[Normal hematologic parameters].

Hematological studies by several Brazilian and other Latin-American authors who give parameters considered as normal for different populations have been reviewed. Results showed significant differences, due to social, environmental and nutritional factors as well as to different methodological procedures and also to age, sex, race, occupation and other individual characteristics. Three Brazilian studies were selected in the light of the wide variety of parameters included.

Increased levels of eosinophil-derived PAF-acether activity in a patient with idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome.

We describe a patient with idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (IHS) having PAF-acether activity corresponding to 4 X 10(-11) M/10(6) eosinophils as determined by standard aggregation curves prepared with purified PAF-acether. These data suggest that the increased PAF-acether content in patients with IHS may play a role in the development of thrombotic phenomena through platelet activation.

[Progressive antithrombin activity in blood of pregnant women and neonates in the first four days of life (author's transl)].

Progressive antighrombin activity was assayed in 45 term infants in the first four days of life, in 20 cord blood specimens and in the blood of 20 pregnant women (at term). In the term infants a positive correlation was shown between progressive antithrombin and postnatal age. No correlation could be demonstrated with sex, ethnic group or type of delivery.

Epstein-Barr virus infections in Brazil. II. Hodgkin's disease.

Sixty-seven cases of Hodgkin's disease (HD) occurring in São Paulo, Brazil, were studied. Males with HD predominated over females 2.3 to 1.

Cytomorphologic findings on the final stages of erythrocyte maturation in mamals.

An increase of organelles occurs at the reticulocytary maturation stage, when compared with the erythroblastic one, in the peripheral blood of embryos and of patients with acquired hemolytic anemia. This increase is due to hemosome formation, in which possibly the final stage of hemoglobin biosynthesis may take place. In animals with posthemorrhagic anemia, biosynthesis does not occur and reticulocytes present only typical mitochondria.