scholarly journals COMPARISON OF THREE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES FOR ISOLATION OF NEUTROPHILS FROM BLOOD AND THEIR UTILITY IN PERFORMING NITROBLUE TETRAZOLIUM TEST

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 115-122
Author(s):  
Shivanand S. Pattan ◽  
Kishore G. Bhat ◽  
Geeta D. Pattar ◽  
Manjula Kuntagi

Background & Objectives: Assays for neutrophils constitute an important component of screening tests in clinical immunology. There are no standard protocols for performing many of these tests and procedures vary from one laboratory to another. In addition, normal ranges for these assays in healthy Indian population have not been defined. Hence, an attempt is made to evaluate and present a simple technique for WBC isolation and NBT test. Methods: The study involved participation of 30 healthy adult volunteers. Ten of blood sample collected from each subject was subjected to three different procedures for isolation of WBCs - Ficoll-Hypaque gradient, dextran sedimentation and gelatin sedimentation methods. Cells isolated from these procedures were then used to perform NBT test. Smears were prepared, stained with Giemsa and results were expressed as % of stimulated and unstimulated cells. Results: The mean cell yield from both dextran and gelatin methods was comparable (2921.67cells vs 2806.67cells/cu mm). The cell yield from Ficoll-Hypaque method was much lower (1408.33 cells/cu mm). In NBT test, the mean readings of stimulated (61%) and unstimulated cells (18%) were almost similar in all three procedures of cell isolation. Conclusions: Comparison of procedures show that gelatin and dextran sedimentation methods yield high amount of relatively purified WBCs. The efficacy of cells isolated from all three procedures in NBT test was almost similar. The range of stimulated and unstimualted cells in the subjects were within expected levels. Gelatin sedimentation is economical, easy to perform and can be adopted to any clinical laboratory for WBC isolation.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1916
Author(s):  
Ágnes Kinyó ◽  
Anita Hanyecz ◽  
Zsuzsanna Lengyel ◽  
Dalma Várszegi ◽  
Péter Oláh ◽  
...  

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering disease of elderly patients that has shown increasing incidence in the last decades. Higher prevalence of BP may be due to more frequent use of provoking agents, such as antidiabetic dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4i) drugs. Our aim was to assess DPP4i-induced bullous pemphigoid among our BP patients and characterize the clinical, laboratory and histological features of this drug-induced disease form. In our patient cohort, out of 127 BP patients (79 females (62.2%), 48 males (37.7%)), 14 (9 females and 5 males) were treated with DPP4i at the time of BP diagnosis. The Bullous Pemphigoid Disease Area Index (BPDAI) urticaria/erythema score was significantly lower, and the BPDAI damage score was significantly higher in DPP4i-BP patients compared to the nonDPP4i group. Both the mean absolute eosinophil number and the mean periblister eosinophil number was significantly lower in DPP4i-BP patients than in nonDPP4i cases (317.7 ± 0.204 vs. 894.0 ± 1.171 cells/μL, p < 0.0001; 6.75 ± 1.72 vs. 19.09 ± 3.1, p = 0.0012, respectively). Our results provide further evidence that DPP4i-associated BP differs significantly from classical BP, and presents with less distributed skin symptoms, mild erythema, normal or slightly elevated peripheral eosinophil count, and lower titers of BP180 autoantibodies. To our knowledge, this is the first case series of DPP4i-related BP with a non-inflammatory phenotype in European patients.


2021 ◽  
pp. 11-14
Author(s):  
Rani Raphael M ◽  
Sajey P. S. ◽  
Rajad. R ◽  
Varghese P. D

Introduction: In human anatomy the acetabulum is a cavity on the lateral aspect of the hip-bone. The purpose of this study is to record the depth and diameter of the acetabulum cavity to accumulate morphological data helpful for anthropologists, Forensic medicine experts and orthopedicians. Materials And Methods: The study was done on 88 adult human hip bones (42 right and 46 left) collected from Department of Anatomy, Govt.T.D Medical College, Alappuzha, Kerala state. The diameters and maximum depth were measured using digital vernier calliper. The measurements were compared with other studies in the world. The mean diam Results: eter of acetabulum was 48.08 ± 3.21mm, 44.16 ± 2.60 mm in male and female respectively. The mean ± S.D value of depth was 29.11± 2.37 and 27.20± 2.01 mm. in male and female respectively. The correlation between depth and diameter was signicant only in the right male hip bones. There is signicant variation in the Conclusion: anatomical parameters of hip bone between different Indian population groups. The data from this study may be used for designing population specic hip prosthesis.


1976 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 202-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
D A Cotter ◽  
B H Sage

As part of the installation procedure of the LARC leukocyte differential classifier in a clinical laboratory, a 100-slide protocol is carried out to establish the performance of the classifier in the laboratory. The detailed make-up of this protocol and its relationship to key performance parameters for the leukocyte differential are described in detail. Data from the first ten of these protocols are presented which establish the (a) normal ranges, (b) reproducibility, (c) accuracy, (d) false-positive/false-negative rates for the detection of left shifts and (e) false-positive/false-negative rates for the detection of bloods with abnormal cells.


2000 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 1850-1854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Kohler ◽  
L. Joseph Wheat ◽  
Patricia Connolly ◽  
Carol Schnizlein-Bick ◽  
Michelle Durkin ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Twenty clinical isolates of Histoplasma capsulatum were tested for their in vitro susceptibilities to caspofungin in comparison to those to amphotericin B by following National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines for yeasts. The mean MICs were 16.6 μg/ml (range, 8 to 32 μg/ml) for caspofungin and 0.56 μg/ml (range, 0.5 to 1.0 μg/ml) for amphotericin B. Survival experiments used a 105 dose in a pulmonary challenge model with B6C3F1 mice. All mice that received amphotericin B at 2 mg/kg of body weight every other day (q.o.d.), 30% of mice that received caspofungin at 8 mg/kg/day, and 20% of mice that received caspofungin at 4 mg/kg/day survived to day 15, while mice that received caspofungin at 2 mg/kg/day and all control mice that received the vehicle died by day 14. Amphotericin B at 2 mg/kg q.o.d. markedly reduced the fungal burden in the lungs and spleens, as measured byHistoplasma antigen detection techniques and quantitative cultures, for each comparison. Caspofungin at 10 mg/kg twice a day (b.i.d.) did not reduce the fungal burden, as measured by antigen detection techniques, but slightly reduced the levels of fungi in both the lungs and spleens, as determined by quantitative cultures. Caspofungin at 5 mg/kg b.i.d. did not affect fungal burden. Overall, caspofungin had only a slight effect on survival or fungal burden.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-47
Author(s):  
Teodora Serban ◽  
Iulia Satulu ◽  
Ioana Cretu ◽  
Oana Vutcanu ◽  
Mihaela Milicescu ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground: Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can overlap and the presence of OA can interfere with the evaluation of patients with RA.Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible impact of OA on the clinical, laboratory and ultrasound parameters currently evaluated in patients with early RA (ERA).Methods: We have evaluated the data obtained from patients with ERA referred to our Early Arthritis Research Center (EARC). Only data from patients who fulfilled EULAR/ ACR 2010 criteria for RA and had symptom duration of less than 12 months were analyzed. All patients underwent clinical examination, laboratory tests and ultrasound (US) examination.Results: There was a clear predominance of women (62.8%). The mean age was 55.47±13.71 years. At baseline, 21 patients (48.8%) were diagnosed with OA. Hand OA did not influence the values of any of the parameters assessed (p>0.05). For patients with knee OA, significantly higher values were observed only for DAS28 at baseline (p=0.018) as well as after 12 months of observation (p=0.031).Conclusions: Significantly higher values of DAS28 were observed in patients with ERA who associated knee OA, while the values of SDAI were not influenced, suggesting that SDAI may be superior to DAS28 in evaluating patients with ERA and knee OA. The values of patient’s VAS were not influenced by the presence of hand or knee OA suggesting that these types of OA do not influence the patients’ perception of the disease activity. Moreover, the values of ultrasound scores were not influenced by the presence of OA.


Blood ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 652-656
Author(s):  
V Castle ◽  
G Coates ◽  
JG Kelton ◽  
M Andrew

Thrombocytopenia is a common occurrence (20%) in sick neonates, but the causes have not been well studied. In this report we demonstrate that thrombocytopenia in the neonate is characterized by increased platelet destruction as shown by shortened homologous 111In-oxine-labeled platelet life spans. Thirty-one prospectively studied thrombocytopenic neonates were investigated by measuring the 111In-labeled platelet life span, platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG), and coagulation screening tests. In every infant, the thrombocytopenia was shown to have a destructive component since the mean platelet life span was significantly shortened to 65 +/- 6 (mean +/- SEM) hours with a range of one to 128 hours compared with adult values (212 +/- 8; range, 140 to 260; gamma function analysis). The platelet survival was directly related to the lowest platelet count and inversely related to both the highest mean platelet volume and duration of the thrombocytopenia. In 22 infants the percent recovery of the radiolabeled platelets was less than 50%, which suggested that increased sequestration also contributed to the thrombocytopenia. Infants with laboratory evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (n = 8) or immune platelet destruction evidenced by elevated levels of PAIgG (n = 13) had even shorter platelet survivals and a more severe thrombocytopenia compared with the ten infants in whom an underlying cause for the thrombocytopenia was not apparent. Full-body scintigraphic images obtained in 11 infants showed an increased uptake in the spleen and liver, with a spleen-to- liver ratio of 3:1. This study indicates that thrombocytopenia in sick neonates is primarily destructive, with a subgroup having evidence of increased platelet sequestration.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0260366
Author(s):  
Jason Chen ◽  
Scott L. Diamond

A highly reduced extrinsic pathway coagulation model (8 ODEs) under flow considered a thin 15-micron platelet layer where transport limitations were largely negligible (except for fibrinogen) and where cofactors (FVIIa, FV, FVIII) were not rate-limiting. By including thrombin feedback activation of FXI and the antithrombin-I activities of fibrin, the model accurately simulated measured fibrin formation and thrombin fluxes. Using this reduced model, we conducted 10,000 Monte Carlo (MC) simulations for ±50% variation of 5 plasma zymogens and 2 fibrin binding sites for thrombin. A sensitivity analysis of zymogen concentrations indicated that FIX activity most influenced thrombin generation, a result expected from hemophilia A and B. Averaging all MC simulations confirmed both the mean and standard deviation of measured fibrin generation on 1 tissue factor (TF) molecule per μm2. Across all simulations, free thrombin in the layer ranged from 20 to 300 nM (mean: 50 nM). The top 2% of simulations that produced maximal fibrin were dominated by conditions with low antithrombin-I activity (decreased weak and strong sites) and high FIX concentration. In contrast, the bottom 2% of simulations that produced minimal fibrin were dominated by low FIX and FX. The percent reduction of fibrin by an ideal FXIa inhibitor (FXI = 0) ranged from 71% fibrin reduction in the top 2% of MC simulations to only 34% fibrin reduction in the bottom 2% of MC simulations. Thus, the antithrombotic potency of FXIa inhibitors may vary depending on normal ranges of zymogen concentrations. This reduced model allowed efficient multivariable sensitivity analysis.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin Hai Teo ◽  
Chirk Jenn Ng ◽  
Sin Kuang Lo ◽  
Chip Dong Lim ◽  
Alan White

BACKGROUND Globally, the uptake of health screening is suboptimal, especially in men and those of younger age. In view of the increasing internet access and mobile phone ownership, ScreenMen, a mobile Web app, was developed to improve health screening uptake in men. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the utility and usability of ScreenMen. METHODS This study used both qualitative and quantitative methods. Healthy men working in a banking institution were recruited to participate in this study. They were purposively sampled according to job position, age, education level, and screening status. Men were asked to use ScreenMen independently while the screen activities were being recorded. Once completed, retrospective think aloud with playback was conducted with men to obtain their feedback. They were asked to answer the System Usability Scale (SUS). Intention to undergo screening pre- and postintervention was also measured. Qualitative data were analyzed using a framework approach followed by thematic analysis. For quantitative data, the mean SUS score was calculated and change in intention to screening was analyzed using McNemar test. RESULTS In total, 24 men participated in this study. On the basis of the qualitative data, men found ScreenMen useful as they could learn more about their health risks and screening. They found ScreenMen convenient to use, which might trigger men to undergo screening. In terms of usability, men thought that ScreenMen was user-friendly and easy to understand. The key revision done on utility was the addition of a reminder function, whereas for usability, the revisions done were in terms of attracting and gaining users’ trust, improving learnability, and making ScreenMen usable to all types of users. To attract men to use it, ScreenMen was introduced to users in terms of improving health instead of going for screening. Another important revision made was emphasizing the screening tests the users do not need, instead of just informing them about the screening tests they need. A Quick Assessment Mode was also added for users with limited attention span. The quantitative data showed that 8 out of 23 men (35%) planned to attend screening earlier than intended after using the ScreenMen. Furthermore, 4 out of 12 (33%) men who were in the precontemplation stage changed to either contemplation or preparation stage after using ScreenMen with P=.13. In terms of usability, the mean SUS score of 76.4 (SD 7.72) indicated that ScreenMen had good usability. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that ScreenMen was acceptable to men in terms of its utility and usability. The preliminary data suggested that ScreenMen might increase men’s intention to undergo screening. This paper also presented key lessons learned from the beta testing, which is useful for public health experts and researchers when developing a user-centered mobile Web app.


Author(s):  
Yu Lei ◽  
Xiaobo Huang ◽  
Bamu SiLang ◽  
YunPing Lan ◽  
Jianli Lu ◽  
...  

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, has rapidly spread throughout China, but the clinical characteristics of Tibetan patients living in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau are unknown. We aimed to investigate the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and radiological characteristics of these patients. We included 67 Tibetan patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of clinical symptoms at admission, with 31 and 36 patients in the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups, respectively. The epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and radiological characteristics were extracted and analysed. No patient had a history of exposure to COVID-19 patients from Wuhan or had travelled to Wuhan. The mean age of Tibetan patients was 39.3 years and 59% of the patients were male. Seven patients presented with fever on admission and lymphocytopenia was present in 20 patients. 47 patients had abnormal chest CTs at admission instead of stating that 20 were unchanged. Lactate dehydrogenase levels were increased in 31 patients. Seven patients progressed to severe COVID-19; however, after treatment, their condition was stable. No patients died. Of the 36 asymptomatic patients, the mean age was younger than the symptomatic group (34.4±17.3vs 44.9±18.1 years, P=0.02). Lymphocyte count and prealbumin levels were higher in the asymptomatic group than the group with clinical symptoms (1.6±0.5 vs 1.3±0.6 and 241.8±68.2 vs 191.9±60.3, respectively; P<0.05). Imported cases of COVID-19 in Tibetan patients were generally mild in this high-altitude area. Absence of fever or radiologic abnormalities on initial presentation were common.


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