[Immunologic study in HIV-positive patients. Hypergammaglobulinemia in HIV infection]

In all groups of patients--HIV, ARC, AIDS carriers--elevated serum concentration of IgG, IgA, IgM were found. In the group of HIV carriers a significant increase of the serum concentration of IgG at the 5% level was observed and of IgM at the 1% level. In patients with ARC a significant increase of IgG and IgA was found at the 5% level and of IgM at the 1% level. In patients with AIDS significantly raised IgG values at the 5% level were recorded, and of IgA and IgM at the 1% level. In IgA a permanent increase of values occurs in AIDS carriers. In the AIDS stage 86% of the patients have values higher than mean +/- SD of controls. In all three stages of HIV infection a rise of concentrations of circulating immunocomplexes was observed (p < 0.01). The highest levels were recorded in patients with AIDS. In none of the patients the presence of antinuclear antibodies was detected. The authors discuss also possible causes of hypergammaglobulinaemia in HIV infection.

[Immunologic monitoring of HIV-positive patients. T-lymphocytes and their subpopulations in various clinical stages of HIV infection]

The authors evaluate T-lymphocytes and their sub-populations, the immunoregulating index and white cell haemogram in patients in different clinical stages of HIV infection. They discuss the importance of the investigated parameters, in particular the number of CD4+ T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood stream as a laboratory criterium for the development of the disease. From the paper ensues that evaluation of the number of CD4+ T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood stream can help to estimate the time of the primary infection and the selection of an optimal time for starting azidothymidine therapy, but alone it does not suffice for establishment of the prognosis of the development of the HIV infection.

[The significance of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the diagnosis of pancreatic injuries in children]

The condition of the main pancreatic duct determines very probably in a decisive way the fate of posttraumatic pancreatic pseudocysts and acute pancreatic injuries. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is the only diagnostic method which makes possible to evaluate the condition of this duct. The authors performed ERCP in three children, in two of them an internal drainage of the pseudocyst was carried out on account of verified ductal rupture. In the third girl, after evidence of an intact main pancreatic duct, conservative therapy was successfully applied. In the discussion the authors summarize data from the literature regarding the use of ERCP in the preoperative diagnosis of posttraumatic pancreatic pseudocysts and acute pancreatic injuries. The authors consider ERCP a method which renders the diagnosis of posttraumatic pancreatic pseudocysts and acute pancreatic injuries more accurate.

[Submicroscopic structure of amniotic fluid cells]

Submicroscopic examination of amniotic fluid cells in the second trimester of pregnancy revealed that the cells are from the morphological aspect a very heterogeneous population, comprising vital and degenerated cells the ultrastructure of which rules out the possibility of cultivation of cells of foetal as well as of maternal origin. As to degenerated cells, the authors identified circular cells with a granular cytoplasm and nucleus originating from the urogenital or digestive tract of the foetus. Furthermore cells with a process and segmented or fragmented pycnotic nucleus derived from granulocytes and macrophages of maternal origin. Also circular cells of the periderm with short microvilli and advanced regressive changes of the nucleus and cytoplasm are degenerated. Among non-vital elements also anuclear completely keratinized cells of the stratum corneum originating from the skin of the maternal abdomen can be included. As to vital elements, the amniotic fluid contains cells of the amniotic ectoderm which are large, have numerous microvilli, a dense margin and a network of filaments in the cytoplasm. They are the most numerous cells. Other vital elements in amniotic fluid include granulocytes and macrophages with a typical ratio of lyzosomes. Both are considered elements of maternal origin. Maternal origin is assumed also in fibroblasts which along with collagen particles may penetrate into the aspirating needle. From the results ensues that the cells in amniotic fluid are not a homogeneous population of unequivocally foetal origin and that a better technique of collection of samples and cultivation must be developed.

[Morphologic changes in the heart atrium in frogs after extinction of current due to suction electrode induced damage]

In biological model experiments in frog heart morphological substrate was observed in current extinction due to damage under suction electrode. After short-term suction discharge monophase recording disappeared without demonstrable myocyte ultrastructure changes by means of reparation ad integrum. Monophase recording spontaneously disappeared in distinct changes of monocyte structure with enlarged spaces in between myofibrils, with breakdown of cristae in mitochondria and with dilatation of tubules and cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum. This tissue disintegration leads to demarcation and forming of new cellular surfaces on the border with the healthy tissue so that the damaged area turns into a mere electric conductor.

Some immunological characteristics of subjects suffering from frequent herpes simplex virus recrudescences

Some parameters of specific and non-specific immunity were tested in a group of 44 subjects suffering from frequent herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) or herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) recrudescences. The tests performed included determinations of (i) HSV complement-independent and complement-dependent neutralizing antibodies, (ii) antibodies to glycoprotein C of HSV-1 and glycoprotein G of HSV-2, (iii) antibodies to viral capsid and early antigens of Epstein-Barr virus, (iv) antibodies to tetanus toxoid, (v) serum levels of IgM, IgG, IgA, transferrin, prealbumin and C'3 and C'4 components of complement, (vi) active and total T lymphocytes, (vii) phagocyting activity of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, eosinophils and mononuclear cells, (viii) skin reactivity to tuberculin, toxoplasmin, candidin, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids. In the patients the following deviations from the control groups were noted: (i) Antibody levels to homotypic but not to heterotypic HSV were enhanced, (ii) serum IgM levels were elevated, (iii) percentages and numbers of active and total T lymphocytes were decreased, (iv) phagocyting activity of neutrophils was depressed but that of eosinophils was increased.

[Treatment of pyogenic liver abscesses using percutaneous transparietal drainage]

Authors present their own experience with the method of external transparietal drainage of pyogenic hepatic abscesses. It is both effective and available method with minimum complications if performed in time. Mortality rate is much lower than in surgical drainage. Percutaneous drainage of hepatic abscesses depends on the possibility of their diagnostics by means of ultrasonography or computer tomography and access to special instruments.