Evaluation of total and differential white blood cell counts in workers exposed to lead

Introduction: Lead is a toxic heavy metal that has adverse health effects on blood parameters. About 80% of lead produced is used in batteries, especially vehicle batteries. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the hematological changes, including total and differential white blood cell (WBC) counts in battery workers exposed to lead, and compare with the non-exposed group. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in a battery industry in Semnan city. The study population consisted of 78 battery workers and 78 healthy non-exposed office workers. A hematology cell counter was used to determine the total, and differential WBC counts. Blood lead level was measured in accordance with the NIOSH method 8003. Results: Blood lead levels were about two times higher than the TLV recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) for this compound (20 µg/dl). The level of WBC (8.07± 2.55 mm3 blood×103 vs. 7.27 ± 1.58 mm3 blood×103) was significantly higher, while the level of monocyte was significantly lower (6.96 ± 1.72 % vs. 7.67 ± 1.87 %) in the exposed group than in the non-exposed group. After adjustment for potential confounders such as age and work history, a significant association between exposure to lead and WBC and monocyte levels was reported. Conclusion: The present study's findings indicated that exposure to lead was associated with total and differential white blood cells changes in the exposed group compared to the non-exposed group.

Hematological Findings in COVID-19 Patients at Birat Medical College Teaching Hospital

INTRODUCTION The outbreak of 2019 novel corona virus has also affected the Nepalese population. Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) is the diagnostic laboratory test for confirming the diagnosis. The complete blood count (CBC) is the laboratory test routinely done in patients suffering from any type of infection. This test provides the information to physicians regarding the inflammatory process. The objective of this study was to evaluate and find out whether hematologic parameters are affected in a person suffering from Covid-19 infections. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a prospective study done from 3rd December 2020 to 3rd February 2021 for a period of two months. All the confirmed patients of corona (COVID-19) with RT-PCR, between days-1 to day-15 of PCR positivity, whose hematological profile was sent to the pathology laboratory department, were studied. The hematologic parameters studied include total white blood cells count (TLC), differential white blood cell count (DLC), hemoglobin and platelet counts. RESULTS Out of one hundred (100) RT-PCR positive patients eighty (80%) were male and twenty (20%) were female. Age group of patients ranged from 27 years to 94 years. Ninety-four (94%) patients reveal leukocytosis and Ninety-six (96%) patients showed increased in differential neutrophil count. Fifty-two (52%) patients reveal anemia and platelets count was normal in seventy-eight (78%) cases. CONCLUSION Covid-19 infection causes changes in the hematological parameters. Study of these parameters provides significant clinical information.

Evaluation of the Immunological Status in Occult Hepatitis B Virus-infected Patients Attending Rivers State University Teaching Hospital

Background: Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is a rare form of infection that is characterized by the presence of replication-competent HBV DNA in the liver but without detectable HBsAg in the serum. Aim: This study aimed to determine the comparative levels of immunological variables particularly CD4 counts and differential white blood cell (WBC) counts in occult hepatitis B and HBsAg positive subjects among prospective blood donors in Port Harcourt Metropolis in Nigeria. Methods: The CD4 count and total and differential WBC counts were analyzed with automated techniques using BD Fascount and Sysmex XP-300 respectively. Data were analyzed as mean (standard deviation) and significance was assumed at 95% confidence interval using student t-test and one-way ANOVA on GraphPad prism. Results: The mean values for CD4, WBC, LYM (lymphocyte), MXD (differential mixed cells), and NEU (neutrophils) were 607±286 µ/l, 16±24 /l, 1.8±0.55 %, 0.46±0.15 % and 3.1±1.1 % respectively for occult hepatitis B subjects; 609±222 µ/l, 5.4±1.7 /l, 2.3±1.2 %, 0.54±0.31 % and 2.7±1.2 % respectively for HbsAg positive subjects and 823±256 µ/l, 10±5.4 /l, 2.4±1.6 %, 0.69±0.49 % and 6.4±4.7 % respectively for hepatitis B negative subjects. CD4 levels for male and female occult hepatitis B subjects are 729±309 µ/l and 461±190 µ/l respectively; 582±210 µ/l and 643±250 µ/l respectively for HBsAg positive subjects while that of hepatitis B negative subjects were 824±305 µ/l and 821±199 µ/l respectively. OBI showed a significant negative association between differential mixed cells and lymphocytes (r= -0.89 and p= 0.001) alone signifying that increment in former could reduce the latter. Only the HBsAg positive subjects showed a significant positive correlation of age to differential mixed cells (r=0.94 and p=0.000) which imply as the age increase the level of differential mixed cells will rise. Again, the HBsAg positive subjects showed a significant positive correlation between the differential mixed cells against neutrophil and WBC (r=0.53 and p=0.050), (r=0.56 and 0.036) respectively. Smoking and alcohol consumption caused raised levels of CD4 cells in OBI. Conclusion: This study revealed a significant decrease in CD4 count, increase in total WBC and neutrophil counts while lymphocyte counts were decreased in occult hepatitis B subjects. Gender difference affect the level of CD4 cells and significant correlation were observed especially with the differential mixed cells.

Differential white blood cell counts in rabbits: a comparison of the Advia 2120 and a manual method

We evaluated the performance of the Advia 2120 (Siemens) differential leukocyte count (A-Diff) compared to the manual method (M-Diff) in rabbits. EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples collected for diagnostic purposes were analyzed within 6 h of collection. The M-Diff was performed blindly by 2 observers on blood smears by counting 200 cells. We initially included 117 samples; 25 samples were excluded because of suboptimal gating of leukocytes in the Advia peroxidase cytogram or poor blood smear quality. The correlation between the A-Diff and M-Diff was very high for heterophils (r = 0.924, p < 0.001) and lymphocytes (r = 0.903, p < 0.001), high for basophils (r = 0.823, p < 0.001), moderate for monocytes (r = 0.645, p < 0.001), and low for eosinophils (r = 0.336, p = 0.001). The Passing–Bablok regression analyses revealed a small-to-moderate constant error for lymphocytes and a slight constant error for basophils. Small proportional errors were detected for heterophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils. The Bland–Altman analyses revealed that the Advia significantly underestimates heterophils and overestimates lymphocytes compared to M-Diff. The biases for the other leukocytes were minimal and likely clinical insignificant; however, our results, particularly for eosinophils, should be interpreted cautiously given the observed low percentages in our samples. Given the observed biases in heterophil and lymphocyte percentages in the Advia 2120 CBC results in rabbits, method-specific reference intervals should be used. The Advia can recognize leporine basophils. Evaluation of blood smears is still recommended to investigate abnormal results and erroneous cytograms reported by the Advia.

Importance of Flow Cytometry in the Diagnosis of Sezary Syndrome in the State of Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil

Introduction:Sézary Syndrome (SS) is a leukemic form of Fungal Mycosis (FM), a rare form of T-cell lymphoma, characterized by erythroderma, generalized lymphadenopathy and infiltration of neoplastic T cells (Sézary cells) with cerebriform nucleus on the skin, lymph nodes and peripheral blood, being observed predominantly in men and individuals over the age of 60 and black. In the diagnosis of SS / FM, at least one of the criteria must be observed: minimum absolute Sézary cells count of 1000/mm3, expansion of TCD4+ cells with a ratio CD4/CD8 &gt;10, loss of at least one mature T cell antigens as CD2, CD3, CD5, CD7 and CD26 in associated with increased lymphocyte count with evidence of a clone of circulating TCD4 cells determined by flow cytometry (CF).Objective:To investigate MF/SS in patients diagnosed with cutaneous lymphoma by CF immunophenotyping. Methodology: Were investigated in samples of peripheral blood (SP) from 11 patients of both sexes with initial history of MF and confection of SS due to the presence of Sézary cells by cytomorphological analysis by CF constituted by a panel of conjugated monoclonal antibodies (AcMo) to fluorochromes and targeted to T lymphocytes: CD1a, CD2, CD3, CD5, CD7, subpopulation T-Helper (CD3+/CD4+) and T-cytotoxic (CD3+/CD8+), in addition to TCR a/b and TCR g/d; Natural Killer cells: CD16-56; B lymphocytes: CD19, CD20, CD21, CD22, CD23, IgM, IgG, IgD anti-kappa and anti-lambda, in addition to CD10, TdT, CD103, CD25, CD38 and CD138, CD45 and CD14. At the same time, a complete blood count with differential white blood cell count and investigation of clinical and demographic data such as age, sex and ethnicity/race were also performed. Results: Of the patients analyzed, 6/11 were male, the age group above 60 years and white individuals were also found in 6/11 patients. The blood count showed lymphocytosis in 9/11 patients with the presence of convoluted cells in all cases. The diagnosis of SS was confirmed by the presence of Sezary cells in PB counting above 1000/mm3, with an immunophenotype confirmed by the predominance of TCD4+ lymphocytes (CD4/CD8 ratio &gt; 10.0), associated with the expression of CD5, CD2, TCR a/b, CD3 weakly expressed. CD7 was absent in 10/11 samples analyzed. Antigens related to B lymphocytes and NK cells were absent in neoplastic cells as well as CD10, TdT and CD1a.Conclusions:SS is a leukemic variant of FM, characterized by exfoliative erythroderma, associated with lymphadenopathy and leukemization of FM with the appearance of Sézary cells in PB. Because it is a rare and essential disease, an accurate diagnosis of these diseases is necessary, and FC is an important diagnostic confirmation tool for SS. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The Effect of Gongronema Latifolum (Utazi) on Some Haematological Parameters of Rabbit

The hematological features of Gongronema latifolium, aqueous leaves extract was evaluated using standard methods. After 10 days of consecutive infusions into 9 experimental animals (rabbits). The rabbits were monitored and the following parameters determined; hemoglobin (HB), PCV, Platelet, WBC, Differential White Blood Cell. The Rabbits were grouped into 4, one consisting of control (group A), group B was fed with 0.5 mg/kg, group C with 1.0 mg/kg, and Group D with 1.5mg/kg of the aqueous extract of Gongronemalatifolium. The mean values obtained for hemoglobin estimation for the control group is 5.9 ± 4.1 g/dl, 9.1 ± 2.9 g/dl for group B 10.2 ± 1.8 g/dl for group C and 12.8 ± 0.1 g/dl for group D with no significant increase on the PCV estimation, the mean value for the control (group A) is 17.7 ± 12.3%, 27.3 ± 8.7% for group B, group C (30.6 ± 5.4%) and D (28.4 ± 0.3) show increase that statistically significant (p > 0.01). the platelet counts of group C (600 ± 0 x 109/L) and D(600 ± 0 x 109/L) show significant increase (p > 0.01) when compared with the control (600 ± 00). But the platelet value of group B (550 ± 50 x 109/L) shows no difference. No significant changes were observed in the White Blood Counts of the test groups B (3.5 ± 0.5 x 109/L), C (1.9 + 2.1 x 109/L) and D(3.6 ± 0.4) when compared with the control group (2.9 ± 1.9). The values obtained from the differential White Blood Counts (Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Eosinophils and Monocytes) were not significant. Therefore, Gongronemalatifolium, when properly taken as a nutritional diet, causes beneficial changes on hemoglobin, packed cell volumes and platelet counts of consumers.

PREVALENCE OF HAEMOPARASITES OF POLO HORSES AND THEIR EFFECT ON SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN ZARIA NIGERIA

Haemoparasites are either intracellular or extracellular organisms that inhabit the blood stream of vertebrate hosts. This study was conducted in Zaria Nigeria inorder to investigate the prevalence of haemoparasites in polo horses and their effects on haematological parameters. Blood samples were collected from a total of 100 randomly selected horses from polo stables across Zaria. The blood samples were screened and examined using thin blood smear, buffy coat technique, and differential white blood cell count. From the results thirteen horses 100(13%) were found infected with haemoparasites. The prevalence of Theileria equi in local and exotic breeds was 5(9.4%) and4 (8.5%) while for microfilaria it was 3(5.3%) and1 (2.1%). There were no Babesia or Trypanosomes found in the samples 0%. Among sexes the prevalence of Theileria equi and microfilaria in males was 1(7.7%) while in females it was (9.3%) and 3(3.4%).A high prevalence of Theileria equi and microfilaria was seen among old horses 6(9.3%) and4 (3.4%) compared to young 3(7.7%) and1 (7.7%).There was no significant association between the presence of the infection and its effect on haematological values (p>0.05). In conclusion some haemoparasites were found in polo horses in Zaria. It is hereby recommended that routine vector control and prophylactic treatment should be carried out in stables