Distribution and concentration of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in plasma of normolipemic subjects.

A MAb (TP-2) directed against human cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) has been applied to the development of a competitive solid-phase RIA. Experiments with immobilized CETP have shown that upon incubation with plasma or HDL in the presence of Tween (0.05%) apo A-I (but not apo A-II) binds to CETP while TP-2 binding to CETP is concomitantly decreased. With high detergent concentration (0.5% Triton), the interference is eliminated and a specific RIA in which all plasma CETP fractions have the same affinity can be obtained. Plasma levels of CETP, apo A-I, lipids, and lipoproteins were measured in 50 normolipemic, healthy subjects of both sexes. CETP levels varied nearly fourfold with a mean value of 1.7 micrograms/ml. CETP was positively correlated only with apo A-I (r = 0.38) and HDL-triglyceride (r = 0.39). In 29 other normolipemic subjects, where several apolipoproteins were also measured, significant correlations of CETP with apo A-I (0.41), apo E (0.43), and HDL-cholesterol (0.41) were observed, but there was no significant relationship between CETP and either apo A-II, B, or D. In other experiments CETP was shown to be present mostly in HDL3 and VHDL, to display exclusively an alpha 2-electrophoretic migration, and to occur within discrete particles ranging in size from 129 to 154 kD. In conclusion, the association of CETP with apo A-I-containing lipoproteins probably explains the correlation between CETP and apo A-I levels. The relationship between CETP and apo E suggests either a common metabolism or a specific cooperative role in cholesterol ester transport for these proteins.

Water-insoluble paraproteins with anticoagulant properties.

A 78-year-old woman, who had received steroid therapy for four years, had strikingly prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT). The presumptive diagnosis was chronic hemolytic anemia. Platelet count and functions, fibrinogen, and factor XIII assays were all normal, but other factors assayed abnormally low; Sia water-dilution test was positive. When water-insoluble protein was removed by centrifugation, coagulation factors became normal. Dissolution of this precipitate in normal plasma caused marked prolongation of PT and PTT and lower factor assays. Serum electrophoresis showed a homogeneous M spike and an anomalous IgM, lambda-antigenic type in the gamma-globulin zone at point of origin. Ultracentrifugation of serum and of the precipitate showed 10% S17 and almost 100% S17 components, respectively. Five other patients with water-insoluble paraproteins were tested; two were clot-inhibitory.

Vasculitis and Sjögren's syndrome with IgA-IgG cryoglobulinemia terminating in immunoblastic sarcoma.

Generalized lymphadenopathy and other manifestations of Sjögren's syndrome developed in a 68 year old woman with a long history of systemic vasculitis and arthralgia. An unusual immunologic feature was hypogammaglobulinemia and immunoglobulin A (IgA) monoclonal immunoglobulinemia with mixed IgA-IgG cryoglobulin. At autopsy, the histopathologic findings were compatible with immunoblastic sarcoma. The monoclonal IgA protein, found in serum, pleural and pericardial fluids, showed rheumatoid factor activity. Immunocytes from the immunoblastic sarcoma were found to be the source of the monoclonal IgA protein.

Leukemic myelomatosis (plasma cell leukemia).

Six cases of leukemic myelomatosis (plasma cell leukemia), are reported. A spectrum of leukemic plasmacellular proliferation was observed in this group: in two cases the plasmacytic leukemia was a terminal event of multiple myeloma, in one of a chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and in the remaining three cases the peripheral blood plasmacytosis was a presenting manifestation of an acute immunocytic dyscrasia. The clinical features, frequencies of extraosseous plasmacytic infiltrations, hypercalcemia and Bence Jones proteinuria, and cytomorphologic difficulties in differentiating plasmacytic from chronic lymphocytic leukemia are discussed.

5-substituted arabinofuranosyluracil nucleosides: synthesis and antiviral properties.

A number of 5-alkyl (ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl) analogues of araU, their alpha-anomers and N3-isomers have been synthesized by a number of different procedures, based on the catalytic condensation of the appropriate 5-alkyl-2,4-bis-(trimethylsilyloxy)-pyrimidine with 2,3,5-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-D-arabinofuranosyl chloride. The resulting protected nucleosides were deblocked by a new procedure based on the use of BF3 X Et2O in C2H5SH. The chloromercuri derivative of araU, on reaction with allyl chloride in the presence of Li2PdCl4, gave the 5-allyl derivative, which was catalytically reduced to the corresponding 5-propyl analogue. The antiviral activities of these compounds have been evaluated. 5-Allyl-araU showed moderate specific activity (MIC 20 micrograms/ml) against herpes simplex type 1 virus in PRK cell cultures. Structure-activity relationships are discussed for the 5-alkyl deoxy- and arabino- uracil nucleoside series.

[Primary malignant lymphoma of the central and peripheral nervous systems]. / Pierwotny chloniak zlosliwy osrodkowegó i obwodowego ukladu nerwowego.

The authors present a case of malignant lymphoma in a man aged 64 years. Neoplastic infiltrations mainly in the form of perivascular accumulations were limited to the central nervous system (both central and peripheral). In the histological examinations of internal organs including lymph nodes and spleen no neoplastic tissue was found.

[Transient blindness as a complication of vertebral angiography]. / Przemijajaca slepota jako powikanie angiografii kregowej.

The authors report two cases of cortical blindness developing immediately after vertebral angiography. Visual disturbances were not associated with other symptoms art from nuchal rigidity in one patients. In both cases, cortical blindness regressed completely.

[Use of azathioprine in the treatment of chronic form of Guillain-Barré syndrome]. / Zastosowanie azatiopryny w leczeniu przewleklej postaci zespolu Guillaina i Barrego.

After discussing the clinical problems of the chronic form of Guillain-Barré syndrome the authors describe 8 own cases, treated with azathioprine 100 mg daily. In 3 cases drug tolerance was poor and the treatment had to be stopped. Considerable improvement was achieved in 3 cases, slight in 1, and no improvement in one patient.