Subject(s)
Anemia, Sickle Cell/diagnosis , Neonatal Screening , Female , France , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Urban PopulationABSTRACT
Beta-adrenergic receptor function was assessed in cultured skin fibroblasts obtained from bipolar patients and normal volunteers by measurement of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response to isoproterenol. No group differences were observed. To assess regulation of receptor desensitization, fibroblasts were incubated for 24 hr with isoproterenol, and then the cAMP response to isoproterenol was determined. Subsensitivity to rechallenge with isoproterenol did not distinguish bipolar patients from controls.
Subject(s)
Bipolar Disorder/physiopathology , Receptors, Adrenergic, beta/physiology , Cells, Cultured , Cyclic AMP/metabolism , Fibroblasts/drug effects , Fibroblasts/metabolism , Humans , Isoproterenol/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Utilizing an easy and safe procedure for fetal blood sampling in utero we have studied 409 fetuses for prenatal diagnosis of rubella, toxoplasmosis, hemophilia, and hemoglobinopathies. Retrospectively we selected 163 fetuses confirmed as normal at birth and tested between 18 and 30 wk of gestation to establish normal hematological parameters and to follow the evolution of erythropoiesis, differential counts, hemoglobin synthesis, and hemostasis. Total white blood cell and platelet counts did not change during this period. The lymphocytes represented the main population and we observed a decrease of normoblasts during gestation. The results show a progressive increase of red blood cells and hemoglobin. This evolution is demonstrated by the ratio hemoglobin A to acetylated hemoglobin F. No significant modification of hemostasis was observed over a 12-wk intrauterine gestation. These results provide useful reference values for future investigations.
Subject(s)
Fetal Blood/cytology , Blood Coagulation Factors/analysis , Erythrocyte Count , Erythrocyte Indices , Female , Fetal Blood/analysis , Gestational Age , Hematocrit , Hemoglobins/analysis , Hemoglobins, Abnormal/analysis , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Leukocyte Count , Platelet Count , Pregnancy , Reference ValuesABSTRACT
A third case of Hb J Iran is reported. The propositus is of Russian-Armenian origin and was investigated for hematuria. The electrophoretic behavior and the characterization of primary structure are described. Hb J Iran is stable and has normal functional properties. High resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectra suggest the presence of structural perturbations in the heme pocket of the variant. Solubility studies of Hb S/Hb J Iran mixture indicated that His beta 77 belongs to a contact region of deoxy Hb S polymers.
Subject(s)
Hemoglobin J/isolation & purification , Hemoglobins, Abnormal/isolation & purification , Adolescent , Armenia/ethnology , Electrophoresis , Hematuria/blood , Hematuria/genetics , Hemoglobin J/genetics , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Male , SolubilityABSTRACT
Catecholamine theories of affective illness provide a rationale for the study of beta-adrenoceptor function in these disorders. Skin fibroblasts were grown in tissue culture from skin biopsies of normal volunteers and manic-depressive subjects for measurement of isoprenaline-stimulated production of cyclic AMP. Monolayers of fibroblasts in wells were incubated for 3 min with or without 0.5 microM-isoprenaline. The cyclic AMP was isolated by ion-exchange chromatography and quantitated by radioimmunoassay. The isoprenaline-stimulated levels of cyclic AMP in manic-depressive subjects (n = 12) were no different from those in normal volunteers (n = 13). Thus, no evidence was found for abnormal beta-adrenoceptor function in manic-depressive illness.
Subject(s)
Bipolar Disorder/physiopathology , Receptors, Adrenergic, beta/physiology , Adenylyl Cyclases/metabolism , Cells, Cultured , Enzyme Activation/drug effects , Fibroblasts , Humans , Isoproterenol/pharmacology , SkinABSTRACT
A new case of Hb Providence was discovered in a French caucasian family presenting a mild polycythemia. Structural and functional studies of the two abnormal fractions (Hb Providence Asn and Asp) have been performed. These confirm the abnormal characteristics of Hb Providence described previously. Red cells containing Hb Providence were fractionated with a Percoll Albumin density gradient. The respective amounts of the two components were determined in the youngest and oldest cells. We observed a slight increase of Hb Providence Asp from 34 to 37% during the life span of the erythrocytes which confirms that the deamidation of Hb Providence Asn to Hb Providence Asp is a fast process, already present and close to its maximum, in the reticulocytes. Both abnormal components are stable in the presence of isopropanol.
