Serum immunoglobulin levels in children after splenectomy. A prospective study.

Serum immunoglobulin concentrations (IgG, IgA, and IgM) were measured in 34 children before and after splenectomy. Splenectomy was performed either after trauma or for an underlying hematologic disorder. In the patients with a hematologic disorder, we found a significant decrease in the IgM level after splenectomy.

The effect of methanol extraction residue of BCG on the cellular immune response in patients with malignant melanoma.

Twenty-one patients with malignant melanoma stage III and IV were treated by intradermal injections of MER--methanol extraction residue of Baccillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). Twelve of the patients, all with active disease, received chemotherapy in addition. Tests of skin reactivity to recall antigens and in vitro lymphocyte transformation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), purified protein derivative (PPD), Canadidine, and Varidase were performed in 19 of the patients before and after the MER therapy.

Multiple lymphocyte transformation tests by phytohemagglutinin in healthy individuals: transient episodes of decreased lymphocyte blastogenesis.

146 serial determinations of spontaneous and phytohemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte transformation as measured by tritiated thymidine incorporation, were performed in 24 healthy individuals. 9 persons were studied intensively during a mean period of 40 days and the other 15 underwent random investigations during a period up to 10 months. Transient episodes of significant decreased lymphocyte transformation were revealed in 14 persons (58.

Treatment of lung cancer by radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and methanol extraction residue of BCG (MER): clinical and immunological studies.

Fifty-one patients with advanced lung cancer were divided at random into two groups. One group of 29 patients received the methanol extraction residue (MER) of Bacille-Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in addition to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. The other group of 22 patients was treated by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy alone.

Lymphocyte reactivity in healthy subjects and cancer patients.

Lymphocytes of 40 cancer patients with solid tumors as well as of 40 normal subjects were stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), purified protein derivative (PPD), streptokinase-streptodornase (SK-SD) and candidin (Cand) and the extent of their stimulation was expressed by the index of reactivity. The cumulative frequency distribution of reactivity indices was significantly higher in normal individuals than in cancer patients. The highest extent of information relevant to the discrimination between patients and normal subjects is obtained following stimulation of lymphocytes with Cand and in decreasing order with PPD, SK-SD and PHA.