ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of severe primary IGF1 deficiency (IGFD) is unclear. IGFD must be identified promptly as treatment with recombinant human IGF1 (rhIGF1) is now available. Our objective was to characterize and assess the prevalence of severe primary IGFD in a large cohort of patients evaluated for short stature at a pediatric endocrinology unit in France. DESIGN: Observational study in a prospective cohort. METHODS: Consecutive patients referred to our unit between 2004 and 2009 for suspected slow statural growth were included. Patients were classified into eight etiological categories. IGFD was defined by height ≤-3 SDS, serum IGF1 levels <2.5th percentile, GH sufficiency, and absence of causes of secondary IGFD. RESULTS: Out of 2546 patients included, 337 (13.5%) were born small for gestational age and 424 (16.9%) had idiopathic short stature. In these two categories, we identified 30 patients who met our criterion for IGFD (30/2546, 1.2%). In these 30 patients, we assessed the response to IGF1 generation test, time course of IGF1 levels, and efficiency of GH replacement therapy. The results indicated that only four of the 30 children were definite or possible candidates for rhIGF1 replacement therapy. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of severe primary IGFD defined using the standard criterion for rhIGF1 treatment was 1.2%, and only 0.2% of patients were eligible for rhIGF1 therapy.
Subject(s)
Growth Disorders/epidemiology , Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/diagnosis , Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/epidemiology , Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/deficiency , Adolescent , Adult , Body Height , Child , Child, Preschool , Cohort Studies , Female , France/epidemiology , Growth Disorders/diagnosis , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/analysis , Male , Prevalence , Severity of Illness Index , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of skeletal dysplasias (SDs) in patients with idiopathic short stature (ISS) or small for gestational age (SGA) status. SETTING: Rare Endocrine/Growth Diseases Center in Paris, France. DESIGN: A prospective study on consecutive patients with ISS and SGA enrolled from 2004 to 2009. METHOD: We used a standardized workup to classify patients into well-established diagnostic categories. Of 713 patients with ISS (n=417) or SGA status (n=296), 50.9% underwent a skeletal survey. We chose patients labeled normal or with a prepubertal slowdown of growth as a comparison group. RESULTS: Diagnoses were ISS (16.9%), SGA (13.5%), normal growth (24.5%), transient growth rate slowing (17.3%), endocrine dysfunction (12%), genetic syndrome (8.9%), chronic disease (5.1%), and known SD (1.8%). SD was found in 20.9% of SGA and 21.8% ISS patients and in only 13.2% in our comparison group. SD prevalence was significantly higher in the ISS group than in the comparison group, especially (50%) for patients having at least one parent whose height was <-2 SDS. Dyschondrosteosis and hypochondroplasia were the most frequently identified SD, and genetic anomaly was found in 61.5 and 30% respectively. Subtle SD was found equally in the three groups and require long-term growth follow-up to evaluate the impact on final height. CONCLUSION: SD may explain more than 20% of cases of growth retardation ascribed to ISS or SGA, and this proportion is higher when parental height is <-2 SDS. A skeletal survey should be obtained in patients with delayed growth in a context of ISS or SGA.
Subject(s)
Bone Diseases, Developmental/physiopathology , Fetal Growth Retardation/physiopathology , Growth Disorders/etiology , Adolescent , Bone Diseases, Developmental/epidemiology , Bone Diseases, Developmental/genetics , Bone and Bones/abnormalities , Bone and Bones/physiopathology , Child , Child, Preschool , Cohort Studies , Dwarfism/epidemiology , Dwarfism/genetics , Dwarfism/physiopathology , Family Health , Female , Fetal Growth Retardation/epidemiology , Fetal Growth Retardation/genetics , France/epidemiology , Genetic Variation , Growth Disorders/epidemiology , Growth Disorders/genetics , Growth Disorders/physiopathology , Hospitals, Pediatric , Hospitals, Teaching , Humans , Infant , Infant, Small for Gestational Age , Limb Deformities, Congenital/epidemiology , Limb Deformities, Congenital/genetics , Limb Deformities, Congenital/physiopathology , Lordosis/epidemiology , Lordosis/genetics , Lordosis/physiopathology , Male , Osteochondrodysplasias/epidemiology , Osteochondrodysplasias/genetics , Osteochondrodysplasias/physiopathology , Prevalence , Prospective Studies , Referral and ConsultationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic disorder whose many manifestations include obesity and short stature. Diabetes, osteoporosis, and scoliosis are common. We evaluated the effects of human growth hormone (hGH). METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 36 children (1-15 years of age) with genetically confirmed PWS who were given hGH (mean dose 0.033 ± 0.006 mg/kg/day) for 36 months. At baseline and once yearly, we evaluated growth, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), glucose tolerance, serum lipids, and spinal radiographs. RESULTS: Height gain over the 3-year period was 1.2 SD score. Lean body mass increased significantly during each treatment year. Total body fat decreased by 5.42 and 1.17% in the 1st and 2nd years, respectively. BMD remained unchanged during therapy. IGF-1 and homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance increased, and glucose intolerance was found in 22.7% of patients at baseline and 0% at 3 years. None of the patients had diabetes. Their lipid profile improved. Scoliosis was present in 27.8% of the patients at baseline and 47.2% at 3 years. CONCLUSION: GH treatment in children with PWS has multiple beneficial effects on growth and body composition. Tolerance is good, with an improvement in glucose metabolism, although IGF-1 levels and insulin resistance parameters should be monitored closely. The high rate of scoliosis warrants monitoring by a pediatric orthopedic surgeon.
Subject(s)
Human Growth Hormone/therapeutic use , Prader-Willi Syndrome/drug therapy , Prader-Willi Syndrome/metabolism , Body Composition/drug effects , Bone Density/drug effects , Carbohydrate Metabolism/drug effects , Child , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Insulin Resistance/physiology , Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/metabolism , Lipid Metabolism/drug effects , Male , Prospective Studies , Scoliosis/etiologyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Massive neonatal screening for phenylketonuria (PKU) began in developed countries in 1963, and eventually disappeared as a cause of mental retardation. Yet, this is not the case in most developing countries. AIM: To describe the phenotype and the genotype of PKU patients with a delayed diagnosis in order to draw attention to the importance of neonatal studies and molecular diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical data were collected from five unrelated patients by means of a medical assessment. The molecular study was conducted using the DGGE, sequencing and/or restriction analysis techniques to search for mutations in the PAH gene. RESULTS. Owing to the delayed diagnosis all the patients presented severe clinical manifestations, such as psychomotor retardation, atypical behaviours and language disorders. Four of them presented epilepsy and there were two cases of microcephaly. The phenotype was as expected, given the genotype. Seven different mutations were detected in the 10 alleles that were studied. The IVS10nt +5 g>t mutation was the most frequent, followed by the Venezuelan mutation S349L. Furthermore, two patients presented mutated proteins with residual activity, and good results were obtained using BH4 therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In our country, as in most developing countries, PKU neonatal studies are performed but the programme does not cover the whole neonatal population. In this work, we want to stress the importance of neonatal studies in the welfare of children, as well as the use of molecular diagnosis to improve the therapeutic orientation and genetic counselling of the families involved.
Subject(s)
Mutation , Phenylketonurias/diagnosis , Phenylketonurias/genetics , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Time Factors , VenezuelaABSTRACT
Introducción. En 1963 comenzó el cribado neonatal masivo de fenilcetonuria (PKU) en países desarrollados, queacabó desapareciendo como causa de retraso mental. Sin embargo, éste no es el caso en la mayoría de los países en vías de desarrollo. Objetivo. Describir el fenotipo y el genotipo de pacientes con diagnóstico tardío de PKU, con el fin de resaltar la importancia del estudio neonatal y el diagnóstico molecular. Pacientes y métodos. Se recogieron datos clínicos de cinco pacientes no relacionados mediante evaluación médica. El estudio molecular se realizó empleando las técnicas de DGGE, secuenciación y/o análisis de restricción para la búsqueda de mutaciones en el gen PAH. Resultados. Todos los pacientes presentaronmanifestaciones clínicas graves debidas al diagnóstico tardío, como retraso psicomotor, conductas atípicas y trastornos del lenguaje. Cuatro de ellos presentaron epilepsia y dos, microcefalia. El fenotipo fue el esperado de acuerdo con el genotipo. Se detectaron siete mutaciones diferentes en los 10 alelos estudiados. La mutación IVS10nt+5g>t fue la más frecuente,seguida de la mutación venezolana S349L. Por otra parte, dos pacientes presentan proteínas mutadas con actividadresidual, y pudieron verse beneficiados de la terapia con BH4. Conclusiones. En Venezuela, al igual que en gran parte de los países en vías de desarrollo, se realiza el estudio neonatal de PKU pero el programa no cubre toda la población neonatal. En este trabajo se quiere destacar la importancia del estudio neonatal en el bienestar de los niños, y el uso del diagnóstico molecular para mejorar la orientación terapéutica y la asesoría genética de la familia
Introduction. Massive neonatal screening for phenylketonuria (PKU) began in developed countries in 1963, and eventually disappeared as a cause of mental retardation. Yet, this is not the case in most developing countries. Aim. To describe the phenotype and the genotype of PKU patients with a delayed diagnosis in order to draw attention to the importance of neonatal studies and molecular diagnosis. Patients and methods. Clinical data were collected from five unrelated patients by means of a medical assessment. The molecular study was conducted using the DGGE, sequencing and/or restriction analysis techniques to search for mutations in the PAH gene. Results. Owing to the delayed diagnosis all thepatients presented severe clinical manifestations, such as psychomotor retardation, atypical behaviours and language disorders. Four of them presented epilepsy and there were two cases of microcephaly. The phenotype was as expected, given the genotype. Seven different mutations were detected in the 10 alleles that were studied. The IVS10nt+5g>t mutation was themost frequent, followed by the Venezuelan mutation S349L. Furthermore, two patients presented mutated proteins with residual activity, and good results were obtained using BH4 therapy. Conclusions. In our country, as in most developingcountries, PKU neonatal studies are performed but the programme does not cover the whole neonatal population. In this work, we want to stress the importance of neonatal studies in the welfare of children, as well as the use of molecular diagnosis to improve the therapeutic orientation and genetic counselling of the families involved
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adult , Phenylketonurias/diagnosis , Mass Screening , Epilepsy/etiology , Microcephaly/etiology , Psychomotor Disorders/etiology , Phenylketonurias/complicationsABSTRACT
Las malformaciones congénitas son un problema poco frecuente; considerando todas las malformaciones en conjunto, éstas se presentan en menos del 2 por ciento de los recién nacidos. Los defectos del cierre del tubo neural: anencefalia, espina bifida, acrania y meningocele, al igual que la mayoría de las malformaciones congénitas, son un grupo de afecciones de etiología multifactorial, producto de la interacción de factores genéticos y ambientales. Los factores genéticos actúan en un sistema poligenético, en el que se tienen que considerar los riesgos de recurrencia, cálculos de heredabilidad, la frecuencia de consanguineidad y las variaciones raciales, los factores ambientales, las infecciones virales, agentes físicos como la hipertemia (fiebre), deficiencia o alteraciones del metabolismo del ácido fólico, así como la exposición a diversas substancias químicas.
Subject(s)
Humans , Adult , Female , Infant, Newborn , Folic Acid/genetics , Congenital Abnormalities/genetics , Neural Tube Defects/genetics , Neural Tube Defects/mortality , Neural Tube Defects/pathology , Embryonic Development/genetics , Spinal Dysraphism/pathology , Fetus/abnormalities , Central Nervous System/embryology , Ultrasonography , Anencephaly/genetics , Anencephaly/mortality , Chemical Compounds/adverse effects , Brain/abnormalities , Gynecology , Misoprostol/pharmacology , Obstetrics , Neural Plate/abnormalitiesABSTRACT
La cara es el principal centro de atención de las facies humanas. Uno de los principales centros de inspección es la nariz, de esto se deriva la importancia que tiene una adecuada reparación de la misma si la anatomía de ha sido vulnerada por una neoplasia o por un traumatismo para obtener la mayor armonía de colores y texturas. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 24 años de edad que posterior a mordedura humana en punta nasal presenta necrosis y signos de infección, que amerito reconstrucción nasal con técnica milenaria denominada colgajo hindú o colgado cutáneo medio frontal.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adult , Ciprofloxacin/administration & dosage , Clindamycin/administration & dosage , Pain/diagnosis , Bites, Human/surgery , Nose/surgery , Nose/injuries , Tissue Transplantation/methods , Facial Injuries/surgery , Ciprofloxacin/pharmacology , Clindamycin/pharmacology , Facial Transplantation , Surgical FlapsABSTRACT
Phytotoxic assays, performed both in vitro and in vivo on leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris, with metabolites excreted by the fungus B. cinerea are evaluated. Exogenous application of the phytotoxin botrydial has been found to produce severe chlorosis and cell collapse and facilitated fungal penetration and colonization of plant tissue. The results also show a light-dependent action mechanism for the phytotoxin and seem to indicate that botrydial is a non-host-specific toxin involved in fungal infection of B. cinerea.
Subject(s)
Botrytis/pathogenicity , Botrytis/metabolism , Phaseolus/parasitology , VirulenceABSTRACT
The fungal metabolite botrydial was detected for the first time in ripe fruits of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) wound-inoculated with conidial suspensions of Botrytis cinerea and also in leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris and Arabidopsis thaliana inoculated without wounding. This phytotoxin was produced in soft rot regions of the infection. In C. annuum, the most aggressive isolate produced the highest botrydial concentrations in planta. The levels of botrydial produced by this isolate did not correlate with the reported relative susceptibilities of four P. vulgaris genotypes. The results suggest that botrydial is a pathogenicity factor for this fungus, but not a primary determinant of pathogenicity.
Subject(s)
Aldehydes/chemical synthesis , Ascomycota/physiology , Bridged Bicyclo Compounds/chemical synthesis , Magnoliopsida/metabolism , Magnoliopsida/microbiologyABSTRACT
This study assessed the validity of questionnaire-based measures for the identification of rural households with hunger and food insecurity. Data used were from a 1993 survey of 193 households with women and children living at home in a rural county. Two interviews provided data on demographics, factors contributing to food insecurity, coping strategies, fruit and vegetable consumption, disordered eating behaviors, height, weight, dietary recall and household food-stores inventory. This information was used to develop a definitive criterion measure for hunger and food insecurity to compare with hunger and food insecurity items from Radimer/Cornell, the Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project (CCHIP) and the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). The Radimer/Cornell and CCHIP questionnaire-based measures had good specificity (i.e., percentage of truly food secure correctly classified; 63-71%) and excellent sensitivity (i.e., percentage of truly food insecure correctly classified; 84-89%) when compared with the criterion measure. Estimates of the prevalence of household food insecurity from the criterion, Radimer/Cornell and CCHIP measures were almost identical. The overall agreement of the Radimer/Cornell and CCHIP measures was very good. These measures can be validly used to screen for hunger and food insecurity among rural households similar to those studied and to target subpopulations for food programs. The NHANES III item alone had excellent specificity but poor sensitivity, and underestimated prevalence.
Subject(s)
Food Supply/standards , Nutrition Disorders/epidemiology , Rural Health , Surveys and Questionnaires/standards , Adaptation, Psychological/physiology , Adult , Body Height/physiology , Body Weight/physiology , Child , Diet Records , Eating/physiology , Feeding Behavior/physiology , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Hunger/physiology , New York/epidemiology , Nutrition Disorders/physiopathology , Prevalence , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
Allergy to pollen is a significant health problem in Costa Rica. This volume both reviews and presents new data on the subject, for which there are no similar comprehensive studies in other areas of Latin America. A description of the sampling methods is presented, as well as an introduction to work presented throughout the volume. A hundred control subjects were compared with 480 patients with rhinitis, conjuntivitis, bronchial asthma and/or atopic dermatitis. Poaceae pollen ranks first in Type I allergic sensitivization, because (1) it produces abundant pollen, (2) occurs in a variety of climates and habitats and (3) its proteins are particularly allergenic. In 1986, about 0.33% of the country's population became new allergy patients, and the rate is increasing. The normal extraction methods were satisfactory and were applied to frozen pollen with a mean active life of about three years. Prich tests were done for a period of two years using only extract combinations by tribe. A second stage used species-specific extracts (1/10 W/V 50% glycerine).
Subject(s)
Allergens/adverse effects , Pollen , Costa Rica , Humans , Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Poaceae , Skin Tests/methods , Tropical ClimateABSTRACT
Type I Hypersensitivity to pollens of the Poaceae Family (Gramineae) organized by subfamilies and tribes were studied in 404 Costa Rican patients with a clinical diagnosis of Allergic Rhinitis and 100 non atopic subjects. Skin prick tests (for each tribe) were done with pooled samples from the species which are most abundant in Costa Rica (1/10 W/V, 50% glycerinated). The tribes were: Paniceae, Andropogoneae, Poeae, Aveneae, Oryzoideae and Chloridoideae (Eragrostoideae); 53% of the patients were positive to at least one of the tribes against 2% of the non atopic subjects. The most frequent tribe was the Aveneae with a 37.4% of positivity; the lowest was Paniceae with an 24.8% positivity. The provinces with the highest positivities to graminean pollens were Alajuela and Guanacaste with more than 60% of the rhinitic patients positive for at least one test. When an individual is positive to one tribe, it does not mean that this patient is positive to other tribes of this large Family. It is necessary to include all the tribes of the Poaceae Family present in a country or region to properly analyze allergic hypersensitivity to this family.
Subject(s)
Allergens/immunology , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/immunology , Pollen/immunology , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Costa Rica/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Poaceae/classification , Residence Characteristics , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/diagnosis , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/epidemiology , Sensitivity and Specificity , Sex Factors , Skin TestsABSTRACT
Type I Hypersensitivity to Poaceae pollen was tested in 27 Costa Rican patients with a clinical diagnosis of Atopic Dermatitis (six were males). Skin prick tests were done with 1/10 W/V, 50% glycerinated, pollen extracts, organized by tribes. Most patients had several allergic problems. Sensitivity increased with the number of allergic diagnoses. Positivity ranged from 25% in patients with Atopic Dermatitis exclusively to 100% in those with three or four simultaneous allergic illnesses. Andropogoneae was highest with 37% while the lower positivity was in the Paniceae (22.2%).
Subject(s)
Allergens/immunology , Dermatitis, Atopic/immunology , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/immunology , Pollen/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Child , Dermatitis, Atopic/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Poaceae/classification , Sensitivity and Specificity , Skin TestsABSTRACT
A total of 84 Costa Rican patients with a clinical diagnosis of Allergic Conjuntivitis (with or without other allergic diagnosis) and 100 non atopic subjects were studied by prick tests for all of Poaceae Tribes present in Costa Rica. Positivity was recorded in 70% of the Allergic Conjunctivitis patients for at least one of the tribes (against 2% of controls). An increase in the number of analysed tribes correlated with a higher number of patients allergic to graminean pollens. Guanacaste Province had the highest positivity, and patients aged 11 to 20 years were the most sensitive. Aveneae had the highest positivity except in Alajuela Province, in which Paniceae was highest in positivity. Poaceae pollens are very important in allergic hypersensitivity among Allergic Conjunctivitis patients. Prick tests for all the tribes present in the country are required to fully detect positivity to this family.
Subject(s)
Allergens/immunology , Conjunctivitis, Allergic/immunology , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/immunology , Pollen/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Conjunctivitis, Allergic/diagnosis , Conjunctivitis, Allergic/epidemiology , Costa Rica/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Poaceae/classification , Residence Characteristics , Sensitivity and Specificity , Sex Factors , Skin Tests , Tropical ClimateABSTRACT
A total of 260 Costa Rican patients (106 males) with clinical diagnosis of Bronchial Asthma and 100 non atopic subjects were studied with skin prick tests for all Poaceae tribes. Allergic Type I Hypersensitivity to these pollens among the Bronchial Asthma patients reached 51.2% positivity to at least one tribe (2% in controls). The positivity to each tribe was lower than positivity to at least one tribe. Up to 25.4% of positive patients could missed by not testing for all tribes present in the country. The pollen of the Oryzeae tribe (rice) showed the highest positivity among the Bronchial Asthma patients of Guanacaste Province. This province produces most of the country's grains. Type I Allergic Hypersensitivity to Poaceae Family pollens in Bronchial Asthma patients in Costa Rica was higher than expected.
Subject(s)
Allergens/immunology , Asthma/immunology , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/immunology , Pollen/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Asthma/diagnosis , Asthma/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Costa Rica/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Poaceae/classification , Residence Characteristics , Sensitivity and Specificity , Sex Factors , Skin TestsABSTRACT
A total of 184 Costa Rican Allergic Rhinitis patients with at least one positive skin prick test in a previous study were tested for reaction to Poaceae tribes and species compared with 100 non atopic subjects. Skin prick tests were applied for the most abundant species present in Costa Rica. Highest positivity rates among the Allergic Rhinitis patients were obtained with Anthoxatum odoratum (83.2%) (Tribe Aveneae), Panicum maximum (82.1%) (Paniceae), Panicum mole (78.3%) (Paniceae) and Holcus lanatus (77.7%) (Aveneae). The only species with a low percentage of positivity was Uniola pittieri. There was a high prevalence of positive prick tests to pollens of the Poaceae species used for food, including corn, sorghum, sugar cane and rice. All exceeded 60% of positive results in the patients (against 2% in controls). These cultivated species have a special pattern of flowering which can explain the known exhacerbation of allergic symptoms in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis.
Subject(s)
Allergens/immunology , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/immunology , Pollen/immunology , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Costa Rica/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Poaceae , Residence Characteristics , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/diagnosis , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/epidemiology , Sensitivity and Specificity , Skin TestsABSTRACT
In a sample of 190 Costa Rican allergic patients and 100 non atopic subjects there was a positive correlation of positivities in skin prick tests to individual Poaceae species and to the Tribe. The exceptions were Panicum maximun, Panicum molle, and Holcus lanatus, because they presented higher individual positivities. A table of correlations among tribes is included. Skin prick tests for Poaceae pollens should be organized by tribes to prevent a 25% of false negative cases.
Subject(s)
Allergens/immunology , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/diagnosis , Pollen/immunology , Skin Tests , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Costa Rica , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , PoaceaeSubject(s)
Phenylketonurias/genetics , Child , Child, Preschool , DNA/analysis , Genotype , Humans , Mutation , Phenotype , Phenylketonurias/metabolism , SpainABSTRACT
Biological particulate specimens, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, bovine spermatozoa and human blood cells (normal erythrocytes and leukemic cells) were processed for scanning and transmission electron microscopy using the coagulated plasma technique. The specimens were suspended in frozen and thawed plasma; later, coagulation was induced by adding CaCl2. The clot was cut into small pieces and processed as tissue fragments. The technique is an useful tool when processing biological particulate specimens for electron microscopy.