Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) has been shown to stimulate the growth of a variety of cells in an autocrine or paracrine manner. Although HB-EGF is widely expressed in tumors compared with normal tissue, its contribution to tumorigenicity is unknown. HB-EGF can be produced as a membrane-anchored form (pro-HB-EGF) and later processed to a soluble form (s-HB-E...

Background: Beta thalassemia gene mutations are among common mutations in southwest Iran. However, Hemoglobin E (Hb E) and Hb E/β⁰ thalassemia account for a small number of hemoglobinopathies in Iran. This is the first study to directly address the existence of Hb E and consequently Hb E/β⁰ thalassemia in southwest Iran. Methods: This retrospective study discovered seven cases of Hb E/β⁰ thal...

Patients with sickle cell anemia (Hb SS) or sickle cell trait (Hb AS) may present several types of renal dysfunction; however, comparison of the prevalence of these abnormalities between these two groups and correlation with the duration of disease in a large number of patients have not been thoroughly investigated. In a cross-sectional study using immunoenzymometric assays to measure tubular p...

Blood and stripped hemoglobin from Nelore cattle individuals were submitted to oxygen equilibrium experiments in both gasometric and spectrophotometric methods. No difference was detected in oxygen affinity and Bohr effect among Hb A, Hb B and Hb AB in experiments with both blood and stripped hemoglobin, in the presence and absence of the chloride ion. However, n values (Hill plots) were higher...

To determine if the activation of the (K+Cl-) cotransport system observed in hemoglobin (Hb) S- or C-containing erythrocytes is related either to a global change of isoelectric point of the Hb molecule or to the specific location of these mutations on the position 6 of the beta chain of Hb, we studied the (K+Cl-) cotransport system in erythrocytes containing beta chain variants exhibiting eithe...

Dear Editor, A 33-yr-old Thai woman visited Wonkwang University Sanbon Hospital, Korea, with chief complaints of fatigue and dizziness. Peripheral blood smear examination revealed microcytic hypochromic anemia with target cells (Fig. 1). Routine laboratory analysis results were within normal limits (bilirubin, haptoglobin, reticulocyte, lactate dehydrogenase, iron, total iron binding capacity, ...

Labile hemoglobin A 1c (Hb A 1c), or pre–Hb A 1c , is an intermediate in the synthesis of Hb A 1c and is characterized by the reversible binding of glucose to Hb as a Schiff base (1). Its biological variation is related to recent fluctuations in glycemia and cannot provide suitable retrospective information on a patient's long-term glycemic balance. Therefore, labile Hb A 1c must be eliminated ...

BACKGROUND Erythrocytes contain a large amount of glutathione (GSH), which protects cells from oxidative injury. The purpose of this study was to examine whether hemoglobin (Hb) is modified with glutathione by oxidation of the thiol groups in diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia, and to determine the oxygen affinity of glutathionyl Hb. METHODS Hb samples obtained from patients with type 2 dia...

BACKGROUND Hemoglobin Constant Spring (Hb CS) is an abnormal Hb caused by a mutation at the termination codon of α2-globin gene found commonly among Southeast Asian and Chinese people. Association of Hb CS with α°-thalassemia leads to a thalassemia intermedia syndrome commonly encountered in the region. We report chromosome background and addressed genetic origins of Hb CS observed in a large c...