X-linked Sideroblastic Anemia Due to Carboxyl-terminal ALAS2 Mutations That Cause Loss of Binding to the β-Subunit of Succinyl-CoA Synthetase (SUCLA2)

Mutations in the erythroid-specific aminolevulinic acid synthase gene (ALAS2) cause X-linked sideroblastic anemia (XLSA) by reducing mitochondrial enzymatic activity. Surprisingly, a patient with the classic XLSA phenotype had a novel exon 11 mutation encoding a recombinant enzyme (p.Met567Val) with normal activity, kinetics, and stability. Similarly, both an expressed adjacent XLSA mutation, p.Ser568Gly, and a mutation (p.Phe557Ter) lacking the 31 carboxyl-terminal residues also had normal or enhanced activity, kinetics, and stability. Because ALAS2 binds to the β subunit of succinyl-CoA synthetase (SUCLA2), the mutant proteins were tested for their ability to bind to this protein. Wild type ALAS2 bound strongly to a SUCLA2 affinity column, but the adjacent XLSA mutant enzymes and the truncated mutant did not bind. In contrast, vitamin B6-responsive XLSA mutations p.Arg452Cys and p.Arg452His, with normal in vitro enzyme activity and stability, did not interfere with binding to SUCLA2 but instead had loss of positive cooperativity for succinyl-CoA binding, an increased K(m) for succinyl-CoA, and reduced vitamin B6 affinity. Consistent with the association of SUCLA2 binding with in vivo ALAS2 activity, the p.Met567GlufsX2 mutant protein that causes X-linked protoporphyria bound strongly to SUCLA2, highlighting the probable role of an ALAS2-succinyl-CoA synthetase complex in the regulation of erythroid heme biosynthesis.     

Mode of delivery is associated with different hematological profiles in the newborn calf

Several studies on babies have shown that the type of delivery can influence the hematological and immune status of the newborn. In bovine medicine, some authors reported the hematological pattern of the newborn calf, but never related it with the calving process or other perinatal factors. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the hematological profile in newborn calves in relation to the type of delivery. A total of 41 healthy calves were enrolled; 16 Friesian calves which were born by vaginal delivery without assistance (VD), and 25 Belgian Blue calves that were born by elective Caesarean section (CS). As soon as the calves were born, a complete clinical examination was performed to verify viability and maturity. At 10 min after birth, 2 mL venous blood was collected to perform the blood gas and acid-base evaluation. Blood samples were subsequently collected from the jugular vein within 30 min after birth, and at 1, 2, 3, 7, and 14 days of age. An automatic analyzer was used to determine hemoglobin concentration (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), and red and white blood cell counts, while differential leukocyte count was performed microscopically. Statistical analysis was applied to assess differences between the groups and within the group for all parameters between each sampling time (P ≤ 0.05). All the calves were born alive, viable, and mature. There were no acidotic calves, but statistical analysis revealed many differences, as higher pH, base excess (BE) (P ≤ 0.05), PO₂ (P < 0.001), and sO₂ (P < 0.0001) in the VD group. Levels of hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and red blood cell number were constantly higher in CS calves (P < 0.001). In comparison with the VD calves, white blood cell and neutrophil absolute number were higher at birth and at 14 days of age in the CS group (P < 0.001 and P ≤ 0.05). The mode of delivery, therefore, seems to have an influence on the oxygenation levels and on the hematological and nonspecific immunity profile of the newborn calf.     

戊巴比妥钠、水合氯醛、氨基甲酸乙酯麻醉对雌性SD大鼠血液学指标的影响

目的观察戊巴比妥钠、水合氯醛、氨基甲酸乙酯三种麻醉药物对雌性SD大鼠血液学指标的影响。方法选用戊巴比妥钠（40mg/kg）、水合氯醛（400mg/kg）、氨基甲酸乙酯（1g/kg）腹腔注射麻醉雌性SD大鼠,麻醉20min后眼眶静脉丛取血测定大鼠血液细胞学指标及血液生化指标。结果三种不同药物麻醉雌性SD大鼠20min后,某些血液细胞学指标及血液生化指标与生理盐水对照组相比均有不同程度的差异。结论麻醉药物可对雌性SD大鼠的血液学指标产生影响。     

长江江豚野外健康状况的调查

对铜陵江段捕获的7头长江江豚（Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)进行了体征与血液学分析。结果表明,健康的个体有2头,2头个体有明显的病变,余者营养不良,患不同程度的贫血症。这可能与长江渔业资源日趋枯竭有关。     

微囊藻细胞抽提液对小鼠血液的亚慢性毒性

本文研究了注射含微囊藻毒素的微囊藻细胞抽提掖对小鼠血液以及免疫系统的亚慢性毒性作用。实验分为3个处理组和1个对照组（每组10只昆明小鼠,雌雄各半）,采用腹腔注射的染毒方法对3个处理组进行暴露,剂量分别为2.4、4.8 和 9.6 μg microcystin-LR/kg body weigh,对照组注射等量的生理盐水,连续注射14d。实验结果表明,14d 染毒后,小鼠的肝体比和脾体比都明显增大（p < 0.05）, 同时在9.6 μg/kg处理组,血清丙氨酸转移酶、天冬氨酸转移酶、乳酸脱氢酶和碱性磷酸酶活性与对照相比明显升高,但血清总蛋白、白蛋白和白蛋白/球蛋白比率下降。这些指标的变化说明,含微囊藻毒素的微囊藻细胞提取液对处理组小鼠肝脏造成了损伤,肝组织学观察也印证了这个结果,在处理组小鼠肝组织有明显的水样变性。另外,9.6 μg/kg处理组小鼠血液白细胞数量比对照组明显减少。组织细胞学观察发现,处理组小鼠脾脏也有明显的损伤。该实验结果说明,含微囊藻毒素的微囊藻细胞抽提液对小鼠的血液和免役系统都产生了一定程度的损伤。     

雌激素诱导SD大鼠前列腺炎与内环境改变的关系

目的 通过雌二醇诱导SD雄鼠慢性前列腺炎,探讨SD雄鼠的内环境改变的关联性作用,为前列腺炎发生机制和治疗提供一条实验性途径.方法 3%戊巴比妥麻醉,无菌条件下去势手术;术后动物恢复5 d,30只雄鼠按照体重随机分组,每组10只.第6天低剂量组皮下注射0.25 mg/kg的雌二醇,高剂量组皮下注射1.25 mg/kg的雌二醇,溶媒对照组注射橄榄油,每天1次,连续30 d.结果 与溶媒对照组比较,低、高剂量组白细胞（WBC）、红细胞（RBC）、血红蛋白（HGB）和红细胞压积（HCT）均降低（P〈0.01）;前列腺酸性磷酸酶（PAP）明显降低（P〈0.01）;高剂量组睾酮含量明显增加（P〈0.01）,C-反应蛋白（CRP）在低、高剂量组也呈现增加的趋势,但差异没有统计学意义;溶媒对照组和给药组前列腺组织大体解剖表面未见明显差异,光学显微镜下,溶媒对照组前列腺组织结构完整、腺腔和间质无炎性细胞浸润,高剂量组和低剂量组的前列腺间质均可见炎细胞浸润;低、高剂量组大鼠脾脏均可见棕黄色颗粒沉淀,其余脏器无明显改变,胸腺、脾脏及其脏器系数均明显降低.结论 根据本实验结果,雌激素引起的慢性非细菌性前列腺炎可导致内环境血液学、血清生化,激素水平、脏器和脏器系数的一系列改变.     

Aminopeptidase N (CD13): Expression,Prognostic Impact,and Use as Therapeutic Target for Tissue Factor Induced Tumor Vascular Infarction in Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Aminopeptidase N (CD13) is expressed on tumor vasculature and tumor cells. It represents a candidate for targeted therapy, e.g., by truncated tissue factor (tTF)-NGR, binding to CD13, and causing tumor vascular thrombosis. We analyzed CD13 expression by immunohistochemistry in 97 patients with STS who were treated by wide resection and uniform chemo-radio-chemotherapy. Using a semiquantitative score with four intensity levels, CD13 was expressed by tumor vasculature, or tumor cells, or both (composite value, intensity scores 1-3) in 93.9% of the STS. In 49.5% tumor cells, in 48.5% vascular/perivascular cells, and in 58.8%, composite value showed strong intensity score 3 staining. Leiomyosarcoma and synovial sarcoma showed low expression; fibrosarcoma and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma showed high expression. We found a significant prognostic impact of CD13, as high expression in tumor cells or vascular/perivascular cells correlated with better relapse-free survival and overall survival. CD13 retained prognostic significance in multivariable analyses. Systemic tTF-NGR resulted in significant growth reduction of CD13-positive human HT1080 sarcoma cell line xenografts. Our results recommend further investigation of tTF-NGR in STS patients. CD13 might be a suitable predictive biomarker for patient selection.     

Biological Databases for Hematology Research

With the advances of genome-wide sequencing technologies and bioinformatics approaches, a large number of datasets of normal and malignant erythropoiesis have been gener-ated and made public to researchers around the world. Collection and integration of these datasets greatly facilitate basic research and clinical diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders. Here we provide a brief introduction of the most popular omics data resources of normal and malignant hematopoiesis, including some integrated web tools, to help users get better equipped to perform common analyses. We hope this review will promote the awareness and facilitate the usage of public database resources in the hematology research.     

Babesia bigemina: immune response of cattle inoculated with irradiated parasites

Effects of various radiation dosages on the infectivity and immunogenicity of Babesia bigemina were studied. Calves infected with 1 × 10¹⁰, B. bigemina parasitized erythrocytes exposed to 24 krad developed progressive parasitemias. Some calves receiving 1 × 10¹⁰ parasitized erythrocytes irradiated at 36 krad did not develop progressive infections. Progressive infections were prevented by exposure to irradiation at 48 and 60 krad. A degree of acquired resistance to infection with B. bigemina developed in calves after inoculation with parasites irradiated at 48 and 60 krad. The resistance developed was sufficient to suppress multiplication of the Babesia and to permit calves to survive otherwise severe clinical infections due to challenge with nonirradiated parasites. Irradiated parasites were frozen without apparent loss of immunizing properties.     

Hematocrits of free-ranging baboons: variation within and among populations

Hematocrits among free-ranging baboons (Papio hamadryas subsp.), from Awash in Ethiopia and Mikumi in Tanzania, varied by region, sex, age, and season of collection. Tanzanian animals had higher mean values than Ethiopian, and hematocrits were higher in the dry season. We discuss the comparability of field and laboratory data and possible reasons for the observed variation.