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To evaluate the role the coagulation and fibrinolysis abnormalities in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke of undetermined etiology, we assayed plasma concentration of fibrinopeptide-A and thrombin-antithrombin III complex, both sensitive markers for thrombin activation and fibrin formation, and D-dimer, a marker of plasmin activity and fibrinolysis. Hemostatic markers were measured in 32 patients with acute stroke and 20 patients with chronic stroke, and compared with 21 normal subjects. Fibrinopeptid-A and thrombin-antithrombin III complex levels were not elevated significantly, whereas the D-dimer level was markedly raised in acute (p<< 0.001) and chronic (p< 0.05) phases of ischemic stroke in comparison with the control group. Prolonged elevation of D-dimer concentration suggests that hemostatic abnormalities have a primary role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. The measurement of D-dimer concentration may help to better decide the indications for therapy of the patients with ischemic stroke of undetermined etiology.

Family history and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have been identified as risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma. We report hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosed at the same time in identical twin brothers. Serological analyses of the patients showed that both were chronically infected with HBV. Molecular analyses of the tumor specimens confirmed loss of heterozygocity of the Rb gene region. Both of the patients were unresponsive to chemotherapy and died within the same month with an interval of I wk. With a review of the current literature, we discuss the role of HBV infection and genetic factors on hepatic carcinogenesis.

It has been reported that the p53Arg homozygous genotype could be a potential genetic risk factor for cancer. In this study we investigated the proportion of p53 codon 72 genotypes in patients with colon cancer and compared to a control population. A region of the p53 gene containing the polymorphic site was amplified by PCR and the genotypes were determined by restriction enzyme digestion. No significant difference was found between genotype frequencies in the study groups. Infection with human papilloma virus was also investigated in the tumor samples. HPV 18 and HPV 33 infection was observed in a considerable number of the tumor samples. Incidence of HPV infection did not show a correlation with the genotypes. Thus the p53 genotypes do not seem to be associated with risk of colon cancer or HPV infection.

The first Phase I Trial with a combination of IL-2 and IFN-alpha was published in 1989. There are still some questions though, concerning the in vivo effects of this combination on lymphocytes. We designed a prospective pilot study to evaluate in vivo effects of low dose IL-2 and IFN-alpha combination on expression of Bcl-2, FAS (Apo-1/CD 95), Fas Ligand, IL-2 receptor (CD25), and HLA-DR on peripheral lymphocytes in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. After initiation of the immunomodulating therapy, Bcl-2 expressing lymphocytes increased significantly on day 3 (p < 0.025), Fas (Apo-1/CD95) expressing lymphocyte increased significantly on day 5 (p < 0.003), Fas ligand expressing lymphocytes increased significantly on day 3 (p < 0.004), HLA-DR expressing lymphocytes increased significantly on day 5 (p < 0.003), and IL-2 receptor (CD25) expressing cells increased significantly on day 5 (p < 0.01). We conclude that immunomodulating therapy induces in vivo expression of Bcl-2, Fas (Apo-1) and Fas Ligand in lymphocytes significantly.