Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation - Volume 22, issue 3

Authors: Srour, Mahmoud A. | Bilto, Yousif Y. | Juma, Mohidin

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Incubation of normal erythrocytes with 10 mM H_{2} O_{2} has caused a loss of deformability. This loss of deformability was correlated with the extent of malonyldialdehyde, MDA (an indicator of lipid peroxidation) and alanine production (an indicator of protein degradation). The susceptibility of erythrocytes from 21 non‐insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and 18 hemodialysis patients, 21 cigarette smokers and 25 healthy controls to in vitro oxidative stress with H_{2} O_{2} has been measured as MDA production. Besides this, their erythrocytes reduced glutathione (GSH; an antioxidant) level has also been determined, but before exposure to H_{2} …O_{2} . Erythrocytes from NIDDM and hemodialysis patients have shown significant increase in MDA production and a significantly low GSH level, compared to healthy controls. In cigarette smokers, although the GSH level was significantly low, but there was no significant difference in MDA production, compared to healthy controls. The low GSH level in NIDDM and hemodialysis patients, and smokers indicates that their erythrocytes were exposed to oxidative stress (an increase in free radical load) in vivo, resulting in an overconsumption and/or decreased production of GSH. The increased susceptibility to oxidative stress along with the decrease in some antioxidants (e.g., GSH) may explain the significant increase in MDA production in NIDDM and hemodialysis patients. But in cigarette smokers, the increased susceptibility to oxidative stress is probably not sufficient to cause a significant increase in MDA production. The results may also indicate an increased susceptibility to the loss of erythrocyte deformability in NIDDM and hemodialysis patients compared to healthy controls. Show more

Keywords: Erythrocyte deformability, lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, diabetes mellitus, hemodialysis, cigarette smokers

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 173-180, 2000

Authors: Riquelme, B.D. | Foresto, P.G. | Valverde, J.R. | Rasia, J.R.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Rheological alterations produced during the storage of human erythrocytes were studied by means of in vitro viscoelastic parameters. Weekly aliquots of packed red blood cells (PRBC) and whole blood (WB) stored in CPD‐adenine were studied for 35 days. Samples were analyzed in Erythrodeformeter both in stationary and oscillating regime. We found that erythrocyte deformability index and all complex viscoelastic parameters are modified by storage. Plasma viscosity and blood viscosity were measured in a cone/plate Viscometer. Blood viscosity at high shear rates shows variations related to conservation time, which are in correlation with the variations observed in the erythrocyte deformability index. …Blood viscosity at low shear rate decreases during storage. Rheological tests would demonstrate some alterations in the structural properties of erythrocyte stored as PRBC. These alterations are less than those found in WB. We conclude that plasmatic proteins play a predominant role in the alteration of rheological behavior of erythrocytes during their storage. Consequently, it is important to evaluate not only cellular components but also plasma. Show more

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 181-188, 2000

Authors: Nie, Xin | Wen, Zong‐yao | Yan, Zong‐yi | Huang, Lixin | Sun, Dagong | Cheng, Boji

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: To evaluate the effect of morphine on red blood cells, in vivo and in vitro rat models of morphine dependence were established. Rheological properties of rat red cells were measured by ektacytometry; the biophysical changes in the membrane of rat red cells were measured by the Fourier‐Transformed Infrared technique (FT‐IR) and the fluorescence depolarization method. The results show that the membrane fluidity of red cells was greatly reduced by morphine and the secondary structure of membrane proteins was changed. This suggests that morphine affects the rat red cell membrane directly, rather than through opioids‐receptors.

Keywords: Morphine, hemorheology, ektacytometry, red blood cell, membrane fluidity, deformability, orientation index (DI)_{\mathrm{or}}, small deformation index (DI)_{\mathrm{d}}, membrane secondary structure

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 189-195, 2000

Authors: Le Dévéhat, C. | Khodabandehlou, T. | Mosnier, M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This study concerns an in vitro evaluation of the effect of naftidrofuryl on platelet aggregation in plasma of 15 diabetic patients, who were being treated with aspirin, and who were suffering from chronic arterial disease of the lower limbs. Platelet aggregation, induced either spontaneously or by aggregating agents, was measured in platelet‐rich plasma (PRP). The results show that serotonin (5‐HT)‐ and adenosine 5′‐diphosphate (ADP)‐induced platelet aggregation significantly decreased after addition of naftidrofuryl. Decreases were achieved with naftidrofuryl at a low dose (0.06 μM) and became more marked with naftidrofuryl at higher concentrations. In contrast, naftidrofuryl did not appear to modify …routinely spontaneous platelet aggregation. These results show an in vitro antiaggregating effect of naftidrofuryl on platelets of aspirinized patients. However, the clinical interest of a such coadministration of naftidrofuryl and aspirin in patients, has still to be confirmed in a double blind randomized trial. Show more

Keywords: Naftidrofuryl, aspirin, platelet aggregation

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 197-204, 2000

Authors: Joern, H. | Kahn, N. | Klein, B. | Schmid‐Schoenbein, H. | Rath, W.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the efficiency of a hemodilution (HD) therapy on the inter‐ and intravillous placental blood circulation in high‐risk pregnancies by applying the colour‐angio‐mode (CAM). Patients and methods: 24 patients were examined who had fetal growth retardation and/or pathological Doppler results. In all cases the hematocrit was >36%. The patients were given 500 ml Ringer solution and 500 ml HAES 10% intravenously per day; maternal heart rate and blood pressure were measured continuously. Prior to and after the therapy the same area of the placenta was examined using CAM; histograms demonstrating the …distribution of the intensity values and summation values of the color pixels were calculated. Results: In 14 patients the fetal outcome was good. The histograms showed in 11/14 cases an increase of low intensity values indicating an improvement of the placental circulation. The summation value of the color pixels as measured by CAM was significantly increased after the therapy in these cases (p = 0.022). In 10 patients the fetal outcome was unfavorable. The histograms showed a decrease of the intensity values in 6/10 cases. There was no significant change in the summation values of the color pixels after the therapy (p = 0.139). Conclusions: CAM sonography demonstrated for the first time a local effect of the HD therapy within the placenta. In the positive case the placental blood circulation will improve and the pregnancy develops favourably (responder). In the negative case there is no change of the placental blood circulation and pregnancy must be terminated due to a pathological fetal heart rate tracing, fetal growth failure or hypertensive disorders (nonresponder). Show more

Keywords: Ultrasonography, colour‐angio‐mode, fetal growth failure, hemodilution, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, pregnancy complication

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 205-213, 2000

Authors: Turchetti, V. | Bellini, M.A. | Leoncini, F. | Petri, F. | Trabalzini, L. | Guerrini, M. | Forconi, S.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Alterations of fluidity of the hepatocytic membrane and of the transport related systems are the basis of the cholesteatic syndrome and favour the tissue accumulation of cytotoxic metabolites. S‐Adenosyl‐L‐Methionine (SAM) is a natural molecule which acts as a giver of methylic groups and as an enzymatic activator in several enzymatic actions of transmethylase and of transulphuration and plays a key role in biochemical processes of hepatic cell. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of SAM on the restoration of the membrane fluidity and on the hepatic function in general. In studying the fluidity of the cell …membrane we evaluated some hemorheological parameters (total blood viscosity and red cell morphology). Fluidity of the red cell membrane is one of the most important elements of red cell rheology. We studied 15 patients (Group A) suffering from micro‐ and macro‐nodular cirrhosis verified through hepatic biopsy, with alcoholic or post‐viral causes. We evaluated the values of: blood viscosity (with a cone‐plate rheometer by Carri‐med), haematocrit, plasma fibrinogen and the erythrocytic morphology at the optical microscope with the Zipursky–Forconi method before and after 7 days of therapy with SAM iv. Data were compared with those of a similar group (Group B) treated with traditional therapy only (hyposodic and hypoprotein diet supplemented with multivitamin preparations, vitamin K in particular, if necessary, and potassium sparing diuretics). We also measured biliary salts, alkaline phosphatase, transaminase and gamma‐GT. In the first group we observed a statistically significant reduction of blood viscosity, haematocrit didn’t change significantly; biliary salts reduced in a statistically significant way. Evaluation of red cell morphology showed in all cases a pathological percentage (>15%) of echinocytes and knizocytes which reduced to a mean of 5% after SAM therapy. We observed no further modifications of the other hemorheological parameters. Results demonstrate that SAM has a positive action on the fluidity of the membrane, as indicated by the improvement of haemorheological parameters and by the significant decrease of biliary salts, indicating the presence of cholesteasis. Show more

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 215-221, 2000

Authors: Konukoglu, D. | Serin, Ö. | Ercan, M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In women, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality sharply increase after the onset of menopause. There is substantial evidence that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may decrease the risk of coronary heart disease; however the mechanism is unclear. We investigated the relationship between HRT and plasma viscosity as well as cholesterol levels in postmenopausal women. 30 women were using HRT (HRT users), and 30 women were not using HRT (non‐users). According to the classification of their plasma cholesterol levels, 30 women were hypercholesterolemic levels (hypercholesterolemic users n = 15, and hypercholesterolemic non‐users n = 15), and the others were …normocholesterolemic levels. While the highest plasma viscosity was measured in hypercholesterolemic users (1.291 ± 0.053 cP), the lowest plasma viscosity was measured in normocholesterolemic users (1.127 ± 0.056 cP). There was a significant correlation between plasma viscosity and cholesterol levels in the women on HRT (r = 0.76, p < 0.001). We have not found a difference neither in fibrinogen levels nor in triglycerides between users and non‐users. These data demonstrated that HRT has benificial effect on plasma viscosity; mainly in normocholesterolemic post menopausal women. Show more

Keywords: Hormone replacement therapy, oestrogen, viscosity, menopause

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 223-228, 2000

Authors: Kang, Meng‐Zhen | Zeng, Yan‐Jun | Liu, Jian‐Gang

Article Type: Short Communication

Abstract: By analyzing the aggregation images, we found that the distribution of RBCs shows fractal characteristics. A CCA (Cluster–Cluster Aggregation) model was chosen trying to simulate the RBC aggregation and to reveal the relationship between the fractal dimension and the binding energy.

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 229-236, 2000

Authors: Heilmann, L. | Rath, W.

Article Type: Abstract

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 237-251, 2000