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.

Subtotal Nephrectomy Associated with a High-Phosphate Diet in Rats Mimics the Development of Calcified Aortic Valve Disease Associated with Chronic Renal Failure.

This study addressed the hypothesis that subtotal nephrectomy associated with a high-phosphorus diet (5/6Nx + P) in rats represents a suitable animal model to mimic the cardiovascular consequences of chronic kidney disease (CKD) including calcified aortic valve disease (CAVD). Indeed, the latter contributes to the high morbidity and mortality of CKD patients and sorely lacks preclinical models for pathophysiological and pharmacological studies. Renal and cardiovascular function and structure were compared between sham-operated and 5/6 Nx rats + P 10 to 12 weeks after surgery.

Inhibition of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Does Not Promote or Aggravate Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats.

Inhibitors of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), which catalyzes the hydrolysis of various natural epoxides to their corresponding diols, present an opportunity for developing oral drugs for a range of human cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, including, among others, diabetes and neuropathic pain. However, some evidence suggests that their administration may precipitate the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH). We thus evaluated the impact of chronic oral administration of the sEH inhibitor TPPU (N-[1-(1-Oxopropyl)-4-piperidinyl]-N'-[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]-urea) on hemodynamics, pulmonary vascular reactivity, and remodeling, as well as on right ventricular (RV) dimension and function at baseline and in the Sugen (SU5416) + hypoxia (SuHx) rat model of severe PH.

A novel fully-automated method to measure steroids in serum by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Background: Steroids play a key role in numerous physiological processes. Steroid determination is a useful tool to explore various endocrine diseases. Because of its specificity, mass spectrometry is considered to be a reference method for the determination of steroids in serum compared to radioimmunoassay.

Huge discrepancy between serum immunoglobulin concentration and proteinemia due to heavy chain disease.

Immunoassays are widely used in clinical laboratories because of their ease of use and low cost. These tests are based on antigen-antibody binding. However, clinicians and laboratory personnel may be confronted with immunoassay interference leading to difficulties in medical care.

Assessment of Reticulocyte and Erythrocyte Parameters From Automated Blood Counts in Vaso-Occlusive Crisis on Sickle Cell Disease.

Sickle cell disease is a complex genetic disease involving cell adhesion between red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and endothelial cells, inducing painful vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). We assessed reticulocyte and erythrocyte parameters in a cohort of confirmed SCD patients, and investigated whether a combination of these routine laboratory biomarkers of haemolysis could be used to predict VOC development. Reticulocyte and erythrocyte parameters were evaluated using the Sysmex XN-9000 analyser.

Factor XII deficiency evaluated by thrombin generation assay.

Introduction: Coagulation factor XII (FXII) plays a role in thrombin generation, fibrinolysis, inflammation, angiogenesis, chemotaxis and diapedesis. FXII deficiency is not associated with bleeding risk unlike other coagulation factors.

Materials/methods: We investigated thrombin generation assay (TGA) profile modification in FXII deficiency and the correlation with TGA and deficiency severity.

Preventing the Increase in Lysophosphatidic Acids: A New Therapeutic Target in Pulmonary Hypertension?

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of premature death and disability in humans that are closely related to lipid metabolism and signaling. This study aimed to assess whether circulating lysophospholipids (LPL), lysophosphatidic acids (LPA) and monoacylglycerols (MAG) may be considered as potential therapeutic targets in CVD. For this objective, plasma levels of 22 compounds (13 LPL, 6 LPA and 3 MAG) were monitored by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) in different rat models of CVD, i.

Evaluation of thrombin generation assay in factor XI deficiency.

Introduction: Factor XI (FXI) deficiency is characterized by a lack of correlation between FXI plasma levels and the occurrence of hemorrhagic events. The main objective of our study was to determine whether thrombin generation assay (TGA) could be used to assess the hemorrhagic phenotype of patients with FXI deficiency.

Material And Methods: All patients had confirmed laboratory measurement of FXI < 50% in two plasma samples.

Successful treatment of fungemia with isavuconazole in a patient with hematologic malignancies.

spp. are yeast-like microorganisms responsible for skin, urinary, pulmonary, or bloodstream infections. Due to intrinsic resistance to echinocandins, poor susceptibility to polyenes, and preferred occurrence in immunocompromised patients, such infections are often of poor prognosis.

An Additional Case of Hb Saint Nazaire [β103(G5)Phe→Ile; : c.310T>A] Leading to Moderate Erythrocytosis in a French Family.

We report two members of a French family who are carriers of a rare hemoglobin (Hb) variant leading to erythrocytosis: Hb Saint Nazaire [β103(G5)Phe→Ile; : c.310T>A]. The proband is a 38-year-old woman referred to our institution for a moderate but persistent polycythemia without any clinical consequence.