Expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-6 receptors has been demonstrated in Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (H and RS) cells in vitro and in vivo. In order to evaluate the clinical significance of IL-6 serum levels in patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD), we tested the sera of 56 untreated patients with HD by means of a sensitive sandwich ELISA. While IL-6 was only rarely detectable in healthy controls or patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 32 of 56 patients (57 per cent) had detectable IL-6 levels (range 12-32 pg/ml). The rates of detectable IL-6 levels and the median levels were not correlated with age, sex, histological subtype, stage or the presence of B-symptoms, nor with any of a wide spectrum of laboratory parameters tested, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, total leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, serum levels of soluble CD8, CD25 or CD30. The rates of complete remissions and freedom from treatment failure were not different in IL-6-negative and IL-6-positive patients. Except in one of 23 follow-up sera taken after therapy, IL-6 was no longer detectable even for patients who suffered from progressing disease, suggesting that the neoplastic H and RS cells are not the major source of circulating IL-6.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Multiplane transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation of transvenous defibrillation leads.

Permanent transvenous cardioverter-defibrillator leads were investigated by multiplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) (1) to determine whether intracardiac lead segments can be visualized, (2) to verify the position of the coils, and (3) to detect possible thrombus formation. The diagnostic information obtained in 62 patients by TEE was compared to that of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Abnormal findings were only visualized by multiplane TEE. However, further controlled studies are needed to determine the clinical relevance of displaced caval (one patient) and ventricular coils (15 patients), ventricular (1 patient) or atrial (6 patients) loops, and of clinically uneventful thrombi (13 patients).

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gamma-chain T-cell receptor transcripts are clonally expanded in the coronary arteries of cardiac allografts from patients with chronic rejection.

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Chronic Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of surgical draping on bacterial contamination in the surgical field].

Standardized samples were taken from the skin of 100 patients immediately before and after their hip operation. 50 patients were operated with and 50 patients without use of plastic drapes. The samples were evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively by the employment of usual microbiological methods. The statistical analysis revealed that at the end of the operations there were a) as many microbes on the drape as on the skin where no drape had been used and b) many more microbes under the drapes than either on them or on undraped skin. The value of the plastic drape as a means of preventing infections has to be doubted. Discontinuing the use of plastic drapes seems to be justified.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Thermal injury and gastrointestinal function. II. Evidence for the production of hepatic dysfunction in the rat following acute burn injury.

Following acute thermal injury to rats produced by scalding water, there was marked elevation of a number of plasma enzyme activities, including GOT, GPT, and 5'-nucleotidase, suggesting hepatic dysfunction. Changes in plasma enzyme activities were observed within minutes following application of acute burn trauma, and remained elevated for at least one month. The magnitude of the elevations of the plasma enzyme activities was dependent upon the length of time the acute burn trauma was applied to the skin and/or the percentage of skin surface area burned. These changes in plasma enzyme activity correlated with histologic examination of the hepatic tissue, indicating single cell necrosis. These data suggest that acute burn trauma to rats is associated with altered hepatic function.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of irreversible dermal necrosis on phagocytic activity of reticuloendothelial system.

A model of full-thickness dermal necrosis was produced in rats by the application of liquid nitrogen to a 20% total body surface area of the dorsal skin surface. In this model there was an alteration of reticuloendothelial system phagocytic activity of the lung and spleen as measured by the uptake of technetium 99m-labeled sulfur colloid in vivo. The present results suggest that marked alterations in reticuloendothelial system phagocytic activity can be produced by full-thickness dermal necrosis in the absence of heat.

Animals↗