Granulocyte antibodies in leukaemic chronic lymphoproliferative disorders

The anti-granulocyte activity of serum from patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and other lymphoproliferative disorders was investigated. Granulocyte-binding IgG was measured in 34 patients with CLL, 13 patients with hairy cell leukaemia, one patient with prolymphocytic leukaemia, two patients with Sézary cell leukaemia, and seven patients with chronic T-cell lymphocytosis who had a predominance of circulating large granular lymphocytes. Anti-granulocyte activity was absent in CLL and its variants, but present in the majority of granulocytopenic patients with chronic T-cell lymphocytosis. In one of these patients, granulocytopenia was associated with complement-activating IgG granulocyte antibody. Thus, antibody-mediated granulocyte injury appears to be an unusual occurrence in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, but is a frequent complication of chronic T-cell lymphocytosis.     

Defective calcium transport in platelets from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

Aggregation and secretion of washed platelets from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRSP) were greatly reduced by the development of hypertension in comparison with age-matched normotensive WKY platelets. In an attempt to clarify the mechanism of the defective functions, Ca2+ transport in platelets from SHRSP and WKY were studied. Changes of cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were examined by using Quin 2. [Ca2+]i increase in response to thrombin(0.028 - 0.11 U/ml) was significantly delayed in SHRSP platelets compared with that of age-matched WKY platelets. The time(sec) to peak in [Ca2+]i was about two times longer in SHRSP platelets than in WKY platelets. [Ca2+]i levels at resting state were significantly lower in SHRSP platelets while there was no difference in maximal [Ca2+]i level in response to thrombin (0.031 - 0.125 U/ml) between the two strains. In addition thrombin-induced 45Ca2+ uptake was significantly delayed in SHRSP platelets. This delay of [Ca2+]i increase following thrombin stimulation might be associated with the hypofunctions of SHRSP platelets.     

Pericardial effusion complicating breast cancer.

Thirty-five patients with metastatic breast cancer and pericardial effusions are described. They were treated with specific endocrine or chemotherapy. Twenty-two (63%) had presented in cardiac tamponade and were rapidly relieved by pericardiocentesis. Eighteen (82%) of these required no further local treatment, 2 obtained relief from a second aspiration and 2 needed additional treatment (intrapericardial bleomycin instillation and surgical pleuropericardial window). The median survival was 13.2 months. No patient relapsed again in the pericardium, suggesting that their prognosis was that of the underlying disease. Cardiac tamponade should be considered in any breathless patient with malignancy. In breast cancer, periocardiocentesis is lifesaving and systemic treatment can usefully prolong life.     

Effect of marginal zinc deficiency on the lymphatic absorption of [14C]cholesterol

The effect of zinc deficiency on intestinal absorption of cholesterol was investigated in adult male rats fed 3.6 ppm of dietary zinc (ZD) and compared with pair-fed (PF) and ad-libitum (CT) controls fed 30.6 ppm of zinc for 10 to 12 wk. The intestinal absorption of cholesterol was measured by collecting the mesenteric lymph at hourly intervals for 8 h after infusing a dose of [14C]cholesterol in a lipid emulsion through an indwelling duodenal catheter. Data on the hourly lymphatic output of [14C]cholesterol showed that the absorption of [14C]cholesterol plateaued at 4 h postdosing in all groups. The rate of the appearance of [14C]cholesterol in the mesenteric lymph significantly decreased in ZD rats at 5 h and thereafter. The cumulative absorption of [14C]cholesterol by ZD rats for the 8-h period was 4.4 +/- 1.0% of the dose, compared with 11.8 +/- 1.1% by PF and 10.7 +/- 1.4% by CT rats. There were no differences in percent distribution of esterified [14C]cholesterol among the three groups. Also, no significant change in mucosal cholesterol esterase activity was observed due to zinc deficiency. The present data and previous findings taken together suggest that the primary mechanism responsible for the impaired absorption of cholesterol may be associated with defective formation of chylomicrons in the intestinal mucosa.