A course in electronics and instrumentation.

In response to the continued development of electronic instrumentation in all disciplines of clinical laboratory science, we have designed a new format for teaching electronic instrumentation. This course provides basic concepts in electronics, including safety precautions, the use of electronic testing equipment, methods for determining precision and accuracy of instruments, interpretation of the operating manual, and preventive maintenance. Students apply concepts by actually maintaining and adjusting improperly functioning instruments, using systematic techniques for trouble-shooting and adjustment. Student examinations indicate that the objectives are being met.

Erythrocyte shape transformation associated with calcium accumulation.

Calcium accumulation in erythrocytes leads to a disco-spheroechinocyte shape transformation with a loss of cellular deformability resulting in a decreased lifespan in the peripheral circulation. This review discusses the role of calcium in the morphologic alteration of erythrocytes which appears to involve modifications of the inner membrane cytoskeletal proteins that regulate cell shape and membrane deformability. It is hypothesized that calcium interacts with the cytoskeletal proteins to alter their physical state or spatial arrangement such that there is a contractile response of the internal lipid bilayer which causes the echinocytic shape.