Performance of a new hematology analyzer, the Celltac F, MEK-8222 (Nihon Kohden, Tokyo, Japan), was evaluated. This analyzer simultaneously measures 22 parameters including leukocyte differentials. Within- and between-batch precision, linearity, and absence of carryover were all excellent. Accurate measurements of complete blood count parameters were possible during the 48-hour test periods for stability at 4 degrees C and room temperature. Automated differential parameters showed acceptable stability during the 24-hour test period. The performance was evaluated in comparison with the CD-4000 (Abbott, Abbott Park, IL, USA). There was a good correlation between findings with the Celltac F and those with the CD-4000 hematology analyzer for complete blood count parameters and leukocyte differential parameters other than percentages of basophils. Comparisons of differential leukocyte counts to microscopic differentials were excellent for neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils and were acceptable for monocytes. The clinical utility and flagging performance were excellent. The Celltac F is compact and it is able to process 80 samples per hour. The volumes of sample and reagent consumed were slight. The instrument has good potential to contribute to effective total cost management and to be a useful backup system with high throughput, while taking up minimal space in the clinical laboratory.
Purified CD34 + haematopoietic progenitor cells were cultivated with stem cell factor, interleukin 3 (IL‐3), granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) and granulocyte CSF (G‐CSF) for 7 d, and thereafter non‐adherent cells were divided into two groups. Cells in one group (group A) were further cultivated for 7 d with four cytokines, and cells in the other group (group B) were further cultivated for 7 d with G‐CSF alone. On day 14, 220‐fold and 130‐fold increases in the numbers of non‐adherent cells were achieved for groups A and B respectively. These cell preparations contained 65% granulocytes for group A and 95% granulocytes for group B. These cells gained the ability to respond effectively with chemotaxis, phagocytosis and superoxide (O 2 − ) release. Cells in group B were appropriately primed by G‐CSF, GM‐CSF, tumour necrosis factor α and IL‐1β for enhanced release of . The responsiveness of these cells was identical to that of peripheral blood neutrophils, indicating that cells in group B may be in the resting state. In contrast, cells in group A were not primed by these cytokines for enhanced release of O 2 − and released a large amount of O 2 − spontaneously, indicating that cells in group A may be in the activated state. These findings indicate that mature neutrophils with normal functions were expanded ex vivo in group B and suggest that these cells could be used for possible autologous neutrophil transfusion to prevent bacterial infections during severe neutropenia after cytotoxic chemotherapy.
Summary. The t(16;21)(pll;q22) translocation is an infrequent chromosomal abnormality, but seems specific to acute non‐lymphocytic leukaemia (ANIL). We established two cell lines with t(16;21)(pll;q22) from the bone marrow of a patient with ANLL in relapse. Their morphological, karyotypic, immunohistochemical and genetic features are examined. Although both cell lines show monocytoid features morphologically, they express only CD13 (My 7) and CD34, and neither expressed monocytoid or lymphoid markers. Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction showed that both cell lines expressed a similar TLS‐ERG chimaeric mRNA as a result of the t(16;21)(pll;q22) translocation. As far as we know, there is no report of a leukaemia cell line with t(16;21). These cell lines represent a useful tool for leukaemia research.
A majority of women from all cultures and socioeconomic levels experience diverse psychosomatic and behavioral symptoms premenstrually, a phenomenon commonly termed premenstrual syndrome, although symptoms and discomfort levels vary from woman to woman. The underlying pathological mechanisms of premenstrual syndrome remain unknown; however, altered function or even slight disorder of the blood circulation system, which contributes to the orchestrations of the human internal environment, could cause bio-psychological changes leading to complaints and ultimately compromising a woman's overall health. The present study, therefore, investigates to what extent and how the menstrual cyclicity of peripheral circulation is associated with premenstrual symptomatology. Twenty-one eumenorrheic young women participated in this study. All subjects were investigated during the follicular and late luteal phases. Cycle phase was determined by the onset of menstruation and oral temperature and was verified by concentrations of ovarian hormones, estrone, and pregnanediol in a urine sample taken early in the morning. Peripheral circulation was evaluated with the Astrim (Sysmex, Kobe), a portable non-invasive monitoring device using the principle of near-infrared spectroscopy, which calculates the venous oxygenation index (VOI) based on the ratio of light absorption of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin, a proven reliable indicator of peripheral blood circulation. The Menstrual Distress Questionnaire was applied to measure physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms accompanying the menstrual cycle of the subjects. The oral temperature and urinary ovarian hormones adjusted for creatinine significantly increased in the late luteal phase in all subjects. While 10 subjects experienced no symptoms during the menstrual cycle, 11 subjects had apparent physical and psychological discomfort in the late luteal phase. We found that VOI decreased more significantly in the late luteal phase than in the follicular phase only in women with premenstrual discomfort although the symptoms were not unbearable enough to cause the disruption of daily activities. Several models have tried to explain the etiopathogenesis of premenstrual syndrome. Although causes and consequences remain enigmatic, our data suggest that the peripheral circulation could alter in the luteal phase, which might be partly associated with premenstrual psychosomatic symptoms in eumenorrheic young women.
