An automated image analysis system can be beneficial in preclassification of leucocytes in children with hematological disease

This study was aimed to evaluate the analytical performance of an automated image analysis system (a pilot model of Diff Master^? Octavia) for the preclassification of leucocytes in children with hematological disease. Manual microscopy performed by pediatric hematologists was used as the reference method. Five mature cell class and blasts were evaluated. Diff Master Octavia correctly preclassified 87.4% of all leucocytes with a high reproducibility. The overall accuracy was found to be 93.0%. Clinical sensitivity was 97.7% and specificity was 76.0%. The average time per slide for Diff Master^? Octavia was 2.3 min lower than that of manual method. Our results indicated that the Diff Master^? Octavia can detect and preclassify leucocytes accurately; therefore, it can be used as an efficient and fast method in pediatric hematology routine. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 25:71–75, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Increased Tear Film Osmolarity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Purpose: To evaluate tear film osmolarity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: A total of 55 eyes from 55 patients with SLE and 47 eyes from 47 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals were included in this study. Tear film osmolarity was evaluated with a lab-on-a-chip technique (TearLab; TearLab Corporation, San Diego, CA) in SLE patients in comparison with healthy individuals, and results were correlated to clinically available diagnostic tests for dry eye, such as tear ?lm break-up time (BUT), Schirmer’s test, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Results: The mean tear film osmolarity in the SLE patients and healthy individuals was 306.02 ± 13.27 mOsm/L and 300.74 ± 9.11 mOsm/L, respectively, which made for a statistically significant difference (p = 0.020). In the SLE group, tear film osmolarity was negatively correlated with the Schirmer’s test score and the BUT value (r = ?0.295 p = 0.029 and r = 0.347 p = 0.009, respectively), whereas tear film osmolarity was not correlated with OSDI score (r = ?0.182 p = 0.183). Conclusions: This study revealed that tear film hyperosmolarity and abnormal tear film function are associated with SLE.     

Evaluation of thiol-disulphide homeostasis in radiation workers

Purpose: To evaluate thiol-disulphide homeostasis – a novel, easily calculated, readily available, and relatively cheap oxidative stress marker – in radiation workers and compare the results with healthy controls.

Materials and methods: A total of 108 participants were enrolled in the study including 63 hospital workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation in the units of interventional radiology, interventional cardiology and nuclear medicine. A control group consisted of 45 individuals staff in the same hospital. Serum thiol-disulphide homeostasis measurement was investigated via the spectrophotometric method newly described by Erel and Ne?elio?lu.

Results: The mean serum native thiol levels of radiation workers (528.96?±?86.42?μmol/l) was significantly lower than control subjects (561.05?±?104.83?μmol/l) (p?=?.045). The mean serum total thiol levels of radiation workers (547.70?±?91.50?μmol/l) was lower than control subjects (580.36?±?112.24?μmol/l). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference between total thiol of exposed workers and controls.

Conclusions: The results show that long-term low dose ionizing radiation may lead to oxidative stress and have side-effects in antioxidant thiol groups. We may suggest supporting radiation workers by safe antioxidant nutritional formulations and following up via both physical dosimetry and biodosimetric methods.     

99mTc-HMPAO brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography in children with Down syndrome: relationship to epilepsy, thyroid functions, and congenital heart disease

In recent years, it has been possible for patients with Down syndrome to live longer with advanced medical treatment and social support. As a result, the problems of these patients, such as thyroid diseases, leukemia, and Alzheimer disease, would be encountered more frequently. In this study, we aimed to perform the brain perfusion of children with Down syndrome by technetium 99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and to determine the relationship between brain perfusion and epilepsy, thyroid function tests, congenital heart disease, and level of mental and motor development. Thirty patients with Down syndrome, aged between 1 and 15 years, were included in our study. Demographic data, the existence of epilepsy and congenital heart defects, the level of mental and motor development, serum levels of thyroid hormones, and autoantibodies were determined. All patients underwent computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cerebral SPECT was performed in all cases to evaluate the brain perfusion pattern. According to the visual evaluation of cerebral SPECT results, hypoperfusion was detected in 11 cases (37%). Patients with cerebral hypoperfusion (group 1) and patients with normal cerebral perfusion (group 2) were compared. There was no difference between group 1 and group 2 in terms of demographic data, congenital heart defects, IQ levels, thyroid hormones, and autoantibodies, but the incidence of epilepsy was significantly higher in group 1 (P<.001). When motor and mental development levels were compared, it was found that cases in group 1 were significantly more retarded in personal-social and fine motor skills (P<.05). The present study showed that cerebral hypoperfusion in children with Down syndrome is mostly related to epilepsy and the other coexisting conditions, congenital heart disease and hypothyroidism. Patients with cerebral hypoperfusion also have more retarded developmental levels, especially in personal-social and fine motor skills.     

ACQUIRED VON WILLEBRAND DISEASE IN A TURKISH BOY WITH GAUCHER DISEASE

Wilms’ tumors (WT) constitute approximately 6–14% of all childhood cancers and about 95% of all pediatric renal malignancies. While prognostic factors for this malignancy are relatively well-defined, few studies have specifically examined the role of Hispanic ethnicity in pediatric WT survival. The purpose of this study was to compare WT survival among non-Hispanic white (NHW), non-Hispanic black (NHB), and Hispanic cases using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. WT cases (ICD-O-3 histological code 8960) under age 20 were isolated from a recent subset of the SEER dataset (1990–2009). Demographics and tumor characteristics were compared by race/ethnicity, and 5- and 10-year survival probabilities were calculated. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess the effects of race/ethnicity on WT survival, adjusting for relevant covariates. Hispanic ethnicity was significantly associated with WT-specific mortality hazard, controlling for age, sex, diagnosis/treatment era, laterality, SEER stage, cancer-directed surgery, and radiation therapy (HR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.02–2.25). The results of this study suggest that Hispanic pediatric WT cases may have a higher risk of WT-related death, compared to NHW cases. Additional research on racial/ethnic disparities in WT survival is warranted.