The use of lyophilized plasma as a reference sample for determining factor VIII]

The activity of lyophilized Soviet reference plasma Factor VIII was measured by a single-stage Papayan and Khrolova's method. This factor is referent in respect of the prothrombin complex factors, stored for 18-43.5 months. Factor VIII activity was found to be within 55-135 percent. Differences in the values of antihemophilic globulin activities obtained in parallel studies in different days may be explained by the fact that the native control was not standard. The results are promising as regards the possibility of using lyophilized donor reference plasma as a reference reagent for estimation of Factor VIII activity.     

Upregulation of asparagine synthetase fails to avert cell cycle arrest induced by L-asparaginase in TEL/AML1-positive leukaemic cells.

L-Asparaginase is a standard component in chemotherapy of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Leukaemic cells carrying TEL/AML1 fusion gene are more sensitive to treatment with L-asparaginase compared to other subtypes of ALL. We demonstrate in vitro the prolonged growth suppression of TEL/AML1[+] cells compared to TEL/AML1[-] leukaemic cells after L-asparaginase treatment simulating treatment protocol. Cell cycle analysis revealed TEL/AML1[+] cells to accumulate in G1/G0 phase (81-98%) compared to TEL/AML1[-] cells (47-60%). Quantitative analysis of asparagine synthetase (AsnS) expression showed the ability of TEL/AML1[+] cells to increase AsnS mRNA levels after L-asparaginase treatment to the same extent as TEL/AML1[-] leukaemic and nonleukaemic lymphoid cells. We hypothesise that TEL/AML1[+] cells are unable to progress into the S phase of cell cycle under nutrition stress caused by L-asparaginase, despite the ability of AsnS upregulation. Significantly higher expression of AsnS was found in untreated leukaemic cells from children with TEL/AML1[+] ALL (n=20) in comparison with the group of age-matched children with ALL bearing no known fusion gene (n=25; P=0.0043). Interestingly, none of the TEL/AML1[+] patients with high AsnS level relapsed, whereas 10/15 patients with AsnS below median relapsed (P=0.00028). Therefore, high AsnS levels in TEL/AML1[+] patients correlate with better prognosis, possibly reflecting the stretched metabolic demand of the lymphoblast.     

Clinical and parasitological diagnosis of human dirofilariasis

The paper reports two new cases of human dirofiliriasis (its causative agent is Dirofiliria repens) with a rare clinical diagnosis of funiculitis of the right scrotal spermatic cord in a 12-year-old boy from the Tambov Region and of erysipelatous inflammation of the outer side of the right leg in a 68-year-old woman who resides in Moscow and lives in her country house in the Shakhovsky District, Moscow Region, in summer. Both cases of invasion are regarded as local. The bodies of the D. repens females detected measured 110 x 0.476-0.48 and 135 x 0.56-0.60 mm, respectively, and the females were identified as impubertal and pubertal, but infecund. In the former case, dirofiliriasis was an etiological factor of spermatic cord funiculitis. In the latter case, the location of Dirofiliria provoked prolonged (7-month) erysipelatous inflammation. Emphasis is placed on the implication of dirofiliriasis in human pathology. To have a more intimate knowledge of parasitic etiology will help physicians in making a differential diagnosis of dirofiliriasis and in elaborating a correct treatment policy after a clinical and parasitological diagnosis is established.     

肿瘤相关基因Cap43在胰腺癌中的表达及意义

目的研究肿瘤相关基因Cap43在胰腺癌组织中的表达情况,探讨其对胰腺癌的诊断价值。方法收集1999年4月～2002年8月长海医院外科手术切除胰腺癌标本和癌旁正常组织33例,诊断均由病理证实。男性22例,女性11例,年龄30～73岁,平均58．1岁。所有组织标本按肿瘤、癌旁(正常)配对。采用RT-PCR和Northern杂交方法研究Cap43 mRNA表达情况。结果 RT-PCR结果显示,Cap43在肿瘤组织中表达显著上调,其在肿瘤组织和癌旁正常组织的扫描值分别为4 033±1 986和2 244±1 145,有显著差异(P<0．001)。Northern杂交亦显示Cap43在肿瘤组织中表达显著上调,相同病例的RT-PCR结果与Northern杂交的结果有较好的一致性,经回归分析,没有显著性差异(P>0．1)。结论 Cap43在胰腺癌组织中呈显著高表达,其有可能成为胰腺癌早期诊断的重要标志物。     

Participation of brain neuromediator systems in the action of parlodel on prolactin and luteinizing hormone secretion by the rat hypophysis

The data are presented, obtained in experiments on cyclic female rats. The blood prolactin and luteinizing hormone content was examined and the dopamin level in the preoptic region and mediobasal hypothalamus was determined after a single parlodel injection to animals during the proestrous and/or estrous stage. The most pronounced effect of the drug manifested itself in a decrease in the blood prolactin content, especially in rats within the proestrous stage and, to a lesser degree, during the estrous cycle. An increased dopamin level in the mediobasal hypothalamus and the brain preoptic region of the animals during the proestrous stage was probably secondary. Marked changes in the serotonin levels were not revealed. It is suggested that the relationship between the lactotropic and luteotropic functions of the hypophysis is conditioned, to a considerable extent, by the dopaminergic system of both brain regions, involving in regulation of the gonadotropin secretion. The cyclicity disturbance was not prevented and the estrous cycle was not restored in female rats under experimental conditions of hyperestrogenemia after dopamin precursor injection.