Millimeter Of Blood Research Articles

Comparison of the efficacy and complication of Romiplostim and Rituximab in children with Chorionic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Introduction: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a chronic autoimmune disease that manifests as persistent thrombocytopenia and mucocutaneous bleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects and side effects of two drugs, Rituximab and Romiplostim, in children with ITP. Materials and methods: This prospective cohort study included children with ITP who were prescribed Romiplostim and Rituximab. The study followed the children for six months to monitor the medication's effectiveness and side effects, with the treatment response defined as an increase in platelet count to over 30,000 per cubic millimeter of blood. The patients were evaluated monthly for possible side effects such as fever, rash, respiratory infections, and peripheral edema. The data obtained from the patients were then analyzed using SPSS version 26 software. Results: In the current study, 140 children were included, with 70 children in each of the Rituximab and Romiplostim groups. The average age of the children participating in the study was between 8-9 years. There was no significant difference between the two study groups in terms of age. Changes in the average platelet count during 9 measurements were significantly higher in the Romiplostim group compared to Rituximab (P<0.001). Additionally, the treatment response rate was significantly higher in the Romiplostim group than in the Rituximab group (71.4% vs. 48.6% and P=0.006). In the present study, none of the children taking either drug experienced peripheral edema. When examining other side effects related to the use of these two drugs, it should be mentioned that the rates of fever, skin rashes, and respiratory infections, although not significantly different between the two study groups during the nine repeated measurements (P>0.05), were generally lower in the Romiplostim group than in the Rituximab group during the second to fourth weeks of the study. Conclusions: Romiplostim demonstrates superior efficacy compared to rituximab in raising peripheral blood platelet counts in pediatric patients with immune thrombocytopenia purpura. Furthermore, the treatment response rate is higher with Romiplostim and it is also associated with fewer complications when compared to rituximab.

Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Response in Patients with Lymphoma on B Cell Directed Therapy

Background:Patients (pts) with cancer have increased morbidity and mortality associated with the development of SARS-Co-V2 infection. The mRNA vaccines BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 have robust safety and efficacy with 95-97% prevention of severe COVID-19 disease and development of protective antibody titers in 92 - 100% of healthy individuals. By contrast, some pts with hematological malignancy fail to produce anti-spike antibodies (Ab) despite full courses of vaccination. This is particularly true for pts with non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who are actively treated with or have received B cell-directed therapies (BCT). We recently demonstrated that NHL pts who received the COVID-19 vaccine within 9 months from BCT demonstrated markedly lower rates of seroconversion (11%) compared to healthy individuals (100%) or a cohort of older (age >65y) residents of a nursing home (91.5%). NHL pts who had received BCT more than 9 months before the vaccine responded more robustly (88%) (Ghione et al, Blood 2021). Here, we update the results of our earlier study and perform an analysis to identify factors that may help predict for adequate response to COVID-19 vaccines. We hypothesized that neutrophil (N) or lymphocyte (L) counts and/or N/L ratio (NLR) at baseline might predict for adequate Ab production in response to COVID-19 vaccines after receipt of BCT.Methods:This was an observational study performed at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Pts with NHL/CLL who had received COVID-19 mRNA vaccine were included, vaccine response was assessed as previously described (Ghione et al, Blood 2021). For NLR calculation, pts with CLL or NHL with blood involvement were excluded. Clinical variables were analyzed with the t test and Fisher's exact test; validity and cut-off for the L count was obtained with the ROC analysis using GraphPad9 and SPSS.Results:A total of 142 pts with various types of NHL and CLL receiving standard of care treatments were enrolled. Five pts with prior exposure to COVID-19 infection were excluded from the analysis, reaching a total n=137.Of 83 pts with NHL (n=57) and CLL(n=26) in our cohort who were vaccinated within 9 months of BCT, 14 (17%) seroconverted. Baseline N count (p= 0.5), sex (p= 0.2), age (p= 0.8), number of prior lines of treatment (p= 0.4), type of disease (p= 0.7), time from end of BCT to vaccine (p= 0.7) and type of vaccine (p= 0.08), did not affect the rate of seroconversion.For analysis of N and L counts, 37/137 pts with CLL/NHL involving peripheral blood were excluded. Among the remaining 100 pts, 76 had received/were receiving BCT and 24 were either on observation or were on a treatment not including BCT. Only 26/76 (34%) pts on treatment/previously treated with BCT mounted IgG Ab response, while 22/24 (91.6%) patients who were not on BCT mounted the IgG Ab response (p= 0.007). In these NHL pts (N=100), higher L counts and higher NLR were associated with an increased IgG response to the vaccine (p= 0.019). For pts on BCT (N=76) a higher L count (cut-off of 1455 lymphocytes per cubic millimeter of blood [µL] as noted in the ROC) was associated with a higher rate of COVID-19 vaccine response (p= 0.020, with a sensitivity of 84% and specificity 71.5%).Conclusion:In this study, we confirm that pts with NHL/CLL receiving COVID-19 vaccination while on active treatment or within 9 months of treatment with BCT respond poorly to COVID-19 mRNA vaccination (17% seroconversion). Although a higher lymphocyte count and NLR ratio were associated with improved seroconversion rates, these were not powerful predictors. Further study of specific lymphocyte sub-populations that contribute to effective vaccine induced immunity in the context of BCT is ongoing. These studies will help to define optimal strategies for immunization in patients receiving BCT. [Display omitted] DisclosuresTorka: TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Griffiths: Takeda Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria; Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Taiho Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene/Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Boston Biomedical: Consultancy; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding.

Joint Modeling in Determinants of Status of Tuberculosis and CD4 Cell Count among Antiretroviral Therapy Attendant of HIV Infected Adults Follow Up in Gondar Teaching Referral Hospital, Gonder, Ethiopia

Background: Tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus have been closely linked and East Africa is the hardest region hit by tuberculosis and Human immunodeficiency virus including Ethiopia. The main objective of this study was to identify the associated variables with tuberculosis status and CD4 cell count chance of patients jointly in Gonder teaching referral hospital, Gonder, Ethiopia implemented by SAS version 94. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on AIDS patients whose age greater than 19 years from 1st January, 2018- 30th January, 2020. Generalized linear mixed model was used to identify the factors of CD4 cell count and tuberculosis status of patients separately and jointly. Results: The mean with a standard deviation of weight, and a hemoglobin level of patients were 55.48 (10.21), and 18.25 (33.028) respectively. The baseline characteristics of patients included in this study was the median CD4 count of patients was 378 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. The generalized linear mixed model was well fitted which shows, opportunistic infection, weight and hemoglobin level were significantly associated with log of CD4 cell count and tuberculosis status of patients at 5% level of significance. Conclusion: From this study, hemoglobin level, weight, and opportunistic infection of other disease were statistically significant at a 5% level of significance for the log of CD4 count and TB status of patients jointly. The result of the study shows that the log of CD4 count of patients increased when hemoglobin level and weight of patients increased. In addition, the log of CD4 count of AIDS patients who has other disease is 5.04 more likely to be co-infection than who has no other disease.

X‐ray fluorescence analysis of samples simulating blood collected from uranium‐contaminated wounds

Personnel working in nuclear fuel handling facilities incur a finite risk of injury and uranium contamination in any resulting wounds. The accidental absorption of uranium from the likes of wounds can lead to a significant degree of internal exposure due to its hazardous nature. Although an appropriate surgical resection of tissue in the contaminated wound is useful for suppressing the additional intake of uranium, the rapid quantification of uranium in the wound is required to avoid unnecessary surgery. For surface contamination, the detection of uranium is usually performed using an α‐particle counting method. However, in the case of wound contamination, most of the α‐particles emitted from the uranium cannot pass through the blood oozing from the wound. Therefore, X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis has been proposed as an alternative means of detecting uranium contamination because X‐rays can pass through several millimeters of blood or soft tissue. In the present study, we developed a new methodology for the rapid detection of uranium in wounds that is based on an XRF analysis of contaminated blood collected on filter paper. With XRF, the detection limit for uranium in blood is 0.45 ppm. This value is lower than those of commercially available α‐survey meters by a factor of ~103. Thus, the proposed method could be adopted for the rapid, on‐site detection of uranium in wounds.

Early HIV Treatment Led To Life Expectancy Gains Valued At $80 Billion For People Infected In 1996–2009

In late 2009 US guidelines for HIV treatment were revised to recommend the initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) earlier in the course of the disease. We analyzed the life expectancy gains of people infected with HIV between the introduction of cART in 1996 and the 2009 guideline revisions. Compared to people who initiated cART late (defined as having a CD4 cell count of less than 350 per cubic millimeter of blood), those who initiated treatment early (with a CD4 count of 350-500) could expect to live 6.1 years longer, and the earliest initiators (with a CD4 count of more than 500) could expect an extra 9.0 years of life. The total value of life expectancy gains to the early and earliest initiators of treatment was $80 billion, with each life-year valued at $150,000. The value of the survival gains was more than double the increase in drug manufacturers' revenues from early cART initiation. Our results clarify the economic implications of adherence to treatment guidelines.

Early HIV treatment in the United States prevented nearly 13,500 infections per year during 1996-2009.

In recent years, guidelines for HIV treatment have recommended initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) earlier in the course of the disease than was previously the case. These recommendations stem in part from growing evidence that treatment reduces the risk of sexual transmission. We used an epidemiological model of disease transmission and progression to assess HIV prevention through early treatment-that is, initiation of cART when CD4 white blood cell counts are in excess of 350 cells per cubic millimeter. (CD4 cells are involved in the immune system's defense against tumors and infection; the number of CD4 cells in a cubic millimeter of blood is a standard measure of immune response to antiretroviral therapy.) We estimated that the actual timing of treatment initiation in the United States prevented 188,000 HIV cases in the period 1996-2009. "Very early" treatment (at CD4 counts greater than 500) accounted for four-fifths of the prevented cases. For all of the prevented cases, the losses in life expectancy that were avoided were worth $128 billion, assuming that a life-year has a value of $150,000. These findings underscore the cost-effectiveness of early HIV treatment.

The Use of Neupogen (Filgrastim) or Neulasta (Pegfilgrastim) during Pregnancy When Chemotherapy Is Indicated for Maternal Cancer Treatment

Introduction: Little is known about the effects stem cell mobilizers (GCSF) such as neulasta (pegfilgrastim) or neupogen (filgrastim) during pregnancy, and these are often withheld from women undergoing chemotherapy during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: Women receiving chemotherapy during pregnancy were identified from the Cancer and Pregnancy Registry maintained at Cooper University Hospital, Cooper Medical School at Rowan. 176 pregnant women who received chemotherapy were identified. Their oncologists were asked if neupogen or neulasta were “prescribed when necessary;” “were not necessary;” or “were held due to pregnancy.” Birth outcomes, white blood count at birth and pediatric health were compared between the group receiving Neupogen/Neulasta (exposed) and a control group (unexposed), i.e. chemotherapy without neupogen/neulasta). Independent T Test or Pearson Chi Square were implemented for statistical comparisons. Results: The mean gestational age at delivery was not significantly different between the exposed (35.4 ± 2.8 weeks) and unexposed groups (35.9 ± 2.8 weeks) p = 0.465. The mean birth weights were not significantly different, 2433 ± 567 g (exposed) compared with 2673 ± 723g in unexposed group, p = 0.07. Nor was there a difference in congenital malformations: 11.7% versus 4.8%. p = 0.22. The incidence of non-iatrogenic preterm births or complications was not statistically different between groups. Mean WBC count in the exposed group was 13.04 ± 5.0 cells per cubic millimeter of blood and in the unexposed group was 14.6 ± 7.2, p = 0.24. Conclusion: We did not find a statistically significant difference in gestational age at birth, congenital anomalies, or birth weight, incidence of long term medical issues, mean WBC or neutropenia at birth between the newborns exposed to Neupogen/ Neulasta with chemotherapy and newborns exposed to chemotherapy alone.

Copper and the herbicide atrazine impair the stress response of the freshwater fish Prochilodus lineatus

In order to evaluate the effects of copper and atrazine on the stress response of the freshwater fish Prochilodus lineatus, juvenile fish were pre-exposed to copper (20μgL−1) or atrazine (10μgL−1) for 24h and then submitted to air exposure for 3min. Simultaneously fish kept in dechlorinated water for 24h were subjected to air exposure and a non-stress group was not subjected to air stress or any contaminants. Animals were sampled immediately (t0) and after 1, 3 and 6h of air exposure (t1, t3 and t6 respectively) for the analysis of plasma cortisol, glucose and Na+, hepatic glycogen, branchial Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA), number of red blood cells per cubic millimeter of blood (RBC), hematocrit (Hct) and hemoglobin content (Hb). In fish pre-exposed to copper the stress response was inhibited, and at t1 and t3 both cortisol and glucose remained significantly lower compared to fish subjected to air stress only. In fish pre-exposed to atrazine there was no rise in cortisol, but there was an increase in plasma glucose, RBC, Hct and Hb at t0 and a return of these parameters to basal levels at t1, as they did not differ significantly in relation to non-stressed fish. Animals pre-exposed to either Cu or atrazine showed a significant reduction in NKA activity at t1 and t3, in relation to air stressed fish. These results clearly indicate that copper and atrazine impair cortisol stress response of P. lineatus and that fish subjected to a contaminant-induced stress, either by copper or atrazine, may not be able to respond to any additional stressors.

A Field Trial to Assess a Blood-Stage Malaria Vaccine

Blood-stage malaria vaccines are intended to prevent clinical disease. The malaria vaccine FMP2.1/AS02(A), a recombinant protein based on apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) from the 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum, has previously been shown to have immunogenicity and acceptable safety in Malian adults and children. In a double-blind, randomized trial, we immunized 400 Malian children with either the malaria vaccine or a control (rabies) vaccine and followed them for 6 months. The primary end point was clinical malaria, defined as fever and at least 2500 parasites per cubic millimeter of blood. A secondary end point was clinical malaria caused by parasites with the AMA1 DNA sequence found in the vaccine strain. The cumulative incidence of the primary end point was 48.4% in the malaria-vaccine group and 54.4% in the control group; efficacy against the primary end point was 17.4% (hazard ratio for the primary end point, 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63 to 1.09; P=0.18). Efficacy against the first and subsequent episodes of clinical malaria, as defined on the basis of various parasite-density thresholds, was approximately 20%. Efficacy against clinical malaria caused by parasites with AMA1 corresponding to that of the vaccine strain was 64.3% (hazard ratio, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.86; P=0.03). Local reactions and fever after vaccination were more frequent with the malaria vaccine. On the basis of the primary end point, the malaria vaccine did not provide significant protection against clinical malaria, but on the basis of secondary results, it may have strain-specific efficacy. If this finding is confirmed, AMA1 might be useful in a multicomponent malaria vaccine. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00460525.).

Enhancing Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells with Activating KRAS Oncogene in Patients with Colorectal Cancer by Weighted Chemiluminescent Membrane Array Method

In 2008, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network suggested conducting a KRAS mutations test in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients prior to administering therapy that uses anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody. However, tests of KRAS mutations have been limited when traditional molecular techniques, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined direct sequencing, are used to obtain and analyze patients' cancer tissues. If the primary tumor or metastatic tissues of patients with mCRC is unavailable, then such analysis will not be feasible. Our laboratory has successfully established a colorimetric membrane array analysis platform that could detect activating KRAS mutations from the peripheral blood of patients with various malignancies. The current research aims to improve the above-mentioned technique not only by using chemiluminescence detection to replace color development, but also to add scores weighted according to the relevance of each gene to activating KRAS mutations. Our results show that the described weighted chemiluminescent membrane array (WCHMA) can detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) harboring activating KRAS mutations in the peripheral blood in CRC. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 90.2, 94.9, and 93.5%, respectively, and the detection limitation was three colon tumor cells per millimeter of blood. The current study would significantly improve the detection sensitivity and accuracy over that of our previously designed membrane array method. These findings also highlight the need to prompt further prospective studies on more cases of CRC to further establish the clinical relevance of activating KRAS mutation detection from peripheral blood in anti- EGFR-based chemotherapy that uses activating KRAS detection chips and the WCHMA analysis method.

Eosinophilie

Eosinophils normally account for only one to three percent of peripheral-blood leukocytes, and the upper limit of the normal range is 450 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. Eosinophilia occurs in a variety of disorders. The most common cause of eosinophilia worldwide is helminthic infections, and the most common cause in industrialized nations is atopic disease. The diverse causes, clinical signs and symptoms, the diagnostic work-up as well as the therapeutic strategies will be discussed in this review. The "hypereosinophilic syndrome" constitutes an evolving concept and is most likely the result of a clonal (neoplastic) disorder. A number of new therapeutic approaches for these conditions have been developed and will be discussed in this article.

Vector competence of two species of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from southern California for Dirofilaria immitis (Filariidea: Onchocercidae).

Two species of mosquitoes reared to adults from field-collected larvae or egg rafts in or near Los Angeles County, CA, were exposed to dogs with known levels of Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy) microfilariae per 20 cubic millimeters of blood. Aedes taeniorhynchus (Wiedemann) readily blood fed on an infected dog ingested microfilariae but did not become infected. Culiseta incidens (Thomson) also fed on an infected dog became infected, and 10% of the microfilariae developed to the L3 stage. Cs. incidens is a peridomestic species broadly distributed in Los Angeles County and abundant from February through December. The wide distribution of this species as well as its long annual period of reproductive activity in Los Angeles County may contribute to its potential as a vector of D. immitis.

Immunological Evaluation of Children Treated with Antiepileptic Drugs

In order to evaluate cellular and humoral immunity in children who were given carbamazepine (CBZ), sodium valproate (VPA) or phenobarbital (PHB) as monotherapy, we studied 137 children and adolescents suffering from various types of epilepsy and 50 healthy control children. The patients were subdivided according to the type of drug received: in particular, Group 1: 50 (26 female, 24 male) children received only CBZ; their age ranged from 2.3 years to 16.0 years (mean ± SD, 8.1 ± 7.9 years); Group 2: 50 (26 female, 24 male) children received only VPA with age from 2.8 to 15.1 (8.9 ± 7.1) years; Group 3: 37 (20 female, 17 male) children who were given only PHB with age from 2.0 to 13.9 (8.4 ± 7.8) years. 50 sex and age- matched healthy children served as controls. All the patients of groups 1, 2 and 3 were studied before the beginning of antiepileptic drug therapy and after 6, 12 and 18 months of therapy. All plasma levels of AEDs were within the therapeutic range. All children of the three groups had a normal number of lymphocytes per millimeter of blood; also the values of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20 and CD56 and the serum levels of complement (C3 and C4) were similar to those of healthy controls. The natural killer cell activity of children receiving CBZ showed a significant reduction: this reduction was present after 6 months of therapy (baseline: 45.2%; after 6 months: 32.6%; after 12 months 31.3 %; (all determinations vs baseline:p<0.01) and continued to be present until the end of the study (36.9%; p<0.05). Our data suggest that, in children receiving CBZ, VPA and PHB on monotherapy significant abnormalities of serum immunoglobulin concentrations, serum complement values and lymphocyte subsets are not present. CBZ is shown to have a reducing effect on the natural killer cell activity, but the real role of this abnormality in the immune system of these patients needs more investigation.

Infectious Diseases

The new decade has already witnessed significant developments in the subspecialty of infectious diseases. The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) remains the focus of worldwide epidemiologic, basic science, and clinical research. Zidovudine is the only therapy for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) approved by the Food and Drug Administration, although other promising antiretroviral drugs are being evaluated in clinical trials.^1,2 The list of indications for zidovudine treatment has been extended to include asymptomatic persons infected with HIV with fewer than 500 CD4 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. Other studies have attempted to determine the appropriate dosage for zidovudine, ie, that which maximizes therapeutic benefit while minimizing accompanying bone marrow toxic effects.³Based on recent AIDS Clinical Trials Group study findings, many clinicians have lowered the maintenance dosage regimen to 500 or 600 mg of zidovudine daily. No recommendations have been made for asymptomatic infected individuals with more than

The relationship of eosinophilia and positive skin test reactivity to respiratory symptom prevalence in a community-based population study

We studied the relationship of the prevalence of a variety of respiratory symptoms to positive skin test reactivity (skin test index greater than or equal to 3) and/or eosinophilia (greater than or equal to 275 eosinophilic cells per cubic millimeter of blood) in a community-based population sample (N = 2805), adjusting for age, gender, area of residence, and cigarette smoking. We considered subjects with neither positive skin test reactivity nor eosinophilia to be the reference group. Positive skin test reactivity without eosinophilia (N = 487; 17.3%) was significantly associated with persistent wheeze (odds ratio value (OR) = 1.6; 95% confidence interval of the odds ratio value (CI) = 1.0 to 2.6) and with asthmatic attacks (OR = 3.2; CI = 2.0 to 5.3). Positive skin test reactivity in combination with eosinophilia (N = 92; 3.3%) was also significantly associated with persistent wheeze (OR = 2.7; CI = 1.2 to 6.0) and with asthmatic attacks (OR = 10.4; CI = 5.3 to 20.2), however, with a stronger association than in subjects with positive skin test reactivity alone. Finally, eosinophilia without positive skin test reactivity (N = 170; 6.1%) was significantly associated with chronic cough (OR = 1.8; CI = 1.2 to 2.7), bronchitis episodes (OR = 2.1; CI = 1.4 to 3.2), dyspnea grade greater than or equal to III (OR = 1.7; CI = 1.0 to 2.8), and asthmatic attacks (OR = 3.0; CI = 1.5 to 6.6).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

THE BLOOD CELLS AND TUNIC OF THE ASCIDIANHALOCYNTHIA AURANTIUM(PALLAS). I. HEMATOLOGY, TUNIC MORPHOLOGY, AND PARTITION OF CELLS BETWEEN BLOOD AND TUNIC

1. Then morphological blood cell types are recognized in Halocynthia aurantium. The mature morula cells, dispersed vesicular cells, stem cells, and stem cells with acidophilic vacuoles or granules decrease in differential distribution with increased weight of animal. The hyaline amoebocyte increases in differential distribution with increased weight of animal. 2. There is no significant difference in total blood cell concentration per cubic millimeter of blood as a function of weight of animal. 3. The mature morula cells, dispersed vesicular cells, hyaline amoebocytes, and granular amoebocytes are at significantly higher concentrations in the tunic of the body wall and stolon than they are in the blood. The mature morula cell is concentrated in the tunic just peripheral to the epidermis and the dispersed vesicular cell is concentrated at the external limits of the tunic. The hyaline amoebocyte is a phagocyte. 4. Upon injury to the tunic, the mature morula cells and dispersed vesicular cells increase significantly in the wound area over a 15 day period. The positional relationships of these cells are rapidly reinstated in the tunic. 5. The tunic consists of three components: epidermis, fibrous matrix, and cuticle with spines. The matrix consists of fibrous laminae which increase in number with increased weight of animal. 6. The mature morula cells, immature morula cells. compartment cells, and signet ring cells contain protein bound iron.

The New Metric System And American Medicine

To the Editor:— In a recent issue of a scientific journal (not yours) a new name and symbol for the are proposed. Just as we in the new world are about to move into the centimeter-gram-second system, proposals are made to change from kg and kilogram to G and Giorgi. This is progress. gentlemen with this suggestion observes that The reasons for this are obvious. Quite so. Quite, indeed. We in the western and newer hemisphere have been ounces-and-pounds troubled for many years. Even your publication deftly doubles kilograms into pounds, but not grams into ounces. At the same time, with delicate inconsistency I find dosages in grams per square meter (no square yards) and on page 625 of the Aug 22 issue we find cubic feet of air coupled with cubic millimeters of blood in the same paragraph. I'm for an entirely new set of symbols, as

Hemoglobin functions in the blood of Bufo marinus.

AbstractThe effects of three physical‐chemical factors, temperature, hydrogen ion concentration, and partial pressure of oxygen, on the respiratory functions of blood of the toad (Bufo marinus) have been studied.Measurements of oxygen affinity of hemoglobin in whole blood were measured tonometrically by a method devised for small quantities of blood. At pH 7.40 and 25°C blood was found to be 50% saturated with oxygen at a partial pressure of 44 mm Hg of oxygen. The Bohr effect was measured at various temperatures and found to be about one‐half that found for mammalian blood. Carbon dioxide content of toad blood changes only slightly in the oxygenated and reduced states. Thus the “Haldane” effect parallels the small Bohr effect. Toad blood was found to have average hematocrit values of 37% for erythrocytes and average hemoglobin values of 11 gm/100 ml per cubic millimeter of blood. The respiratory functions of the blood of the toad conform to the pattern of respiratory mechanisms available for gas exchange between the environment and tissues of the organism.

Blood Platelets: Henry Ford Hospital International Symposium

Tocantins, in his chapter "The Blood Platelets—Past, Present and Future," states that in the present state of knowledge we do know that the platelet does exist, and that it plays an active role in the inception, progression, and completion of blood coagulation. We also know that the platelet originates from the megakaryocyte of the bone marrow, and that in human blood it numbers between 200,000 and 400,000 per cubic millimeter of blood. Our interest in the platelet, according to Tocantins, is due to realization that the platelet plays a role in coagulation and hemostasis, that the platelet can be separated, and that it plays an important role in various biological phenomena. <i>Blood Platelets</i>is the 10th of the Henry Ford Hospital Symposia. The volume contains 51 contributions devoted to the subject of platelets. These contributions deal with the various aspects of the problem, the role of platelets in hemostasis and

Prolonged administration of chlorpromazine (thorazine) hydrochloride.

Since chlorpromazine strikingly improves the adjustment of many psychiatric patients without being truly curative, administration in many cases must be continued for years. In order to detect possible adverse effects of such prolonged medication, a study was made in 50 patients who took it for two to four years. The total amounts taken by individual patients ranged from 54 to 1,078 Gm. All patients gained weight. No evidence of renal or hepatic dysfunction was found. Amenorrhea occurred in two-fifths of the women, but sometimes menstruation was resumed without interruption or reduction of the dosage. In some patients the white blood cell count dropped as low as 3,000 per cubic millimeter of blood; but it was not necessary to interrupt the medication, because the counts returned to normal while chlorpromazine therapy continued. Three patients manifested photosensitization each year from May to October but were desensitized by repeated limited exposures to the sun. Chlorpromazine enabled these patients to remain outside of the hospital, to work, and to be reasonably comfortable in spite of the persistence of their basic illness.