Anticardiolipin antibodies are an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke.

Our aim was to determine if anticardiolipin antibodies are an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke and to determine their influence on stroke type and clinical outcome. We prospectively studied 194 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke admitted within 48 h of stroke. A control group consisted of 100, age and sex matched, healthy individuals. Neurological and functional status was assessed on admission, at 30 days, and at 1 year. IgG anticardiolipin antibodies were significantly more frequent in stroke patients (25.3%) than controls (6%, p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis suggested that anticardiolipin antibodies are an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke in addition to hypertension and atrial fibrillation (RR = 2.94, p < 0.05). Elevated IgG anticardiolipin antibodies were associated with cognitive impairment as measured by the Mini Mental State Examination at 30 days and at 1 year. IgG anticardiolipin antibodies did not correlate with stroke recurrence, or mortality at 30 days or 1 year.

[Cause of hematuria in children with special consideration of urolithiasis. Personal observations]. / Przyczyny krwinkomoczu u dzieci, ze szczególna ocena stanu zagrozenia kamica ukladu moczowego. Obserwacje wlasne.

Microscopic hematuria was diagnosed in case of 102 children out of 2505 hospitalised in Provincial Special Hospital at Children's Ward, which is of all treated children. The most numerous age group were school children. The most common reason of microscopic hematuria was infection of urinary system which was found in case of 34 children (33%). Isolated microscopic hematuria was infection of urinary system which was found in case of 34 children (33%). Isolated microscopic hematuria was diagnosed in 39 cases (38%) and in 23 cases out of these, which is more than a half (59%), the threat of urolithiasis was recognised. The percentage of cases with the threat of urolithiasis with reference to the number of all children with microscopic hematuria was 23. This would suggest the necessity of examining patients in the direction of hypercrystalluria with microscopic hematuria, especially the isolated one. Increased excretion of uric acid was discovered in 52% cases, which is much more common than the increased excretion of calcium, stated in 35% cases of urolithiasis threat. In case of 13% of those children increased excretion of both above mentioned elements was discovered. In case of 16 children (15%) out of 102 children with microscopic hematuria, no final diagnosis was made and microscopic hematuria was supposed to be idiopathic.

Anticardiolipin antibodies, a disease marker for ischemic cerebrovascular events in a younger patient population?

The prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACLA) in sera of 49 patients having had their first TIA or ischemic stroke before 50 years of age was studied using a solid phase enzyme immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Five patients had IgM antibodies, eight had IgG, and three had antibodies belonging to both classes. Although ACLA were detected in 32% of patients (95% confidence interval [CI] 19-45%), the ACLA positive group did not differ with respect to clinical characteristics and distribution of major stroke risk factor frequency from the ACLA negative group. Further investigations are needed to establish the role of ACLA in the pathogenesis of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.

Latent collagenase of rheumatoid synovial fluid is not of granulocytic origin.

The physicochemical properties of three latent collagenases derived from rheumatoid synovial fluid, polymorphonuclear leucocytes and culture medium of rheumatoid synovium were compared. It has been shown that synovial fluid enzyme is similar to that of synovium collagenase from tissue culture and differs significantly in molecular size and protein charge from granulocyte collagenase. The results indicate that the latent, trypsin-activable collagenase present in rheumatoid synovial fluid is not of granulocytic origin and seems to derive from the synovial membrane.

Inhibition or stimulation of immediate, spontaneous rosette formation at various SRBC:lymphocyte ratios.

The active rosette-forming cell (ARFC) percentage was investigated in a group of 100 persons, consisting of 50 healthy blood donors, 30 cancer patients (CA), and 20 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The test was repeatedly performed using five SRBC:lymphocyte ratios: 10:1, 20:1, 5-:1, 100:1, and 200:1. In 18% of healthy donors and 30-40% of cancer patients, contrary to the remaining persons no relation between ARFC percentage and the SRBC:lymphocyte ratio was found. The "optimal" SRBC:lymphocyte ratio, varied from group to group and was 20:1 for most of RA patients, 50:1 for most of CA patients and 100:1 for most of healthy people. Sometimes, at higher SRBC:lymphocyte ratios a significant lowering of the ARFC percentage was found in relation to the optimal proportion for a given person, and this was observed for 200:1 ratio in 68% of healthy people, 54% of cancer patients and 90% of patients with RA. It is suggested, that ARFC test should be always performed at least in these three SRBC:lymphocyte ratios. Inhibition or stimulation of rosette formation by supernatant fluids of lymphocytes and SRBC suggest that SRBC release substances, which can directly or indirectly inhibit or stimulate rosette formation.