Correspondence: Dr Rozita Mohd Department of Medicine, PPUKM, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Contact no: +60122022794, Fax no : +6091456934, Email : [email protected] INTRODUCTION Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a valuable fractionated blood product that contains > 90% of IgG and 10% of Ig M and IgA. It is widely used in various spectrums of autoimmune diseases...

OBJECTIVES Metabolomics is defined as the comprehensive study of all low molecular weight biochemicals, (metabolites) present in an organism. Using a systems biology approach, metabolomics in umbilical cord blood (UCB) may offer insight into many perinatal disease processes by uniquely detecting rapid biochemical pathway alterations. In vitro haemolysis is a common technical problem affecting U...

The effects on erythrocyte fragility of two general anaesthetic agents (halothane and ethanol) and succinylcholine were examined using preparations from 13 normal and four malignant hyperthermia susceptible patients. Erythrocyte fragility was determined by the degree of haemolysis induced in solutions of decreasing osmolarity of NaCl. Halothane caused haemolysis of erythrocytes in an isoosmolar...

1. Osmotic haemolysis of a standard suspension of human red cells was followed using a recording spectrophotometer at wave-lengths between 600 and 650 mmu.2. Optical density changes in the cell suspensions were related to turbulence of the suspension, cell swelling and loss of haemoglobin-containing cells.3. The time course of the loss of cells from suspension in hypotonic electrolyte solutions...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The present general plasticizer di-2-ethylhexyl-phthalate in polyvinylchloride (PVC) blood bags is only physically dispersed in PVC and will therefore leach into blood components. The objective of this study was to perform a first preliminary red blood cell (RBC) storage evaluation in a new blood bag manufactured of polyolefin without any inclusion of potentially migra...

Twenty-four patients with various types of isolated discrete aortic stenosis of a wide range of severity or with muscular obstruction to left ventricular outflow were studied haematologically and by cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography. Patients had haematocrits, reticulocyte, platelet, and megathrombocyte counts, serum haptoglobin, and lactic dehydrogenase performed; urine specimens w...

BACKGROUND Venous blood specimen collection is a common health care practice that has to follow strict guidelines, non-compliance among sampling staff may compromise patient safety. We evaluated a large-scale 2 h educational intervention that emphasised guideline adherence to assess possible improvements of venous blood specimen collection practices. METHODS Blood specimen haemolysis is usual...

Purpose. We have investigated the effect of haemolysis on free and total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in daily clinical practice. Materials and Methods. Thirty-nine consecutive men were enrolled in this study. With an 18 gauge (G) needle 4 cc of blood samples were drawn from the right arm and 2 cc of it was expelled gently in a Vacutainer for regular PSA assay and the remaining was emptied i...

Background: Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) strains have been associated with various disease conditions in avian species due to virulence attributes associated with the organism. Aims: This study was carried out to determine the in vitro pathogenic characteristics and virulence encoding genes found in E. coli strains associated with colibacillosis in chickens. Methods: Fifty-two stock...