Glycosylated Bence Jones Protein with Poor Thermal Reactivity in Heat Coagulation Tests.

Background: We experienced a patient with multiple myeloma whose urine contained a considerable amount of Bence Jones protein (BJP), which demonstrated poor thermal reactivity in heat coagulation test. The mechanism for this phenomenon was assessed.

Methods: Immunoelectrophoretic analyses reveal that a band corresponding to BJP in the urine had 2,600 Dalton by reduction after glycosidase treatment, but not after sialidase treatment.

A Case of Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia with Temporary Appearance of 7S IgM Half Molecule.

Background: We encountered a rare case of Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia with temporary appearance of 7S IgM half molecule and with monoclonal proteins binding to agarose gel.

Methods: The patient's serum and urine were analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the IgM with abnormal mass (68 kDa) were determined and compared with those of known immunoglobulin.

[Relationship between serum hCG and urinary hCG in cases of pregnancy, abortion, and hydatidiform mole].

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is generally quantified in serum, but spot urine samples are also used to assess hCG levels in Japan. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate whether urinary hCG can be used clinically as a substitute for serum hCG. A total of 189 samples of serum and spot urine were collected from patients, including cases of normal pregnancy (NP) -13, abortion (AB) -21, extrauterine pregnancy (EP) 25, and hydatidiform mole (MOL) -7, during medical treatment and comparisons were made concerning serum and urinary hCG levels.

[TDM management system for contribution to proper use of anti-mRSA drugs--establishment of cooperation support system between pharmacy and clinical laboratory in hospital].

In team medicine, highly specialized pharmacists have recently been in demand. As one of the specialties, there is therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). It is important for the optimal dosing of a wide range of drugs.

[Divergence between measured values of total IgG and subclass IgGs (sum of IgG1-IgG4) in IgG4-related disease].

In systemic IgG4-related disease, an elevation of the serum IgG4 level(IgG4: 135 mg/dl or higher) and IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration occurs. Since the total IgG and sum of subclasses, IgG1 through IgG4, were markedly different in a patient suspected of having Mikuliez's disease, we investigated the relationship between total IgG and sum of IgG subclasses. The subjects were healthy individuals, and low IgG4, high IgG4, hyper-gamma globulinemia and hypo-y globulinemia groups.

[Clinical microbiological investigation of vancomycin intermediate Staphylococcus aureus during glycopeptide therapy].

We isolated three strains of vancomycin intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) from a blood sample of a patient with infective endocarditis (VISA-1), postoperative pneumonia sputum (VISA-2), and pyogenic spondylitis blood sample (VISA-3). These VISA strains did not carry vanA, vanB, vanC1, or vanC2/C3 genes. Cell wall thickening was observed.