摘要:

SummaryA nested primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of pol gene sequences of human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV‐1) was applied to whole blood of 31 haemophiliacs who were, or had been, positive for HIV p24 antibody (HIVAb) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and samples from 22 persistently HIVAb negative haemophiliacs who had been at risk of contracting HIV from treatment. The results were compared with those of p24 HIV antigen determination, T4 cell counts β2Microglobulin (β2M) levels and clinical evidence of progression of HIV disease. There was no discrepancy between the PCR results and past or present seropositivity for HIVAb. The qualitative PCR was more sensitive than the p24 antigen assay but the presence of the latter was predictive of progression of infection as determined clinically and by falling T4 cell counts and rising levels of β2M. The results of the PCR are reassuring for HIVAb negative haemophiliacs at risk from treatment and to HIVAb negative sexual contacts of HIVAb positive p

ISSN:0141-9854    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2257.1992.tb01202.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryA microcomputer database system for the storage, retrieval, and statistical analysis of data associated with the treatment of haemophilia and other defects of haemostasis is described. The hardware requirements are an IBM compatible PC with both hard and floppy disc drives and a suitable printer. The system was written using Smartware II, a powerful integrated software package which incorporates database, word processor, spreadsheet and communications functions. The programs were written with flexibility in mind and can be readily adapted to accommodate the work patterns of any haemophilia centre. This system has now been operational in the Regional Haemophilia Centre at the Manchester Royal Infirmary since January 1990. Its introduction has led to a marked improvement in the efficiency of patient data handling with significant savings in staff time.

ISSN:0141-9854    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2257.1992.tb01203.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryThe significance of anti‐cardiolipin antibodies (ACLA) in patients with a range of autoimmune and infective disorders was investigated in this study. Although lower levels of IgG and IgM ACLA were present in 77 of 400 patients' sera (19%), high antibody levels were found in<5% of patients. These latter patients belonged to three clinical categories: patients with connective tissue disease (CTD), infectious mononucleosis or biological false positive serology. An assay was developed to measure lupus anticoagulant (LA) activity in serum: significant LA activity was found in the CTD patients alone (in 6 of 15 tested) and all of these had high titre ACLA. Features of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) were present in these six patients but also in three additional CTD patients with normal LA results and high levels of ACLA. In two CTD patients with APS features, the high ACLA were of IgM isotype. These results stress the importance of measuring both ACLA and LA in an investigation of the APS: a high positive ACLA supports the diagnosis of APS, particularly in patients with autoimmune disease, whilst a high positive ACLA in association with LA activity is specific for this syndrom

ISSN:0141-9854    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2257.1992.tb01204.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryA 21‐year‐old patient developed interstitial pneumonitis nine months post bone marrow transplant for acute myeloblastic leukaemia. Immunofluorescence of broncheoalveolar lavage fluid revealed the presence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Aerosolized ribavarin therapy resulted in rapid resolution of the pneumonitis with full recovery without any side effects. Ribavarin therapy should be considered early in the management of BMT patients who develop RSV pneumoni

ISSN:0141-9854    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2257.1992.tb01205.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryTen cases of pernicious anaemia seen over a 15‐year period (1973–1988) in a Lagos hospital are presented. Their ages ranged from 34 to 67 with a mean of 53.6 years. Females outnumbered males 6 to 4. Complications seen include gastric carcinoma, myelopathy, peripheral neuropathy, skin hyperpigmentation, hair depigmentation and diarrhoea. Reluctance to consider the diagnosis owing to firmly held notions of its rarity and a penchant for empirically treating chronic anaemias with all available haematinics and blood transfusion are probably contributory to its underdiagnosis. The fact that seven of the patients presented were seen in the last three years and three of them in the last one year raises the possibility of an increasing incidence of pernicious anaemia in Africans. The disease may be much less rare in Africans than once believed, and medical education should emphasize its existence and advocate greater care in the management of chronic anaem

ISSN:0141-9854    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2257.1992.tb01206.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryUrinary neopterin and biopterin concentrations were measured in 32 healthy controls and 53 patients with newly diagnosed haematological malignancies classified and staged by accepted criteria. The neopterin concentrations were only significantly raised in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia at stages III—IV. Total biopterin concentrations after oxidation with iodine at acid pH were decreased in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia stages O—II, multiple myeloma, and acute myeloid leukaemia but not in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia stages III—IV. Although of research interest, neopterin concentrations proved of little prognostic value at presentation, but taken with the biopterin concentration they may be useful for the assessment of tumour act

ISSN:0141-9854    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2257.1992.tb01207.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryThe accuracy of methods used to assay serum ferritin was determined in two ways. In one a serum, to which the UK ferritin standard had been added, was issued to the participants in an inter‐regional quality assurance scheme. The overall recovery was close to that expected. For the second assessment a series of sera from individuals of known iron status were issued. Differences between assay results related to the method of assay though the immunoradiometric and ELISA methods gave results which were close to each other. The variation in clinical interpretation applied to assay results when ferritin concentrations around the upper and lower limits of normal were assayed was more than could be accounted for by method imprecision and indicates that inappropriate reference ranges are in common use. ‘Indeterminate’, a proper clinical interpretation when the imprecision of a technique should prevent a definite response, was inadequately

ISSN:0141-9854    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2257.1992.tb01208.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryThe performance of leucocyte analysis on the Coulter STKS (Coulter, Hialeah, FL, USA) was evaluated for accuracy, precision and reliability. The results were compared with those obtained from visual examination of a Romanowsky stained blood film together with the automated WBC‐diff. from the Technicon H*1 (Technicon, Tarrytown, NY, USA). The relationship between the number of cells counted per WBC‐diff. and the WBC count of the sample was established. Precision of the STKS WBC‐diff. was acceptable on blood samples with normal and low WBC counts. Correlation with an 800 cell manual WBC‐diff. (n= 104) was excellent (r= 0.97, 0.97, 0.83, 0.98 and 0.53 for neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils respectively). Blood specimens, collected into dipotassium EDTA, could be stored at 20–25°C for at least 8 h with no significant effect on the STKS WBC‐diff. In a study of 513 patient samples, the BLASTS suspect flag gave 5.4% false positives and zero false negatives, the VARIANT LYMPHS flag gave 1.5% false positives and 0.4% false negatives, and the IMM GRANS/BANDS flag gave 30.8% false positives and 2.3% false negatives. Several instrument and sample related problems were encountered during this study. Despite these limitations, the STKS can provide efficient 5 part WBC‐diffs. and effective screening for WBC

ISSN:0141-9854    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2257.1992.tb01209.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryThe variables affecting the formation and stability of intracellular methaemoglobin were examined. A method is proposed for the preparation of intracellular methaemoglobin specimens.

ISSN:0141-9854    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2257.1992.tb01210.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0141-9854    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2257.1992.tb01211.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY