Erythrocyte swelling and membrane hole formation in hypotonic media as studied by conductometry.

Hypoosmotic swelling of erythrocytes and the formation of membrane holes were studied by measuring the dc conductance (G). In accordance with the theoretical predictions, these processes are manifested by a decrease in G followed by its increase. Thus, unlike the conventional osmotic fragility test, the proposed methodological approach allows investigations of both the kinetics of swelling and the erythrocyte fragility.

A novel approach for assessments of erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that the dispersed phase of sedimenting blood undergoes dramatic structural changes: Discrete red blood cell (RBC) aggregates formed shortly after a settling tube is filled with blood are combined into a continuous network followed by its collapse via the formation of plasma channels, and finally, the collapsed network is dispersed into individual fragments. Based on this scheme of structural transformation, a novel approach for assessments of erythrocyte sedimentation is suggested.

Methods: Information about erythrocyte sedimentation is extracted from time records of the blood conductivity measured after a dispersion of RBC network into individual fragments.

Laparoscopic accessory splenectomy using intraoperative gamma probe guidance.

In cases of accessory splenic tissue in postsplenectomy patients, it is of utmost importance to localize the accessory spleen prior to surgery. Several studies have shown the feasibility of laparoscopic resection of accessory splenic tissue using preoperative scintigraphy. We present the cases of three postsplenectomy patients with accessory splenic tissue causing relapsing hematologic disease.

The role of erythrocyte aggregation in the abnormal hemorheology of multiple myeloma patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to clarify whether increased aggregation of red blood cells (RBCs) of multiple myeloma (MM) patients is caused by changes in plasma chemical composition or is associated with alterations in RBC properties and in addition, to suggest an approach to revert the enhanced aggregation in MM toward normal.

Materials And Methods: 40 blood samples of MM patients and suspensions of control RBCs in MM plasma were examined. In addition, RBC aggregation in MM blood was studied in the presence of dextrans with mean molecular weights of 9.

Osmotic swelling and hole formation in membranes of thalassemic and spherocytic erythrocytes.

Osmotic swelling and kinetics of the pore formation in the membranes of spherocytic, thalassemic, and normal erythrocytes were studied by measuring the time-dependent capacitance and conductance at a frequency of 0.2 MHz. No significant difference between the swelling rate of control and spherocytic cells was observed, whereas slower kinetics of swelling were found for thalassemic cells.