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Biomedical subjects

K Rák

Publications and source records attributed to K Rák.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[A case of successfully treated cyclic amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenic purpura].

The case of a patient with cyclic, acquired, periodically amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia is described. On the base of a seemingly typical megakaryocytic thrombocytopenia ITP was diagnosed at first. He did not respond to steroid, therefore splenectomy was performed. He relapsed and thereafter severe thrombocytopenia was observed, periodically, for 8-10 days in every five-six weeks. During the cytopenic periods recognizable megakaryocytes and precursors were totally absent from the bone marrow. After the haemorrhagic periods platelet counts elevated to normal or even higher levels and the marrow was plenty of megakaryocytes. Vincristine was unsuccessful, but cyclosporine administration for a longer time was not without success. The patient has a normal platelet count since one year. No similar case of cyclic amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia was found in the literature.

Bone Marrow Examination↗

[Fatal thrombotic microangiopathy in the mother and fetus].

The appearance of thrombotic microangiopathy (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, haemolytic uraemic syndrome) could have been documented in a 23 years old pregnant woman, who had been treated previously for immune-thrombocytolytic purpura. The disturbing anamnestic data caused significant delay in correct diagnosis and in starting of fresh-frozen plasma therapy, so the woman and her fetus (in utero) had been died. The specific histological microangiopathic lesions could have been well documented by the autopsy of the mother, however no such alterations could have been detected in the fetus and placenta. This latter intriguing observation might be remarkable in the evaluation of several concepts dealing with the aetiopathogenesis of thrombotic microangiopathy. The short review of literature of thrombotic microangiopathy in pregnancy and puerperial period is also given.

Female↗

[Subcutaneous heparin-calcium therapy: clinical and laboratory experience].

Fifty patients with acute deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, acute myocardial infarct and priapism were treated with subcutaneous calcium heparin. Laboratory control was based on the examination of APTT. On the first day of heparin therapy only 52% of patients's APTT was 1.5 times greater than control value but the ratio increased to 82% on the fifth day of treatment. The importance of initial venous sodium heparin bolus (5-10,000 U) followed immediately by subcutaneous calcium heparin is emphasized. Injection of 500 U/kg/day calcium heparin divided in two equal doses is recommended. Four thrombotic and two haemorrhagic complications were observed. Subcutaneous calcium heparin can substitute the intravenous form of heparin (either bolus or continuous) in the treatment of thromboembolism.

Calcium↗

[Hairy cell leukemia].

Clinical experiences on seven patients suffering from hairy cell leukaemia are presented. The disease was most often identified at age above 50 and was more frequent in men. Splenomegaly and infiltration of bone marrow or spleen with tartrat resistant acid phosphatase positive lymphoid cells were detected in all cases. Splenectomy resulted complete clinical remission in six and partial remission in one patient. Two patients have died. The mean survival time is five years. The surviving patients are in good clinical remission.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

[Thrombotic microangiography (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremia syndrome)].

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and haemolytic uraemic syndrome have quite uniform or identical histopathological features and share very similar clinical characteristics, so thrombotic microangiopathy may be used as a common descriptive term of the two syndromes. During the past one and a half year five patients with thrombotic microangiopathy, receiving plasma therapy were observed by the authors. Owing to the early, correct diagnosis and plasma administration four patients had been recovered from the disease. The evaluation of clinical signs and symptoms, altogether with some simple laboratory data (megakaryocytic thrombocytopenia, nonimmune acquired haemolytic anaemia, renal insufficiency, neurologic alterations, etc.) remained essential in the recognition and treatment of thrombotic microangiopathy. After giving a short review of the literature the authors deal with the results of some more specific examinations (prostanoids, beta-thromboglobulin, the quantitative and qualitative analysis of Willebrand factor, etc.) which may give further data to the complex aetiopathogenesis of thrombotic microangiopathy.

Adolescent↗

Cytochemical studies in the blastic transformation of chronic granulocytic leukaemia.

The cytochemical features of blast cells were studied in 45 patients with blastic phase of chronic granulocytic leukaemia. Various degrees of Sudan black B positivity was characteristic of myeloblastic transformation (23 patients), while in the medullary blast cells of nine patients with myelomonocytic transformation the alpha-naphthyl-acetate esterase showed intensive activity. In two cases the demonstrability of beta-thromboglobulin and factor VIII-related antigen in blast cells showing otherwise PAS, acid phosphatase and alpha-naphthyl-acetate esterase activity referred to megakaryocytic transformation. In six patients with lymphoid blast crisis proliferation of the Sudan negative blast cells with different granular PAS, acid phosphatase and/or beta-glucuronidase positivity was demonstrated. In five cases the cytochemical findings of leukaemic cells indicated biphenotypic and mixed transformation, respectively.

Blast Crisis↗

Retrovirus-neutralizing antibodies in AML and AMMoL patients: stage-specific distribution.

Plasma samples of patients with AML or AMMoL were tested for antibodies reacting with gp70 antigens of BaEV and GaLV as well as for antibodies neutralizing BaEV or GaLV. Both frequency and titer values of antibodies were higher in remission than in blastosis. Neutralizing activity could be detected only in those plasma samples which contained antibodies to the appropriate gp70 antigen. The data suggest the presence of retroviruses in humans as antigenic stimuli for the immune system in AML and AMMoL.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Thrombosis promoting changes in chronic liver diseases.

Causes of haemorrhagic tendency in liver disorders have been widely studied. Deficiency of procoagulants is the best explanation for it. Not seldom a thrombotic tendency or even overt thrombosis occurs and may be satisfactorily explained. The level and function of two important natural anticoagulants, i.e. of antithrombin III and protein C is markedly reduced, first in liver cirrhosis. Heparin cofactor activity of AT III and/or heparin cofactor II may be especially diminished. The hypercoagulable state resulting from these changes may be further aggravated by a so-called hyper-adhesive state which is the consequence of the sustained high level of plasmatic vWFAg associated with liver cirrhosis. Altered haemostatic balance needs individual laboratory evaluation.

Adult↗

Interferon production in myelo- and lymphoproliferative diseases. I. Spontaneous interferon production in acute and chronic leukaemias.

Blood plasma interferon (IFN) of patients with acute myeloid (AML) and chronic granulocytic (CGL) and with acute and chronic lymphoid leukaemia (ALL and CLL) was measured by bioassay and characterized by neutralization with anti-human-IFN-alpha treatment. Elevated IFN-alpha level (60-125 IU/ml) was found in the quiescent phase of CGL as compared to the control samples (15 +/- 10 IU/ml). No significant differences could be found between plasma IFN of patients suffering from the blastic crisis of CGL and control persons. Analogous results were obtained in experiments with plasmas of AML patients, regardless the stage of the disease. Elevated IFN-alpha production (60-100 IU/ml) was found in patients being in the remission phase of T-cell ALL but only in one case in the progressive phase of the disease. No significant elevation of plasma IFN level was demonstrated in patients with O-cell ALL and B-cell CLL, as compared to the control samples.

Blast Crisis↗

Cytotoxic activity of lymphocyte subpopulations against autologous tumour cells in patients with myeloid leukaemias and preleukaemic disorders.

Autologous lymphocyte populations from different phases of chronic granulocytic leukaemia (CGL), acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and preleukaemic disorders were compared for cytotoxic activity. 51Cr-release tests showed that T lymphocytes from the quiescent phase of CGL and from the remission phase of AML exerted cytotoxic activity against autologous tumour cells. Such activity was also found in patients with potentially preleukaemic haematological disorders characterized by cytopenia, but not in polycythaemia vera patients. In the majority of cases cytotoxic activity of T lymphocytes could be blocked by native gp70 antigens of gibbon ape leukaemia virus (GaLV) and baboon endogenous virus (BaEV). Blocking effect of carbohydrate-free gp70 as well as p15(E) antigens could be observed less frequently. The role of cell-mediated immune response to oncovirus antigens in the course of myeloproliferative diseases is discussed.

Blast Crisis↗