This study reports results from the first clinical tests in which 7 patients with myeloid leukaemia (5 acute and 2 chronic leukaemias in metamorphosis) were treated from 4 to 45 days with granulocyte chalone, the tissue-specific endogenous inhibitor of granulopoiesis. It was observed that i.v. injection of partially purified chalone inhibits proliferation of leukaemic, and presumably also normal granulocytic cells, leaving all other cell types unaffected. Inhibition of leukaemic growth was distinct in 6 of the 7 patients; in 5 cases the inhibition was followed by acutal regression of the leukaemia, lasting up to several months in the absence of any maintenance therapy, and in one case the treatment led to a complete remission. Chalone treatment also resulted in an enhancement of erythropoiesis and megakaryopoiesis, and in phenomena some of which were totally unexpected, such as immunostimulation and a remarkable resistance to bacterial infections in the presence of extreme granulocytopenia. This study shows that granulocyte chalone is biologically active against myeloid leukaemia in man, but not that the therapeutic value of the impure chalone is superior to modern cytostatic drugs. Long-term therapeutic trials were not possible with the partially purified preparations available, mainly because of side-effects which prevented adequate dosing.

The Finnish Leukaemia Group has carried out a randomized, multicenter trial to study the effect of levamisole on the remission maintained with 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate in acute myeloid leukaemia in adults. Levamisole was given on 3 consecutive days every 2 weeks. Twenty-five patients received only chemotherapy, while 26 patients received levamisole as well. The patients receiving levamisole showed significantly better remission duration than those given only chemotherapy (P = 0.033, Mantel's summary chi 2-text). There are four long term survivors in the levamisole group versus none in the chemotherapy group. The remissions have lasted 48-75 months.

194 adults with acute leukaemia were randomly allocated to be treated with a combination of daunorubicine, cytarabine and prednisone either with (RAP+T) or without (RAP) thioguanine. A remission was achieved in 37% of 101 patients treated with RAP and in 35% of 93 patients treated with RAP+T. The survival and length of remission were similar in both groups. Neither regimen was superior to the other in any type of leukaemia nor in any age group of patients. In 9 of the patients failing to remit with RAP treatment a remission was obtained with other chemotherapy, while none of the patients not responding to RAP+T achieved a remission with further chemotherapy.

During 5 years 203 adults with acute leukaemia were treated with a combination of daunorubicin, cytararabine and prednisone in the trials of the Finnish Leukaemia Group (FLG). The participating hospitals were classified according to size into 3 groups: 75 patients were treated in Meilahti Hospital (University Central Hospital, Helsinki), 87 patients—over 5 patients per year in each of the hospitals of the KOTT‐group (university hospitals in Kuopio, Oulu, Tampere and Turku), and 41 patients—1 to 3 patients per year in each of the 6 hospitals of the other hospital group. The remission rate in other hospitals (21%) was significantly (P < 0.002) inferior to to those in Meilahti Hospital (54%) and in the KOTT‐group (51%). Evaluation of the survival data showed no difference between Meilahti Hospital and KOTT‐group, but the survival in other hospitals was significantly poorer, differing from that of Meilahti (P = 0.01) and from that of KOTT‐group (P = 0.02). The durations of remissions did not differ from each other. The distribution of patients by the type of leukaemia was similar in all groups and the interhospital differences were not related to the type of leukaemia. The remission rates in other hospitals were in all age groups smaller than in the two other groups.The experience and skill gained by the doctors and the other hospital staff in treating more patients with acute leukaemia were regarded to be the main determinant of the better results achieved in the university hospitals. The slight differences in the age distribution of patients and in the facilities for supportive treatment were regarded to be of only minor importance.

Non-pyrogenic preparations of granulocytic chalone have been administered to patient with acute myeloid leukaemia (A.M.L.) who had relapsed after chalone-induced complete remission of the disease. Another regression of the leukaemia was obtained. Normal and leukaemic granulocytes were inhibited without effect on other cell types. Survival was prolonged in 4 other patients with A.M.L. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the therapeutic role of granulocytic chalone.

TransfusionVolume 12, Issue 2 p. 103-105 Antibody and Immunoglobulin Levels in Regular Blood Donors K. Kouvalainen M.D, Corresponding Author K. Kouvalainen M.D Departments of Pediatrics, Virology, and Clinical Chemistry, University of Turku, and The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service Laboratory, Turku, Finland Kauko Kouvalainen, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.Kauko Kouvalainen, M.D., Lastenklinikka, 20520 Turku 52, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorP. Halonen, P. Halonen Departments of Pediatrics, Virology, and Clinical Chemistry, University of Turku, and The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service Laboratory, Turku, Finland Pekka Halonen, M.D., Professor of Virology, Department of Virology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.Search for more papers by this authorT. T. Salmi, T. T. Salmi Departments of Pediatrics, Virology, and Clinical Chemistry, University of Turku, and The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service Laboratory, Turku, Finland Toivo T. Salmi, M.D.: Resident in Clinical Chemistry, University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland.Search for more papers by this authorA. Levanto, Corresponding Author A. Levanto Departments of Pediatrics, Virology, and Clinical Chemistry, University of Turku, and The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service Laboratory, Turku, FinlandKauko Kouvalainen, M.D., Lastenklinikka, 20520 Turku 52, FinlandSearch for more papers by this author K. Kouvalainen M.D, Corresponding Author K. Kouvalainen M.D Departments of Pediatrics, Virology, and Clinical Chemistry, University of Turku, and The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service Laboratory, Turku, Finland Kauko Kouvalainen, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.Kauko Kouvalainen, M.D., Lastenklinikka, 20520 Turku 52, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorP. Halonen, P. Halonen Departments of Pediatrics, Virology, and Clinical Chemistry, University of Turku, and The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service Laboratory, Turku, Finland Pekka Halonen, M.D., Professor of Virology, Department of Virology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.Search for more papers by this authorT. T. Salmi, T. T. Salmi Departments of Pediatrics, Virology, and Clinical Chemistry, University of Turku, and The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service Laboratory, Turku, Finland Toivo T. Salmi, M.D.: Resident in Clinical Chemistry, University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland.Search for more papers by this authorA. Levanto, Corresponding Author A. Levanto Departments of Pediatrics, Virology, and Clinical Chemistry, University of Turku, and The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service Laboratory, Turku, FinlandKauko Kouvalainen, M.D., Lastenklinikka, 20520 Turku 52, FinlandSearch for more papers by this author First published: March‐April 1972 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1537-2995.1972.tb05893.xCitations: 1 Antero Levanto, M.D.: Head of The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service Laboratory, Turku, Finland; Hematologist, University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland. AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume12, Issue2March‐April 1972Pages 103-105 RelatedInformation

Plasma clearance of intravenously administered 57Co vitamin B12 in four patients with fish tapeworm anaemia in relapse was slow in all cases when compared to normal subjects. When labelled vitamin was pre‐bound to normal serum and injected into these patients the clearance pattern became normal. The ability to correct clearance was lost when 57Co B12 and normal serum were heated to 56° C. for 30 minutes. Addition of an amount of normal serum equal to heated 57Co B12 serum failed to correct slow clearance in two of three cases.

The present investigation covered 231 tuberculous patients, 200 healthy control subjects and 65 patients of a medical ward.The folate levels in serum and whole blood proved to be lower among the tuberculous than in the control group. Oral folate clearance tests gave an abnormal result for two‐fifths of the tuberculous patients examined. Over half the number of the patients whose bone marrow was examined showed various degrees of intermediate megaloblastic changes, though none had such pronounced megaloblastic changes as are common in vitamin B12 deficiency. The patients who had mild or obvious megaloblastic changes in bone marrow also showed lower serum folate levels than those whose bone marrow was normal showed only minimal changes. The serum folate levels, however, varied considerably within all the groups of bone marrow types. The part played by antituberculous drugs (PAS‐INH) in the folate deficiency requires continued study. The serum levels of vitamin B12 in tuberculous patients were within the normal range.

Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica ScandinavicaVolume 46, Issue S7 p. 101-105 Serum Folic Acid Content in Pregnancy L. RAURAMO, L. RAURAMO Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Åbo, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorO. CASTRÉN, O. CASTRÉN Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Åbo, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorA. LEVANTO, A. LEVANTO Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Åbo, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorT. MARKKANEN, T. MARKKANEN Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Åbo, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorA. KIVIKOSKI, A. KIVIKOSKI Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Åbo, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorS. RUPONEN, S. RUPONEN Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Åbo, FinlandSearch for more papers by this author L. RAURAMO, L. RAURAMO Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Åbo, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorO. CASTRÉN, O. CASTRÉN Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Åbo, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorA. LEVANTO, A. LEVANTO Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Åbo, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorT. MARKKANEN, T. MARKKANEN Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Åbo, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorA. KIVIKOSKI, A. KIVIKOSKI Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Åbo, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorS. RUPONEN, S. RUPONEN Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Åbo, FinlandSearch for more papers by this author First published: January 1967 https://doi.org/10.3109/00016346709157077Citations: 4AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume46, IssueS7January 1967Pages 101-105 RelatedInformation

Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica ScandinavicaVolume 45, Issue S9 p. 97-98 ON THE ANAEMIA OF PREGNANCY. SOME ASPECTS ON IRON AND FOLATE DEFICIENCY O. CASTRÉN, O. CASTRÉN Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Turku, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorA. LEVANTO, A. LEVANTO Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Turku, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorT. MARKKANEN, T. MARKKANEN Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Turku, FinlandSearch for more papers by this author O. CASTRÉN, O. CASTRÉN Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Turku, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorA. LEVANTO, A. LEVANTO Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Turku, FinlandSearch for more papers by this authorT. MARKKANEN, T. MARKKANEN Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Turku, FinlandSearch for more papers by this author First published: January 1966 https://doi.org/10.3109/00016346609158607Citations: 5AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume45, IssueS9January 1966Pages 97-98 RelatedInformation

Absorption natürlicher Folsäurekonjugate (in der Form vom Leberbrei) wurde bei 13 Kontrollen und 14 tuberkulösen Patienten nach monatelanger PAS-INH-Therapie untersucht. Die Folsäureaktivität im Serum wurde mitL. casei analysiert. Fünf von 14 Patienten hatten pathologisch niedrige Absorptionkurven und intermediär megaloblastische Veränderungen im Knochenmark, offenbar ein Zeichen für Folsäuremangel.