Neutrophil chemotaxis in cord blood of term and preterm neonates is reduced in preterm neonates and influenced by the mode of delivery and anaesthesia.

Bacterial infections, even without any perinatal risk factors, are common in newborns, especially in preterm neonates. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible impairment of neutrophil chemotaxis in term and preterm neonates compared with adults as well as neonates with different modes of delivery and anaesthesia. We analysed the expression of the adhesion molecule L-Selectin as well as shape change, spontaneous and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced transmigration of neutrophils in a flow cytometric assay of chemotaxis after spontaneous delivery with Cesarian Section (CS) under spinal anaesthesia (mepivacaine, sufentanil), epidural anaesthesia (ropivacaine or bupivacaine, sufentanil) or general anaesthesia (ketamine, thiopental, succinylcholine).

Peripheral blood sCD3⁻ CD4⁺ T cells: a useful diagnostic tool in angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma.

Angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL) belongs to the subgroup of mature T cell lymphomas according to the World Health Organization and is one of the common T cell lymphomas in Western countries. Particularly in cases in which histological confirmation cannot be easily achieved, immunophenotyping of peripheral blood can give important information for the differential diagnosis of AITL. sCD3⁻ CD4⁺ T cells are a typical feature of AILT in flow cytometry of peripheral blood.

Accreditation of flow cytometry in Europe.

ISO 15189 has been introduced to enable any clinical laboratory, irrespective of geographic location, to be accredited against internationally recognized standards and therefore facilitate direct international comparison of laboratories. Together with increasing use of ISO 15189 for standardization and competition purposes, often triggered by demands of patients and clinicians, clinical flow cytometry laboratories are becoming increasingly challenged to introduce compliant quality management systems. Whilst in most countries, ISO 15189 accreditation is not yet compulsory, there is increasing evidence to suggest that the implementation of this standard is growing.

Rapid treatment of leukostasis in leukemic mantle cell lymphoma using therapeutic leukapheresis: a case report.

We describe a case of severe leukocytosis caused by leukemic mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), complicated by leukostasis with myocardial infarction in which leukapheresis was used in the initial management. A 73-year-old male presented to the emergency department because of fatigue and thoracic pain. Blood count revealed 630 × 10(9)/L WBC (white blood cells).

[Counting reticulocytes: new importance of an old method].

In clinical practice, the reticulocyte count is the most useful method to estimate red cell life span and red cell production. However, experience of hematologists as well as surveys have shown that counting of reticulocytes is often neglected in the diagnostic work-up of unclassified anemias, and many physicians have difficulties in interpreting the results. Formerly, this was partly due to the low precision of manual counts.

Reinvestigation of the formation of a mononuclear Fe(III) hydroperoxido complex using high pressure kinetics.

Previous stopped flow kinetic experiments suggested an interchange associative mechanism for the ligand substitution reaction, [Fe(bztpen)(OMe)](2+) + H(2)O(2)--> {[Fe(bztpen)(OMe)(HOOH)](2+)}(++)--> [Fe(bztpen)(OOH)](2+) + MeOH (bztpen = N-benzyl-N, N',N'tris(2-methylpyridyl)-ethylenediamine). Thus a seven-coordinate transition state containing both the leaving methoxide and the incoming hydrogen peroxide ligands was proposed. On the basis of high pressure kinetic data we can now conclude that this is not the case since the rate of the reaction is independent of pressure for the formation of the purple low spin transient hydroperoxido complex, [Fe(bztpen)(OOH)](2+).

Evaluation of cell counting and leukocyte differentiation in cerebrospinal fluid controls using hematology analyzers by the German Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine.

Background: Manual cell counting in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is technique-dependent, time-consuming, and thus costly and prone to inter-operator variability and low precision. Flow cytometry (FCM) with fast hematology analyzers (HAs) appears to improve accuracy and precision of CSF cell analysis; rapid CSF cell analysis is especially needed in emergency laboratories. Ten external trials of the German Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine evaluated FCM with Coulter (LH750, 755), Abbott CD3200, CD3500, CD3700, CD4000, Sapphire, ADVIA120 CSF assay, and Sysmex XE-2100 single platform analyzers.

Modifications of haematology analyzers to improve cell counting and leukocyte differentiating in cerebrospinal fluid controls of the Joint German Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine.

Flow cytometry (FCM) is used with haematology analyzers (HAs) to count cells and differentiate leukocytes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). To evaluate the FCM techniques of HAs, 10 external DGKL trials with CSF controls were carried out in 2004 to 2008. Eight single platform HAs with and without CSF equipment were evaluated with living blood leukocytes and erythrocytes in CSF like DGKL controls: Coulter (LH750,755), Abbott CD3200, CD3500, CD3700, CD4000, Sapphire, ADVIA 120(R) CSF assay, and Sysmex XE-2100(R).

Imatinib as a treatment option for systemic non-Langerhans cell histiocytoses.

Background: Systemic non-Langerhans cell histiocytoses are disorders characterized by the accumulation of histiocytes that do not meet the criteria for Langerhans cells in various organs. So far, no causative treatment is known.

Observations: Herein, we report the case of a 41-year-old man with Rosai-Dorfman disease, a form of systemic non-Langerhans cell histiocytoses, with histiocytic infiltrations in the skin, bone marrow, liver, and spleen.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-induced vessel growth restores cerebral blood supply after bilateral carotid artery occlusion.

Background And Purpose: Hemodynamic compromise due to occlusive cerebrovascular disease is associated with an increased stroke risk. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) has been suggested to stimulate collateral blood vessel growth in various models of hemodynamic compromise. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of GM-CSF on cerebral hemodynamics and vessel growth in a rat model of chronically impaired cerebral blood flow (CBF).

A variable immunoreceptor in a subpopulation of human neutrophils.

Neutrophils are thought to rely solely on nonspecific immune mechanisms. Here we provide molecular biological, immunological, ultrastructural, and functional evidence for the presence of a T cell receptor (TCR)-based variable immunoreceptor in a 5-8% subpopulation of human neutrophils. We demonstrate that these peripheral blood neutrophils express variable and individual-specific TCRalphabeta repertoires and the RAG1/RAG2 recombinase complex.

Monitoring temporary immunodepression by flow cytometric measurement of monocytic HLA-DR expression: a multicenter standardized study.

Background: Single-center trials have shown that monocytic HLA-DR is a good marker for monitoring the severity of temporary immunodepression after trauma, major surgery, or sepsis. A new test for measuring monocytic HLA-DR is now available.

Methods: We evaluated a new test reagent set for monocytic HLA-DR expression (BD Quantibritetrade mark HLA-DR/Monocyte reagent; Becton Dickinson) in single-laboratory and interlaboratory experiments, assessing preanalytical handling, lyse-no-wash (LNW) vs lyse-wash (LW) values, reference values, and the effect of use of different flow cytometers and different instrument settings on test variance.

Immune function biomarkers in children exposed to lead and organochlorine compounds: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Different organochlorines and lead (Pb) have been shown to have immunomodulating properties. Children are at greater risk for exposure to these environmental toxicants, but very little data exist on simultaneous exposures to these substances.

Methods: We investigated whether the organochlorine compounds (OC) dichlorodiphenylethylene (DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH), the sum of polychlorinated biphenyls (SigmaPCBs) and Pb were associated with immune markers such as immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, white blood cell (WBC), counts of lymphocytes; eosinophils and their eosinophilic granula as well as IgE count on basophils.

Detection of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in the bone marrow of two patients with unexplained chronic anaemia.

Anaemia of chronic disease (ACD) is a common finding involving iron deficiency and signs of inflammation. Here, we report on two patients with ACD where a persistent infection with Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae (CP) was detected in bone marrow (BM) biopsies. Infection was suspected by routine cytology and confirmed by immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) including different primer sets and laboratories and sequencing of the PCR product.

Age-related low expression of HLA-DR molecules on monocytes of term and preterm newborns with and without signs of infection.

Objectives: Presentation of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) molecules is an important part of an efficient immune response. Since bacterial infections are more common in newborns, we hypothesized that the level of HLA-DR expression may influence the host defense system.

Study Design: HLA-DR expression on monocytes was examined by flow cytometry during the first week of life of term and preterm neonates with and without signs of infection and of adults.