OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between genetic polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha, sites at -238 nt and -308 nt) and susceptibility to chronic benzene poisoning.

METHODThe polymorphism of TNF-alpha gene were detected by nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique from 50 benzene poisoning patients and 60 control individuals exposed to benzene.

RESULTSThe frequency of the TNF-alpha-238G/G, A/G and A/A in controls (95%, 5% and 0%, respectively), were not significantly different from those in patients (92%, 6% and 2%, respectively, P > 0.05). The frequency of the TNF-alpha-308G/G, A/G and A/A in patients were 76%, 24% and 0% respectively, and that in control individuals were 93%, 7% and 0% respectively. Chi(2) test showed that frequency of TNF-alpha-308A/G in patients was significantly higher than that in controls (chi(2) = 6.22, P = 0.013). Logistic analysis showed that TNF-alpha-308A/G was the independent risk factor of benzene poisoning (OR = 5.3, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIndividuals with TNF-alpha-308A/G gene polymorphism are susceptible to benzene poisoning.

Adult ; Benzene ; poisoning ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence of germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) and non-GCB-like types of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in Chinese patients.

METHODSImmunohistochemical study for CD10, bcl-6, MUM1, GCET1 and FOXP1 was performed on 124 cases of DLBCL from Shanghai, China. The Hans algorithm and Choi algorithm were applied to classify DLBCL into GCB and non-GCB-like types. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) for t (14;18) and bcl-6 gene rearrangement was also carried out on 118 cases.

RESULTSOf the 124 DLBCL cases studied, 27 cases (22%) showed a GCB-like type and 97 cases (78%) showed a non-GCB-like type, when using Hans algorithm. On the other hand, 34 cases (27%) belonged to GCB-like type and 90 cases (73%) belonged to non-GCB-like type when applying Choi algorithm. The prevalence of GCB-like type was significantly lower than that of non-GCB-like type (P=0.0001). Only four cases (3%) were positive for t (14;18), and three of them were classified as GCB-like type. bcl-6 rearrangement was found in 46 cases (39%) and more frequently encountered in the GCB-like type. There is no relationship between bcl-6 gene rearrangement and bcl-6 protein expression.

CONCLUSIONSThe GCB-like type of DLBCL is significantly less common than non-GCB-like type in Chinese population. This phenomenon is possibly related to the low frequency of t (14;18).

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; B-Lymphocytes ; pathology ; China ; epidemiology ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Germinal Center ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; classification ; epidemiology ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Neprilysin ; metabolism ; Prevalence ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 ; Repressor Proteins ; metabolism ; Serpins ; metabolism ; Translocation, Genetic ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the cytogenetic profiles of follicular lymphoma (FL) in Chinese patients.

METHODSConventional karyotype in 57 FL patients from Shanghai area was analyzed. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) for t(14;18) and Bcl-6 and IgH gene rearrangement was performed in these cases.

RESULTSThe most frequent breakpoints (frequency > or = 10% ) of the 57 FL cases were at band 14q32 (68.4%), 18q21 (38.6%), 3q27 (21.1%), 1q10 (15.8%) and 1q21 (12.3%). Nineteen (33.3%) of the 57 cases had t(14;18). The breakpoint of 18q21 and t(14;18) were more frequent in FL grade 1-2 and less frequent in FL grade 3 (57.6% vs. 12.5%; 54.5% vs. 4.2%, P < 0.05), whereas the 3q27/Bcl-6 rearrangement was more frequent in FL grade 3 and less frequent in FL grade 1-2 (37.5% vs. 9.1% , P < 0.05). The cohort of FL was more frequent in gains of chromosomes X, 1q, 5, 6p, 7 and 12q and losses of chromosomes 1p, 6p and 14q32. Gain of 18q was more frequent in FL grade 1-2 than in FL grade 3 (P < 0.05). Loss of 14q32 was more frequent in t(14;18) negative FL than in t(14;18) positive FL (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCompared with the data of Western patients reported in the literature, Chinese FL cases had distinct cytogenetic profiles from Western FL cases that the t(14;18) is less frequent and the gain of 1q is more frequent in Chinese FL cases, which are more significant in high grade FL.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Chromosome Breakage ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; Female ; Gene Rearrangement ; Genes, bcl-2 ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lymphoma, Follicular ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Translocation, Genetic ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of cytogenetic study and interphase FISH analysis in differential diagnosis of patients with clinical and/or cytological diagnosis as lymphoma or "suspicious for lymphoma".

METHODSRoutine histology, immunohistochemistry, cytogenetics and interphase FISH studies were used to assess 223 cases with superficial lymph nodes of not less than 1. 5 cm in diameter. The probe used in the interphase FISH assays is the Vysis' LSI IGH Dual Color, Break Apart Rearrangement Probe.

RESULTSBased on these studies, forty-four patients were diagnosed as Hodgkin's lymphomas ( HL) , 162 as Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas ( NHL) , 11 with benign diseases and 4 as other malignancies, while the remaining 2 cases were discarded due to tissue necrosis. Using interphase FISH, abnormalities of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IGH) were detected in 6/44 (13.6%) and 83/162 (51.2%) in the HIL and NHL cases, respectively, while none was observed in 11 cases with a benign disease (P <0. 001). Combining cytogenetics and FISH studies, the detection rates for HL and NHL cases then increased to 15.9% and 77. 8%, respectively, otherwise, 3 of whom could not have made definite diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONInterphase FISH assay is a rapid and sensitive tool for detecting IGH abnormalities. Both cytogenetics and interphase FISH analyses may play a significant role in diagnosis of lymphomas.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Genes, Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain ; genetics ; Hodgkin Disease ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Interphase ; genetics ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Pseudolymphoma ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sarcoidosis ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism