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Biomedical subjects

D Catovsky

Publications and source records attributed to D Catovsky.

At least 559 records · Page 31Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

5' nucleotidase activity in leukaemic lymphocytes.

The enzyme 5' nucleotidase (E.C.3.1.3.5.) is present in lymphocytes isolated from the blood of normal subjects. The activity was extremely low in lymphocytes from 17 patients with B lymphocytic leukaemias. Removal of normal lymphocytes from the B-cell leukaemic samples decreased further the enzyme activity. Moderately low values were observed in three cases of T-ALL and in the cells from a case of Sézary syndrome. In contrast, normal or high values were observed in three cases of ALL in which T and B markers were not demonstrable and in two of T-CLL. No differences were observed in partially purified subpopulations of normal B and T cells.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1976

Blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). I. Presentation simulating acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL).

Seven patients presenting as an acute leukaemia caused difficulty in diagnosis. The lymphoid appearance of the balst cells either initially or during treatment suggested acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL). In each case the Philadelphia chromosome was shown to be present thus suggesting that these cases were examples of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) presenting in blast crisis without a detectable chronic phase. The implications of these findings are discussed and the difficulty in achieving a precise diagnosis in the acute leukaemias is emphasised. Cytogenetic analysis should be carried out whenever the type of acute leukaemia present is of critical importance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). II. Cell surface marker analysis of "lymphoid" and myeloid cases.

Fourteen cases of philadelphia chromosome (Ph1) positive chronic myeloid leukaemia in blast transformation have been investigated using cell surface markers. Morphologically eight cases were lymphoid and the remainder myeloid in appearance. All cases were negative with surface markers for thymocytes and T and B lymphocytes. Five of the lymphoid cases reacted with an antiserum specific for acute lymphoid leukaemia )ALL) of non-T non-B type and were also weakly reactive with a lymphocyte reactive antiserum. A sixth patient, whose blast cells were anti-ALL negative (ALL-) at presentation, subsequently developed central nervous system leukaemia with anti-ALL positive (ALL+) blast cells in the CSF. In all cases the leukaemic blast cells showed greatly diminished expression of cholera toxin receptors when compared to granulocytic cells from the chronic phase of CML. This parallels weak or negligible expression of the cholera toxin receptor in ALL and AML. These results suggest that the blastic phase of CML may involve different cellular derivatives of a pluripotential stem cell in which the primary malignant/genetic changes reside. The blast crisis of CML can therefore be heterogeneous with respect to cellular expression and in a significant proportion of patients involves a cell which is by membrane markers and morphological criteria indistinguishable from that seen in the common form of ALL. In these cases the Philadelphia chromosome may be the only distinguishing cellular characteristic.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic↗
PubMed1976

Mouse red-cell rosettes in B-lymphoproliferative disorders.

A high proportion of peripheral-blood lymphocytes formed spontaneous rosettes with mouse red cells in 22 out of 23 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL); the proportion was significantly higher than in 19 cases of other B-lymphoproliferative disorders (non-CLL group) and in 19 normal controls. Intermediate findings were obtained in 10 cases of "hairy" cell leukaemia. Blast cells from various types of acute leukaemia did not bind mouse red cells. Pre-treatment of the lymphocytes with neuraminidase led to a significant increase in the proportion of rosettes in CLL only. This test may prove useful in distinguishing CLL from other B-lymphoproliferative disorders, particularly prolymphocytic leukaemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Proposals for the classification of the acute leukaemias. French-American-British (FAB) co-operative group.

A uniform system of classification and nomenclature of the acute leukaemias, at present lacking, should permit more accurate recording of the distribution of cases entered into clinical trials, and could provide a reference standard when newly developed cell-surface markers believed to characterize specific cell types are applied to cases of acute leukaemia. Proposals based on conventional morphological and cytochemical methods are offered following the study of peripheral blood and bone-marrow films from some 200 cases of acute leukaemia by a group of seven French, American and British haematologists. The slides were examined first independently, and then by the group working together. Two groups of acute leukaemia, 'lymphoblastic' and myeloid are further subdivided into three and six groups. Dysmyelopoietic syndromes that may be confused with acute myeloid leukaemia are also considered. Photomicrographs of each of the named conditions are presented.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1976

Production of colony-stimulating factor by leukemic leukocytes.

The production of colony-stimulating factor (CSF) by the peripheral blood cells of untreated patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was measured in the agar culture system using normal human bone marrow as the source of colony-forming units (CFUc). CSF production was found to be variable and was related to the morphologic subtype of AML--cells from patients with monocytic leukemia produced normal or large quantities of CSF, while (with one exception) those from patients with myeloblastic leukemia produced little or no CSF. There was a general relationship between CSF production and serum lysozyme levels. Attempts to demonstrate a consistent inhibitory effect exerted by leukemic peripheral blood cells on normal leukopoiesis in vitro were negative. Results instead suggested that the addition to the feeder layer of cells from patients with monocytic leukemia could raise CSF levels above those obtained with normal peripheral blood leukocytes alone, possibly by recruiting additional CFUc from normal marrow.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Splenectomy for complications of chronic granulocytic leukaemia.

13 patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia (C.G.L.) which was unsatisfactorily controlled underwent splenectomy. 3 out of 4 patients with hypersplenism did well, as did 5 out of 8 patients in whom the C.G.L. had undergone metamorphosis to a refractory phase. In a case of C.G.L. complicated by severe myelofibrosis the need for transfusion was reduced but survival was short. Splenectomy should be considered when C.G.L. in its chronic phase is complicated by hypersplenism, and may be considered as a part of the treatment after C.G.L. has undergone metamorphosis to a refractory phase. However, a favourable outcome is unlikely for patients over 65 years, and in the presence of coexistent illnesses, rapidly progressive metamorphosis to an acute phase, or severe bone-marrow failure from any cause. In C.G.L., elective splenectomy early in the chronic phase must be clearly distinguished from splenectomy performed at a later stage when the disease is not well controlled.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Formation of mouse red cell rosettes by "hairy" cells.

Rosette formation with mouse red cells was observed in the "hairy" cells of four cases of leukaemic reticuloendotheliosis. A similar observation was made on B-lymphocytes from chronic lymphoid leukaemia but the monocytes in monocytoid leukaemia did not form rosettes. This finding provides new evidence for the B-cell nature of the "hairy" cell.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Chronic granulocytic leukaemia: effect of elective splenectomy on the course of disease.

Conventional treatment by drugs or irradiation produces little prolongation of life in patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia (C.G.L.) because the onset of metamorphosis of the disease from a chronic to an acute or subacute leukaemic process is not substantially postponed. Isolated clinical observations as well as both cytogenetic and cytokinetic evidence suggest that the spleen may play a special though not exclusive role in the development of undifferentiated cell clones which lead to metamorphosis of C.G.L. The results of a study of elective splenectomy during the chronic phase of the disease are reported. Twenty-six patients with C.G.L. underwent splenectomy during clinical remission of their disease, and there were no deaths after the operation. Twenty-one patients were alive at the time of writing, two of them eight years after splenectomy. Five cases of metamorphosis of C.G.L. to a refractory phase occurred whereas 10 would have been expected, a significant difference. After the onset of metamorphosis the quality of life was better in splenectomized than in non-splenectomized patients. These results show that splenectomy is a reasonable and safe procedure in C.G.L., and its apparently beneficial effects on prognosis justify a larger controlled clinical trial.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia.

The natural history and haematological features of 18 patients with a chronic form of myelomonocytic leukaemia are described. The majority were elderly and, in this series, females predominated. Haematological prodomata, such as unexplained monocytosis, leucopenia, or thrombocytopenia were common, and the clinical onset was insidious. Splenomegaly was variable but tended to increase as the disease progressed. Anaemia was usually less than in the acute disease, unless compounded by iron deficiency. The blood film typically showed a mixed monocytosis and granulocytosis, cells in both lines showing abnormalities. 'Paramyeloid' cells, appearing in Romanowsky stained films intermediate between myelocytes and monocytes, were characteristic, although cytochemical and electron microscopical analysis suggests that these cells may be allotted to one or other cell line. The marrow aspirate was characteristically hypercellular, showed granulocytic hyperplasia, and, in contrast to the well-differentiated blood picture, the proportion of poorly differentiated cells, including blasts, was high. Serum lysozyme levels were usually raised. Five of the 18 cases survived more than 5 years, while 10 lived 2 years or longer. The morphological and clinical features form part of a spectrum including acute myelomonocytic leukaemia, into which several of the patients transformed. Recognition of the syndrome is important because the patients are probably best managed without intensive chemotherapy.

Aged↗