A B S T R A C T S   N U M E R O   4 / 2 0 0 5

Limiti della conta reticolocitaria automatizzata basata sulla citometria a flusso: descrizione di un caso clinico

Dino Veneri*, Pietro Solero, Massimo Franchini
*Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Sezione di Ematologia, Università di Verona, Verona

Biochimica Clinica: 2005; 29(4): 389-390 [Article in italian]

ABSTRACT. Automated reticulocyte counting based on flow cytometry has been widely utilized in the last few years from many hematology laboratories due to its rapidity of execution and analytical precision. However, in some cases, reticulocyte count may be overestimated due to the presence in erythrocyte cytoplasm of basophilic inclusions. In fact, we report here the case of a patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and a false raised reticulocyte count on flow cytometry analysis. Thus, in our opinion, in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome the reticulocyte count has to be verified in order to check automated flow cytometry results.

Prestazioni del Test di Screening Prenatale per Sindrome di Down e altre cromosomopatie nelle gestanti di età superiore a 35 anni: una strategia alternativa alla Diagnosi Prenatale Invasiva di routine

Silvia Corezzi*, Verena Gentili, Marta Paggini
*U.O. Biochimica Clinica Ospedale di Arezzo

Biochimica Clinica: 2005; 29(4): 391-393 [Article in italian]

ABSTRACT. 536 samples from pregnant women older than 35 at their expected date of delivery were tested in order to know the performances of the Screening Test for Down's Syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities (Triple Test), as an alternative strategy to routine Invasive Prenatal Diagnosis (Amniocentesis). The test results, the amniocentesis reports and the outcomes of the pregnancies were collected. The performances were evaluated according to Bayes Theorem. The resulting 100% Sensitivity and 28% False Positive Rate in the group examined, show that the test could be successfully taken into consideration as an alternative strategy to amniocentesis by all pregnant women older than 35. As a consequence of the lower number of Amniocentesis, there would be fewer fetal losses and a lower expense for the Regional Health Systems.

Predisposizione al cancro del pancreas: ruolo dei polimorfismi dei geni XRCC1, XRCC3 e CYP1A1*

Alessandra Falda*, Filippo Navaglia, Carlo-Federico Zambon, Paola Fogar, Nicoletta Gallo, Eliana Greco, Piero Bonvicini, Daniela Basso, Sergio Pedrazzoli, Mario Plebani
Servizio di Medicina di Laboratorio, Universita-Ospedale di Padova

Biochimica Clinica: 2005; 29(4): 394-400 [Article in italian]

ABSTRACT. Background: An individual predisposition to cancer might be searched in polymorphisms of genes involved in DNA repair, as X-Ray Cross-Complementing (XRCCs), or involved in carcinogens activation, as Cytochrome p450 (CYP1A1). Our aims were to: 1. ascertain whether there was any association between the XRCC1+22163 C/T (Arg194Trp), XRCC1+24011 G/A (Arg399Gln), XRCC3+16064 C/T (Thr241Met) or CYP1A1+4889 A/G (Ile462Val) polymorphisms and pancreatic cancer; 2. verify any correlation between the serum levels of vitamins A and E and cancer diagnosis, staging, grading and survival. Patients and Methods: We studied 91 pancreatic cancer patients (CP) and 29 with chronic pancreatitis (PC). Survival was available for 44 CP. The genetic polymorphisms were analysed by RFLP. Serum vitamins A and E were measured by an HPLC procedure. Results: XRCC1+22163 C/T, XRCC1+24011 G/A, XRCC3+16064 C/T and CYP1A1+4889 A/G were not correlated with diagnosis. None polymorphism was correlated with tumor stage, tumor grade, or the onset of metastases after surgery. Survival was influenced only by stage (Log rank=12.4, p<0.01). In patients with less, not in those with more than 60 yrs, XRCC1+22163 CT was significantly correlated with CP (Fisher's exact test: p<0.05). On the contrary the genotype XRCC+22163 CC/XRCC+24011 AA was less frequently detected in patients with CP respect finding in patients with PC (Fisher's exact test: p<0.01). Vitamins A and E levels did not significantly differ between CP and PC. Vitamin A was significantly lower in stage III-IV (556 æ 53 nmol/L, mean æ SE) than stage I-II CP (896 æ 112)(t=3.08, p<0.01). The lowest serum levels of vitamin E were in CP patients who developed liver or local metastases after surgery (10.71 æ1.4 umol/L, mean æ SE), with respect to those who developed lung metastases (22.2 æ 2.9)(F=8.41, p<0.01). Conclusions: XRCC1+22163 CT genotype seems involved in favouring CP in subjects with less than 60 yrs; XRCC+22163 CC/XRCC+24011 AA genotype seems to be a protective factor for CP development. These effects might be consequent to an altered protein efficiency in DNA repair. Finaly, the antioxidant vitamins A and E might partly counteract tumor growth and spread.

Valutazione della funzionalità tiroidea in pazienti sottoposti a by-pass aorto coronarico: follow-up a sei mesi

Maria Serena Parri*, Alfredo Giuseppe Cerillo, Isabella Giannelli, Giuliana Fontani, Mattia Glauber, Aldo Clerico, Simona Storti
*Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica del CNR, "Ospedale G. Pasquinucci", Massa

Biochimica Clinica: 2005; 29(4): 401-405 [Article in italian]

ABSTRACT. The nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) is considered to be a transient and completely reversible phenomenon in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Aim of this study was to assess the recovery of normal thyroid function in patients six months after uncomplicated CABG. Thyroid profile was evaluated in 22 consecutive patients, six time points until to 6 months after surgery. Thyroid profile were assessed by AxSYM® (Abbott laboratories). A typical NTIS was observed in all patients, mean FT3 concentration being reduced to about 80% at the end of surgery; (p<0.0001 by ANOVA for repeated measures). After six months, thyroid function was normal in 18 patients (81.81%), while NTIS persisted in one patient, and some other significant thyroid function alterations were evidenced in 4 out of 22 patients. Further studies are needed to define the long term consequences of the postoperative NTIS on thyroid function.

Lo studio del recettore dei linfociti T (TCR) in medicina molecolare: l'importanza della catena ? e di zeta associated protein-70 (ZAP-70) nella diagnostica oncologica

Bruno Brando*, Vanna Chigorno, Massimiliano M. Corsi
*Servizio di Immunoematologia e Trasfusione (SIMT), Ospedale di Legnano

*Preparato per il Gruppo di Studio-Colture Cellulari in Biochimica Clinica-SiBioC

Biochimica Clinica: 2005; 29(4): 406-415 [Article in italian]

ABSTRACT. Anergy is defined as the state in which T lymphocytes are alive but incapable of producine interleukin-2 and expanding in response to optimal antigenic stimulation. Specifically, anergy is characterized by lack of activation of ? chain and ZAP-70. Precise understanding of these biochemical and molecular events is necessary in order to develop novel treatment strategies against cancer. Understanding of these baisis will allow the development of new assays to evaluate the immune status of patients in a variety of clinical settings in which tolerance has an importatnt role, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and organ trasnplantation.

Ruolo della citometria a flusso nello studio della zeta-associated protein (ZAP-70) in linfociti circolanti i pazienti con carcinoma laringeo

Bruno Brando*, Vanna Chigorno, Massimiliano M. Corsi
*Servizio di Immunoematologia e Trasfusione (SIMT), Ospedale di Legnano

*Preparato per il Gruppo di Studio-Colture Cellulari in Biochimica Clinica-SiBioC
Biochimica Clinica: 2005; 29(4): 416-418 [Article in italian]

ABSTRACT. In patients with tumor the assay of the zeta associated protein-70 (ZAP-70) in peripheral blood lymphocytes could help in evaluating interaction between host's immune system and cancer. We have explored the possibilities of cytometric applications in this field. We analyzed 31 patients with laringeal squamous cell carcinoma and 13 controls, data were carried out on a analytical flow cytometer, setting the instrument with two wave lenght, and two monoclonal antibodies conjugated with phycoerythrin for CD3+ lymphocytes and with Alexa 488 (green) for ZAP-70, respectively.Results, expressed by quantitative analysis, showed a significant reduction in ZAP-70 expression in T lymphocytes from cancer patients respect to controls. These results are discussed in relation to their biological meanings and their clinical implications.

H O M E P A G E  |  C O N V E G N I  |    E D I T O R I A I N T ER N E T  |  S E R V I Z I

1997, BIOMEDIA srl, tutti i diritti riservati
The material on this site may not be reproduced or otherwise
used without the prior permission of BIOMEDIA.