Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood cell disorder that affects about 100,000 people in the US and results in high cost of medical care exceeding $1.1 billion annually. Sickle cell patients suffer from unpredictable, painful vaso-occlusive crises. Portable, costeffective approaches for diagnosis and monitoring sickle blood activities are important for a better management of the disease and reducing the medical cost. In this research, a mobile application controlled, impedance-based flow cytometer is developed for the diagnosis of sickle cell disease. Calibration of the portable device is performed using a component of known impedance value. The preliminary test results are then compared to those obtained by a commercial benchtop impedance analyzer for further validation. With the developed portable flow cytometer, experiments are performed on two sickle cell samples and a healthy cell sample. The acquired results are subsequently analyzed with MATLAB scripts to extract single-cell level impedance information as well as statistics of different cell conditions. Significant differences in cell impedance signals are observed between sickle cells and normal cells, as well as between sickle cells under hypoxia and normoxia conditions. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The majority of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) prevalence is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, where 80% of the world’s population who suffer from this disease are born. Due to a lack of diagnosis and early treatments, 50-90% of these children will die before they reach the age of five. Current methods used for diagnosing SCD are based on hemoglobin analysis such as capillary electrophoresis, ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography, and isoelectric focusing. They require expensive laboratory equipment and are not feasible in these low-resource countries. It is, therefore, imperative to develop an alternative and cost-effective method for diagnosing and monitoring of SCD. This thesis aims to address the development and evaluation of a smartphone-based optical setup for the detection of SCD. This innovative technique can potentially be applied for low cost and accurate diagnosis of SCD and improve disease management in resource-limited settings where the disease exhibits a high prevalence. This Point-of-Care (POC) based device offers the potential to improve SCD diagnosis and patient care by providing a portable and cost effective device that requires minimal training to operate and analyze. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

INTRODUÇÃO: Pacientes com doenças falciformes (DF) e outras anemias hemolíticas têm prevalência aumentada de hipertensão pulmonar (HP), sendo este diagnóstico associado com maior mortalidade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar a prevalência desta complicação, suas características clínicas e laboratoriais e determinar o padrão hemodinâmico ao cateterismo de artéria pulmonar. MÉTODOS: Neste estudo transversal 80 pacientes consecutivos com anemia falciforme e Sb0 talassemia foram submetidos à ecocardiografia por um único observador. Os pacientes foram avaliados clinicamente, para verificar a presença de complicações associadas à DF, realizaram um teste de caminhada e realizaram exames hematológicos e bioquímicos referentes a parâmetros de hemólise, inflamação, função hepática e renal. Foi indicada avaliação hemodinâmica, com cateterismo de artéria pulmonar (Swan-Ganz), para os pacientes com velocidade de fluxo retrógrado pela tricúspide (VRT) ³2,5m/s, detectada ao ecocardiograma. A HP foi caracterizada por pressão média da artéria pulmonar ³ 25 mmHg. Os pacientes com HP foram comparados, com relação aos mesmos parâmetros prévios, ao restante da população estudada. RESULTADOS: 40% dos pacientes (32/80) apresentaram VRT³2,5m/s, sendo indicado avaliação hemodinâmica. O grupo com VRT³2,5m/s apresentou maior média etária, maior prevalência de úlceras de perna, de proteinúria e de hepatite C, menores valores de hemoglobina e de albumina, maiores valores de uréia, de creatinina, de ácido úrico, de desidrogenase lática, de aspartato aminotransferase e de gglutamiltranspeptidase do que os do grupo VRT<2,5m/s. O grupo VRT³2,5m/s apresentou também menor distância percorrida no teste de caminhada e saturação de oxigênio mais baixa tanto em repouso quanto após a caminhada. Ao ecocardiograma, este grupo apresentou maior volume atrial direito e esquerdo. 78% dos pacientes (25/32) com indicação de cateterismo se submeteram ao procedimento e em 8 deles foi confirmada HP. Dos 8 pacientes com diagnóstico de HP, 3 apresentaram hipertensão pré-capilar e os demais apresentaram hipertensão capilar (pressão de oclusão da artéria pulmonar acima de 15 mmHg). A VRT medida pelo ecocardiograma apresentou boa correlação com a medida de pressão sistólica de artéria pulmonar aferida no cateterismo (r=0,77). Os pacientes com HP confirmada apresentaram média etária maior, menores concentrações de hemoglobina e de contagem plaquetária e maiores valores de desidrogenase lática, uréia, creatinina, ácido úrico, gglutamiltranspeptidase e ferro do que o grupo sem HP. Os indivíduos com HP tiveram pior desempenho no teste de caminhada do que o grupo sem HP. Pacientes com HP apresentaram dilatação de átrio direito e esquerdo e índice cardíaco mais elevado do que o grupo sem HP. CONCLUSÕES: Pacientes com DF têm prevalência aumentada de HP detectada pelo ecocardiograma e confirmada pelo cateterismo pulmonar. O ecocardiograma é um bom instrumento de triagem. As populações separadas de acordo com o nível de VRT ao ecocardiograma apresentam diferenças clínicas e laboratoriais, sugerindo maior taxa de hemólise nas com VRT³2,5m/s. Estas diferenças se mantêm, na maior parte das situações, quando o diagnóstico de HP é confirmado. Indivíduos com diagnóstico de HP podem ter padrões hemodinâmicos de hipertensão capilar ou pré-capilar, denotando diferentes etiologias que podem implicar em diferentes abordagens terapêuticas. / INTRODUCTION: Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and other haemolytic anaemia have increased prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) that is related to higher mortality. The aim of this stdy was to determine the prevalence of PH and, its clinical, laboratorial and hemodynamic features. METHODS: In a crosssectional study, we evaluated 80 consecutive patients with sickle cell anemia and Sb0thalassemia who were submitted to a Doppler echocardioghraphy performed by a single observer. Clinical and laboratorial data were collected for all patients in order to verify the presence of SCD complications and to evaluate haemolysis rate, inflammation, liver and renal function. All patients performed a six-minute walk test. Patients who had peak velocity of regurgitant flow of tricuspid (Vrft) of at least 2.5 m/s were referred to pulmonary artery catheterization (Swan-Ganz). PH was defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure ³ 25 mmHg. Clinical, laboratorial and hemodynamic data of patients with confirmed PH were compared to those data of patients without PH. RESULTS: Forty percent of patients (32/80) had Vrft ³ 2.5m/s and hemodynamic evaluation was recommended. The group of patients with Vrft³2.5 m/s had higher average age, higher prevalence of leg ulcers, proteinuria and hepatitis C, lower values of hemoglobin and albumin, higher values of urea, creatinine, uric acid, lactic dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and gglutamyltranspeptidase than the group with Vrft<2.5 m.s. The group with Vrft³2.5 m/s had poorer performance on the walk test and had lowest oxygen saturation at rest and post-exercise. On echocardiography, this group had greater right and left atrial volume. Only 78% of patients (25/32) underwent pulmonary artery catheterization and, in 8 patients PH was confirmed. Among the patients with PH, 3 had pre-capillary hypertension and 5 had post-capillary hypertension (pulmonary artery occlusion pressure above 15 mmHg). The Vrft measured by echocardiogram showed good correlation with the value of systolic pulmonary artery pressure, measured on Swan-Ganz(r=0,77). The patients with confirmed PH had higher mean age, lower levels of haemoglobin and platelet count and higher values of lactic dehydrogenase, urea, creatinine, uric acid, iron and gglutamyltranspeptidase than the group without PH. Individuals with PH had poorer performance on walk test than the group without PH. Patients with PH showed increased right and left atrium volume and higher cardiac index than the group without PH. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SCD had increased prevalence of PH detected by Doppler echocardiography and confirmed by pulmonary catheterization. The echocardiogram was a good tool for screening. Patients who had Vrft ³ 2.5m/s exhibited clinical and laboratorial data consistent with a higher hemolysis rate than those with Vrft<2.5 m/s. Individuals diagnosed with PH may have post-capillary or pre-capillary hypertension, suggesting the existence of several etiologies and the need for different therapeutic approaches.

INTRODUÇÃO: Pacientes com doenças falciformes (DF) e outras anemias hemolíticas têm prevalência aumentada de hipertensão pulmonar (HP), sendo este diagnóstico associado com maior mortalidade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar a prevalência desta complicação, suas características clínicas e laboratoriais e determinar o padrão hemodinâmico ao cateterismo de artéria pulmonar. MÉTODOS: Neste estudo transversal 80 pacientes consecutivos com anemia falciforme e Sb0 talassemia foram submetidos à ecocardiografia por um único observador. Os pacientes foram avaliados clinicamente, para verificar a presença de complicações associadas à DF, realizaram um teste de caminhada e realizaram exames hematológicos e bioquímicos referentes a parâmetros de hemólise, inflamação, função hepática e renal. Foi indicada avaliação hemodinâmica, com cateterismo de artéria pulmonar (Swan-Ganz), para os pacientes com velocidade de fluxo retrógrado pela tricúspide (VRT) ³2,5m/s, detectada ao ecocardiograma. A HP foi caracterizada por pressão média da artéria pulmonar ³ 25 mmHg. Os pacientes com HP foram comparados, com relação aos mesmos parâmetros prévios, ao restante da população estudada. RESULTADOS: 40% dos pacientes (32/80) apresentaram VRT³2,5m/s, sendo indicado avaliação hemodinâmica. O grupo com VRT³2,5m/s apresentou maior média etária, maior prevalência de úlceras de perna, de proteinúria e de hepatite C, menores valores de hemoglobina e de albumina, maiores valores de uréia, de creatinina, de ácido úrico, de desidrogenase lática, de aspartato aminotransferase e de gglutamiltranspeptidase do que os do grupo VRT<2,5m/s. O grupo VRT³2,5m/s apresentou também menor distância percorrida no teste de caminhada e saturação de oxigênio mais baixa tanto em repouso quanto após a caminhada. Ao ecocardiograma, este grupo apresentou maior volume atrial direito e esquerdo. 78% dos pacientes (25/32) com indicação de cateterismo se submeteram ao procedimento e em 8 deles foi confirmada HP. Dos 8 pacientes com diagnóstico de HP, 3 apresentaram hipertensão pré-capilar e os demais apresentaram hipertensão capilar (pressão de oclusão da artéria pulmonar acima de 15 mmHg). A VRT medida pelo ecocardiograma apresentou boa correlação com a medida de pressão sistólica de artéria pulmonar aferida no cateterismo (r=0,77). Os pacientes com HP confirmada apresentaram média etária maior, menores concentrações de hemoglobina e de contagem plaquetária e maiores valores de desidrogenase lática, uréia, creatinina, ácido úrico, gglutamiltranspeptidase e ferro do que o grupo sem HP. Os indivíduos com HP tiveram pior desempenho no teste de caminhada do que o grupo sem HP. Pacientes com HP apresentaram dilatação de átrio direito e esquerdo e índice cardíaco mais elevado do que o grupo sem HP. CONCLUSÕES: Pacientes com DF têm prevalência aumentada de HP detectada pelo ecocardiograma e confirmada pelo cateterismo pulmonar. O ecocardiograma é um bom instrumento de triagem. As populações separadas de acordo com o nível de VRT ao ecocardiograma apresentam diferenças clínicas e laboratoriais, sugerindo maior taxa de hemólise nas com VRT³2,5m/s. Estas diferenças se mantêm, na maior parte das situações, quando o diagnóstico de HP é confirmado. Indivíduos com diagnóstico de HP podem ter padrões hemodinâmicos de hipertensão capilar ou pré-capilar, denotando diferentes etiologias que podem implicar em diferentes abordagens terapêuticas. / INTRODUCTION: Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and other haemolytic anaemia have increased prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) that is related to higher mortality. The aim of this stdy was to determine the prevalence of PH and, its clinical, laboratorial and hemodynamic features. METHODS: In a crosssectional study, we evaluated 80 consecutive patients with sickle cell anemia and Sb0thalassemia who were submitted to a Doppler echocardioghraphy performed by a single observer. Clinical and laboratorial data were collected for all patients in order to verify the presence of SCD complications and to evaluate haemolysis rate, inflammation, liver and renal function. All patients performed a six-minute walk test. Patients who had peak velocity of regurgitant flow of tricuspid (Vrft) of at least 2.5 m/s were referred to pulmonary artery catheterization (Swan-Ganz). PH was defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure ³ 25 mmHg. Clinical, laboratorial and hemodynamic data of patients with confirmed PH were compared to those data of patients without PH. RESULTS: Forty percent of patients (32/80) had Vrft ³ 2.5m/s and hemodynamic evaluation was recommended. The group of patients with Vrft³2.5 m/s had higher average age, higher prevalence of leg ulcers, proteinuria and hepatitis C, lower values of hemoglobin and albumin, higher values of urea, creatinine, uric acid, lactic dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and gglutamyltranspeptidase than the group with Vrft<2.5 m.s. The group with Vrft³2.5 m/s had poorer performance on the walk test and had lowest oxygen saturation at rest and post-exercise. On echocardiography, this group had greater right and left atrial volume. Only 78% of patients (25/32) underwent pulmonary artery catheterization and, in 8 patients PH was confirmed. Among the patients with PH, 3 had pre-capillary hypertension and 5 had post-capillary hypertension (pulmonary artery occlusion pressure above 15 mmHg). The Vrft measured by echocardiogram showed good correlation with the value of systolic pulmonary artery pressure, measured on Swan-Ganz(r=0,77). The patients with confirmed PH had higher mean age, lower levels of haemoglobin and platelet count and higher values of lactic dehydrogenase, urea, creatinine, uric acid, iron and gglutamyltranspeptidase than the group without PH. Individuals with PH had poorer performance on walk test than the group without PH. Patients with PH showed increased right and left atrium volume and higher cardiac index than the group without PH. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SCD had increased prevalence of PH detected by Doppler echocardiography and confirmed by pulmonary catheterization. The echocardiogram was a good tool for screening. Patients who had Vrft ³ 2.5m/s exhibited clinical and laboratorial data consistent with a higher hemolysis rate than those with Vrft<2.5 m/s. Individuals diagnosed with PH may have post-capillary or pre-capillary hypertension, suggesting the existence of several etiologies and the need for different therapeutic approaches.