CLINICAL NEWS
fASHion Police Rebranding
ASH Clinical News’ Deputy Style Editor and Kardashian
Super-Fan, David Steensma, MD, ranks Kim K.’s most
glamorous red blood cells: We’re in our third year of publication here at ASH Clinical News so,
in an effort to keep things fresh, we’ll be experimenting with some
creative new language. After all, there are only so many synonyms
for “researchers.” Here’s how we’ll be referring to units of doctors in
future issues:
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Reticulocyte #32,484 synthesized by the
bone marrow on November 27, 2012
This reticulocyte was slightly larger than average,
but what really caught the eyes of observers was
the virtually transparent, trend-setting way in which
it wore its ribosomal remnants. 5 benign hematologists = a thrombus
2 lymphoma specialists = a node
10 hematopathologists = a globin
4 leukemia specialists = a blast
Large Granular Lymphocyte (LGL) #713 of
April 6, 2009 What would you call yourselves?
Let us know at [email protected]!
LGLs tend to get a lot of attention due to their rar-
ity, but this one expressed NK markers in such a so-
phisticated fashion that the United Nations briefly
considered retaining it as their official spokesperson
for LGL-related affairs. Active Learning
Monocyte #5150 of April 15, 2015
While the cytoplasm in this cell may have seemed
bland under the light microscope, electron microsco-
py showed a granular structure eerily reminiscent of
the cover of the 1986 Van Halen album with which it
shares part of a name.
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Myelocyte #29,003 of September 7, 2012
This myelocyte at first appeared undistinguished
… until it was realized that it was sporting a daring
Philadelphia chromosome. Considered by some crit-
ics to be a major gaffe, others lauded this bold and
potentially neoplastic choice as a groundbreaking
attempt at media attention.
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The treadmills in the Remote Session Viewing Area at last year’s
ASH Annual Meeting were a huge hit: Attendees logged 7,842
miles on day three alone! (Or maybe that was 7,842 steps …)
To keep up the active learning, here’s what meeting organizers will
be adding to this year’s venue:
6 elliptical machines (and virtual reality headsets to simulate
being chased by wild dogs)
8 heavy punching bags (with electron microscopy photos of
your least-favorite hematologic condition on them)
Platelet #146,288 of September 30, 2014
Not only was this platelet perfectly symmetrical, it
was extremely functional. It was part of the “shock
attack” hemostatic squad that prevented a large
ecchymosis on Kim’s derriere following glancing
contact with a Swarovski crystal coffee table.
ASHClinicalNews.org
2 hot yoga sessions (1 during the Plenary Scientific Session
and 1 during the Ham-Wasserman lecture)
We’ll also be holding relay races through the Poster Hall!
ASH Clinical News
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