Blood preservation. XXXIV. DHA maintains 2,3-DPG and its adverse effect on ATP is reversed with extra phosphate

We have found that the addition of 10 mM inorganic phosphate to DHA in CPD-adenine maintains ATP levels at normal or higher than normal values for six weeks of storage. 2,3-DPG values are slightly lowered by the extra phosphate, but are still maintained at approximately half normal for four weeks by the DHA. The addition of a higher phosphate concentration, 20 mM, to DHA produced lower levels of ATP and 2,3-DPG than those observed with 10 mM phosphate, although both levels were better than in the CPD-adenine control. pH values in this experiment were lowest in the three preservatives containing DHA, probably indicating increased lactate production due to metabolism of this triose sugar, in addition to dextrose present in CPD.     

Geographical information system and predictive risk maps of urinary schistosomiasis in Ogun State,Nigeria

Background  

The control of urinary schistosomiasis in Ogun State, Nigeria remains inert due to lack of reliable data on the geographical distribution of the disease and the population at risk. To help in developing a control programme, delineating areas of risk, geographical information system and remotely sensed environmental images were used to developed predictive risk maps of the probability of occurrence of the disease and quantify the risk for infection in Ogun State, Nigeria.     

Immature dense granules in platelets from mice with platelet storage pool disease

Mepacrine uptake into platelets and bone marrow megakaryocytes was analyzed to further characterize the dense granule defects in a group of seven mouse pigment mutants that have characteristics of platelet storage pool disease (SPD). In contrast to our previous studies using electron microscopy, this method revealed that all mutants had normal numbers of dense granules. However, total mepacrine uptake in all mutant platelets was significantly diminished to less than 50% of normal uptake. Also, the flashing phenomenon observed when normal dense granules are irradiated with ultraviolet light was either greatly diminished or absent when platelets of individual mutants were similarly irradiated. Therefore the principal defect in the mutant platelets is an inability to accumulate dense granule contents rather than an absence of the granules. Mepacrine uptake into megakaryocytes was indistinguishable in normal and mutant mice. This indicates the mutant dense granule defects appear either very late in megakaryocyte development or early in platelet formation in correlation with development of the mature dense granule. By standard transmission electron microscopy we have not been able to detect gross structural or subcellular abnormalities in either platelets or megakaryocytes of mutant mice. It appears all seven mutants produce immature or functionally abnormal dense granules.     

Ultrastructural and biochemical characterization of glycosaminoglycans in HNK-1-positive large granular lymphocytes

Natural killer (NK) cells are large granular lymphocytes (LGLs) that contain distinct lysosomal granules. The present study was undertaken to determine if these lysosomes contain glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) similar to those previously described in myeloid cells. Mononuclear cells from human blood were stained with HNK-1 fluoresceinated monoclonal antibody, and the NK cell population reactive with this antibody were isolated with a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). Specific staining of sulfated macromolecules with the cationic reagent, high iron diamine, was observed in the lysosomal granules of 90% of the HNK-1 positive cells. Staining in the same location was also observed in the unsorted LGLs, presumed to be NK cells, and intense staining of the cell surface was also a prominent feature of these cells. Surface staining was not evident in the majority of the FACS- separated NK cells. Digestion with chondroitinase ABC or treatment with nitrous acid reduced the staining in both locations; after sequential treatment with both chondroitinase and nitrous acid, little or no staining was seen. The presence of chondroitin sulfate (and/or dermatan sulfate) and heparan sulfate was also shown by the finding that incubation of the isolated NK cells with 35S-sulfate yielded cell- associated radiolabeled macromolecules with the characteristics of these two groups of GAGs. Of the labeled GAG pool, 60% was degraded by chondroitinase and 40% was susceptible to nitrous acid treatment. LGLs of a patient with Chediak-Higashi syndrome was also stained, and intracellular sulfate staining was clearly localized to the enlarged granules, supporting the conclusion that the lysosomes are the major site of intracellular accumulation of GAGs in normal NK cells.