Bloods Research Articles

Detection of Breast Cancer Cells in Blood Using Immunomagnetic Bead Selection and Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Background: A sensitive and specific method for the detection of occult breast cancer cells may prove clinically useful. The purpose of this study was to investi gate cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) and gross cystic disease fluid protein (GCDFP) as potential reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targets for the detection of breast micrometastases. Through positive selection of breast epithelial cells by immunomagnetic bead separation, two RT-PCR assays were developed. Methods and Results: Positive selection of breast epithelial cells was performed using Ber-EP4 monoclonal antibody bound to magnetic beads. RNA was isolated and RT-PCR performed using CK-19 and GCDFP as targets. Detection sensitivity was five T47D cells spiked into 10 mL of normal blood for either target. In all, 100% (3 9/39) of normal bloods were negative for CK-19, whereas only 87% (34/39) were negative with GCDFP. In 15 patients with metastatic disease including 3 without treatment and 12 on either tamoxifen or chemotherapy, CK-19 was positive in 67% (10/15) of patients and GCDFP yielded positives in 27% (4/15) of patients tested. Conclusions: The detection of CK-19 and GCDFP in bloods from patients with metastatic breast cancer may be beneficial in determining the course of therapy, as well as having potential prognostic and diagnostic applications. Although CK-19 appears to be the more sensitive and specific marker, further investigation with both targets is warranted.

La détermination d'une compensation optimale en univers risqué le cas des victimes contaminées par le virus du sida par transfusion ou injection de produits sanguins en France

Dans la perspective de l’approche économique dite de la valeur de la vie, cet article traite de l’indemnisation des victimes contaminées par le virus VIH par transfusion ou injection de produits sanguins en France. Il ne s’agit pas d’un cas «classique » de wrongful injury, dans la mesure où leur préjudice concerne la perspective de leur propre mort. Compte tenu du caractère évolutif et probablement fatal de la maladie, la détermination d’une compensation est appréhendée à l’aide d’un modèle en univers risqué.

Seroprevalence of HIV infection in childbearing women in Nova Scotia.

To determine the prevalence of HIV-1 infection in childbearing women in Nova Scotia. An anonymous, unlinked seroprevalence study using "leftover" cord bloods. The study was done in 2 stages: I-Halifax Co. women delivering between February 1, 1992 and December 31, 1993; II-non-Halifax Co. women delivering between November 15, 1993 and December 15, 1994. Of 9,115 deliveries during stage I and 5,515 during stage II, specimens were tested from 8,864 (97.2%) and 5,219 (95%) respectively. Halifax Co. women were older, more often married and more often reported a STD than the non-Halifax Co. participants with 20% under age 20 reporting a history of STD. There was one EIA and WB positive result among Halifax Co. women (seroprevalence 1/10,000; 95% CI 0.03-6.29) and one EIA positive, WB indeterminant result among non-Halifax Co. women (seroprevalence 0/10,000; 95% CI 0-5.7). There is a low prevalence of HIV infection among Nova Scotia childbearing women. However, a substantial number, especially those < age 20, reported a history of STD.

Performances de reproduction de &lt;em&gt;Glossina pallidipes&lt;/em&gt; capturées dans la nature et alimentées avec différents sangs

Les auteurs ont étudié en laboratoire les performances de reproduction de femelles de Glossina pallidipes capturées dans la nature et maintenues durant 41 jours sur du sang frais défibriné de lapin, de buffle, d'éland, de cob des marais ou de chèvre. Le poids moyen des pupes était le plus elevé (37,2 mg) chez les glossines nourries sur sang de lapin et le plus faible (30,8 mg) chez celles nourries sur sang de cob. Les poids moyens des pupes nourries sur sang de lapin, d'éland, ou de buffle étaient significativement différents de ceux des glossines nourries sur sang de chèvre ou de cob. Le nombre le plus élevé de pupes produites par 90 femelles était celui des glossines nourries sur sang de lapin (83), tandis que le nombre le plus faible était celui des glossines nourries sur sang de chèvre (60). La mortalité était élevée (84-99 %) quel que soit le groupe.

My People the Bloods

My People the Bloods

Fractions of trapped plasma in the packed red blood cells of maternal, fetal and ox bloods.

Blutproben verschiedener Herkunft enthielten nach 5 min Zentrifugation bei 15000g im Erythrozytensediment folgenden Plasmagehalt: menschliches Erwachsenenblut 1,5%, menschliches Nabelschnurblut 1,1% und Ochsenblut 5,3%.

Studies on abnormal hemoglobins. VII. The composition of the non-S hemoglobin fraction in sickle-cell anemia bloods; a comparative quantitative study by the methods of electrophoresis and alkali denaturation.

Abstract A comparative study, by means of electrophoresis and alkali denaturation, of the non-S hemoglobin fraction of typical sickle-cell anemia hemolysates was performed. It could be shown that this fraction is almost entirely composed of the alkali resistant fetal (F) hemoglobin. Whether small amounts of normal adult (A) hemoglobin also exist in this fraction cannot be definitely decided due to the relative insensitivity of the methods employed. For practical purposes, the quantity of S hemoglobin in typical sickle-cell anemia hemolysates may be expressed as the difference between the total hemoglobin and the percentage of the F pigment. Two atypical cases of sickle-cell disease whose bloods contain relatively large amounts of A and F pigments, besides S hemoglobin, are presented.

Factors influencing the sedimentation rate of erythrocytes

Abstract 1.1. Plasma partition showed increase in the fibrin nitrogen euglobulin nitrogen, and globulin nitrogen in both slow and fast groups of sedimentating bloods, but was more marked in the fast group. 2.2. A fall in the albumin nitrogen in the fast group is at the expense of the rise in fibrin and euglobulin nitrogen. 3.3. No relationship exists between renal involvement and the sedimentation rate. 4.4. The glucose tolerance test shows a decreased rate with an increase in the blood sugar percentage in controls; the reverse seems to be found in diabetic patients. 5.5. Normal red blood counts and hemoglobin show a fairly constant ratio with the sedimentation time. 6.6. Variations of the red blood count from normal affect the sedimentation rate. 7.7. Leucocytosis increases sedimentation rate, but this is due to the increased fibrinogen content in the blood. Leucopenia gives a normal percentage. 8.8. Crossed sedimentation adds to the evidence that the plasma is the controlling factor on the sedimentation rate.

Studies in blood glycolysis

Abstract The sugar of shed blood gradually decreases on standing without bacterial contamination and under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions. This decrease is greatest at 38 °C. and least in the ice box. Plasma, serum and hemolysed blood show no loss of sugar on standing. Saturation of whole blood with carbon monoxide does not inhibit glycolysis. When washed blood cells are added to Ringer's solution or to physiologic salt solution containing glucose, fructose or galactose, glycolysis occurs. The decrease in sugar concentration is greatest with glucose and least with galactose. The rate of glycolysis is dependent upon the blood cell volume. There appears to be no demonstrable difference between the rates of glycolysis in diabetic and nondiabetic bloods. Furthermore the blood cells of diabetic bloods cause as rapid a rate of glycolysis in Ringer's solution as the cells of nondiabetic bloods. Insulin therapy or insulin in vitro has no effect upon the rate of glycolysis. The decrease in sugar concentration is accompanied by a production of lactic acid, but the increase in lactic acid does not account for the total amount of sugar lost. Other acids than lactic acid are evidently produced during glycolysis. There is no production of carbon dioxide.

Beckman and the bloods

Beckman and the bloods