Aqueous Extract of Ceiba pentandra Stimulates the Production of Fetal Hemoglobin in Sickle Cell Patients

Subsequent studies have demonstrated the reversed activity of the aqueous extract of Ceiba pentandra on the deformity of sickled red blood cells in hypoxia conditions. The observation which related to an in vitro study had given rise to hopes as to the management of sickle cell disease (SCD) by the use of this plant species. In this paper, the authors aimed to investigate the effect of the aqueous extract of C. pentandra on the production of fetal hemoglobin in SCD patients. The work carried out hemoglobin electrophoresis, for a period of six months, on blood samples from SCD patients who voluntarily undergone routine treatment, based on the medicinal recipe prepared from the bark of the trunk and branches of C. pentandra, in a hospital center of herbal medicines located in Kinshasa. The medicinal recipe called BEAT-SS is a patented product of the hospital center named Centre de Phytothérapie Moderne NIECA. Blood samples from patients under treatment were taken to evaluate the behavior of different forms of hemoglobin (hemoglobin S, hemoglobin F and hemoglobin A2). Agarose gel electrophoresis with integrated reading was used for the separation of the different forms of hemoglobin, as well as their dosage on each sample of sickle blood. A reduction in the proportion of hemoglobin S and an increase in the proportion of fetal hemoglobin were found in all sickle cell patients during the treatment period. This observation could affirm that the management of sickle cell patients using the recipe prepared from the aqueous extract of C. pentandra could increase the level of fetal hemoglobin in these patients.

Associations of serum D-dimer and glycosylated hemoglobin levels with third-trimester fetal growth restriction in gestational diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND Gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)is a special type of diabetes that commonly occurs in women during pregnancy and involves impaired glucose tolerance and abnormal glucose metabolism;GDM is diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy and can affect fetal growth and development.AIM To investigate the associations of serum D-dimer(D-D)and glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c)levels with third-trimester fetal growth restriction(FGR)in GDM patients.METHODS The clinical data of 164 pregnant women who were diagnosed with GDM and delivered at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from January 2021 to January 2023 were analyzed retrospectively.Among these women,63 whose fetuses had FGR were included in the FGR group,and 101 women whose fetuses had normal body weights were included in the normal body weight group(normal group).Fasting venous blood samples were collected from the elbow at 28-30 wk gestation and 1-3 d before delivery to measure serum D-D and HbA1c levels for comparative analysis.The diagnostic value of serum D-D and HbA1c levels for FGR was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis,and the influencing factors of third-trimester FGR in GDM patients were analyzed by logistic regression.RESULTS Serum fasting blood glucose,fasting insulin,D-D and HbA1c levels were significantly greater in the FGR group than in the normal group,while the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance values were lower(P<0.05).Regarding the diagnosis of FGR based on serum D-D and HbA1c levels,the areas under the curves(AUCs)were 0.826 and 0.848,the cutoff values were 3.04 mg/L and 5.80%,the sensitivities were 81.0%and 79.4%,and the specificities were 88.1%and 87.1%,respectively.The AUC of serum D-D plus HbA1c levels for diagnosing FGR was 0.928,and the sensitivity and specificity were 84.1%and 91.1%,respectively.High D-D and HbA1c levels were risk factors for third-trimester FGR in GDM patients(P<0.05).CONCLUSION D-D and HbA1c levels can indicate the occurrence of FGR in GDM patients in the third trimester of pregnancy to some extent,and their combination can be used as an important index for the early prediction of FGR.

Relationship between hemoglobin glycation index and risk of hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes with time-in-range in target

BACKGROUND In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),the risk of hypoglycemia also occurs in at a time-in-range(TIR)of>70%.The hemoglobin glycation index(HGI)is considered the best single factor for predicting hypoglycemia,and offers new perspectives for the individualized treatment of patients with well-controlled blood glucose levels that are easily ignored in clinical settings.All participants underwent a 7-days continuous glucose monitoring(CGM)using a retrospective CGM system.We obtained glycemic variability indices using the CGM system.We defined HGI as laboratory hemoglobin A1c minus the glucose management indicator.Patients were categorized into low HGI(HGI<0.5)and high HGI groups(HGI≥0.5)according to HGI median(0.5).Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used to determine the risk factors for hypoglycemia.RESULTS We included 129 subjects with T2DM(54.84±12.56 years,46%male)in the study.Median TIR score was 90%.The high HGI group exhibited lower TIR and greater time below range with higher hemoglobin A1c than the low HGI group;this suggests more glycemic excursions and an increased incidence of hypoglycemia in the high HGI group.Multivariate analyses revealed that mean blood glucose,standard deviation of blood glucose and HGI were independent risk factors for hypoglycemia.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the HGI was the best predictor of hypoglycemia.In addition,the optimal cut-off points for HGI,mean blood glucose,and standard deviation of blood glucose in predicting hypoglycemia were 0.5%,7.2 mmol/L and 1.4 mmol/L respectively.CONCLUSION High HGI was significantly associated with greater glycemic excursions and increased hypoglycemia in patients with TIR>70%.Our findings indicate that HGI is a reliable predictor of hypoglycemia in this population.

Cut-off value of glycated hemoglobin A1c for detecting diabetic retinopathy in the Chinese population

BACKGROUND Glycated hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)is considered the most suitable for diabetes mellitus diagnosis due to its accuracy and convenience.However,the effect of HbA1c on diabetic retinopathy(DR)in the Han and Korean populations in Jilin,China,remains inconclusive.AIM To determine the best cut-off of HbA1c for diagnosing DR among the Chinese.METHODS This cross-sectional study included 1933 participants from the Yanbian area of Jilin Province,China.Trained investigators employed a questionnaire-based survey,physical examination,laboratory tests,and fundus photography for the investigation.The best cut-off value for HbA1c was established via the receiver operating characteristic curve.The factors associated with HbA1c-associated risk factors were determined via linear regression.RESULTS The analysis included 887 eligible Chinese Han and Korean participants,591 of whom were assigned randomly to the training set and 296 to the validation set.The prevalence of DR was 3.27% in the total population.HbA1c of 6.2% was the best cut-off value in the training set,while it was 5.9% in the validation set.In both Chinese Han and Korean populations,an HbA1c level of 6.2% was the best cut-off value.The optimal cut-off values of fasting blood glucose(FBG)≥7 mmol/L and<7 mmol/L were 8.1% and 6.2% respectively in Han populations,while those in Korean populations were 6.9%and 5.3%,respectively.Age,body mass index,and FBG were determined as the risk factors impacting HbA1c levels.CONCLUSION HbA1c may serve as a useful diagnostic indicator for DR.An HbA1c level of 6.2% may be an appropriate cut-off value for DR detection in the Chinese population.

Hemoglobin loss method calculates blood loss during pancreaticoduodenectomy and predicts bleeding-related risk factors

BACKGROUND The common clinical method to evaluate blood loss during pancreaticoduoden-ectomy(PD)is visual inspection,but most scholars believe that this method is extremely subjective and inaccurate.Currently,there is no accurate,objective me-thod to evaluate the amount of blood loss in PD patients.We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 341 patients who underwent PD in Shandong Provincial Hospital from March 2017 to February 2019.According to different surgical methods,they were divided into an open PD(OPD)group and a laparoscopic PD(LPD)group.The differences and correlations between the in-traoperative estimation of blood loss(IEBL)obtained by visual inspection and the intraoperative calculation of blood loss(ICBL)obtained using the Hb loss method were analyzed.ICBL,IEBL and perioperative calculation of blood loss(PCBL)were compared between the two groups,and single-factor regression analysis was performed.RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference in the preoperative general patient information between the two groups(P>0.05).PD had an ICBL of 743.2(393.0,1173.1)mL and an IEBL of 100.0(50.0,300.0)mL(P<0.001).There was also a certain correlation between the two(r=0.312,P<0.001).Single-factor analysis of ICBL showed that a history of diabetes[95%confidence interval(CI):53.82-549.62;P=0.017]was an independent risk factor for ICBL.In addition,the single-factor analysis of PCBL showed that body mass index(BMI)(95%CI:0.62-76.75;P=0.046)and preoperative total bilirubin>200μmol/L(95%CI:7.09-644.26;P=0.045)were independent risk factors for PCBL.The ICBLs of the LPD group and OPD group were 767.7(435.4,1249.0)mL and 663.8(347.7,1138.2)mL,respectively(P>0.05).The IEBL of the LPD group 200.0(50.0,200.0)mL was slightly greater than that of the OPD group 100.0(50.0,300.0)mL(P>0.05).PCBL was greater in the LPD group than the OPD group[1061.6(612.3,1632.3)mL vs 806.1(375.9,1347.6)mL](P<0.05).CONCLUSION The ICBL in patients who underwent PD was greater than the IEBL,but there is a certain correlation between the two.The Hb loss method can be used to evaluate intraoperative blood loss.A history of diabetes,preoperative bilirubin>200μmol/L and high BMI increase the patient's risk of bleeding.

Homozygous Hemoglobinosis CC: A Series of 3 Cases and a Review of the Literature

Hemoglobinosis C occurs mainly in Africa and America with a high frequency in West Africa. In Senegal, homozygous hemoglobinopathy CC constitutes a very rare profile of which only 3 cases are followed in the clinical hematology department of Dakar. The 1st case is a 49-year-old female patient, with notion of 1st degree consanguinity, and a long history of abdominal pain who presented a poorly tolerated anemic syndrome and splenomegaly. The biological assessment showed moderate anemia (7.6 g/dL) with microcytic hypochromia and a CC profile (HbC = 99.2%;HbA2 = 0.8%) on hemoglobin electrophoresis. The second case was a 22-year-old female patient with a notion of 2nd degree consanguinity who presented a Chauffard triad. The haemogram showed mild anaemia (11 g/dL), microcytic and hypochromic. Hemoglobin electrophoresis confirmed a CC profile (HbC = 95.3%;HbA2 = 4.7%). The third patient was 27 years old, with a history of diffuse abdominal pain and 2nd degree consanguinity. The haemogram and haemoglobin electrophoresis confirmed the CC profile (HbC = 94.6%;HbA2 = 5.4%). The negativity of the Emmel test in front of this presentation suggestive of sickle cell disease means that this type of hemoglobinopathy is diagnosed late in our regions. We therefore recommend the systematic performance of hemoglobin electrophoresis in the presence of any chronic hemolytic anemia.

Epidemiological Survey of Hemoglobinopathies Based on Next-Generation Sequencing Platform in Hunan Province,China

Objective This study was aimed at investigating the carrier rate of,and molecular variation in,α-andβ-globin gene mutations in Hunan Province.Methods We recruited 25,946 individuals attending premarital screening from 42 districts and counties in all 14 cities of Hunan Province.Hematological screening was performed,and molecular parameters were assessed.Results The overall carrier rate of thalassemia was 7.1%,including 4.83%forα-thalassemia,2.15%forβ-thalassemia,and 0.12%for bothα-andβ-thalassemia.The highest carrier rate of thalassemia was in Yongzhou(14.57%).The most abundant genotype ofα-thalassemia andβ-thalassemia was-α^(3.7)/αα(50.23%)andβ^(IVS-Ⅱ-654)/β^(N)(28.23%),respectively.Fourα-globin mutations[CD108(ACC>AAC),CAP+29(G>C),Hb Agrinio and Hb Cervantes]and sixβ-globin mutations[CAP+8(C>T),IVS-Ⅱ-848(C>T),-56(G>C),beta nt-77(G>C),codon 20/21(-TGGA)and Hb Knossos]had not previously been identified in China.Furthermore,this study provides the first report of the carrier rates of abnormal hemoglobin variants andα-globin triplication in Hunan Province,which were 0.49%and 1.99%,respectively.Conclusion Our study demonstrates the high complexity and diversity of thalassemia gene mutations in the Hunan population.The results should facilitate genetic counselling and the prevention of severe thalassemia in this region.

Hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet score as a predictor of prognosis in metastatic gastric cancer

BACKGROUND The hemoglobin,albumin,lymphocyte,and platelet(HALP)score,derived from a composite evaluation of markers reflecting the tumor-inflammation relationship and nutritional status,has been substantiated as a noteworthy prognostic determinant for diverse malignancies.AIM To investigate how the HALP score relates to prognosis in patients with metastatic gastric cancer.METHODS The cutoff values for the HALP score,neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio,and platelet/lymphocyte ratio were determined using receiver operating characteristic analysis.Low HALP scores were defined as those less than 24.79 and high HALP scores as those greater than 24.79.RESULTS The study cohort comprised 147 patients and 110 of them(74.8%)were male.The patients'median age was 63(22-89)years.The median overall survival was significantly superior in the patients with high HALP scores than in those with low HALP scores(10.4 mo vs 7.5 mo,respectively;P<0.001)CONCLUSION The HALP score was found to be a prognostic factor in patients with metastatic gastric cancer.

Ratio of hemoglobin to mean corpuscular volume: A new index for discriminating between iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia trait

BACKGROUND Iron deficiency anemia(IDA)and thalassemia trait(TT)are the most common microcytic and hypochromic anemias.Differentiation between mild TT and early IDA is still a clinical challenge.AIM To develop and validate a new index for discriminating between IDA and TT.METHODS Blood count data from 126 patients,consisting of 43 TT patients and 83 IDA pa-tients,was retrospectively analyzed to develop a new index formula.This formula was further validated in another 61 patients,consisting of 48 TT patients and 13 IDA patients.RESULTS The new index is the ratio of hemoglobin to mean corpuscular volume.Its sen-sitivity,specificity,accuracy,Youden’s Index,area under the receiver operating characteristic curve,and Kappa coefficient in discriminating between IDA and TT were 93.5%,78.4%,83.3%,0.72,0.97,and 0.65,respectively.CONCLUSION This new index has good diagnostic performance in discriminating between mild TT and early IDA.It requires only two results of complete blood count,which can be a very desirable feature in under-resourced scenarios.

Influence of Haptoglobin and Hemoglobin Phenotypic Polymorphisms on Sickle Cell Disease Morbidity

Objectives: Sickle cell disease (SCD) has a varied clinical and biological expression depending on the hemoglobin phenotype: SSFA2, SFA2, SAFA2 and SC. Considering the antioxidant properties of the different haptoglobin phenotypes (Hp 1-1, Hp 2-1, Hp 2-2), it seemed relevant to know their influence on the morbidity of the different hemoglobin phenotype of SCD. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify associations between haptoglobin phenotype and morbidity of different SCD phenotypes. Methods: In a retrospective cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study, with a cohort of 170 black African carriers of hemoglobin S, in Ivory Coast, West Africa, hemoglobin and haptoglobin phenotypes were determined by electrophoretic methods. Results: The three major phenotypes of haptoglobin polymorphism were found in the SCD cohort: Hp 1-1 (24.1%), Hp 2-1 (56.5%), Hp 2-2 (19.4%). Vaso-occlusions were associated with haptoglobin phenotype Hp 1-1, (OR = 2.03;CI95% = [1.06 - 3.9];p Conclusions: Haptoglobin phenotype was associated to morbidity-adjusted hemoglobin phenotype. The study revealed a greater probability of a worse morbidity when the hemoglobin phenotype is homozygous. Unexpectedly, the worse morbidity is associated to Hp 1-1 haptoglobin phenotype, the most powerful antioxidant within the different haptoglobin phenotypes. Associations found were not systematic and need further studies to enlighten the determinism of SCD morbidity.

Persistently High Glycated Hemoglobin in a Subgroup of Type 2 Diabetic Patients Who Failed Usual Oral Antihyperglycemics and Insulin in Côte d’Ivoire

Background: Type II diabetes mellitus is associated with multiple metabolic derangements which can cause secondary pathophysiological changes in multiple organ systems. This in turn can impose a heavy burden of morbidity and mortality from micro‑ and macro‑vascular complications. This study aimed to describe the metabolic and therapeutic profile of a subgroup of type 2 diabetic patients who have treatment failure with oral anti-hyperglycemic agents with persistent hyperglycemia despite insulin treatment. Methods: 60 type 2 diabetic patients in treatment failure with oral antidiabetics and under insulin treatment, aged 35 to 70 years, were recruited at the Diabetes Clinic of the University Teaching Hospital of Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Blood samples were collected in tubes containing Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA) to determine glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Results: The average age of the population was 54 ± 9.38 years with a sex ratio (M/F) of 0.3, an average BMI of 30.25 ± 5 kg/m2, and an average HbA1c of 10.1% ± 1.6% for an average diabetes duration of 11.8 ± 5.8 years. The average insulin dose was 74.556 ± 16.21 UI/day, and the average duration of insulin treatment was 5.4 ± 3.1 years. The average HbA1c value was 10.1% ± 1.87% in men against 10.03% ± 1.53% in women with no significant difference (p = 0.1). The mean HbA1c values according to patient weight were 10.08% ± 2.05% for normal weight, 9.55% ± 2.26% for overweight, and 10.57% for obese, with no significant difference between the three groups of patients (p = 0.1). Conclusion: This study showed a persistence increase in glycated hemoglobin regardless of the treatment regimen, duration, and dose of insulin treatment in the subpopulation of type 2 diabetic patients.

Contribution to the Improvement of Transfusion Safety: Assessment of the Pre-Donation Hemoglobin Level at the Yamoussoukro Blood Transfusion Center in Cote d’Ivoire

Introduction: Despite the progress recorded at the level of transfusion safety in Côte d’Ivoire, much remains to be done, particularly at the level of the medical selection of blood donors. The objective of the study was to make an assessment of the pre-donation capillary hemoglobin dosage for the year 2020 of the fixed collection, of the Blood Transfusion Center of Yamoussoukro. Method: This is a retrospective study that took place at the Yamoussoukro Blood Transfusion Center. The data collection related to all old and new blood donors were deemed suitable for the fixed collection of the year 2020. The method chosen for the pre-donation control is that of the portable hemoglobinometer of the HémoCue® type, more precisely 201+. Results: Of the 1160 blood donors in the study, the pre-donation hemoglobin level was not measured in 787 (67.8%) subjects of either sex. Of the subjects who had a pre-donation hemoglobin level performed, 97 (26%) blood donors had a sub-standard hemoglobin level, including 15 females and 82 males. Conclusion: Pre-donation hemoglobin testing of blood donors is effective in Yamoussoukro. However, efforts must still be made to improve the quality of the blood collected and to protect blood donors.

Hemoglobin Fukuoka caused unexpected hemoglobin A1c results: A case report

BACKGROUND Glycated hemoglobin(Hb)(HbA1c)is an indicator that is used to diagnose and monitor the treatment of diabetes.Many factors can affect the detection of HbA1c.One of the most important of these factors is the Hb variant.Here,we report a rare Hb variant and evaluate its effect on HbA1c.CASE SUMMARY A 35-year-old man was suspected of harboring an Hb variant following the measurement of HbA1c with the Variant II Turbo 2.0 Hb detection system during a routine examination.Subsequently,we used the Arkray HA-8160 and ARCHITECT c4000 system to reanalyze HbA1c.Finally,the Hb variant was detected with a Capillary2FP analyzer that operates on the principle of capillary electrophoresis.We also used gene sequencing to investigate the mutation site.The value of HbA1c detected with the Variant II Turbo 2.0 system was 52.7%.However,the Arkray HA-8160 system did not display a result while the ARCHITECT c16000 system showed a result of 5.4%.The Capillary2FP analyzer did not reveal any abnormal Hb zones.However,gene sequencing identified the presence of a mutation in the Hbβ2 chain[CD2(CAC>TAC),His>Tyr,HBB:c.7C>T];the genotype was Hb Fukuoka.CONCLUSION Hb variants could cause abnormal HbA1c results.For patients with Hb variants,different methods should be used to detect HbA1c.

Cloning of hemoglobin-α1 from half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) and its expression under short-term hypoxia

This study cloned the hemoglobin a1 from the marine teleost, the half-smooth tongue sole （Cynoglossus semilaevis）, and then examined its expression under hypoxia exposure. The full-length of CsHb-a1 （594 bp） cDNA contains an open reading frame encoding 144 amino acids. Sequence analysis shows that the predicted CsHb-a1 amino acids shares high identities with that of other species. Real-time PCR showed that CsHb-a1 was highly expressed in the heart, liver, spleen, kidney and blood. Five to 120 min esposure and long-term （36 h） exposure to hypoxia （1.0 mg/L） significantly increased CsHb-a1 mRNA expression in most tissues compared to those fish held in normoxic conditions （dissolved oxygen （DO）： 6.2 mg/L）. These results suggested that the up-regulation of Hb-a1 is an important component for adaptation of half-smooth tongue sole to short-term hypoxia.

Synthesis of Chiral Polyaniline Induced by Modified Hemoglobin

The synthesis of chiral polyaniline （PANI） induced by modified hemoglobin （Hb） was pro- foundly explored for the first time. Results revealed that after being separated, inactivated or immobilized, Hb can still induce the formation of chiral PANI successfully, suggesting that Hb can be used as the chiral inducers regardless of harsh reaction conditions. By examining the properties of PANI induced by modified Hb, it was found that Hb（inactivated）-PANI possessed excellent chirality, stability, and crystalline structure. The globin separated from Hb was demonstrated to have the ability of inducing the production of chiral PANI whereas the hematin from Hb had no capacity to direct enantio specificity for the PANI chains. Results indicated that Hb（immobilized）-PANI exhibited poor yield, doping state, and crys- talline structure, indicating that the immobilization of Hb by entrapment was not beneficial to the polymerization reaction. Results also showed that the structure of Hb may have significant effects on the morphologies of chiral PANI.

Molecular Evolutionary Rate Calculation of Hemoglobin α Chain and γ Chain at Different Stages in Vertebrate Evolution Process

Pseudogene and fibrin peptide which has rapid evolve speed and good stability are used in this study to determine the divergence date among groups.Through calculating the evolutionary rate of hemoglobin α chain,γ chain in vertebrate（including birds and mammals）,it is concluded that the evolutionary rate of hemoglobin α chain,γ chain is not invariable.It shows different evolutionary rates in different periods,that is,faster in early evolution stage and relatively slow in later stage.

Therapeutic gene editing strategies using CRISPR-Cas9 for theβ-hemoglobinopathies

With advancements in gene editing technologies,our ability to make precise and efficient modifications to the genome is increasing at a remarkable rate,paving the way for scientists and clinicians to uniquely treat a multitude of previously irremediable diseases.CRISPR-Cas9,short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9,is a gene editing platform with the ability to alter the nucleotide sequence of the genome in living cells.This technology is increasing the number and pace at which new gene editing treatments for genetic disorders are moving toward the clinic.Theβ-hemoglobinopathies are a group of monogenic diseases,which despite their high prevalence and chronic debilitating nature,continue to have few therapeutic options available.In this review,we will discuss our existing comprehension of the genetics and current state of treatment forβ-hemoglobinopathies,consider potential genome editing therapeutic strategies,and provide an overview of the current state of clinical trials using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing.

Evaluation of HemogloBind^TMtreatment for preparation of samples for cholinesterase analysis

Acetylcholine is an essential neurotransmitter found throughout the nervous system. Its action on postsynaptic receptors is regulated through hydrolysis by various carboxylesterases, especially cholinesterases (ChEs). The acute toxicity of organophosphate (OP) compounds is directly linked to their action as inhibitors of ChE. One widely used assay for evaluating ChE activity is a spectrophotometric method developed by Ellman et al. When the enzyme source is from tissues or, in particular, blood, hemoglobin displays a spectrophotometric peak at the same wave-length used to analyze cholinergic activity. This creates a substantial background that interferes with the Ellman’s assay and must be overcome in order to accurately monitor cholinesterase activity. Herein, we directly compare blood processing methods: classical method (1.67 ± 0.30 U/mL) and HemogloBindTM treatment (1.51 ± 0.17 U/mL), and clearly demonstrate that pretreatment of blood samples with HemoglobindTM is both a sufficient and rapid sample preparation method for the assessment of ChE activity using the Ellman’s method.

Cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography for variant hemoglobins and HbF/A2:What must hematopathologists know about methodology?

Cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography(CE-HPLC) is a widely used laboratory test to detect variant hemoglobins as well as quantify hemoglobins F and A2 for the diagnosis of thalassemia syndromes. It's versatility, speed, reproducibility and convenience have made CE-HPLC the method of choice to initially screen for hemoglobin disorders. Despite its popularity, several methodological aspects of the technology remain obscure to pathologists and this may have consequences in specific situations. This paper discusses the basic principles of the technique, the initial quality control steps and the interpretation of various controls and variables that are available on the instrument output. Subsequent sections are devoted to methodological considerations that arise during reporting of cases. For instance, common problems of misidentified peaks, totals crossing 100%, causes of total area being above or below acceptable limits and the importance of pre-integration region peaks are dealt with. Ultimately, CE-HPLC remains an investigation, the reporting of which combines in-depth knowledge of the biological basics with more than a working knowledge of the technological aspects of the technique.

Methemoglobinemia—A biomarker and a link to ferric iron accumulation in Alzheimer’s disease

Understanding the mechanism of oxidative stress is likely to yield new insights regarding the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Our earlier work focused on the difference between hemoglobin and methemoglobin degradation, respectively leading to ferrous (Fe2+) iron, or ferric (Fe3+) iron. Methemoglobin has the role of carrier, the donor of cytotoxic and redox-active ferric (Fe3+) iron, which can directly accumulate and increase the rate of capillary endothelial cell apoptosis, and may cross into the brain parenchyma, to the astrocytes, glia, neurons, and other neuronal cells (neurovascular unit). This supposition helps us to understand the transport and neuronal accumulation process of ferric iron, and determine how iron is transported and accumulated intracellularly, identifiable as “Brain rust”. Earlier research found that the incidences of neonatal jaundice (p = 0.034), heart murmur (p = 0.011) and disorders such as dyslalia and learning/memory impairments (p = 0.002) were significantly higher in those children born from mothers with methemoglobinemia. Our hypothesis suggests that prenatal iron abnormalities could lead to greater neuronal death, the disease ageing process, and neurodegenerative disorders such as AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.