Functional autoantibodies against SSX-2 and NY-ESO-1 in multiple myeloma patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is the malignancy with the most frequent expression of the highly immunogenic cancer-testis antigens (CTA), and we have performed the first analysis of longitudinal expression, immunological properties, and fine specificity of CTA-specific antibody responses in MM.

Methods: Frequency and characteristics of antibody responses against cancer-testis antigens MAGE-A3, NY-ESO-1, PRAME, and SSX-2 were analyzed using peripheral blood (N = 1094) and bone marrow (N = 200) plasma samples from 194 MM patients.

Results: We found that antibody responses against CTA were surprisingly rare, only 2.

[Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women].

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of seropositive pregnant women, i.e. of pregnant women infected with Toxoplasma gondii in order to provide an insight into the risk of developing congenital toxoplasmosis in our community.

Cystatin C in pre-eclampsia.

Objective: To evaluate diagnostic value of cystatin C serum levels as alternative marker of renal function in pre-eclamsia (PE) and compare it with the traditional markers of renal function, creatinine and uric acid. In order to investigate the possible influence of inflammation on biochemical markers of renal function, serum levels of high sensitive CRP were measured (hsCRP).

Methods: In this prospective study markers of kidney function were investigated in two groups of pregnant women: one with PE (n = 32) and the other of healthy pregnant women (n = 60).