The enhancer region of Akv murine leukemia virus contains the sequence motif A
CA
GA
TG
G. This sequence is homologous to the E-box motif originally defined as a regulatory element in the enhancers ...of immunoglobulin µ, and κ genes. We have used double-stranded oligonucleotide probes, corresponding to the E box of the murine leukemia virus Akv, to screen a randomly primed λgtll cDNA expression library made from mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblast RNA. We have identified seven λ clones expressing DNA-binding proteins representing two different genes termed ALF1 and ALF2. The results of sequencing ALF2 cDNA suggests that we have recovered the gene for the basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor A1, the murine analog of the human transcription factor E47. The cDNA sequence of ALF1 codes for a new member of the basic-helix-loop-helix protein family. Two splice variants of ALF1 cDNA have been found, differing by a 72-bp insertion, coding for putative proteins of 682 and 706 amino acids. The two ALF1 mRNAs are expressed at various levels in mouse tissues. In vitro DNA binding assays, using prokaryotically expressed ALF1 proteins, demonstrated specific binding of the ALF1 proteins to the Akv murine leukemia virus E-box motif
ACA
GATGG. Expression in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts of GAL4-ALF1 chimeric protein stimulated expression from a minimal promoter linked to a GAL4 binding site, indicating the existence of a transcriptional activator domain in ALF1.
We investigated 150 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and 48 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients by multiplex RT-PCR to 7evaluate the adjuvant diagnostic effect,
vis-à-vis G-banding and ...spectral karyotyping (SKY), and the potentials of this method for providing means for monitoring residual disease by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. An abnormal G-banded karyotype was found in 57% of AML and 68% of ALL cases. Ninety-six patients were investigated by SKY in parallel which extended or confirmed the G-banding finding in 94/96 cases. In patients with an abnormal G-banded karyotype, classification of chromosomes involved in structural aberrations by SKY was possible in 98% of the cases and SKY extended the G-banded karyotype in 34% of cases. In 32 cases, an mRNA hybrid was detected by PCR. These cases constitute 16% of the cases investigated at diagnosis (AML: 11% and ALL: 31%). In 13 of these cases, we detected an mRNA hybrid the equivalent of which was not found by G-banding or SKY (AML: 4% and ALL: 13%). By including multiplex RT-PCR, we were able to detect abnormalities in 62% of the investigated patients as opposed to 59% by G-banding. Genetic techniques complement each other and selection of relevant and targeted primer kits for the multiplex RT-PCR assay is recommended.
Mice of the AKR strain develop spontaneous thymic lymphomas with a high incidence. The disease process is accompanied by viremia and by the appearance of new recombinant MuLVs as the MCF and the ...spontaneous lymphoma virus (SL). From a cell line SL16 established from a spontaneous lymphoma, the authors have by cDNA techniques using cellular RNA isolated a plasmid clone, designated SL16c4, harboring the 3' part of a MuLV genome. The sequence of the MuLV part of SL16c4 bears resemblance to MCF247 MuLV from an AKR mouse.
Long-term prognostic implications of serial high-sensitivity troponin concentrations in subjects with suspected acute coronary syndrome are unknown.
Individuals with a first diagnosis of myocardial ...infarction, unstable angina, observation for suspected myocardial infarction, or chest pain from 2012 through 2019 who underwent two high-sensitivity troponin-T (hsTnT) measurements 1-7 h apart were identified through Danish national registries. Absolute and relative risks for death at days 0-30 and 31-365, stratified for whether subjects had normal or elevated hsTnT concentrations, and whether these concentrations changed by <20%, > 20 to 50%, or >50% in either direction from first to second measurement, were calculated through multivariable logistic regression with average treatment effect modeling. Of the 28 902 individuals included, 2.8% had died at 30 days, whereas 4.9% of those who had survived the first 30 days died between days 31-365. The standardized risk of death was highest among subjects with two elevated hsTnT concentrations (0-30 days: 4.3%, 31-365 days: 7.2%). In this group, mortality was significantly higher in those with a > 20 to 50% or >50% rise from first to second measurement, though only at 30 days. The risk of death was very low in subjects with two normal hsTnT concentrations (0-30 days: 0.1%, 31-365 days: 0.9%) and did not depend on relative or absolute changes between measurements.
Individuals with suspected acute coronary syndrome and two consecutively elevated hsTnT concentrations consistently had the highest risk of death. Mortality was very low in subjects with two normal hsTnT concentrations, irrespective of changes between measurements.
It is unclear how serial high-sensitivity troponin-I (hsTnI) concentrations affect long-term prognosis in individuals with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Subjects who underwent two hsTnI ...measurements (Siemens TnI Flex® Reagent) separated by 1-7 h, during a first-time hospitalization for myocardial infarction, unstable angina, observation for suspected myocardial infarction, or chest pain from 2012 through 2019, were identified through Danish national registries. Individuals were stratified per their hsTnI concentration pattern (normal, rising, persistently elevated, or falling) and the magnitude of hsTnI concentration change (<20%, >20-50%, or >50% in either direction). We calculated absolute and relative mortality risks standardized to the distributions of risk factors for the entire study population. A total of 20 609 individuals were included of whom 2.3% had died at 30 days, and an additional 4.7% had died at 365 days. The standardized risk of death was highest among persons with a persistently elevated hsTnI concentration (0-30 days: 8.0%, 31-365 days: 11.1%) and lowest among those with two normal hsTnI concentrations (0-30 days: 0.5%, 31-365 days: 2.6%). In neither case did relative hsTnI concentration changes between measurements clearly affect mortality risk. Among persons with a rising hsTnI concentration pattern, 30-day mortality was higher in subjects with a >50% rise compared with those with a less pronounced rise (2.2% vs. <0.1%).
Among individuals with suspected ACS, those with a persistently elevated hsTnI concentration consistently had the highest risk of death. In subjects with two normal hsTnI concentrations, mortality was very low and not affected by the magnitude of change between measurements.
Purpose
Several studies have reported thromboembolic events to be common in severe COVID-19 cases. We sought to investigate the relationship between lung ultrasound (LUS) findings in hospitalized ...COVID-19 patients and the development of venous thromboembolic events (VTE).
Methods
A total of 203 adults were included from a COVID-19 ward in this prospective multi-center study (mean age 68.6 years, 56.7% men). All patients underwent 8-zone LUS, and all ultrasound images were analyzed off-line blinded. Several LUS findings were investigated (total number of B-lines, B-line score, and LUS-scores).
Results
Median time from admission to LUS examination was 4 days (IQR: 2, 8). The median number of B-lines was 12 (IQR: 8, 18), and 44 (21.7%) had a positive B-line score. During hospitalization, 17 patients developed VTE (4 deep-vein thrombosis, 15 pulmonary embolism), 12 following and 5 prior to LUS. In fully adjusted multivariable Cox models (excluding participants with VTE prior to LUS), all LUS parameters were significantly associated with VTE (total number of B-lines: HR = 1.14, 95% CI (1.03, 1.26) per 1 B-line increase), positive B-line score: HR = 9.79, 95% CI (1.87, 51.35), and LUS-score: HR = 1.51, 95% CI (1.10, 2.07), per 1-point increase). The B-line score and LUS-score remained significantly associated with VTE in sensitivity analyses.
Conclusion
In hospitalized COVID-19 patients, pathological LUS findings were common, and the total number of B-lines, B-line score, and LUS-score were all associated with VTE. These findings indicate that the LUS examination may be useful in risk stratification and the clinical management of COVID-19. These findings should be considered hypothesis generating.
Clinicaltrials.gov ID
NCT04377035
Viral myocarditis in a man with scleroderma Pallisgaard, Jannik Langtved; Alhede, Christina; Olsen, Niels Thue ...
Ugeskrift for læger,
2014-Mar-10, Letnik:
176, Številka:
11B
Journal Article
Scleroderma is a rare cause of myocarditis. We present a case of myocarditis due to scleroderma in a 48-year-old man. The patient was eventually diagnosed with viral myocarditis, as his scleroderma ...was well controlled, and the clinical presentation did not match prior examples of myocarditis due to scleroderma. When treating scleroderma patients with myocarditis, scleroderma should always be considered as a possible cause, as the treatment differs from other types of myocarditis.
Calcified amorphoeus tumour of the heart (cardiac CAT) is a rare non-neoplastic tumour of the heart. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of cardiac CAT in Scandinavia. The ...patient was a 55-year-old woman with obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, a history of smoking, and a family history of ischaemic heart disease. She presented with dyspnoea and near syncope. The tumour was resected, and cytopathology was preformed on its content. Based on the cytopathology, the pathologist concluded that the tumour most likely was cardiac CAT, though a calcified myxoma could not be excluded with certainty.
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