Distribution of histamine among leukocytes and platelets

1. Platelets and lymphocytes free of other white elements of blood have beenanalysed for histamine by a microchemical method. Platelets were found to contain 1280 µg. per liter or .009 µg. per 10⁹ platelets, lymphocytes 2600 µg. perliter, or 0.6 µg. per 10⁹ cells.

2. The histamine content of neutrophilic, eosinophilic and basophilic granulocytes has been calculated by multiple regression from histamine measurementson one series of blood samples from normal adults and another from subjectswith chronic myelocytic leukemia. The normal values are 1080 µg. per l0⁹basophils and 160 µg. per 10⁹ eosinophils or 2,400,000 and 360,000 µg. per literrespectively. The corresponding values for neutrophils are 3 µg. per 10⁹ cellsand 7000 µg. per liter. The values for the histamine concentration per cell arestatistically significant for basophils and eosinophils, but not for neutrophils.

In the leukemia series, the values for neutrophils and basophils are respectively69 and 305 µg. per 10⁹ cells, and they are statistically significant. The differencefrom normal in the value for basophils was not statistically validated. There are,however, in chronic myelocytic leukemia, histological changes from the normalthat are consonant with a decreased histamine content in basophils and an increased histamine content in eosinophils and neutrophils.

3. Although definite values for the histamine content of monocytes and theimmature forms seen in chronic myelocytic leukemia have not been obtained,there is reason to believe that the histamine of these cell types does not exceedthat of neutrophils.

4. By centrifuging white cells in a specific gravity gradient column, partialsegregation of cell types was obtained. Peak concentrations were observed at thefollowihig specific gravities: lymphocytic leukemia lymphocytes, 1.063; myelocytes, normal lymphocytes and basophils, all near 1.070; neutrophils, 1.080,and eosinophils, 1.080 or higher. Although individual concentration peaks wereusually quite sharp, there was considerable overlapping at intermediate specificgravities.

5. About half of the histamine of normal blood is in the basophils, one-thirdin the eosinophils and the remaining one-sixth in all the other blood elementscombined. In blood samples from patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia,the fraction of blood histamine carried by each type of granulocyte varies widely.

Submitted on September 20, 1954 Accepted on October 11, 1954     

PREDICTION OF THE SEVERITY OF ABO HAEMOLYTIC DISEASE OF THE NEWBORN BY CORD BLOOD TESTS

ABSTRACT. Whyte, J. and Graham, H. (Bellshill Maternity Hospital, Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland). Prediction of the severity of ABO haemolytic disease of the newborn by cord blood tests. Acta Paediatr Scand, 70:217, 1981. –Seventy-one ABO incompatible (heterospecific) infants and 71 controls, who were free from other potential causes of jaundice, were studied to ascertain which cord blood tests reliably predict the severity of ABO haemolytic disease of the newborn (ABO HDN). The modified Direct Antiglobulin Test (spin DAGT) was positive in all infants who required treatment for haemolytic jaundice and only DAGT positive children showed evidence of impending haemolytic anaemia or compensated haemolysis in cord or capillary blood. Cord serum bilirubin concentration had some predictive value, particularly when the level exceeded 85 µmol/l, but it was a less reliable indicator and had greater value if used in association with the DAGT. The elution test, which is frequently used as a diagnostic tool in ABO HDN, had no predictive value and we felt that its putative value is due to overdiagnosis of ABO HDN in jaundiced heterospecific infants. We conclude that the spin DAGT, despite the weakness of the reaction, reliably identifies infants at risk from severe ABO HDN and is sufficiently sensitive to be used as a single screening test for the early detection of the disorder.     

CUTANEOUS VASCULITIS DUE TO CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE THERAPY FOR CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

A 55-year-old male with chronic lymphocytic leukemia developed a skin eruption after receiving oral cyclophosphamide. Subsequent rechallenge with parenteral cyclophosphamide led to recurrence of the skin lesions, which on biopsy were shown to be vasculitic in nature. (Aust NZ J Med 1989; 19: 55–57.)     

Promoting leadership: the development of a nurse executive team in an acute hospital trust

Aim The purpose of this study was to evaluate how an executive nursing team, within an acute hospital trust in the south of England, developed their leadership characteristics through the use of a professional development programme. Background This paper offers an insight into how this team worked together to clarify their views of their new role and how the role would be enacted. Method A questionnaire using quantitative and qualitative measures was used to explore the group’s leadership style and evaluate the professional development programme. Findings The findings show how the development programme worked and what clarity it afforded the group in terms of their leadership style. Group work, building on the findings, helped them define their particular characteristics, skills and leadership ability and what further work was needed to demonstrate this. Conclusions The issues raised, such as team‐working, mutual purpose and personal development, are discussed in terms of their function within an integrated executive team with vision and goals. Implications for nursing management In ensuring that the nursing service has positive purpose, direction and goals, there needs to be a strategic approach to corporate development; otherwise, nursing will struggle to lead itself within a fast changing health care system.     

A Perinatal Study of Toluene in CD-1 Mice

A Perinatal Study of Toluene in CD-1 Mice. COURTNEY, K. D.,ANDREWS, J. E., SPRINGER, J., MÉNACHE, M., WILLIAMS,T., DALLEY, L, AND GRAHAM, J. A. (1986). Fundam. Appi. Toxicol.6, 145–154. Toluene administered by inhalation at 400ppm to CD-1 mice from Days 6 to 16 of gestation was teratogenicbut not fetotoxic resulting in a significant shift in the fetalrib profile. At the lower concentration of 200 ppm, there wasan increase in dilated renal pelves which might reflect desynchronizationof maturation with respect to development and growth. No othereffects were noted at the 200-ppm concentration. At 400 ppm,toluene also produced an increased body weight in the neonateson Day 1 postpartum following in utero exposure. Activity oflactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was significantly increased in thebrains of dams exposed to 400 ppm during gestation while nonpregnantadult mice studied concurrently had significant increased activitiesof LDH in the liver and kidneys of the 400-ppm group. The onlychange in the isozyme profiles was in the kidneys of the nonpregnantadult mice in which a slight decrease in LDH-2 was observed.No other changes were noted in the dams or pups.