[Variabilities of kinetics of alcohol catabolism]. / Az alkoholbontás kinetikájának változékonysága.

The resorption, distribution and elimination of ethanol vary individually. The differences in the resorption deficit and elimination coefficient can be of great extent. Though the generally accepted average of resorption deficit is 20%, which is calculated with in forensic practice, this value can occasionally be a lot higher. The elimination coefficient (beta value) depends on the blood alcohol level. Beta value was found higher than 0.15%o/h, the generally accepted one, even below 1.5% blood alcohol content, above 2.5% the beta value was found to be as high as 0.33%o h. This faster rate of ethanol clearance is due to induction of alcohol elimination systems. The ethanol metabolism at higher blood alcohol levels is characterized by Michaelis-Menten kinetics.

Platelets in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura are increased in size but are of normal density.

To determine whether platelet size and volume are related to one another or to platelet age, subpopulations of platelets from patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) have been produced on the basis of density using Percoll gradients. The density distribution of platelets from patients with ITP and from patients with other forms of thrombocytopenia (thought to be nonimmune in nature) was the same as in normal controls. However, the platelets in each density subpopulation from ITP patients were increased in size. beta-thromboglobulin (beta TG) content of platelets from each patient group and the normals increased with density and tended to be higher in ITP than in normal controls. beta TG concentration per unit platelet volume and its level in plasma were similar in ITP patients and in normal controls. This suggests that the apparently normal density of ITP platelets was not a result of degranulation of large, dense platelets. Thus platelet size and density are independently determined and the increased size of platelets in immune thrombocytopenia may be the result of abnormalities in their production.

Relationship of platelet-associated immunoglobulin G and platelet protein to platelet size and density in normal individuals and patients with thrombocytopenia.

Total platelet-associated immunoglobulin G (PA-IgG) and platelet volume and protein content in normal individuals and in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and other thrombocytopenias of presumed nonimmune origin have been measured on platelets separated into subpopulations on the basis of density on continuous polyvinylpyrrolidone (Percoll) gradients. In all subjects PA-IgG per platelet was primarily found in the lightest platelets at levels up to sevenfold greater than in the heavier platelets. PA-IgG level per platelet was raised in light platelets in 29% of patients with thrombocytopenia and in heavy platelets in 60%. In almost half of these instances the PA-IgG level fell to within the normal range when considered in relation to either platelet volume or protein content. PA-IgG levels of patients with untreated ITP did not differ significantly from those with treated ITP or thrombocytopenia of other causes. Mean platelet volume and protein content of the total platelet population of all subjects showed significant linear correlation (P less than 0.01). Thus PA-IgG of both controls and patients with thrombocytopenia of all causes is preferentially located in the lightest platelets, but increases in PA-IgG in immune thrombocytopenias occur more frequently in the heavier platelets. These findings suggest that part of the process of IgG accumulation by platelets is the same in normal individuals as in patients with thrombocytopenia.

The combined use of transluminal angioplasty and selective clot lysis.

14 cases of transluminal angioplasty and selective clot lysis are reported. One patient removed the catheter before successful lysis and one lost his leg after an almost complete lysis due to advanced necrosis. Treatment was successful in the other 12 cases with complete or partial thrombolysis. Remaining clots were either smashed by catheter and/or successfully treated by oral fibrinolytic therapy. The injected dose of streptokinase was 5,000 U/h after an initial dose of 20,000 U in one hand injection. The duration of infusions was 6-72 hours. A total dose of 60,000-520,000 U streptokinase was adopted. Intraarterial infusion therapy was followed by long-term low-grade fibrinolytic treatment with oral penthosan polysulphate. Four bleedings at the puncture site, one epistaxis and a bleeding at the site of a recently extracted tooth were seen. Only one infusion was stopped due to moderate bleeding and without any drawback.

Double 9;22 translocation with hyperdiploidy appearing in blastic transformation of chronic granulocytic leukemia.

Chromosome studies in a 26-year-old female with Ph1-positive chronic granulocytic leukemia showed the development of both hyperdiploid and tetraploid cell lines in the blastic transformation phase. An additional 9;22 translocation and additional chromosomes No. 8, 11, 13 and 22 were found in the hyperdiploid cell line. This unusual finding suggests that the hyperdiploidy may have developed from misdivisions in the tetraploid cell line rather than by the more accepted mechanism of nondisjunction or selective endoreduplication from a diploid cell.