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Biomedical subjects

C N LeCrone

Publications and source records attributed to C N LeCrone.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Teaching the clinical interpretation of peripheral blood smears to a second-year medical school class using the PeripheralBlood-Tutor computer program.

The interpretation of peripheral blood smears has an important role in the diagnosis of hematologic diseases and is, therefore, part of the education of physicians and technologists. We describe a computer program, PeripheralBlood-Tutor (Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, Pa), that teaches the morphologic features of normal and abnormal peripheral blood smears; we also describe the evaluation of the effectiveness of the program in 133 second-year medical students who were required to use the program in their hematology course. The version of the PeripheralBlood-Tutor used in the study had 2 distinct but equivalent 20-question examinations; one examination, the pretest, was taken before the students viewed the contents of the program, and the other examination, the posttest, was taken after completing the program. The mean score on the pretest was 61% (SD, 14%), the mean on the posttest was 91% (SD, 10%), and the improvement was significant. In addition, 4 questions about peripheral blood smears, which were based on printed images, were administered at the end of the hematology course. The students scored an average of 2.75 (SD, 0.86), and a positive correlation was found between these scores and the scores on the Tutor posttest. The results of the study suggest that PeripheralBlood-Tutor is feasible to implement, and it helps students learn to interpret peripheral blood smears. The use of PeripheralBlood-Tutor is now a requirement in the medical school curriculum, the medical technology program, and the pathology residency at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Blood Cell Count↗
PubMed1992

Screening for alpha-thalassemia. Correlation of hemoglobin H inclusion bodies with DNA-determined genotype.

We evaluated potential screening protocols for alpha-thalassemia in a group of 80 patients whose genotypes were determined by Southern blot analysis with alpha- and zeta-globin DNA probes. Erythrocyte inclusion bodies were measured by a modified brilliant cresyl blue test. Erythrocyte indices and iron status were also measured. The brilliant cresyl blue test reliably detects couples at risk for hemoglobin Bart's hydrops fetalis. Measurement of the number of inclusion bodies differentiates the alpha-thalassemia genotypes in the absence of a coincident beta-chain synthesis deficiency, such as hemoglobin E or beta-thalassemia. The test appears to identify patients, such as those with the Thai and Filipino deletion variants, whose alpha-thalassemia cannot be definitively characterized by DNA testing when only alpha- and zeta-globin probes are used in the analysis. We also found evidence of elevated serum ferritin levels in many patients with deletion of two or three alpha-globin genes. This study shows that most routine screening for alpha-thalassemia can be performed with three simple tests: (1) the brilliant cresyl blue inclusion study, (2) erythrocyte indices, and (3) iron studies. Analysis with DNA probes is needed in only some circumstances.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1983

Hemoglobin G trait and S trait in the same patient.

We describe a subject who had a positive sickle solubility test and a routine alkaline electrophoretic pattern showing three major hemoglobulin bands migrating to the A, S, and A2 positions. In addition, the non-heme protein carbonic anhydrase appeared to be increased, suggesting the presence of a split A2. Two major hemoglobin bands separated on agar gel electrophoresis using a citrate buffer, pH 6.2. A non-S hemoglobin migrating to the position of Hb S was identified as GPhiladelphia. The electrophoretic pattern of GPhil/S trait most closely resembles S/beta+ thalassemia or sickle cell trait. Careful study is essential to avoid misdiagnosis and unfairly stigmatizing patients whose benign abnormality may be confused with more severe disease entities.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

An improved method for detection of red cell hemoglobin H inclusions.

Supravital staining of red blood cells with brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) is used to detect hemoglobin H (Hb H). This simple test is useful in the diagnosis of alpha thalassemia trait; however, the search for Hb H containing cells in often very tedious. A technique is described that enriches BCB preparations for Hb H containing cells about ten times over conventional methods. In a study of 20 patients, the new method detected alpha thalassemia in about twice as many patients as the old method.

Hemoglobin H↗
PubMed1976

An undergraduate medical technology clinical elective program.

The University of Washington Medical Technology Program initiated an 11-week elective clinical curriculum in 1973. Sixty-six students have completed either a clinical specialist, research, or generalist program in various Seattle hospitals or in selected hospitals in rural Washington and in Alaska. Results indicate that there is a major correlation between elective choices and subsequent employment. In addition, this elective curriculum is not jeopardizing student performance on the national certification examination.

Curriculum↗