Usefulness of the determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the serum of patients with colorectal cancer in Albania.

In our work we have studied the value of the determination of serum CEA in patients with colorectal cancer. We have studied 56 patients with colorectal cancer aged 40 +/- 16 years of both sexes, 26 of whom have metastasis and 30 not. The positivity of serum CEA in the patients with colorectal cancer was 66% (37/56) in the patients without metastasis 53% (16/30) and in the patients with metastasis 80.7%. (21/26). The referent values of serum CEA were significantly lower than the values of serum CEA in the patients with colorectal cancer with and without metastasis (p1 < 0.001). Also we noticed that the values of serum CEA of the patients with colorectal cancer with metastasis were considerably higher than those without metastasis (p2 < 0.001). Analysing the values of serum CEA in the patients with colorectal cancer we noticed that all the patients of our work that had serum CEA value 20 ng/ml had metastasis. Relying on our data we conclude that the determination of serum CEA in the patients with colorectal cancer is very useful for the diagnosis and the prognosis of these patients.     

The biology of breast tumor progression. Acquisition of hormone independence and resistance to cytotoxic drugs.

Many breast tumors appear to follow a predictable clinical pattern, being initially responsive to endocrine therapy and to cytotoxic chemotherapy but ultimately exhibiting a phenotype resistant to both modalities. Using the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line as an example of an 'early' phenotype (estrogen and progesterone receptor positive, steroid responsive, low metastatic potential), we have isolated and characterized a series of hormone-independent but hormone-responsive variants (MIII and MCF7/LCC1). However, these variants remain responsive to both antiestrogens and cytotoxic drugs (methotrexate and colchicine). MIII and MCF7/LCC1 cells appear to mimic some of the critical aspects of the early progression to a more aggressive phenotype. An examination of the phenotype of these cells suggests that some hormone-independent breast cancer cells are derived from hormone-dependent parental cells. The development of a hormone-independent phenotype can arise independently of acquisition of a cytotoxic drug resistant phenotype.     

The Recognition of Hypothalamo-Neurohypophysial Functions by Developing T Cells

Neuropeptide signals and specific neuropeptide receptors have been described in the thymus supporting the concept of a close dialogue between the neuroendocrine and the immune systems at the level of early T-cell differentiation. In this paper, we review recent data about neurohypophysial (NHP)-related peptides detected in the thymus from different species. We suggest that we are dealing in fact with other member(s) of the NHP hormone family, which seems to exert its activity locally through a novel model of cell-to-cell signaling, that of cryptocrine communication. This model involves exchange of signals between thymic epithelial cells and developing thymocytes. The NHP-related peptides have been shown to trigger thymocyte proliferation and could induce immune tolerance of this highly conserved neuroendocrine family.     

Different isoforms of human pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone have different relative biological activities.

The relationship between the immunological and biological activities of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) isoforms present in the three human pituitary preparations 68/38 (1st IRP), 80/558 (2nd IRP) and 63/14 (MRC Research Standard A) was investigated. The isoforms were separated by chromatofocusing. Six peaks of immunoactivity were detected in 80/558, with pI values (means +/- S.E.M.) of 6.6 +/- 0.1, 6.2 +/- 0.1, 5.9 +/- 0.1, 5.5 +/- 0.1, 5.2 +/- 0.1 and 4.9 +/- 0.1. Four peaks, with pI values of 6.8 +/- 0.1, 5.9 +/- 0.1, 5.5 +/- 0.1 and 5.2 +/- 0.1, were observed for 68/38. Standard 63/14 had five peaks, with pI values of 6.9 +/- 0.1, 6.4 +/- 0.1, 5.9 +/- 0.1, 5.4 +/- 0.1 and 4.9 +/- 0.1. For each standard, six fractions around the peak areas and at the top and bottom of the gradient were pooled and microconcentrated to < 1.0 ml. Microconcentrated TSH samples were assayed in three TSH bioassays based upon FRTL-5 thyroid cells, utilizing cyclic AMP accumulation, iodide and thymidine uptake as end-points and standard 80/558 as reference preparation. The more acidic forms of TSH showed a higher biological:immunological (B:I) ratio for cyclic AMP accumulation with, for example, 63/14 having a maximum of 3.7 (pI 4.9) and a minimum of < 0.7 (pI 6.9). In contrast, the maximum and minimum B:I ratios for iodide uptake for 63/14 were 3.8 (pI 6.9) and < 0.8 (pI 4.6), and for thymidine uptake, maximum and minimum ratios were 7.2 (pI 6.9) and 1.1 (pI 4.6) respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Rapid spontaneous postpartum remission in a case of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy associated with pregnancy]

A 28-year-old woman developed numbness and weakness of the hands and arms when she was 8 months pregnant, and weakness worsened gradually. However, weakness started to spontaneously subside immediately after delivery and she felt almost recovered several hours later. But weakness and numbness recurred one week after delivery and she was admitted to our hospital. Neurological examination revealed moderate weakness and disturbance of the deep and cutaneous sensations in the upper and lower extremities, and marked decrease of the deep tendon reflexes. The upper extremities were more severely affected. Nerve conduction study showed marked decrease in the motor conduction velocities. Cerebrospinal fluid showed increase of protein without pleocytosis. Teased preparation of the biopsied sural nerve showed occasional internodal segments with thin myelination, indicating demyelination and remyelination. A diagnosis of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy was made. Treatment with prednisolone markedly improved the weakness and hyporeflexia as well as the cerebrospinal fluid protein. Postpartum rapid remission may have been produced by rapid increase of endogenous steroid hormone in the blood by its massive excretion during delivery.     

Surface anatomy scanning image by MRI in herpes simplex encephalitis]

We present surface anatomy scanning (SAS) image by weighted-summation technique using MRI images in herpes simplex encephalitis. Recently, SAS has been developed as a technique that visualizes brain surface structures. This patient was a 64-year-old male who suffered from aphasia and memory disturbance after herpes simplex encephalitis. He was transferred to our hospital for rehabilitation. Neuropsychological tests showed Wernicke's aphasia and memory impairment. SAS was performed for the purpose of analyzing these neuropsychological deficits, especially the Wernicke's aphasia. In SAS image, sulci were enhanced and gyri were easy to identify clearly. The affected structures disclosed low intensity areas in the entire left temporal lobe, including the superior temporal gyrus. It was clarified that the damage to the left superior temporal gyrus resulted in his Wernicke's aphasia. We think that SAS is very useful for cortical lesion analysis, not only in encephalitis but also in other disorders presenting higher brain dysfunctions.     

A case of renal pelvic carcinoma in situ]

A 72-year-old female visited our hospital with the complaint of macroscopic hematuria on Jan. 29, 1990. Cystoscopic examination revealed hematuria flowing out from the left ureteral orifice. A 1 cm mass was found in the left upper calyx by retrograde pyelography (RP). Urine cytology obtained by RP was class IIIb. Later, the mass was found in the left middle calyx by CT. Repeated RP revealed no mass and the wall of the left upper calyx was irregular. Washing cytology from the left renal pelvis was class V. Left total nephroureterectomy was performed on Feb. 2, 1990. Macroscopically, no tumor mass was apparent. Microscopically, transitional cell carcinoma in situ was widely spread from the left renal pelvis to the middle ureter. The preoperative upper calyceal mass was thought to have been a blood clot. At twelve months after the operation, there has been no evidence of tumor recurrence.