By means of a test set of the Isocommerz (GDR) determinations of vitamin B12 in the serum were carried out according to the principle of the competitive protein binding. The normal values lie between 200 and 1,000 pg/ml serum. Clearly decreased levels of vitamin B12 are found in the pernicious anaemia, in other megaloblastic anaemias and in disturbances of the resorption after resection of the stomach. Increased values can be stated in the untreated chronic myelosis and in the blast episode. Under Busulphan-therapy a significant decrease of the values of vitamin B12 develops. The method seems to be practically important for the well-timed recognition of deficiency conditions of vitamin B12 in beginning pernicious anaemia, in disturbances of intestinal resorption after resection of the stomach and for the observation of the course of the chronic myelosis.
The kinetics of the dissolution of fibrin clots caused by urokinase is measured and compared with those tests performed with streptokinase. Under test conditions, urokinase is being de-activated after some hours. streptokinase, on the other hand, will remaIn efficient for many days.
The distribution kinetics of radioactive 51Cr-EDTA between human plasma and a fibrin coagulation dissolving under the influence of different concentrations of streptokinase is measured by scanning the diffusion tubes point by point.1. The dissolving rate of the coagulum is temporally constant in great concentrations of streptokinase. 2. The faster the coagulation dissolves, the smaller will be the amount of 51Cr-EDTA diffusing into the coagulum. The analysis of these findings and further calculations confirm the assumption made previously that the diffusion of streptokinase or streptokinase-activator complexes into the coagulum seems to play no essential role in the dissolving rate of the coagulum observed clinically and experimentally.
The determination of the carcino-embryonal antigen (CEA) for the assessment of the therapeutic success and course in colorectal tumours is at present an established diagnostic method. In other solid tumours, e.g. in bronchial carcinomas, the therapy monitoring by means of CEA was less tested. 92 Patients were examined, 31 of them with limited disease (l. d.) and 61 with extensive disease (e. d.). The determination of the CEA was performed before and during the combined radiation therapy and polychemotherapy with 2 different protocols of treatment: ACO (adriblastin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide), FOMC (5-fluoruracil, methotrexate, vincristine, cyclophosphamide) with the OPIDI-radioimmunoassay. Normal values: 0-10 micrograms/l. Limiting area: 11-20 micrograms/l. Pathological area: greater than 20 micrograms/l.patients with limited disease: 8 normal, 14 in the limiting area, 9 in the pathological area (29%). Patients with extensive disease: 17 normal, 19 in the limiting area, 25 in the pathological area (42%) before the beginning of the therapy. With 54 and 60 micrograms/l, respectively, the mean values of the two groups, however, did not differ significantly. Altogether 39 of the 92 patients examined (42%) showed changes of the CEA-values during the course of the disease. For the 31 patients with limited disease 26 (84%) achieved a CR. Of these 26 patients the CEA-values were increased in 7 patients, 5 of them showed a clear decrease, in 3 patients a normalization of the CEA appeared with further existing remission, which lasts for 28, 24 and 14 months. In the remaining 2 patients in the CEA-values decreased into the limiting area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
In continuation of previous in vitro experiments the influence of glucose infusions on the following haemostatic functions was investigated: bleeding time, platelet count, platelet aggregation, release reaction, fibrinogen concentration, partial thromboplastin time. Five volunteers with normal metabolism a glucose infusion (100 g) was given for two hrs. Before, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hrs after the beginning of the infusion blood sugar, insulin level and haemostatic parameters were determined. Apart from an increase in the glucose and insulin level, a prolonged bleeding time, increased platelet count, inhibition of platelet aggregation and release reaction occurred. Simultaneously, fibrinogen concentration increased and partial thromboplastin time shortened. The possible causes of these changes in haemostasis during glucose supply are discussed.
The excessive storage of iron in idiopathic haemochromatosis leads to severe organic lesion up to life-threatening conditions (cardiac insufficiency, portal decompensation). The symptoms melanodermia , diabetes mellitus and other endocrine failures, liver cirrhosis, cardiac insufficiency and arthropathy appear together or in various combinations. The diagnosis is ascertained by the proof of iron storage, the multiple organic affection and by familial accumulation of the various laboratory diagnostic possibilities are particularly to be emphasized the serum iron value together with the percetal transferrin saturation (as search test), serum ferritin, the desferrioxamine test, simple ferrokinetic investigations and the quantitative determination of iron in the liver in the bioptate . For family examinations, apart from the search test, a HLA typisation is reasonable, in order to estimate the risk of the disease (particularly of brothers and sisters). The therapy of choice are blood- lettings (0.5 l once to twice a week) up to obtaining a permanent easy iron deficiency anaemia. The maintenance therapy should be performed with monthly to quarterly blood- lettings . Only in cases exception a desferal treatment is indicated. Endocrine failures and cardiac disturbances need a particular therapy.
