Clinical & Laboratory Haematology (Clin Lab Haematol)

Publications in this journal

• Article: Iron absorption from a natural mineral water (Spatone Iron‐Plus)

  M. WORWOOD, W.D. EVANS, R.J. VILLIS, A.K. BURNETT
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  ABSTRACT: Spatone Iron-Plus is a naturally occurring mineral water from Trefriw Wells Spa in Gwynedd, Wales, UK which contains approximately 0.3 mg of iron per ml as ferrous sulphate. The water has been taken as a tonic since Victorian times. Iron absorption from Spatone Iron-Plus was measured in a whole body counter after labelling the water with [59Fe] ferrous sulphate. Absorption studies were carried out in 13 subjects. Mean absorption for 10 ml of Spatone Iron-Plus taken on an empty stomach was 23%. Absorption was related to body iron stores as assessed by serum ferritin. In subjects with a serum ferritin concentration of <10 μg/l, absorption was approximately 40% but was <10% in subjects with ferritin concentrations of approximately 200 μg/l. This study indicates that Spatone Iron-Plus provides iron in a highly bio-available form.
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 09/2010; 18(1):23 - 27.
• Article: Atlas of Blood Cell Differentiation (Interactive CD‐ROM)

  Barbara J. Bain
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 10/2008; 21(1):75 - 76.
• Article: The hyperaggregability of platelets from normal pregnancy is mediated through thromboxane A2 and cyclic AMP pathways

  J.R. SHEU, G. HSIAO, M.Y. SHEN, W.Y. LIN, C.R. TZENG
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  ABSTRACT: There is substantial evidence of increased platelet reactivity in vivo and in vitro during pregnancy, with the risk of developing pre-eclampsia. In this study, platelet function was studied during 28–40 weeks of gestation in a group of women who remained normotensive and in a group of nonpregnant female controls. Platelet aggregation stimulated by thrombin and adenosine diphosphate was markedly enhanced in washed platelets from pregnant subjects. Thrombin (0.04 U/ml)-evoked increases in intracellular Ca+2 mobilization of Fura 2-AM-loaded platelets were also enhanced in pregnant subjects. The binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-triflavin (2 μg/ml) to the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex in thrombin-activated platelets did not differ significantly between the nonpregnant and pregnant groups. Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) formation in both resting and thrombin-activated platelets from pregnant subjects was significantly greater than from nonpregnant subjects. Levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in both resting and prostaglandin E1-treated platelets (10 μmol/l) from pregnant subjects were significantly lower than those from nonpregnant subjects. There were no significant differences between nonpregnant and pregnant subjects in platelet cAMP levels in the presence of imidazole (600 μmol/l) and indomethacin (500 μmol/l). Intracellular pH values in platelets were measured spectrofluorometrically using the fluorescent probe, BCECF-AM. The increase in intracellular pH stimulated by thrombin (0.04 U/ml) in pregnant subjects was markedly greater than that in observed nonpregnant subjects. We conclude that the agonist-induced hyperaggregability of platelets in normal pregnancy may be due, at least partly, to stimulation of the Na+/H+ exchanger and subsequently to elevated intracellular Ca+2 mobilization, and then to increased TXA2 formation and a lowered level of cAMP, which leads to further increases in intracellular Ca+2 mobilization, and finally to enhanced platelet aggregation.
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 10/2008; 24(2):121 - 129.
• Article: Hereditary plasma thromboplastin antecedent (PTA, FXI)

  MSC ADEBA N. AL-ADHADH MBChB
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  ABSTRACT: SummaryA rare case of factor XI (PTA) deficiency was discovered in a Saudi family in the Riyadh area. Nine members of the family were studied. Two were found to have a severe PTA deficiency’ levels of factor XI clotting activity were 0.01 i.u./ml and 0.02 i.u./ml respectively. Both plasmas were markedly deficient in factor XI antigen and appeared to be negative for cross-reactive material (CRM-). The parents were first cousins and both were found to have a minor PTA deficiency. Factor XI levels were: mother 0.048 i.u./ml and father 0.33 i.u./ml. Another sibling was found to have a FXI level of 0.47 i.u./ml. Menorrhagia and bleeding for 1 day after tooth extraction were the main bleeding manifestations found in one member with severe PTA deficiency. Clinically this member presented with iron deficiency anaemia. Other family members had no significant history of bleeding tendency. This is the first report of a Saudi Arabian family with PTA deficiency.
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 09/2008; 10(3):307 - 314.
• Article: Spontaneous (pathological) rupture of the spleen in non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma

  M.S. Morgan, T.J. Deeble
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 09/2008; 11(2):153 - 156.
• Article: Evaluation and calibration of a fluorescence‐activated cell sorter for the interpretation of the granulocyte immunofluorescence test (GIFT)

  R.M. MINCHINTON BAppSc (MLS), FAIMLS, PhD (Lond, S. ROCKMAN BAppSc (MLS, FRCPA K.M. McGRATH MBBS
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  ABSTRACT: Summary The increasing availability of fluorescence-activated cell sorters (FACS) and flow cytometers makes it reasonable to consider the routine use of these machines for the evaluation of the granulocyte immunofluorescence test (GIFT). A comparison of microscopic reading and FACS reading of the standard GIFT demonstrated equivalent simplicity, specificity, sensitivity, reproducibility and duration of test procedure. Differentiation of a negative GIFT from a weakly positive GIFT using the FACS reading method was, however, made difficult by considerable variation in background fluorescence for different neutrophil donors. However, we demonstrate that the FACS reading method was superior for the interpretation of immunofluorescence on chloroquine-treated neutrophils used in the differentiation of HLA from neutrophil-specific antibodies. This systematic study highlighted the fact that any laboratory contemplating conversion from microscopic reading of the GIFT should carefully evaluate and standardize their interpretation of FACS results with their manual reference method.
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 09/2008; 11(4):349 - 359.
• Article: Benign paraproteinaemia and immune neutropenia

  P.A. CARRINGTON, S.E. WALSH, J.B. HOUGHTON
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 09/2008; 11(4):407 - 408.
• Article: Report of the Platelet and Granulocyte Serology Working Group, 1986

  G.F LUCAS BSc, PhD, FIMLS, P.W.G. SAUNDERS MB, CHB, MRCPath, A.H. WATERS PhD, FRCPath, FRCP
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  ABSTRACT: Summary A blind trial conducted amongst 29 laboratories revealed that the overall incidence of ‘false-positive’ results in tests for anti-platelet antibodies was greater for heat-treated serum and plasma samples than for untreated samples.
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 09/2008; 9(3):307 - 312.
• Article: Familial thrombocytopenia and myopathy

  P.A. CARRINGTON, D.I.K. EVANS, W.J.K. CUMMING, M. MAHON, F. KRISTMUNDSDOTTIR
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  ABSTRACT: Summary We report a family in which a combination of myopathy and thrombocytopenia is transmitted as an autosomal dominant characteristic through three generations. The myopathy has unusual histological features with type II fibre atrophy and vacuolation while the thrombocytopenia appears to be due to a defect in megakaryocyte maturation, platelet morphology and function being normal. The haematological findings in such a family have not been described previously.
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 09/2008; 11(4):323 - 329.
• Article: Abnormal thyroid hormone and thyrotropin levels in homozygous sickle cell disease

  OMKAR PARSHAD PhD, MRCP MICHAEL C.G. STEVENS MD, CHRISTOPHER HUDSON MB, JONATHAN ROSENTHAL MB, G. NORRIS MELVILLE MD, MSc DAVID T. DUNN BSc, FRCP GRAHAM R. SERJEANT MD
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  ABSTRACT: Summary Male patients with SS disease had significantly lower T3 and higher TSH levels than a comparison group. Stimulation with TRH in 10 male sibling pairs showed highly significant increases in T3 and TSH in both patients and sibling controls although the increase in TSH was significantly greater in SS disease. The interpretation of these findings is unclear although the thyroid indices indicate an abnormal pituitary-thyroid axis most consistent with a modest primary thyroid failure.
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 09/2008; 11(4):309 - 315.
• Article: Practical application of monoclonal antibodies to the diagnosis and classification of acute leukaemias

  STEPHANIE L. WAIN, PhD MICHEAL J. BOROWITZ MD
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 09/2008; 9(3):221 - 244.
• Article: The CFU‐C assay in patients with neutropenia and, in particular, drug associated neutropenia

  G.A.R. YOUNG BSc, PhD, MB, ChB, MRCP, FRCPA, G. CROAKER BSc, P.C VINCENT BSc, MD, FRCPA, FRACP, P. FORREST BSc, MRCPath T.C.M. MORRIS MD
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  ABSTRACT: Summary One-hundred and four patients with a diagnosis of aplastic anaemia (28) or neutropenia (76) referred to our laboratory for assessment of granulopoicsis were studied. Bone marrow myeloid progenitor cell (CFU-C) frequency was measured and in 85 patients, inhibitor studies with either in-vitro drug addition or plasma co-culture were performed. Of 28 patients with aplastic anaemia, 22 (79%) had low numbers of CFU-C, while four (14%) had numbers within the normal range and two (7%) had elevated progenitor cell frequency. In contrast, of the 76 patients with neutropenia who were studied only 29 (38%) had low CFU-C numbers, 33 (43%) had a CFU-C frequency within the normal range and 14 (18%) had elevated CFU-C numbers. Thirty-nine patients had ingested potentially myelotoxic drugs and in eight of these it was possible to demonstrate drug associated inhibition of CFU-C proliferation in vitro. The drugs most commonly associated on a historical basis with myelosuppression were chloramphenicol, antimalarials, sulphonamides, anticonvulsants and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents.
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 09/2008; 9(3):245 - 254.
• Article: Pyoderma gangrenosum and myelodysplasia

  P. YATES MRCP, G. CORBETT MRCP, MRC Path G. STOCKDILL FRCP
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  ABSTRACT: Pyoderma gangrenosum has been recognized occurring in association with acute and chronic leukaemia. More recently it has been described in patients with myelodysplasia (Jacobs, Palmer and Gordon-Smith 1985). We report a case of pyoderma gangrenosum in a patient with a preceding history of myelodysplasia, illustrating the problem of controlling the skin disease in this condition and the eventual transformation of the myelodysplasia into acute leukaemia. Treatment of the leukaemia resulted in improvement of the skin lesions.
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 09/2008; 9(4):425 - 428.
• Article: Transferrin receptor expression in the leukaemias and lymphoproliferative disorders

  D. BARNETT FIMLS, FIMLS G.A WILSON BSc(Hons, FRCPath A.C.K LAWRENCE MD, PhD G.A BUCKLEY BSc
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  ABSTRACT: The expression of the transferrin receptor (TfR) was studied in the acute leukaemias and lymphoproliferative disorders by means of indirect immunofluorescence and/or the enhanced alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) techniques using monoclonal antibodies to the receptor. A total of 174 cases of acute leukaemia and lymphoproliferative disorder were studied. The results indicate that the receptor is expressed with increased density in the majority of positive cases of acute leukaemia. The lymphoproliferative disorders, however, only expressed the receptor in a minority of cases and did so with weak density. It is proposed that this weak expression i n the lymphoproliferative disorders may be of use as an indicator of an increase in cell activity.
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 09/2008; 9(4):361 - 370.
• Article: Mediastinal extramedullary erythropoiesis in hereditary spherocy tosis

  JOSE J. PETIT M D, M. D. CRISTINA ESTANY
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  ABSTRACT: Summary Evidence of thoracic extramedullary erythropoiesis has been noted before but it is considered rare in the course of chronic haemolytic anaemia. We report an adult who was admitted for splenectomy because of hereditary spherocytosis (HS). The evidence of a large mediastinal mass before surgery ledus, after isotopic scanning using 111 Indium transferrin, to suspect extramedullary erythropoiesis; this was confirmed by cytology during surgery. The utility of 111 Indium transferrin as a bone marrow tracer is also noted.
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 09/2008; 9(3):327 - 332.
• Article: Mithramycin therapy for resistant hypercalcaemia in transformed chronic granulocytic leukaemia

  MRCPath R. Collin MRCP, H. Griffiths MB, BS, MSc, S.V. Polacarz MB, ChB, PhD, FRCPath A.C.K. Lawrence MD, Dipl. RCPath A. Watmore BSc
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 09/2008; 11(2):156 - 159.
• Article: Haematological splenectomy. Changing indications and complications

  N. J. KETLEY MB, BS, MRCP, M. J. MILLS MB, BS, FRCPath, N. E. TRAUB MB, BCh, FRCPath, FRCS A. A. BROWN MD
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  ABSTRACT: Review of splenectomies carried out for haematological disease over a ten-year period, at a district hospital, shows that the indications for splenectomy have changed substantially over this time. Fewer patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura now require splenectomy, however its role in the management of lymphoproliferative disorders has expanded. Splenectomy remains an important therapeutic option for a range of haematological disorders: this series shows it to be a safe and effective operation in selected patients, although it is not without both short and long-term sequelae.
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 06/2008; 14(3):179 - 188.
• Article: CASE REPORT Myeloproliferative disease developing in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

  S. VARADI, S. VIJAYKUMAR
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 06/2008; 4(1):67 - 73.
• Article: Monitoring heparin therapya role for the chromogenic assay

  L.L. CHONG MD, I.I SUSSMAN MD, T.H SPAET
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 06/2008; 5(1):61 - 65.
• Article: The haemodynamic responses to venesection and the effects of cardiovascular disease

  S. H. L. THOMAS MRCP(UK, S. WESTON SMITH MRCPath, N. G. P. SLATER FRCPath, T. C. PEARSON FRCPath, D. F. TREACHER MRCP(UK
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  ABSTRACT: The haemodynamic effects of the venesection of one unit (450 ml) of blood over 9 min were measured using non-invasive techniques, in 14 healthy controls and 18 patients with coronary heart disease or hypertension. Venesection was associated with significant reductions in supine and standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure, stroke volume index and cardiac index, and increases in standing heart rate, in both patient groups. No significant differences were observed between the responses of subjects with and without cardiovascular disease. The authors conclude that, in contrast to established teaching, blood loss can be detected in its early stages by careful haemodynamic monitoring and that venesection can be performed safely without volume replacement in patients with stable cardiovascular disease.
  Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 06/2008; 14(3):201 - 208.