[Ferritin and other acute phase proteins in various forms of coronary heart disease].

The purpose of the study was to determine clinical importance of high serum levels of ferritin, fibrinogen and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with various forms of coronary heart disease (CHD) such as stable angina, painless myocardial ischemia (PMI) and instable angina (IA). The subjects of the study were 60 patients with CHD, whose clinical variant (stable angina, PMI or IA) had been determined by stress echocardiography. The control group consisted of 20 patients, not suffering from CHD, but having cardiovascular risk factors (arterial hypertension, dyslipoproteinemia, male gender, obesity, elderly age). All patients underwent routine clinical examination and biochemical blood tests. Serum levels of CRP, fibrinogen and ferritin were highest in the patients with IA and significantly differed from those in the control group. The difference in serum iron levels and total iron-binding capacity in serum (TIBC) between the groups were insignificant. Correlations between serum level of iron, TIBC and ferritin level were found neither in CHD patients (r = 0.1) nor in the control group (r = 0.15). No correlation between serum level of ferritin and CRP level was observed in the control group, but in all CHD groups this correlation was significant. The strongest correlation between these values was observed in the patients with IA. Besides, correlations between serum levels of ferritin and CRP (r = 0.46, p < 0.02) and between ferritin and fibrinogen levels (r = 0.39, p < 0.05) were found in the patients with IA. In patients with CHD, especially those who have IA, serum ferritin should be considered among acute phase proteins, reflecting destabilization of atherosclerotic plaque.

[Hyperhomocysteinemia and acute phase proteins in various forms of ischemic heart disease]. / Gipergomotsisteinemiia i belki ostroi fazy pri razlichnykh formakh ishemicheskoi bolezni serdtsa.

AIM: To determine clinical significance of high concentrations of homocystein, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen in various forms of ischemic heart disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Enzyme immunoassay was made to measure serum concentrations of homocystein, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen in 60 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) in the form of stable effort angina (n = 20), painless myocardial ischemia (n = 19), unstable angina pectoris (n = 21) and 20 control patients free of IHD. Myocardial ischemia was confirmed at dobutamine stress echocardiography. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of homocysteine, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen were higher in patients with unstable angina than in the other examinees with IHD. A statistically significant correlation exists between homocysteine serum levels and acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen) in patients with unstable angina. In the other groups it was absent. CONCLUSION: Correlation between serum levels of homocysteine and acute phase proteins in patients with unstable angina suggests a direct participation of this amino acid in destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques and development of acute coronary syndromes.

[Effects of dexamethasone on Ca++-response of bone marrow lymphoblasts in acute leukemia]. / Vliianie deksametazona na Ca++-otvet limfoblastov kostnogo mozga pri ostrom leikoze.

The FURA-2/AM fluorescence dye was used to investigate the influence of dexamethasone treatment on the basal and mitogen-mediated levels of free ions of calcium ([Ca++]i) in the lymphoblast cytoplasm from bone marrow of patients suffering acute leukemia. Treatment with dexamethasone in the dose of 2 microM was shown to significantly stimulate the increase of the basal level of [Ca++]i and to inhibit the Ca++ response of cells to concanavalin A (25 micrograms/ml). Inhibition by dexamethasone was more pronounced after 30 min preincubation of lymphoblasts with a glucocorticoid. A phorbol ester--phorbol myristate acetate--reactivated sensitivity to concanavalin A in dexamethasone-treated cells. Determination of lymphoblast Ca(++)-response of dexamethasone treatment may be used for in vitro express testing individual sensitivity to glucocorticoids in treatment of acute leukemia.

[Comparative study of the interaction of purine antagonists with adenosine receptors of bone marrow lymphocytes and lymphoblasts]. / Sravnitel'noe issledovanie vzaimodeistviia antagonistov purina s adenozinovymi retseptorami limfotsitov i limfoblastov kostnogo mozga.

In this study we used the radiolabeled selective ligand (3H-NECA) of A2-types purine receptors in order to investigate specific NECA binding with human blood lymphocytes and bone marrow lymphoblasts. Relative affinity of 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine for purine receptors was determined. One type of high affinity NECA binding sites have been shown on the lymphocytes (Kd = 0.57 mkM, Bmax = 0.63 pmol/10(6) cells), which selectively interacted with AZT, but not 6-MP. Relative potencies of substance in competitive radioassay: adenosine > AZT > 6-MP. Two classes NECA binding sites on the lymphoblasts have been identified. One of them corresponds to lymphocyte receptors. The second type of NECA binding sites is characterised by following parameters: Kd = 6.5 mkM and Bmax = 1.5 pmole/10(6) cells. They are selective sensitized to 6-MP. Relative affinity changes in the line: 6-MP > adenosine > AZT.

[Interaction of glucocorticoids with bone marrow lymphoblast receptors in acute leukemia]. / Vzimodeistvie gliukokortikoidov s retseptorami limfoblastov kostnogo mozga pri ostrom leikoze.

Two types of receptor systems for glucocorticoids: membranous and intracellular have been found on lymphoblasts of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia by means of radioassay. They differed by localization and affinity for different glucocorticoids either. Modern radioassay needs modification because of no attention paying for interaction of hormones with different types of receptor system.