Acute Phase Reactants in the Initial Phase of Giant Cell Arteritis

ABSTRACT The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and haptoglobin were followed weekly during the initial phase of corticosteroid treatment in 18 patients with 19 episodes of giant cell arteritis (GCA). Fibrinogen and CRP decreased most rapidly, with normal values in 67% of the patients after two weeks of treatment. After two weeks 56% of the patients had normal ESR values and 76% after five weeks. Haptoglobin normalised most slowly, no patient having a normal value after one week, 29% after two weeks and 75% after six weeks. For routine clinical use, we found the ESR alone sufficient for monitoring the initial steroid treatment.     

Plasma and Erythrocyte Concentrations of Mercaptopurine after Oral Administration in Children

Plasma and erythrocyte concentrations of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Eleven children (9 with acute lymphatic leukemia) were studied after oral intake of 6-MP doses ranging between 31 and 128 mg/m² body surface area. The concentrations of 6-MP in plasma were found to vary considerably between patients even after dose normalization to 75 mg/m². After dose normalization the mean peak plasma concentration was 0.68 μM (range 0.12-1.38) and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) was 1.37 μM.h (range 0.12-3.04). The mean time taken to reach the peak concentration was 1.3 h (range 1-2), and the half-life of elimination was 1.8 h (range 0.6-2.5). No patient had detectable 6-MP concentrations 12 h after dose intake. The concentrations of 6-MP tended to be higher in erythrocytes than in plasma. The mean peak concentration in erythrocytes was 131% and the AUC 145% of that found in plasma. The mean half-life of elimination from erythrocytes was 2.0 h (range 0.7-2.8). These data indicate that 6-MP can pass through cell membranes rapidly to reach intracellular concentrations equal to or even higher than in plasma. In summary, marked interindividual differences in pharmacokinetics were found, probably due to highly variable bioavailability of oral 6-MP. Further studies are needed to determine whether measurements of plasma concentrations of 6-MP can be used to optimize maintenance treatment of childhood leukemia.     

Influence of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A on erythrocyte aggregation: a comparative study

Analysis of the aggregation of erythrocytes as measured by aggregation index in blood samples obtained from patients with elevated levels of immunoglobulin G (Ig G) and immunoglobulin A (Ig A) is carried out. The aggregation index (AI) and plasma viscosity (PV) are correlated with the total protein, albumin, Ig G, Ig A and Ig M and total globulin concentrations of samples and are compared with that of normal blood. The results show that the AI depends more on the monoclonal globulin concentrations and this dependence is more for Ig A than that for Ig G. There is no correlation between either AI and IgM in both these samples. The present study shows that the aggregation index could further be used as a rapid supplementary test for the initial investigation and therapeutic response of hyperglobulinemic patients.     

子宫内膜异位症患者红细胞免疫功能与NK细胞活性的相关性

目的: 探讨红细胞免疫功能及自然杀伤(NK)细胞活性在子宫内膜异位症(内异症)发病中的作用,以及两者之间的相关性。方法:采用红细胞C3b受体花环试验（RC3bR）及红细胞免疫复合物花环试验(RIcR)测定44例内异症患者(内异症组)红细胞免疫功能变化,采用4-甲基偶氮唑盐(MTT)法检测患者外周血NK细胞活性,并与正常妇女(对照组)进行比较。结果:内异症组RC3bR及NK细胞活性低于对照组(P<0.05),其值随内异症病情加重有逐渐下降趋势;内异症组Ⅲ,Ⅳ期患者RIcR较对照组明显升高(P<0.05)。44 例内异症患者RC3bR值与NK细胞活性的降低程度呈直线正相关(r=0.6659,P<0.01)。结论：内异症患者红细胞免疫功能及NK细胞活性的降低可能与该病的发生与发展有关。     

Detection of stages of autoimmune hemolytic anemia by evaluating erythrocyte deformability and density

Study of erythrocyte density and deformability in patients with hemolytic anemia, including long-term monitoring of 5 patients, helped us to characterize the pathological processes leading to changes in the erythrocyte population at different terms of the disease and to detect its main stages (agglutination, pathological dehydration, combination of pathological dehydration and microvesiculation, hemolytic crisis, and remission).Translated from Byulleten Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 9, pp. 316–319, September, 2004.     

Mechanisms of Penicillin Antibiotic Interactions with Human Erythrocytes

Significant effects of penicillin antibiotics, used in pediatrics, on the erythrocyte structural characteristics were detected by recording kinetic curves of osmotic and acid hemolysis. Possible relationships between erythrocyte properties and concentrations, duration of exposure to, and structure of antibiotics were revealed. Recommendations for dose correction for effective use of antibiotics in medicine with consideration for individual features of the patient are proposed. Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 146, No. 10, pp. 419-423, October, 2008     

Effect of arginine on properties of erythrocyte membranes in hypoxia

Research Institute of Biology, Rostov State University. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences T. T. Berezov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 113, No. 5, pp. 497–498, May, 1992.     

Stimulation of KCl co-transport in equine erythrocytes by hydrostatic pressure: effects of kinase/phosphatase inhibition

The effects of hydrostatic pressure on the KCl co-transporter of equine erythrocytes were studied to determine factors involved in its regulation. Pressure (0.1–40MPa) increased Cl^–-dependent K⁺ transport; in the presence of the putative kinase inhibitor N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) which stimulates the transporter, or the phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A, pressure had no significant effect. The sequential application of NEM and calyculin A clamped the transporter at about 30% of maximal flux compared to NEM alone; pressure also had no further effect. These results suggest that pressure acts on the phosphorylation status of the transporter or regulatory peptide, rather than on the ion flux per se. Since the activation of the KCl co-transporter by pressure occurs without an apparent change in cell volume these results have implications for any universal model for the regulation of KCl co-transport.     

Twenty seven nucleotide deletion within exon 11 of the erythrocyte band 3 gene in Indonesian ovalocytosis

Summary We here report the molecular characterization of an Indonesian ovalocytosis. The analysis of genomic gene by polymerase chain reaction shows that the individual has two amplified products from a region encompassing exon 11 of the erythrocyte band 3 gene. The sequence of the larger product matched completely with that of normal individuals. In the sequence of the smaller product, 27 nucleotides within exon 11 disappeared. The deletion removes a total of nine amino acids in the boundary of cytoplasmic and membrane domains of band 3 protein, a membrane anion transporter protein. This is the first report to confirm the heterogeneous presence of an altered membrane band 3 protein in Indonesian ovalocytosis.