Performance of the SE-9000 automated haematology analyser in a laboratory serving a haematological oncology unit.

The performance of the SE-9000 automated haematology analyser in a laboratory receiving a high number of abnormal specimens from haematological oncology patients was assessed according to formal protocols for the evaluation of blood cell counters. Linearity over a useful working range, precision in clinically important ranges and negligible carry-over were demonstrated in this group of patient samples confirming the results of previous investigators. The comparability of instrument derived differential leucocyte counts from both normal and distributionally abnormal samples with those obtained by visual microscopy using the NCCLS H-20 A protocol was very good. The sensitivity of flags for the detection of immature granulocytes and myeloid blast cells was high and this can be attributed to the incorporation of a new measuring channel (Immature Myeloid Information or IMI channel). The number of unrecognized abnormalities was low and when compared with the poor sensitivity of the routine 100-cell visual differential leucocyte count, the analyser was judged suitable for monitoring patients with haematological malignancies. The performance of flags such as 'left shift' and 'atypical lymphocytes' can be improved by taking into consideration distributional abnormalities such as neutrophilia and lymphocytosis. The trigger level for these flags should be adapted to the clinical need particularly in cases of neutropenia following chemotherapy, and in lymphoproliferative disorders and infection.

Treatment of winter depression in Norway. II. A comparison of the selective monoamine oxidase A inhibitor moclobemide and placebo.

Thirty-four patients with seasonal affective disorder, winter depression type (WD) were randomly distributed to receive the selective monoamine oxidase-A inhibitor moclobemide (400 mg daily) or placebo in a double-blind, parallel group study lasting for up to 14 weeks. Severity measures were the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) extended with characteristic symptoms of WD; summed score of the "atypical" symptoms hypersomnia, hyperphagia and carbohydrate craving; and Clinical Global Impressions (CGI). After 3 weeks, patients with unsatisfactory response were switched to open moclobemide. Three patients on placebo dropped out before 3 weeks. Extended MADRS and CGI showed no significant difference between the groups at 3 weeks, whereas the atypical score was reduced significantly more on moclobemide than on placebo already after one week. Nonresponders after 3 weeks (9 of 16 on moclobemide and 7 of 15 on placebo) improved rapidly after being given open moclobemide. Predictor analysis showed a remarkably high negative correlation between improvement at 3 weeks (extended MADRS) and age in the placebo group and a strong, nonsignificant trend in the same direction in the moclobemide group. Dichotomizing the patients according to the median age (45 years) resulted in a somewhat better effect of moclobemide than placebo in the older age group. There were no significant differences in side effects between moclobemide and placebo.

Treatment of winter depression in Norway. I. Short- and long-term effects of 1500-lux white light for 6 days.

Patients with seasonal affective disorder (winter depression) from the Oslo area (at about 60 degrees N) recruited through mass media advertising were treated with 1500-lx white full-spectrum light for 2 h in the morning for 6 days. Their clinical state was assessed at baseline and 1, 3, 6, 10 and 14 weeks after commencement of treatment with an extended version of Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Clinical Global Impression. Forty patients (35 women, 5 men, age range 24 to 64 years) completed 1 week of light treatment. A subgroup of 9 patients received light in addition to ongoing drug treatment. The mean reduction in total extended MADRS score at week 1 was 48% in patients receiving only light and 56% in patients receiving light in addition to drugs. In spite of the low dose of light given, this is comparable to other reported results using light treatment for winter depression. In contrast to most other studies, however, the improvement at week 1 was maintained for the rest of the season in most patients. Only 5 patients were given another light treatment course, and another 5 were switched to drug treatment due to their unsatisfactory response to light treatment.

Evaluation of an indirect fluorescent-antibody stain for detection of Pneumocystis carinii in respiratory specimens.

Two prospective studies were undertaken to evaluate a commercial indirect fluorescent-antibody (IFA) stain for the detection of Pneumocystis carinii in respiratory specimens from individuals at risk for or with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The first study compared IFA with Diff-Quik (DQ; a rapid Giemsa-like stain) for detecting P. carinii in 95 induced sputa obtained from 77 asymptomatic patients who had survived one previous episode of P. carinii pneumonia and who were being treated prophylactically with aerosolized pentamidine. Only one induced sputum specimen was found to contain P. carinii; organisms were detected by both stains. The second study compared the performance of the IFA stain versus DQ, modified toluidine blue O, and Gomori methenamine silver stains for detecting P. carinii in symptomatic individuals at risk for or with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Of 182 specimens examined, P. carinii was detected in 105 by one or more stains; the DQ stain detected 73 (70%), the modified toluidine blue O stain detected 75 (71%), the Gomori methenamine silver stain detected 76 (72%), and the IFA stain detected 95 (90%). The IFA stain was more sensitive (P less than 0.01) than the other traditional stains for detecting P. carinii; however, a subsequent clinical evaluation revealed that a subset of IFA-positive-only specimens were from patients whose clinical symptoms resolved without specific anti-P. carinii therapy.

The use of mucolysed induced sputum for the identification of pulmonary pathogens associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

We describe a system for diagnosis of pulmonary disease in the human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient using induced sputum and other diagnostic procedures. This system has been successfully used at San Francisco (Calif) General Hospital for more than 2 years. It utilizes outpatient facilities and reduces the need for bronchoscopy. Sputum induced by inhalation of 3% saline mist, mucolysed, concentrated by centrifugation, and stained by a rapid modified Giemsa stain was the first diagnostic specimen examined in 404 episodes of suspected human immunodeficiency virus-associated pulmonary disease in 358 patients. Pneumocystis carinii was found in 222 (55%) sputum specimens. In 118 episodes in which the sputum did not contain P carinii, bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy and/or bronchoalveolar lavage was performed and P carinii was found in 50 (42%). These 118 bronchoscopy results, as well as evaluation of the subsequent clinical course of those patients who accounted for 64 episodes of lung disease and who did not have bronchoscopy following examination of nondiagnostic induced sputum, indicated a range of sensitivity for detection of P carinii in induced sputum of 74% to 77% and a negative predictive value of 58% to 64%. Mycobacteria were recovered from 11 (6%) of the induced sputum and 6 (12%) of the bronchoscopic specimens containing P carinii. However, only oral or environmental fungi were recovered from P carinii-containing induced sputum or bronchoscopic specimens. For those patients in whom P carinii was not detected, only the bronchoscopic specimens were cultured for Mycobacteria and fungi. Potentially pathogenic Mycobacteria and fungi were recovered from 16 (23.5%) and 34 (50%), respectively, of these P carinii-negative specimens. Analysis of these results, obtained under routine practice conditions, indicates that bronchoscopy should be reserved for those patients whose induced sputum examinations do not show P carinii and that mycobacterial and fungal cultures be performed only on bronchoscopic specimens in which P carinii is not detected.

Separation of human eosinophils in density gradients of polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated silica gel (Percoll).

A method for isolation of eosinophils from human peripheral blood using isosmolar solutions of polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated silica gel (Percoll) is described. The purity ranged from 86 to 99% eosinophils in the final preparation and the recovery was 38-56%. The separation technique did not affect the viability or the metabolic capacities of the cells.

Separation of human bone marrow cells in density gradients of polyvinylpyrrolidone coated silica gel (Percoll).

A simple and highly reproducible method is described for separation and density distribution analysis of human bone marrow cells in continuous density gradients of polyvinylpyrrolidone coated silica gel (Percoll). Colony and cluster forming cells in agar separated from the bulk of cells and peaked at densities of 1.063-1.064 g/ml. The enrichment of clonogenic cells was approximately 10 times and recovery varied between 41-321%. The overall recovery of cells was 80% (60-94%). Density distribution analysis of morphologically identifiable cells demonstrated the progressive increase in density with maturation of cells within the granulocytic series: myeloblasts peaked at 1.0624 g/ml, promyelocytes at 1.0734 g/ml, myelocytes at 1.0776 g/ml, metamyelocytes at 1.0799 g/ml and mature neutrophils at 1.0864 g/ml. The eosinophil had the highest density, 1.0904 g/ml, of all cells analyzed. Monocytes and lymphocytes peaked at 1.0661 and 1.0681 g/ml respectively. The light density shift of clonogenic cells of AML and CML reported by other authors was confirmed.

Pyoderma gangrenosum associated with regional enteritis. Improvement in defective granulocyte function and healing of skin lesions during administration of clofazimine.

A defective uptake of oxygen by peripheral blood granulocytes during phagocytosis, indicating a subnormal phagocytic capacity, has been found in a patient with regional enteritis complicated by pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). During administration of clofazimine and granulocyte function normalized and the skin lesions healed. It is possible that a defective granulocyte function may sometimes be involved in the pathogenesis of PG and that a clofazimine-induced improvement in the function will favour healing of the lesions. The result of treatment in our patient and in other cases recently published indicates that the drug may be worth trying in PG.