Use of convalescent plasma in COVID-19 treatment: is clinical severity more important than the intervention?

Objective: This study compared the outcomes of two cohorts of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who received COVID-19 convalescent plasma transfusions between 2020 and 2021.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. We included a retrospective cohort of patients who received convalescent compassionate plasma, and another group of patients from a previous clinical study.

ACE I/D polymorphism is a risk factor for the clinical severity of COVID-19 in Brazilian male patients.

Background: The renin-angiotensin system is potentially involved in the pathogen-host interaction in the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, since the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 serves as a receptor for the virus. The impact of the pandemic in specific regions and ethnic groups highlights the importance of investigating genetic factors that disrupt the balance of the system in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in genes with ethnic frequency variations. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of the ACE I/D polymorphism on the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in a sample of the Brazilian population.

Use of a Hindfoot Nail Without Separate Subtalar and Tibiotalar Joint Preparation to Treat Geriatric Ankle and Distal Tibia Fractures: A Case Series.

Introduction: Ankle fractures in geriatric patients can be devastating injuries, as they limit an individual's mobility, autonomy, and quality of life. This study examines the functional outcomes and complications related to hindfoot nails (HFN) in geriatric patients who have suffered an ankle malleolar or distal tibia fracture.

Materials And Methods: This is a single-surgeon case-series of patients who underwent HFN for acute fixation or delayed reconstruction after an ankle or distal tibia fracture.

Postoperative Outcomes in Malleolar Fractures Fixed With a 3.5-mm Locking Compression Plate Hook Plate.

Ankle fractures are among the most common types of fractures seen in the United States. Few studies have analyzed the use of a locking compression plate (LCP) hook plate in the fixation of malleolar fractures. The goal of this study was to analyze postoperative outcomes in malleolar fractures fixed with a 3.

A common variant close to the "tripwire" linker region of NLRP1 contributes to severe COVID-19.

Objective And Design: The heterogeneity of response to SARS-CoV-2 infection is directly linked to the individual genetic background. Genetic variants of inflammasome-related genes have been pointed as risk factors for several inflammatory sterile and infectious disease. In the group of inflammasome receptors, NLRP1 stands out as a good novel candidate as severity factor for COVID-19 disease.

Leucomethylene blue probe detects a broad spectrum of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS, RNS) are ubiquitous in biology with a variety of physiological and pathological functions. Here we describe a broad spectrum ROS/RNS detecting fluorogenic probe with red fluorescence emission and up to 100-fold gain. Hence these modified probes are useful for non-invasive quantification of ROS/RNS.

Hip Fracture Trends and Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapidly changed the landscape of health care, particularly in the New York City area. The elderly population is particularly vulnerable to both the novel coronavirus and the effects of a fracture. The goal of this study was to compare trends and outcomes of hip fracture patients during the pandemic.

Implementation of a Geriatrics-Focused Orthopaedic and Hospitalist Fracture Program Decreases Perioperative Complications and Improves Resource Utilization.

Objective: To evaluate whether the implementation of a geriatrics-focused orthopaedic and hospitalist comanagement program can improve perioperative outcomes and decrease resource utilization.

Design: A retrospective chart review study was conducted before and after the implementation of a geriatrics-focused orthopaedic and hospitalist comanagement program, based on the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) AGS CoCare:Ortho.

Setting: A large urban, academic tertiary center, located in the greater New York metropolitan area.

Zika virus RNA detection in blood donors in São Paulo, Brazil.

Introduction: The Zika Virus (ZIKV) is a single-stranded RNA genome virus, belonging to the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus. Outbreaks around the world have demonstrated that the presence of asymptomatic viremic blood donors provides an increase in the risk of transfusion transmission (TT) and nucleic acid test (NAT) screening has been proposed to ensure the blood safety. This study implemented an "in-house" method to detect ZIKV RNA in blood sample donations.

Autoimmune pancytopenia after liver transplantation: A case report.

Introduction: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and autoimmune neutropenia (AIN) are reported in the literature after liver, intestinal, heart, pancreas, and kidney transplants. We report a case of autoimmune pancytopenia (AIHA, AIN and ITP) 9 years after liver transplantation with confirmed erythrocyte and neutrophil auto-antibodies.

Case Report: A 49 years old man was admitted to our hospital presented with dysentery and fever, with history of liver transplantation in 2008.

Platelet antibodies identification: comparison between two laboratory tests.

Introduction: Platelet antibody identification is indispensable for diagnosing the human platelet antigen (HPA) or human leukocyte antigen (HLA) immunization, mostly because it can restrict the compatibility and results of transfusions. Correct detection of these antibodies is of utmost importance for the diagnosis and treatment.

Method: We present 16 platelet alloimmunization results, comparing two tests with different technologies: the MAIPA (monoclonal antibody immobilization of platelet antigens), as a reference technique, and a bead-based assay, the Pak-Lx.

Virome comparison of deferred blood donations obtained from different geographic regions in the Sao Paulo State, Brazil.

The virome composition of blood units deferred due to symptomatic disease of the donors reported after blood donation may reveal novel or unsuspected viral agents which may have impact in the area of hemotherapy. The objective of this study was to compare the virome of blood donations obtained from two distantly located blood collecting institutions in the Saqo Paulo State and deferred from use due to post donation illness reports (PDIR). Plasma samples with PDIR due to different symptoms were collected in two cities of the Sao Paulo State (Sao Paulo city, 28 samples and Ribeirao Preto city, 11 samples).

The impact of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection on ambulatory procedures and associated delays in care for asymptomatic patients.

Background: Since the reopening of ambulatory centers, minimal data has been reported regarding positive tests among patients undergoing ambulatory procedures, associated delays in care, and outcomes of patients previously positive for coronavirus disease 2019.

Methods: A retrospective observational case series of ambulatory procedures was performed. Records since the reopening of ambulatory centers in New York were searched for patients with positive coronavirus disease 2019 nasal swab results who underwent ambulatory procedures.

The risk to future pregnancies of transfusing Rh(D)-negative females of childbearing potential with Rh(D)-positive red blood cells during trauma resuscitation is dependent on their age at transfusion.

Background: A risk assessment model for predicting the risk of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) in future pregnancies following the transfusion of Rh(D)-positive red blood cell (RBC)-containing products to females of childbearing potential (FCP) was developed, accounting for the age that the FCP is transfused in various countries.

Methods: The HDFN risk prediction model included the following inputs: risk of FCP death in trauma, Rh(D) alloimmunization rate following Rh(D)-positive RBC transfusion, expected number of live births following resuscitation, probability of carrying an Rh(D)-positive fetus, the probability of HDFN in an Rh(D)-positive fetus carried by an alloimmunized mother. The model was implemented in Microsoft R Open, and one million FCPs of each age between 18 and 49 years old were simulated.

Benzophenothiazine and Its Cr(III)-Catalyzed Cross Dehydrogenative Couplings.

In stark contrast to phenothiazines and their prevalence for cross-dehydrogenative amination reactions, benzophenothiazine has a pronounced preference for cross-dehydrogenative C-C bond-forming reactions. Moreover, the substrate is very versatile, leading to several new classes of C-C bond-forming reactions and many new oxidative coupling product architectures, including unprecedented indole fused paddlewheel-like structures.

Risk factors for complications and in-hospital mortality: An analysis of 19,834 open pelvic ring fractures.

Background: Open pelvic fractures are rare injuries, associated with high patient morbidity and mortality. Few studies have investigated the impact of patient demographics, comorbidities, and injury related factors on complication and mortality rates. The purpose of this study was to: (1) identify the overall incidence of complications and mortality after open pelvic fractures, (2) compare patient factors between those who did and did not develop complications, (3) identify perioperative independent risk factors for complications and mortality.

Duffy phenotyping and FY*B-67T/C genotyping as screening test for benign constitutional neutropenia.

Objective: Low levels of neutrophils can be an intrinsic condition, with no clinical consequences or immunity impairment. This condition is the benign constitutional neutropenia (BCN), defined as an absolute neutrophils count (ANC) ≤2000 cells/mm. Diagnosis of BCN is of exclusion where patients are submitted to blood tests and possibly to invasive diagnostic search until secondary causes of neutropenia are ruled out.

Step and redox efficient nitroarene to indole synthesis.

Step and redox efficiencies are a rising priority in synthetic method development, in order to make synthetic processes more sustainable and more affordable. Herein, a step and redox efficient nitroarene to indole synthesis is developed, in sharp contrast to the rich literature on the construction of indoles. Elemental zinc was found to be the best terminal reductant.

Screening for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in convalescent plasma in Brazil: Preliminary lessons from a voluntary convalescent donor program.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescent plasma (CCP) collection began in two Brazilian hospitals for treatment of severe/critical patients.

Methods And Materials: Mild/moderate COVID-19 convalescents were selected as CCP donors after reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and absence of symptoms for ≥14 days plus (a) age (18-60 years), body weight greater than 55 kg; (b) immunohematological studies; (c) no infectious markers of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, human T-lymphotropic virus-1/2, Chagas and syphilis infection; (d) no HLA antibodies (multiparous); (e) second RT-PCR (nasopharyngeal swab and/or blood) negativity; (f) virus neutralization test (cytopathic effect-based virus neutralization test neutralizing antibody) and anti-nucleocapsid protein SARS-CoV-2 IgM, IgG, and IgA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results: Among 271 donors (41 females, 230 males), 250 presented with neutralizing antibodies.

Comparison of ABO antibody titration, IgG subclasses and qualitative haemolysin test to reduce the risk of passive haemolysis associated with platelet transfusion.

Background: One of the strategies used to reduce the risk of haemolysis due to ABO-minor incompatible platelet transfusions is to perform a screening test to identify group O donors with high titres of anti-A and anti-B. However, critical immunoglobulin M/ immunoglobulin G (IgM/IgG) titres remain unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to determine IgM titres of anti-A and anti-B in individual donor serum vs platelet products plasma and identify a possible association between IgM/IgG titres, haemolysin test and IgG subclasses in Brazilian blood donors from group O.

The rare holley antibody associated with a severe hemolytic transfusion reaction: the importance of this antibody identification to find a compatible blood unit.

The correct identification of erythrocyte antibodies is fundamental for the searching for compatible blood and haemolytic transfusion reactions prevention. Antibodies against antigens of high prevalence are difficult to identify because of the rarity of their occurrence and unavailability of negative red cells for confirmation. We report a case of 46-years-old woman, diagnosed with hemoglobinopathy, and who had symptomatic fall in hemoglobin levels (5.