The purpose of this study is to investigate a spectrum analysis technique for detecting and monitoring red blood cell (RBC) aggregation using a high-frequency array transducer. To assess the feasibility of this approach, the backscattered radio-frequency signal from non-aggregated and aggregated RBC samples with two hematocrit levels were acquired by using a 30-MHz linear array transducer and analyzed in frequency domain. Three parameters such as spectral slope, midband fit and Y intercept were extracted in a static condition. Fresh porcine blood was used and degrees of aggregation were changed by diluting plasma concentration. From the experiments, it was demonstrated that the spectral slope related to a size of scatterer progressively declined as the level of aggregation increased; its mean values at hematocrit of 40% were 1.10 and −0.22 dB/MHz for RBCs suspended in isotonic phosphate buffered saline and solution with 70% plasma concentrations, respectively. For the midband fit and Y intercept, the mean values were increased by 9.1 and 46.4 dB, respectively. These results indicated that the spectrum analysis technique is useful for monitoring RBC aggregation and can be potentially developed for assessing aggregation in clinical applications.
Erythrocytes* ; Hematocrit ; Plasma ; Spectrum Analysis* ; Transducers* ; Ultrasonography*

To study effect of pre-freezing temperature and lyophilizer shelf temperature on recovery of human red blood cells after lyophilization and determine solidifying temperature of this lyophilization system, the protective solution composed of 7% DMSO, 40% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and isotonic buffer were adopted to lyophilize red blood cells at different pre-freezing temperatures or shelf temperatures. At first, fresh whole blood was centrifugated, washed and equilibrized to prepare concentrated red blood cells. Then concentrated red blood cells were mixed with the protective solution at 1:3 and pre-freezed at different temperature (-20, -35, -45, -80 or -196 degrees C) before lyophilization in lyophilizer. To study effect of shelf temperature on lyophilization of red blood cells, red blood cells were lyophilized at different shelf temperature after pre-freeze at -80 degrees C. After lyophilization, the samples were quickly rehydrated by 37 degrees C rehydration solution. The results showed the recovery rate of red blood cells and hemoglobin after pre-freeze at different temperature and lyophilization were > 85% and > 75%, there was not significant difference among these groups, but the concentration of free hemoglobin in -196 degrees C group was significantly higher than that in other groups (P < 0.01). With decreasing of shelf temperature, the lyophilizing time was also prolonged. When shelf temperature was > or = -25 degrees C, samples were not fully lyophilized; when shelf temperature was < or = -30 degrees C, the recovery rate of red blood cells and hemoglobin after lyophilization and rehydration were above 90%; after washed to isotonic state, the recovery rate of hemoglobin of the four groups was similar to each other. In conclusion, only when pre-freezing temperature is between -20 and -80 degrees C and the lyophilizer shelf temperature is < or = -30 degrees C, the effect of lyophilization is better, but the effect of excessively low pre-freezing temperature may even be worse.
Blood Preservation ; Erythrocytes ; cytology ; Freeze Drying ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Temperature

Objective: To compare the effects of different hemolytic diseases on the level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) to further explore the relationship between HbA(1c) and laboratory indexes to disclose implications of HbA(1c) in hemolytic diseases. Methods: The distribution of 192 decreased HbA(1c) cases in 4 categories of hemolytic diseases was analyzed. Laboratory indexes related to hemolysis were tested and analyzed in each kind of disease, and relationship between laboratory indexes and HbA(1)c was statistically explored. Results: Diagnoses of decreased HbA(1c) cases mainly included erythrocyte membranopathies (88 cases), immunohemolytic anemia (72 cases), hemoglobinopathy (4 cases) and erythrocyte enzymopathy (5 cases). The distribution of HbA(2) and normal HbF subjects in immunohemolytic anemia and hemoglobinopathy was significantly different from those of HbA(2) and / or abnormal HbF subjects (41.7% vs 22.0%, χ(2)=5.574, P=0.018; 0.7% vs 7.3%, P=0.031). Compared with non-hemolytic disease patients, those who suffered from 4 categories of hemolytic diseases showed lower HbA(1c) level and higher reticulocyte percentage (Ret), indirect bilirubin (IBIL) and free hemoglobin (F-Hb). Different levels of Ret, reticulocyte hemoglobin content (Ret-He), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), IBIL and F-Hb among the 4 kinds of diseases were observed, but the causes of the differences were not the same. HbA(1c) was negatively correlated with other laboratory indexes in erythrocyte membranopathies and immunohemolytic anemia. Conclusions: Hemolytic disease resulted in false lower HbA(1c), but impact of difference on HbA1c between different diseases was not significant. HbA(1c) was closely connected to laboratory indexes related to hemolysis, which might have potential implications for hemolytic diseases such as erythrocyte membranopathies and immunohemolytic anemia.
Data Analysis ; Erythrocytes ; Glycated Hemoglobin ; Hemoglobinopathies ; Hemolysis ; Humans

We evaluated the clinical usefulness of simultaneous LISS/Coombs and NaCl/Enzyme testing using the gel method for screening and identification of unexpected antibodies in 15,014 samples. When unexpected antibodies were detected by either screening test, those antibodies were identified using both the LISS/Coombs and the NaCl/Enzyme gel test. The positive screening rates of the LISS/Coombs, NaCl/Enzyme, and combined tests (excluding 25 autoantibody cases) were 0.48%, 1.29%, and 1.39%, respectively. Among the 57 samples positive by both screening methods, the antibodies in 19.3% could be identified only by the NaCl/Enzyme method. Among the 137 samples positive only by NaCl/Enzyme screening, 74.5% showed positive results in antibody identification only by the NaCl/Enzyme test, although 7.3% were also positive in the LISS/Coombs test. The NaCl/Enzyme method thus showed about threefold higher detection rates than the LISS/Coombs method, especially in screening for Rh antibodies, and higher exact identification rates and discriminatory power for identifying mixed antibodies. Addition of the NaCl/Enzyme method to routine laboratory procedures may detect and identify considerable numbers of significant antibodies that might be missed if only the LISS/Coombs method is used.
Antibodies/*analysis/immunology ; *Coombs' Test ; Erythrocytes/*immunology ; Hemagglutination Tests/*methods ; Humans ; Isoantibodies/analysis ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been found to be associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to determine whether the RDW measures are associated with the coronary artery calcification score (CACS) in patients who did not present with obvious coronary heart disease (CHD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 527 consecutive patients with a low to intermediate risk for CHD but without obvious disease were enrolled in this study. The study subjects underwent coronary computerized tomography angiography and CACS was calculated. The patients were divided into two groups based on CACS: Group I (CACS< or =100) and Group II (CACS>100). The two groups were compared in terms of classic CHD risk factors and haematological parameters, particularly the RDW. RESULTS: Group I patients were younger than Group II patients. The Framingham risk score (FRS) in patients of Group II was significantly higher than that in patients of Group I. Group II patients had significantly elevated levels of haemoglobin, RDW, neutrophil count, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio compared with Group I patients. CACS was correlated with age, RDW, and ejection fraction. In the multivariate analysis, age, RDW, and FRS were independent predictors of CACS. Using the receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, a RDW value of 13.05% was identified as the best cut-off for predicting the severity of CACS (>100) (area under the curve=0.706). CONCLUSION: We found that the RDW is an independent predictor of the CACS, suggesting that it might be a useful marker for predicting CAD.
Angiography ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Vessels* ; Erythrocytes* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neutrophils ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: Prognostic indicators are used increasingly in clinical trials and to guide surveillance for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The significance of a preoperative, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) as a predictive indicator for malignancy and for prognosis in colorectal cancer has not been elucidated. Hence, the current study was conducted to evaluate the ESR as a prognostic indicator in patients with CRC. METHODS: This study enrolled 232 patients who underwent surgery in our hospital between 1997 and 2004. ESR with clinicopathologic features and overall survival were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: The ESRs of 139 patients were elevated, and those of 93 patients were normal. Elevated ESR was associated with the male gender, decreased hemoglobin, increased platelet count, high preoperative CEA, high preoperative CA19-9, tumor size (> or =5 cm), T stage, and TNM stage. Patients with elevated ESR had poorer survival (P=0.001), but a multivariate analysis did not reveal an elevated ESR as an independent factor for prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative elevation of ESR in patients with CRC suggests the presence of a tumor with aggressive behavior and a poor outcome.
Blood Sedimentation ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Erythrocytes ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Platelet Count ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

We investigated the expression of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) in tissues from canines with an inherited anomaly that causes their erythrocytes to have high K+. Northern blot analysis revealed abundant AQP1 expression in lung and kidney, though little expression was found in spleen. Using anti-C-terminus for dog AQP1, abundant expression was shown in kidney, trachea, and eye, but little expression was shown in pancreas and cerebrum, indicating that AQP1 expression in canine tissues is similar to that noted in other mammals.
Animals ; Aquaporin 1/*metabolism ; Blotting, Northern ; Dogs ; Erythrocytes/*chemistry ; Immunoblotting ; Potassium/*analysis ; Viscera/metabolism

Administration, Inhalation ; Animals ; Erythrocyte Count ; Erythrocytes ; drug effects ; Female ; Formaldehyde ; toxicity ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Male ; Mice

Laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy (LTRS) system is a combination of spectroscopy and laser tweezers; It is a new method of studying cells; It can trap single living cell and make Raman spectrum of single living cell. From the positions, intensities, and line widths of the Raman peaks in the spectra, we can get useful information about composition, structure and interactions of complexes inside the living cells. External agents may change cell's physiological state and this changed information can also be got from Raman spectra. This article is a study of Raman spectra of human red blood cell (RBC) affected by different intensity direct current (DC); from the result, distinct change of Raman spectra of RBC have been got. These changes characterize the changes of the internal information of the cells. This article give some academic reference of physical therapy using DC in the level of molecule.
Electricity ; Erythrocytes ; cytology ; physiology ; Humans ; Lasers ; Optical Tweezers ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman ; methods

Unstable hemoglobins (Hb) are variants of adult Hb that tend to precipitate and form insoluble inclusions (Heinz bodies) within red blood cells (RBC) and RBC precursors. More than 100 structurally different unstable Hb variants showing broad spectrum of manifestations from asymptomatic to severe hemolytic anemia and dyserythropoiesis have been discovered. Hydroxyurea is a potent ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor and have been proposed as a new therapy for beta chain hemoglobinopathies through activation of gamma chain synthesis. We treated two patients (A : son, B : father) with highly unstable Hb diagnosed as Hb Madrid [Beta 115(G17)Ala->Pro] by direct DNA sequencing and restriction enzyme analysis. Our patients received hydroxyurea in dosages varying from 0.75g to 1.3g daily for 89 weeks. We could not show the clinical and hematological improvements after hydroxyurea therapy in thses patients. Optimization of dosage and long term side effects of hydroxyurea should be studied further.
Adult ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Erythrocytes ; Hemoglobinopathies ; Humans ; Hydroxyurea* ; Restriction Mapping ; Ribonucleotide Reductases ; Sequence Analysis, DNA