Multicentre evaluation of performance of C-reactive protein analysis over a one-year period.

This communication deals with a longitudinal evaluation of C-reactive protein (CRP) analysis during a one-year period using a single lot of liquid control sera (3 levels) (BIOREF-CRP levels 1, 2 and 3) in different laboratories. A total of 652 sets of data were returned from 20 participating laboratories using 13 different reagent-measuring device combinations. The use of the control materials was defined in a standard operating procedure.

A multi-center quality control study of different CA15-3 immunoassays.

A long-term multi-center quality control study of CA15-3 determinations based on measurements of liquid BIOREF CA15-3 control sera was conducted in 17 participating laboratories. Seven different CA15-3 assays were applied using the appropriate automatic immunoanalyzers. CA15-3 means were determined for BIOREF low, medium and high level control sera.

[Intracerebral hemorrhage and neuron-specific enolase in premature and full-term infants--a clinical study].

In a prospective study 199 risk newborn infants were examined by means of cerebral ultrasound scanning and after this the influence of diagnosed intracerebral events on the concentration of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was determined. The NSE may be valid as an indicator of intracerebral damage. A significant relationship between increased concentration of NSE and intracerebral haemorrhage of type II could be found only for the NSE-1 (determination from cordblood or from blood of the first or second day of life).

[Psychomotor development of newborn infants at risk with reference to the neuron-specific enolase].

In a prospective study the psychomotor development of an unselected collective of risk newborn infants up to the end of the second year of life was examined. 199 children have developed normal, 21 showed developmental abnormalities, 84 light to moderate disturbances, and 30 severe disabilities. Already in the newborn period the concentration of neuron-specific enolase in the serum was evaluated.

Changes of neuron-specific enolase concentration in plasma after cardiac arrest and resuscitation.

The concentration of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was measured in plasma of 18 patients after cardiac arrest and resuscitation (14 nonsurvivors and 4 survivors). In all patients, the NSE concentration was significantly higher in comparison to reference values. The highest concentration was measured in nonsurvivors.

Development of enolase isoenzymes in various regions of the human brain.

Various brain regions from 4 fetuses (21st to 28th gestational week) and from a 3-month-old infant were investigated for the total enolase activity and their isoenzyme distribution. In the brain tissue from a 3-month-old infant, the activity of the so-called neuron-specific enolase amounted to about 50% of the total enolase activity. In various brain regions different developmental patterns emerged for nonneuronal (NNE) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE).

[Enzyme immunoassays for the quantification of human gamma-gamma-enolase (NSE)].

A direct two-site binding assay on the basis of antibodies from sheep for the quantification of human gamma-gamma enolase is described. The antibody was produced by immunization with human NSE coupled to horse spleen ferritin. The assay shows two feature: a decreased reactivity with NSE from rat and NSE from human serum in spite of 100% recovery of purified human brain NSE.

[A staged plan for laboratory diagnosis of hereditary metabolic diseases].

When clinical evidence provides grounds for suspecting inborn errors of metabolism it is urgent to perform the necessary, relevant, specific laboratory investigations in good time and with a view to quality. Normally, the realization depends on individual initiatives and the use of laboratories mainly designed for pediatrics and human genetics. Consequently the results are equally a matter of chance.

Neuron specific enolase in amniotic fluid--a possible indicator for fetal distress and brain implication.

It can be suggested that a NSE concentration in body fluids above the normal range may indicate brain damage, because NSE is found in neurons and neuroendocrine cells only. In this paper the concentration of the neuron specific enolase (NSE) in the amniotic fluid of normal and high risk pregnancies was investigated. Sixty-three samples of amniotic fluid were collected from 55 pregnant women and women in labor between the 19th and the 42nd gestational week.

The concentration of hypoxanthine and lactate in the blood of healthy and hypoxic newborns.

This work examines the correlation between the concentration of hypoxanthine and lactate, the clinical course, and the parameters of the acid-base metabolism in newborns. In order to obtain normal values in mature, healthy newborns (Group A) 136 determinations of hypoxanthine and 126 determinations of lactate in blood were performed in the first five postnatal days. In well prematures (Group B) hypoxanthine was determined 18 times and lactate 16 times.

Severe head trauma and the changes of concentration of neuron-specific enolase in plasma and in cerebrospinal fluid.

In nine patients with severe head trauma, the concentration of neuron-specific enolase in cerebrospinal fluid and in plasma was determined and compared with the activity of creatine kinase and alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, and with the concentration of lactate. In patients who died of the head trauma, a concentration of neuron-specific enolase of 6.8-64 micrograms/l in the plasma (reference range: 3.

Continuous determination of various enzymes and sodium concentration in urine. a usable method for diagnosis of kidney graft rejection.

We investigated changes in urinary enzyme activity and sodium concentration of kidney transplant patients. We found that the increase of the activity of brush border enzymes is one of the earliest signs of tubular damage following rejection. The decrease in the urinary sodium concentration points also to rejection episodes.

[Biochemical parameters for determination of graft viability during the early postoperative period (author's transl)].

In 54 patients with graft failure the changes of urine sodium concentration and of urinary enzyme activities (alanine aminopeptidase, AAP) were investigated. It was found that: (1) the kidneys with irreversible acute tubular necrosis are characterised by high urine sodium level, and low AAP activities. These changes correspond to the end stage of renal insufficiency.

Changes in serum and urine lysozyme activity after kidney transplantation: influence of graft function and therapy with azathioprine.

We investigated changes in lysozyme activity in serum and urine of kidney-transplant patients, and found that the production and catabolism of lysozyme in such patients differs markedly from that in normal subjects. Resumption of graft function decreases the high serum lysozyme activity by increasing the rate of catabolism in the transplant; at the same time, however, the production is inhibited by therapy with azathioprine. Changes in serum lysozyme activity correlate well with leukocyte count; thus its determination might be useful in monitoring immunosuppression.

Lysosomal and ATP changes after renal-stalk clamping in rats. I. Protective action of Trasylol.

The action of Trasylol on the lysosomal and ATP changes after renal-stalk clamping in rats was examined. It was found that, in the presence of an effective Trasylol concentration, a distinct stabilization of the lysosomal membrane can be detected after 30 min of renal-stalk clamping. It was also found that there is only an indirect relationship between lysosomal changes and ATP metabolism under the action of Trasylol.

[Significance of LDH determination in renal perfusions as criterion of vitality in kidney transplantations (author's transl)].

The activity of LDH in perfusate on human kidney and in experiments on dog kidney was investigated during the preservation by the Gambro perfusion apparatus. The enzyme activity of perfusate was characterized by a quotient of volume activity in relation to the perfusion flow rate. With this method we are able to distinguish the values of damaged and normal kidneys.