The relation of serum uric acid to haemoglobin level in patients with cardiac and respiratory disease

An investigation was made of the serum uric acid in 130 male patients with long-standing cardiac or pulmonary disease. The mean serum uric acid was 4.66 mg. per 100 ml. with a standard deviation of +/-0.99. The serum uric acid increased parallel with a rise in the haemoglobin level. The coefficient of correlation was +0.5, which was nearly six times the standard error. The frequency of hyperuricaemia (over 6 mg. per 100 ml.) was 11 times in 47 patients with a haemoglobin level above 110% as compared with twice in 83 patients when the haemoglobin level was below this figure. The highest levels of serum uric acid were seen in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease. Two of the patients with hyperuricaemia gave a suggestive history of gout, and this was believed to have been caused by the secondary polycythaemia. Serum uric acid levels were significantly higher, as were the haemoglobin concentrations, in the obese compared with the patients who were not obese.

Biosynthesis of chick hemoglobins

In vivo studies of the biosynthesis of chick hemoglobins 1 and 2 showed an over-all higher incorporation of glycine-2-C(14), valine-4-C(14), valine-1-C(14), leucine-G-C(14), and histidine-(2-ring)-C(14) in hemoglobin 2; in vitro studies made with intact nucleated chick erythrocytes showed the higher incorporation of glycine-2-C(14), valine-1-C(14), and histidine-(2-ring)-C(14) in hemoglobin 1. Hybridization of chick hemoglobins produced an electrophoretically distinguishable new component.

The occurrence and possible significance of haemoglobin in the chromosomal regions of mature erythrocyte nuclei of the newt Triturus cristatus cristatus

Absorption measurements in violet light (λ 4047 A) of thin sections of mature newt erythrocytes have indicated the presence of a haem compound, probably haemoglobin, within the chromosomal regions of the nucleus. The amount is about 45 per cent of that in the cytoplasm. The possible significance of this nuclear haemoglobin in determining nuclear structure is discussed in terms of the electrostatic interaction of haemoglobin and nucleohistone.

Hemoglobin: molecular changes during anuran metamorphosis

Anuran metamorphosis is accompanied by changes in the sedimentation patterns of the lysates of red blood cells of several species. Rana grylio and Rana catesbeiana tadpoles have hemoglobins that sediment at 4.3S (molecular weight, 68,000) and gradually produce a heavier 7.0S component (estimated molecular weight, 136,000) during metamorphosis to the adult frog. There is extensive change in the amino acid compositions of these hemoglobins; these changes may account for observed changes in electrophoretic mobility.

Sodium potassium, water, and haemoglobin in the packed red cells of severe thalassaemia

Sodium, potassium, water, and the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were determined in the packed erythrocytes of children with severe thalassaemia. The concentration of sodium in the packed red cells was higher than normal in a significant proportion of children with thalassaemia whereas potassium in the packed cells and sodium and potassium in the plasma were normal. On average, the cell water content was a little higher and the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration a little lower than normal. The cation concentrations in the packed cells of thalassaemia are compared with those in other anaemias. Similarities are pointed out between the sodium concentrations in the packed cells of thalassaemia and those from the foetus and children suffering from malnutrition.