C-reactive protein and coronary composition in patients with percutaneous revascularization.

BACKGROUND: C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is considered a predictive factor for cardiovascular events and its serum levels have been shown to correlate with thin cap coronary plaques in sudden coronary death. Whether serum CRP levels are associated with in vivo atherothrombotic features is unclear. We thus analysed samples from coronary atherectomy specimens obtained during percutaneous coronary intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with coronary artery disease undergoing directional atherectomy, distinguished by unstable versus stable coronary syndrome diagnosis, provided coronary specimens from culprit lesions. Assessment was conducted by means of conventional histology, morphometry and immunohistochemistry. Specific antibodies against erythrocyte-specific protein glycophorin A, endothelial and macrophage antigens were also used. RESULTS: There were 51 patients with unstable coronary disease and 47 patients with stable angina. Serum CRP levels >/= 1 mg L(-1) were detected in 24/98 patients, and were significantly associated with hypercellularity, macrophage infiltrates, neoangiogenesis and intraplaque haemorrhage (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, coronary plaques from patients with unstable angina contained larger atheromas, more hypercellular plaques, with abundant macrophages, neoangiogenesis and intraplaque haemorrhages and lesser fibrous tissue (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a positive correlation between increased serum CRP levels and typical pathological features of complex atherothrombotic coronary disease, confirming in vivo the mechanistic role of CRP in coronary atherothrombosis.

[Tumor markers in colorectal neoplasm pathology: our experience of the diagnostic and prognostic importance of CEA antigen]. / I markers tumorali nella patologia neoplastica del colon-retto: nostra esperienza sul significato diagnostico e prognostico dell'antigene CEA.

It is well known that the presence of a tumour may be accompanied by production and release into the serum of a substantial number of protein and/or hormonal substances. Only relatively recently, however, have investigators begun to identify which of these supposed markers may actually be clinically useful. A picture is thus gradually emerging of a number of markers (in actual fact only very few) which are already clinically useful, as well as others which are clinically promising and numerous markers which require more thorough clinical evaluation. Prominent among those already in clinical use is undoubtedly CEA. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a glycoprotein isolated for the first time by Gold and Friedman in 1965. Very recently, sensitive radioimmune and immuno-enzymatic assays have made it possible to determine serum levels lower than 3 ng/ml. Though high plasma levels of CEA do not indicate the presence of a tumour with certainty, very high levels are, however, to some extent indicative of its existence. In view of the fact that CEA possesses neither the sensitivity nor the specificity to be able to diagnose the presence or otherwise of a tumour, its use is generally recommended when formulating a prognosis or for monitoring surgical and/or medical therapy (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) in asymptomatic patients. We therefore carried out tests in 357 patients on file as having undergone surgery for neoplasms of the colon-rectum-anus, monitored in our colostomy outpatients' department, which was started up in 1980. 188 of these patients had already been submitted to CEA assay prior to surgery. The data are analyzed in relation to the site, stage and grade of differentiation of the neoplasm, the supposed radicality of the operation and the period of follow-up in these patients.

Investigation on the pattern of polar lipids extracted from different strains of cultured cells.

The polar lipid patterns of several cell strains (EUE, L929, MT, RAG and TAZA) were compared by TLC separation in order to identify a typical lipid profile as a possible "strain marker". Phospholipids and sulfolipids were tested by colorimetric procedures. EUE and L929 contain smaller amounts of sulfolipids (2.4-3.9; 3.0-4.5) than RAG (4.4-12.0) or MT (10.5) (micrograms x 10(-6)/cell). MT and RAG contain higher phospholipid P concentration than other strains. (MT:14.0 whilst EUE 1.3-1.8 micrograms phospholipidic P x 10(-6)/cell). The patterns of lipidograms in the characterization of two cell strains are discussed in terms of their usefulness as rapid "fingerprint" in biochemical and histochemical analysis.