Variability of vertical ground reaction forces collected with one and two force plates in healthy dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare peak vertical force (PVF) and vertical impulse (VI) data collected with one and two force plates during the same collection time period in healthy dogs at a trot. ANIMALS: Seventeen healthy client-owned adult dogs. METHODS: Vertical ground reaction force (GRF) data were collected in a crossover study design, with four sessions on two consecutive days, and then two weeks apart (days 1, 2, 15, and 16) using both one and two force plates collection methods. A repeated measures model analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for differences in force plate PVF, VI, and average time per trial (ATT) between days, weeks, and systems (1 plate versus 2 plates). Coefficients of variation for PVF and VI were also calculated separately by forelimbs and hindlimbs, plates, day, and week. RESULTS: The time required to obtain a valid trial was significantly longer using a single force plate when compared with two force plates. Comparing GRF data for all dogs, significant differences in PVF data were found between one and two force plates, however, these differences were diminutive in absolute magnitude, and of unknown clinical importance. Examination of the coefficients of variation for PVF and VI during the different collection periods yielded similar results. CONCLUSIONS: Use of two force plates decreased trial repetition and collection time. Vertical GRF data had a similar coefficient of variation with either one or two force plates collection techniques in healthy dogs.

Biochemical values, complement levels, and hemostatic data in septic leukoerythroblastosis.

Recently, the association of granulocytic fragments on blood smear with leukoerythroblastosis in sepsis has been identified in nine patients. Granulocytic fragments were identified by both light and electron microscopy as well as cytochemistry. Leukoerythroblastosis is a poorly defined, uncommon syndrome with leukocytosis, left shift, and nucleated red blood cells (nRBCs) disproportionate to the degree of anemia, which may be associated with leukemia or neoplasia in the bone marrow, acute infection, hemolysis, myelofibrosis, or miscellaneous causes. Here a subgroup with high white blood cells (WBC) and acute infection was studied. The corrected WBC for nine patients was 40 x 10(9) per L with 33 nRBC per 100 WBC; serum C3 and C4 levels before and after the development of leukoerythroblastosis were 0.6 +/- 2 g per L; 0.18 +/- 0.04 g per L pre-leukoerythroblastosis and 0.7 +/- 0.46 g per L; 0.30 +/- 0.27 g per L post-leukoerythroblastosis, respectively, in four patients. The platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), and activated partial prothrombin time (aPTT) were 133 x 10(9) per L, 24.4 sec., and 53.5 sec., respectively, for nine patients. Multiphasic chemistries at the time of leukoerythroblastosis were measured in five patients; abnormal values included calcium of 2.0 +/- 0.4 mmol per L, creatinine of 336 +/- 130 mumol per L, total protein of 45 +/- 17 g per L, albumin of 27 +/- 11 g per L, total bilirubin of 421 +/- 362 mumol per L, uric acid of 499 +/- 264 mumol per L, triglycerides of 4.9 +/- 3.7 mmol per L, and alkaline phosphatase of 3.5 +/- 1.0 mu kat per L.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Granulocytic fragments in sepsis.

We report here three patients with sepsis and one with acute pancreatitis and possible sepsis who developed granulocytic fragments on blood smears obtained prior to death. In case 1, these fragments were identified cytochemically. In case 3, granulocytic cytoplasmic projections and fragments were identified by electron microscopy of the buffy coat. All patients had leukerythroblastosis. The average corrected white blood count (WBC) was 46 X 10(9)/liter with 34 nucleated red blood cells (nRBC)/100 WBC. Patient 1 had thrombocytosis whereas patients 2, 3, and 4 were thrombocytopenic. Terminal complement levels were decreased in patients 3 and 4 as previously noted in sepsis (Sprung CL, Shultz DR, Marcial E, et al.: Complement activation in septic shock patients. Crit Care Med 14:525, 1986). A general correlation between nRBC and granulocytic fragments/100 hpf (high power field) was observed in patients 3 and 4. Granulocytic fragments were not identified on the blood smears of several patients with leukemoid reactions without erythroblastosis. Although the precise etiology of these fragments is unclear, we believe their recognition is important because all patients died within 32 hours after granulocytic fragments were identified. Furthermore, these fragments can falsely elevate the platelet count. Although myeloid fragments have previously been noted in leukemia and lymphoma, this is the first report of their association with conditions unrelated to hematologic neoplasms. These fragments can easily be recognized by careful examination of the blood smear and represent a newly recognized aspect of the septic shock syndrome.