High-performance liquid chromatographic separation of human haemoglobins: Simultaneous quantitation of foetal and glycated haemoglobins

A high-performance liquid chromatographic system, which uses a weak cation exchanger (PolyCATA) together with Bis-Tris buffer (pH 6.47–7.0) and sodium acetate gradients, is described. Samples from adults and newborns were analysed and a clean separation of many minor and major normal and abnormal haemoglobin (Hb) variants was greatly improved. The method allows the separation of minor foetal haemoglobin (HbF) variants and the simultaneous quantitation of HbF and glycated HbA. HbF values correlated well with those obtained by the alkali denaturation method (r=0.997). The glycated haemoglobin (HbAr_Ic) levels measured in patients with high HbF concentrations correlated with the total glycated haemoglobin determined by bioaffinity chromatography (r=0.973). The procedure is useful for diagnostic applications and affords an effective and sensitive way of examining blood samples for haemoglobin abnormalities.     

Diagnostic aspects of pharyngeal tumors

In the work there are summarized the results of the examination of the 28 patients suffering with the pharynx tumors (angiophybroma of the pharynx, tumor of rhinopharynx with spreading to the cells of ethmoidal labyrinth and maxillary sinus, tumor of the pharynx spreading upon the rhinopharynx and intracranially) aged from 14 till 62. There are described the methods of roentgenologic investigation, computed and magnetic resonance tomography. There are shown the possibilities of different diagnostic methods in pharynx tumors, in estimation of the localization specification, prevalence, structure, degree of invasion into the neoplasms gathering round the cells, as well as the definition of the bony destruction.     

Fish haemoglobins: the order Clupeiformes

The haemoglobin systems of the order Clupeiformes have been studied by several researchers in 41 species belonging to three out of its five families. Most of them were investigated in the native form using electrophoretic methods, and a few were also examined from the functional point of view. Both approaches corroborate the widespread view that acidic and basic haemoglobin components, which are structurally and functionally distinct, may be present in teleost fish. However, the former are always present, whereas the latter are often lacking, depending on the taxonomic group. Both kinds of components are found in families Clupeidae and Pristigasteridae, but only acidic ones in Engraulidae.Most electrophoretic patterns show high multiplicity, and chiefly concern the acidic components. Ontogenetic variation was described in three species. Individual variants were also observed in other species, although some of these might be due to ontogenetic variations rather than genetic polymorphism.     

Expression and genetics of caprine haemoglobins

The expression of haemoglobin (Hb) has been studied in 260 Norwegian Dairy goats by the Immobiline technique at pH ranges 6.7-7.7, 6.9-7.6 and 6.9-7.5. The majority of goats exhibited two- or four-band patterns. In two-band types the average ratio between the anodal and cathodal band was 74:26. PAGE with 8M urea distinguished three phenotypes for the beta chains, proving that the Hb variation described is in the beta chain. Segregation data in 106 complete sire-dam-offspring families agreed with the existence of four beta globin alleles--A2, A4, A6 and A8. Twenty-seven animals had reversed ratios (R) of Hb bands. In two-band phenotypes the average ratio was 36:64. In 15 complete families where one of the parents had reversed ratio, eight offspring received the R type, indicating a simple genetic control. After urea PAGE the R animals all showed the same alpha chain phenotype which differed from that of goats having common ratios of bands. An additional polymorphism appeared in nine animals as three- and five-band patterns which is assumed to be the result of heterozygosity for II alpha and for II alpha and beta globin genes respectively.     

Legume haemoglobins: symbiotic nitrogen fixation needs bloody nodules

How do plants create an environment in which symbiotic bacteria can reduce enough N2 to provide the plant with sufficient ammonium for growth? Gene silencing has now been used to show that legume haemoglobins are crucial.     

Embryonic and adult chick haemoglobins: Their reaction with p-chloromercury benzoate

At least one of the primitive embryonic hemoglobins (Hbs) dissociates into monomers after treatment with p-chloromercury benzoate. The other primitive embryonic Hbs as well as the definitive embryonic and the adult Hbs are probably dissociated, by this reagent, into dimers. A globin from a primitive embryonic Hb component, which can be completely dissociated by this agent, may be isolated by gel filtration on Sephadex.     

Reproductive patterns and thalassaemia major

This study investigated the effect of the diagnosis of transfusion-dependent homozygous beta-thalassemia on subsequent parental reproductive patterns in 44 families in New South Wales. The results indicate a shift over time from parental risk-taking (either consciously or in ignorance of the implications of the diagnosis) to premature curtailment of reproduction to the likelihood of attaining birth expectations through antenatal diagnosis. 67% of families with both of their 1st 2 children affected by thalassemia major had additional children, compared with 38% of those where the 1st child was affected and the 2nd child was unaffected and 37% of families where the 1st child was unaffected and the 2nd child was affected. Overall, 48% of mothers of children with thalassemia major had as many children as they had expected at the time of marriage, 13% had more, and 39% had fewer children. The mothers of older children were less likely to have had the planned number of births than those of children born more recently. The value of antenatal diagnosis to couples at risk of thalassemia appears to have been to enable them to meet or almost meet their birth expectations.