acid-phosphatase and Hepatitis--Chronic

Serum concentrations of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) were measured in 51 liver cirrhosis, 37 chronic active hepatitis (CAH) patients and 26 healthy individuals. Elevated PSA levels have been found in 2 of cirrhotic patients while no increase has been detected in CAH and controls. Serum PAP levels have been observed slightly increased in 2 patients with cirrhosis, 2 patients with CAH and 1 control case. Mean PSA and mean PAP values showed no significant difference between groups (p > 0.05). Serum PSA and PAP levels are reliable in diagnosing and monitoring prostate cancer in chronic liver patients and maintain their specificity in this situation.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adolescent; Adult; Hepatitis, Chronic; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis; Male; Middle Aged; Prostate; Prostate-Specific Antigen

Morphological, immunologic, and functional properties of peripheral blood cells from two patients with chronic proliferations of granular lymphocytes are described. Cells from both patients showed a heterogeneous pattern from both a morphological and immunologic standpoint, indicating a polyclonal, rather than a monoclonal, expansion of these cells. In fact, both large and small-to-medium-sized granular lymphocytes were observed, and different percentages of positivity were found in the analysis with a large panel of monoclonal antibodies. Serologic and histologic features support the hypothesis that this lymphocytosis could be secondary to bacterial or viral infections rather than a primary event, suggesting that these patients may have chronic reactive immunoregulatory disorders.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adult; Antigens, Viral; Bone Marrow Cells; Carrier State; Cytoplasmic Granules; Glucuronidase; Hepatitis B Antigens; Hepatitis, Chronic; Hepatomegaly; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Hypergammaglobulinemia; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytosis; Male; Middle Aged; Monocytes; Naphthol AS D Esterase; Salmonella Infections

The authors examined the effect in vivo and in vitro of Catergen (cyanidanol-3) on demonstrable lysosomal enzyme activity in the serum and granulocytes in liver diseases. Acid phosphatase, cathepsin-D and beta-glucuronidase were investigated. In the in vitro studies the direct effect of Catergen was observed by enzyme release. In chronic active hepatitis without treatment the lysosomal activity of the serum increases, the lysosomal activity of the granulocytes decreases and in vitro release increases. Under the effects of Catergen treatment the lysosomal activity of the serum decreases in comparison with initial values, approaching the lysosomal enzyme activity observed in healthy persons. Under in vitro conditions, lysosomal enzyme release from the granulocytes decreases in treated individuals and thus a higher lysosomal enzyme activity in the granulocytes is observed. Granulocytes separated from the blood of healthy persons were incubated with Catergen in isotonic and hypotonic media. In an isotonic medium the release did not change significantly. Under the effect of hypotension the release of lysosomal enzyme increased considerably. In vitro incubation with small doses of Catergen significantly inhibited the degree of release. On the basis of these data it may be supposed that Catergen has a stabilizing effect on the lysosomal membrane and is thus beneficial in the treatment of liver injuries (alcoholic, toxic, inflammatory) with lysosomal membrane alterations.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Benzopyrans; Catechin; Cathepsin D; Cathepsins; Cell Membrane Permeability; Female; Free Radicals; Glucuronidase; Granulocytes; Hepatitis; Hepatitis, Chronic; Humans; Lysosomes; Male; Middle Aged

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adolescent; Alkaline Phosphatase; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Female; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis, Chronic; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis; Lymphocytes; Male; Succinate Dehydrogenase