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Biomedical subjects

G Rechavi

Publications and source records attributed to G Rechavi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Familial clustering of malignant germ cell tumors and Langerhans' histiocytosis.

Three sisters in a family with seven children whose grandmother had an ovarian embryonal carcinoma experienced development of malignant and a malignant-like situation in childhood. Two were diagnosed as having malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary, and the third was found to have Langerhans' histiocytosis. The two girls with germ cell tumor shared an identical human leukocyte antigen, whereas the sister with histiocytosis shared one identical haplotype with them. All three children have been treated successfully with chemotherapy and are doing well off of treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

CD10+ cell population in the bone marrow of patients with advanced neuroblastoma.

Immunocytologic analyses of bone marrow can provide clinically useful prognostic information in neuroblastoma. While analyzing the bone marrow with a panel of monoclonal antibodies, which detect neuroblasts and other defining B-, T-, and myloid lineage, we identified two infants with stage IV-S neuroblastoma whose bone marrow contained a large population of common acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)-like cells. This population expressed HLA-DR, CD19(B1), CD10(CALLA), and occasionally CD20(B1). Since 1988, 17 additional patients with advanced neuroblastoma (IV-S, III, and IV) were studied by us. In 10 of the 19 patients, the bone marrow revealed an expanded CD10 population (20-70%). It appears that this group of patients has a better prognosis. Out of 9 patients who did not have an expanded CD10 population, 8 died within 9 months from diagnosis, whereas out of 10 patients with an expanded CD10 population only one died and the others are alive, 6-30 months from diagnosis (P < 0.001). An expanded CD10 population in the bone marrow of disseminated neuroblastoma patients may therefore serve as a prognostic factor. Apart from the prognostic value of this particular population in the single patient, its presence may shed light on the interrelationship between the immune system and the neuroendocrine compartment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Hormonal treatment in pregnancy: a possible risk factor for neuroblastoma.

In the last 4 years, 24 cases of neuroblastoma were treated in the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center, 8 of whom were under 1 year of age. Four of them were the product of a pregnancy-induced or preserved by gonadotropins, clomiphene citrate, or progestational hormones. These drugs are known to produce a higher than normal level of estradiol or progesterone in the early stages of pregnancy. Our observation led to the hypothesis that high levels of progestational hormones given during pregnancy are a risk factor for neuroblastoma in infancy.

20-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone↗
PubMed1994

Ependymoblastoma in an HIV-positive hemophilic girl.

A case of an HIV-positive hemophilic girl with an ependymoblastoma is presented. The unusual association between the HIV-related condition and her brain tumor is discussed, speculating a viral mechanism involved in the induction of neoplasia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Identification of Shigella species in stool specimens by DNA amplification of different loci of the Shigella virulence plasmid.

The sensitivity and specificity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of DNA sequences specific to Shigella spp. and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) in stools was evaluated. Stool specimens were obtained from patients with acute gastroenteritis before and after antibiotic treatment. Fecal material was pre-incubated in phosphate-buffered saline, gram-negative broth or brain heart infusion (BHI) broth, and DNA was extracted and amplified. Primers complementary to the ial or the virF loci of the 140 MDa plasmid of Shigella were evaluated. The highest sensitivity for detection of Shigella DNA in stools (higher than that of culture) was reached by pre-incubation of the fecal material in BHI broth and use of virF primers for amplification. The specificity of this PCR protocol was documented by the negative results obtained with non-Shigella enteric organisms. These findings point out the important diagnostic and epidemiologic potential of the virF-specific PCR protocol in the investigation of Shigella infections.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

Congenital haemolytic anaemia associated with adenylate kinase deficiency.

Chronic haemolytic anaemia associated with adenylate kinase (AK) deficiency is very rare and only seven cases in five families have been described. We present six children of one family who are deficient of this enzyme and in three of them a combined G6PD deficiency was found. AK deficiency was transmitted by an autosomal recessive gene and heterozygous state was not accompanied by disease, whereas homozygously affected individuals present a congenital chronic non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia with haemoglobin levels of 8-9 g/dl. Patients also deficient in G6PD suffer from a more severe haemolytic anaemia with haemoglobin levels around 6 g/dl. The AK-deficient children are also mentally retarded. Splenectomy performed in five of the six patients resulted in complete remission of the haemolytic process.

Adenylate Kinase↗
PubMed1994

Familial leukemia: description of two kindreds and a review of the genetic aspects of the disease.

We describe two kindreds of Arab ancestry characterized by multiple cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Consanguinity and intermarriages were prevalent in the two families. Age, mode of presentation, characteristics of the leukemic cells, response to treatment and prognosis were remarkably similar among the patients. A short review of the literature on familial leukemia is given.

Child↗
PubMed1994

Biased representation of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region subgroups in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The distribution of three immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region gene subgroups (VH1, 3 and 5) was investigated, using the polymerase chain reaction technique, in 53 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Thirty-seven patients displayed rearrangements of one of the above three gene segments. Over-representation of the VH5 subgroup was observed relative to its small size.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1993

Neural expression and chromosomal mapping of Neu differentiation factor to 8p12-p21.

Neu differentiation factor (NDF/heregulin) is a 44-kDa glycoprotein that interacts with the Neu/ErbB-2 receptor tyrosine kinase to increase its phosphorylation on tyrosine residues. In vitro NDF promotes differentiation of certain mammary tumor cell lines to milk-producing cells. As a first step toward understanding the physiological role of NDF, we performed in situ hybridization analyses to determine mRNA distribution in the mouse embryo and to map the gene to human karyotypes. In 14.5-day-postcoitum mouse embryos, NDF expression is confined predominantly to the central and peripheral nervous system, including the neuroepithelium that lines the lateral ventricles of the brain, the ventral horn of the spinal cord, and the intestinal as well as dorsal root ganglia. Other tissues that contain NDF transcripts are the adrenal gland, liver, and distinct cell layers of the dermis and germinal ridge. In situ hybridization of a 3H-labeled probe to human metaphase spreads localized the NDF gene to the short arm of chromosome 8 at bands p12-p21.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Insertional mutagenesis by transposable elements in the mammalian genome.

Several mammalian repetitive transposable genetic elements were characterized in recent years, and their role in mutagenesis is delineated in this review. Two main groups have been described: elements with symmetrical termini such as the murine IAP sequences and the human THE 1 elements and elements characterized by a poly-A rich tail at the 3' end such as the SINE and LINE sequences. The characteristic property of such mobile elements to spread and integrate in the host genome leads to insertional mutagenesis. Both germline and somatic mutations have been documented resulting from the insertion of the various types of mammalian repetitive transposable genetic elements. As foreseen by Barbara McClintock, such genetic events can cause either the activation or the inactivation of specific genes, resulting in their identification via an altered phenotype. Several disease states, such as hemophilia and cancer, are the result of this apparent aspect of genome instability.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Favorable response of pediatric AIDS-related Burkitt's lymphoma treated by aggressive chemotherapy.

We describe 4 male children infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who developed Burkitt's lymphoma during their disease. The clinical picture was characterized by an insidious appearance of symptoms. All the children suffered for several months from abdominal discomfort and a gradual elevation of their blood lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) level prior to diagnosis. Bone marrow involvement was found in 2 of the patients and jaw involvement in the other 2. After confirming the diagnosis of Burkitt's lymphoma, they were treated according to conventional protocols, with no need to reduce the dose intensity. They all went into complete remission and did not suffer from major opportunistic infections during chemotherapy. None of them relapsed. Two patients died from opportunistic infections 1 and 3 years after diagnosis. The other 2 are alive, 7 years and 6 months after diagnosis. The various characteristics of this unique pediatric group are described and the comparison of the clinical picture in adults is made, together with a review of the relevant literature.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

What really cures in autologous bone marrow transplantation? A possible role for dimethylsulfoxide.

Dimethylsulfoxide has long been known to be a potent inducer of differentiation of various malignant cells in animals and human beings. It is a toxic agent, and high concentrations are needed to induce differentiation. Other compounds that also have methylene groups and a polar/apolar architecture, and are needed in much smaller concentrations to induce differentiation, like hexamethylene bisacetamide have been developed. They are already used in trials in human beings. However dimethylsulfoxide still has a very important role in bone marrow transplantation, being added to the frozen marrow as a cryoprotectant. We suggest that dimethylsulfoxide may induce differentiation of malignant cells present in the marrow or alternatively in the body when it is infused back with the transplanted marrow. This may be an additional factor contributing to the success rate achieved in various malignancies treated by transplantation, especially autologous, complementing the traditional explanations which are based mainly on the high dose chemotherapy and the immunological manipulations that occur during transplantation.

Acetamides↗