RESUMEN

The morphology of lymphocytes in blood and bone marrow smears from 103 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) was studied. Special attention was paid to the finding of immature cells with the morphological features of prolymphocytes (prolymphocytoid cells -PLC). Subsequently the prognostic significance of these cells was examined. It was found that in 85 cases no PLC were found (Group I); in 8 cases the percentage was less than or equal to 10% (Group II) and in 10 cases the PLC were greater than 10% (Group III). The cases with PLC, especially in group III, fell in advanced stages of the disease (III-IV) and presented with increased lymphocytosis. In 8 patients of group III, who were followed till death, the disease became refractory to any treatment and the survival was short. We suggest that 'prolymphocytoid' transformation is a bad prognostic sign in CLL.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The positive inotropic effects of digitalis (deslanoside C, 1.2 mg. intravenously) and isoproterenol (2 microgram/minute intravenously) were compared in two groups of younger and older individuals using the systolic time interval method. Both groups responded in a completely comparable way to deslanoside C. However, after isoproterenol administration, the LVET of the older group was significantly shortened. Consequently, the PEP/LVET ratio did not change significantly. This difference is attributed to a lesser increase of the stroke volume in the older group.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

75 cases of acute myeloid leukaemia were retrospectively classified according to the French-American-British (FAB) classification. It was found that: (1) the proposed classification was easily applicable and reproducible; (2) M2 subtype was the most frequent (48%); (3) splenomegaly was absent in M1 subtype, and (4) in M2 subtype, a considerable number of cases presented with normal neutrophil and platelet counts.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The baroreceptor sensitivity was estimated in 50 normal controls (Group A) and in 50 diabetics of comparable age (Group B). The technique used was infusion of angiotensin (0.5 microgram/min) and measurement of the bradycardic response resulting from the increase of blood pressure. The slope was used as an index of baroreceptor sensitivity. Diabetics had significantly lower baroreceptor sensitivity and a higher resting heart rate. Sensitivity decreased with age in both groups. The reproducibility of the method was excellent. Deslanoside-C (0.8 mg) significantly increased the baroreceptor sensitivity in 11 normal controls and 9 diabetics. Very low sensitivity was found in 26 diabetics who had no evidence of orthostatic hypotension, neuropathy, or retinopathy. However all 17 patients with the above findings had very low sensitivity.

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

We have calculated the effective time (t eff) of the forced expiratory spirogram in healthy non-smokers, in patients with simple chronic bronchitis, and in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. Effective time was obtained by dividing the area underneath the forced expiratory spirogram by the forced vital capacity (FVC) and is equal to the time constant of lung emptying if the FVC-time curve is a single exponential. In 75 healthy non-smoking adults, t eff showed a linear increase with age but no difference between the sexes. In 37 patients with low forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/FVC ratios, t eff, as expected, was increased. In 19 subjects with simple chronic bronchitis and normal FEV1/FVC ratios, t eff was longer than or at the upper limit of 2 SE above the mean for healthy subjects of the same age. A comparison of t eff with FEV1/FVC suggested that in most normal subjects and patients the forced expiratory spirogram was a multiple exponential and that t eff was a more sensitive index for the evaluation of airway obstruction than the FEV1/FVC ratio.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

In 60 children with mental retardation of unknown etiology, the whole blood lead, as well as the activity of the red cell delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (delta-ALAD), was measured. Thirty normal children and 30 with mental retardation of known etiology were used as controls. The lead values were found significantly higher in the study patients compared with both control groups (P less than 0.001). The delta-ALAD activity in the 14 patients with blood lead levels greater than or equal to 40 microgram/dl, was significantly reduced compared with the normal controls (P less than 0.001) and the mentally retarded controls (P less than 0.01). In more than 20% of the patients with mental retardation of unknown etiology, indications of significant exposure to lead were found. There was no difference in blood lead values between children from cities and those from rural areas. The possible role of lead in the etiology of mental retardation is discussed.

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

15 patients with preleukaemia were cytogenetically studied during the preleukaemic state by using the G-banding staining technique. It was found that 9 patients had a completely normal karyotype, while the other 6 showed various chromosomal abnormalities, numerical (trisomies in 5 cases) and structural (deletion in 1 case and a marker chromosome in 1 case). The abnormalities concerned group C in all 6 cases, while group A was involved in 3 cases. G-banding technique revealed that trisomy C affected the chromosomes nos 8 (2 cases) and 9 (3 cases); also a deleted chromosome 11 (11q-) was identified in 1 case and a marker chromosome in 1, the origin of which was established as a translocation between chromosomes 3 and 6. The abnormalities of group A concerned chromosome no 3. The abnormalities found in our cases, using the G-banding technique, were similar to those described in acute leukaemia.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

A Greek family with hereditary antithrombin III (AT III) deficiency associated with venous thrombosis is reported. 5 members of the family were affected. In these patients, AT III and heparin cofactor activities were decreased. Immunoreactive AT III showed a positive correlation to both AT III and heparin cofactor activities. alpha2-Macroglobulin and alpha1-antitrypsin were normal. The pattern of inheritance of the defect is autosomal dominant.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Several platelet function tests were performed on 31 patients undergoing major operations, who recieved prophylactically small subcutaneous doses of heparin. A group of 15 similar patients without heparin served as controls. It was found that postoperatively in both groups (a) the platelet retention in glass bead column was significantly increased (p less than 0.001), (b) the platelet aggregation by ADP 1 micronM was slightly increased, (c) the collagen-induced aggregation, ADP release and the bleeding time remained unchanged and (d) the platelet counts decreased in the first 2 postoperative days and increased thereafter. There was no difference between patients on heparin and controls.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

In 20 iron deficient patients and 21 normal controls the activity of the enzyme delta-ALA dehydratase of erythrocytes was assayed. In addition the urine porphyrins and porphyrin precursor excretions were measured. It was found that in sideropenic patients the erythrocyte delta-ALA dehydratase activity was almost constantly higher than in normals; the difference of the mean values being statistically significant (p less than 0.005). A significant diminution of delta-ALA (p less than 0.0025) urine excretion was observed, whereas the urine excretion of PBG, CP and UP was found within the normal limits. The results are compared to those reported by other authors.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

A 62-year-old man with variegate porphyria is reported. This is the first case to be described in Greece. Apart from the common features of the disease this patient exhibited sensory loss of the syringomyelic type. Though variegate prophyria with neurologic manifestations is not uncommon syringomyelic type of sensory loss is most unusual.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

In 26 normal volunteers, increase in heart rate from mean 73-94 +/- 1-97 to 103-61 +/- 2-72/min, by either intravenous atropine administration or rapid right atrial pacing, produced definite changes in the uncorrected systolic time intervals. As expected, total electromechanical systole (QS2) and left ventricular ejection time (LVET) were shortened, while the pre-ejection period (PEP) was unaffected. There was a consistent and significant increase of the PEP/LVET ratio (P less than 0-001). It is postulated that when this ratio is taken to express left ventricular contractility, it should probably be corrected for heart rate. Appropriate regression equations for such a correction were calculated (PEP/LVET=0-249 + 0-0168 HR).

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The percentage of T and B lymphocytes was studied in human tonsils and appendices. An increased percentage of B lymphocytes, 59.1% in tonsils and 54.5% in appendices, was found, whilst the percentage of T lymphocytes was 23.6% and 27.9%, respectively. In the peripheral blood of the corresponding figures were 12.5% for B cells and 50% for T cells.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Fifty-two patients with sickle-cell (SC) disease (48 with SC-beta-thalassaemia and 4 with homozygous SC-anaemia) were studied as regards blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. It was found that the thrombin and the reptilase times of the patients' plasma were significantly shorter than normal. The mean values of platelet count, fibrinogen level and factor VIII activity of patients with SC disease were higher than normal; however, in the group of patients transfused, with less than 50% haemoglobin S (HbS), the fibrinogen level and the factor VIII activity were significantly lower compared to the other patients. Antithrombin-III (At-III) activity was normal in all. The fibrinolytic activity was normal in patients with asymptomatic SC disease, but reduced in patients on painful crises. Plasminogen and fibrinogen/fibrin degradation product (FDP) levels were normal in all patients. Two patients on painful crises with complications had additional abnormal findings, namely prolonged prothrombin time, reduced At-III level and elevated FDP.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

In the present study, the plasma levels of lipoproteins, triglycerides, and cholesterol were followed serially in a group of 57 patients with acute viral hepatitis. Mean plasma triglyceride levels were found elevated at the onset of the disease and gradually returned to normal, while mean plasma cholesterol values, low initially, gradually increased, alpha-lipoprotein was absent at the early stage of hepatitis in 41 out of 46 patients with mild or moderate course and reappeared gradually during the course of the disease. In 11 cases of viral hepatitis with impending or overt coma, alpha-lipoprotein was absent for the whole duration of the acute stage and never reappeared in those who eventually died, while it eventually returned to normal in those who survived. The reappearance of alpha-lipoprotein in acute viral hepatitis appears to be a sensitive index of improvement and a significant prognostic sign.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

In 68 patients with homozygous beta-thalassaemia the excretion of porphyrins and porphyrin precursors in urine has been assayed. Though a definite excretion pattern has not been established, the majority of the thalassaemics excrete an increased amount of coproporphyrin and porphobilinogen. The results are compared to those published by other authors.

Asunto(s)