of 1100 bp was obtained. The entire coding region was obtained by 5’ and 3’ RACE assays, and comprises an open-reading frame of 633 amino acids. This sequence shows the characteristic motifs of the class I cytokine receptor superfamily, and its amino acid identity with mammalian, avian, reptilian and amphibian GHRs is 32–36%. The 3’ RACE also revealed the occurrence of an alternate messenger encoding a membrane-anchored truncated receptor, which could facilitate the production of GH-binding protein in fish species. This report represents the first data on fish GHR sequence, and it provides evidence for the conservation of this receptor throughout vertebrate evolution.

Hip involvement in hereditary hemochromatosis: a clinical-pathologic study.

Joint involvement occurs in about half the patients with hereditary hemochromatosis and may constitute the presenting manifestation. Joint damage is now the main cause of quality-of-life alterations in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis. The most common sites of involvement are the metacarpophalangeal joints and the hip. We report a case that illustrates the clinical, imaging-study, and pathological characteristics of hip disease in hereditary hemochromatosis.

Recurrent primary giant cell tumour of the proximal radius with pulmonary metastases.

Pulmonary metastases secondary to primary bone giant cell tumour (GCT) is extremely rare. Although occurrence has been reported in large case series of recurrent distal radius lesions following surgical treatment, this has not been previously reported following a proximal radius lesion. Treatment of a proximal radius GCT is reported and the risk of pulmonary metastases is highlighted for recurrent surgery. Favourable outcome was achieved at 3 years following three resections despite pulmonary metastases.