Differences in the haematological profile of healthy 70 year old men and women: normal ranges with confirmatory factor analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Reference ranges are available for different blood cell counts. These ranges treat each cell type independently and do not consider possible correlations between cell types.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Participants were identified from the Community Health Index as survivors of the 1947 Scottish Mental Survey, all born in 1936, who were resident in Lothian (potential n = 3,810) and invited to participate in the study. Those who consented were invited to attend a Clinical Research Facility where, amongst other assessments, blood was taken for full blood count. First we described cell count data and bivariate correlations. Next we performed principal components analysis to identify common factors. Finally we performed confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate suitable models explaining relationships between cell counts in men and women.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We examined blood cell counts in 1027 community-resident people with mean age 69.5 (range 67.6-71.3) years. We determined normal ranges for each cell type using Q-Q plots which showed that these ranges were significantly different between men and women for all cell types except basophils. We identified three principal components explaining around 60% of total variance of cell counts. Varimax rotation indicated that these could be considered as erythropoietic, leukopoietic and thrombopoietic factors. We showed that these factors were distinct for men and women by confirmatory factor analysis: in men neutrophil count was part of a 'thrombopoietic' trait whereas for women it was part of a 'leukopoietic' trait.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>First, normal ranges for haematological indices should be sex-specific; at present this only pertains to those associated with erythrocytes. Second, differences between individuals across a range of blood cell counts can be explained to a considerable extent by three major components, but these components are not the same in men and women.</p

Microorganisms potentially useful in the management of polyurethane foam waste

Polyurethane foams due to their easily regulated domain structure are group of polymers with highly variable properties. They are widely used to provide comfort in many areas of daily life. Because of toxic products polyurethane foam waste cannot be disposed by means of thermal degradation, they also show a high resistance to chemical and physical factors. Those properties combined with their low apparent density and widespread use (about 18 million tons per year) lead to a significant volume of waste that is stored in landfills. In Poland, more than 60% of those landfills, certified as well as illegal, are located in rural areas. The aim of this study was to determine the enzymatic abilities of microorganisms isolated from foam waste, which can potentially decompose polyurethane (ureases, esterases, proteases, and laccases), and to determine their ability to grow on a medium containing polyurethane foam as the only carbon source. Most of the tested strains produced ureases while the least produced were laccases and proteases. Four of the tested strains: Epicoccum nigrum, Aspergillusniger, Staphylococcusxylosus and Rhodococcus spp. showed significant growth on the medium with polyurethane foam as sole carbon source

The evaluation of concentrations il-5 and il-6 in toxoplasmosis

The immune system, its cellular and humoral response, is engaged by the host organism to fight against parasitic invasions. The group examined consisted of 38 women aged 19-39 years infected with Toxoplasma gondii. The diagnosis was established basing on serologic examination. Blood for analysis was collected before antiparasitic treatment. Control group consisted of 40 healthy women aged 18-46 years. The concentrations of IgM, IgG and IgE were assayed using a set of VIDAS (bioMerieux) according to the ELFA method. The concentrations of IL-5, IL-6 were assayed using a set of Quantikine human (R&D Systems) according to the immunoenzymatic methods with labeled antibodies. The present study revealed that in toxoplasmosis the concentration of IgE, IL-5 and IL-6 contents in blood serum was 2-times higher, than in healthy controls

IGFBP3 in Patients with Advanced Stomach Carcinoma

IGF peptides family plays important role in cell growth and apoptosis regulation both in normal and neoplastic cells. The aim of the study was assessment of IGFBP3 expression in main mass of tumor and metastatic lymph node in patients with advanced stage stomach carcinoma and correlation with selected prognostic and clinico-pathological factors. The study group consisted of 76 patients with advanced stage stomach carcinoma (24 women and 52 men). Mean patientsrsquo age was 60,4 (30-78) yrs. Immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal anti IGFBP3 antibody (mouse IgG2B monoclonal anti-human IGFBP3 antibody) was used for IGF BP3 assessment. Statistical analysis revealed no correlation between chosen clinical and pathological parameters and expression of IGFBP3 protein in the lymph node with metastasis. No correlation was found between expression of IGFBP3 in the main mass of tumor and patientrsquos gender, tumor location, depth of invasion in the wall, histological differentiation, Bormannrsquos classification, Laurenrsquos classification as well as expressions in the lymph node with metastasis. Moreover, there was no association between expression of IGFBP3 and overall postoperative survival time (data not published). Positive expression of IGFBP3 protein in main mass of tumor was observed mainly in poorly differentiated tumors located in 1/3 of middle and 1/3 lower part and in all stomach. Similarly, positive expression of IGFBP3 in lymph node metastasis was associated with diffuse type of cancers, type IV (according Bormannrsquos classification) and low stage of histological differentiation G3