Automated flow cytometric analysis of cerebrospinal fluid.

Background: Recently, the UF-100 (Sysmex Corporation) flow cytometer was developed to automate urinalysis. We evaluated the use of flow cytometry in the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Methods: UF-100 data were correlated with microscopy and biochemical data for 256 CSF samples.

Iron status and the outcome of HIV infection: an overview.

Background: Theoretical considerations and experiments in the laboratory suggest that excessive iron stores may have an adverse effect on immunity. If so, high iron stores might be especially a problem in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Objective And Study Design: Review published clinical studies that provide information regarding the effect of iron status on the outcome of HIV infection.

Determination of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin using capillary zone electrophoresis.

Background: Current methods for carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) often suffer from low precision, complexity, or risk of false positives attributable to genetic variants. In this study, a new capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method for CDT was developed.

Methods: CZE was performed on a P/ACE 5000 using fused-silica capillaries [50 microm (i.

Prolonged hyperlipasemia attributable to a novel type of macrolipase.

Background: We present the case of an 80-year-old woman who was admitted to hospital with an intermittent volvulus of the right colon. A total colectomy was performed. Initially, serum amylase and lipase increased concordantly, but after a few weeks amylase normalized (85 U/L), whereas lipase increased to 3764 U/L.

A new method for fast haptoglobin phenotyping and hemoglobin binding capacity calculation based on capillary zone electrophoresis.

A capillary zone electrophoresis method was developed for haptoglobin (Hp) phenotyping in hemoglobin (Hb) supplemented serum. The method allows a complete resolution of the major haptoglobin phenotypes Hp 1-1, Hp 2-1, and Hp 2-2 based on the difference in charge-to-mass ratio of their Hb-Hp complexes. Identification of these phenotypes was achieved by their significant differences in migration times and their marked difference in electrophoretic pattern.

The role of automated urine particle flow cytometry in clinical practice.

Urine particle flow cytometers (UFC) have improved count precision and accuracy compared to visual microscopy and offer significant labor saving. The absence of an internationally recognized reference measurement procedure, however, is a serious drawback to their validation. Chamber counting by phase contrast microscopy of supravitally-stained uncentrifuged urine is considered the best candidate for reference.

The haptoglobin 2-2 phenotype affects serum markers of iron status in healthy males.

Background: Human iron status is influenced by environmental and genetic factors. We hypothesized that the genetic polymorphism of haptoglobin (Hp), a hemoglobin-binding plasma protein, could affect iron status.

Methods: Reference values of serum iron status markers were compared according to Hp phenotypes (Hp 1-1, Hp 2-1, Hp 2-2; determined by starch gel electrophoresis) in 717 healthy adults.

Transferrin polymorphism influences iron status in blacks.

Background: Genetic variants of human transferrin (TF) have been described, but little is known about their functional differences. We studied iron status according to TF phenotype in a healthy Zimbabwean population and in subjects at risk of African iron overload.

Methods: The study population consisted of 483 nondrinkers, 31 drinking spouse pairs, and 5 family pedigrees (n = 88) with index cases of iron overload.

Substituting enzymatically interesterified butter for native butter has no effect on lipemia or lipoproteinemia in Man.

The aim of this study was to determine whether substituting enzymatically interesterified butter for native butter in the usual diet affects lipid and lipoprotein levels in man. Parameters studied were serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, free cholesterol, phospholipids, triglycerides, apoA1 and apoB and the fatty acid composition of serum triglycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids and cholesterol esters. Subjects were healthy volunteers and a controlled design was used.

Haptoglobin polymorphism and mortality in patients with tuberculosis.

Setting: A rural Zimbabwean hospital and the surrounding community.

Objectives: To determine whether a particular haptoglobin phenotype is associated with increased susceptibility to clinical pulmonary tuberculosis, and to determine the outcome of treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis according to haptoglobin phenotype.

Design: A case-control study, and a prospective cohort study.

A review on urinary proteins in outflow disease of the upper urinary tract.

Introduction: [corrected] No review articles on outflow disease of the upper urinary tract discuss urinary protein excretion.

Discussion: Following acute partial and/or complete ureteral obstruction (UO) or chronic partial UO, alpha-1-microglobulin excretion is significantly higher than in the reference population or patients with proven renal dilatation without obstruction, but is not found to be diagnostic for these conditions as such. Chronic partial UO is followed first by a destructive and then by a steady-state phase in renal damage.

Reference range of serum haptoglobin is haptoglobin phenotype-dependent in blacks.

Reference values for serum haptoglobin (Hp), were established in a Black Zimbabwean population. The upper limit (2.15 g/l) is comparable to the one in Caucasians, but the lower limit (0.

Pitfalls in the determination of common analytes in the critically ill.

In the critically ill, the pre-analytical aspects of blood gas analysis still require attention from the clinician. Sampling and transport remain critical factors. Use of drugs may create analytical interferences for common analytes like glucose and protein.

Haptoglobin 1F allele frequency is high among indigenous populations in the state of Durango, Mexico.

We studied haptoglobin polymorphism in Mexican populations with high Indian ancestry living in isolated and urban areas in the state of Durango. Analysis with respect to the HP*1F and HP*1S allelic subtypes by isoelectric focusing showed unusually high HP*1F allele frequencies among urban (0.370) and isolated Mexican Indians (0.

Effects of Re-arterialization on early graft function and regeneration in the rat model of heterotopic auxiliary liver transplantation.

In the rat model of heterotopic auxiliary liver transplantation, graft re-arterialization may influence the outcome of inter-liver competition. This was investigated in the current study using two transplanted groups with or without graft re-arterialization. Immediately after reperfusion, the re-arterialized grafts showed significantly higher bile flow rate and bilirubin excretion than the grafts without re-arterialization.

Fast determination of haptoglobin phenotype and calculation of hemoglobin binding capacity using high pressure gel permeation chromatography.

A new and fast method for haptoglobin (Hp) phenotyping was developed based on high pressure gel permeation chromatography of hemoglobin-supplemented serum. Haptoglobin phenotypes 1-1, 2-1, and 2-2 are resolved on the difference in size of their hemoglobin-haptoglobin complexes. Results are available in less than 15 min.

Haptoglobin polymorphism and peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Haptoglobin (Hp) 2-2 phenotype is a genetic risk factor in coronary atherosclerosis. In this study, haptoglobin phenotypes were determined in 141 patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) and compared to a reference population (n = 1000). The relative Hp1 allele frequency was decreased among PAOD patients (0.

Urinary excretion of tubular proteins and the technetium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) absolute renal uptake in partial ureteral obstruction in rats: a functional evaluation of hydronephrotic kidneys.

The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate tubular proteinuria in rats with unilateral (UPO) and bilateral (BPO) partial ureteral obstruction with the dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan as the gold standard for measuring renal tubular damage. We studied 70 female Wistar rats: 28 animals with UPO, 28 animals with BPO, 7 sham-operated animals, and 7 controls. All animals with obstructed ureters showed renal dilatation on the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid DTPA images 1 and 5 weeks postoperatively.

Lowered omega3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in serum phospholipids and cholesteryl esters of depressed patients.

Depression is associated with a lowered degree of esterification of serum cholesterol, an increased C20:4omega6/C20:5omega3 ratio and decreases in omega3 fractions in fatty acids (FAs) or in the red blood cell membrane. The aims of the present study were to examine: (i) serum phospholipid and cholesteryl ester compositions of individual saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) in major depressed patients vs. healthy volunteers; (ii) the relationships between the above FAs and lowered serum zinc (Zn), a marker of the inflammatory response in depression; and (iii) the effects of subchronic treatment with antidepressants on FAs in depression.

Associations between haptoglobin polymorphism, lipids, lipoproteins and inflammatory variables.

The haptoglobin allele frequencies and the phenotype distribution were determined in 741 male Caucasian workers, aged 35 to 59 years. The association of the haptoglobin polymorphism with various clinical and biochemical parameters was investigated. Furthermore a possible interaction with the apo E polymorphism on lipid and lipoprotein traits was analysed.

Automated flow cytometry compared with an automated dipstick reader for urinalysis.

Recently, the Sysmex UF-100 flow cytometer was developed to automate urinalysis. We compared UF-100 test results with those of an automated dipstick reader. A cross-check of UF-100, dipstick, and microscopic sediment data was performed in 1001 urine samples.

Combined use of urinary alpha1-microglobulin and 99mTc DMSA scintigraphy in the diagnosis and follow-up of acute pyelonephritis and cystitis in children.

Objectives: In the absence of specific symptomatology in children and neurogenic bladder disease patients, the early diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis is a challenge. The aim of the present study was to determine if dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) lesion-positive (acute pyelonephritis) patients have elevated urinary alpha1-microglobulin (alpha1-MG) excretion (no false negatives) and if DMSA lesion-negative (cystitis) patients have normal urinary alpha1-MG excretion (no false positives).

Methods: A selected population of 62 children above 3 months of age with a proven urinary tract infection were administered a DMSA scan.