Tag: red blood cells

Bioaccumulated chlorinated hydrocarbons and red/white blood cell parameters

Abstract:

The potential relationships between chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination in human serum and red/white blood cell profiles were investigated by multivariate techniques to assess the cellular response patterns to high and low organochlorine levels in the serum.

Twenty-three healthy control subjects and fourteen patients with unexplained and persistent fatigue were divided on the basis of (a) high or low total organochlorine content, (b) high or low DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethene) content, and (c) high or low HCB (hexachlorobenzene) content. Discriminant function analysis revealed that the groups with high organochlorine content had significantly different red/white blood cell profiles compared with the low organochlorine groups ((a) P < 0.017, (b) P < 0.015, and (c) P < 0.0002). As a variable, the percentage of neutrophils was the most important discriminant parameter for differentiating between the high and low total organochlorine groups.

Thirteen of the fourteen fatigued patients were characterized as “high total organocholorine content” (P < 0.04). The red cell distribution width was elevated in the high DDE group (P < 0.04) and was the most important discriminant parameter for differentiating between the high and low DDE groups. The percentage of eosinophils and the hemoglobin content were both reduced in the high HCB group (P < 0.009,P < 0.003, respectively) and the percentage of eosinophils was the most important discriminant parameter for differentiating between the high and low HCB groups. Those patients with unexplained and persistent fatigue had significantly higher levels of DDE compared with the controls and had different specific blood cell responses to organochlorines compared with control subjects.

 

Source: Dunstan RH, Roberts TK, Donohoe M, McGregor NR, Hope D, Taylor WG, Watkins JA, Murdoch RN, Butt HL. Bioaccumulated chlorinated hydrocarbons and red/white blood cell parameters. Biochem Mol Med. 1996 Jun;58(1):77-84. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8809349

 

Red cell shape changes following trigger finger fatigue in subjects with chronic tiredness and healthy controls

Abstract:

AIMS: To investigate the possibility of a correlation between the percentage of nondiscocytic erythrocytes and muscle fatiguability in subjects with the symptom of chronic tiredness.

METHODS: Sixty nine volunteers suffering from persisting or intermittent tiredness and 72 healthy controls provided 3-drop samples of venous blood for red cell shape analysis before and after inducing fatigue in the trigger finger muscles by repeatedly pulling the trigger of an antique revolver. Elapsed time and the number of pulls were recorded. A work index was calculated from the number of trigger pulls divided by the time in seconds then multiplied by the number of trigger pulls.

RESULTS: Subjects with tiredness had fewer discoid cells (males 62.5% vs 69.2%, p = 0.029; females 65.8% vs 71.8%, p = 0.002) than controls. They also had fewer trigger pulls (males 62.3 vs 84.0, p = 0.003; females 29.5 vs 36.8, p = 0.042) and lower “work indices” (males 75.6 vs 104.7, p = 0.001; females 26.1 vs 39.6, p = 0.001) than controls at the first trigger pulling. After 5 minutes rest the number of trigger pulls for males was fewer than the controls (56.0 vs 64.2) but the difference was not significant, but the female values (24.3 vs 33.2) were significantly different (p = 0.008). Work indices for both sexes were significantly different from controls (males p = 0.020, females p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The association of increased nondiscocytes and impaired muscle function could indicate a cause and effect relationship. This would be in agreement with the physiological concept of fatigue as a consequence of inadequate oxygen delivery.

 

Source: Simpson LO, Murdoch JC, Herbison GP. Red cell shape changes following trigger finger fatigue in subjects with chronic tiredness and healthy controls. N Z Med J. 1993 Mar 24;106(952):104-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8474717

 

Myalgic encephalomyelitis

Comment on: Myalgic encephalomyelitis. [J R Soc Med. 1991]

 

The exchange of views between Drs Wessely and Wilson in the correspondence columns of the March issue of the Journal (March 1991 JRSM, p 182) highlights the divergence of opinion concerning the nature of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

Recognition of ME as a significant health problem in New Zealand dates from an outbreak of ‘Tapanui ‘flu’ in a small country town in 1983. As it seemed possible that the wide range of symptoms could be indicative of impaired capillary blood flow, we studied the filtrability of blood samples from members of ME support groups. We found that subjects who were acutely unwell had prolonged blood filtration times which returned towards normal in the chronic state.

More recently it has been shown that ME symptoms are associated with increased percentages of nondiscocytic erythrocytes and the percentage of such cells showed an inverse correlation with wellbeing. The significance of altered red cell shape in the pathogenesis of ME has been discussed and it has been found that an injection of vitamin B12 improved wellbeing within 24 h. The loss of symptoms was associated with reduced percentages of nondiscocytes in about 50% of subjects. Those who failed to perceive a beneficial response from the B12 showed no change in red cell shape. Further studies at varying degrees of completion confirm and extend the published observations.

You can read the rest of this comment here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1295578/pdf/jrsocmed00119-0075a.pdf

 

Source: Simpson LO. Myalgic encephalomyelitis. J R Soc Med. 1991 Oct;84(10):633. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1295578/

 

Red blood cell magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

The hypotheses that patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have low red blood cell magnesium and that magnesium treatment would improve the wellbeing of such patients were tested in a case-control study and a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, respectively.

In the case-control study, 20 patients with CFS had lower red cell magnesium concentrations than did 20 healthy control subjects matched for age, sex, and social class (difference 0.1 mmol/l, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.05 to 0.15).

In the clinical trial, 32 patients with CFS were randomly allocated either to intramuscular magnesium sulphate every week for 6 weeks (15 patients) or to placebo (17).

Patients treated with magnesium claimed to have improved energy levels, better emotional state, and less pain, as judged by changes in the Nottingham health profile. 12 of the 15 treated patients said that they had benefited from treatment, and in 7 patients energy score improved from the maximum to the minimum.

By contrast, 3 of the 17 patients on placebo said that they felt better (difference 62%, 95% CI 35 to 90), and 1 patient had a better energy score. Red cell magnesium returned to normal in all patients on magnesium but in only 1 patient on placebo. The findings show that magnesium may have a role in CFS.

Comment in:

Magnesium and chronic fatigue. [Lancet. 1991]

Magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome. [Lancet. 1991]

Magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome. [Lancet. 1991]

Intravenous magnesium loading in chronic fatigue syndrome. [Lancet. 1992]

 

Source: Cox IM, Campbell MJ, Dowson D. Red blood cell magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome. Lancet. 1991 Mar 30;337(8744):757-60. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1672392