Postoperative plasma interleukin-6 in patients with renal cancer correlates with C-reactive protein but not with total fibrinogen or with high molecular weight fibrinogen fraction.

The concentration of fibrinogen (Fb) and its fractions, the levels of interleukin-6 (I1-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) were determined in 38 patients operated on because of renal cancer. The increased Fb and I1-6 concentrations were found in approximately one-half of the patients with malignancy. The relations among the high molecular weight (HMW) and two low molecular weight (LMW and LMW') fibrinogen fractions in these patients before surgery did not differ from the corresponding relations in normal subjects. The levels of all (except IgG) compounds studied increased after surgery and the peak of I1-6 was observed on the first postoperative day but that of CRP on the third day. The concentrations of total Fb and of its HMW fraction were the highest also on the third postoperative day and this was in contrast with the decline of low molecular weight fractions at the same time. These variations of estimated variables can be regarded as being relevant to the acute phase response. We have noted a correlation between the maximal concentrations of I1-6 and CRP, but not between the corresponding concentrations of Il-6 and total Fb or HMW Fb; this may suggest that the concentration of Fb is also under the control of a factor other than I1-6.

Anti-fucosyl-GM1 ganglioside IgG and IgM autoantibodies in human serum: no link to pathology.

Anti-fucosyl-GM1 ganglioside antibodies were detected in sera of five persons: four patients with autoimmune neuropathies and more recently, IgG antibodies in one with Graves' disease (Adler et al., Autoimmunity 18, 149-152, 1994) [1]. In the latter case, we were unable to find any relation between the occurrence of antibodies and thyroid disease. Now we report a detailed study on the anti-glycolipid antibodies in this patient. We found that her serum contained not only IgG but also a high level of anti-FucGM1 IgM antibodies, with a titer stable over a period of 5 years of treatment and follow-up. The carbohydrate structure of the epitope recognized by IgG and some of IgM antibodies seems to consist of Fuc-Gal-GalNAc-Gal- or a part of this sequence. Moreover, this patient's serum contained other IgM antibodies active against FucGM1 and also asialo GM1 glycolipids. Our results indicate that anti-FucGM1 ganglioside antibodies of G and M classes occur in serum of this patient with no apparent adverse health effects.

Incidental presence of antibodies against gangliosides in Graves' disease.

In Graves' disease an increased immunological activity against glycoconjugate antigens is observed. Since gangliosides seem to be important for thyroid stimulation we searched for the presence of antiganglioside antibodies in Graves' patients sera by the immunoenzymatic method. Antibodies against some of 12 different gangliosides used in this study were found in 22% of the patients. However, in most cases the titer of antiganglioside antibodies was very low. Only the serum from one patient reacted with FucGM1 ganglioside at the dilution up to 1:1300. Anti-FucGM1 antibodies were present in serum samples of this patient taken before and during the treatment when she was hyper-hypo- and euthyroid. The lack of relation of the anti-FucGM1 antibody titer to the thyroid status of this patient, and the very low titer of antiganglioside antibodies in sera of some other patients, suggest that the presence of these antibodies has no close connection to the thyroid disease.

Comparison of the mechanism of action of vitamin D3 and 1 alpha-OH D3 under conditions of experimental hypercalcemia.

Comparison of the mechanism of action Vitamin D3 and 1 alpha-OH D3 under conditions of experimental hypercalcemia. Acta Physiol. Pol. 1979, 30 (2): 313--318. The hypercalcemic effect of supraphysiological doses of Vitamin D and 1 alpha-OH D3 were compared applying an animal model. Changes in serum calcium of animals with normal dietary calcium supplementation and those under conditions of calcium depletion were analyzed. Dietary calcium is necessary for the hypercalcemic effect of Vitamin D, whereas in case of 1 alpha-OH D3 calcium is mobilized not only from the dietary but also from some other sources. The analysis of the hypercalcemia kinetics in the Vitamin D and 1 alpha-OH D3 treated animals indicated that the kidney 1 hydroxylase of 25 hydroxycholecalciferol is an important step in the hypercalcemia preventing mechanism.