Background Personality traits such as impulsivity and sensation seeking may contribute to the initiation and maintenance of illicit drug use. Since studies have reported higher impulsivity and sensation seeking traits in cocaine dependent subjects, we were interested in determining whether former heroin addicts in methadone pharmacotherapy with comorbid cocaine addiction have greater impulsivity than those without. Methods Instruments to assess impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale version 11) and sensation seeking (Sensation Seeking Scale version V) were administered to former severe heroin addicts meeting Federal criteria for methadone maintenance pharmacotherapy with (n = 71) or without cocaine dependence (n = 31) and to 145 normal healthy (non-methadone-maintained) volunteers. Results The methadone-maintained without cocaine dependence and the methadone-maintained with cocaine dependence groups, both scored higher than did the normal volunteer group on the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale total score (p < 0.001). On the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Attentional, Nonplanning, and Motor subscales, the methadone-maintained and methadone-maintained with cocaine dependence groups scored higher than did normal volunteers with no history of drug abuse or dependence (p < 0.001). There was no difference among groups on total score or any subscale of the Sensation Seeking Scale. However, males in all groups overall scored higher than did females on Disinhibition and Thrill and Adventure seeking subscales of the Sensation Seeking Scale version V (p < 0.001). Conclusions This study demonstrates higher impulsivity in former severe heroin addicts meeting criteria for or currently in stable methadone maintenance pharmacotherapy, irrespective of a positive or negative history of cocaine dependence.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous group of disorders with regards to its pathology and molecular genetics features. Translocation (6;9)(p23;q34) is a cytogenetic aberration that can be found in specific subtypes of both AML and myelodysplastic syndrome. This translocation is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. The t(6;9) is found in myeloproliferative disorders with typical clinical characteristics. This translocation results in highly consistent abnormalities at the molecular level. Here, we describe a case of sole translocation (6;9)(p23;q34) in AML-ETO negative AML-M2 patient with conventional cytogenetic and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) study results.

Robertsonian translocation is one of the major chromosomal rearrangements with an incidence rate of 0.1% of the general population. The current study presents a novel case of 18 years old male with complaint of high-grade fever was admitted at The Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute, Ahmedabad, India for treatment. Molecular cytogenetic study revealed sole constitutional nonhomologous Robertsonian translocation rob (14; 15) (q10:q10) in a B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The constitutional translocation might be associated with a degree of genetic instability within the probability of somatic cytogenetic changes leading to hematopoietic disorders and neoplasia. Thus, present case report therefore support the hypothesis of increased susceptibility of rob (14; 15) carriers to leukemia. However prognostic significance of constitutional cytogenetic abnormalities in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia has remained a matter of debate.