#red blood cells

[elliots1stshadow]

My oc Joey the goblin. She's just a little bit insane.. just a tad bit

[kiwiliwisworld]

The OJ fans gonna love this one ☕️😏 Eee this is my red blood cell OC Eryn Throcyte! I have a bio for her on my instagram @kiwi_kucks, tho bear in mind that it’s old and outdated hhh

[superkometa]

I realized I never posted her, so have a red blood cell I've made for a biology presentation

[iam-what-killed-the-dinosaurs]

[glamstudynotes]

Abnormalities in RBC Morphology

[bpod-bpod]

Food for Thought

Our brains allow us to climb mountains, write poems, and investigate distant galaxies. But this comes at a price: the brain consumes a fifth of the body's energy. The bloodstream feeds the brain – if it's cut off for just a few minutes, the damage is irreversible. Luckily, we've evolved ways to control the brain's blood supply in response to its energy demands. Due to technological limits, we still don't fully understand how this works. Researchers have developed a new approach called FACED (free-space angular chirp enhanced delay). By boosting the imaging speed of microscopy, it provides unparalleled insight into the brain's blood flow. Here, the left video shows traditional microscopy, and the right shows FACED: we only see individual red blood cells in the latter. Alzheimer's disease, strokes, and ageing interrupt the brain's blood flow. The extra detail revealed by FACED may help us understand what's going wrong and how to fix it.

Written by Henry Stennett

Video from work by Guanghan Meng and colleagues

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA

Video copyright held by original authors; reproduction permitted by PNAS

Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), June 2022

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[microscope-world]

These are Erythrhocytes (red blood cells) captured under a hematology microscope. You can learn more about hematology and blood cell types here.

[studiohromi]

An older drawing I was reminded of yesterday, from two years ago. Ahh, the carefree artwork of a version of me who had excess time for a random daily drawing challenge.

Red blood cells, painted in Procreate. March 27, 2021.

[connieaaa]

Cells at Work blood types headcanon

Type A blood = female erythrocytes

Type B blood = male erythrocytes

Type O blood = androgynous erythrocytes

RH negative blood cells wear waist-satchels

RH positive blood cells wear mini backpacks.

Combined with a body's natural xenophobia this means that backpack wearers won't complain too much about fanny-packs if they are desperate, but fanny-pack wearers have a zero tolerance level for backpacks.

[aquitainequeen]

British scientists have grown human red blood cells in a lab for the first time, and conducted a clinical trial to give it to patients.

The blood is grown by encouraging stem cells found in a blood donor’s sample to become new red blood cells, and opens the door to transfusion treatments for those with ultra-rare blood types.

[...]

“This world-leading research lays the groundwork for the manufacture of red blood cells that can safely be used to transfuse people with disorders like sickle cell,” saidDr. Farrukh Shah, the medical director of transfusion at NHS Blood and Transplant.

“The potential for this work to benefit hard to transfuse patients is very significant.”

[matchaandmochi]

Cells at Work hits different when you have a blood coagulation disorder☺️

[er-cryptid]

Degeneration of Red Blood Cells

[joslincox]

Red Blood Cells

Cover of: Girls! Girls! Girls! by Elvis Presley

Red blood cells, goin' swimming,

Red blood cell, in bikinis,

A walkin' and wigglin' by, yay, yay, yay

Red blood cells, on the beaches,

Red blood cells, oh, what a peaches,

So pretty, lord I could cry

I'm just a red blooded boy

And I can't stop thinkin' about

Red blood cells, sailin' sailboats,

Red blood cells, water skiin',

They'll drive me out of my mind, yay, yay, yay

Red blood cells, big and brassy,

Red blood cells, small and sassy,

Just give me one of each kind

I'm just a red blooded boy

And I can't stop thinkin' about

Red blood cells! red blood cells! red blood cells! red blood cells!

And when I pick up a sandwich too much

A crunchy crunchety

A crunchety crunch

I never ever get to finish my lunch

Because there's always bound to be a bunch of

Red blood cells, in tight sweaters,

Red blood cells, in short dresses,

A walkin' and wigglin' by, yay, yay, yay

Red blood cells, out boatin'

Red blood cells, just a floatin'

So pretty, lord I could cry.

I'm just a red blooded boy

And I can't stop thinkin' about

Red blood cells! red blood cells! red blood cells! red blood cells! red blood cells! red blood cells!

[joga-blog]

Packed Cell Volume (PCV) Test: A Crucial Component in Blood Analysis

The Packed Cell Volume (PCV) test, also known as hematocrit, is a fundamental diagnostic tool used in clinical medicine to assess a patient's blood volume and the concentration of red blood cells (RBCs) within it. This test provides valuable insights into a patient's health status and aids healthcare providers in diagnosing various medical conditions. In this article, we will delve into the importance, procedure, and interpretation of the PCV test.

Importance of PCV Test:

The Packed Cell Volume (PCV) test, is crucial for evaluating an individual's hematological status. Hematocrit levels indicate the proportion of red blood cells in the total blood volume. Understanding the PCV is essential because:

1. Assessment of Anemia: 

Anemia, a condition characterized by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, can be detected through low PCV levels. By measuring PCV, healthcare professionals can identify anemia and its underlying causes, such as nutritional deficiencies, chronic diseases, or blood loss.

2. Monitoring Blood Disorders: 

PCV levels are monitored in patients with blood disorders like polycythemia vera, a condition characterized by an excess of red blood cells. Abnormal PCV levels may indicate the need for further investigation and management of such conditions.

3. Evaluation of Dehydration:

In cases of dehydration, the blood becomes more concentrated due to the loss of plasma volume. Consequently, PCV levels rise as a compensatory mechanism. Monitoring PCV levels can aid in assessing dehydration severity and guiding fluid replacement therapy.

Procedure of PCV Test:

The PCV test is relatively simple and is often performed as part of a complete blood count (CBC). Here's how it's done:

1. Blood Collection: 

A small sample of blood is typically collected from a vein in the arm using a sterile needle and syringe or a vacutainer system.

2. Centrifugation: 

The collected blood is transferred into a specialized tube called a hematocrit tube or capillary tube. The tube is then placed in a centrifuge, where it spins at high speeds for a few minutes.

3. Separation of Components: 

Centrifugation causes the blood components to separate based on their density. Red blood cells, being denser, settle at the bottom of the tube, while plasma rises to the top.

4. Measurement: 

After centrifugation, the PCV is determined by measuring the height of the packed red blood cells relative to the total height of the blood column in the tube.

Interpretation of PCV Test Results:

Interpretation of PCV levels depends on various factors such as age, sex, altitude, and individual health conditions. Generally, normal PCV levels range from:

- Adult males: 40% to 54%

- Adult females: 37% to 47%

- Children: 35% to 49%

Abnormal PCV levels may indicate underlying health issues:

- Low PCV (Anemia): 

Indicates conditions such as iron deficiency anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, chronic disease, or blood loss.

- High PCV (Polycythemia): 

May suggest dehydration, lung disease, chronic kidney disease, or bone marrow disorders like polycythemia vera.

It's important to note that PCV levels are often interpreted alongside other blood parameters and clinical findings to arrive at a comprehensive diagnosis.

Conclusion:

The Packed Cell Volume (PCV) test is a valuable diagnostic tool in clinical medicine, providing insights into a patient's hematological status. By assessing the proportion of red blood cells in the blood volume, healthcare professional doctors can diagnose and monitor various medical conditions, including anemia, dehydration, and blood disorders. Understanding the procedure and interpretation of PCV test results is essential for delivering effective patient care and managing hematological disorders effectively.

[badperidot]

VERY interesting!

[bpod-bpod]

Harmless Immaturity

Nip it in the bud and break the cycle. That’s the goal of a newly-discovered class of malaria treatments, which aim to interrupt the deadly parasite’s life cycle and prevent its spread. But how exactly the compounds, called sulphonamides, work is unclear. So researchers added a light-activated marker to the drug, and observed as it interacted with infected human blood cells. The marker then highlighted which parasite proteins the treatment interacted with, in particular a protein called Pfs16. With the drug bound to Pfs16, part of the parasite’s maturation process was blocked. The parasites couldn't make mature male sex cells, rendering them unable to reproduce and spread (pictured): green treated parasites (right) unable to 'fly the nest' while untreated, left, break free from the red human cells. Understanding the timing and mechanisms of this process is key to converting this discovery into practical treatments to end transmission for good.

Written by Anthony Lewis

Image adapted from work by Sabrina Yahiya and colleagues

Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, UK

Image originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Published in Disease Models & Mechanisms, January 2023

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