Characteristics of Recently Outdated ACD Blood and Some Determinants of these Characteristics

Twenty samples of outdated ACD blood were characterized by the following determinations: nucleotide composition, osmotic fragility, p H, hematocrit, final glucose concentration, plasma hemoglobin, and plasma K⁺. In all tests, considerable variability existed among samples. In four samples, these determinations were made daily from day 21 to day 25. In this series there were no consistent daily trends, variability being greater from sample to sample than from day to day. In another study, six stored blood samples from apparently healthy young adults were followed weekly for ATP. Those samples that initially had higher ATP levels retained this differential throughout storage, the rate of ATP breakdown being nearly the same for all samples. Of these samples, those with higher blood ATP levels had faster glycolytic rates.     

Autonomous Machine Learning Algorithm for Stress Monitoring in Concrete Using Elastoacoustical Effect

The measurement of stress in concrete structures is a complex issue. This paper presents a new measurement system called a self-acoustic system (SAS), which uses frequency measurements of acoustic waves to determine the condition of concrete structures. The SAS uses a positive feedback loop between ultrasonic heads, which causes excitation to a stable limit cycle. The frequency of this cycle is related to the propagation time of an acoustic wave, which directly depends on stresses in the test object. The coupling mechanism between acoustic wave propagation speed and stress is the elastoacoustic effect described in this paper. Thus, the proposed system enables the coupling between the limit cycle frequency and the stress degree of the concrete structure. This paper presents a machine learning algorithm to analyse the frequency spectrum of the SAS system. The proposed solution is a real-time classifier that enables online analysis of the frequency spectrum from the SAS system. With this approach, an autonomous system for stress condition identification of concrete structures is built and described.     

Cystatin C is not a good candidate biomarker for HNF1A-MODY

Cystatin C is a marker of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Its level is influenced, among the others, by CRP whose concentration is decreased in HNF1A-MODY. We hypothesized that cystatin C level might be altered in HNF1A-MODY. We aimed to evaluate cystatin C in HNF1A-MODY both as a diagnostic marker and as a method of assessing GFR. We initially examined 51 HNF1A-MODY patients, 56 subjects with type 1 diabetes (T1DM), 39 with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and 43 non-diabetic individuals (ND) from Poland. Subjects from two UK centres were used as replication panels: including 215 HNF1A-MODY, 203 T2DM, 39 HNF4A-MODY, 170 GCK-MODY, 17 HNF1B-MODY and 58 T1DM patients. The data were analysed with additive models, adjusting for gender, age, BMI and estimated GFR (creatinine). In the Polish subjects, adjusted cystatin C level in HNF1A-MODY was lower compared with T1DM, T2DM and ND (p < 0.05). Additionally, cystatin C-based GFR was higher than that calculated from creatinine level (p < 0.0001) in HNF1A-MODY, while the two GFR estimates were similar or cystatin C-based lower in the other groups. In the UK subjects, there were no differences in cystatin C between HNF1A-MODY and the other diabetic subgroups, except HNF1B-MODY. In UK HNF1A-MODY, cystatin C-based GFR estimate was higher than the creatinine-based one (p < 0.0001). Concluding, we could not confirm our hypothesis (supported by the Polish results) that cystatin C level is altered by HNF1A mutations; thus, it cannot be used as a biomarker for HNF1A-MODY. In HNF1A-MODY, the cystatin C-based GFR estimate is higher than the creatinine-based one.     

Polymorphisms in the gene encoding hepatocyte nuclear factor-4alpha and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in a Polish population

Recently, several association studies of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-4alpha gene were reported with conflicting results. Our aim was to search for association between two polymorphisms of HNF-4alpha and T2DM in Polish Caucasians. The study groups comprised of 461 T2DM cases and 366 controls. Genotype-quantitative trait analyses were based on the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), glucose and insulin results, and comprised 310 glucose-tolerant subjects. All individuals were genotyped for two HNF-4alpha polymorphisms. The frequencies of the minor alleles were as follows: 19.2% in T2DM vs. 17.6% in controls for rs2144908; and 20.6% vs. 20.1% for rs4810424, respectively. The distributions of alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes of the HNF-4alpha polymorphisms did not differ between the study groups (lowest P = 0.41). None of the examined SNPs showed an association in control subjects with quantitative traits of fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, as well as plasma glucose and insulin 2 hours after glucose load in OGTT. We conclude that both examined polymorphisms in HNF-4alpha are not associated with T2DM and prediabetic phenotypes in Polish Caucasian study groups of this size.     

Abnormal Trichuris trichiura eggs detected during an epidemiological survey

Abnormal eggs of Trichuris trichiura were found in the stools of one of the patients during a study on the prevalence of intestinal parasitoses among an institutionalized population. The abnormalities observed included great variation in shape, size, and color. Similar atypical whipworm eggs have been reported in patients after treatment with mebendazole, thiabendazole, tetracloroethylene, and dithiazanine. Apparently some anthelminthics have an effect on the reproductive system of female T. trichiura, resulting in production of abnormal eggs, which could lead to misdiagnosis of the infection, since they can be mistaken as eggs of other parasites or artifacts.     

Effects of hypothermia on thrombelastography in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass

Thrombelastography (TEG) correlates with postoperative chest drain output in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In vitro incubation with heparinase allows TEG monitoring during CPB, despite heparin anticoagulation. Hypothermia impairs coagulation, but these effects cannot be assessed by standard coagulation tests performed at 37 degrees C. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of hypothermia on TEG. Therefore, we have compared normothermic and temperature-adapted TEG in 30 patients undergoing CPB. Our data showed significantly impaired reaction time (r), kinetic time (k), and angle alpha (alpha) in temperature-adapted compared with normothermic TEG. Maximum amplitude (MA), reflecting absolute clot strength, was not affected at temperatures of 33-37 degrees C. These findings indicate a decrease in the speed of clot formation, but not absolute deterioration in clot quality. Furthermore, heparinase-modified TEG indicated that there were nine cases in which heparin effects persisted after heparin reversal with protamine, providing a rational guide to protamine therapy.      

Ultrastructure of Mansonella ozzardi microfilaria, with a comparison of the South American (simuliid-transmitted) and the Caribbean (culicoid-transmitted) forms

Ultrastructural studies conducted to elucidate and compare the microanatomy of the South American (simuliid-transmitted) and the Caribbean (culicoid-transmitted) microfilariae of Mansonella ozzardi revealed that these microfilariae are essentially identical. The only difference detected was the larger central body of the Colombian microfilariae. Although the microanatomy of M. ozzardi microfilaria is essentially the same as that of other microfilariae, some of the subtle differences noted between M. ozzardi and other microfilariae include: amphids of unequal lengths, a large nucleus located approximately 30 microns from the anterior end, and an esophagus which appears to be less developed than that of Loa loa and Brugia spp. The microfilaria has a small cephalic hook, intracellular bacteriae in the hypodermal cells, and crystalloid inclusions which are most prominent in the R-1 cell and are also present in the hypodermal and esophageal cells. These crystalloids appear to be unique to M. ozzardi microfilariae.