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Evaluation of an automated system for hemoglobin measurement in animals.

In veterinary medicine, PCV determined by centrifugation of blood in a microhematocrit tube is the most common clinical test used to initially assess and monitor anemic and polycythemic animals. In contrast, blood hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, rather than PCV, is generally determined in human patients. One automated system photometrically measures blood Hb concentration after conversion of Hb to azide methemoglobin without dilution and was found to be a simple and accurate instrument for use in human medicine. We evaluated the system for its accuracy in measuring blood Hb concentration in animals by comparing it with standard techniques and for its suitability in veterinary practice. Blood samples, anticoagulated with potassium EDTA, from 78 healthy animals (33 dogs, 17 cats, 13 horses, and 15 cows) and 58 dogs and 4 cats with various blood abnormalities (10 anemia, 11 polycythemia, 21 lipemia, 16 leukocytosis, and 6 icterus) were analyzed. In all species, blood Hb concentration of healthy animals determined by the system was comparable to that measured by standard cyanmethemoglobin methods (ie, an automated counter; rI = 0.987 to 0.998 and a hemoglobin kit, rI = 0.946 to 0.993). The aforementioned system also yielded similar values to those obtained by use of standard methods in anemic, polycythemic, and icteric dogs and cats. Moreover, the system reads the absorbance at 2 wavelengths to correct for turbidity, and therefore, accurately measured Hb concentration in blood samples with severe lipemia (triglycerides concentration > 500 mg/dl) and marked leukocytosis (> 50,000 WBC/microliter), whereas other standard Hb techniques are known to give falsely high results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The effects of iodinated glycerol, trichlorfon, and acetaminophen on tumor progression in a Fischer rat leukemia transplant model.

Sixty-day bioassays of iodinated glycerol, trichlorfon, and acetaminophen were conducted using a leukemia transplant model in 6- to 8-week-old F344 rats to investigate the potential of these chemicals to affect tumor progression. The chemicals were administered in the drinking water at doses that approximated those used in previously conducted 2-year carcinogenesis studies. Simultaneous with dose administration, half of a group of young, healthy, syngeneic rats were given subcutaneous transplants of mononuclear cells derived from spleens of leukemic donors. Variables used to quantitate tumor progression included body weight, spleen weight, white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) counts, packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, and platelet counts. Iodinated glycerol at 1.25 or 2.5 mg/ml caused a greater increase in leukocytosis in dosed transplant recipients in comparison to that experienced by undosed recipients: trichlorfon at 2.5 or 5.0 mg/ml enhanced splenomegaly and induced greater reductions in RBC parameters in dosed recipients in comparison to that experienced by undosed recipients. Acetaminophen at 3.0 and 6.0 mg/ml resulted in insignificant but dose-related increases in spleen weight and leukocytosis only in the female rat transplant recipients, as was observed in 2-year studies. Based on results from the short-term leukemia transplant model, data from 2-year carcinogenicity studies, and structure-activity considerations, exposure to iodinated glycerol and trichlorfon was more strongly associated with the expression of leukemia than exposure to acetaminophen. The potential carcinogenicity of each of these chemicals should be taken into consideration when calculating estimates of risk and decisions for their use.

Acetaminophen↗

Tuberculosis in patients with end-stage renal disease.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the clinical manifestations and risk factors of the mortality rate in uraemic patients with tuberculosis (TB) infection. DESIGN: We retrospectively analysed 62 patients with uraemia and active tuberculosis who were admitted to our hospital from 1990 through 2000. The patients were followed up for 2 years after discharge or until death. RESULTS: There were 43 men and 19 women, with a mean age of 63 +/- 13 years. Extra-pulmonary TB was noted in 51.6%. The peritoneum and pleura were the two most common organs involved. Fever of unknown origin was the most common manifestation (77.4%). The corrected serum Ca2+ level of the patients was >10.5 mg/dl in 46.8%. C-reactive protein >6 mg/dl and leukocytosis (white blood cell count >10,000/mm3) at presentation were noted in more than half of the patients. A reversed serum albumin/globulin ratio and leukocytosis were found to be associated with mortality rate. CONCLUSION: More than half of the TB infections in patients with end-stage renal disease presented with extra-pulmonary involvement. Fever of unknown origin, reversed serum albumin/globulin ratio, and unexplained hypercalcaemia in maintenance dialysis patients suggested the possibility of tuberculosis.

Age Distribution↗

[Clinical factors predicting the appearance of vascular events following a transient ischemic attack].

INTRODUCTION: Patients who have suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA) have a high risk of undergoing a severe vascular event. Most of them do not receive early attention and cannot benefit from an adequate diagnosis and treatment. AIMS: The aim of this study is to identify the clinical factors that predict the appearance of a new vascular event in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of 104 TIA patients, who had been given attention during the first 24 hours after the onset of symptoms, for a mean follow up time of 12.6 months. RESULTS: The incidence rates of strokes, ischemic heart disease, peripheral arteriopathy and death were 13, 6, 3 and 8%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified the following aspects as independent predictors of new strokes: an age above 73 odds ratio (OR) 4.46 (CI 95%, 1.15 17.38) and an atherothrombotic aetiology OR 4.36 (CI 95%, 1.4413.18); and episodes of ischemic heart disease, a history of suffering from such heart disease OR 30.65 (CI 95%, 2.94319.17) and taking oral antidiabetic drugs OR 31.23 (CI 95%, 2.65368.74). Leukocytosis OR 11.21 (CI 95%, 1.25100.39) is linked to the deaths caused by vascular disorders, whereas an atherothrombotic aetiology OR 3.83 (CI 95%, 1.31 11.20) and being male OR 3.44 (CI 95%, 1.02 11.60) were seen to be predictors of the appearance of any vascular event. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that the risk of suffering severe vascular events after a TIA becomes higher. There are a number of useful clinical variables (age above 73, atherothrombotic aetiology, being male, taking oral antidiabetic drugs and leukocytosis) for identifying the patients at the highest risk.

Age Factors↗

[Gastric anisakidosis: personal experience].

Anisakidosis is a parasitic disease of the human gastrointestinal tract caused by ingestion of marine nematode larvae such as anisakis simplex or, rarely, Pseudoterranova, present in raw or undercooked fish. Frequent sites of involvement by anisakis are the stomach, small intestine, rarely the colon, or the peritoneum, liver, pancreas, lung and tonsils, anisakidosis is a self-limiting disease; the symptoms arise 12-24 hours after ingesting raw fish and include nausea, diarrhoea, and severe abdominal pain, but also anaphylactic reactions. At the site of penetration, anisakis causes marked oedema, eosinophilic infiltration and granuloma formation. There are haematological abnormalities such as marked leukocytosis of the peripheral blood, eosinophilia, and positive PCR and serum antibodies to the larva's surface antigens. The diagnosis of anisakidosis can be made by endoscopy, radiology and US, but the disease is often diagnosed at surgical intervention. In the gastric form of anisakidosis, EGIDS has both a diagnostic role and a therapeutic one because it is possible to remove the worm using biopsy forceps. We report on one case of gastric anisakidosis, in a women, hospitalised for intense epigastric pain and vomiting after ingesting raw fish. She underwent gastroscopy. A worm was extracted from the gastric mucosa using biopsy forceps. This was followed by clinical improvement. The worm was identified by its macroscopic and microscopic characteristics as an anisakis larva. At laboratory examination, marked leukocytosis and eosinophilia of the patient's peripheral blood were observed 3-4 days after ingestion of anisakis.

Anisakiasis↗

Renal involvement in leptospirosis at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo and Persahabatan Hospitals.

AIM: To describe clinical pattern of ARF caused by leptospirosis and its related factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using medical record data of all leptospirosis cases admitted to Cipto Mangunkusumo and Persahabatan General Hospitals between January 1993 and December 1996. Patient identification included age, sex, and occupation. Clinical symptoms were described in details and followed by laboratory testing i.e. peripheral blood count, urinalysis, blood urea and creatinine, liver function test, and pancreatic enzymes assay. RESULTS: Seventy-five percent were men and the mean age was 38.3 years old. Sixty out of 68 (88.2%) patients had ARF as defined by an increase of plasma creatinine level of >1.5 mg/mL. The most common presenting symptoms in patients with ARF were fever (100%), nausea and vomiting (95.0%), muscle pain (88.1%) and jaundice (71.3%). The mean duration of fever 7.2 days. The most frequent laboratory abnormalities were increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (100%), leukocytosis (90%) and increase total bilirubin level (87.5%). Only leukocytosis showed a significant difference between ARF and non-ARF patients (p=0,014). Leptospira bataviae was found in 95.6% of patients and 96.7% of ARF patients. Penicillin was given to 80.9% of patients with only 2 (2.9%) deaths. CONCLUSION: Although significant correlation cannot be established, we concluded that nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, jaundice, increased ESR and total bilirubin level should alert the physician about the possibility of renal involvement in leptospirosis patients with prolonged fever. Leptospira bataviae was an important virulent pathogen. Treatment with penicillin may significantly improve organ failure and was considered the drug of choice in managing leptospiral infection.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

[Treatment of chronic hepatitis with interferon in children with kidney diseases].

UNLABELLED: The study aimed at evaluation of chronic hepatitis treatment results in children previously treated from nephrological indications in 1994-2002 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Examination was performed in 42 children in the age 10.2 +/- 4.8 years at the onset time of interferon (INF) treatment application. In 30 children (71.4%) chronic HBV infection, in 8 (19.1%) - HCV infection, in 4 (9.5%) - mixed HBV and HCV infection in phase of replication was revealed. Among examined children in 26 (61.9%) symptoms of glomerulonephritis were previously reported, in 17 (40.5%) - symptoms of nephrotic syndrome; in 9 (21.4%) - chronic renal failure was observed. 22 children received prednisone treatment. Concentrations of albumin, gamma- globulin, bilirubin, haemoglobin, creatinine, haematocrit, leukocytosis, activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), chronic hepatitis markers, before, during and 6 and 12 months after treatment termination were evaluated. IFN alpha-2a, alpha-2b and human recombined IFN-alpha were applied RESULTS: In 22 (52.4%) children ALT values before treatment not exceeded 100 IU/l. Liver biopsy was performed in 39 children. In 18 (46.2%) - high activity of inflammatory process was revealed; only in 5 of them with ALT activity above 100 IU/l. Higher leukocytosis at the beginning of treatment was accompanied by diminished activity of inflammatory process. In 14/34 children seroconversion was obtained in HBe markers, in 4/12 HCV-RNA elimination occurred after the 1st course of IFN. Only in 5 (11.9%) children treatment was stopped because of side effects (not connected with urinary tract), in 1 - because of relapse of main disease. 2nd course was applied in 13 children. In 2 - seroconversion in HBe markers was obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the small number of examined children full evaluation of chronic hepatitis treatment efficacy is not possible. It seems comparable as observed in population of children without the risk of nephropathies. IFN treatment in children on previous medication of kidney disease, in most cases does not create complications leading to earlier drug cessation. In the case of glomerulonephritis also does not bear an increased risk of relapse of main disease.

Adolescent↗

[Laboratory findings in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome].

AIM: To examine the frequency and distribution of hematologic and biochemical laboratory findings in 94 patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in the epidemic year 2002. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The following laboratory findings were retrospectively analyzed: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), hemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocyte count and differential percentage (segmented neutrophils, band neutrophils, atypical lymphocytes), platelet count, coagulation tests, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, urine, potassium, bilirubin (BIL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and serum protein electrophoresis. The study included 94 HFRS patients treated at the Dr Fran Mihaljević University Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb during 2002. RESULTS: ESR increase, mostly mild to moderate, was found in 86.2% of study patients. Increased CRP was recorded in 98.9% of study patients, however, one-fourth had CRP higher than 100 mg/L. Leukocytosis was recorded in 38.3% (10.1 +/- 4.2 x 10(9)/L), thrombocytopenia in 89.4% patients (68.2 +/- 48.3 x 10(9)/L), and severe thrombocytopenia (x 10(9)/L) in six patients. Three patients had abnormal coagulation tests. Increased values of BUN and creatinine were recorded in more than a half of patients, while only four patients had mild hyperkalemia. Only three patinets required hemodialysis. Mildly to moderately increased values of aminotransferases (AST, ALT, GT) were observed in more than 2/3; hypoalbuminaemia in nearly 1/3, and elevated alpha-2 fraction in more than 2/3 of patients. The majority of patients had pathologic urine findings. First laboratory abnormalities were usually found between day 5 and 7 of the disease (increased CRP level, thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis, and elevation of hemoglobin and hematocrit). Biochemical abnormalities(elevation of cratinine and urea, increased levels of aminotransferases) usually occurred at the beginning of the second week, and ESR increase in the second week of disease. CONCLUSION: The majority of our patients had laboratory findings characteristic of HFRS. Thrombocytopenia and increased level of CRP were the most common laboratory findings during the first week of the disease. Renal and liver impairment occurred at the beginning of the second week of the disease.

Adolescent↗

[Clinical characteristics and long-term outcome in patients with heart failure complicating acute myocardial infarction].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of heart failure (HF) development in patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between May 1990 and March 2000, 836 consecutive patients were admitted with a diagnosis of AMI within 24 h of symptom onset. HF was defined as the presence of rales and a third heart sound with gallop, and evidence of pulmonary congestion on chest x-ray. It was diagnosed in 263 subjects (31.5%). RESULTS: The mean age of patients with HF (group 1) was 63.4 (11.4) years compared with 59.9 (11.6) years in those without HF (group 2) (P<.01). There were differences between groups 1 and 2 in history of diabetes (36% vs 20%; P<.001) or previous HF (9.2% vs 1.1%; P<.001). The reperfusion strategy used in patients with Q-wave infarction, with or without HF, was primary angioplasty in 15% and 14%, respectively (P=.81), and thrombolytic agents in 28% and 37%, respectively (P=.013). Patients with HF were more likely to develop recurrent angina (26.8% vs 19.6%; P=.02), pericarditis (17.5% vs 6.3%; P<.001), and atrial fibrillation (12.3% vs 5.1%; P<.01). In-hospital mortality in groups 1 and 2 was 15.6% and 2.3% (P<.001), respectively, and 10-year survival was 10% and 30%, respectively (P<.001). The variables associated with mortality were: age (HR=1.022; P<.001), hyperglycemia (HR=1.748 per 1.0-g/L increase; P<.001), leukocytosis (HR=1.035 per 1000-cell/.L increase; P<.001), and HF (HR=1.308; P=.028). CONCLUSIONS: AMI is still frequently complicated by HF, which increases short- and long-term morbidity and mortality. Heart failure, age, hyperglycemia, and leukocytosis at admission were independent predictors of mortality during follow-up.

Aged↗

[Two cases of unclassified chronic myeloproliferative disorders].

Two cases of unclassified chronic myeloproliferative disorders (UCMPD), diagnosed by hematological, cytogenetic and DNA analyses, are described. Case 1: a 63 year old female was admitted because of leukocytosis (96,800/microliters) and splenomegaly. Hematological examinations revealed an increase of the granulocytes in the peripheral blood and bone marrow. The neutrophil alkaline phosphatase (NAP) score was 121. The patient developed blast crisis after 12 months of the chronic phase. Case 2: a 48 year old male was presented with fever and leukocytosis (20,000/microliters). Hematological examinations revealed an increase of granulocytes in the peripheral blood and bone marrow. The NAP score was 33. Maturation-arrest in granulocytic series and morphological abnormalities of marrow cells were not observed in the two cases. Cytogenetic analysis of bone marrow cells disclosed 46, XX, i (17 q) in case 1 and 47, XY, +8 in case 2. Southern blot analysis using 3' bcr probe and TransProbe-1 showed no bcr rearrangement. These cases are thought to be valuable in order to clarify the relationship between UCMPD and CMPD such as Ph1 negative chronic myelocytic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.

Blast Crisis↗

Early predictors of mortality in pneumococcal bacteraemia.

INTRODUCTION: Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteraemia is associated with significant mortality rates worldwide. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors for predicting mortality in patients with S. pneumoniae bacteraemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in a university-affiliated acute tertiary care hospital in Singapore. Thirty-eight patients with blood cultures positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae over a 2-year period from January 2000 to December 2001 were recruited for the study. RESULTS: The records of patients admitted to hospital with blood cultures positive for S. pneumoniae between January 2000 and December 2001 were reviewed. Thirty-eight patients were found positive for S. pneumonia; this included 31 men (81.6%) and 7 women (18.4%) between the ages of 14 years and 90 years. Of this, 7 patients (18.4%) required admission to the intensive care unit, 5 of whom required mechanical ventilation. The factors that predicted mortality were the presence of septic shock (P <0.005), leukopenia or leukocytosis (P <0.005), the presence of an underlying malignancy (P = 0.008), anaemia (P = 0.025) and the presence of a high anion gap (P = 0.047) on admission. CONCLUSION: Of all the risk factors observed, those that predicted mortality in patients on initial presentation of S. pneumoniae bacteraemia were the presence of septic shock, leukopenia or leukocytosis, anaemia, a raised anion gap and the presence of an underlying malignancy.

Adolescent↗

[Hairy cell leukemia successfully treated with 2'-deoxycoformycin following refractoriness to splenectomy and alpha-interferon therapy].

A 34-year-old man was admitted in May, 1989 because of severe left upper abdominal pain, which was caused by advanced splenomegaly. On initial examinations, peripheral blood showed leukocytosis (13,400/ml) including 60% hairy cell which also infiltrated in bone marrow (64%). The patient was diagnosed as having hairy cell leukemia (Japanese type) of B-cell lineage. Splenectomy was performed as an initial treatment. The effect of splenectomy was only palliative and transient leukocytosis progressed thereafter. alpha-interferon and bestrabucil (KM 2210) were then adopted for 4 months respectively. The effects were, however, unsatisfactory. Subsequently the patient was treated successfully with 2'-deoxycoformycin (DCF). Complete remission was attained following 12 injections of 7.5 mg/body of DCF during 5 months and durable remission persists for more than 6 months without maintenance therapy. The side effect was minimum.

Adult↗

Splenic abscess: an easily overlooked disease?

Splenic abscess is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening disease. Recent advances in radiology have affected the diagnosis and management of this disease entity. The purpose of this study was to review our experience in managing these patients. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 51 patients with splenic abscess as seen in a tertiary medical center between 1998 and 2003. We analyzed the demographics, clinical manifestations, etiology, predisposing factors, diagnostic modalities, bacteriologic profile, treatment, and outcome of these patients. The mean age was 59.9 +/- 14.2 years (ranging from 21-89 years). The male:female ratio was 29:22. Common symptoms included fever (82%), abdominal pain (71%), and nausea and vomiting (46%). The majority of these patients (83%) had leukocytosis. Thirty-six patients had associated parenchymal liver diseases and 26 patients had diabetes mellitus. Abdominal sonogram or computed tomography was performed to establish the diagnosis. Most cultures from the abscess cavities grew gram-negative enteric bacilli. Patients were treated with antimicrobial therapy only (n = 33), additional percutaneous drainage with a pigtail catheter (n = 11), or splenectomy (n = 7), and the survival rates were 48 per cent, 45 per cent, and 100 per cent, respectively. Splenic abscess should be considered in a patient with fever, left upper abdominal pain, and leukocytosis. Splenectomy appears to have better treatment outcome than percutaneous drainage or intravenous antibiotics alone.

Abscess↗

[Pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung with high serum granulocyte colony stimulating factor, suggested of pulmonary abscess by preoperative radiology; report of a case].

A 52-year-old man with a history of heavy smoking was hospitalized for evaluation of fever. Pulmonary abscess was initially suspected by computed tomography (CT) showing an ovoid, well-demarcated nodule of 61 mm in diameter with coarse calcification in S2a of the right lung. The patient was treated with antibiotics, but no improvement was seen in inflammatory reactions or lesion size. Marked leukocytosis and high level of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was shown by laboratory examination. To improve patient condition and ensure correct diagnosis, right upper lobectomy of the lung was performed. Pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung was subsequently diagnosed. G-CSF producing tumor was suspected, since the normalization of serum G-CSF level followed by the improvement of both fever and inflammatory reaction was observed postoperatively. We also present herein a review of 22 Japanese cases of pleomorphic carcinoma producing G-CSF of the lung, characterized by leukocytosis.

Carcinoma↗

Hematologic effects of recombinant murine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on the peripheral blood and bone marrow.

Recombinant murine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was noted to support rat bone marrow colony formation in vitro. The in vivo hematologic effects of a single intravenous injection of murine GM-CSF were therefore investigated. Doses of murine GM-CSF between 0.1 and 5 micrograms/rat caused an increasing leukocytosis that did not further increase with a dose of 25 micrograms/rat. In contrast, human GM-CSF at 25 micrograms/rat did not induce any significant peripheral hematologic effects. Murine GM-CSF induced peripheral neutrophilia and monocytosis, peaking between 4 and 8 hours and subsiding to baseline by 12 hours. Neutropenia and monocytopenia, which reached a nadir at 15 minutes, preceded the leukocytosis, suggesting that GM-CSF activates these leukocytes and causes transient intravascular margination. A mild lymphopenia occurred between 2 to 8 hours. The bone marrow at 6 hours after injection of GM-CSF demonstrated a variable and slight left-shifted myeloid hyperplasia most noticeable at the level of promyelocytes and myelocytes, suggesting a myeloproliferative effect. The marrow at 6 hours also demonstrated a decrease in mature neutrophils, documenting that the marrow contributes to the increased number of circulating neutrophils. Once-daily injection of GM-CSF for 7 days induced a repetitive daily neutrophilia of the same magnitude. The marrow after 1 week of injections did not show a generalized myeloid hyperplasia, but did show an increase in eosinophils and a decrease in lymphocytes. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) have been reported to synergize in vitro in both mouse and human bone marrow colony assays. However GM-CSF plus G-CSF in vivo, administered as either a single injection or as daily injections for 1 week, were found in the present study to induce, at most, an additive effect on circulating numbers of neutrophils. It is concluded that murine GM-CSF will be useful in the rat model to study the in vivo hematoreconstitutive effects of GM-CSF alone and in combination with other hematologic growth factors. The relatively rapid kinetics and lesser magnitude of GM-CSF-induced neutrophilia and monocytosis, as compared to G-CSF and M-CSF, respectively, and the lesser myeloproliferative effect of GM-CSF in bone marrow smears, as compared to G-CSF, might be taken to suggest that GM-CSF's natural activity is predominantly as an inflammatory rather than a myeloproliferative factor.

Animals↗

[Needle biopsy in gout and pseudogout (author's transl)].

INTRODUCTION: Radiological and morphological findings in advanced arthritis urica and pyrophosphate arthropathy are well known. In contrast, the early changes of synovial membrane in these disturbances of metabolism pose diagnostic problems. With the assistance of various cytological techniques and polarizing microscopical as well as electron microscopical investigation it was examined to what extent needle biopsies can be helpful in the differential diagnosis of gout and pseudogout. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 8 patients with gout and 11 patients with pseudogout synovial fluid and small tissue specimens could be obtained with the aid of the Parker-Pearson needle. Both fluid and tissue specimens were investigated light and electron microscopically. Cell counts were evaluated in a Rosenthal chamber. The differentiation of the cells in stained smears was done by counting 200-600 cells per case. Crystals were identified by polarizing microscopy in wet preparations of freshly aspirated synovial fluid. RESULTS: Polarizing microscopy of synovial fluid detected intra- as well as extracellular urate and pyrophosphate crystals. The wedge-shaped urate crystals and the larger partly polygonal pyrophosphate crystals showed different polarizing microscopical properties and a negative birefringence. The absolute cell counts in gout were higher than those in pseudogout. The relative cell counts of the different cell types in synovial fluid showed more variation in gout than in pseudogout. Cases with acute gout developed a relative leukocytosis in contrast to a relative lymphocytosis in chronic gout. A relative leukocytosis was constant in all patients with pseudogout. Sclerosed areas with scarce and plump villi as well as sometimes hyperplastic and polymorphous synovial cell layers could be demonstrated histologically in the tissue specimens of the needle biopsies in cases with gout. Urate crystals were less frequent in specimens fixed in formalin. The histological alterations in pseudogout were uniform, 2-4 rows of slightly pleomorphic synovial cells lined the inner surface of the joint capsule, sclerosing alterations were less frequent. Pyrophosphate crystals and calcified particles were seen within the synovial lining cells, the connective tissue and the enodthelial cells of the blood vessels in pseudogout specimens. Intra- as well as extracellular crystals could also be demonstrated with the aid of scanning electron microscopy in sediments of synovial fluid in gout and pseudogout. Transmission electron microscopical investigations of synovial tissue specimens detected proliferated and pleomorphic synovial lining cells in gout in contrast to a more monomorphic appearance of these cells in pseudogout. The crystals were washed out during the preparation techniques for transmission electron microscopy so that needle-like empty spaces resulted within cytoplasm of the phagocytic cells. These clefts were surrounded by phagosomal structures and densified cytoplasmic ground substance; sometimes they were also lined by membranes...

Aged↗

[Hematological abnormalities in acute viral hepatitis and acute hepatitis in HBsAg carrier].

Various kinds of hematological abnormalities have been known to occur in liver diseases. To understand the hematological changes in acute viral hepatitis, 324 adults with acute viral hepatitis were studied. Of them, 3 were acute hepatitis A, 91 acute hepatitis B, 99 acute non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANB) and 181 acute hepatitis on chronic hepatitis B (AH on CH-B). There were 233 males and 91 females; age ranged from 16 to 74 years (mean age 39 years.) The results showed the incidences of thrombocytopenia (platelet less than 120,000/cmm), anemia (Hb less than 12 g% in male and less than 10% in female patients), leukocytosis (WBC greater than 10,000/cmm) and leukopenia (WBC less than 4,000/cmm) were 19.3%, 12.6%, 10.8% and 7.4%, respectively. Patients with AH on CH-B had significantly higher incidence of anemia and thrombocytopenia than those with acute B hepatitis; other than this, there was no significant difference. Patients with anemia, thrombocytopenia or leukocytosis had significantly higher mean levels of serum bilirubin and higher proportions of prolonged prothrombin time, suggesting that these hematological abnormalities were closely related to the severity of hepatocellular damage. In addition, there were 3 cases (0.9%) complicated with aplastic anemia. Two were NANB hepatitis and the other was AH on CH-B which was seronegative for anti-delta, possibly suggesting NANB virus superinfection. Of these 3 cases, 2 died of complications related to aplastic anemia and 1 survived with normal hematological findings 148 days later.

Acute Disease↗

[A case of adult T-cell leukemia with a defective HTLV-I proviral DNA, in which the single T-cell clone appeared to have progressed from chronic phase to crisis].

A 39-year-old woman was first admitted to our hospital with increased white cell count on May, 1983. Physical examination showed only mild splenomegaly. Hematological examination revealed leukocytosis (14,600/microliters) with ATL cells (59%). Serum anti-HTLV-I antibody was positive. Examination of HTLV-I provirus in the abnormal T cells revealed the defective type. She was diagnosed as chronic type of ATL based on the clinical features. Cytogenetic study of the ATL cells revealed 47, xx, +4. For 12 months, she was followed without any therapy. WBC reduced to almost normal range and ATL cells decreased to 3 to 6% for 8 months. On May, 1985, she was readmitted to our hospital because of leukocytosis (32,200/microliters), and increased ATL cells (57%). She was diagnosed as crisis of ATL. Investigation of the proviral DNA and chromosome showed the same results as those of the chronic phase, indicating that ATL cells in both the chronic phase and the crisis phase originated from the same clone. She died after 3 months from massive diarrhea. Postmortem examination showed the extensive infiltration of leukemic cell in the small intestine.

Adult↗