Epidemiological and ethical aspects of multiplex autoantibody testing.

Arrays are one of the technologies able to detect autoantibodies by measuring simultaneously many thousands of markers from a unique biological sample. The main purpose of a diagnostic test is making an early and accurate diagnosis. From a statistical point of view, multiple testing increases the probability of false positive and false negative results.

Prevalence and clinical significance of antiphospholipid antibodies to noncardiolipin antigens in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The specificity and immunoglobulin isotype distribution of antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies have been evaluated in 68 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by ELISA which employed a panel of 7 different PL antigens. A total of 49 patients (72%) were positive for aPL antibodies of different isotypes and directed to one or more PL epitopes. Prevalence of IgG anticardiolipin (aCL, 37%) was similar to that of the other negatively charged PLs phosphatidylserine (PS, 35%), phosphatidylinositol (PI, 35%), phosphatidylglycerol (PG, 35%) and phosphatidic acid (PA, 40%); prevalence reduced to 9-12% and 7-16% respectively for IgM and IgA isotypes to the same antigens.

[The importance and limits of laboratory tests for evaluating the transplacental passage of fetal erythrocytes into the maternal circulation].

The KBB acid elution test is used to assess the presence and extent of transplacental passage of fetal cells into the maternal circulation both as a diagnostic aid in detecting hemorrhage before birth and in monitoring pregnancies at risk for hemolytic disease of the newborn. However the technique is ineffective when an hereditary Hb-pathy with associated increase in HbF is present in the mother, like the HPFH, delta-beta thalassemia and other hereditary abnormal hemoglobins. A mother with HPFH and another mother with delta-beta thalassemia with false positive result of the acid-elution test are described and the need for an extension of the clinical and laboratory study in families with hereditary HbF disorder is stressed.

Combined factor VIII and factor XI congenital deficiency: a case report.

Combined congenital defect involving both Factor VIII and XI is a very rare disorder. We describe a case of combined Factor VIII and XI deficiency in which the propositus has a mild hemophilia A and inherited a Factor XI deficiency from the father. Moreover, we report on the benefit of DDAVP administration to the patient during a bleeding episode.

Time-related shape control modifications during erythrocyte storage with additive solutions.

To obtain more detailed information on the reversibility of shape alterations in blood bank stored erythrocytes, we have studied shape recovery after chemical crenation and rheological properties in 8 PAGGS-sorbitol preserved erythrocyte concentrates during a five week storage period under blood bank conditions. Our results show that red cell capability to regain a normal discoid shape after chemical crenation decreases during storage but is not lost over a five week period. Moreover there is a significant but weak correlation between red cell ATP content and both shape recovery capability and viscosity.

Fibronectin decrease in liver cirrhosis is related to spleen size.

We found a significantly lower plasma fibronectin concentration in cirrhotic patients than in controls, a significant inverse relationship between fibronectin and spleen size, but no correlation between fibronectin and hepatic blood flow, prothrombin time, or serum albumin. We suggest that the increased degradation in the enlarged spleen is more relevant than the decreased synthesis in reducing plasma fibronectin levels during liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension.

[Fibrinolysis and hemorrhage after streptokinase in acute myocardial infarct].

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between occurrence of hemorrhagic complications, kinetic of fibrinogen degradation-regeneration and the changes of prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), after intravenous administration of Streptokinase (SK), 1.500.000 U.

Ha-ras-1 restriction fragment length polymorphism and susceptibility to colon adenocarcinoma.

It is not yet clear whether some polymorphic variants of the Ha-ras-1 gene confer genetic predisposition to cancer. However, recent data on myelodysplasia and lung cancer are controversial. To clarify this point, 62 colorectal adenocarcinoma patients were examined for the Ha-ras-1 gene restriction fragment length polymorphism and results were compared with those of 108 healthy blood donors.

OKT4+ chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells display different reactivity with selected monoclonal antibody combinations.

Four cases of chronic T lymphocytic leukaemia are characterized by selected monoclonal antibody combinations and double-fluorescence studies. We found 3 possible combinations: OKT4++ Leu8++ Leu9+, OKT4++ Leu8+ Leu9- and the OKT4++ Leu9++ Leu8- phenotypes are correlated with different biological aspects of the disease. No markers of T cell activation were found, and serological examinations did not reveal anti-HTLV-I antibodies.

Chronic T lymphocytic leukaemia: antigenic, morphological and functional properties of the neoplastic lymphocytes.

We describe 2 cases of T cell leukaemia. Both patients react with OKT 4 monoclonal antibody, while their clinical course, surface markers and in vitro immunological reactivity present opposite behaviour. The cells of 1 patient react with all pan T cell markers (OKT 3, OKT 11, Leu 1), from E and Ea rosettes and respond well to mitogens.

The characterization of hemoglobin Manitoba or alpha (2)102(G9)Ser----Arg beta 2 and hemoglobin Contaldo or alpha (2)103(G10)His----Arg beta 2 by high performance liquid chromatography.

Hb Contaldo with a His----Arg substitution at position 103(G10) of the alpha chain is a newly discovered unstable Hb variant observed in an Italian child. Its instability is probably due to the disruption of the hydrogen bond between alpha 103(G10)His and beta 108(G10)Asn. The structural variation in the core segment was determined through analysis of tryptic peptides from digests of the alpha X and oxidized alpha X (with performic acid) chains, which were separated by HPLC.

A new test for the laboratory diagnosis of spherocytosis.

A new test for the laboratory diagnosis of spherocytosis, conventionally called 'Pink test', is presented. This test, semi-quantitatively or quantitatively, determines the hemolysis of small blood samples in a solution containing glycerol (135 mmol/l), NaCl (25 mmol/l), NaN3 (1.5 mmol/l), buffered to pH 6.

Peripheral blood and bone marrow lymphocytes of B chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients.

The percentages of lymphocytes subpopulations were assessed in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of B chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients with monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. The absolute number of peripheral T cells is higher compared to healthy subjects; the imbalance of OKT 4 and OKT 8 positive subsets in peripheral blood is characterized by an inversion of the T 4/T 8 ratio. T 4 positive cells are predominant in the bone marrow; the Leu 7 positive population is increased in absolute numbers.