alpha-chymotrypsin and Pleural-Effusion

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Ascites; Chymotrypsin; Humans; Male; Pancreatic Diseases; Pancreatic Juice; Pleural Effusion; Trypsin

The method described below combines an immunoreaction with Papanicolaou's stain on cytological smears. For the immunoreaction, the avidin-biotin-complex (ABC) method was used. The method was tested on various cytological material with the monoclonal antibody lu-5 and two polyclonal antibodies (anti-keratin and anti-chymotrypsin). Wet fixation of the smears with a modified Delaunay's solution is recommended. Drying of the material impairs immunoreactivity. The main advantages of the technique are the clear-cut permanent immunostaining and the preservation of the nuclear structure, permitting a combined immuncytological characterization of cellular products and conventional cyto-diagnosis.

Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Avidin; Biotin; Chymotrypsin; Cytodiagnosis; Cytological Techniques; Epithelium; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Immunologic Techniques; Keratins; Neoplasms; Pleural Effusion; Staining and Labeling

We submitted 83 consecutive patients with pleural effusion to routine clinical investigation; 57 were diagnosed as malignant, 18 as benign, and 8 were not diagnosed. Pleural fluid and serum were analysed for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), acid glycoprotein (AGP), antichymotrypsin (ACT), C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha 2-pregnancy associated glycoprotein (alpha 2-PAG) and ferritin. Multivariate discriminant analysis was performed on the results of the protein measurements. CEA and ACT values in serum and fluid were found to give a good discriminating function between the benign and malignant groups. The use of such an analysis, in a clinical context, is discussed.

Topics: Adult; Aged; alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; Analysis of Variance; C-Reactive Protein; Carcinoembryonic Antigen; Chymotrypsin; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Ferritins; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Orosomucoid; Pleural Effusion; Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A; Probability; Prospective Studies

In pleural biopsy specimens and histological sections from the fibrin clots of pleural fluid aspirates it may be difficult to distinguish reactive mesothelial cells from malignant mesothelial cells and metastatic carcinoma. Reactive pleurisy with effusion is usually associated with loss of cohesion and exfoliation of mesothelial cells, which is consistent with the hypothesis that they act as facultative histiocytes. A series of biopsy specimens and sections of clots from benign and malignant pleural effusions have been stained by the immunoperoxidase technique for the histiocytic markers alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, and lysozyme (muramidase). Eight cases of mesothelioma were included. Mesothelial cells when seen as a monolayer lining the pleural surface were negative. Reactive mesothelial cells, usually seen as exfoliated cells, were consistently strongly positive for alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and more variably for alpha 1-antitrypsin and lysozyme. Malignant cells, whether from carcinoma or from mesothelioma, were usually but not always negative. Consequently immunohistochemical staining for alpha 1-antichymotrypsin is often helpful in distinguishing reactive mesothelial cells from malignant cells.

Topics: alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; alpha 1-Antitrypsin; Biopsy; Biopsy, Needle; Chymotrypsin; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Mesothelioma; Muramidase; Pleura; Pleural Effusion; Pleural Neoplasms; Pleurisy

Human alpha 1-antichymotrypsin was purified from human pleural fluid and from human serum. Four affinity chromatographic steps were required to obtain pure alpha 1-antichymotrypsin. Pleural and serum alpha 1-antichymotrypsin have the same molecular weight, which was estimated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to be 58 000. The chemical composition of the two types of alpha 1-antichymotrypsin is the same. Using a technique for visualization of the chymotrypsin inhibitors, we showed that the pure alpha 1-antichymotrypsin obtained from the two physiological fluids had its inhibitory capacity preserved.

Topics: alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; Amino Acids; Carbohydrates; Chromatography, Affinity; Chymotrypsin; Humans; Molecular Weight; Pleural Effusion

Topics: Acetone; Animals; Bradykinin; Chymotrypsin; Edetic Acid; Endopeptidases; Female; Kinins; Leukocytes; Male; Muscle, Smooth; Pleural Effusion; Protease Inhibitors; Rats; Uterus

Topics: Ascitic Fluid; Chymotrypsin; Heart Failure; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis; Neoplasms; Pancreatitis; Pleural Effusion; Protease Inhibitors; Trypsin Inhibitors

Topics: Antigen-Antibody Reactions; Ascites; Calcium Chloride; Chymotrypsin; Coloring Agents; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Immune Sera; Kinetics; Macroglobulins; Osmolar Concentration; Pleural Effusion; Protein Binding; Surface-Active Agents; Trypsin

Topics: Antibodies; Antigen-Antibody Reactions; Ascitic Fluid; Chromatography, Gel; Chymotrypsin; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis; Macroglobulins; Pancreatitis; Pleural Effusion; Protein Binding; Trypsin Inhibitors

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Chymotrypsin; Female; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular; Male; Middle Aged; Pleural Effusion; Tuberculosis, Pleural

Topics: Adult; Chymotrypsin; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pleural Effusion; Thoracic Injuries; Trypsin