New lymphokines produced by SLE sera stimulated lymphocytes: the PNAF (polymorphonuclear activating factors).

Twenty-two SLE sera were assessed for their stimulating properties for lymphocytes. After fixation of specific serum factors, lymphocyte cultures were performed and supernatants of 24, 48, 72 and 96 h tested on two polymorphonuclear functions: chemotaxis and cyanide insensitive O2 consumption; 20 out of 22 SLE sera supernatants led to enhanced chemotaxis. The factors involved were not destroyed by heating for 30 min at 56 degrees C.

Glutathione reductase and nitroblue tetrazolium reduction deficiencies in neutrophils of patients with primary idiopathic myelofibrosis.

Latex ingestion and nitroblue tetrazolium reduction were measured in neutrophils of 40 patients with primary idiopathic myelofibrosis. The percentage of neutrophils that ingested latex, in the presence of either autologous or control sera, was lower (P less than 0.001) than that of the controls.

Impaired metabolic activity of phagocytosing neutrophils in agnogenic osteomyelofibrosis with splenomegaly: a longitudinal study.

Functional and enzyme activity of neutrophils in patients with agnogenic osteomyelofibrosis (AOM) is still a subject of controversy, probably owing to the heterogeneity of the abnormalities observed from patient to patient, and the absence of longitudinal studies performed during the course of the disease. For a better definition of these abnormalities, 40 patients with untreated AOM were studied from the time of diagnosis, and in 12 cases, neutrophil function and enzyme activity were reassessed at one-year intervals for 3-5 years. The results showed that all abnormalities were serum-independent.

Ingestion rate and glycolytic enzymes in neutrophils of patients with agnogenic osteomyelofibrosis and splenomegaly.

Ingestion rate of granulocytes in osteomyelofibrosis with splenomegaly, which is still a matter of controversy, was measured in 32 patients. The mean ingestion rate in patients' granulocytes was similar to that of the controls; the results, however, were more dispersed in the patients than in the controls, with very high (three patients) and very low (three patients) ingestion rates. Ingestion alterations were serum-independent.

[Effect of rheumatoid factors on results for determination of antitoxoplasms IgM antibodies by immunofluorescence and agglutination technics (author's transl)].

Simultaneous presence of antitoxoplasm IgG antibodies and of rheumatoid factors gives rise to an IgM-type immunofluorescence reaction in 44 p. cent of cases. Three experiments showed that association of the two antibodies can give rise to false positives in the Remington test ; the mixture of the two antibodies renders the reaction positive in the majority of cases.