State your health » Blood Cell

Causes of Low Red Blood Cell Count – Low RBCs, Grave Danger

Editor — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:15:04 +0000

Red Blood Cells (RBCs) are the oxygen carriers in the human body. The hemoglobin that it contains carries the oxygen and gives the red color to the blood. However, if these RBCs become very low and decrease below the accepted level, it has very severe and grave effects.

Causes of low RBC Count

The most common cause of a low RBC count is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is used to tackle the disease of cancer. However, chemotherapy too has its side-effects. One of the most important side-effects of chemotherapy includes low RBC count. Due to the chemotherapy, a large number of blood cells get destroyed during the process. Thus, RBCs which are the largest in number among all the blood cells get destroyed the most.

The other cause of a low RBC count is an extremely low level of hemoglobin. Red blood cells carry hemoglobin which consists of oxygen which supplies oxygen to the different parts of the body. However, if this hemoglobin decreases, the red blood cell count too decreases. Hemoglobin decreases due to a deficiency of iron in the body. Iron is the most important factor in the hemoglobin. Red blood cells can also be low due to a deficiency of other vital nutrients like folic acid and vitamin B12. A lack of these vitamins can adversely affect the process of red blood production, thereby hampering the red blood cell count in the body.

The most common causes of decrease in red blood cell count also include Stomach ulcers, piles, ulcerative colitis (inflammation of the colon) and bowel cancer, bleeding due to kidney or bladder disorders, medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Also, the causes of iron and vitamin deficiency are low iron intake in the diet, lack of nutritious substances like meat, green vegetables, milk, flour and eggs and an overall lack of iron containing substances in the diet.

The symptoms of low red blood cell count include breathlessness, dizziness, weak pulse and palpitations and severe fatigue.

A low red blood cell count can lead to fatal consequences. Severe external or internal bleeding results in such life-threatening results. Any form of bleeding must be addressed immediately to avoid any loss of red blood cells.

White blood cell scan- WBC Check

Editor — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:00:08 +0000

White blood cell scan is basically a test that is used to detect infections and inflammation. It engages radioactively labeling some of the patients of white blood cells and then taking images of their passage through the body. It also comprises of information about abnormal cell structure and the presence of immature cells. There are various types of white blood cells also known as leukocytes that normally appear in the blood. The differential determines the relative percentages of the different types of cells in the blood, notes any abnormal appearance of the cells, and the presence of any irregular immature cells.

Test among the adults

Blood will be drawn from a vein also known as venipuncture, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and a tourniquet that is an elastic band or blood pressure cuff is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This leads to veins below the tourniquet to distend, which is filled with blood. A needle is then inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected into an airtight vial or a syringe. During the process, the tourniquet is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is enclosed to stop any bleeding. There is no special preparation required for adults before the test.

Test among infants or young children

The area is washed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood might be collected in a pipette, on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage might be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding. After the specimen is unruffled from an adult or child, a drop of blood is placed on a glass slide. A smear is prepared and stained to differentiate the various types of white blood cells for a manual differential. The physical and psychological preparation one can give for this or any test or procedure depends on your child’s age, interests, previous experiences, and level of trust. When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people might feel a moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there might be some throbbing.

This is the most common method of conducting a white blood cell check. These tests can reveal enormous amounts of information about the individual’s health.

The HIV white blood cells.

Editor — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:15:11 +0000

Connection between HIV and WBC:

Most of the HIV and the WBC syndrome follow the route of blood transfusion, mother to foetus, multiple partners even seen through homosexuals. The HIV stands for the Human Immuno Virus that affects the T-lymphocytes of the body and retard the immunity against the virus. The T -lymphocytes produces the antigens against the foreign bodies that are called the cell-mediated immunity. The normal Cd4 count is somewhere around 500 to 1500 cells per cubic millimeter. A normal T-cell ratio is 0.9 to 0.6. This is around 32% to 68% of the body lymphocytes. Majority of the HIV positive have The T-cells count below 350.

Pathogenicity:

The disease originated from the viral infection. On the entry into the body the HIV attaches itself to the WBC called the CD4 also called the T-4 cells. After injecting the T-cells, the HIV injects its RNA into the cell. The RNA gets attached to the DNA of the hosts’ cell and enters his genetic constitution. These cells then enter the blood stream, get attached to other CD4 cells and continue the process of replication. As a result, the number of the virus in the blood rises and number in the CD4 cells declines. Bacteria, fungi and parasites also cause the opportunistic infections.

Symptoms:

Early symptoms are-fever, diarrhea, headaches, tiredness, nausea, enlarged lymph nodes. The Later symptoms are lack of energy, weight loss, sweating, whitish coating on the tongue due to yeast infection, chronic pelvic inflammatory diseases, recurring vaginal infections, bruising more easily than normal. There are periods of continued and longer coughing, unusual skin rash, bouts of diarrhea, vulnerability of cancerous outgrowths. Swelling and the hardening of glands in the groin, armpit and the throat. There is lightheadedness, dizziness and appearance of the discolored patterns on the screens. There is bleeping of the mucous membranes, loss of consciousness, and mental degradation loss of body weight by ten percent (10%) and loss of sensation partially or paralysis. The social urge to be resilient and be able to control the rising rate of the diseases is the way out of it.

High Red Blood Cell count? Even More of R.B.C. could be a trouble!

Editor — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:15:03 +0000

An overview:

The normal volumes of the count vary according to the age, sex, and elevation above sea level and the type of blood group. For men it is 4.6 -6.2 millions RBCs in per microlitre, for women it is 4.4–5.4 millions per micro liter. For the children it is 4.6 to 4.8 million RBCs per micro liter. Red blood corpuscles are the carriers of the oxygen content in the blood. This increse refers to polycythemia. This leads to another danger of the blood cells clumping together and blocking the flow of blood in the capillaries. The important checks should be on the blood screens, creatine standards, blood pressure information and anemic cases. DNA testing is also helpful to prevent any form of fatality later.

Causes:

Conditions which increase the red blood count are smoking, exposure to carbon dioxide, long term lung disease, liver disease, dehydration, diarrhea, severe burns, excessive sweating, diuretic conditions and some disorders in the bone marrow. Thus any disease that decreases the amount of blood flow gradually results in the decrease of hemoglobin content.

Caution signs:

A high red blood count may indicate congenital heart disease, obstructive lung disease, bone marrow over-production and beta-thalassemia trait. It also shows a benign condition of little anemia, bleeding, kidney disease, bone marrow failure because of radiation or some form of tumor, malnutrition and deficiencies of iron, folate, Vit B12 and Vit B6. Normal diseases in the blood corpuscles are seen during pregnancy because of an increase in the normal body fluid that dilutes the blood. Living at high altitudes or being accustomed to mountain climbing is also one of the reasons for the increase in the Red Blood Cells count. There are certain drugs that increase RBC, these are gentamicin and methyldopa.

Tests and the Diagnosis:

The Hemocrit test measures the amount of space the cells occupy in the blood. The red blood indices–this measures the mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, red cell distribution cell, platelet count and the blood smear.

This gives a brief idea of the disorders and signs of an overwhelming increase in RBCs. Individuals must make sure to undergo medical tests if they find such signs.

Blood Cell Morphology- The basic structure of the cells.

Editor — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:15:04 +0000

There are two types of blood cells present in a human body. They are the red blood cells and the white blood cells. The red blood cells are the most common cells present in the body and are circular and fairly uniform in size. The white blood cells are also circular in shape but they are colorless and different in functioning than the red cells.

Structure of Red Blood Cells: -

The diameter of a typical human erythrocyte disk is 6-8 m, much smaller than most other human cells, a typical erythrocyte contains about 270 million hemoglobin molecules, with each carrying four heme groups. Adult humans have roughly 2-3 1013 red blood cells at any given time. Women have about 4 million to 5 million erythrocytes per cubic millimeter or micro liter of blood and men about 5 million to 6 million; The red blood cells store collectively about 3.5 grams of iron, more than five times the iron stored by all the other tissues combined. The process by which red blood cells are produced is called erythropoiesis. Erythrocytes are continuously being produced in the red bone marrow of large bones.

The mature red blood cell consists primarily of 90% hemoglobin. The membrane is composed of lipids and proteins. In addition, there are numerous enzymes present which are necessary for oxygen transport and cell viability. The main function of the red cell is to carry oxygen to the tissues and return carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs. The protein hemoglobin is responsible for most of this exchange. Normal red blood cells are round, have a small area of central pallor, and show only a slight variation in size. As the relative amount of hemoglobin in the red cell decreases or increases, the area of central pallor will decrease or increase accordingly.

Structure of White blood cells: -

The white blood cells are also called as Leukocytes and they defend the body against bacteria and other viruses. Compared to the red blood cells, the white cells are produced in less number. One white blood cell is formed in comparison to the 700 red blood cells formed. They are large as compared to the red blood cells. The WBC’s measure about 8 m and are produced in the bone marrow. They are circular in shape and are also rigid in structure. The walls of the WBC’s are thicker than those of RBC’s. The white blood cells store very little amount of iron as compared to RBC’s.

This description clarifies the structure of blood cell morphology in brief. Apart, from these, there are several other minute features of the blood cell morphology.

Symptoms of low White Blood Cell count- Major Reasons of Less Blood Count

Editor — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:45:07 +0000

They are called as the antibodies that actually form a human immune system. Commonly known as Leukocytes or white cells or white corpuscle, the white blood cells are a group of several cell types that occur in bloodstream and are essential for proper functioning of the immune system. Some of these white blood cells act as scavengers by engulfing foreign particles and destroying. Others produce antibodies or destroy dead cells. These blood cells are normally produced in the bone marrow.

Low WBC count

Many diseases and disorders can be caused as result of the low WBC count. Some of the reasons for having a less blood count are given below. The main reason of less WBC count could be the failure of bone marrow that can be caused due to infection, tumor, fibrosis or any such disease or disorder. There could be a low blood count because of presence of cytotoxic substance. WBC count could also be affected because of collagen-vascular diseases, diseases of liver or spleen and also due to radiation and chemotherapy.

Symptoms of low White Blood Cell count

A low white blood cell count could be due to many reasons as mentioned in the above paragraph. If you get an infection at a time when your blood cell count, it is essential that you contact your doctor immediately. If you have the symptoms that suggest that you might be developing an infection such as a sore throat, fever, pain passing urine, cough or breathlessness and swelling, then there is for sure a less count of white blood cells.

Platelets help to clot the blood to prevent bleeding. If the number of platelets (WBC’s) in your blood is low, you may bruise easily. There could be more bleeding than usual, even from small cuts or grazes and also have nosebleeds.

Chemotherapy or radiation could kill the White Blood Cells. The body breaks down the dead cells. The chemicals that the cells are made of are suddenly released in the blood. Your blood is removed from the body by the kidneys and so frequent urination is also observed. The rhythm and kidneys are also affected.

So tell your doctor immediately a fever or notice any bleeding or bruising. Be as clean as you can and wash your hands before preparing food for instance. Put pressure on the cuts and rest when you feel tired. These are the best measures that you can take care of for avoiding the reduction in your White Blood Cell count.

Red Blood Cell Life Cycle ? 120 days Short Cover.

Editor — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 16:30:06 +0000

The life span of a R.B.C in the blood stream is 120 days. The red blood cells lack a nucleus thus further production of any new cellular component is not possible. The production of R.B.C. requires four days. The factors affecting the stimulation of the R.B.C. production are hemorrhage, damage to bone marrow, exposure to high altitude, exercise, hemolytic diseases, lower hemoglobin levels and certain practices like the red blood doping observed in sports also causes increase in the red blood count. This increases the hemoglobin and the red blood cell content by around twenty percent (20%).

Stages involved in its production:

Hemocytoblasts: These are the stem cells that which are responsible for the formation of blood cells.
Proerythtroblasts: These are formed by the multiplication of stem cells.
The early erythroblasts: This is marked by the onset of the erythropoises.
The late erythroblasts: In this state the nucleus is removed from the cell. Reticulate: It has 1to 3% red blood cells.
The mature erythrocytes: There is loss of ribosome and they enter the blood stream.

Systematic review of the events:

The hypoxia or low blood pressure stimulates the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the nephrons ion the kidneys to release the enzyme erythropoietin. This enables in the inducing the red marrow of the bones to produce the proerythroblasts. This reduces the time span for the production of R.B.C.s. This promotes the increase in R.B.C. production to be able to carry more oxygen, thus in turn it causes a negative feed back control on the R.B.C. production.

Breakdown of the R.B.C.s:

There is around 2.5 million red blood cells destroyed every second. That contributes up to 0.00001% out of trillions. These are maintained by the homeostasis. After a span of 120days, the cells disintegrate due to aging. These are generally removed by the phagocytic action of the macrophages in liver, spleen and lymph nodes. Others hemolyze in the cells, the chemical composition is broken in the cellular matrix due to the action of lysosomal enzymes. The excessive iron released is stored in the liver and the bone marrow. The globin is digested in the amino acids and further converted in to proteins.

Blood cell size? Size Determining the Type.

Editor — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 09:30:18 +0000

The circulatory fluid in higher vertebrates is called ‘blood’ whereas in the lower ones it is called ‘hemolymph’. An average adults body has five liters of blood. The blood that flows through the whole body with the help of arteries and veins is called ‘whole blood’. The elastic tissue called blood has plasma and the hematic cells. The hematic cells are classified as follows– it has erythrocytes, platelets, leucocytes and granulocytes and agranulocytes. The granulocytes have neutrophills, eosinophills, basopjills and lymphoid cells. The agranulocytes are lymphocytes and monocytes. The red blood cells in the peripheral blood are generally uniform in its size. The platelets appear an as small-bluish purple discs. The ‘Complete Blood Count’ (CBC) test is the calibration of the cellular elements of the blood. About 7 to 8% of the body weight consists of blood. The normal concentrations ranges from 130,000 to 450,000 per micron liter.

Content:

A normal human blood cell size is around MCV 95 cu mu. The newborn cell for the babies is around MCV 110–130 cubic microns. . The diameter of the red cell is more important the volume it carries. The red blood cells have about 270,000,000-iron rich hemoglobin molecule. The platelets have one third of the RBC size. The normal size is around 6-8 microns in diameter. The size of the monocyte is around 10 to 30 micron in diameter. The nucleus to cytoplasm ratio is 2:1.Theplatelets is around 1 to 4 micron. The Basophill measures about 10 to 15 microns. The nucleus to cytoplasm ratio 1:1.The neutrophill are around 9 to 15 microns in diameter. A nucleated red cell measures about 7 to 12 microns.

The CBC test results:

The White Blood Cells range around 4300to 10,800 cells per cubic millimeter. The Red blood cells are 4.2 to 5.9 million cells per cubic millimeter. The hemocrit is the measured volume of red cells to the volume of the blood. The Mean Cell hemoglobin is around 27 to 32 picograms. The neutrophills are 50–70%, the eosinophills are 2–4% and basophills are 1–5 %. The lymphocytes are 20–40% and the monocytes are 3–8%.

Cord blood stem cell therapy- New Techniques to Replace Disease

Editor — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:45:08 +0000

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are unspecialized cells in the human body. They have two important characteristics that distinguish them from other cells in the body. They can replenish their numbers for long periods through cell division. And after receiving certain chemical signals, they can differentiate or transform into specialized cells with specific functions such as a heart cell or nerve cell.

What is stem cell therapy?

Stem cell therapy is a group of new techniques or technologies. These technologies rely on replacing diseased or dysfunctional cells with healthy, functioning ones. These new techniques are being applied to wide range of human diseases, that including many types of cancer, neurological diseases like spinal cord injuries and diabetes. Replacing dead cells in the retina with new ones may cure even presently incurable eye diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration.

The Function of stem Cells

Cells are the basic building blocks of human body. These tiny structures compose skin, muscles, bones and all of the internal organs. They hold many of the keys to do bodies function. Cells serve both a structural and a functional role in the body and performing an almost endless variety of actions to sustain the body’s tissues and organs. There are many of different specialized cell types in the adult body. All of these cells perform very specific functions for the tissue and organ they compose. These specialized cells in the heart muscle beat rhythmically through the conduction of electrical signals. The cells of the pancreas produce insulin to help the body convert food to energy. These mature cells have been differentiated or dedicated to performing their special tasks.

How does stem cell therapy work?

Stem cells are indispensable in performing vital functions for the body. They can also exist outside the body. They can live and divide special solutions in test tubes. This ability of certain cell types to live isolated from other cells under controlled conditions. Through the isolation and targeted manipulation of cells, scientists are finding ways to identify young regenerating ones that can be used to replace damaged or dead ones in diseased organs. This therapy is similar to the process of organ transplant. Only the treatment consists of transplantation of cells rather than organs. The cells that have shown by far the most promise of supplying diseased organs with healthy new cells are the stem cells.

Blood Cell Maturation- The basic process carried out in our body

Editor — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0000

Basic structure of a cell: -

The cell is a basic microscopic unit of our body. Visible only by a microscope, various parts of the cell can be seen and analyzed. A cell consists of basic elements like nucleus, cytoplasm, cytoplasmic inclusions and these elements are covered by a cell membrane. The nucleus contains a DNA that controls all the cell functions and allows it to respond to the environment. The cytoplasm that surrounds the nucleus contains small structures that make proteins, structures that supply the cell’s energy, molecules that transport energy, chemical messengers, and many other functional elements, as well as storehouses of enzymes and other substances. The cell membrane controls the flow of substances in and out of the cell. It also contains the molecules called antigens that are specific to the cell and the person.

About cell maturation: -

Cell maturation is a process in which a cell begins to divide itself into two or more different cells. Not all cells are capable of dividing to make new cells. Cells start from parent cell or stem cell and begin to mature and specialize under some specific instructions coming from the nucleus of a particular cell. They may alter almost anything and everything to get ready to do a specific kind of job or set of jobs. They may change shape, their nucleus may be discarded, and they may attach to other cells or shed little pieces of themselves. They may make and secrete certain substances and store them until they are used.

All of the bloods cells come from that are generated from one type of precursor, a stem cell. It is the change in DNA of the nucleus that takes place due to which the cell matures into another cell and gets converted into Basophils, Neutrophils, Monocytes, Enthrocytes and many other types of cells depending on the DNA of a particular cell. As cells mature, their shape and contents change so that they can be most efficient at the work that they must do. The stages of maturation of all the cells are different. The red blood cells are aided by white blood cells called as macrophages. Maturation of erythrocytes requires synthesis of large amounts of protein so cytoplasm of erythroblasts is very basophilic. Nucleus is extruded and organelles are lost in differentiation process.

Nucleated Red Blood Cells? Cytological Preferences in your Blood Stream.

Editor — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:00:02 +0000

In human vertebrates, the RBC is with out a nucleus. It is only present in certain species of camel. Thus the replication of the RBC is not possible due to lack of nucleus. The nucleated Red Blood Cell contains Basilophilic stippling in its center. This is the indication for the toxic injury of the bone marrow. This may also be due to megloblastic anemia. These appear in irregular shapes and are similar to ‘helmet cells’. This is peculiar for disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). The peripheral blood shows presence of large bluish Reticulocytes. If the smaller red blood cells lack central pallor spherocytes then the patient is suffering with autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Generally the count of these reticulocytes is reduced to twenty percent. The individual gains a certain amount of an indirect hyperbilirubinemia. The peripheral blood appears like tear drop cells, this may lead to myrofibrosis. This RBC center may become home to Howell-Jolly bodies that are the nuclear chromatin remnants. These may also occur in infants due to smoking habits of the pregnant mothers

Other related malady:

There arise a certain case of marked poikilocytosis that refers to the abnormality of the RBC and anisocytosis that is called abnormality in the size of the RBC. This indicates that the individual is suffering from beta-thalassemia. This is a hereditary disorder of the beta globin chain synthesis. This causes ineffectiveness in the process of blood formation. This may lead to microcytic anemia. The RBCs appear to be like the Jigsaw puzzle. Anemia can cause certain amount of changes including membrane abnormalities, changes in the hemoglobin molecule, the immune reactions that of the antigens, antibodies and the RBCs.

Other reasons:

There are enzyme deficiencies and hereditary disorders. There is hemolysis and blood loss. These could be iron deficiency, Vitamin B12 deficiency, Folic Acid deficiency, sideroblastic anemia, G-6-PD, sickle-cell anemia. Hereditary Ellpiocytosis–this is due to the hemolysis in the spleen, Hereditary Pyropoikilocytosis -causes severe anemia in the infants, Hemoglobin C disease–this is the de-naturing of the RBCs and the precipitation of the RBCs to from Heinz bodies. There may be parasite in or on the RBCs that make the recognition individual red blood cell difficult.

Cancer and White Blood Cell – Cancer through Cells

Editor — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:30:25 +0000

White Blood Cells (WBCs) are extremely crucial in the human body. They play a fundamental role in the normal well being of the human body. It is necessary to have a specific WBC count for an individual to remain healthy. However, a minor change in the WBC count can have disastrous effects, the most prominent effect being that of cancer.

Cancer Due to WBCs

White blood cells are essential for a strong immune system and resistance power in the human body. A normal WBC count ranges from 4300 to 10, 800 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. The problem begins when the WBC count increases above or decreases below the normal level. When the count increases or decreases drastically, there is a high risk of the individual suffering from any form of cancer. All forms of cancer are mainly related to this variation in WBCs in the human body.

If the number of white blood cells decreases to a very low level, then individuals have the fear of suffering from a type of cancer called leucopenia. If the number of WBCs reduces to less than 4000 cells per cubic millimeter of blood, individuals suffer from the cancer of leucopenia. Leucopenia includes the reduction of lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, or basophils cells. The other form of cancer associated with WBC count is leukocytosis. This cancer is caused because of an extremely high count of WBC count in the body. Leukocytosis affects all kinds of blood cells in the human body. There is also another form of cancer which is very prominent and is called leukemia.

Though there is no firm cure for cancer due to an imbalance of WBC count, medical researches are being carried out in full swing to procure medication for such problems. Researches have found an herb which can be used to enhance the resistance power of the individual when the WBC count is unstable. This herb is called Astragalus and it has been found to be very useful for restoring cell counts which is vital for cancer patients.

The research for finding out a precise cure for cancer is still in its nascent stage. Though herbs like astragalus do not cure cancer, they make the immune system of the patients strong to fight the nemesis of cancer.

Low White Blood Cell Count – Low Count, High Risk

Editor — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:30:03 +0000

The human body is a complex structure made up of several major and minor components. Apart from the major organs like the heart, the brain, the kidneys and several others, even the minute cells, arteries and veins play a significant role in the smooth functioning of the body. Cells especially perform a fundamental role in maintaining the health of the individual. An imbalance in the cells can cause major health disorders.

Effects of Low White Blood Cell Count

There are two kinds of blood cells in the human body, namely, the red blood cells and the white blood cells. White blood cells (WBC) are important for maintaining the resistance power of the body. They form the basis of the immune system in the human body. The white blood cell count must be just right to have the immune system in the body work just right.

If the white blood cell count becomes too high then the individual can suffer from grave disorders like infection, hypersplenism, bone marrow depression and primary bone marrow disorders such as leukemia. In another way, if the white blood cell count decreases, the individual’s resistance power depletes to an incredibly low level. A low white blood cell count can result in the individuals suffering from several outside infections. It also leads to increase in the organisms within the body which would normally be controlled by the body’s resistance power. The accepted number of white blood cells which are required for a strong immune system is between 4,300 to 10,800 cells per cubic millimeter.

Ensuring that an individual has a low white blood cell count is very difficult. However, there are a few symptoms which can be good indicators of a low white blood cell count in the body. If the individual has a high temperature along with extreme chills or cold and abrupt pain in some body part without any reason, he needs to get his white blood cell count checked up. Some other symptoms of a low WBC is sore throat and a sore mouth along with a white coating inside the mouth and on the tongue. Bladder infection can also be a symptom of a low white blood cell count. Chemotherapy forms the basic form of treatment for a low WBC count. After a few sessions of chemotherapy, the individual can be given medicines like Filgrastim, Peg – Filgrastim and Sargramostim.

This shows the importance of the exact count of white blood cells in the body. A change in this count can affect the health of the individual to a great extent, even to the point of fatality.

Umbilical cord blood stem cell? Channel of Human Birth.

Editor — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 05:45:03 +0000

The stem cells have the totipotent tendency. Thus they define the properties of meristematic tissue. The umbilical cord blood is human blood from the placenta and umbilical cord that is rich in haemopoeitic stem cells. The umbilical cord is the narrow tube line structure that connects the developing baby or the fetus to the placenta. This is rightly called the baby’s lifeline. The versatility and the availability of the umbilical cord cells make them the potent resource for the transplant therapies. The cord blood stem cell is more proliferating and higher chances of compatibility than the bone marrow transplants.

The advantages:

The unrelated donor (URD) umbilical cord blood (UCB) has advantages over the other transplant techniques. This is a valuable source for the endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). The umbilical cord blood stem transplants are highly compatible. This is because the cells are recognized and not attacked by a persons’ immune system. The umbilical blood lacks the immune system hence this is never attacked by the immune system of the body that is termed as the graft versus the host diseases. The umbilical cord blood is rich in cord cells. The stem is non-specialized cells that are capable of generating all the other types of blood cells, platelets, RBCs and WBCs.

Collection of the Cells:

There are two methods of collection in-utero and ex-utero that correspondingly mean inside and outside the uterus. The cord blood is selected by gravity draining, yielding about 40 to 150ml. If parents use a commercial bank, the initial cost ranges from $250 to $1,500, plus an annual storage fee of $50 to $100. Some health insurance companies are beginning to cover these costs. This could be decided before the birth of a child. Even the public banks pay for processing blood samples. At present certain blood banks store the whole blood samples, red cells, white cells in a frozen state. The cord blood is processed and depleted of red blood cells before being stored in liquid nitrogen. When this blood is needed it is thawed and washed of the cryoprotectant and then injected in the patients’ blood stream. This is called ‘allogenic treatment’.

Normal White Blood Cell Count – What is a normal white blood cell count?

Editor — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:30:01 +0000

White blood cell is one of the components of blood or plasma. Blood is a circulating tissue. It is responsible in carrying nutrients and other vital elements to the different body tissues. Along with white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets compose blood. However, White blood cells are bigger than red blood cells and are normally fewer in number.

White blood cells

White blood cells or WBCs are produced in the bone marrow of large bones. They are also known as leukocytes. There are two types of white blood cells; namely, granulocytes and agranulocytes. Granulocytes are further of three types, neutrophil granulocytes, eosinophil granulocytes and basophil granulocytes. All granulocytes have different staining granules in their cytoplasm. On the contrary, agranulocytes do not have different staining granules in their cytoplasm. Agranulocytes are of two types of lymphocytes and monocytes. The primary function of all white blood cells is to help to defend the body from diseases and other foreign materials. Hence it helps in building the immune system of the body.

White blood cell count

White blood cell count is also known as Leukocyte count. Various tests are undertaken in order to find out the leukocyte count of an individual. The normal range of WBC count or leukocyte count is 4300 to 10800 cells per cubic millimeter (cmm). It is said that in an adult, one drop of blood contains 7000 to 25000 white blood cells.

Diseases involving leukocyte count

Leucopenia is a disease in which the white blood cell count is lower than the normal white blood cell count. Due to lower number of white blood cells in the blood, the body is unable to combat infectious diseases. This in turn hampers the immune system of the body. On the other hand, having a high leukocyte count too is not healthy. This kind of disease is known as leukocytosis. Cancer in white blood cells is known as leukemia and lymphoma. Leukemia may also lead to elevation or decrease in the white blood cell count. It is therefore, very important to have a balance leukocyte count.

Functions of Red Blood Cell- What do the white blood cell do?

Editor — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:30:00 +0000

White blood cell (WBCs) is one of the components of blood or plasma. These cells are also known as leukocytes. The white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow of large bones. Generally, each drop of blood contains approximately 7000 to 25000 white blood cells.

Types of white blood cells

White blood cells are mainly of five types; neutrophils (40% – 75%), eosinophils (5%), basophils (0.5%), lymphocytes (20% – 50%) and monocytes (1% – 5%). Out of these, netrophils, eosinophils and basophils are granulocytes. Where as, lymphocytes and monocytes are agranulocytes. Granulocytes are those WBCs which have granules in their matrix and which get stained. On the other hand, agranulocytes are those which do not have granules in their matrix and which do not get stained.

Functions of WBCs

The main function of the white blood cells is to immune the body from contagious diseases and other foreign materials such as viruses and bacteria. Different types of WBCs have different functions along with their primary function of immunization of the body. Neutrophils contain lactoferrin which prove to be toxic to viruses and bacteria. These cells also produce protein and thus assist in phagocytosis and pinocytosis. However, eosinophils contain MBP (major basic protein) which is toxic to the parasitic larvae. These cells also play a role in neutralizing the effect of histamine. The basophil cells contain histamine and other vasodilating agents that result in immediate hypersensitivity. This can result in high fever and asthma and anaphylactic shock. The monocytes assist in forming a cell network known as the monocyte-macrophage system. Many cells are derived from monocytes. Lymphocytes play a major role in the immune system of the body. The white blood cells also help in generating serums.

Diseases related to white blood cells

Leukopenia, leukocytosis and leukemia and lymphoma are some the diseases related to white blood cells. Leukopenia occurs when the white blood cell count is below the normal level. On the contrary, increase in the white blood cell count is known as leukocytosis. Cancer in white blood cells is termed as leukemia or lymphoma.

Enlarged red blood cell – A Dangerous Situation

Editor — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:24:59 +0000

Red blood cells are the most common blood cells present in the human body. They perform the function of delivering oxygen from the lungs to the different body tissues and vice-versa. Most of the vertebrae contain red blood cells. Red blood cells or RBCs are also known as erythrocytes.

Composition of RBCs

RBCs or erythrocytes mostly contain hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a complex molecule, which is made up of heme groups and iron atoms. The iron atoms link to oxygen molecule in the lungs or the gills and release them throughout the body. Along with oxygen, hemoglobin also carries some amount of waste carbon dioxide from the tissues. In mammals the red blood cells are anucleated when mature. In other words, a mature red blood cell of a mammal does not contain a nucleus and thus it does not contain DNA. Red blood cells are usually generated in the bone marrow of large bones.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Deficiency of vitamin B12 may lead to enlarged red blood cells. This condition is termed as megaloblasts or megaloblastic anemia. This kind of disorder can be diagnosed through blood test and Schilling test. In this test the level of vitamin B12 is measured. Hence in order to bring the red blood cell size back to normal the patient who is suffering from this disorder is advised to have vitamin B12 supplements or foodstuffs that contain vitamin B12. Salmon, cod, cheese and eggs are rich in vitamin B12.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

The symptoms of vitamin B12 anemia are caused mainly due to low oxygen level in the body. Breathlessness and tiredness are the most common symptoms of megaloblastic anemia. These symptoms are also accompanied with dizziness and headaches. The patient may also have weak or rapid pulse rate. The patient may palpitate and may contain irregular or strong heartbeats. His or her skin may turn pale. This deficiency may also cause neurological symptoms such as inflammation of nerves, confusion, poor concentration and forgetfulness. This may also be accompanied by loss of appetite, diarrhea and considerable weight loss. However, if this deficiency is curtailed at the initial level then it may not be very harmful to health.

Causes of low White Blood Cell count- A condition one should avoid

Editor — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 04:52:02 +0000

The WBC’s as they are commonly known are also called as Leukocytes or white cells or white corpuscle. Essential for the proper functioning of the immune system, they are found in the blood stream of our body. Some white blood cells act as scavengers by engulfing foreign particles and destroying them. Others produce antibodies or destroy dead cells. Normally produced in the bone marrow, these cells are also known as the antibodies.

Count of WBC’s

There are several types of white blood cells (WBC’s) that normally appear in the blood: neutrophils (polymorph nuclear leukocytes; PMNs), band cells (slightly immature neutrophils), T-type lymphocytes (T cells), B-type lymphocytes (B cells), monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Any infection or sudden stress will result in an increased production of WBC’s. This usually means increased numbers of cells and an increase in the percentage of immature cells (mainly band cells) in the blood. This change is called a “shift to the left.”

Causes of low WBC count

Presence of less number of white blood cells in the body is called leucopenia. Many diseases and disorders can be caused as result of the low WBC count. Some of the reasons for having a less blood count are given below.

1) There could be a bone marrow failure. The bone marrow failure can be caused due to infection, tumor, fibrosis or any such disease or disorder.

2) There could be a low blood count because of presence of cytotoxic substance.

3) Collagen-vascular diseases.

4) Disease of the liver or spleen.

5) Radiation and chemotherapy also affects the production of the white blood cells in the bone marrow.

Effects of having a low WBC count

There are various ill effects occurring due to the less production of the white blood cells as they are responsible for strengthening the immune system of the body. Excessive bleeding, fainting or feeling light headed, hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin), multiple punctures to locate veins are some of the ill effects caused due to low production of the white blood cells. Other diseases or disorders such as infectitious and inflammatory diseases, leukemia, several emotional or physical stress, tissue damage (for example burns) and anemia could occur.

So in order to keep the count in good check, have a good and healthy diet that will stimulate the production of the white blood cells.

Blood Cell Cancer- Cellular disorder

Editor — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:38:47 +0000

Blood is a circulating tissue composed of fluid plasma and cells. It carries nourishment and oxygen to the various tissues and takes away carbon dioxide and wastes. Whole blood is a mixture of blood cells and plasma. The blood cells include erythrocytes (red blood cells), leucocytes (white blood cells) and platelets (thrombocytes).
There are various diseases infecting the blood cells. Blood cell cancer is one of the most dangerous of the kind. Diseases of the blood affect the way he body makes blood and provides immunity from other diseases.

Blood Cell Cancer

The major forms of blood cancer are Lymphoma, Leukemia and Multiple Myeloma.

Leukemia

Leukemia is a form of cancer that affects the body’s blood-making system, the lymphatic system and the bone marrow. Chronic leukemia rarely affects children; whereas acute leukemia affects both children and adults. In case of acute leukemia, immature blood cells reproduce quickly and crowd out he healthy cells. The normal marrow is pushed into a smaller area. These immature and abnormal cells, in large numbers can spread to other organs. This causes extensive damage in a type of leukemia called acute myeloid luekemia. Acute Lymphoid Leukemia is the most common type that affects children. Acute Myeloid Leukemia accounts for 50% of the Leukemia diagnosed in teenagers. Chronic Leukemia occurs when the body produces too many blood cells that are partially developed, but cannot function like mature blood cells. This type develops more slowly and is less dangerous than the acute type. The chances of chronic Leukemia increase with an increase in the age of a person. The symptoms of Leukemia include fever, fatigue, headaches, rashes, slow healing cuts, unexplained weight loss and swollen glands.

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is of two types namely Hodgkin’s and Non- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. In Hodgkin’s disease, the abnormal cells are called the Reed-Sternberg cells. This type of cancer affects the Lymphatic system and any lymph tissue in the body. Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is the more common type. It affects more males than females.

Multiple Myeloma

Multiple Myeloma is cancer of the bone marrow cells due to uncontrolled growth of plasma cells. Plasma cells multiply uncontrollably and produce too much of a single type of immunoglobulin. Multiple Myeloma is quite a rare form of cancer.

Too many red blood cells- A Big Trouble for Too Many

Editor — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:22:06 +0000

What are red blood cells?

Red blood cells are those which carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. They also carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs. So it can be exhaled. If the RBC count is low the body may not be getting the oxygen it needs. If the count is too high, there is a risk that the red blood cells will clump together and block tiny blood vessels. The body contains more of red blood cells than any other type of cell and each red blood cell has a life span of about 4 months. Each day, the body produces new red blood cells to replace those that die or are lost from the body.

Conditions effecting red blood cells

Conditions that increase RBC values are smoking, exposure to carbon monoxide, long-term lung disease, kidney disease, certain forms of heart disease and alcoholism, liver disease or a rare disorder of the bone marrow. These conditions affect the body’s water content and can increase RBC values. It includes dehydration, diarrhea or vomiting, excessive sweating, severe burns and the use of diuretics.

Causes of getting too many red blood cell

High red blood cell count can be due to lack of oxygen, which can occur from living at a high altitude. Due to dehydration from frequent diarrhea, excessive sweating or severe burns can increases the count too. Smoking can be the cause too. Too much exposure to carbon monoxide or certain forms of heart disease can increase it. A rare disorder of the bone marrow can also be the cause for too many red cells

Disease of red blood cell

When there are too many red blood corpuscles in the body, which is known as polycythaemia. It is a well established condition, but it is not very common. In primary polycythaemia, for unknown reasons the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells. So instead of having a count 4-million to 5-million red blood cells, the person would have 8-million to 9-million red blood cells. This causes the blood to thicken and the main problem with thick viscous blood is to clots more readily. This can result in thrombosis in various parts of the body. So it is a condition that must be diagnosed and taken seriously.