Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in colorectal cancer and its relationship to acute phase proteins.

Increased concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-I (ICAM-1) have been reported in a number of diseases including cancer. This study was undertaken to evaluate soluble ICAM-1 in colorectal cancer and its relationship to an unspecific acute phase response. Fifty six patients (25 with advanced colorectal cancer and 31 out-patients after radical surgical treatment) were included. Soluble ICAM-1 was measured by enzyme immunoassay. Four acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein, acid alpha 1-glycoprotein, haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin) were estimated by immuno-nephelometry. No significant increase of soluble ICAM-1 could be demonstrated in the patients compared to a control group (median 273 ng/ml vs. 270 ng/ml). Furthermore, patients with advanced colorectal cancer did not demonstrate elevated soluble ICAM-1 compared to follow-up out-patients. Patients with present acute phase response as determined by C-reactive protein were shown to have increased soluble ICAM-1 compared to patients without acute phase reaction. Using other acute phase proteins no difference for soluble ICAM-1 has been shown. Our data suggest an association between acute phase response and increased ICAM-1 in patients with colorectal cancer which should be considered when the diagnostic and/or prognostic usefulness of soluble ICAM-1 is to be evaluated.

Screening of dysfibrinogenaemia using the fibrinogen function versus antigen concentration ratio.

The diagnosis of inherited and acquired dysfibrinogenaemia is usually suspected in patients with otherwise unexplained prolonged thrombin time or other tests with thrombin-like enzymes (1). Confirmation of the diagnosis requires discordant results from the investigation of functional fibrinogen and its antigen concentration. However, the issue of the difference between the two results required to confirm dysfibrinogenaemia has rarely been addressed. A difference of at least 0.5 g/l between functional fibrinogen using the method of Clauss and heat precipitation method according to Schulz has been suggested as a prerequisite (1). In the case of acquired dysfibrinogenaemia with an underlying liver disease the discordance should reach at least 1.0 g/l (2). Rodgers and Garr (3) suggested to establish a ratio between fibrinogen function and antigen concentration. In that study plasma from healthy blood donors was investigated using the Clauss method and radial immunodiffusion. We applied this approach to randomly selected patients at the time of admission to a University Hospital Department. Since fibrinogen is one of the major acute phase proteins, the determination of the C-reactive protein (CRP) was included for comparison.

[Blood coagulation factors and proteinase inhibitors in cytostatic therapy of acute leukemia]. / Gerinnungsfaktoren und Proteinase-Inhibitoren während der zytostatischen Therapie der akuten Leukämie.

In 64 patients affected with acute leukaemia (51 patients with acute non-lymphatic leukaemia and 13 patients with acute lymphatic leukaemia) extensive investigations of blood coagulation were made during cytostatic therapy. The following conspicuous changes of haemostatasis could be observed in making the diagnosis: Lowered quick value and shortened PTT, increased fibrinogen, fibrinopeptide, A, alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin, diminished plasminogen and plasma fibrininectin. According to TAD (VP) protocol the induction therapy leads to hypercoagulability which can be recognized by an increase of fibrinopeptide A, coagulating factors and shortening of PTT. During the therapy with L-asparaginasis procoagulatoric as well as thromboprotective coagulating proteins are diminished. A dense laboratory control enables those disturbances of haemotasis caused by disease or therapy to be separated and contributes to preventing complications during the cytostatic induction therapy.

[Determination of alanine aminopeptidase and lactate dehydrogenase in the urine as a control over the patient's course after kidney transplantation]. / Die Bestimmung der Alaninaminopeptidase und der Laktatdehydrogenase im Urin als Verlaufskontrolle nach Nierentransplantation.

In 42 patients the determination of alanine aminopeptidase and lactate dehydrogenase in the urine was performed after transplantation of a kidney. In the evaluation of the enzyme activities it was referred to the clinically made rejection diagnosis as well as to the increase of the serum creatinine. We found out that with regard to the clinically made rejection diagnosis the alanine aminopeptidase in 56% and the lactate dehydrogenase in 55% of the cases showed an increase before the beginning of the rejection therapy. Before the corresponding increase of the serum creatinine we could establish an increase of the enzyme activity in the alanine aminopeptidase in 45% and in the lactate dehydrogenase in 65% of the cases. For a better interpretation of the urinary enzyme activities during the rejection crises the average activities of the enzymes immediately after the dismissal of the patients as well as three months, six months and one year after the transplantation are cited. From our investigation results that the daily determination of alanine aminopeptidase and lactate dehydrogenase in the urine is suited, taking into consideration other possible influence factors on the enzyme activity as well as other parameters, to support the diagnostics in finding the rejection after the transplantation of a kidney.

[Enzymatic and morphologic studies on long-term perfused dog kidneys]. / Enzymatische und morphologische Untersuchungen an langzeitperfundierten Hundenieren.

21 canine and 12 human kidneys were submitted to long-term perfusion for 24 hours. During that time LDH-activity, histologic, enzyme-histochemic, and ultrastructural examinations were carried out. The findings proved that kidneys with lesser damage from ischemia showed lower activities during the first 4 to 6 hours than kidneys which were more injured before. The latter showed the same ultrastructural alterations as kidneys after perfusion for 24 hours, which suggests an irreversible partial damage of the organ.