An enzyme-immunoassay for myoglobin in human serum and urine. Method development, normal values and application to acute myocardial infarction.

An enzyme-immunoassay has been developed for the detection of myoglobin in human serum and urine which is specific, accurate, precise, and has a sensitivity of 3 ng/ml. When compared with radioimmunoassay, the enzyme-immunoassay gives markedly similar results. Sera from normal adults had a myoglobin concentration in the range 3-65 ng/ml, and 64% of the same group had detectable myoglobinuria (range 3-11.5 ng/ml). All of 8 patients with definite acute myocardial infarction had raised serum myoglobin levels (range 200-1125 ng/ml) either at admission or 4 h later. Myoglobin concentration returned to normal in 6 patients, and in the remaining 2 patients there was evidence of infarct extension. Urinary myoglobin excretion was variable. One patient with possible acute myocardial infarction had elevated serum myoglobin (413 ng/ml 4 h post admission) and 5 patients with no evidence of infarction had normal levels (15-53 ng/ml). The results suggest that detection of serum myoglobin by enzyme-immunoassay may be a valuable test in the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.     

肌红蛋白联合肌钙蛋白检测在急性心肌梗死早期诊断中的应用价值分析

目的 探究肌红蛋白检测在急性心肌梗死早期诊断中的应用价值。方法 选取我院2015年11月~2018年11月收治的30例急性心肌梗死患者设为研究组,另选取同期30例性健康体检者设为健康组,对两组人员进行肌红蛋白检测的检测,进而对比和分析两组人员经过检测后的结果。结果 研究组肌红蛋白水平（154.56±54.15）ng/ml和肌钙蛋白检测水平（1.87±0.99）ng/ml均高于健康组的（50.33±21.06）ng/ml和（0.08±0.03）ng/ml,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;研究组肌红蛋白阳性率和肌钙蛋白阳性率分别为96.67%和93.33%,均高于健康组的6.67%和13.33%,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 肌红蛋白检测和肌钙蛋白检测有助于急性心肌梗死的早期诊断。     

Exogenous causes of myoglobinuria--review of 26 cases.

In this article, I review various causes of exogenous myoglobinuria(MU) and its pathogenesis in 26 consecutive patients admitted to emergency room, Asan Medical Center and determine whether there is a relationship between concentration of urine myoglobin(Mb) and acute renal failure(ARF) as a complication of MU. Serum and urine Mb were measured by RIA using myoglobin kit(Daiichi, Inc., Tokyo, Japan). The most common disorder of MU was septic shock with hypotension, followed by crush syndrome, major arterial occlusion by thormbosis, alcohol intoxication with status epilepticus, intoxication of unidentified snake venom and drug ingestion. On the basis of this limited amount of data, there is a significant association between high concentration in urine Mb(> 300 ng/ml) and ARF(Fisher''s exact test, p < 0.005). To minimize the chances of development of ARF, routine urine Mb levels should be checked on patients at risk, especially septic shock with hypotension.     

重组人脑利钠肽对急性心力衰竭早期肾损伤的疗效研究

目的 运用血清及尿液中性粒细胞明胶酶相关脂质运载蛋白（NAGL）、肾损伤因子-1（KIM-1）评估重组人脑利钠肽（rh-BNP）对住院急性心力衰竭患者早期肾损伤的临床疗效。方法 从我院2016年6月~2017年6月住院急性心力衰竭患者中选取SCr正常、血清及尿液NAGL、KIM-1同时升高者200例,随机分为rhBNP治疗组及常规治疗组,治疗组106例,常规组94例,同时治疗1周,于治疗结束时、结束后1周分别检测两组血清及尿液NGAL、KIM-1水平,并与治疗前比较。结果 治疗结束时两组血清NAG[（409.42±18.24）ng/ml vs（359.68±19.02）ng/ml]、尿液NAGL[（52.29±7.41）ng/ml vs （44.78±11.25）ng/ml]、血清KIM-1[（169.72±74.46）ng/ml vs （144.03±66.95）ng/ml]、尿液KIM-1[（7.39±2.96）ng/ml vs （6.38±3.01）ng/ml]水平均较治疗前下降,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;治疗结束后1周两组血清NAGL[（343.72±16.45）ng/ml vs （321.04±17.34）ng/ml]、尿液NAGL[（30.89±7.94）ng/ml vs （21.01±8.49）ng/ml]、血清KIM-1[（133.32±64.09）ng/ml vs （109.60±45.29）ng/ml]、尿液KIM-1[（5.78±3.03）ng/ml vs （4.50±2.27）ng/ml]水平均较治疗前下降,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 rhBNP对于住院急性心力衰竭患者早期肾损伤有治疗价值。     

Serum levels of IL-1, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factors in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafts or cholecystectomy.

Plasma levels of biologically active IL-1, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-6 were measured before, during and after coronary artery bypass graftings (CABG) (n = 9) and cholecystectomy (CHO, n = 9), and in normal controls (nine healthy volunteers). Mean pre-operative IL-1 concentration in four of the nine CABG patients was 0.452 + 0.03 ng/ml, significantly (P less than 0.001) higher than that of the other five (0.045 +/- 0.009 ng/ml), CHO patients (0.035 +/- 0.005 ng/ml) and controls (0.029 +/- 0.008 ng/ml). Three of the four patients with high pre-operative IL-1 had functional capacity IV, while the other five had functional capacity IIa or IIb. Slight IL-1 elevation after anaesthesia, followed by reduction after initiation of bypass, elevation on completion of surgery and reduction to basal levels after 7 days was found in patients undergoing CABG. Mean basal TNF levels of CABG and CHO patients did not differ, but were higher than those of controls (2.85 +/- 0.5 ng/ml for CABG, 2.05 +/- 0.06 ng/ml for CHO, 0.72 +/- 0.07 ng/ml for normals, P less than 0.001). A unique kinetics of release during CABG was observed also for TNF. Mean pre-operative IL-6 levels were normal (50 +/- 3 ng/ml for CABG, 50 +/- 0.5 ng/ml for CHO and 65 +/- 10 ng/ml for controls). Gradual elevation to a mean peak of 725 +/- 100 ng/ml on completion of CABG was observed as compared with 275 +/- 50 ng/ml in CHO (P less than 0.01). On the seventh post-operative day mean IL-6 levels returned to normal. Two patients with post-operative low-grade fever (38 degrees C) had high, late cytokine levels. One of these two patients had leucocytosis, sterile discharge from the operative wound and was diagnosed as suffering from the Dressler syndrome. In this study elevated cytokine values and unique kinetics of release into the serum were found in patients undergoing CABG.     

Determination of soluble HLA-G serum levels in patients with adenomyosis and uterine fibroids before and after surgery

Adenomyosis is a benign gynaecological disease caused by the growth of endometrial tissue in the myometrium that affects approximately 30 % of child-bearing-age women. We evaluated the levels of soluble human leukocyte antigen G (sHLA-G) in the serum of patients with adenomyosis before and after treatment. Serum samples of 34 patients with adenomyosis and 31 patients with uterine fibroids were collected before and after the operation and were analysed for sHLA-G levels by ELISA assay. The preoperative levels of serum sHLA-G in the adenomyosis group (28.05 ± 2.466 ng/ml) were significantly higher than those in the uterine fibroid group (18.53 ± 1.435 ng/ml) (P < 0.05). Serum sHLA-G levels in the adenomyosis group showed a decreasing trend at different time points after surgery (28.05 ± 14.38 ng/ml, 18.41 ± 8.34 ng/ml, and 14.45 ± 5.77 ng/ml). Adenomyosis patients who underwent total hysterectomy (n = 20) had a more significant decrease in sHLA-G levels in the early postoperative period (2 days post-operative) than those who underwent partial hysterectomy (n = 14). These results suggest that immunologic dysfunctions may be detected in patients with adenomyosis.     

参麦注射液治疗急性心肌梗死的疗效及对患者心肌损伤的影响

目的 探究参麦注射液治疗急性心肌梗死患者的临床疗效以及对血清超敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）、N端B型利钠肽前体（NT-proBNP）、心肌损伤标志物的影响。方法 选取2017年6月~2018年12月我院治疗的急性心肌梗死患者86例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法分为观察组和对照组,每组43例。对照组给予常规西药治疗,观察组在对照组基础上加用参麦注射液治疗,比较两组治疗前后血清hs-CRP、NT-proBNP、心肌损伤标志物水平、临床疗效、心血管不良事件（MACE）发生情况。结果 治疗后,观察组hs-CRP、NT-proBNP水平低于对照组[（10.92±1.65）mg/L vs（18.39±3.03）mg/L]、[（234.41±28.34）ng/L vs（314.65±36.14）ng/L],差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。观察组AST、CK-MB及MYO水平低于对照组[（31.17±3.96）U/L vs（43.86±7.52）U/L]、[（6.18±1.02）ng/ml vs（10.34±1.66）ng/ml]、[（38.42±7.61）ng/ml vs（56.19±10.12）ng/ml],差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。观察组总有效率为90.70%,高于对照组的72.09%,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。两组MACE发生率比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论 参麦注射液有助于降低心肌梗死患者hs-CRP和NT-proBNP水平,改善患者心肌受损情况,提高临床疗效,安全可靠。     

Laboratory diagnosis of left atrial thrombi in patients with mitral stenosis]

Left atrial (LA) thrombi sometimes occur in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) and the systemic embolization due to thrombi causes a serious, occasionally fatal complication. Several clinical techniques have been used to estimate the presence of LA thrombi. However, the hitherto available methods, even an echocardiography which has been most widely used, still have some drawbacks, depending on the size and location of thrombi. The author measured D-dimer, fibrinopeptide A (FPA) and thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) in the patients with MS and evaluated the diagnostic value of these molecular markers to estimate the presence of LA thrombi. Twenty six patients with MS who had undergone cardiac operation were studied. Atrial fibrillation was found in all the patients. Episode of obvious thromboembolic diseases is a criteria of exclusion. Blood was drawn from the brachial vein several days (3 +/- 1 days: mean +/- SD) before the operation. The presence or absence of thrombus was confirmed at the surgery in all the cases. 1) Both levels of D-dimer and TAT were significantly higher in the patients with thrombi than those in the patients without thrombus or those in normal controls (mean: 378, 93 and 64 ng/ml, respectively; p less than 0.01 for both and 9.1, 2.0 and 1.7 ng/ml, respectively; p less than 0.01 for both). However, levels of FPA were not significantly different among the three groups (mean: 7.9, 4.9 and 3.7 ng/ml, respectively; NS for both). 2) both levels of D-dimer and TAT were significantly correlated with the weights of LA thrombus (r = 0.87, p less than 0.01: r = 0.79, p less than 0.01, respectively). 3) LA thrombi (ca. greater than or equal to 2 g) were always confirmed at the surgery in the patients who had levels of D-dimer higher than 200 ng/ml and/or TAT higher than 4 ng/ml. The plasma levels of D-dimer and TAT were further followed after the surgery in the same 18 patients (8 patients who had thrombus, the rest who didn't). 1) In the patients who had thrombi, levels of D-dimer were significantly decreased after the surgery (mean: from 267 ng/ml to 73 ng/ml, p less than 0.05). Levels of TAT were slightly but not significantly decreased (mean: from 82 ng/ml to 76 ng/ml, NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Early induction of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in infants and children undergoing surgery.

The cytokine response to injury or trauma is of interest in terms of both its mediation of the acute phase response and its possible relation to the immunological depression observed after major surgery. In this study, the production of cytokines IL-1 beta, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6 and the naturally occurring inhibitor of IL-1, IL-1Ra, have been investigated in infants and children undergoing Swenson's pull-through operation for Hirschsprung's disease. Samples of peripheral blood were taken before, during and after surgery for the measurement of cytokines. IL-1Ra levels increased significantly (P < 0.01) at 2 h after commencement of surgery, with maximal levels for individual patients being attained between 3 h and 5 h (range 7.6-67.9 ng/ml). The mean level of IL-1Ra was maximal (26.2 ng/ml) at 5 h and returned to baseline levels between 24 h and 72 h. There were no changes observed in the circulating levels of IL-1 beta in nine out of 11 patients following commencement of surgery. TNF-alpha levels did not increase in any of the patients studied. IL-6 levels increased significantly (P < 0.02) 3 h after commencement of surgery, reaching maximum concentrations at 24 h (range 20-670 pg/ml), with levels falling between 48 h and 72 h. This study demonstrates, in vivo, the independent induction of IL-1Ra without a concomitant increase of IL-1 beta levels after major surgery. It also shows that IL-1Ra is the earliest cytokine produced in response to surgical stress.     

Cortisol and ACTH responses to severe asphyxia in preterm fetal sheep

It has been hypothesized that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is immature in the preterm fetus and that this compromises their ability to adapt to hypoxic stress; however, there are few direct data. We therefore examined the effects of asphyxia on HPA responses in chronically instrumented preterm fetal sheep (104 days of gestation; term is 147 days), allocated to a sham control group (n = 7) or 25 min of complete umbilical cord occlusion (n = 8), followed by recovery for 72 h. During umbilical cord occlusion there was a rapid rise in ACTH levels (230.4 +/- 63.5 versus 14.1 +/- 1.8 ng ml(-1) in sham controls, 16-fold) and cortisol levels (7.4 +/- 4.9 versus 0.2 +/- 0.1 ng ml(-1), 31-fold), with further increases after release of cord occlusion. ACTH levels were normalized by 24 h, while plasma cortisol levels returned to sham control values 72 h after asphyxia. Fetal arterial blood pressure was elevated in the first 36 h, with a marked increase in femoral vascular resistance, and correlated positively with cortisol levels after asphyxia (P = 0.05). In conclusion, the preterm fetus shows a brisk, substantial HPA response to severe hypoxia.     

结直肠癌患者手术前后血清IGF-1水平变化及临床价值分析

目的 用酶联免疫吸附测定法检测结直肠癌患者手术前后血清 IGF-1的含量,并探讨其手术前后血清水平变化及在结直肠癌发生发展中的作用。方法 选取在佳木斯大学附属第一医院首次确诊并行结直肠癌切除术患者共30例为观察组,于手术前清晨及术后30 d采集空腹静脉血。选取同时期体检健康者30例为对照组,采集体检当日空腹静脉血。用Elisa法检测两组患者血清IGF-1的含量,观察血清IGF-1含量在两组中的变化规律,分析IGF-1与结直肠癌临床各参数的关系。结果 观察组术前血清IGF-1水平为（200.48±42.25）ng/ml,高于观察组术后的（164.52±35.45）ng/ml和对照组的（146.26±43.14）ng/ml,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;观察组术后血清IGF-1水平较对照组稍高,但差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;高分化、中分化者血清IGF-1水平低于低分化者,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;Dukes分期中A+B和C+D期之间比较,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 结直肠癌患者血清IGF-1参与结直肠癌的病变过程,是一种有促进细胞增殖、分化等多种生物学活性的细胞因子,可能作为结直肠癌发生、发展的重要预测指标及手术切除后手术效果的评定指标之一。     

Total IgE levels do not change 1 year after endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

BACKGROUND: Total IgE levels positively correlate with the amount of mucosal thickening on sinus CT scans. Our objective was to investigate whether the levels of total serum IgE decreased 1 year after endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, suggesting that the total IgE was influenced by the sinus disease. METHODS: 55 patients about to undergo endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis were enrolled in a prospective clinical study. All patients had preoperative sinus computerized tomography (CT) scans and levels of total serum IgE measured before surgery and 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: Preoperative total IgE levels showed a significant correlation with the extent of disease on sinus CT (r(s) = 0.413, p = 0.002). Total serum IgE levels did not show any statistically significant change from the preoperative values when measured 1 year postoperatively (324.25 +/- 217.30 ng/ml vs. 326.35 +/- 204.50 ng/ml; p = 0.61). CONCLUSIONS: The levels of total serum IgE do not change after sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis. IgE levels in chronic rhinosinusitis may reflect a systemic factor in disease pathogenesis, and are probably not related to the amount of local inflammation within the sinuses.     

Effect of nerve block on t-PA release by venous occlusion

In order to investigate the influence of neural blockade on tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) release by venous occlusion, we compared the increase in t-PA and fibrinolytic activity in the euglobulin fraction initiated by cubital venous occlusion (100 mmHg for 10 min), in pre-neural block and post-neural block states, in 7 cases. In all patients, the supra-clavicular approach was used to obtain a brachial plexus block and venous occlusion was achieved at the cubital levels on the ipsilateral arm. The euglobulin fibrinolytic activity before venous occlusion was 100.9±27.5 BAU in the pre-nerve block state and 102.7±29.4 BAU in the post-nerve block state (p>0.5). The t-PA antigen level before venous occlusion was 3.5±1.2ng/ml in the pre-nerve block state and 4.0±1.0 ng/ml in the post-nerve block state (p>0.05). The increase in the euglobulin fibrinolytic activity after venous occlusion was 18.0±16.7 BAU in the pre-nerve block state, and 18.3±15.6 BAU in the post-nerve block state (p>0.5). The increase in the t-PA antigen levels after venous occlusion was 3.0±2.0 ng/ml in the pre-nerve block state and 3.0±2.1ng/ml in the post-nerve block state (p>0.5). These findings suggest that the peripheral nervous system does not exert any influence on t-PA release during venous occlusion.     

右美托咪定对腹腔镜胆囊切除术患者 血清IL-10和TNF-α的影响

目的 探讨右美托咪定对腹腔镜胆囊切除术患者血清IL-10和TNF-α的影响。方法 选取2017年6月~2018年12月我院收治的行腹腔镜胆囊切除术患者64例,采用随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组,每组32例。两组患者均行全麻联合硬膜外麻醉,观察组静脉泵注右美托咪定,对照组给予生理盐水,比较两组麻醉前后血清IL-10和TNF-α水平及不良反应发生情况。结果 麻醉后,两组血清IL-10、TNF-α水平高于麻醉前,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;观察组IL-10水平高于对照组[（71.04±11.25）ng/ml vs（54.37±9.13）ng/ml],TNF-α水平低于对照组[（1.54±0.23）ng/ml vs（2.18±0.36）ng/ml],差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。观察组不良反应发生率为15.62%,低于对照组的40.63%,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 右美托咪啶应用于腹腔镜胆囊切除术中能缓解炎症反应,减少不良反应的发生。     

颅内支撑导管辅助Solitaire FR支架取栓治疗急性前循环大血管闭塞的临床疗效分析

目的:探讨颅内支撑导管辅助Solitaire FR支架机械取栓术(SWIM)治疗急性前循环大血管闭塞的临床疗效。方法:回顾性队列研究。纳入2017年12月—2019年12月宁乡市人民医院收治的急性前循环大血管闭塞患者84例,其中男54例、女30例,年龄34～74(59.12±6.97)岁,术前美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表...     

Surfactant protein A and D (SP-A, AP-D) levels in patients with septic ARDS

The levels of surfactant protein-A (SP-A) and surfactant protein-D (SP-D) in the serum of patients with septic acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were determined. Patients with sepsis without ARDS were examined as controls. The mean serum SP-A level in the former group was 37.6 +/- 16.2 ng/ml and in the latter group was 31.8 +/- 9.6 ng/ml. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. The maximum serum SP-D level was 83.0 +/- 33.9 ng/ml in the control group of patients without ARDS, and 476.3 +/- 391.2 ng/ml in the patients with ARDS. The level in the latter population was significantly higher than that in the former population. No significant correlation was observed between the SP-A and SP-D levels. These results suggest that the serum SP-D levels may serve as a good diagnostic indicator of ARDS in patients with sepsis.     

ICAM-1, ICAM-2 and ICAM-3 in the Sera of Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

In order to test the serum levels of ICAM-1, ICAM-2 and ICAM-3 in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), twenty patients with IPF and eleven with secondary interstitial fibrosis (SIF), as well as forty healthy volunteers (HV) were studied. Serum intracellular adhesion molecules (ICAM) 1, 2 and 3 were assessed by ELISA. Functional respiratory tests, which included spirometry and lung diffusing capacity were simultaneously performed. Median values of serum ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 were higher in the patients' than in the healthy volunteers' (HV) group: IPF group: 946.60 ng/ml and 400.14 ng/ml; SIF group: 901.58 ng/ml and 378.27 ng/ml; HV group: 308.40 ng/ml and 217.55 ng/ml, respectively (p < 0.05). ICAM-3 serum levels were equal between the three groups. ICAM-2 negatively correlated to DLCO values. (p < 0.005). It can be concluded that ICAM 1 and 2 are elevated in the sera of patients with pulmonary fibrosis. ICAM-2 might be associated with a more impaired clinical status.     

Plasma histamine levels in polytraumatized patients

In a prospective clinical trial, plasma histamine levels were measured in 28 polytrauma patients on day 1, 5 and 14 after trauma. Only those subjects who died were drop-outs. All patients had severe polytrauma with at least 3 body regions involved. The median plasma histamine levels at all three time points were significantly higher than in patients with single trauma of the extremities or before selective orthopaedic surgery but still in the normal range (<1 ng/ml). However, all patients with plasma levels above 1 ng/ml on days 1 and 5 died, as did all patients with levels above 0.5 ng/ml on day 1. Thus the elevation of plasma histamine levels, for whatever reason, appears to be a prognostic factor for bad outcome in polytrauma patients.     

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion syndrome after partial liver resection (LR): Hepatic venous oxygen saturation, enzyme pattern, reduced and oxidized glutathione, procalcitonin and interleukin-6

The hepatic ischemia-reperfusion syndrome was investigated in 28 patients undergoing elective partial liver resection with intraoperative occlusion of hepatic inflow (Pringle maneuver) using the technique of liver vein catheterization.

Hepatic venous oxygen saturation (ShvO₂) was monitored continuously up to 24 hours after surgery. Aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, pseudocholinesterase, -glutathione S-transferase, reduced and oxidized glutathione, procalcitonine, and interleukin-6 were serially measured both before and after Pringle maneuver during the resection and postoperatively in arterial and/or hepatic venous blood.

ShvO₂ measurement demonstrated that peri- and postoperative management was suitable to maintain an optimal hepatic oxygen supply. As expected, we were able to demonstrate a typical enzyme pattern of postischemic liver injury. There was a distinct decrease of reduced glutathione levels both in arterial and hepatic venous plasma after LR accompanied by a strong increase in oxidized glutathione concentration during the phase of reperfusion. We observed increases in procalcitonin and interleukin-6 levels both in arterial and hepatic venous blood after declamping.

Our data support the view that liver resection in man under conditions of inflow occlusion resulted in ischemic lesion of the liver (loss of glutathione synthesizing capacity with disturbance of protection against oxidative stress) and an additional impairment during reperfusion (liberation of reactive oxygen species, local and systemic inflammation reaction with cytokine production). Additionally, we found some evidence for the assumption that the liver has an export function for reduced glutathione into plasma in man.     

The effect of leptin on engraftment in patients undergoing peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

AIM AND BACKGROUND: To evaluate the alterations of serum leptin levels during stem cell transplantation and its possible role in engraftment. Thirty-two patients (19 male, 13 female) with various hematological and solid tumors and 28 healthy subjects (15 male, 13 female) as a control group were enrolled in the study. METHODS: Serum leptin levels were measured on the day before administering G-CSF, at the time of leukapheresis harvest, on day +1st and +7th after transplantation and on the day of leukocyte engraftment. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in serum leptin levels between patients (mean +/- SEM, 11.62 +/- 2.75 ng/ml) before transplantation and control groups (9.79 +/- 1.73 ng/ml). Pre-G-CSF (baseline) level of serum leptin (11.62 +/- 2.75 ng/ml) was significantly decreased to 7.73 +/- 2.02 ng/ml at the time of apheresis harvest (P = 0.0029). Later, serum leptin levels increased to 16.75 +/- 3.26 ng/ml on day +1 after transplantation (P < 0.0001). Subsequently serum leptin levels both on day +7th posttransplant (12.11 +/- 2.17 ng/ml) and leukocyte engraftment day (9.26 +/- 1.50 ng/ml) were gradually decreased. There was no correlation between the serum leptin levels and the leukocyte or platelet engraftment. CONCLUSION: The present study concludes that serum leptin level does not change remarkably during peripheral blood stem cell transplantation and no association exists between circulating leptin levels and the onset of engraftment suggesting that circulating serum leptin does not have a significant direct influence on engraftment.