False-positive results in ELISA-based anti FVIII antibody assay may occur with lupus anticoagulant and phospholipid antibodies

Summary. The evaluation of a prolonged aPTT often includes Lupus Anticoagulant, Antiphospholipid Antibodies, and Factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitors. We have noticed that patient samples positive for lupus antibody (LA) are frequently also positive for FVIII IgG antibodies in an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indicating the need for follow‐up testing with a more labour‐intensive functional assay for FVIII inhibition. This study evaluates the potential for a FVIII IgG ELISA to yield false‐positive results in patient samples positive for LA or other antiphospholipid antibodies. A total of 289 residual de‐identified patient samples positive for LA (n = 143), anti‐cardiolipin IgG (n = 84), or beta2‐glycoprotein antibody (n = 62) were tested for FVIII IgG using a commercial ELISA. Samples with positive FVIII IgG ELISA results were further tested for FVIII activity using a clot‐based FVIII inhibitor assay. The FVIII IgG ELISA yielded positive results in 39 (13%) of the samples tested, including 13/143 (13%) LA‐positive, 15/85 (18%) aCL IgG‐positive and 6/62 (10%) β2‐glycoprotein IgG‐positive samples. The clot‐based FVIII inhibitor assay yielded negative results in all 39 FVIII IgG‐positive specimens tested, indicating discrepancy with the FVIII IgG ELISA results. Patient specimens positive for LA, aCL IgG, or β2‐glycoprotein IgG may yield false‐positive results for FVIII antibodies. Caution is warranted in interpreting FVIII antibody results in these cases.     

Analysis of N-ras gene mutation and p53 gene expression in human hepatocellular carcinomas

AIM:To study the relationship between N-ras gene mutation and p53 gene expression in the carcinogenesis and the development of human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC).METHODS:The N-ras gene mutation and the p53 gene expression were analyzed in 29 cases of HCC by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:Thirteen cases of HCCs were p53 positive (44.8%), which showed a rather high Cpercen-tage of p53 gene mutation in Guangxi. The aberrations at N-ras codon 2-37 were found in 79.31% of HCCs and 80.77% of adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues. More than 2 point mutations of N-ras gene were observed in 22 cases (75.86%). Twelve cases (41.37%) of HCCs showed both N-ras gene mutation and p53 gene expression.CONCLUSION:N-ras gene and p53 gene may be involved in the carcinogenesis and the development of HCC.That 38% of HCCs with N-ras gene mutation did not express p53 protein indicates that some other genes or factors may participate in the carcinogenesis and the development of HCC.     

Synthesis and anesthetic activity of acetomesidides containing tropane and piperidine fragments

Translated from Khimiko-farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 23, No. 6, pp. 684–686, June, 1989.     

Immunopositive and immunonegative forms of chronic pancreatitis

The data are provided on the immune status in 108 patients with chronic pancreatitis. The authors revealed the immune responses toward pancreatic tissue, deoxyribonucleic acid and deoxyribonuclease. Based on the revealed autoimmune responses to the pancreatic tissue, two patterns of chronic pancreatitis were distinguished: the immunopositive and immunonegative. It is suggested that immunologic mechanisms are involved into the pathogenesis of the immunopositive pattern of chronic pancreatitis.     

Study of the hemostatic properties of gaseous ozone

The hemostatic properties of ozone were studied on models of parenchymatous (from a wound in the liver) and stem (from the stump of the tail) bleedings in rats. An air-ozone mixture at a flow rate of 1 liter/min and a concentration of 2 mg/ml was found to exert a pronounced hemostatic effect. Our findings indicate that the arrest of bleeding under the influence of ozone is due to the formation of a fibrin membrane on the surface of the flowing blood, this leading to rapid and effective hemostasis. Preliminary drying of the wound still further speeds the onset of hemostasis. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120 N ^o 7 pp. 62–65, July, 1995 Presented by D. S. Sarkisov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Dopaminergic involvement in the mediation of morphine effects on vocalization and movement reactivity in the rat

To understand the role of dopamine in the mediation of opiate's analgesic and reinforcing activity, the influence of pharmacologically-induced increase (apomorphine in a high dose) and decrease (haloperidol and apomorphine in a low "presynaptic" dose) of dopamine neurotransmission on morphine-induced depression of vocalization and movement reactivity was investigated in freely behaving rats. Strong enhancement of morphine-induced vocalization reactivity depression and a weakening of movement reactivity depression typical to concomitant pharmacological increase of dopamine neurotransmission may represent the enhancement of its reinforcing and analgesic properties and inhibition of its depressive/sedative activity. Enhancement of MOR-induced depression of movement and vocalization reactivity characteristic of drug-induced decrease of dopamine neurotransmission may be the consequence of the blockade of opiate's reinforcing and stimulatory activity and summation of depressive/sedative actions typical to these drugs administered alone.