Reproducible scoring of CFU-GM and BFU-E grown in collagen-based semisolid medium after a short (3 h) training.

Colony counting remains an important source of variation in colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) assays performed in methylcellulose or agar. We studied the reliability of colony scoring of CFU-GM assays carried out with collagen, a matrix that allows gel collection on glass slides and in situ cellular morphology. Fourteen slides were exchanged among laboratories, and two rounds of colony (CFU-GM and burst-forming units-erythrocyte [BFU-E]) counting were performed by 11 (first counting), then 8 (second counting) different laboratories, the majority of which had no previous experience of collagen gel cultures and reading.

Transfusion-associated or nosocomial hepatitis G virus infection in patients undergoing surgery.

Background: Despite blood donor screening, there are still cases of transfusion-associated hepatitis. From 1988 to 1992, a prospective study was conducted on the incidence of non-A, non-B posttransfusion hepatitis (PTH).

Study Design: The present investigation was designed to determine if transfusion recipients with PTH who are negative for hepatitis C virus (HCV) were positive for hepatitis G virus (HGV).

[Viral attenuation of labile blood products].

Viral inactivation is one of the possibilities to reduce the residual risk of blood products. It is now applied to all plasma derived products (PDP). Application of such techniques to labile blood products (LBP) is difficult for two main reasons: any method should inactivate cell-associated viruses and should avoid any injury of the cells constituting the active ingredient.

Collagen matrix: an attractive alternative to agar and methylcellulose for the culture of hematopoietic progenitors in autologous transplantation products.

Autografts using untreated or in vitro manipulated bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells represent promising approaches to the treatment of malignant diseases. In this work, the collagen gel culture technique was compared with agar and methylcellulose for its capacity to permit the growth of human granulomonocytic (day 14 CFU-GM; collagen vs agar or MTC) or erythroblastic (day 7 CFU-E and day 14 BFU-E; collagen versus methylcellulose) colonies in autologous transplantation products. Our results show that the collagen culture system always gave as many or more colonies than the other techniques.

Seropositivity to hepatitis C virus in Tunisian haemodialysis patients.

The prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) antibodies and of hepatitis B markers (HBs antigen, anti-hepatitis B core antigen) was assessed in 63 haemodialysis patients from the Tunisian Sahel. As measured by second generation ELISA assays (Ortho and Organon), the frequency of anti-HCV antibodies was 42% (27/63), while 4 patients (6.3%) were HBs Ag positive and 30 (47.

[Allergic reactions to transfusion].

Frequent allergic reactions following transfusion are observed. Usually, they are benign but sometimes we observe severe allergic reactions. Adverse reactions may be brought about by least two mechanisms.

[Initial personal results of a technic of removing leukocytes by filtration on cotton fibers (Imugard Ig 500, Terumo)].

The technical parameters of blood filtration through cotton Imugard IG 500 filters were evaluated. Sixty units of red cell concentrates were filtered. The mean value of the residual leukocytes indicated a leukocyte depletion greater than 98%, disregarding the unit age and the filtration temperature.

Filtration pressure and red blood cell deformability: evaluation of a new device: erythrometre.

The authors have tested a new device that records the filtration pressure of a suspension of red blood cells (R.B.C.

[Accidental case delayed by anti-D allo-immunization in a patient suffering from multiple traumatic injuries. One case (author's transl)].

An accidental case of delayed haemolytic reaction due to an anti-D allo-immunization in a patient suffering from multiple traumatic injuries allows us to define a procedure of emergency treatment towards non iso-Rhesus transfusions and the problems posed by the detection of acquired allo-antibodies.

Unchanged electrophoretic mobility in human cryopreserved lymphocytes.

Cell surface charge, assessed by the analytical electrophoresis of fresh and cryopreserved human peripheral blood lymphoctes, is changed in any perceivable manner by freezing and thawing. This was confirmed by different membrane markers (E, EA and EAC rosettes).

[Changes in the electric charge of blood lymphocyte populations after secondary immunization with tetanus antitoxin in man].

The electrophoretic mobility of circulating lymphocytes has been studied in normal human subjects after immunization by tetanus toxoid. The mean migration speed was shown to increase, particularly two and three days after secondary immunization. This increase appeared to be due to the elevation of percentage of T cells migrating at 1.

[Electrophoretic mobility of human lymphocytes purified by nylon columns and spontaneous rosettes].

Cell electrophoresis enables the separation of the lymphocytes in normal human blood into two principal groups, as a function of their migration speed in relation to 1 mum.sec -1..

Electrophoretic mobility of blood lymphocytes in cancer patients.

Determination of electrophoretic mobility of lymphocytes in 70 cancer patients shows a significant decrease of the fast moving cells. It seems to be a relation between the percentage or absolute number of the rapid lymphocytes and dissemination and prognosis of the disease. This decrease is in agreement with the variations of the T lymphocyte population described in cancer patients with other methods.

[Utilization of rubidium 86 for humoral cytotoxicity tracing of sarcoma 180].

86Rb has been used as a tracer for Sarcoma 180 ascitic cells in a humoral cytotoxicity system, and compared with the trypan blue dye exclusion method. In as little as five minutes after contact with antiserum and complement, about 90 p. cent of the isotope has gone from the cells, with a significant difference between controls and experimentals.