White blood cell counts in house sparrows (Passer domesticus) before and after moult and after testosterone treatment

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Paz Nava ◽  
José Pablo Veiga ◽  
Marisa Puerta
Keyword(s):  
Blood Cell ◽  
White Blood Cell ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Before And After ◽  
White Blood Cell Counts ◽  
Differential White Blood Cell

In this study two experiments were run in parallel. To evaluate the possible influence of moult and age on differential white blood cell (WBC) counts, we captured juvenile and adult house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and housed them in outdoor aviaries. Blood was collected twice, before and after moult. Numbers of basophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes were higher in juveniles than in adults, whereas numbers of eosinophilic cells were similar in the two age groups. Moult induced an increase in basophils and monocytes in both juveniles and adults. This indicates that moult and age impose different immunological challenges on house sparrows. To evaluate the effect of testosterone on differential WBC counts, some house sparrows in aviaries received testosterone during the moult period. Testosterone administration reduced, though not significantly, the number of all WBC types in juveniles, and therefore appeared to have an nonspecific effect. However, the number of lymphocytes increased only in adults, which suggests a specific effect on this cell type in this age group.

A Method for Optimizing and Validating Institution-Specific Flagging Criteria for Automated Cell Counters

2010 ◽  
Vol 134 (10) ◽  
pp. 1528-1533
Author(s):  
Anthony Sireci ◽  
Robert Schlaberg ◽  
Alexander Kratz
Keyword(s):  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
White Blood Cell ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Youden Index ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Blood Cell Counts ◽  
White Blood Cell Counts ◽  
Differential White Blood Cell

Abstract Context.—Automated cell counters use alerts (flags) to indicate which differential white blood cell counts can be released directly from the instrument and which samples require labor-intensive slide reviews. The thresholds at which many of these flags are triggered can be adjusted by individual laboratories. Many users, however, use factory-default settings or adjust the thresholds through a process of trial and error. Objective.—To develop a systematic method, combining statistical analysis and clinical judgment, to optimize the flagging thresholds on automated cell counters. Design.—Data from 502 samples flagged by Sysmex XE-2100/5000 (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan) instruments, with at least 1 of 5 user-adjustable, white blood cell count flags, were used to change the flagging thresholds for maximal diagnostic effectiveness by optimizing the Youden index for each flag (the optimization set). The optimized thresholds were then validated with a second set of 378 samples (the validation set). Results.—Use of the new thresholds reduced the review rate caused by the 5 flags from 6.5% to 2.9% and improved the positive predictive value of the flagging system for any abnormality from 27% to 37%. Conclusions.—This method can be used to optimize thresholds for flag alerts on automated cell counters of any type and to improve the overall positive predictive value of the flagging system at the expense of a reduction in the negative predictive value. A reduced manual review rate helps to focus resources on differential white blood cell counts that are of clinical significance and may improve turnaround time.

scholarly journals Lactobacillus equigenerosi Strain Le1 Invades Equine Epithelial Cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 4248-4255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlie Botha ◽  
Marelize Botes ◽  
Ben Loos ◽  
Carine Smith ◽  
Leon M. T. Dicks
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
White Blood Cell ◽  
Cell Surface Hydrophobicity ◽  
Surface Hydrophobicity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Buccal Epithelial Cells ◽  
White Blood Cell Counts ◽  
Differential White Blood Cell

ABSTRACTLactobacillus equigenerosistrain Le1, a natural inhabitant of the equine gastrointestinal tract, survived pH 3.0 and incubation in the presence of 1.5% (wt/vol) bile salts for at least 2 h. Strain Le1 showed 8% cell surface hydrophobicity, 60% auto-aggregation, and 47% coaggregation withClostridium difficileC6. Only 1% of the cells adhered to viable buccal epithelial cells and invaded the cells within 20 min after contact. Preincubation of strain Le1 in a buffer containing pronase prevented adhesion to viable epithelial cells. Preincubation in a pepsin buffer delayed invasion from 20 min to 1 h. Strain Le1 did not adhere to nonviable epithelial cells. Administration ofL. equigenerosiLe1 (1 × 109CFU per 50 kg body weight) to healthy horses did not increase white blood cell numbers. Differential white blood cell counts and aspartate aminotransferase levels remained constant. Glucose, lactate, cholesterol, and urea levels remained constant during administration withL. equigenerosiLe1 but decreased during the week after administration.

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