[Use of specific immunoglobulin G antibody avidity in the differential diagnosis of active and chronic Toxocara canis infections]. / Zastosowanie awidnosci swoistych przeciwcial IgG dla róznicowania aktywnego i przewleklego okresu zarazenia Toxocara canis.

To differentiate between acute and past Toxocara canis infections, a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, based on the dissociation of antigen-antibody complex with 6 M urea solution was used to measure levels of avidity of specific immunoglobulin G antibody against Toxocara canis excretory-secretory antigen. IgG avidity index was determined in the sera of 212 patients, divided into two groups with various stages of Toxocara infection. Patients were classified according to time period, from the onset of clinical symptoms or first positive serology result. Low IgG avidity index was found in the sera of 6.6% of patients in the acute phase, and all samples from the chronic stage of infection were characterized by high avidity values above 0.5 (mean 0.74). It was documented, that the avidity test for specific IgG antibodies is a valuable diagnostic method that helps to distinguish the early from the later phase of Toxocara canis infection. Indications for anti-parasitic treatment according to immunological activity of Toxocara infection were discussed.

[Evaluation of a risk of a cross-reactivity with Echinococcus multilocularis-specific Em2plus antigen in patients with liver cancer]. / Ocena ryzyka wystepowania niespecyficznych reakcji krzyzowych z antygenem Em2plus Echinococcus multilocularis u pacjentów z nowotworami watroby.

The incidence of non-specific reactions with E. multilocularis antigen in patients with liver malignancies, and the risk of a supradiagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) in space-occupying lesions in the liver due to neoplastic proliferative diseases were studied. Analysis of specific IgG serum antibody against Em2plus antigenic complex was performed in 11 AE patients in comparison to 76 individuals with malignant neoplasms of abdominal or extra-hepatic location, including some patients with primary hepatocellular cancer or distant metastases to liver, and 42 patients with benign hepatic lesions. Only one false borderline result was reported in a case with colorectal cancer, and dissemination to liver. Low risk of false positive results with E. multilocularis-specific Em2plus antigen in patients with liver malignancies makes the test valuable for practical reasons in a differential diagnosis of irregular tumor masses visualized by imaging techniques.

[Role of adhesion molecules in a determination of progression stages and clinical prognosis of patients with Echinococcus multilocularis]. / Rola czasteczek adhezyjnych w ocenie stopnia zaawansowania i prognozowania klinicznego przypadków Echinococcus multilocularis.

Alveococcosis in humans is characterized by a tumor-like growth with a tendency to infiltration of neighbouring organs or metastases formation in the lungs and brain. The study aimed to improve on the clinical evaluation of patients with alveolar echinococcosis (AE) and to determine the risk of metacestode spreading to adjacent tissues or distant organs by a detection of adhesion molecules involved in the tumorigenesis process. Serum concentrations of sPECAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin adhesion molecules were studied in 8 AE patients in comparison to 75 cases with malignant neoplasms, including cases with tumors of hepatic and extra-hepatic location. The adhesion molecules were found to be early predictive markers of the active, tissue infiltrated alveococcosis with the risk of parasite spreading through the circulation. High serum levels of soluble PECAM-1 molecule were strongly related to the advanced, progressive disease and the fatality of patients' clinical prognosis.