BackgroundHematopoiesis is a complex developmental process controlled by a large number of factors that regulate stem cell renewal, lineage commitment and differentiation. Secreted proteins, including the hematopoietic growth factors, play critical roles in these processes and have important biological and clinical significance. We have employed representational difference analysis to identify genes that are differentially expressed during experimentally induced myeloid differentiation in the murine EML hematopoietic stem cell line.ResultsOne identified clone encoded a previously unidentified protein of 541 amino acids that contains an amino terminal signal sequence but no other characterized domains. This protein is a member of family of related proteins that has been named family with sequence similarity 20 (FAM20) with three members (FAM20A, FAM20B and FAM20C) in mammals. Evolutionary comparisons revealed the existence of a single FAM20 gene in the simple vertebrate Ciona intestinalis and the invertebrate worm Caenorhabditis elegans and two genes in two insect species, Drosophila melanogaster and Anopheles gambiae. Six FAM20 family members were identified in the genome of the pufferfish, Fugu rubripes and five members in the zebrafish, Danio rerio. The mouse Fam20a protein was ectopically expressed in a mammalian cell line and found to be a bona fide secreted protein and efficient secretion was dependent on the integrity of the signal sequence. Expression analysis revealed that the Fam20a gene was indeed differentially expressed during hematopoietic differentiation and that the other two family members (Fam20b and Fam20c) were also expressed during hematcpoiesis but that their mRNA levels did not vary significantly. Likewise FAM20A was expressed in more limited set of human tissues than the other two family members.ConclusionsThe FAM20 family represents a new family of secreted proteins with potential functions in regulating differentiation and function of hematopoietic and other tissues. The Fam20a mRNA was only expressed during early stages of hematopoietic development and may play a role in lineage commitment or proliferation. The expansion in gene number in different species suggests that the family has evolved as a result of several gene duplication events that have occurred in both vertebrates and invertebrates.

As noted before CPPD and apatite crystals were more common in patients with more severe OA. New findings are that our sequential cases showed that there were some patients with no crystals at onset but that crystals appeared with progression of the disease. Fibril presence in SF also correlated with progression of the disease.

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INTROduCTION QT prolongation and obesity are associated with ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. The relationship between uncomplicated obesity and QT inter val prolongation is not clear.ObjECTIvEs The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of uncomplicated obesity on QT inter val in young men.PATIENTs ANd mEThOds A total of 122 men, including 59 obese patients and 63 controls, were recruited into the study. Patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease were ineligible. Body mass index (BMI) of all patients was calculated. QT inter val was measured from the precordial lead - V 5 , and corrected QT (QT C ) was calculated using the Bazett's formula. REsuLTsMean age, BMI, and waist circumference (WC) of obese patients and controls were as follows: 22.0 ±3.0 years, 36.2 ±2.2 kg/m², and 114 ±8.1 cm; 22.6 ±2.9 years, 24.7 ±2.5 kg/m², and 81.6 ±7.5 cm, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the obese and control groups with regard to BMI and WC (P <0.001). Furthermore, statistically significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in terms of QT C (407.9 ±17.1 ms vs. 397.7 ±14.0 ms, respectively, P <0.001), systolic (126.9 ±8.2 mmHg vs. 114.2 ±11.1 mmHg, respectively, P <0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (78.3 ±4.5 mmHg vs. 66.9 ±10 mmHg, respectively, P <0.001). There was a positive correlation between QT C inter val and both WC (r = 0.357, P <0.001) and BMI (r = 0.424, P <0.001). There was no association between QT C and blood pressure.CONCLusIONs Uncomplicated obesity in young men is associated with QT inter val prolongation. Weight gain may inversely affect cardiac repolarization in uncomplicated obesity. KEy wORdscorrected QT, prolonged QT inter val, uncomplicated obesity parative ultra-centrifuge. Clin Chem. 1972; 18: 449-502. 13 Matthews DR, Hosker JP, Rudenski AS, et al. Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and beta-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man. Diabeto logia. 1985; 28: 412-419. 14 Bazzet HC. An analysis of the time-relations of electrocardiograms. Heart. 1920; 7: 353-370. 15 Kohno I, Takusagawa M, Yin D, et al. QT dispersion in dipper- and nondipper-type hypertension. Am J Hypertens. 1998; 11: 280-285. 16 Perkiömäki JS, Huikuri HV, Koistinen JM, et al. Heart rate variability and dispersion of QT inter val in patients with vulnerability to ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation after previous myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1997; 30: 1331-1338. 17 Schwartz PJ, Moss AJ, Vincent GM, Crampton RS. Diagnostic criteria for the long QT syndrome. An update. Circulation. 1993; 88: 782-784. 18 Sagie A, Larson MG, Goldberg RJ, et al. An improved method for adjusting the QT inter val for heart rate (the Framingham Heart Study). Am J Cardiol. 1992; 70: 797-801. 19 Witchel HJ, Hancox JC. Familial and acquired long qt syndrome and the cardiac rapid delayed rectifier potassium current. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2000; 27: 753-766. 20 Vincent GM, Timothy...

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The explosive RDX (hexogen, cyclonite) is usually used for the production of C-4 explosive. The rare occurrence of accidental and intentional RDX intoxications has been reported during manufacturing process or in wartime. In this article, the authors report 5 cases of accidental oral RDX poisoning. On admission, observed signs and symptoms included repetitive generalized tonic-clonic convulsions, postictal coma, lethargy, confusion, hyperreflexia, postictal amnesia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal tenderness, sinusal tachycardia, dysrhythmia with frequent ventricular premature beats, generalized muscle spasms, and myoclonus. Leukocytosis, mild anemia, methemoglobinemia, elevated levels of blood glucose, serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, lactic dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, amilase, hypokalemia, metabolic acidosis, proteinuria, glucosuria, and myoglobinuria were also noted. Plasma RDX concentrations were 268 to 969 ng/mL at 3 hours of ingestion. For management, supportive and symptomatic measures were taken. Whole-bowel irrigation might have been an effective therapeutic procedure due to probable slow gastrointestinal absorption of RDX. Three patients who developed severe metabolic acidosis underwent urgent hemodialysis. All patients were discharged 7 to 21 days after admission without any sequelae. Plasma RDX levels were strongly correlated with the clinical and laboratory manifestations. The available toxicological data on this rare accidental poisoning are reviewed in light of the literature.

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