[Effect of Complamin on fibrinolysis and platelet aggregation in the aged]. / Efekat Complamina na fibrinolizu i agregaciju trombocita u starijih osoba.

Investigated were the behaviour of platelet aggregation and fibrinolytic activity of the blood, under the influence of different doses of Complamin, and its effect in vitro on platelet aggregation. We have shown that platelet aggregation diminished only slightly after intravenous injection of Complamin, but the ADP-and collagen-induced aggregation in vitro were inhibited. Except that, fibrinolytic activity in the blood had been induced, but the degree and continuance of fibrinolysis were limited depending on the patient. There was no significant modifications of examined tests after prolonged intravenous infusion of the drug.

Cushing's syndrome--transitory immune deficiency state?

A 28 year old female patient with Cushing's syndrome due to an adrenal adenoma also suffered from recurrent urinary infections (proteus), tonsillitis (streptococcus), permanent candidiasis and perimandibular abscess (Staphylococcus pyogenes). Suppression of cellular and humoral immunity was confirmed by in vitro tests. After successful right adrenalectomy the clinical signs of Cushing's syndrome disappeared and no evidence of either bacterial or fungal infection were noted one year postoperatively. Immunological tests showed the restitution of both cellular and humoral immunity. The course of the disease in the patient supports the idea that Cushing's syndrome might be considered as a transitory immune deficiency state.

[Prenatal detection of crying cat syndrome due to balanced translocation in one parent]. / Découverte prénatale d'un syndrome du "cri du chat" conséquence d'une translocation balancée chez un des parents

Prenatal detection of "Cri du chat" syndrome, as the consequence of balanced translocation 46,XY,t (5, 15) (p 13, p11) of the father, is described. A phenotipically normal child, with the same type of translocation possesed by his father was born in this family, as well as a child with "Cri du chat" syndrome. Four pregnancies were termed by spontaneous abortion. In the seventh pregnancy amniocenthesis was performed. On the basis of cell culture of amniotic fluid the diagnosis of "Cri du chat" syndrome was established. The diagnosis was confirmed by culture of peripheral blood of prematurely born foetus. Tissue cultures of some fetal organs were performed in order to find the origin of amniotic cells whose culture served for screening cytogenetic analysis.

[Hereditary factors in the etiology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia]. / Nasledni cinioci u etiologiji hronicne limfocitne leukemije.

Leukocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration, PAS positivity index in lymphocytes, leukocyte alkaline phosphatase, karyotype, HLA phenotype as wall as the quality of the cellular and humoral immunity have been studied in 45 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and in 103 their closest relatives (sibs, parents). The aim was to detect the possible preleukemic condition in the relatives as a strong propensity towards developing has been previously established in families of patients with CLL. In the CLL patients our studies have confirmed the results of the determination of similar parameters by other authors, namely a higher percentage of PAS+ lymphocytes than normal together with a variety of humoral and cellular immunity disturbances. Regarding the morphological and cytochemical changes in lymphocytes in family members of the CLL patients a higher frequency of PAS+ lymphocytes have been observed: it has been established in over 10 per cent lymphocytes (normally 4-8 per cent) in 31 (30%) examinees and in 14 (13.5%) of these persons the percentage of PAS positivity was equal to that found in CLL patients. Cellular immunity examinations established that in one third of examined E rossete counts counts were lower and in 2 persons the degree of this decrease corresponded to the decrease observed in CLL patients. In one fifth of the examined family members T4:T8 ratio was reduced. In the 13 per cent of the examined M rossete counts were increased, a fact which supports the notion that immunity of B cells exists in relatives of CLL patients. The authors contend that the increased percentage of PAS+ lymphocytes and inadequate functional maturity of the T and B cells in a relatively large number of family members of the CLL patients, intimates that a hereditary disturbance in the lymphocyte make up and their role in the immunity pathways exists and could possibly represent one of the factors implicated in a high frequency of CLL in some families.