[Involvement of CNS in leukaemia and lymphomas--CSF meningeosis and immunocytochemical phenotyping]. / ZNS-Beteiligung bei Leukämien und Lymphomen--Meningeosis im Liquor cerebrospinalis und Möglichkeiten der immunzytochemischen Zellphänotypisierung.

The detection of tumour cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of leukaemia and lymphoma patients is a challenge for CSF cytological investigation. Nevertheless, it is generally possible to confirm the involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) by conventional microscopic detection of tumour cells. Immunocytochemical staining techniques are a valuable complement of conventional cytology. Immunocytochemical cell phenotyping is indicated for identification of atypical cells in patients with suspected primary CNS lymphoma or malignant haematological disease.

[Present condition and prospects of cerebrospinal fluid diagnostics]. / Stan obecny i perspektywy diagnostyki plynu mózgowo-rdzeniowego.

Despite a significant reduction in the frequency of lumbar taps done for CSF examination this method is still an important diagnostic tool. In recent years important advances have been made in the studies of the cytology and biochemistry of CSF. The introduction of new simple methods of centrifugation has increased the index of cell recovery with better possibilities of differentiation of these cells. In the biochemistry of proteins in which the analysis of immunoglobulins, albumins and other proteins, such as 14-3-3 protein, S-100, tau protein, enzymes, such as neuron-specific enolase or matrix-metalproteinase, alkaline myelin protein, beta-2-microglobulin, various cytokines, has been introduced, it is becoming a routine analysis in many CSF laboratories. The role of determination of many antibodies is increasing. Particular advances have been achieved in genetic studies, and, similarly as in other medical disciplines, explanation is expected of many not yet sufficiently clear pathological mechanisms.

[Methods of cytological analysis of cerebrospinal fluid: development, problems, present state]. / Metody cytologicznej oceny plynu mózgowo-rdzeniowego--rozwój, problemy, stan aktualny.

The authors present the basic methods of CSF sediment preparation and problems arising from methodological procedures. The results of widely used methods of "accelerated" sedimentation and cytocentrifugation are compared. The latter method was estimated as more effective because of the high cell yield as well as due to the result of cell differentiation reflecting the in vivo condition, especially with respect to lymphocyte and monocyte percentage.

[Effect of pulsating electromagnetic field therapy on cell volume and phagocytosis activity in multiple sclerosis and migraine]. / Einfluss der pulsierenden Elektromagnetfeld (PEMF)-Therapie auf Zellvolumen und Phagozytoseaktivität bei Multipler Sklerose und Migräne.

PEMF treatment was studied in 10 patients with multiple sclerosis and 10 patients with migraine. In both patients' groups a single treatment induced a significant rise of yeast particle uptake by blood granulocytes. The percentage of phagocytizing cells was increased in migraine patients only. In both patients' groups 20 PEMF treatments caused a reduction of particle uptake, whereas the percentage of phagocytizing cells remained unchanged. In migraine patients the opsonic capacity of serum and the mean cell volume of erythrocytes, lymphocytes and granulocytes were initially reduced, but increased during the course of 20 PEMF treatments. The biphasic changes of cell volume and phagocytic activity are interpreted as a result of counter-regulation of the organism in response to the primary PEMF effect.

[Increasing cerebrospinal fluid cell count with the sedimentation chamber using polycationic coated slides]. / Liquorzellanreicherung mit der Sedimentkammer unter Verwendung von Polykationen-beschichteten Objektträgern.

The use of glass slides coated with the cationic polymer polydimethyldiallylammonium-chlorid for cell enrichment procedures results in an increasing number of cells on the slicks and changed quantitative results of cell differentiation. These investigations are important for quantitative analysis of cell populations.

[Phagocytic reactivity of granulocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with multiple sclerosis and normal probands]. / Phagozytoseaktivität von Granulozyten aus dem peripheren Blut bei Patienten mit Multipler Sklerose und Normalprobanden.

For estimation of phagocytic activity the uptake by granulocytes of heat-inactivated, opsonised yeast particles (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was measured. Peripheral granulocytes of multiple sclerosis patients revealed an enhanced ability for phagocytosis in comparison to normal healthy controls, if tested with normal serum as opsonic source. An activated state of cells in multiple sclerosis is supposed. The selective influence on granulocyte phagocytosis of treatment by ultraviolet-irradiated blood in multiple sclerosis patients supports the view of altered reactivity of these cells in comparison to normal controls.

[Concentrating cerebrospinal fluid cells with the sedimentation chamber--comparative methodologic studies]. / Liquorzellanreicherung mit der Sedimentkammer--Vergleichende methodische Untersuchungen.

The loss of cerebrospinal fluid cells is considerable when the sedimentation chamber was used. Methodical variations resulted in an increasing cell count on the slide. The absolute number of lymphocytes increased more than that of monocytes. Caused by the higher cell count, especially lymphocytes, the relative values in cell differentiation between lymphocytes and monocytes are changed. For differential counting of lymphocytes, monocytes and other cerebrospinal fluid cell types the elevated cell count is an important factor. Differentiation between subpopulations of lymphocytes by means of this procedure however is problematically because the loss of lymphocytes can be of a selective nature.

[Effect of ultraviolet irradiation of autologous blood on cell volumes, cell adhesion and phagocytosis in normal probands and patients with multiple sclerosis]. / Einfluss von Ultraviolettbestrahlung des Blutes (UVB) auf Zellvolumen, Zelladhärenz und Phagozytose bei Normalprobanden und Patienten mit Multipler Sklerose (MS).

UVB induced changes of blood cell properties were investigated in 12 MS patients and in 10 healthy volunteers serving as normal controls. The mean cell volume (MCV) was determined by electronic sizing, the granulocyte and lymphocyte adherence was estimated in a capillary assay, and the phagocytic activity of granulocytes was measured in a test system based on the incorporation of opsonized baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). In MS patients the MCV of red cells and lymphocytes decreased rapidly within 6 UVB treatments. In contrast, the reduction of the granulocyte volume was delayed (between the 6th and 12th UVB). In the control group the mean value of the red cell and lymphocyte MCV remained rather unaffected. There was a slight rise of the granulocyte volume after the 6th UVB. The only significant change of adherence was an increase of granulocyte adherence in MS patients. Untreated patients had a significantly enhanced phagocytic activity in comparison to the control group. 6 UVB treatments included a significant reduction of the phagocytic activity in MS patients. However, subsequently the percentage of phagocytizing cells increased again, whereas the particle uptake per cell continued to decrease. In the control group only minor UVB induced changes of phagocytosis were observed. The in vitro UV irradiation caused an enhanced phagocytosis in the majority of cases in both controls and MS patients. In general, under the UVB treatment all parameters examined changed in the sense of a normalisation, in that the measured values reached a new level lying between the extreme pretreatment values accompanied by a reduced standard deviation. The effect of UVB was more pronounced in MS patients when compared with normal controls. This could result from an enhanced sensitivity to the influence of UVB of pathologically altered cells in MS patients. The monitoring of the MCV of red cells and lymphocytes as well as the repeated testing of granulocyte phagocytosis are recommended for supportion of therapy planning and follow-up of MS patients.

Phagocytic activity of CSF monocytes in neurological diseases.

A standard latex phagocytosis test was used to determine the phagocytic activity of CSF monocytes under various pathological conditions. The mean values for groups of neurological diseases did not differ significantly, with the exception of tumour patients. Differences in the phagocytosis of CSF monocytes were seen if subdivisions within the groups of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and vertebral irritation syndrome (VIS) were evaluated separately. The active stage of MS and the intervertebral disc prolapse were accompanied by higher values. It is concluded that although the findings are of no use for diagnostic purposes they may be helpful in assessing prognosis and therapy.

[Value of MS associated factors for test procedures in multiple sclerosis: 2. Angers' MS-induced substance in the LAI test]. / Wertigkeit von MS-assoziierten Faktoren für Testverfahren bei der Multiplen Sklerose: 2. MS-bedingte Substanz nach Angers im LAI-Test.

Attempts to find test systems specific for multiple sclerosis are directed to the investigation of MS-associated factors in serum. Basing on the methods of the adherence of antigen-reactive leukocytes, the MSRM (MS-related material) a substance conditioned by the disease was derived from blood of MS-patients and applied in the leukocyte adherence-inhibition (LAI)-test. The mean values in the LAI-test showed a significant difference between MS, the other neurological diseases (OND) and the normals. For the limiting value mean NK +/- 2 s a positive LAI-effect resulted in 58% of the intermittent and in 43% of the chronic-progredient cases of MS, yet also in 11% of the OND. The fact that the rate of detection is lower than that reported by Angers, could depend on factors caused by the method used or by anomalies of immune regulation in MS (including the so-called blocking factors in serum). The results received with LAI-test applying the MSRM don't allow any definite diagnostical assessment specific for MS.

[Value of MS associated factors for test procedures in multiple sclerosis: 1. Carp's MS associated agent in the serum]. / Wertigkeit von MS-assoziierten Faktoren für Testverfahren bei der Multiplen Sklerose: 1. MS-assoziiertes Agenz im Serum nach Carp.

The determination of multiple sclerosis-associated factors in serum is grounded on the conception that there exist virus-like particles with a special predicative value for diagnosis. A test system, elaborated by Carp, is basing on the reduction of neutrophilic granulocytes in peripheral blood of mice by a MS-associated agent (MSAA) of serum, cerebrospinal fluid, brain and other organs of MS-patients. Several groups and the present investigators did not always receive constantly positive findings in applying this method. The cause may be the variation of results characteristic for such biological test systems. As well as for some other methods discussed (e.g. the rosette test with measles-infected epithelial cells or the determination of anomalous cells in bone marrow of MS-patients) the procedure shows an only confined valence, not absolutely specific for the disease in the diagnostical relevant case.

MS-related material in blood of multiple sclerosis patients: results with the leucocyte adherence inhibition assay.

To determine the value of laboratory methods proposed as tests for multiple sclerosis (MS), the reactivity of leucocytes to a preparation of an antigen from the blood of patients with MS (MS-related material) was studied in the leucocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) test. The results point to the existence of an antigenic substance in the blood of MS patients. When the LAI test was modified by the addition of calf serum there was a significant reaction of the leucocytes of MS compared to other neurological diseases and controls. The relatively high positive rate in MS previously reported was not detected. Therefore, further analyses concerning the characterisation of the antigen and the conditions of the test system will be necessary before the method can be used for diagnosis.