Storage of washed or irradiated red cells in AS-7 improves their in vitro characteristics.

BACKGROUND: AS-7 is a new alkaline hypotonic red cell additive solution (AS) shown to improve red cell quality during storage compared with AS-1. We sought to compare red cells stored in AS-7 with those stored in SAGM using RCC that were either untreated, or washed or irradiated on day 14 of storage. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A pooled and split study design was used to produce seven identical RCC (four in SAGM and three in AS-7). At day 14 following donation, two RCC (one in SAGM and one in AS-7) were gamma irradiated and three RCC (two in SAGM and one in AS-7) were washed and resuspended in either SAGM or AS-7. RCC were sampled for analysis throughout storage and at end of shelf life: day 28 for washed or irradiated and day 35 for untreated RCC. RESULTS: For untreated, washed or irradiated RCC, those stored in AS-7 had lower haemolysis, red cell microvesicles and supernatant potassium content than RCC in SAGM. In addition, ATP levels and pH were better maintained in AS-7 RCC than in SAGM RCC. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the quality of these components may be improved by storage in AS-7 compared with SAGM.

Severe iron deficiency anaemia and stroke.

Neurological complications of severe anaemia in childhood are rare. We report a case of severe iron deficiency in a child of 23 months, presenting as an acute hemiparesis.

Anaemia, vitamin E deficiency and failure to thrive in an infant.

An 8-week-old boy presented with failure to thrive from birth. He had been fed with breast and formula milk. He had an anaemia of 6.6 g/dl with polychromasia, nucleated red blood cells and immature myeloid cells in the peripheral blood. He showed evidence of haemolysis with a reticulocyte count of 120 x 10(9)/l, a raised unconjugated bilirubin and had low plasma protein levels. Investigation revealed a low vitamin E level and a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis.

Differentiation-related changes in quantitative binding of immunomagnetic beads.

Experiments have been carried out to demonstrate that cell viability and phenotypic characteristics are not affected by exposure to constant magnetic fields or growth in the presence of Dynabeads. This paper also demonstrates that the changes in the surface concentration of the antigens, SSEA-1 (stage-specific embryonic antigen-1) and histocompatibility antigen (MHC H2-Db) during differentiation as determined by flow cytometric analysis, are mirrored by changes in the numbers of bound immunomagnetic particles (Dynabeads) targeted with monoclonal antibodies to these cell surface antigens. These results clearly indicate that the numbers of beads bound to cells reflect the numbers of specific surface antigens present on the cells.

Infrared irradiance from phototherapy units and the effect on osmolality of serum and urine in term infants.

The osmolality of urine increased in 10 term infants receiving phototherapy. Phototherapy units made locally were likely to emit more infrared radiation than a unit available commercially, but both types led to falsely increased incubator thermometer readings. Interposing a 6-mm acrylic sheet prevents these effects.

Diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma after ingestion of imipramine.

An 11-year-old twin girl was admitted to hospital with a 24-hour history of profuse sweating, tachycardia, and hypertension after a single dose of imipramine. She was subsequently found to have a right adrenal phaeochromocytoma. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of tumour provocation by imipramine.