Long-term clinical remission of a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia using alternative treatment option: cottonseed oil (gossypol).

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) results from the accumulation of malignant immunologically incompetent lymphocytes. A routine full blood count of a single patient revealed that he had CLL. The daily intake of 700ml of fresh bovine milk resulted in a decrease in the lymphocyte count from 85.

Use of indium-111-labelled platelets in black stroke patients. A pilot study.

Human blood platelets labelled with indium-111 oxine have been shown to accumulate on damaged vascular surfaces and abnormal platelet deposition has been demonstrated in the carotid arteries of white stroke patients. Gamma scintigraphy of the carotid and cerebral arteries of 5 black stroke patients and 5 age- and sex-matched controls using 111In-labelled platelets showed no abnormal accumulation indicative of carotid artery disease.

Haemoglobin estimation--reliability of the copper sulphate specific gravity v. the cyanmethaemoglobin colorimetric method.

Automated colorimetric and copper sulphate (4 solutions with different specific gravities) methods were used to examine 218 blood specimens. The correlation between the two was high (r = 0.82)--proving that the copper sulphate method is reliable for haemoglobin screening.

IgD multiple myeloma. A case report.

A patient with a fracture of the left femur was investigated for suspected multiple myeloma. Serum total proteins, protein electrophoresis, and immunoglobulin G, A and M levels were within normal limits. Bence Jones proteinuria of the lambda type was present.

Unusual presentation of multiple myeloma. A report of 2 cases.

The diagnosis of multiple myeloma (overt plasma cell dyscrasia) is usually not considered in patients under 30 years of age. Furthermore, multiple myeloma with coexistent megaloblastic and iron deficiency anaemia is very uncommon. Within 6 months we encountered 2 patients under 30 years of age who had multiple myeloma, one with advanced secondary amyloidosis and the other with severe megaloblastic and iron deficiency anaemia.

Biclonal gammopathy. A case report.

The presence of two or more monoclonal proteins in serum due to the malignant proliferation of more than one clone of B lymphocytes is uncommon. A patient with raised levels of both immunoglobulin G and M is presented and some clinical and laboratory features are shown.

Serum trace elements and vitamin A in leprosy subtypes.

Serum zinc, copper, iron, and vitamin A levels were determined in patients with leprosy and healthy controls. Leprosy patients were classified according to the Ridley and Jopling classification and divided into two main groups as follows: tuberculoid, which consisted mainly of borderline tuberculoid patients and lepromatous, which consisted of borderline lepromatous and true lepromatous patients. The lepromatous group was found to have significantly lower serum levels of zinc and iron and elevated levels of copper.

Vitamin A in the treatment of menorrhagia.

Hypovitaminosis A was found to be an important cause of menorrhagia, and a statistically significant difference between the fasting serum vitamin A values of healthy controls and patients with menorrhagia was noted. Vitamin A is a co-factor of 3 beta-dehydrogenase in steroidogenesis and deficiencies of this vitamin may result in impaired enzyme activity. The level of endogenous 17 beta-oestradiol appears to be elevated with vitamin A therapy, and menorrhagia was alleviated in more than 92% of patients.

A comparison of pregnancy tests.

An evaluation in terms of performance and cost was made of the Planotest, Pregnex, Gravindex, Prepurex, Planosec, Quick Test and Dap Test pregnancy test kits. It was found that Pregnex was the most accurate, but that it was expensive. Planotest, Gravindex and Prepurex were identical as far as results were concerned and they were comparable in price.