Studies on migration inhibitory factors of non-lymphoid origin.

A large number of mouse fibrosarcoma and adult guinea pig fibroblast cultures were examined for their ability to produce migration inhibitory activity. In most cases culture supernatants were found to inhibit macrophage migration, in a dose-dependent manner. Toxicity of the tested material could be excluded by: a) experiments using colchicine as a stimulator of macrophage migration and, b) examination of the effect of test materials on macrophage monolayer cultures.

[Diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia].

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease. The diagnosis is based on the demonstration of immature myeloid cells in Pappenheim stained blood and bone marrow smears. Using the criteria of the French-American-British Cooperative Group, the myeloid leukemias can be divided into six subgroups (FAB classification).

[Effect of valve type and valve function on chronic intravascular hemolysis after alloprosthetic mitral and aortic valve replacement].

In 1091 patients with isolated Björk-Shiley, Lillehei-Kaster, Starr-Edwards, and St. Jude Medical mitral and aortic valve replacement, hemolysis parameters were determined (hemoglobin, LDH, haptoglobin, free plasma hemoglobin, reticulocyte count, serum bilirubin, transferrin, urine hemosiderin, schistocyte count). In 1006 of these patients no valve dysfunction was detected, while in 85 patients either paravalvular leakage or a thrombosis of the prosthetic valve was present.

[Heterozygous beta-thalassemia in a large German family].

This report deals with a large German family in which 12 carriers of the trait had the characteristic hematologic abnormalities of thalassemia minor. Among these are increased red cell count, decreased hemoglobin content, microcytosis and marked hypochromia in the presence of normal or increased serum iron levels. Thalassemia should always be considered if these hematologic abnormalities are found.