[Predictive significance of reticulocyte count (interpretative methodologic approach)]. / Significato predittivo del conteggio dei reticolociti (approccio metodologico interpretativo).

This study concerns the comparison of two methodologies for reticulocyte count on two groups of 100 subjects. The evaluation of the results achieved with the two colorants (brilliant cresyl blue and pre-colored glasses with crystal acetate violet and methylene blue) suggests the application of more reliable parameters (reticulocyte index, reticulocyte production index) for the interpretation of reticulocyte counting. It seems desirable to correct the absolute reticulocyte number with the degree of anemia of the patient and to calculate the medullary production index to identify the effective reticulocytosis.

[Macro-CK type 1: a methodological study approach and its clinical significance]. / Macro-CK tipo 1: approccio metodologico di indagine e suo significato clinico.

Description of an analytical procedure in order to show the atypical-CK carriers that simulate an abnormal raising of CK-MB circulating levels in dosages for immune inhibition. This procedure was applied to two samples taken from patients of such a type, immune form neoplastic and cardiac pathology. A systematic dosage of a "real" MB isoenzyme is desirable in all the cases of very raised CK-MB activity.

[The significance of antipolysaccharide C antibodies from Streptococcus group A. Their importance in the diagnosis of streptococcal infections]. / Sul significato degli anticorpi antipolisaccaride C dello streptococco di gruppo A. La loro importanza nella diagnosi di infezione streptococcica.

Here is underlined the role of quantitative determination of streptococcus A polysaccharide C antibody for the diagnosis of streptococcal infection. The Authors suggest to associate this determination with antistreptolysin titer and/or bacterial esoenzyme antibody titer, in order to achieve a wider spectrum of streptococcus induced antibodies for therapeutic and prophylactic applications.

[Value of various hematologic indexes proposed for identifying healthy carriers of the beta-thalassemic trait]. / Considerazioni sul valore di alcuni indici ematologici proposti per identificare il portatore sano del trait beta-talassemico.

The results of a screening for beta-heterozygous thalassemia conducted on 999 school-boys aged from 11 to 13 are the following: 7.5% of the subjects were taker of the thalassemia trait; 74 subjects over 75 with beta-heterozygous thalassemia had "Mean Corpuscolar Volume" (MCV) values below 70 fl. The results of the subjects with globular volume less than or equal to 79 fl (with or without beta-thalassemia) were used to compare the diagnostic accuracy of beta-thalassemia for the hematological indexes of England-Fraser, Mentzer, Shine-Lal and the MCV estimations. This comparison has shown better results in terms of sensibility and specificity for MCV with respect to the other indexes. A more extensive application of the study could be convenient in order to evaluate if the MCV level of 70 fl is effective to discriminate between beta-thalassemia and non thalassemic microcytosis.