Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in sera from patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing interferon treatment.

To study the influence of interferon therapy on soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 we measured sICAM-1 levels in 22 patients with type C chronic hepatitis treated with interferon. We also studied 9 healthy subjects as control group. The results showed statistically significant higher levels of sICAM-1 in patients with liver disease than in the controls.

The IL-2 receptor complex: expression and function on normal and leukemic B cells.

The interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) is composed of at least three different chains that may be variably expressed on normal and neoplastic lymphocytes. While considerable knowledge has been gained on the expression of the IL-2R alpha chain on human leukemic cells of different origin, less is known of the beta and gamma chains. In view of the highly pleiotropic functions exerted by IL-2, the IL-2-IL-2R interactions may play an important role in various leukemias.

EDTA-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia. Association with antiplatelet and antiphospholipid antibodies.

In a study of 88 patients with EDTA-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia (PTCP), EDTA-dependent antiplatelet antibodies were seen in the sera of 72 (81.8%) patients (44 IgM, 25 IgG, and 3 IgA). The same sera also were tested for anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL), and 56 (63.

Plasma myoglobin in the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.

Serum and plasma myoglobin and creatine kinase-MB catalytic activity were analysed in 157 patients admitted within 2 hours of the onset of chest pain (58 were retrospectively recognized as acute myocardial infarction). Serum and plasma values were highly correlated for both myoglobin and creatine kinase-MB. Plasma myoglobin appeared to be more sensitive than creatine kinase-MB for the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction; using a cut-off value of 100 micrograms/l, 90% of acute myocardial infarction cases were correctly recognized by plasma myoglobin 6 hours after the onset of chest pain, with a diagnostic specificity of 100% for non-acute myocardial infarction chest pain subjects.

Myelosarcoma preceding acute leukemia diagnosed by fine needle lymph node aspiration: report of two cases.

Myelosarcoma (granulocytic sarcoma) is a rare tumor seen in patients with known hematologic malignancies such as leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative disorders, as well as in non-leukemic patients. A correct diagnosis in these cases is often difficult, and these are more commonly misdiagnosed as large cell lymphoma. We describe two women, 40 and 89 years of age respectively, in whom a myelosarcoma involving the neck lymph nodes was diagnosed by cytological examination of a fine needle aspiration biopsy, one and 10 weeks before the onset of acute myelogenous leukemia.

Alcohol induced burr cell (echinocytic) haemolytic anaemia and haemochromatosis.

A 51-year-old man with chronic alcoholic liver disease developed a severe haemolytic anaemia characterized by the presence of circulating burr-shaped cells (echinocytes). Several transfusions of packed red cells were ineffective in raising the haemoglobin concentration, showing that the abnormality was acquired by the transfused cells. Liver biopsies revealed haemochromatosis.

First reported case of Streptococcus pyogenes infection with toxic shock-like syndrome in Italy.

A 43-year-old male who sustained a superficial hand injury developed streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome and died within 48 hours. The clinical course of the illness in this previously well patient was rapid and fulminant. The organism responsible was a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus which was identified as opacity factor negative, M serotype 1, T type 1.

Perilymphatic injections of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) partially correct the immunologic defects in patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are severely immunocompromised. In virtually all such patients who have been studied, reduced numbers of circulating CD3+ T-cell-receptor (TCR)alpha/beta+ T lymphocytes, a reduction of natural killer (NK) activity, and a poor induction of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity (following in vitro treatment with recombinant interleukin-2 [rIL-2]) have been detected. Recently, however, it has been demonstrated that perilymphatic injections of low doses of rIL-2 may induce a local reduction of tumor masses in these patients.

Familial association of autoimmune thrombocytopenia and hyperthyroidism.

An association between thrombocytopenia and thyrotoxicosis in a single individual is well documented, and the theories for this event include a common immunologic cause or a thyrotoxic-induced decrease in platelet survival. We report the first description of the coexistence of autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP) and Graves' disease in several members of the same family, in which four females were thrombocytopenic and two of these were also hyperthyroid. All four patients had high titers of antiplatelet antibodies, and the two hyperthyroid cases were positive for thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI).

Synovial fluid in arthropathy.

The authors examined 487 synovial fluid specimens in patients affected with spontaneous effusion in the knee. In 202 of the cases the features indicating the nature of the effusion were observed (rheumatoid arthritis: 27; active S.L.

Lymphocytic clusters in peripheral blood: an atypical morphologic pattern of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

A case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia is described in which peripheral blood and bone marrow films showed lymphocytes arranged in aggregates resembling epithelial cell clusters. Due to this morphological conformation, automatic hemogram screening was not able to detect the presence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Correct interpretation of a typical histogram pattern led to the final diagnosis.

[The serum fructosamine test in the control plan of glucose homeostasis].

A new method to measure serum glycosylated proteins as index of diabetic control is evaluated. Precision, recovery and interference tests have been evaluated. A good correlation of fructosamine values with glycosylated haemoglobin and glucose in normal and diabetic patients was found.

[Predictive significance of reticulocyte count (interpretative methodologic approach)].

This study concerns the comparison of two methodologies for reticulocyte count on two groups of 100 subjects. The evaluation of the results achieved with the two colorants (brilliant cresyl blue and pre-colored glasses with crystal acetate violet and methylene blue) suggests the application of more reliable parameters (reticulocyte index, reticulocyte production index) for the interpretation of reticulocyte counting. It seems desirable to correct the absolute reticulocyte number with the degree of anemia of the patient and to calculate the medullary production index to identify the effective reticulocytosis.