BACKGROUND: Simple manual method using a Nageotte hemocytometer counting residual leukocytes [White blood cells(WBC)] in blood components is subjective, labor-intensive, time consuming and variable within and between laboratories. The aim of this study was to evaluate usefulness for flow cytometric method to determinate very low numbers of leukocytes in leukocyte-free blood components. METHODS: Epics XL-MCL (Beckman Coulter Co.) was used for determination of fluorescence-labelled cells. The DNA in leukocytes was stained using propidium iodide (PI) and leukocytes were automatically analysed by flow cytometer. RESULTS: Linearity determined over a range of 0.5-50 WBC/muL was a value of r=0.994. The detection limit of this method was 4.4 WBC/muL and accuracy was 86.6% with linearity of r=0.991 over the 5-50 WBC/muL. Reproducibility was CV of 9.1% for 25.8 WBC/muL and 14.7% for 7.1 WBC/muL, respectively. CONCLUSION: Flow cytometric techniques provide a reproducible and objective tool for counting residual WBC in leukocyte free blood components compared with the Nageotte hemocytometer.
DNA ; Leukocytes* ; Limit of Detection ; Propidium

BACKGROUND: Thoracotomy is considered one of the most painful surgical procedures. Thus optimal pain control is essential in the postoperative care of thoracotomy patients. In this randomized double-blinded study, we sought to determine an optimal dose-combination of sufentanil and ropivacaine 0.2% for postoperative epidural analgesia. METHODS: Forty-five of fifty-two patients that underwent thoracotomy were assigned to three groups to receive continuous high thoracic epidural analgesia with ropivacaine 0.2% + sufentanil 0.5microgram/ml (group I), ropivacaine 0.2% + sufentanil 0.75microgram/ml (group II), or ropivacaine 0.2% + sufentanil 1.0microgram/ml (group III). Upon completion of surgery, a thoracic epidural catheter was inserted at the T1-3 level, and moved downward by 5-7 cm. Epidural continuous infusion was administered at 5 ml/hr. Resting VAS (visual analogue scale), dynamic VAS, forced vital capacity, and side effects were recorded at three times: immediate after extubation; 12 hours after arrival at the ICU; and 24 hours after arrival at the ICU. RESULTS: Resting VAS was significantly lower in group III immediately after extubation (P < 0.05) and dynamic VAS was significantly lower in group III immediately after extubation, and 12 hours after arriving at the ICU (P < 0.05) than in the other two groups. The differences in ketorolac dosing number, sedation scores, respiratory depression, pruritus, nausea/vomiting, and motor block were not significant between the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the combination of ropivacaine 0.2% and sufentanil 1.0microgram/ml provides effective analgesia for post-thoracotomy pain with fewer side effects than the other two combinations tested.
Analgesia ; Analgesia, Epidural ; Catheters ; Humans ; Ketorolac ; Postoperative Care ; Pruritus ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Sufentanil ; Thoracotomy* ; Vital Capacity

Group B subtype, A1B3, was observed in a 22-year-old blood donors by conventional serologic test. In our family study, his father demonstrated uncomplicated B phenotype and his mother typed as group A. We sequenced exon 6 and 7 of phenotypically A1B3 propositus and his family members by direct sequencing and PCR-based cloning. And we have identified a novel Bvar allele characterized by a 547G>A polymorphism present in propositus and his father. This suggests that the Bvar allele is expressed differently depending on the co-inherited ABO allele.
Alleles* ; Blood Donors ; Child* ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; Exons ; Fathers* ; Humans ; Mothers* ; Phenotype ; Serologic Tests ; Young Adult