[Importance of the CRH (corticotropin releasing hormone) test in the differential diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome]. / Vrijednost CRH-testa u diferencijalnoj dijagnozi Cushingova sindroma.

In the group of 13 patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS) CRH test was performed by sampling the blood from peripheral vein and in eight patients also after inferior petrosal sinus catheterization (IPSC) to resolve the disease etiology. In the group of patients with Cushing's disease (CD, n = 11), which was proven by surgery and adenoma immunohistochemistry, 10/11 had in CRH test the significant increase of cortisol and ACTH in the peripheral blood. Among two patients with ectopic ACTH syndrome one had the significant increase of both hormones in CRH test. After IPSC the ratio of ACTH in the petrosal sinus and in the peripheral vein was significant in 4/8 patients before, and in 6/8 after CRH administration. The intersinus gradient was significant in 3/8 patients before, and in 4/8 after CRH test. According to our results we can conclude that the determination of ACTH in the blood from peripheral veins after CRH administration is a very sensitive method for differential diagnosis of CS, while the results after IPSC were less sensitive in our conditions than those described in the literature.

Cytological and biochemical methods for the characterization of in vitro cultured cells.

The aim of our presentation was to show how we characterize cells cultured in monolayer system. Cytological and biochemical methods were used. Ovarian Krukenberg tumour fibroblasts were investigated and findings were correlated with normal human diploids (HDZ1) and with fibroblasts obtained from Blighted ovum. Cytomorphologically Malignancy associated changes in the tumour fibroblasts were found. Cytochemically acid phosphatase and alpha-naphtyl-esterase were positive (+++). PAS reaction was doubled in 18th passage. Cytogenetically normal human diploids were found. Biochemically enzymatic assay showed phosphopentose shunt is decreased in tumour fibroblasts and alpha-glucosidase and beta-galactosidase activities were significantly lower in these cells. A form of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase fell during the investigation from normal 75% to lower percent (42% of the total activity). Much more parameters were obtained by different methods and Krukenberg tumour fibroblasts may be better understood. In vitro investigation makes a contribution to biomedical knowledge in cancer research.