Delta-CHr improves the identification of anemic syndromes and the evaluation of hemoglobin synthesis.

Reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr) is considered an index of iron status, helpful in the differential diagnosis of microcytoses. Its potential can be enhanced by comparing CHr dynamic reference values (CHr-e: expected CHr), which are proportional to the MCVr variations occurring in micro- or macrocytosis, with measured CHr values. We demonstrate that the difference between measured CHr and CHr-e (DeltaCHr) is helpful to differentiate the anemic syndromes and, in particular, beta-thalassemia vs. presumable sideropenia. DeltaCHr can also indicate when to interrupt iron supplementation. DeltaCHr allows an insight into the erythropoiesis of thalassemic and sideropenic subjects, pointing out the reduced hemoglobin production and ineffective erythroid activity in these conditions.

[A new method for determination of ATPase activity in tissue homogenates]. / Un nuovo metodo per il dosaggio dell'attività ATPasica in omogenati di tessuto.

Authors describe a new method to determine Mg2+ and Na+K+ATPase activity on extremely small samples of tissue homogenates. They use specific inhibitors to discern between the two activities and a sensitive colorimetric method to dose Pi released from ATP, Lower limit of sensitivity is about 0,0100 micromoles of Pi/mg proteins/hour.