Beverly W Baron

University of Chicago | UC · Department of Pathology

We reported that PIM1 kinase is expressed in the lymphocytes of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). Quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, is a dietary supplement and inhibits many kinases, including PIM1, in vitro. Under an Institutional Review Board-approved protocol, we performed an open-label,...

Received: August 17, 2017 Accepted: August 19, 2017 Published online: October 06, 2017 Issue release date: Published online first (Issue-in-Progress)

The human BCL6 gene, which is involved in the pathogenesis of certain human lymphomas, encodes a transcriptional repressor that is needed for germinal center B cell development and T follicular helper cell differentiation. Our goal was to identify BCL6 target genes using a cell system in which BCL6 repressive effects are inhibited followed by subtr...

The human BCL6 gene encodes a transcriptional repressor that is needed for germinal center B cell development and T follicular helper cell differentiation, and it is best known for its association with certain human lymphomas, especially the diffuse large B-cell type. We devised a cell system in which the BCL6 repressive effects are inhibited with...

The human BCL6 gene encodes a transcriptional repressor that is crucial for germinal center B cell development and T follicular helper cell differentiation. It is involved in the pathogenesis of certain human lymphomas. In an effort to identify targets of BCL6 repression, we used a previously described cell system in which BCL6 repressive effects a...

The BCL6 gene, which is expressed in certain B- and T-cell human lymphomas, is involved with chromosomal rearrangements and mutations in a number of these neoplasms. Lymphomagenesis is believed to evolve through a multi-step accumulation of genetic alterations in these tumors. We used retroviral insertional mutagenesis in transgenic mice expressing...

Ammonia concentration increases in red cell units (RBCs) during storage. We measured absolute amounts of ammonia (AA) per unit serially in stored RBCs and before and after removal of the supernatant by volume reduction (VR) or washing. Ammonia increased 6.4-fold in untreated units over 31days. VR decreased AA 3.7-fold, whereas washing decreased it...

Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas in humans are associated with chromosomal rearrangements (∼40%) and/or mutations disrupting autoregulation (∼16%) involving the BCL6 gene. Studies of lymphoma development in humans and mouse models have indicated that lymphomagenesis evolves through the accumulation of multiple genetic alterations. Based on our prior...

In a patient with suspected lymphoma, it is considered desirable to confirm the diagnosis by excisional biopsy of enlarged lymph nodes. However, sometimes the ideal nodes are positioned internally, requiring a deep invasive procedure for access, or the patient may have underlying medical conditions that make it risky to perform such an invasive pro...

Encephalitis associated with autoantibodies directed against the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is usually a paraneoplastic syndrome that presents in young females with ovarian teratomas. We report a case of a previously healthy 14-year-old girl with sudden-onset paranoia, hallucinations, hyperactivity, increased speech, decreased sleep, sei...

Patients who receive heart transplants may undergo therapeutic plasma exchange to reduce high levels of HLA antibodies which may increase the risk of allograft rejection. Plasma exchange may predispose to hypocalcemia because of chelation of calcium by sodium citrate, used as an anticoagulant both during the procedure and in thawed fresh frozen pla...

The dictionary defines a consultant as “one who gives professional advice or services; expert.”1 More than most medical specialists, the role of a clinical pathologist can be heterogeneous: overseeing laboratory testing processes; hands-on patient care, especially in transfusion medicine and hemostasis; performing traditional microscopic pathology;...

Patients with chronic haemolysis due to sickle cell anaemia and its sickling variants with high haemoglobin (Hb) S levels, such as sickle cell/β thalassaemia, may develop accelerated haemolysis in several circumstances. These include the appearance of warm autoantibodies and the sickle cell transfusion reaction syndrome1, which is sometimes related...

We have previously reported that the human programmed cell death-2 gene (PDCD2), a target of BCL6 repression, is likely to be important in the pathogenesis of certain human lymphomas. We now demonstrate that transfection of a construct expressing PDCD2 induces apoptosis in human cell lines, that this occurs, at least in part, through activation of...

As the 100th anniversary of the Flexner report nears, medical student education is being reviewed at many levels. One area of concern, expressed in recent reports from some national health care organizations, is the adequacy of training in the discipline of laboratory medicine (also termed clinical pathology). The Academy of Clinical Laboratory Phy...

Kell antigens are encoded by the KEL gene on the long arm of chromosome 7. Kx antigen is encoded by the XK gene on the short arm of the X chromosome. Kell and Kx proteins in the red cell membrane are covalently linked by a disulphide bond. The McLeod phenotype is characterized by weakened expression of antigens in the Kell blood group system, absen...

The human BCL6 gene on chromosome 3 band q27, which encodes a transcriptional repressor, is implicated in the pathogenesis of human lymphomas, especially the diffuse large B-cell type. We previously identified the human PDCD2 (programmed cell death-2) gene as a target of BCL6 repression. PDCD2 encodes a protein that is expressed in many human tissu...

Extracellular potassium concentration (K(+)) increases in the supernatant of whole and packed red blood cell units (pRBCs) with duration of refrigerated storage in citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA-1) and additive solution (AS). Studies have shown that to avoid hyperkalemia, washed pRBCs are preferred if relatively fresh pRBCs are not availa...

The thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura syndrome (TTP) can be mistaken for a number of other conditions, and it is important to diagnose correctly and treat appropriately. We describe the features of TTP that can help make a positive diagnosis and other conditions in the differential diagnosis with symptoms that can overlap and mimic those of TTR....

We report the development of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the skin at or near the site of ear tags composed of a nickel-copper alloy and used for identification during the course of a long-term study of incipient congenic FVB/N mice containing the human BCL6 transgene (FVB.Cg-Tg[tetO-BCL6]Bbn Tg[EmicroSR-tTa]83Bop), their littermate controls,...

BCL6, a gene on chromosome 3, band q27, encodes a zinc finger transcriptional repressor that is needed for germinal center formation and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of some human lymphomas when it is mutated or involved in chromosomal rearrangements. To explore further the mechanisms of action of BCL6 in lymphomagenesis, we developed a...

Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an autoimmune disorder. The pathogenesis is believed to be mediated by an autoantibody directed against the metalloproteinase responsible for the degradation of the very-high-molecular-weight multimers of the vWF. The syndrome can be precipitated by a variety of conditions, and certain medicatio...

It is stated that the direct antiglobulin (Coombs') test (DAT) may be negative in ABO hemolytic disease of the newborn. Thus, significant jaundice in neonates who are A-B incompatible with their mothers but DAT test negative is often attributed to isoimmunization and another diagnosis is not sought. We wished to determine the rate of bilirubin prod...

First, to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (PPV) of the direct antiglobulin test (DAT) for significant hemolysis in the neonate, as referenced to end-tidal carbon monoxide, the criterion standard for estimating the rate of hemolysis; and second, to evaluate the predictive value of the two procedures for signific...

BCL6, a gene on chromosome 3 band q27, encodes a Kruppel-type zinc finger transcriptional repressor. Rearrangements of this gene are frequent in various kinds of lymphomas, particularly of the large-cell B-cell type. The BCL6 nuclear phosphoprotein is expressed in a variety of tissues and is up-regulated particularly in lymph node germinal centers....

The association of ulcerative colitis (UC) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is rare. Only one prior patient with these two syndromes has been reported in the literature. In that case, splenectomy and proctectomy were performed to control the symptoms of TTP. We present two patients with UC who developed TTP and were successfully treate...

Immune hemolytic anemia has been associated with the administration of various antibiotics, including cephalosporins. Presented here is a patient who developed severe acute hemolysis while receiving ceftizoxime (Ceftizox, Fujisawa USA), a third-generation cephalosporin. This is the fourth reported case of hemolysis in association with ceftizoxime....

Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ATP) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) are each well recognized clinical syndromes which may appear as single episodes or may have chronic relapsing courses. We present four patients negative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection who appear to have both diagnoses with either concomitant or...

We report two patients with severe congenital factor V deficiency, one of whom also had a factor V inhibitor, who required correction of their coagulopathy prior to surgical procedures. They underwent plasma exchange (PE) with fresh frozen plasma or solvent/detergent treated plasma (S/DP), with achievement of factor V levels satisfactory for hemost...

The acute chest syndrome (ACS) in patients (pts) with sickling hemoglobinopathies as defined by Charache et al (Arch Int Med 139:67-9,1979) included fever, new pulmonary infiltration, leukocytosis, and chest pain. Other features, including dyspnea, tachypnea and hypoxemia, may also be prominent, accompanying, and sometimes preceding, the syndrome a...

Solvent/detergent treated plasma (S/DP) has reduced protein S activity (about 0.5 units/mL) as compared with fresh frozen plasma (FFP). When used as replacement fluid for repetitive therapeutic plasma exchange (PEX), e.g., in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), S/DP could lead to lowered protein S levels and, possibly, risk of...

ABO hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) occurs almost exclusively in infants of blood group A or B who are born to group O mothers because IgG anti-A or -B occurs more commonly in group O than in group A or B individuals. We report a case in which clinically significant ABO-HDN occurred in a group B neonate from anti-B of a group A2 mother. The...

Second- and third-generation cephalosporins have been associated with immune-mediated hemolytic reactions. This report discusses two patients who developed clinically significant extravascular hemolysis while receiving the third-generation cephalosporin ceftizoxime (Ceftizox). This is believed to be the first time hemolysis has been described in pa...

We describe two patients with the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome associated with elevation of beta(2)-glycoprotein I antibodies and fulminant thrombotic diatheses. Both patients were treated with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), which resulted in a marked decrease in antibody titer accompanied by an improved clinical outcome in one patien...

The gene BCL6 encodes a zinc finger protein with similarities to transcription factors. We previously reported that a number of viral genomes, including human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1), contain sequences which are similar to the BCL6 DNA-binding consensus in their promoter regions. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that the f...

Chromosomal rearrangements of BCL6 are commonly associated with diffuse large-cell lymphomas. We set out to determine the DNA-binding site of a glutathione-S-tranderase fusion protein containing the BCL6 zinc finger region by employing cyclic amplification and selection of targets (CASTing). From oligonucleotides containing 16 central random bases,...

A 3-week-old infant with liver failure underwent an orthotopic liver transplant. Following a prolonged second surgical procedure in which he received massive amounts of blood products, his serum calcium was 31.3. mg/dl (7.8 mmol/l). This patient represents a case of severe hypercalcemia secondary to intraoperative calcium infusions given in an effo...

Between 1952 and 1992, we identified 117 African Americans with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) at the University of Chicago. Three of these had sickle cell disease (SS) and 11 had presumed sickle trait (AS). Based on genotype frequencies, these represented a 16.7-fold excess of SS patients (p < 0.0001), but the incidence of AS patients was as expected....

Patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) may have symptomatic thrombocytosis develop that requires prompt and sustained lowering of platelet counts to avert serious thrombotic or hemorrhagic sequelae. The authors retrospectively studied the short- and long-term effects of plateletpheresis combined with three different chemotherapy regimens...

Cynomolgus monkeys were fed an atherogenic diet for 6 months following surgically produced high-grade (n = 10) or mild (n = 16) mid-thoracic aortic coarctation. A diet-control (DC) group (n = 13) was fed the diet without coarctation. High-grade coarctation (HGC) resulted in 74.1% +/- 8.3% stenosis by aortography prior to sacrifice and was associate...

Chromosomal translocations involving chromosome 3, band q27, are among the most common rearrangements in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. From a bacteriophage lambda library prepared from a lymphoma characterized by a t(3;14)(q27;q32), genomic clones were isolated using a probe from the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus (IGH) joining region. In addition...

If endothelial injury plays a prominent role in early atherogenesis, the plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (VWF), which is made within and normally released from endothelial cells, might be expected to rise as a marker of the cellular damage. To evaluate this hypothesis, we measured plasma VWF (as VIIIR:Ag), factor VIII:C, and serum lipids ser...

The anatomic features of female conjoined twins with the Janiceps type of cephalothoracopagus are described. Abnormalities included bilateral clefts of the alveolar arches, shared rudimentary mandible, high, arched clavicles, multiple rib deformities, single shared foregut and small intestine, absent large intestines, omphalocele, multicystic kidne...

A sex cord tumor with annular tubules (SCTAT) was found incidentally in an umbilical hernia sac excised from a 66-year-old female. No ovarian lesions were visualized on a computerized tomographic (CT) scan of the pelvis. An exploratory laparotomy with total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic lymph node biopsies, and ome...

Three men and one woman developed intestinal-type moderately or poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma 4 to 15 years after the diagnosis of gastric lymphoma. Treatment of the lymphomas had included partial gastrectomy and follow-up radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Review of the literature reveals an additional 12 patients who developed adeno...