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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Discrimination analysis as a tool for classifying the value of biochemical and immunological tests in lung cancer.

The data obtained with routine biochemical, immunological and haematological tests in healthy blood donors and in patients with lung cancer were subjected to discrimination analysis with the aim to select the minimum possible combination of methods with the highest probability of distinguishing between the two groups. Transformation of lymphocytes (TR.LY) after PHA stimulation, formation of E-rosettes (E-ROS), and blood glycoproteins (GP) were shown to permit the most complete differentiation between the group of patients and the blood donors. On the basis of the above-mentioned tests the discrimination rule could be defined: IF 52,73249 - 0.45913 X E-ROS - 0.40752 X TR.LY + 0.02790 X GP greater than or equal to 0, then the investigated person is classified as a cancer patient while at values less than 0 the person is classified as a healthy individual.

Computers↗

Lupus anticoagulants and thrombosis: clinical association of different coagulation and immunologic tests.

The dilute Russell's viper venom time (dRVVT) and the kaolin clotting time (KCT) are two among the most commonly used coagulation tests for the detection of lupus anticoagulants. The dRVVT seems superior to the KCT in identifying LA-positive patients at risk of thrombosis. However, this relationship is greatly influenced by both the source of reagents and the instrumentation employed to carry out the assays. Therefore, 4 dRVVTs ("home-made" dRVVT, DVV test, Bioclot LA, LA Screen), and one KCT (Kaoclot) were performed in two centers and compared for their retrospective correlation with the thrombotic complications of 72 patients with a previously established diagnosis of lupus anticoagulants. Two other assays ("home-made" KCT, and Colloidal Silica Clotting Time, CSCT) were performed in one of the two centers, and compared with Kaoclot for their clinical correlations in the same population of patients, 44 of whom (61%) had suffered from arterial and/or venous thrombosis. A rather good degree of inter-laboratory and inter-assay correlations of the different tests was found. However, a statistically significant association with thrombosis was found only with the coagulation profile generated using the "home-made" dRVVT. When the commercially available dRVVTs were used, none of the coagulation profiles remained associated with thrombosis. When the assays were analyzed separately, the association with thrombosis was statistically significant for LA screen (p = 0.0019), DVV test (p = 0.0043), and Bioclot (p = 0.0255), and of borderline significance for the "home-made" dRVVT (p = 0.0503) in one center. This last assay was also significantly associated with thrombosis in the other center (p = 0.0139). When venous and arterial thrombosis were considered separately, DVV test was statistically associated with venous thrombosis in both centers (p = 0.0076 and p = 0.0187, respectively), and LA screen in one center (p = 0.0303). No dRVVT was found to correlate with arterial thrombosis. Kaoclot, Colloidal Silica Clotting Time, and the "home-made" KCT did not correlate with thrombosis. The prevalence of IgG and/or IgM antibodies to cardiolipin, beta2-glycoprotein I and prothrombin were 74%, 86% and 85%, respectively. Increased titers of IgG anticardiolipin antibodies were associated with arterial thrombosis (p = 0.0375), whereas IgM anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies were associated with venous thrombosis (p = 0.0433). In conclusion, these retrospective data support the notion that the dRVVT, rather than other coagulation or ELISA tests, are able to identify lupus anticoagulant-positive patients at risk of thrombosis. This property appears common to several commercially available dRVVT kits, making this type of assay the ideal target of future efforts of laboratory standardization.

Adult↗

Prediction of survival in gynecological cancer based on immunological tests.

Patients with advanced cancer have a depressed immunological function. We performed a battery of tests on peripheral blood samples from 42 patients with gynecological cancer to determine the extent to which this depression was due to abnormal lymphocyte function, as compared to changes in the number of lymphoid cells in the peripheral blood or in the efficiency of purification of cells in Ficoll:Hypaque gradients in preparation for testing. The percentage of lymphocytes in the gradient-derived cell suspension (% LG) and the absolute lymphocyte count were more informative than mitogen stimulation, mixed leukocyte culture, and T- and B-cell measurements. Both values decreased significantly with the advancing stage of cancer, and we were able to predict survival of patients with uniform stage of disease. The % LG correlated with survival better than did any other test when multivariate analyses of all test combinations were performed. Low values of % LG reflected both the depressed lymphocyte counts and the altered buoyant density of the leukocytes of many patients with advanced cancer. A large portion of the depression in other immune function tests was statistically attributed to changes in % LG and the lymphocyte counts. We concluded that these two simple measurements provide valuable information about patients with gynecological cancer.

Female↗

Specific immunological test for the rapid identification of members of the genus Histoplasma.

A sensitive and specific immunological method was developed for rapid identification of the mycelial forms of Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum, H. capsulatum var. duboisii, and H. farciminosum and for separation of these pathogenic fungi from morphologically similar hyphomycetes and other fungal pathogens. This method is based on the fact that all of the Histoplasma spp. produce H and M histoplasmin antigens, whereas the other fungi do not. Inocula consisting of heavy mycelial growth from a pure, full-grown culture were transferred into flasks containing small volumes of brain heart infusion broth. These cultures were placed on a shaker and grown at 25 C. Using the micro-immunodiffusion technique and antisera containing antibodies to H and M precipitinogens, we detected exoantigens in 3-day-old brain heart infusion culture supernatants concentrated 25 and 50 times. The ability of the procedure to identify Histoplasma spp. was evaluated by testing 96 unknown mycelial cultures that grossly or microscopically resembled Histoplasma spp. Three- and six-day-old concentrated culture supernatants prepared from each unknown were tested against rabbit anti-Arthroderma tuberculatum, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, H. capsulatum var. duboisii, and Corynascus (Thielavia) sepedonium sera and human histoplasmosis case serum. Each unknown was also identified by conventional laboratory procedures involving cultural and, where necessary, in vivo studies. In the comparative evaluation the immunological test was observed to be 100% sensitive. It permitted the accurate generic identification of the Histoplasma spp. within 5 days, in contrast to the average of 33 days required by the routine mycological procedure.

Antigens, Fungal↗

Serial immunological testing in patients with gastric cancer.

Standard immunological parameters measuring non-specific cellular immune reactivity were determined in 175 patients with different stages of gastric cancer prior to surgery and during follow-up. Several tests measuring monocyte activity were also employed. The total number of T cells and their subpopulations Ta and T29o was unchanged except depression of T29o in stage IV. The blastogenic response of lymphocytes to PHA as assessed by stimulation of protein synthesis was only depressed in stage IV. In contrast the PHA-induced lymphokine production was increased in all patients but the differences were significant for stage III and IV. Monocyte Fc receptor expression was increased in stages II-IV, while nitro blue tetrazolium reduction and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity of monocytes was elevated in stage IV. The number of extractable monocytes was not increased. Longitudinal studies suggested that most of the parameters normalized during follow-up. No major long-term impact of chemoimmunotherapy (5-FU + BCG) on the immune parameters was observed except a transient increase in PPD reactivity approximately 1 year after commencement of treatment. In patients with stage III gastric cancer the increased occurrence of suppressor cells (mostly monocytes) and elevated cytostatic activity of monocytes was associated with a longer survival while the increased lymphokine production and Fc receptor expression were seen in the group of patients succumbing earlier. We concluded that most of the changes in immune parameters were seen only in advanced disease and paradoxically disappeared in the course of disease. The determination of monocyte activity seems to be a sensitive indicator of immune system dearrangements in earlier stages of cancer and a useful prognostic factor in gastric cancer.

Adult↗

[Model for immunologic testing of biomaterials].

Corrosion products and electric fields are capable of changing proteins to antigens, thus permitting the immunological system to identify the biomaterial as foreign. The reaction between corrosion products and a macro-molecule also leads to an antigen (carrier antigen), such as conformational changes of a macro-molecule, e.g. a protein, caused by the electric field at the implant surface (modified macro-molecule antigen). While the sensitivity to corrosion and the effectiveness of galvanic elements is measurable by electrochemical methods, suitable methods of determining the field strength in the vicinity of biomaterial surfaces are still unavailable. The influence of the double layer of uncoated and coated titanium surfaces on the conformation of proteins and their conversion to antigens are investigated with polyclonal antibodies capable of identifying the unchanged protein despite adsorption to the surface. 14C-marked Bovine Serum Albumin serves as a model protein. Determination of the total number of protein molecules adsorbed is effected via the detection of the emitted electrons. The quotient of the concentration of natural proteins to the concentration of adsorbed molecules gives the biocompatibility index, which is independent of the surface area, and gives an indication of the expected biocompatibility of the material. The results of the biological tests of titanium and two coating materials on titanium were confirmed in an animal experiment. It is possible that in the future immunological tests may replace experiments in animals.

Animals↗