Academic literature on the topic 'Mean cell volume'

AbstractA method is described for the estimation of mean cell volume of phagocytosing cells. The cells are coembedded with yeast particles of known size. By combination of data obtained from morphometrical analysis of sections in both the light and transmission electron microscopes, an estimate of the ratio between cell volume and yeast particle volume is obtained. The method makes use of the dissector but does not require measurements on serial sections or knowledge of section thickness. Evaluation of the method was done by studying the effect of phagocytosis of latex beads on macrophage cell volume and surface area. It was found that the surface area of phagocytosing macrophages remained constant although the cell volume increased by 27%. Furthermore, in phagocytosing macrophages, the amount of membrane enclosing intracellular vacuoles decreased by 28%, but this loss of membrane was balanced by the appearance of membrane enclosing the phagocytosed latex beads. The method described here may prove useful for morphometrical studies on phagocytosing leukocytes, as well as on intracellular parasites located within these cells.

Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumour (cMCT)’s Patnaik and Kiupel grading schemes rely on qualitative and semi-quantitative features susceptible to bias and inter-observer variability. The stereological estimation of volume-weighted mean nuclear volume (VV), on the other hand, provides information about both nuclear size and its variability, proven to have prognostic value in many solid tumours. VV of 55 cMCTs was estimated using the point-sampled intercept method in 10 microscopic fields (800 X). These tumours were graded by three pathologists and the final grade was compared with VV and clinical history of dogs with a follow-up period of one year. A cut-off value of VV>168 μm³ was shown to differentiate aggressive cMCTs with 78.3% specificity and 87.5% sensitivity. The present study suggests that the estimation of VV on routine histological sections may objectively improve the detection of more aggressive cMCTs; Resumo: Valor Prognóstico do Volume Nuclear Médio em Mastocitomas Caninos A gradação de Mastocitomas Cutâneos Caninos (cMCTs) pelo sistema de Patnaik e Kiupel é baseado em critérios qualitativos e semi-quantitativos, que estão sujeitos a viés e variabilidade inter-observador. O recurso ao princípio estereológico do ‘volume médio nuclear’ (VV), por outro lado, fornece simultaneamente informação sobre o tamanho nuclear e a sua variação, o que está associado a um valor de prognóstico em diversos tumores. O VV de 55 cMCTs foi estimado através do método ‘point-sampled intercept’ em 10 campos microscópicos (800 X). Estes tumores foram classificados por três patologistas e a classificação final foi comparada com o VV e o follow-up clínico de um ano. Um cut-off de VV>168 μm³ revelou diferenciar cMCTs de comportamento mais aggressivo com uma especificidade de 78.3% e uma sensibilidade de 87.5%. Este estudo sugere que o VV poderá objectivamente auxiliar a detecção de cMCTs com um comportamento mais agressivo.

Sickle cell disease is a disabling chronic autosomal recessive blood disease characterized by abnormal hemoglobin, pain crises, and frequent emergency department visits. Adherence to hydroxyurea therapy has been shown to improve these patient outcomes. Guided by the theory of comfort, the purpose of this project was to determine if an educational intervention would increase adherence to hydroxyurea therapy in pediatric patients between 2 and 17 years of age recruited from an urban university hospital hematology clinic. The RE-AIM model was used to support the translation of evidence and the change process. An educational video produced by AFLAC was viewed by patients’ parents 4 weeks after enrollment into this pretest/posttest design project. A total of 22 African-American parent participants completed the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale at baseline and again at 8 weeks to assess hydroxyurea adherence. The Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults tool was used to assess parents’ health learning needs; all parents met the adequate literacy level at baseline. Using t test statistics, no statistically significant differences were found pretest to posttest on the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale scores, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and fetal hemoglobin percentages. Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests showed no significant differences in emergency room visits nor number of pain crisis. Although no significant changes emerged in short-term hematologic findings, emergency room visits, and pain crises, social change in the health care setting was promoted by confirming parents were able to understand education and a high level of hydroxyurea adherence was maintained; literature indicated that long-term adherence to hydroxyurea limits severe attacks.

It was previously assumed that all kidney stones crystallized as urine passed through the renal tubules and were retained by means of crystal-tubular cell interactions. Recently uroscopy with papillary biopsies has shown 2 different pathways for stone formation, both mediated by calcium phosphate crystals. Kidney transplant has become the preferred treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease. Those benefiting from transplant included patients who would be deemed "high risk," such as those with diabetes mellitus and those older than 70 years. Anatomical changes associated with pregnancy are renal enlargement and dilatation of the calyces, renal pelvis, and ureters. Physiologic changes include a 30% to 50% increase in glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow; a mean decrease of 0.5 mg/dL in the creatinine level and a mean decrease of 18 mg/dL in the serum urea nitrogen level; intermittent glycosuria independent of plasma glucose; proteinuria; aminoaciduria; increased uric acid excretion; increased total body water, with osmostat resetting; 50% increase in plasma volume and cardiac output; and increased ureteral peristalsis.

Diagnosis 54Management 55Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world, affecting around 5 billion people, most of them from developing countries. The prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in UK preschool children is ~8%, increasing considerably in inner city children; ~9% of under 5s in the USA are thought to be iron deficient. Depletion of iron stores is followed by the development of anaemia, initially with a normal mean cell volume (MCV). Continuing deficiency leads to impairment of erythropoiesis, with hypochromia and microcytosis apparent on blood film. Iron is essential in haemoglobin for oxygen transport, and is also found in myoglobin, and some enzymes (peroxidase, catalase, and cytochromes). Iron from red blood cell breakdown is recycled and excess iron stored as ferritin and haemosiderin....

The prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) depends on early diagnosis and therapy. A multitude of causes are classified according to their origin as prerenal, intrinsic (intrarenal), and post-renal.Prerenal AKI means a loss of renal function despite intact nephrons, for example, because of volume depletion and/or hypotension.There is a broad spectrum of intrinsic causes of AKI including acute tubular necrosis (ATN), interstitial nephritis, glomerulonephritis, and vasculitis. Evaluation includes careful review of the patient’s history, physical examination, urinalysis, selected urine chemistries, imaging of the urinary tree, and eventual kidney biopsy. The history should focus on the tempo of loss of function (if known), associated systemic diseases, and symptoms related to the urinary tract (especially those that suggest obstruction). In addition, a review of the medications looking for potentially nephrotoxic drugs is essential. The physical examination is directed towards the identification of findings of a systemic disease and a detailed assessment of the patient’s haemodynamic status. This latter goal may require invasive monitoring, especially in the oliguric patient with conflicting clinical findings, where the physical examination has limited accuracy.Excluding urinary tract obstruction is necessary in all cases and may be established easily by renal ultrasound.Distinction between the two most common causes of AKI (prerenal AKI and ATN) is sometimes difficult, especially because the clinical examination is often misleading in the setting of mild volume depletion or overload. Urinary chemistries, like calculation of the fractional excretion of sodium (FENa), may be used to help in this distinction. In contrast to FENa, the fractional excretion of urea has the advantage of being rather independent of diuretic therapy. Response to fluid repletion is still regarded as the gold standard in the differentiation between prerenal and intrinsic AKI. Return of renal function to baseline or resuming of diuresis within 24 to 72 hours is considered to indicate ‘transient, mostly prerenal AKI’, whereas persistent renal failure usually indicates intrinsic disease. Transient AKI may, however, also occur in short-lived ATN. Furthermore, rapid fluid application is contraindicated in a substantial number of patients, such as those with congestive heart failure.‘Muddy brown’ casts and/or tubular epithelial cell casts in the urine sediment are typically seen in patients with ATN. Their presence is an important tool in the distinction between ATN and prerenal AKI, which is characterized by a normal sediment, or by occasional hyaline casts. There is a possible role for new serum and/or urinary biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of the patient with AKI, including the differential diagnosis between pre-renal AKI and ATN. Further studies are needed before their routine determination can be recommended.When a diagnosis cannot be made with reasonable certainty through this evaluation, renal biopsy should be considered; when intrarenal causes such as crescentic glomerulonephritis or vasculitis are suspected, immediate biopsy to avoid delay in the initiation of therapy is mandatory.

Bones are multifunctional passive organs of movement that supports soft tissue and directly attached muscles. They also protect internal organs and are a reserve of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Each bone is covered with periosteum, and the adjacent bone surfaces are covered by articular cartilage. Histologically, the bone is an organ composed of many different tissues. The main component is bone tissue (cortical and spongy) composed of a set of bone cells and intercellular substance (mineral and organic), it also contains fat, hematopoietic (bone marrow) and cartilaginous tissue. Bones are a tissue that even in adult life retains the ability to change shape and structure depending on changes in their mechanical and hormonal environment, as well as self-renewal and repair capabilities. This process is called bone turnover. The basic processes of bone turnover are: • bone modeling (incessantly changes in bone shape during individual growth) following resorption and tissue formation at various locations (e.g. bone marrow formation) to increase mass and skeletal morphology. This process occurs in the bones of growing individuals and stops after reaching puberty • bone remodeling (processes involve in maintaining bone tissue by resorbing and replacing old bone tissue with new tissue in the same place, e.g. repairing micro fractures). It is a process involving the removal and internal remodeling of existing bone and is responsible for maintaining tissue mass and architecture of mature bones. Bone turnover is regulated by two types of transformation: • osteoclastogenesis, i.e. formation of cells responsible for bone resorption • osteoblastogenesis, i.e. formation of cells responsible for bone formation (bone matrix synthesis and mineralization) Bone maturity can be defined as the completion of basic structural development and mineralization leading to maximum mass and optimal mechanical strength. The highest rate of increase in pig bone mass is observed in the first twelve weeks after birth. This period of growth is considered crucial for optimizing the growth of the skeleton of pigs, because the degree of bone mineralization in later life stages (adulthood) depends largely on the amount of bone minerals accumulated in the early stages of their growth. The development of the technique allows to determine the condition of the skeletal system (or individual bones) in living animals by methods used in human medicine, or after their slaughter. For in vivo determination of bone properties, Abstract 10 double energy X-ray absorptiometry or computed tomography scanning techniques are used. Both methods allow the quantification of mineral content and bone mineral density. The most important property from a practical point of view is the bone’s bending strength, which is directly determined by the maximum bending force. The most important factors affecting bone strength are: • age (growth period), • gender and the associated hormonal balance, • genotype and modification of genes responsible for bone growth • chemical composition of the body (protein and fat content, and the proportion between these components), • physical activity and related bone load, • nutritional factors: – protein intake influencing synthesis of organic matrix of bone, – content of minerals in the feed (CA, P, Zn, Ca/P, Mg, Mn, Na, Cl, K, Cu ratio) influencing synthesis of the inorganic matrix of bone, – mineral/protein ratio in the diet (Ca/protein, P/protein, Zn/protein) – feed energy concentration, – energy source (content of saturated fatty acids - SFA, content of polyun saturated fatty acids - PUFA, in particular ALA, EPA, DPA, DHA), – feed additives, in particular: enzymes (e.g. phytase releasing of minerals bounded in phytin complexes), probiotics and prebiotics (e.g. inulin improving the function of the digestive tract by increasing absorption of nutrients), – vitamin content that regulate metabolism and biochemical changes occurring in bone tissue (e.g. vitamin D3, B6, C and K). This study was based on the results of research experiments from available literature, and studies on growing pigs carried out at the Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences. The tests were performed in total on 300 pigs of Duroc, Pietrain, Puławska breeds, line 990 and hybrids (Great White × Duroc, Great White × Landrace), PIC pigs, slaughtered at different body weight during the growth period from 15 to 130 kg. Bones for biomechanical tests were collected after slaughter from each pig. Their length, mass and volume were determined. Based on these measurements, the specific weight (density, g/cm3) was calculated. Then each bone was cut in the middle of the shaft and the outer and inner diameters were measured both horizontally and vertically. Based on these measurements, the following indicators were calculated: • cortical thickness, • cortical surface, • cortical index. Abstract 11 Bone strength was tested by a three-point bending test. The obtained data enabled the determination of: • bending force (the magnitude of the maximum force at which disintegration and disruption of bone structure occurs), • strength (the amount of maximum force needed to break/crack of bone), • stiffness (quotient of the force acting on the bone and the amount of displacement occurring under the influence of this force). Investigation of changes in physical and biomechanical features of bones during growth was performed on pigs of the synthetic 990 line growing from 15 to 130 kg body weight. The animals were slaughtered successively at a body weight of 15, 30, 40, 50, 70, 90, 110 and 130 kg. After slaughter, the following bones were separated from the right half-carcass: humerus, 3rd and 4th metatarsal bone, femur, tibia and fibula as well as 3rd and 4th metatarsal bone. The features of bones were determined using methods described in the methodology. Describing bone growth with the Gompertz equation, it was found that the earliest slowdown of bone growth curve was observed for metacarpal and metatarsal bones. This means that these bones matured the most quickly. The established data also indicate that the rib is the slowest maturing bone. The femur, humerus, tibia and fibula were between the values of these features for the metatarsal, metacarpal and rib bones. The rate of increase in bone mass and length differed significantly between the examined bones, but in all cases it was lower (coefficient b <1) than the growth rate of the whole body of the animal. The fastest growth rate was estimated for the rib mass (coefficient b = 0.93). Among the long bones, the humerus (coefficient b = 0.81) was characterized by the fastest rate of weight gain, however femur the smallest (coefficient b = 0.71). The lowest rate of bone mass increase was observed in the foot bones, with the metacarpal bones having a slightly higher value of coefficient b than the metatarsal bones (0.67 vs 0.62). The third bone had a lower growth rate than the fourth bone, regardless of whether they were metatarsal or metacarpal. The value of the bending force increased as the animals grew. Regardless of the growth point tested, the highest values were observed for the humerus, tibia and femur, smaller for the metatarsal and metacarpal bone, and the lowest for the fibula and rib. The rate of change in the value of this indicator increased at a similar rate as the body weight changes of the animals in the case of the fibula and the fourth metacarpal bone (b value = 0.98), and more slowly in the case of the metatarsal bone, the third metacarpal bone, and the tibia bone (values of the b ratio 0.81–0.85), and the slowest femur, humerus and rib (value of b = 0.60–0.66). Bone stiffness increased as animals grew. Regardless of the growth point tested, the highest values were observed for the humerus, tibia and femur, smaller for the metatarsal and metacarpal bone, and the lowest for the fibula and rib. Abstract 12 The rate of change in the value of this indicator changed at a faster rate than the increase in weight of pigs in the case of metacarpal and metatarsal bones (coefficient b = 1.01–1.22), slightly slower in the case of fibula (coefficient b = 0.92), definitely slower in the case of the tibia (b = 0.73), ribs (b = 0.66), femur (b = 0.59) and humerus (b = 0.50). Bone strength increased as animals grew. Regardless of the growth point tested, bone strength was as follows femur > tibia > humerus > 4 metacarpal> 3 metacarpal> 3 metatarsal > 4 metatarsal > rib> fibula. The rate of increase in strength of all examined bones was greater than the rate of weight gain of pigs (value of the coefficient b = 2.04–3.26). As the animals grew, the bone density increased. However, the growth rate of this indicator for the majority of bones was slower than the rate of weight gain (the value of the coefficient b ranged from 0.37 – humerus to 0.84 – fibula). The exception was the rib, whose density increased at a similar pace increasing the body weight of animals (value of the coefficient b = 0.97). The study on the influence of the breed and the feeding intensity on bone characteristics (physical and biomechanical) was performed on pigs of the breeds Duroc, Pietrain, and synthetic 990 during a growth period of 15 to 70 kg body weight. Animals were fed ad libitum or dosed system. After slaughter at a body weight of 70 kg, three bones were taken from the right half-carcass: femur, three metatarsal, and three metacarpal and subjected to the determinations described in the methodology. The weight of bones of animals fed aa libitum was significantly lower than in pigs fed restrictively All bones of Duroc breed were significantly heavier and longer than Pietrain and 990 pig bones. The average values of bending force for the examined bones took the following order: III metatarsal bone (63.5 kg) <III metacarpal bone (77.9 kg) <femur (271.5 kg). The feeding system and breed of pigs had no significant effect on the value of this indicator. The average values of the bones strength took the following order: III metatarsal bone (92.6 kg) <III metacarpal (107.2 kg) <femur (353.1 kg). Feeding intensity and breed of animals had no significant effect on the value of this feature of the bones tested. The average bone density took the following order: femur (1.23 g/cm3) <III metatarsal bone (1.26 g/cm3) <III metacarpal bone (1.34 g / cm3). The density of bones of animals fed aa libitum was higher (P<0.01) than in animals fed with a dosing system. The density of examined bones within the breeds took the following order: Pietrain race> line 990> Duroc race. The differences between the “extreme” breeds were: 7.2% (III metatarsal bone), 8.3% (III metacarpal bone), 8.4% (femur). Abstract 13 The average bone stiffness took the following order: III metatarsal bone (35.1 kg/mm) <III metacarpus (41.5 kg/mm) <femur (60.5 kg/mm). This indicator did not differ between the groups of pigs fed at different intensity, except for the metacarpal bone, which was more stiffer in pigs fed aa libitum (P<0.05). The femur of animals fed ad libitum showed a tendency (P<0.09) to be more stiffer and a force of 4.5 kg required for its displacement by 1 mm. Breed differences in stiffness were found for the femur (P <0.05) and III metacarpal bone (P <0.05). For femur, the highest value of this indicator was found in Pietrain pigs (64.5 kg/mm), lower in pigs of 990 line (61.6 kg/mm) and the lowest in Duroc pigs (55.3 kg/mm). In turn, the 3rd metacarpal bone of Duroc and Pietrain pigs had similar stiffness (39.0 and 40.0 kg/mm respectively) and was smaller than that of line 990 pigs (45.4 kg/mm). The thickness of the cortical bone layer took the following order: III metatarsal bone (2.25 mm) <III metacarpal bone (2.41 mm) <femur (5.12 mm). The feeding system did not affect this indicator. Breed differences (P <0.05) for this trait were found only for the femur bone: Duroc (5.42 mm)> line 990 (5.13 mm)> Pietrain (4.81 mm). The cross sectional area of the examined bones was arranged in the following order: III metatarsal bone (84 mm2) <III metacarpal bone (90 mm2) <femur (286 mm2). The feeding system had no effect on the value of this bone trait, with the exception of the femur, which in animals fed the dosing system was 4.7% higher (P<0.05) than in pigs fed ad libitum. Breed differences (P<0.01) in the coross sectional area were found only in femur and III metatarsal bone. The value of this indicator was the highest in Duroc pigs, lower in 990 animals and the lowest in Pietrain pigs. The cortical index of individual bones was in the following order: III metatarsal bone (31.86) <III metacarpal bone (33.86) <femur (44.75). However, its value did not significantly depend on the intensity of feeding or the breed of pigs.

Chapter 76 discusses plasma cell dyscrasias, which are currently incurable diseases resulting from the proliferation of plasma cells and the secretion of immunoglobulins with associated anemia and end-organ damage. These diseases are more common in men than women and more common in African Americans than whites. Multiple myeloma is the most common of the plasma cell dyscrasias. Blood and urine testing, bone marrow biopsy, and radiography are the primary tests used for diagnosis. Radiographs are the standard tools in disease staging and monitoring with advanced imaging used primarily for evaluating symptomatic patients with negative radiographs and patients in clinical trials.

Filtration is an operation that has found an important place in the processing of biotechnology products. In general, filtration is used to separate particulate or solute components in a fluid suspension or solution according to size by flowing under a pressure differential through a porous medium. There are two broad categories of filtration, which differ according to the direction of the fluid feed in relation to the filter medium. In conventional or dead-end filtration, the fluid flows perpendicular to the medium, which generally results in a cake of solids depositing on the filter medium. In crossflow filtration (which is also called tangential flow filtration), the fluid flows parallel to the medium to minimize buildup of solids on the medium. Conventional and crossflow filtration are illustrated schematically in Figure 4.1. Conventional filtration is typically used when a product has been secreted from cells, and the cells must be removed to obtain the product that is dissolved in the liquid. Antibiotics and steroids are often processed by using conventional filtration to remove the cells. Conventional filtration is also commonly used for sterile filtration in biopharmaceutical production. Crossflow filtration has been used in a wide variety of applications, including the separation of cells from a product that has been secreted, the concentration of cells, the removal of cell debris from cells that have been lysed, the concentration of protein solutions, the exchange or removal of a salt or salts in a protein solution, and the removal of viruses from protein solutions. Filtration often occurs in the early stages of bioproduct purification, in keeping with the process design heuristic “remove the most plentiful impurities first” (see Chapter 12, Bioprocess Design and Economics). At the start of purification, the desired bioproduct is usually present in a large volume of aqueous solution, and it is desirable to reduce the volume as soon as possible to reduce the scale and thus the cost of subsequent processing operations. Filtration, along with sedimentation and extraction (see Chapters 5 and 6), is an effective means of accomplishing volume reduction.

Extraction is a process in which two phases come into contact with the objective of transferring a solute or particle from one phase to the other. For the separation and purification of biological products, the phases are most commonly immiscible liquids, and the solute is in soluble form. In certain instances, however, one phase is a liquid and the other phase is a solid; the extraction of caffeine from coffee beans is one example. Although most extractions in biotechnology involve the transfer of soluble bioproducts, organelles and cells have at times been transferred between phases. An organic solvent is often used as the extracting liquid when the solute to be extracted is stable in the organic solvent, typical examples being low molecular weight antibiotics. It is usually not feasible to extract proteins with organic solvents, since proteins are often denatured or degraded as a result of contact with the organic solvent. Proteins can often be successfully extracted by means of two immiscible liquid phases that consist of solutions of two water-soluble but incompatible polymers, or one polymer plus a high concentration of certain salts. Extraction usually comes early in the purification process for a bioproduct and typically would precede a high-resolution step such as chromatography. Extraction is often advantageous because it can bring about a significant reduction in volume and/or can separate the desired product from cells or cell debris. It is desirable to reduce the volume as soon as possible in the process, since large volumes typically lead to large costs. The extractions of interest in the purification of biotechnological and pharmaceutical products are mainly liquid-to-liquid, and this is the emphasis in this chapter. The basic definitions and principles of extraction are developed first, followed by an explanation of scale-up and design procedures for the extractors most commonly used for bioproducts. After completing this chapter, the reader should be able to do the following: • Define and use key constants such as the partition coefficient, solvent-to-feed ratio, and extraction factor. • Explain the factors that affect the partitioning of biomolecules.

A 72-year-old man with hypothyroidism and type 2 diabetes sought care for a 3-year history of slowly progressive, ascending lower limb paresthesias and imbalance. Three months earlier, he noted subacute onset of finger numbness and substantial worsening of imbalance with infrequent falls. He also had a 1-year history of progressive visual decline that persisted despite cataract surgery. Additional symptoms included intermittent light-headedness and confusion. Laboratory evaluations showed a decreased hemoglobin value and an increased mean corpuscular volume. Macrocytic red blood cells were noted on a peripheral blood smear. Serum vitamin B₁₂ level was less than 70 ng/L. Levels of plasma homocysteine and serum methylmalonic acid were markedly increased to 375 µmol/L and 143 nmol/L, respectively. Serum copper level was normal. Serum parietal cell antibodies were increased to 46 U, and intrinsic factor antibodies were absent. Serum gastrin was markedly increased. The clinical presentation in this patient suggested a myeloneuropathy. His vitamin B₁₂ level was undetectable and accompanied by a macrocytic anemia and increased methylmalonic acid and homocysteine levels. Even though intrinsic factor antibodies were negative, the clinical picture was supportive of subacute combined degeneration in the setting of pernicious anemia. The patient was started on vitamin B₁₂ replacement. At 6-month follow-up he had striking improvement in gait and vision. The light-headedness and confusion were no longer present. His examination was remarkable only for mild impairment, with tandem gait and a slightly positive Romberg sign. The lower limb reflexes were reduced. Impaired position perception at the toes persisted, but vibration perception in the lower limbs improved. Laboratory investigations showed normalization of the hemoglobin, vitamin B₁₂, methylmalonic acid, and homocysteine levels. The serum gastrin level had improved but was still increased at 742 pg/mL. The best-characterized neurologic manifestations of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency include myelopathy and myeloneuropathy. Autonomic neuropathy, optic neuropathy, and neuropsychiatric manifestations have also been reported. Neurologic manifestations may occur without evidence of the characteristic hematologic derangement, megaloblastic anemia. Macrocytosis or hypersegmented neutrophils on peripheral blood smear may be clues.

Muons provide a means of probing the diffusion of ions in a range of technologically important materials. The muon spectra are frequently modelled using a dynamic Kubo- Toyabe function to determine diffusion rates. Applications of the technique include battery-cell and hydrogen-storage materials, as well as photovoltaics. Particular advantages of muons in this field are the sensitivity of muons to volume fraction effects and the ability of low-energy muons to probe surfaces and interfaces.

Polycythaemia or erythrocytosis is characterized by an abnormal increase in the numbers of red blood cells, leading to an elevation in the haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit (>52% in men and >48% in women). The cause may be either (1) primary—due to an intrinsic defect of haemopoietic stem cells; or (2) secondary—due to extrinsic stimulation of progenitor erythroid cells by circulating growth factors; and the condition needs to be distinguished from (3) pseudopolycythaemia—in which haematocrit is raised because the plasma volume is decreased....

Anemia is a reduction in the mass of healthy circulating red blood cells (RBCs). It results from 1 of 3 mechanisms: 1) inadequate production of RBCs by the bone marrow (ie, marrow failure, intrinsic RBC synthetic defects, or lack of essential RBC components such as vitamins); 2) blood loss; or 3) premature destruction of RBCs (ie, hemolysis). Microcytic anemia indicates the presence of small RBCs (mean corpuscular volume <80 fL). The most common forms of anemia are microcytic.

Methanotrophic bacteria can use methane as their only energy and carbon source, and they can be deployed to manufacture a broad range of value-added materials, from single cell protein (SCP) for feed and food applications over biopolymers such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) to value-added building blocks and chemicals. SCP can replace fish meal and soy for fish (aquacultures), chicken and other feed applications, and also become a replacement of meat after suitable treatment, as a sustainable alternative protein. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) like PHB are a possible alternative to fossil-based thermoplastics. With ongoing and increasing pressure towards decarbonization in many industries, one can assume that natural gas consumption for combustion will decline. Methanotrophic upgrading of natural gas to valuable products is poised to become a very attractive option for owners of natural gas resources, regardless of whether they are connected to the gas grids. If all required protein, (bio)plastics and chemicals were made from natural gas, only 7, 12, 16–32%, and in total only 35–51%, respectively, of the annual production volume would be required. Also, that volume of methane could be sourced from renewable resources. Scalability will be the decisive factor in the circular and biobased economy transition, and it is methanotrophic fermentation that can close that gap.

We present a proposed method to obtain three hematology parameters: red blood cell count, mean red blood cell volume and red blood cell distribution width on a microfabricated microchannel device. Detection will be conducted with an impedance device, in a series of three or more filter beds with channel dimensions on the order of 2–7 μm wide × 5 μm high × 5–15 μm long, and a total device volume on the order of 1 μl.

An equivalent continuum-atomistic algorithm is proposed for carbon-based structures such as nano-scale graphene platelets (NGPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) individually or as stiffeners with polymers. This equivalent continuum-atomistic model will account for the nonlocal effect at the atomistic level and will be a highly accurate mean to determine the bulk properties of graphene-structured materials from its atomistic parameters. In the model, the equivalent continuum and atomic domains are analyzed by finite elements and molecular dynamics finite element-based where atoms stand as nodes in discretized form. Micromechanics idea of representative volume elements (RVE) will be used to determine averaged homogenized properties. In the procedure, a unit hexagonal cell will be the RVE. A minimum volume of material containing this RVE and the neighboring hexagonal cells will be chosen. The size of this volume should cover all the atoms, which have bonded, and nonbonded interaction with the atoms of the RVE unit cell. This minimum volume will be subjected to several load cases. Determination of the response of the RVE hexagonal unit cell contained within the minimum volume, and its potential energy density under the defined load cases, will lead to the determination of mechanical parameters of an equivalent, continuum geometrical shape. For a single layer NGP the thickness of the hexagonal continuum plate is assumed to be 0.34 nm, while in three-dimension and multilayered the actual thickness of layers can be implemented. Under identical loading on the minimum volumes, identical potential (strain) energies for both models will be assumed. Through this equivalence a linkage between the molecular force field constants and the structural elements stiffness properties will be established.

This work adds more experimental evidence regarding the feasibility of using glucose to fuel fuel-cells with anodes that have a high area-to-volume ratio. Electrospinning was used to fabricate sub-micrometer size fibrous electrocatalytic anode membranes for the oxidation of glucose in an alkaline fuel cell (AFC). The fibers of the membranes were made of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and coated with silver by electroless plating. The anodes were tested while installed in a membranless fuel cell. The results presented include the open circuit voltage, OCV, the polarization curve, the power density as a function of the current density, and the peak power density, PPD. The measurements were performed with constant concentrations of glucose, 0.8 M, and KOH electrolyte solution, 1M. The performance of the anodes was found to improve as the diameter of the silver-plated fibers decreased. The highest PPD of 0.28 mW/cm2 was obtained with an anode made of plated fibers having a mean fiber diameter of 130 nanometers. We conclude from the results that saccharides in general, and glucose in particular, can serve as fuels for fuel cells, and that silver-plated polymeric electrospun electrodes have advantages due to their large surface area.

Our work proposes a device to monitor and measure three key hematology parameters: red blood cell count (RBC), mean red blood cell volume (MCV), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW). This device will be a microfabricated microchannel unit. Cellular detection will be performed using an impedance device through a series of filter beds with channel dimensions of approximately 2–7 μm wide × 5 μm high × 5–15 μm long.

Introduction: Cervical cancer has a high incidence in developing countries including India. Brachytherapy (BT) is an important component in the curative management of carcinoma of the cervix, and significantly improves survival. In gynaecologic BT, correlation between the radiation dose and the normal tissue effects have been assessed using point doses. Since 1985, these points have been defined in the international commission of radiation units and measurements (ICRU-38) report. However GEC-ESTRO recommended volume based treatment planning in their respective series (I-IV). For cervical cancer BT, the correlation of ICRU point doses and volume based treatment planning is investigational till date. Analysis becomes feasible when cross sectional image-based treatment planning for BT using computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is utilised as per GEC-ESTRO recommendation. Methods: It is a retrospective pilot study includes patients (pts.) of carcinoma cervix treated with high dose rate (HDR) BT 9 Gy in 2 fractions 1 week apart. All volume based dosimeteric parameters regarding high risk clinical target volume (HRCTV), intermediate risk clinical target volume (IRCTV) like D90, D100 and for organ at risk (OAR) D 0.1 cc, D 1.0 cc and D 2.0 cc were delineated and dose coverage was analysed in point dose based planning. Results: We have analysed twenty pts. of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cervix. The median age was 52 yrs. (41-65 yrs), stage II B 10 pts. & III B 10 pts. The mean value of D90 & D100 in HRCTV during I and II session were 8.64, 6.75 and 5.76, 4.36 Gy respectively. Same values for IRCTV were 6.31, 4.91 and 3.68, 3.15 Gy respectively. Analysis of OARs demonstrated that mean dose received by 0.1, volume of bladder during I and II session received 10.68, 9.47, by 1 cc volume 8.39, 7.57 and by 2 cc volume 6.84, 6.21 Gy respectively. The mean dose received by 0.1 cc of rectum were 11.59, 10.12, by 1 cc volume 9.53, 8.19 and by 2 cc volume 7.76, 6.81 Gy respectively. In point based analysis mean dose delivered to bladder point during I and II session were 5.63, 6.02 and to rectum point were 5.98, 5.46 Gy respectively. Doses to 0.1 cc volume of bladder and rectum were higher in volume based BT as compared to point based BT in respective fractions. Conclusion: Both HRCTV and IRCTV had better dose coverage in 1st fraction as compared to 2nd fraction. Point doses to bladder and rectum is underestimated in point based (ICRU-38) BT. We need more number of pts in prospective randomized trial for more consistent result.

Gas flow in fuel cell porous electrodes is usually modelled with Darcy’s law, which requires the definition of a resistance constant for the material. This can be done directly via experimentation or indirectly via numerical tuning to fit experimental data on cell behaviour. Both methods lack generality, as they do not take into account the particular porous structure of each electrode. In the present work, a numerical procedure for calculating the resistance constant for a given porous structure is presented. This procedure is based on Lattice Boltzmann models, which treat the problem from a microscopic point of view, reproducing collisions between fluid molecules and solid particles. It can be demonstrated that under certain hypotheses, these models yield Navier-Stokes equations on a macroscopic scale, hence obeying fluid mechanics laws. Here the flow in a set of thirty randomly generated porous structures was analyzed, thus obtaining a distribution of values for Darcy’s constant. The analysis was repeated for ten different pressure gradients applied to a portion of the electrode and for three different volume porosities. The results showed that, for a given volume porosity, the value of Darcy’s constant is strongly affected by the material porous structure. On the other hand, the mean value of resistance remained almost constant while varying the applied load, thus correctly reproducing the linear dependence between velocity and pressure gradient, as stated by Darcy’s law. As fuel cell models are a great help in designing and predicting component operation, a further analysis was carried out in order to study the influence of the electrode resistance constant on cell performance prediction. The Lattice Boltzmann model was used to obtain resistance data characteristic of fuel cell electrodes, and the results were implemented in a one dimensional fuel cell model. The simulations showed that the variation of Darcy’s constant does not significantly affect the prediction of the cell polarization curve, while a significant effect was found on the prediction of the exact operating point on the polarization curve. In conclusion, if accurate modelling of a fuel cell is required, great care must be taken in evaluating the electrodes resistance constant. The procedure presented here, coupled with a non destructive tomography scan of the electrode structure could greatly help in refining existent fuel cell models.

We recently reported that vascular EC support the staphylococcal protein A (SPA)-induced production of IL-2 by T cells, and furthermore do so synergistically with monocytes. We have now assessed the contributions of EC membrane-associated and secreted factors to these functions. IL-2 was measured by either human tonsil blast of CTLL cell assay. Separation of EC from T cells by a permeable membrane (.45μ pore size) prevented IL-2 production. Consistent with this, supernatant from resting EC (ECs) was also unable to induce IL-2 generation. In addition, neither a crude EC plasma membrane preparation nor paraformaldehyde-fixed EC supported IL-2 production. The combination of fixed EC + ECs likewise did not reconstitute the accessory cell role of intact EC. This was not due to the absence of class II MHC antigens, since EC which were fixed after incubation with interferon (to induce HLA-DR expression) were also unable to promote IL-2. However, the addition of ECs to cultures of T + live EC enhanced IL-2 production by 42% (mean, n=7). This effect did not require the presence of detectable IL-1 in the ECs, and was not reproduced by purified IL-1. When added to unfractionated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM), both fixed EC and ECs enhanced IL-2 production (increments of 120 ± 37% and 115 ± 44% respectively). This effect was dose related, and peaked at 20% ECs by volume. Incubation of EC with calcium ionophore (10™6 M) yielded a supernatant (ECs-i) with greatly enhanced IL-2 promoting activity despite the fact that ionophore alone suppressed IL-2: lllu for T + EC + ECs-i vs. 7u for T + EC + ECs + ionophore. Therefore, substances secreted by EC and presented on the EC surface are able to augment mitogen induced IL-2 production by T cells in the presence of accessory cells. The EC-derived mediator is apparently distinct from IL-1. EC may function in concert with monocytes as important immune regulatory cells at the blood/tissue interface.

Review question / Objective: P – diabetic and non-diabetic patients undergoing phacoemulsification without macular edema; I – Nepafenac 0.1% or Nepafenac 0.3% in addition to topical steroids; C – topical steroids alone; O – Mean Differences of Foveal thickness (FT), total macular volume (TMV), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and intraocular pressure (IOP); S – Randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Condition being studied: Macular swelling or macular edema after cataract surgery when uncontrolled may compromise the blood-ocular barrier and allow inflammatory cells and cytokines to enter the aqueous humor, resulting in discomfort for the patient, a slower rate of recovery, subpar visual results, and even more complications like the development of synechiae, increased IOP, macular edema (ME), corneal edema, and so forth.