Red blood cell-derived microparticles: An overview.

The red blood cell (RBC) is historically the original parent cell of microparticles (MPs). In this overview, we describe the discovery and the early history of red cell-derived microparticles (RMPs) and present an overview of the evolution of RMP. We report the formation, characteristics, effects of RMP and factors which may affect RMP evaluation.

Procoagulant activity in patients with sickle cell trait.

Patients with sickle cell trait (STr) are usually considered to be asymptomatic. However, complications, including hypercoagulability, increased risk of venous thromboembolism and the exertional exercise syndrome with rhabdomyolysis and sudden death, have been described. The exact cause of these adverse events is unclear.

Age-related somatic structural changes in the nuclear genome of human blood cells.

Structural variations are among the most frequent interindividual genetic differences in the human genome. The frequency and distribution of de novo somatic structural variants in normal cells is, however, poorly explored. Using age-stratified cohorts of 318 monozygotic (MZ) twins and 296 single-born subjects, we describe age-related accumulation of copy-number variation in the nuclear genomes in vivo and frequency changes for both megabase- and kilobase-range variants.

Somatic mosaicism for chromosome X and Y aneuploidies in monozygotic twins heterozygous for sickle cell disease mutation.

Somatic genetic variation in health and disease is poorly explored. Monozygotic (MZ) twins are a suitable model for studies of somatic mosaicism since genetic differences in twins derived from the same zygote represent an irrefutable example of somatic variation. We report the analysis of a pair of generally healthy female MZ twins, discordant for somatic mosaicism for aneuploidy of chromosomes X and Y.

Microvesicles in haemoglobinopathies offer insights into mechanisms of hypercoagulability, haemolysis and the effects of therapy.

Levels of circulating red blood cell (RBC)-derived vesicles are increased in sickle cell anaemia (SCA) and thalassaemia intermedia (TI) but the mechanisms, effects and controlling factors may differ. This study found that levels of vesicles and intravascular haemolysis were linked as shown by the correlation between levels of vesicles and plasma Hb. Vesicle levels were 6-fold greater in SCA and 4-fold greater in TI than in controls.

Potential role of the ventilation and perfusion (V/Q) lung scan in the diagnosis of acute chest syndrome in adults with sickle cell disease.

The current criteria for diagnosing ACS are chest pain and presence of a new infiltrate on the chest radiograph (CXR). This study was designed to evaluate the role of ventilation and perfusion (V/Q) scan to assist in the early diagnosis of ACS. An abnormal V/Q scan was associated with a diagnosis of ACS that reached a statistical significance (P < 0.

Sickle cell patient with an acute chest syndrome and a negative chest X-ray: potential role of the ventilation and perfusion (V/Q) lung scan.

Acute chest syndrome (ACS) in sickle cell disease is caused by thromboemboli in the pulmonary vasculature. The diagnostic criteria include the presence of pulmonary infiltrate(s) on chest x-ray. This case report suggests that a V/Q scan may play a diagnostic role in sickle cell patients with symptoms of ACS and a negative chest x-ray.

Acupuncture: an evaluation in the painful crises of sickle cell anaemia.

An evaluation of acupuncture for pain relief was made in 10 patients with sickle cell anaemia during 16 pain crises. A model was developed in which the patient served as his own control and in which both patient and examiner were unaware of whether an acupuncture point or a sham site was treated. The results show (1) that pain relief was obtained in 15 of the 16 painful episodes regardless of whether an acupuncture point or a sham site was treated, demonstrating considerable overlap between the effects of needling acupuncture points and sham sites; (2) that needling at acupuncture points for pain relief is not significantly superior to treatment at sham sites; (3) that needling, per se, whether at acupuncture points of at sham sites can be useful for alleviating pain in sickle cell crises.