Removal of immunosuppressive substance in cancer patients' serum

Anemia-inducing substance (AIS) appears in plasma as cancer progresses. In this study, a non-coated charcoal column was used to remove AIS from the cachectic plasma obtained from patients with advanced cancer. AIS could be completely removed by 6 cycles of adsorption using this column. Similar data were obtained in an experiment using VX-2-transplanted rabbits. These observations raised the possibility that plasmapheresis with a non-coated charcoal column may be available as a new means of immunotherapy for advanced cancer.

Anemia-inducing substance (AIS) in advanced cancer: inhibitory effect of AIS on the function of erythrocytes and immunocompetent cells

The effects of anemia-inducing substance (AIS), found in the plasma of tumor-bearing subjects, on red blood cells (RBC) and cellular immunity were examined. The results obtained may be summarized as follows: 1) The osmotic resistance and the deformability of RBC were decreased in patients with terminal cancer. 2) Normal human RBC were made less deformable and their membrane was made fragile by treatment with cachectic plasma from those patients, and these changes in physical properties were irreversible. 3) Energy metabolism in RBC was affected by AIS, that is, ATP concentration and pyruvate kinase activity in RBC were lowered and transmembrane glucose influx was suppressed. 4) AIS was removed from cachectic plasma by repeated adsorption with normal RBC, and the inhibitory effect on cellular immunity was lessened as AIS was removed. 5) AIS was detected in cachectic RBC membrane, monocytes, and tumor tissue by indirect immunofluorescence assay using rabbit anti-AIS antibody prepared by us. These observations suggest strongly that tumor-derived AIS appears in the blood of patients with terminal cancer, shows cytotoxicity to RBC and immunologically competent cells, and plays a role in the pathogenesis of cancer cachexy.

Differentiation of amylase isozyme in amniotic fluid with fetal age

Composition of the amylase isozymes in the amniotic fluid and their transition with fetal age were studied by means of thin-layer acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results indicate that amylase isozymes in the amniotic fluid were composed of a pancreatic type faint major isozyme and several salivary type isozymes consisting of an intense major and a few less intense minor bands. Characteristic changes in the pattern of these isozymes with fetal age consisted of a marked increase of the salivary type isozymes rather than of the pancreatic type isozyme. A densitometric analysis of the isozyme patterns proved that the ratio of the pancreatic type isozyme to the salivary type major isozyme was highly correlated with fetal age regardless of levels of amylase activity.

Hemolytic pattern of erythrocytes in the newborn measured by the coil planet centrifuge system and its relationship to neonatal jaundice

Dynamic osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in cord blood and its changes during the neonatal period were studied by means of a coil planet centrifuge system. The starting-point for hemolysis in the newborn become similar to that of adult blood after approximately a week, while the shift of the end-point to the adult range required one month or more. The percentage of fragile cord blood cells with a hemolysis starting-point above 110 m osmol and the maximum bilirubin level during neonatal period were examined. A high percentage of fragile cells was associated with high bilirubin levels, and when fragile cells comprised more than 7.0% of the total cord blood erythrocytes, the bilirubin level tended to rise above 15 mg/dl.

A simplified method for measuring fetal hemoglobin

Despite confirmation of the placental location by ultrasound examination, bloody tap during diagnostic and therapeutic amniocentesis may occur. If the blood originates from the fetus, such unfavorable complications as fetomaternal transfusion or maternal sensitization may result. Thus, it is necessary to determine immediatley the origin of the blood by the presence of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in the specimen. To meet an urgent demand for a simpler and faster method for measuring HbF within a few minutes at bedside without requiring complicated procedures or instrumentation, a method has been developed which uses the alkali denaturation technic.