In this work, we report on a systematic fluidodynamic investigation of red blood cell (RBC) suspensions flowing in microcapillaries with diameters comparable to the cell size in vitro. By using high-speed video microscopy and image analysis, we provide the first simultaneous determination of both cell velocity and shape parameters related to RBC membrane deformability over an extended range of pressure drops, and the first quantitative comparison with theoretical results from the literature. Good agreement was found with the predicted axisymmetric shapes tending towards an apparent bullet-like asymptotic configuration at increasing cell velocity. A potential application of this work is in the design of flow-based devices to study the pathological conditions affecting cell deformability, thus allowing us to overcome the limits of classical static methods, such as micropipette aspiration, which are not suitable for handling a large number of cells.

below the mean BMD in young adults (20-40 years old) of the same gender. The Z-score denotes how many SDs a person's BMD is above or below the mean BMD in the matched population. The coefficient of variation (CV) for the areal BMD measurements ranged from 0.5 to 3%, depending on application.Peripheral quantitative computerized tomography. The volumetric BMD (g/cm 3 ) of the nondominant distal arm (the radial bone) and distal leg (the tibial bone) was measured by pQCT (XCT-2000, Stratec Medizintechnik, GmbH, Pforzheim, Germany). The pQCT-device was calibrated once a week using a standard phantom and once every 30 day using a cone phantom provided by the manufacturer. A 2-mm-thick single tomographic slice was scanned with a voxel size of 0.50 mm. The cortical volumetric BMD was measured using a scan through the diaphysis at 25% of the bone length in the proximal direction of the distal end of the radial and tibial bones, respectively. Trabecular volumetric BMD was measured using a scan through the metaphysis at 4% of the bone length in the proximal direction of the distal end of the radial and tibial bones, respectively. All pQCT analyses were performed by a single technician using a single pQCT device. The CVs were less than 1% for all pQCT measurements, as previously reported [25].Statistics. Paired two-sided t-tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were performed to evaluate differences over time in each group. Unpaired twosided t-tests and Mann-Whitney U were performed to compare CML patients and controls. Fischer's exact test was used to compare the number of individuals with hyperparathyroidism in 2007 and 2011, respectively. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All data shown are mean values ± standard error of mean (SEM) unless otherwise stated.

Pregnancy is a high-risk event in women with essential thrombocythemia (ET). This observational study evaluated pregnancy outcome in ET patients focusing on the potential impact of aspirin (ASA) or interferon alpha (IFN) treatment during pregnancy. We retrospectively analyzed 122 pregnancies in 92 women consecutively observed in the last 10 years in 17 centers of the Italian thrombocythemia registry (RIT). The live birth rate was 75.4% (92/122 pregnancies). The risk of spontaneous abortion was 2.5-fold higher than in the control population (P < 0.01). ASA did not affect the live birth rate (71/93, 76.3% vs. 21/29, 72.4%, P 5 0.67). However, IFN treatment during pregnancy was associated with a better outcome than was management without IFN (live births 19/20, 95% vs. 73/102, 71.6%, P 5 0.025), and this finding was supported by multivariate analysis (OR: 0.10; 95% CI: 0.013-0.846, P 5 0.034). The JAK2 V617F mutation was associated with a poorer outcome (fetal losses JAK2 V617F positive 9/25, 36% vs. wild type 2/24, 8.3%, P 5 0.037), and this association was still significant after multivariate analysis (OR: 6.19; 95% CI: 1.17-32.61; P 5 0.038). No outcome concordance between first and second pregnancies was found (P 5 0.30). Maternal complications occurred in 8% of cases. In this retrospective study, in consecutively observed pregnant ET patients, IFN treatment was associated with a higher live birth rate, while ASA treatment was not. In addition, the JAK2 V617F mutation was confirmed to be an adverse prognostic factor. Am. J. Hematol. 84:636-640, 2009. V

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are commonly used in the treatment of myeloma-associated osteolytic lesions. Recent reports have suggested that BPs may also exert direct antitumor effects on myeloma cells. Here, we show that the treatment of myeloma cell lines with the combination of the potent BP zoledronate and dexamethasone inhibits cell growth and synergistically induces apoptotic cell death, providing a rationale for potential applications in vivo. Leukemia (2000) 14, 841-844.

In this work, the effects of thalassemia, a blood disease quite diffuse in the Mediterranean sea region, have been investigated at single cell level using a Raman Tweezers system. By resonant excitation of hemoglobin Raman bands, we have examined the oxygenation capability of beta-thalassemic erythrocytes. A reduction of this fundamental erythrocyte function has been found. The measurements have been performed on a significant number of red blood cells; the relative statistical analysis is presented. Moreover, the response to photo-induced oxidative stress of diseased cells with respect to the normal ones has been analyzed. Finally, the deformability of thalassemic erythrocytes has been quantified by measuring the membrane shear modulus by using a double-trap system: the measurements have revealed an increase in membrane rigidity of more than 40%, giving evidence that the genetic defect associated to thalassemia, which manly relies on hemoglobin structure, also strongly affects the erythrocyte mechanical properties. Our results demonstrate that the developed set-up may have potential for the monitoring of blood diseases and their response to drug therapies.