O papel da concentração salivar e sérica da proteína SLPI (inibidor de protease secretada por leucócitos) na progressão do carcinoma epidermoide da cavidade bucal / The Role of Tumor Expression and Salivary and Serum Concentration of Protein SLPI (Protein Inhibitor Secreted by Leukocytes) in Progression of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity

Introdução: A avaliação dos processos inflamatórios em pacientes com tumores de boca é assunto atual na literatura científica. Poucos estudos, entretanto avaliaram a expressão da Proteína Inibidora de Protease Secretada por Leucócito (SLPI), marcador específico de inflamação, em pacientes com câncer de boca Objetivos: 1.Descrever a frequência da concentração de SLPI salivar e sérica em pacientes com câncer bucal. 2. Avaliar a associação dessas concentrações com características clínicas, sociodemográficas e de estilo de vida. Metodologia: Realizou-se a quantificação de SLPI em soro por meio do teste ELISA em pacientes com carcinoma epidermoide da cavidade bucal atendidos no Hospital Heliópolis da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Estado de São Paulo no período entre 2011 e 2017. Dados relativos a estadiamento do tumor, características sócio demográficas dos pacientes, hábitos alimentares e estilo de vida foram coletados por meio de prontuários médicos e questionários aplicados aos pacientes. Foram realizados teste de correlação de Spearman e teste qui-quadrado para testar possíveis associações. Resultados: Foram encontradas: correlação positiva entre SLPI em saliva maços-ano de tabagismo (p=0,03) e correlação negativa entre SLPI bochecho para frequência no consumo de carne vermelha (p=0,01). A quantificação de SLPI em soro por quartis apresentou associação com significância estatística para escolaridade (maior proporção de pessoas com ensino médio completo no quartil mais baixo de SLPI), frequência de escovação dentária (maior proporção de pessoas que escovam os dentes mais do que uma vez por dia no quartil com maior SLPI) e estadiamento patológico (2º quartil com maior proporção de estadiamentos 3 e 4). Na avaliação de SLPI em saliva e bochecho, houve associação com o consumo de carne vermelha, havendo indivíduos com consumo mais baixo apenas nos quartis mais superiores de SLPI Conclusão: Este estudo concorda com a hipótese de que o SLPI em pacientes com câncer de boca se relaciona com estilo de vida e estadiamento da lesão

Introduction: The evaluation of inflammatory processes in patients with oral tumors is a current topic in the scientific literature. Few studies, however, have evaluated the expression of the Leukocyte Secreted Protein Inhibitor Protein (SLPI), a specific marker of inflammation in patients with oral cancer. Objectives: 1. To describe the frequency of salivary and serum SLPI in patients with oral cancer. 2. To evaluate the association of these concentrations with clinical, sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. Methodology: Serum SLPI was quantified by ELISA in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity treated at the Hospital Heliópolis of the State Health Department of the State of São Paulo in the period between 2011 and 2017. Data on staging of the tumor, socio-demographic characteristics of patients, eating habits and lifestyle were collected through medical records and questionnaires applied to patients. Spearman\'s correlation test and chi-square test were performed to test possible associations. Results: There was a positive correlation between SLPI in saliva and malnutrition SLPI (p = 0.03). The quantification of SLPI in serum by quartiles was associated with statistical significance for schooling (higher proportion of people with complete secondary education in the lowest quartile of SLPI), frequency of toothbrushing (a higher proportion of people brushing their teeth more than once per day in quartile with higher SLPI) and pathological staging (2nd quartile with a higher proportion of stages 3 and 4). In the evaluation of SLPI in saliva and mouthwash, there was an association with red meat consumption, with individuals with lower consumption only in the higher quartiles of SLPI. Conclusion: This study agrees with the hypothesis that SLPI in patients with oral cancer is related to lifestyle and staging of the lesion

Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Measurement of Leukocyte Arylsulfatase A Activity Using a Natural Substrate

No abstract available.

Cuantificación de actividad enzimática en leucocitos para el diagnóstico de mucopolisacaridosis tipo II y tipo IVA / Quantification of enzymatic activity in leukocytes for the diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidosis type II and type IVA

INTRODUCCIÓN: La mucopolisacaridosis tipo II y tipo IVA son enfermedades causadas por la deficiencia de las enzimas iduronato 2 sulfato sulfatasa y galactosamina 6 sulfato sulfatasa respectivamente. El depósito resultante de glucosaminoglicanos produce manifestaciones clínicas variadas. Aunque se han propuesto varias alternativas diagnósticas, tales como el examen físico, la cuantificación de glucosaminoglicanos en orina y la cuantificación de la actividad enzimática en leucocitos, la utilidad diagnóstica de esta última no ha sido estudiada en la práctica clínica rutinaria. La posibilidad de ofrecer terapia de reemplazo enzimático a estos pacientes obliga a evaluar la utilidad de la cuantificación de actividad enzimática para confirmar el diagnóstico de estas entidades. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la utilidad diagnóstica de la cuantificación de actividad enzimática de la iduronato 2 sulfato sulfatasa en leucocitos para la confirmación diagnóstica de la MPS tipo II y la galactosamina 6 sulfato sulfatasa en leucocitos para la confirmación diagnóstica de la MPS tipo IVA. Esta revisión no contempla la evaluación de la utilidad diagnóstica del examen físico, glucosaminoglicanos en orina o pruebas moleculares. METODOLOGÍA: Se realizó una búsqueda de las revisiones panorámicas y sistemáticas de los últimos cinco años y estudios de validez diagnóstica, cohortes descriptivas y series de casos sin límite de fecha en MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, DARE, LILACS y Google. Los artículos debían estar en texto completo, en inglés o español. Se excluyeron artículos que describieran mutaciones o manifestaciones clínicas de un sistema u órgano específico. Los estudios con criterios de elegibilidad fueron evaluados por dos revisores independientes. A los estudios incluidos se extrajo información sociodemográfica, clínica y métodos diagnósticos empleados. RESULTADOS: No se encontró ninguna revisión panorámica, sistemática o estudio de validez diagnóstica para MPS tipo II o IVA. Se incluyeron 3 estudios de serie de casos para MPS tipo II y 13 series de casos para MPS tipo IVA. El 100% de los estudios de MPS tipo II incluyeron la cuantificación enzimática como prueba confirmatoria. El 63.6% (7/11) de las series de casos de MPS tipo IVA incluyeron la cuantificación enzimática en leucocitos como prueba confirmatoria, el 18.1% (2/11) no la incluyeron por falta de disponibilidad de la tecnología y el otro 18.1% (2/11) por publicación del artículo antes de la fecha de introducción de la tecnología. CONCLUSIONES: La cuantificación de la actividad enzimática de la iduronato 2 sulfato sulfatasa y la galactosamina 6 sulfato sulfatasa en leucocitos representa una tecnología diagnóstica útil para confirmar MPS tipo II y MPS tipo IVA respectivamente en pacientes con sospecha clínica de dichas entidades.(AU)

Use of Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Newborn Screening of 6 Lysosomal Storage Disorders in a Korean Population / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the performance of multiplex tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in newborn screening for detection of 6 lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs), namely, Niemann-Pick A/B, Krabbe, Gaucher, Fabry, and Pompe diseases and Hurler syndrome. METHODS: We revised the conditions and procedures of multiplex enzyme assay for the MS/MS analysis and determined the precision of our enzyme assay and the effects of sample amounts and incubation time on the results. We also measured the degree of correlation between the enzyme activities in the dried blood spots (DBSs) and those in the leukocytes. DBSs of 211 normal newborns and 13 newborns with various LSDs were analyzed using our revised methods. RESULTS: The intra- and inter-assay precisions were 2.9-18.7% and 8.1-18.1%, respectively. The amount of product obtained was proportional to the DBS eluate volume, but a slight flattening was observed in the product vs. sample volume curve at higher sample volumes. For each enzyme assay, the amount of product obtained increased linearly with the incubation period (range, 0-24 hr). Passing and Bablok regression analysis revealed that the enzyme activities in the DBSs and those in the leukocytes were favorably correlated. The enzyme activities measured in the DBSs were consistently lower in patients with LSDs than in normal newborns. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of our revised techniques for MS/MS detection and enzyme assays was of the generally acceptable standard. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of MS/MS for newborn screening of LSDs in an Asian population.

Enhanced cytochrome C oxidase activity in WBC of COPD patients

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] is characterized by decreased expiratory flow rates, increased pulmonary resistance and hyperinflation. Cytochrome C Oxidase [COX] as a key oxidative enzyme modulates oxygen uptake and catalyzes the oxidation of reduced cytochrome C by molecular oxygen. In vitro studies indicate that the activity of COX can be directly regulated by the presence of molecular oxygen. Thus, a better understanding of the role of COX in patients with COPD can provide an important link between the availability of oxygen to tissues and the regulation of oxygen uptake and energy production in these patients. We studied 42 COPD patients [36 males, 6 females] with clinically stable conditions and 50 [42 males, 8 females] healthy sedentary volunteers of similar age. Whole blood was collected by venipuncture in sodium citrate tubes and WBCs were separated by Ficoll according to standard protocol and lysed with microtube pestle homogenizer. The homogenates were centrifuged and the supernatants were used as a cell extract for COX activity determination. Aliquots of this were assayed for total protein content and COX activity. Analysis of COX activity was performed using COX assay kit. Absolute specific COX activity was normalized for total protein. Relative activities were determined by dividing absolute specific COX activity on absolute specific citrate synthase activity. Mitochondrial COX activity and specific activity [absolute and relative] significantly increased in WBCs of patients with COPD in comparison with control samples [p< 0.05] These results indicated that the activity of COX was increased in WBCs of patients with COPD but whether this is a primary or secondary change relevant to hypoxic condition in these patients is not clear and needs further investigation.

Study of leukocytic hydrolytic enzymes in patients with acute stage of coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major killer worldwide. Atherosclerosis, which is the basis of CHD, is believed to be an inflammatory disorder. Though various aspects of atherosclerosis are extensively studied, leukocytic hydrolytic enzymes are not studied very well with respect to CHD. AIM: This study was planned to assess changes associated with leukocytic hydrolases in CHD patients. SETTING AND DESIGN: A tertiary care hospital; case-control study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 106 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 60 patients with unstable angina and 45 healthy controls were included in the study. Acid phosphatase, lysozyme, adenosine deaminase (ADA) and cathepsin-G levels were estimated from leukocytes. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical comparison of data was done using student's t-test (unpaired). Correlation difference was calculated by using Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Significantly higher levels of acid phosphatase, lysozyme, ADA with lower levels of cathepsin G in leukocytes were observed in CHD group. We also found significantly higher levels of serum MDA with lower concentrations of blood GSH in CHD group. In diabetic CHD group, significantly higher levels of leukocytic acid phosphatase, lysozyme, ADA and serum MDA with lower levels of cathepsin G and blood GSH were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that leukocyte hydrolytic enzymes, mainly acid phosphatase, lysozyme and ADA were more active in CHD patients and may contribute to inflammation related with CHD. Its also indicates that leukocyte cathepsin-G may have antiinflammatory role.

Wolman disease: diagnosis by leucocyte acid lipase estimation.

Wolman disease is a rare fatal autosomal recessive disorder caused by absence of acid lipase enzyme leading to accumulation of cholesterol ester. Hepatosplenomegaly is a constant feature and occurs as early as fourth day of life. Progressive mental deterioration may occur after few weeks of onset of symptoms. Adrenal calcification seen on X-ray abdomen, USG or CT scan is the hallmark of Wolman disease. For the first time in Indian literature, the authors report a case of Wolman disease that was confirmed by acid lipase enzyme estimation.

Determinación de células peroxidasa positivas en líquido seminal: es un parámetro confiable para el diagnóstico de infección genital asintomática? / Determination of peroxidase positive cells in semen: is it a secure parameter for the diagnosis of silent genital infections?

BACKGROUND: The presence of leukocytes, detected by peroxidase test in semen, can be a good indicator of infections in the male genital tract. Peroxidase positive cells have been positively correlated with elevated values of elastase, one of the major proteases liberated by granulocytes at the inflammation place. However, seminal granulocytes may not be adequately detected by the peroxidase test in comparison with immunological methods. AIM: To correlate the determination of peroxidase positive cells with the elastase level in the seminal plasma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seminal plasma from 64 patients with a high number of round cells (> 106/ml) in semen, was studied. Correlation analysis was done using the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: No correlation between the level of granulocyte elastase and the number of peroxidase positive cells (r = 0.2237, p > 0.05), or even the number of round cells (r = 0.03934, p > 0.05) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the determination of peroxidase positive cells is not a reliable indicator of leukocytes in the seminal plasma and their absence do not discard a silent genital tract infection.

Effect of collection, transport, processing and storage of blood specimens on the activity of lysosomal enzymes in plasma and leukocytes

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of different conditions of collection, transport and storage on the quality of blood samples from normal individuals in terms of the activity of the enzymes Beta-glucuronidase, total hexosaminidase, hexosaminidase A, arylsulfatase A and Beta-galactosidase. The enzyme activities were not affected by the different materials used for collection (plastic syringes or vacuum glass tubes). In the evaluation of different heparin concentrations (10 percent heparin, 5 percent heparin, and heparinized syringe) in the syringes, it was observed that higher doses resulted in an increase of at least 1-fold in the activities of Beta-galactosidase, total hexosaminidase and hexosaminidase A in leukocytes, and Beta-glucuronidase in plasma. When the effects of time and means of transportation were studied, samples that had been kept at room temperature showed higher deterioration with time (72 and 96 h) before processing, and in this case it was impossible to isolate leukocytes from most samples. Comparison of heparin and acid citrate-dextrose (ACD) as anticoagulants revealed that Beta-glucuronidase and hexosaminidase activities in plasma reached levels near the lower normal limits when ACD was used. In conclusion, we observed that heparin should be used as the preferable anticoagulant when measuring these lysosomal enzyme activities, and we recommend that, when transport time is more than 24 h, samples should be shipped by air in a styrofoam box containing wet ice

Increased levels of multiple forms of dihydrofolate reductase in peripheral blood leucocytes of cancer patients receiving haematopoietic colony-stimulating factors: interim analysis

The precise mechanism whereby granulocytes proliferate when haematopoietic colony stimulating factors (CSFs) are used in neutropenic cancer patients is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether these cytokines bring about leucocyte proliferation by increasing the levels of multiple forms of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Blood samples were collected from 36 cancer patients (25 males and 11 females) with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. One sample of blood from each patient was obtained before therapy either with CSF, such as granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or with placebo, and another one at the time of resolution of neutropenia. Peripheral blood leucocytes in these blood samples were counted, separated and lysed. From lysates, cytoplasmic samples were prepared and analyzed for active DHFR by a methotrexate-binding assay and for total immunoreactive DHFR by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The increase in total leucocyte count (TLC) was most prominent (P < 0.005) in the CSF group and less so (P < 0.05) in the placebo group. The mean +/- SD concentration values of active DHFR before and after stimulation with GM-CSF found were to be 0.34 +/- 0.4 ng/mg protein and 0.99 +/- 0.82 ng/mg protein, respectively, and in the group treated with G-CSF, 0.24 +/- 0.32 ng/mg protein and 1.18 +/- 2.4 ng/mg protein, respectively. This increase in active DHFR after stimulation with CSF was statistically significant (P <0.05). Similarly, concentration values of immunoreactive but nonfunctional form of DHFR (IRE) were 110 +/- 97 ng/mg protein and 605 +/- 475 ng/mg protein before and after stimulation with GM-CSF, and 115 +/- 165 ng/mg protein and 1,054 +/- 1,095 ng/ mg protein before and after stimulation with G-CSF. This increase in concentration of IRE after stimulation with GM-CSF or G-CSF was statistically significant (P < 0.005). In the control group, there was an increase in the concentration of both active DHFR and IRE after treatment with placebo. However, this was not statistically significant. Resolution of neutropenia was quicker in the groups treated with CSF compared to the control group. Results of this study indicate that colony stimulating factors (G-CSF and GM-CSF) induce white cell proliferation by increasing the levels of multiple forms of DHFR.

Cuantificación de neutrófilos fecales mediante la determinacián de MPO (Mieloperoxidasa) en pacientes con diarrea invasiva / Quantify of fecal neutrophils by MPO (myeloperoxidase) determination in patients with invasive diarrhea

La mieloperoxidasa (MPO) es una enzima especifíca de los polimorfonucleares neutrófilos, la cual ha sido previamente usada para cuantificar elmnúmero de neutrófilos en tejidos, desde que su actividad se correlaciona linealmente con el número de neutrófilos. Con el objetivo de demostrar la presencia y realizar la cuantificación de leucocitos en materia fecal la MPO se disolvió en Bromuro de hexadeciltrimetilamonio y la actividad fue medida usando un ensayo de H2O2O-dianosid-ina. Se midió la actividad de MPO en 39 pacientes con diarrea producida por bacterias enteropatógenas y en 10 sujetos control. La presencia de leucocitos fue también determinada mediante la observación microscópica usando azul de metileno. La actividad de MPO fue positiva en 36 (92 por ciento) de los pacientes y la observació microscópica resultó positiva en 30 (77 por ciento). En los sujetos control la actividad de MPO fue indetectable y no se encontraron leucocitos en material fecal. En los pacientes la actividad de MPO en materia fecal tuvo un recuento de 1.6 a 2830 x 10(3) UMPO por gramo de heces (mediana: 46.0). El número de neutrófilos obtenido a través de la actividad de MPO tuvo un recuento de 6 a 13216.0 x mm(3) (mediana: 1261.0), la actividad fecal de MPO es una determinación bioquímica simple para la detección y cuantificación de leucocitos en materia fecal.

Fosfatasa acida leucocitaria tartrato resistentecomo marcador de la transformacion del monocito en macrofago / Leucocyte tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase as marker for the transition of monocyte to macrophage

Se investigó la presencia de la 5 isoenzima de la fosfatasa ácida leucocitaria tartrato resistente (FATRE) en los monocitos de sangre periférica humana en 32 muestras: 26 normales, 4 plaquetopenias, 1 anemia y 1 tricoleucemia. Se empleó el separador celular Cobe Spectra Versión 4 en 3 muestras y en las demás se obtuvo la concentración celular por centrifugación sin y con partículas de látex, para estudiar monocitos y macrófagos, respectivamente. Empleando el Kit Sigma para las dos reacciones de fosfatasa ácida total y de FATRE, se demostró la presencia de dos poblaciones de monocitos, una minoritaria para FATRE y otra negativa. Con la adición de látex los monocitos se transformaron en macrófagos haciéndose fuertemente positivos para FATRE. En consecuencia se concluye que la FATRE debe desempeñar un papel principal en la función macrofágica y por ende en la inmunidad celular humana.

Mucopolysaccharidoses type II: Enzymatic activity and quantitative and qualitative studies of urinary glycosaminoglycans in five patients

Five patients presenting Hunter's syndrome were biochemically studied. Quantification of urinary glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), electrophoretic characterizatio and correlation with ensymatic activity in leucocytes were carried out. In all cases, urinary GAGs/creatinine ratio was increased. Electrophoresis revealed the presence of heparan sulfate (HS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) in four cases (80 perecent), but in the remaining patient, only DS was present. In all patients, deficient enzymatic activity was demonstrated. These results show evidences of biochemical differences in thys syndrome

Leukocyte glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase as prognostic indicator in ANLL and CML.

Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) was estimated in the leucocytes of 35 patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) and 10 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). G6PD levels were found to be significantly decreased in majority of the patients with ANLL while it was increased in all CML patients. Variation in G6PD was found to be dependent on the percentage of myelocytes inANLL. Cytogenetic analysis was also carried out in these patients. Correlation analysis of leucocyte G6PD activity and karyotype with prognostic assessment clearly indicated the association of (s) high percentage of chromosomal abnormalities especially translocations, (b) low survival and remission rates, with patients having decreased G6PD activity when compared to patients with normal activity in ANLL. The studies indicate that leucocyte G6PD may be useful as a diagnostic and prognostic tool.

Serum erythrocyte and leukocyte adenosine deaminase activities in patients with vivax malaria in Turkey

Adenosine deaminase [ADA] activities in serum samples, erythrocytes, leukocytes and plasma hemoglobin concentrations were investigated in 50 patients with vivax malaria and compared with control group. ADA activity was determined by Bertholet reaction. Student's t test and correlation analyses methods were used for statistical analyses. Serum ADA activity in patients with vivax malaria was 49.2 +/- 29.02 IU/l and 21.15 +/- 8.04 IU/l in the control; erythrocyte ADA activity was 2.91 +/- 1.23 U/g Hb in patients and 1.65 +/- 0.59 U/g in control; leukocyte specific ADA activity was 26.23 +/- 20.21 U/mg protein in patients and 25.84 +/- 9.19 U/g Hb in control. Plasma hemoglobin concentration was 29.25 +/- 28.1 mg/dl in patients and 9.8 +/- 13.14 mg/dl in the control. There was no significant correlation among the mentioned parameters. Erythrocyte purine salvage pathway is accelerated by Plasmodium to provide performed purine source which can not be synthesized by Plasmodium for its requirements. Insignificant correlation between plasma hemoglobin concentration and serum ADA activity suggested that increased serum ADA activity may develop secondarily to the disease independently from the hemolyses. No higher ADA activity level than expected value of leukocytes may reflect immunosuppression of leukocytes

Leukocyte glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) as prognostic indicator in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia.

G6PD activity, estimated in 37 patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) prior to therapy was found to be significantly decreased in 78.37% of the patients with ALL while it was normal in other patients. Variation in G6PD was found to be dependent on the percentage of myelocytes. Correlation analysis of leukocyte G6PD activity with karyotype indicated that patients with normal karyotype with normal G6PD activity had good prognosis while those with abnormal G6PD with abnormal karyotype had poor prognosis. Subjects with normal karyotype and abnormal G6PD and vice versa had intermediate prognosis. Thus the results clearly indicate that leukocyte G6PD may be used as a diagnostic and prognostic tool.

Determinación de la actividad de la fructosa 1.6 difosfatasa en leucocitos / Determination of the activity of the fructose 1.6 diphosphatase in leukocyte

En el presente estudio se estandariza la técnica para la determinación de la actividad de la enzima fructosa 1.6 difosfatasa en leucocitos aislados de sangre periférica, dicha enzima es de gran importancia en el proceso de la gluconeogénesis, su deficiencia es causada por un desorden metabólico de origen primario, autosómico, recesivo, que se manifiesta principalmente con hipoglicemia y acidosis metabólica. Proponemos un método diferente al tradicional de detección que se basa en el análisis enzimático realizado en biopsias de hígado. Los valores de la actividad catalítica específica en adultos sanos obtenidos por la técnica utilizaa en ese estudio, comparados con los de otros autores, demuestran que mediante la metodología estandarizada en este trabajo se detecta una mayor actividad enzimática.

Total leukocyte acid phosphatase and its isoenzymes in patients with leukemia.

Leukocyte acid phosphatase and its isoenzyme composition was studied in leukemic patients to determine the specificity of different isoenzymes in leukemic leukocytes. It was found that leukocyte acid phosphatase content is significantly increased in ALL, AML, and CML patients, while CLL patients had decreased levels of acid phosphatase. The distribution and intensity of leukocyte ACP isoenzymes vary in respective leukemic condition. Thus isoenzyme 'O' was predominant in AML and CML, while isoenzymes 1, 2 and 3 predominated in ALL. The lack of predominance of isoenzyme 3 was a feature in CLL patients. It was concluded that the isoenzyme patterns, though promising, presented inconclusive picture for diagnosis purpose and further studies on immunochemical characteristics of these isoenzymes are warranted to ascertain their cell specificity.

Fosfatasa alcalina leucocitaria: método de Gomori; valores de referencia / Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase: Gomari method; reference values

Se estudiaron 200 donantes de ambos sexos del Banco de Sangre provincial de Santiago de Cuba, a los cuales se les determinó la actividad enzimática de la fosfatasa alcalina leucocitaria por el método de Gomori en extensiones de sangre periférica. Para el tratamiento bioestadístico de la información se utilizaron tablas de frecuencia, histogramas y se aplicó el Sistema MICROSTAT y otros programas computacionales para el procesamiento gráfico y analítico mediante microcmputadora NEC PC-9801F. Se determinó el carácter lognormal de la distribución de la fosfatasa alcalina leucocitaria en ambos sexos mediante la prueba de chi-cuadrado para la bondad del ajuste. Los valores medios obtenidos fueron: (26,51 ñ 3,42)/300 y (35,74 ñ 3,44)/300 para el sexo masculino y femenino, respectivamente. La prueba de la mediana reveló que en el sexo femenino predominan los valores mayores o iguales que la mediana común: 32, mientras que lo contrario se manifestó en los valores del sexo masculino; el valor de chi-cuadrado resultó ser altamente significativo (p < 0,001). La prueba de Kolmogorov-Smirnov para 2 muestras evidenció una probable diferencia (p < 0,05) entre las distribuciones de la fosfatasa alcalina leucocitaria de ambos sexos, y se obtuvo un coeficiente de variación del 9,4 % en la determinación de la precisión del método