[Flow cytometry].

Flow cytometry (FCM), which has been elaborated and refined in conjunction with the development of both immunological engineering and information technology, is now indispensable for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with leukemia and lymphoma. FCM had better be regarded as being complementary to, but not competitive with, immunohistochemistry. Histopathologic features are often useful not only for interpretation of the FCM data, but also in evaluating quality of samples used for FCM.

[Relationships among frequency domain and non-linear parameters from heart rate variability].

Frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) is used for the evaluation of autonomic activity. Non-linear domain parameters from HRV are also considered useful. However, properties of the latter have not yet been clearly characterized.

Rapid detection of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis by granulocyte elastase latex immunoassay and reagent strip.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a serious complication in patients with liver cirrhosis that requires rapid recognition for effective antibiotic therapy. Elevated levels of granulocyte elastase (GE), an enzyme that is released from degranulated polymorphonuclear neutrophils(PMN), have been reported in ascitic fluid of SBP patients. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of GE measurement by a latex immunoassay (LIA) and by reagent strips for rapid diagnosis of SBP.

[Determination of fractal dimension using digital nuclear image of lymphocyte].

Microscopic morphological findings in smeared and stained blood cells are difficult to be characterized quantitatively. However, a recent progress in digital image processing has been enabled to express some of these findings quantitatively. In this report, we propose the usefulness to determine "box" fractal dimension of nuclear image of lymphocyte.