Lithium carbonate effect on nitrotetrazolium blue (NBT) production in neutrophils of patients with granulocytopenia.

In 30 persons with essential granulocytopenia, lithium carbonate in doses of 12.5 mg/kg per body weight was applied during 10 days. This resulted in an increased absolute neutrophil count and total leukocyte count as well as increased percentage of cells reducing NBT in the spontaneous NBT test according to Park. Prior to the beginning of treatment, patients with granulocytopenia exhibited an elevated percentage of NBT-positive cells in comparison to the control group of 28 healthy persons. The significance of this observation for treating granulocytopenia by means of the agent mentioned above is discussed.

Effect of lithium carbonate on the functional state and the enzymatic equipment of neutrophils in patients with granulocytopenia.

Administration of lithium carbonate, 750 mg daily, during 10 days to 25 patients with essential granulocytopenia, induced an increase of the total leukocyte count, of the absolute count of neutrophils and of the number of neutrophils phagocytizing Staphylococcus aureus Oxford in vitro. An enhancement of acid phosphatase activity in the neutrophils was noted both in the patients and the healthy subjects in the control group. In the patients, the counts of neutrophils exhibiting a positive enzymatic reaction with regard to beta-glucuronidase, myeloperoxidase and alkaline phosphatase were also increased after treatment with lithium carbonate. Based on these results, the authors recommend the clinical application of this treatment in patients with granulocytopenia.

Enzymes of neutrophils in women with malignant tumors of reproductive organs.

Enzymatic equipment in peripheral blood neutrophils has been determined in 10 women with cervical carcinoma, 5 with carcinoma of the uterus body and 30 women with myomas of the uterus. Using cytochemical techniques the authors observed the intracellular deficiency of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase accompanied by diminished absolute count of the enzyme-positive cells as well as the beta-glucuronidase- and the myeloperoxidase-positive neutrophils. Lowered activity of the myeloperoxidase was another pattern of cells in question. The acid phosphatase activity of neutrophils in the patients was significantly elevated. It has been suggested that observed intracellular deficiencies of selected enzymes within the neutrophils are of importance with regard to lowered antitumor activity of that cells operating mainly through the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-halide system.

Trace elements and immunologic defects. Zinc deficiency and activity of lysosomal acid phosphatase in lymphocyte of mice.

Activity of lysosomal acid phosphatase in peripheral blood lymphocytes of mice fed a low-Zn diet has been studied. The study comprised 40 CBA T6T6 mice, female, aged 8 weeks, with body weight equal to about 18.0 g. The animals were fed during 10 days with a low-Zn diet. This latter diet, as well as the control one contained 0.8 mg% and 11.4 mg% of zinc, respectively; potable water contained 0.06 mg% of this element. Activity of the enzyme was determined semiquantitatively using cytochemical method of Barka and Anderson. Peripheral blood lymphocytes in mice fed a low-Zn diet exhibited statistically significant lowering of the intracellular enzyme activity when compared with control groups. Absolute count of enzyme-positive lymphocytes was also significantly lowered. The Authors discuss the importance of their observations for evaluation of immune reactivity in trace-elements-deficient animals.