Lipid and hemolysis parameters predicting acute chest syndrome in adulthood with sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a lifelong blood disorder affecting approximately 100,000 people in the United States and is one of the most common monogenic diseases. A serious complication of SCD is acute chest syndrome (ACS). ACS is a condition with a high rate of morbidity and mortality.

Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Autoimmune Disorders.

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were first described in 1997 by Asahara et al. as "putative endothelial cells" from human peripheral blood. The study of endothelial progenitors is also intensifying in several pathologies associated with endothelial damage, including diabetes, myocardial infarction, sepsis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, obstructive bronchopneumopathy and transplantation.

Preliminary evaluation of the diagnostic performance of Roche Elecsys® active vitamin B12 versus total vitamin B12 for vitamin B12 deficiency screening.

Introduction: The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency is high in at-risk populations with sometimes irreversible consequences. Beside total B12 (TVB12), active B12 (AVB12) is a promising first-line marker. Only Abbott AVB12 assays were largely evaluated and generally demonstrated benefit in clinical practice.

Stability over time of immature platelet fraction and comparison between EDTA and citrated whole blood samples.

Background: Immature platelets (IP) are the youngest circulating platelets, released from megakaryocytes, and demonstrating increased dimensions, significant RNA content, and enhanced activity. Immature platelet research focuses on a differential diagnostic help in patients with thrombocytopenia. The objectives of this study were to compare the variability of IP in citrate and EDTA samples, and to determine stability over time.