At diagnosis, approximately half of myelodysplastic (MDS) patients presents a normal karyotype by conventional cytogenetic analysis (CCA). Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) is more sensitive than CCA allowing for the detection of minor clones and of submicroscopic lesions. We have analyzed by FISH 101 MDS patients with normal karyotype for the occurrence of the abnormalities which are most frequently observed in MDS (ie ؊5/5q؊, ؊7/7q؊, ؉8, 17p؊). In 18 patients, 15 to 32% of interphase cells were found to carry one FISH abnormality. Six patients presented trisomy 8, five had del(5)(q31), five del(7)(q31), one monosomy 7 and one del(17)(p13). FISH abnormalities were more frequently observed among patients with an increased percentage of bone marrow blasts (P ‫؍‬ 0.001). FISH abnormalities were also associated with a higher rate of progression into AML (13/18 vs 12/83, P Ͻ 0.001) and were predictive for a worse prognosis (P Ͻ 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that FISH positivity and IPSS risk group were independent predictors for a poor survival (P ‫؍‬ 0.0057 and 0.0123, respectively) and for leukemic transformation (P ‫؍‬

To define better the chromosomal profile of atypical chronic karyotype may in fact carry chromosomally abnormal clones lymphocytic leukemia (aCLL), cytogenetic and interphase cytoescaping detection at metaphase analysis due to their low genetic studies were performed in 43 cases, using mitogenmitotic index. a relatively poor prognosis may be associated with aCLL.The presence of ؉12, 13q14 deletions, 11q, and 6q21-q23 anomalies in 19 cases was associated with a 2-month median interTo define better the cytogenetic profile of aCLL, this study val between diagnosis and start of treatment, as compared with of 43 cases was carried out combining conventional chromoa 24-month median interval in 14 cases with normal karyotype some analysis (CCA) and FISH, using probes detecting the two or non-recurrent chromosome changes (P ‫؍‬ 0.003). We conmost frequent anomalies in CLL, ie +12 and del(13q14).clude that aCLL is characterized by a relatively high incidence of chromosome anomalies, with recurrent chromosome changes, involving chromosomes 12, 13q14, 6q21q23, 11q, selected on the basis of the presence of more than 10% large Keywords: atypical CLL; cytogenetics; FISH lymphocytes and/or prolymphocytes (see below) among approximately 260 B-CLLs, seen at our Institution over a 9-year period. Materials and methods IntroductionDiagnoses were made in all cases according to standard clinical, cytologic and immunologic criteria. Histologic studThe importance of cytogenetics of B cell chronic lymphocytic ies were performed for diagnostic purposes in 27 cases (bone leukemia (CLL) has been highlighted over the past 10 years biopsy in 19 cases and superficial lymph node biopsy in eight in a number of studies, reviewed by Juliusson and Gahrton, 1 cases). Transformation of aCLL into prolymphocytic leukemia documenting that some chromosome changes, such as tri-(PLL) was not an exclusion criteria, whereas those patients somy 12, del (11q) or 14q anomalies are associated with therpresenting with 'de novo' PLL were not considered in this apy-demanding disease and, ultimately, with shorter survival.

Haemodialysis patients have few endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and an unfavourable cardiovascular outcome. The effects on peripheral blood CD34(+) cells and EPCs of a 6-month walking exercise programme were studied. Thirty dialysis patients (20 males, age 67 +/- 12 years) were prescribed exercise (two daily 10-min home walking sessions at moderate intensity, group E, n = 16) or not prescribed exercise (control, group C, n = 14). On entry and after 6 months peripheral blood CD34(+) cells, EPCs (assessed as CD34(+) cells co-expressing AC133 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 [VEGFR2], and as endothelial colony-forming units [e-CFU]) and exercise capacity (6-min walking distance, 6MWD) were evaluated. In group E, 6MWD and e-CFU increased significantly during the study period, with no significant changes in CD34(+) or CD34(+) AC133(+) VEGFR2(+) cell numbers. The change in e-CFU was directly and significantly correlated to patient-reported training load. Group C showed no significant change in any variable. In haemodialysis patients, moderate-intensity exercise selectively increased the number of e-CFU.

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