Evaluation of a risk of a cross-reactivity with Echinococcus multilocularis-specific Em2plus antigen in patients with liver cancer

The incidence of non-specific reactions with E. multilocularis antigen in patients with liver malignancies, and the risk of a supradiagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) in space-occupying lesions in the liver due to neoplastic proliferative diseases were studied. Analysis of specific IgG serum antibody against Em2plus antigenic complex was performed in 11 AE patients in comparison to 76 individuals with malignant neoplasms of abdominal or extra-hepatic location, including some patients with primary hepatocellular cancer or distant metastases to liver, and 42 patients with benign hepatic lesions. Only one false borderline result was reported in a case with colorectal cancer, and dissemination to liver. Low risk of false positive results with E. multilocularis-specific Em2plus antigen in patients with liver malignancies makes the test valuable for practical reasons in a differential diagnosis of irregular tumor masses visualized by imaging techniques.     

Clinical,biochemical and immunological characteristic of diabetes type I,LADA, diabetes type II,and MODY patients

Right classification of diabetes is important clinical issue. The aim of present study was to compare clinical, biochemical and immunological features, to analyze their practical use and to establish new decision tree which make the distinction between diabetes type 1, LADA, diabetes type 2 and MODY. We studied 97 not obese (mean BMI 26.3 +/- 4.9 kg/m2) patients aged 14 to 70 years, mean age 43 +/- 11.7 years, 53 women, 44 men. Mean duration of diabetes--2.3 +/- 4.3 years. We measured basal and stimulated C-peptide (6 minutes after 1 mg i.v. glucagon) (ELISA) and antibodies titers to glutamic acid decarboxylase--antiGAD65, tyrosine phosphatase-like molecule--IA2 and insulin--IAA (RIA). Autoimmune diabetes (LADA, type 1) was diagnosed with presence of one or more islet antigen antibodies. The highest frequencies had anti-GAD antibodies 33/97 (34%). The most complicated was to sort out group of patients with LADA. Comparison between this group and patients with diabetes type 2 have shown that BMI, co-existence of autoimmune disease, autoimmune markers and basal and stimulated C-peptide level measured at entry for the classification were useful in differentiation. Moreover we observed significantly lower C-peptide basal, stimulated and over basal level in group with MODY diabetes in comparison to diabetes type 2 patients. In the studied group were 5 patients with diabetes type 2 and obesity, in relatively young age. At the end there was one case of ADM (atypical diabetes mellitus). Clinical criteria for the classification of diabetes not always correlated with diagnosis. Autoimmune markers, basal and stimulated C-peptide were useful specially in differentiation between LADA and diabetes type 2 or diabetes type 1. Autoimmune diabetes co-existe with autoimmune disease. Proposed diagnostic scheme take for consideration presence of autoantibodies as well as C-peptide criteria.     

Terapia celowana i transplantacja komórek krwiotwórczych szansą na wyleczenie chorych z ostrą białaczką szpikową

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disorder with a diverse prognosis. About 70% of AML patients may achieve complete remission after conventional chemotherapy, but long-term outcome remains unsatisfactory. The development of molecular biology resulted in a better understanding of AML pathogenesis as well as it allowed us the introduction of targeted therapy. However, most AML patients still require the allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) to be cured. The long-term results of alloHSCT for AML depend on a variety of factors including the age at transplant, the presence of well-defined risk factors and disease status at transplant. It seems that the combination of targeted therapy with conventional chemotherapy and subsequent alloHSCT may be a chance for curing a significant proportion of AML patients.     

Ultrastructure of the intrauterine eggs of the microphallid trematode Maritrema feliui: evidence of early embryonic development

Intrauterine embryonic development in the microphallid trematode Maritrema feliui is examined by means of transmission electron microscopy. Both fertilization and eggshell formation take place in the ootype. The eggshell is formed from a shell globule material derived from the vitelline cells combined with secretions of Mehlis' gland. The proximal uterus is packed with unembryonated eggs of the oligolecithal type, each composed of a fertilized oocyte and several vitelline cells, all surrounded by the shell. Intrauterine embryonic development of the egg is followed to the early stage of outer embryonic envelope formation, resulting in an embryo of ~20 blastomeres of three different types: macromeres, mesomeres and micromeres. The first equal cleavage division of the zygote produces two macromeres. The outer envelope is of cellular origin and formed by the cytoplasmic fusion of two macromeres, which become situated at opposite poles in the peripheral layer of the embryo just beneath the eggshell. Simultaneously, other blastomeres multiply and differentiate, whereas several micromeres exhibit clear signs of degeneration or apoptosis. These results show that the embryonic development of M. feliui starts in utero and represents an example of early stage ovoviviparity. A reduction in the number of blastomeres results from a continued degeneration of micromeres, which after autolysis and re-absorption, appear to represent an important source of nutritive reserves for the embryo. The embryonic development of this digenean is discussed in relation to its life cycle.     

A transmission electron microscopical study of the tegument of Maritrema feliui (Digenea: Microphallidae)

The tegument of the microphallid digenean Maritrema feliui, examined by means of TEM, is described as a syncytial epithelium organised into two layers. The outer layer is an external anucleate, cytoplasmic region connected to a second region composed of nucleate perikarya (cytons) deeply embedded in the surrounding cortical parenchyma. The surface layer of the tegument is covered by a plasma membrane with many deep invaginations, which are apparently pinocytotic. This layer also bears numerous large, electron-dense spines of two types, which are intracellular and attached to the basal plasma membrane. Its cytoplasm is rich in free ribosomes, contains numerous mitochondria, disc-shaped granules frequently arranged in a rouleau, and several large, moderately electron-dense, membranous bodies. The subtegumentary perikarya and their nuclei, which are both flattened, are described in detail, as are their connections with the surface tegument. These perikarya appear to be the source of the disc-shaped granules and some of the other inclusions present in the surface layer. The main characteristics of the tegumental structure of M. feliui are commented upon in relation to the findings of previous publications and their suggested functions.