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Biomedical subjects

M Kraj

Publications and source records attributed to M Kraj.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, beta-glucuronidase and beta-galactosidase in the leukocytes, serum and urine of healthy subjects and patients with immunocytoma.

The activity of GlcNAc-ase, GlcUA-ase and Gal-ase was determined in the leukocytes serum and urine of 23 patients with M. M., 11 patients with other neoplasms including 9 with lymphoreticular proliferative processes without associated monoclonal gammapathy. The range of normal enzyme activity was established in the investigations carried out in 45 health subjects. In the group of patients with M. M. without complications. normal activity of GlcNAc-ase, GlcUA-ase and Gal-ase was found in the leukocytes. In the group of patients with white blood cell count below 2.5 g/l and in cases after long-term treatment with Alkeran the activity of GlcNAc-ase and GlcUA-ase in the leukocytes was reduced. In the patients with M. M. the activity of GlcNAc-ase was raised in the serum and urine, and this activity was higher in cases with longer duration of the disease and more advanced pathological process. The patients with M-IgG protein showed a higher GlcNAc-ase activity in the serum and urine than those with protein M-IgA. A higher activity of GlcNAc-ase in the serum and urine than those with protein M-IgGK than in those with M-IgG gamma. In patients with M. M with renal complications the urinary activity of GlcNAc-ase was higher than in patients with M. M. without renal complications. In CLL the activity of GlcNAc-ase was found to be decreased in the leukocytes and raised in the urine. In patients with Hodgkin's disease the activity of the studied enzymes was raised in leukocytes while the results of their determinations in serum and urine were equivocal.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Studies on the biological functions of monoclonal immunoglobulins and their fragments.

Complement-binding ability of three isolated monoclonal proteins of IgG class, their Fab, and Fc fragments was analyzed (including tests for the presence of polymers, aggregated forms and immune complexes), and the influence of two monoclonal IgG lambda proteins on fibrinogen conversion to fibrin was determined. Two proteins--IgG1 lambda and IgG3K--bound small amounts of complement only when tested in native form, but failed to bind complement after thermal aggregation. Papain-digestion of these proteins revealed a significant ability of complement binding by Fc fragments. The third protein--M-IgG1 lambda--bound large amounts of complement when used in its native form, but after thermal aggregation this ability decreased. This protein differs in structure from monoclonal Ig described here. It was shown by the atypical elution pattern of papain digest of M-IgG1 lambda from CM-cellulose and by the anticoagulative activity of this protein. In control tests with polyclonal immunoglobulin complement-binding ability increased after thermal aggregation of the immunoglobulin, Fc fragments of the polyclonal immunoglobulin bound lower amounts of complement than whole molecules. As already mentioned, the activity of the factor inhibiting fibrinogen-to-fibrin conversion was observed in only one of two tested proteins M-IgG lambda. This activity was not connected selectively with Fab fragment. In identical concentrations polyclonal IgG had no effect on fibrinogen-to-fibrin conversion.

Adult↗

Lysozyme in the serum, urine and peripheral blood leukocytes in patients with immunocytoma.

Lysozyme activity was determined in the serum, urine and leukocytes of 53 patients with immunocytoma and 24 patients with lymphoproliferative syndromes without associated monoclonal gammapathy. In patients with multiple myeloma the frequency of low serum lysozyme activity and high leukocyte lysozyme activity was higher. In the cases with renal failure, lysozyme activity was raised in serum and urine, and the 24-hour urinary lysozyme excretion was increased. In 7 patients with increased urinary lysozyme excretion no clinical or laboratory evidence of renal complications was found. Relative monocytosis in peripheral blood was observed in half of the cases of multiple myeloma, and in these patients also in about half of the cases the lysozyme activity was raised in the leukocytes and urine, and the 24-hour urinary lysozyme excretion was increased. In patients with Hodgkin's disease, lymphosarcoma and chronic lymphatic leukemia the frequency of low serum lysozyme activity was increased.

Adult↗

[Analysis of the results of treatment of multiple myeloma].

Therapeutic results were analysed in 62 cases of multiple myeloma treated by two-stage method: I. with cyclically non-specific agents (melphalan) in each case. When this treatment was a failure the second step was given: II. cyclically specific and non-specific agents by the M-2 schedule. Good therapeutic response was obtained in 70% of cases. The mean survival time in the whole group was 35 months, and in the subgroup with good prognosis it was 44 months. Most (74%) patients with IgG M-protein responded well to treatment with cyclically non-specific agents, while only 50% of those with IgA M-protein had a good response to them.

Adult↗

Lymphocyte response in in vitro cultures to some mitogens, and serum immunoglobulin levels in aged subjects.

Capacity of lympocytes for blastic transformation in in vitro cultures under the influence of PHA and PWM was studied in 40 subjects aged 20--60 years and in 43 aged 60--100 years. In the higher age group, in about 25% of cases, low percentages of blasts in cultures stimulated with PHA and PWM were observed. In 101 subjects aged 65--100 years, the mean level of IgA in serum was significantly higher compared with the 20--40-year age group. In some cases, levels of two or three immunoglobulin classes were raised. The unexplained changes in the reaction of lymphocytes to PHA and PWM and in levels of serum IgG were attributed to the old age of the subjects.

Adolescent↗