Plasma transfusion in liver transplantation: a randomized, double-blind, multicenter clinical comparison of three virally secured plasmas.

Background: The clinical equivalence of plasma treated to reduce pathogen transmission and untreated plasma has not been extensively studied. A clinical trial was conducted in liver transplant recipients to compare the efficacy of three plasmas.

Study Design And Methods: A randomized, equivalence, blinded trial was performed in four French liver transplantation centers.

Eurobloodpack: a common European design for blood bag systems with integral leucodepletion filters.

Three EBA specified blood bag configurations ('Eurobloodpack') are described which are capable of meeting >80% of its member's requirements. These include a 'top-and-top' and two 'bottom-and-top' packs enabling aseptic, pre-donation collection of up to 40 ml of samples, 427.5-522.

Skin contamination by radiopharmaceuticals and decontamination strategies.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the percutaneous penetration of five common radiopharmaceuticals ((99m)Tc, (67)Ga, (125)I, (111)In and (51)Cr) and to evaluate the effect of decontamination by a detergent solution dedicated to hospital institutions for that purpose. The skin kinetic profiles were established by using the in vitro Franz cell method over 24h. The skin distribution in each skin layer was quantified after 6h exposure time and the efficacy of the detergent solution to remove radionuclides was evaluated also after 6h.

National French observatory of the quality of blood components for transfusion.

Purpose: Since 1998, prestorage leucoreduction of cellular blood components (BC) is mandatory in France. The French Blood Service needs to follow the data on the quality of the BC prepared by blood centers. This article gives an overview of the quality control (QC) data from 2001 to 2006.

Quality of leucoreduced red blood cell concentrates: 5 years of follow-up in France.

Background: Since 1998, prestorage leucoreduction of all cellular blood components has been made mandatory in France. The French blood service needed to follow the data on the quality of the blood components prepared by blood centres.

Material And Methods: Quality control (QC) data were submitted to a central data bank by each blood centre.

[Is GB virus C alias "hepatitis" G virus involved in human pathology?].

GB virus-C alias "hepatitis" virus G was discovered in 1995 as a putative causative virus of non A-E hepatitis. It is a very common virus found in 1 to 5% of eligible blood donors in developed countries. Numerous studies over seven years led to the exclusion of its role as a significant etiological agent of hepatitis.

Quality assessment of seven types of fresh-frozen plasma leucoreduced by specific plasma filtration.

Background And Objectives: A study was undertaken to determine plasma quality after specific filtration.

Materials And Methods: Seven types of plasma were tested, after filtration of plasma from filtered or non-filtered whole blood. Leucocyte counting was carried out after a 30-fold concentration of the sample.

Quality control of leucoreduced cellular blood components in France.

Background And Objectives: Since 1 April 1998, all cellular blood components in France have been leucoreduced. The current French standard is < 1 x 10(6) white blood cells (WBC) per unit with a 95% confidence that at least 97% of units will meet this standard.

Materials And Methods: Quality control (QC) data for leucoreduced cellular blood components were collected from the 41 French blood centres over a 5-month period.

[Labile blood products and their preparation].

Licensed labile blood components are put down on a regulatory list by the French Health Authority. They are prepared by the French National Blood Service and controlled according to regulatory and validated procedures. Depending on the origin of the blood, labile blood components are either homologous (donors) or autologous (from patients).

Prognostic factors for retinal vein occlusion: prospective study of 175 cases.

Background: The prognosis of retinal vein occlusion is highly unpredictable because nonischemic types may convert into ischemic types within the first months. This study was designed to identify epidemiologic characteristics of the different types of retinal vein occlusion, their visual outcome, and their prognostic factors.

Methods: The authors analyzed prospectively the data from patients who have had retinal vein occlusion with complete medical and biologic examination, including fluorescein angiography, and a 1-year follow-up.

[Value of an extensive biological study in venous or arterial thromboses].

Objectives: The aim of this work is to study the signification of an extensive biological evaluation in patients with "unexplained" thrombosis. We studied 78 patients with more than one arterial and/or venous thromboembolic event.

Methods: Fifty-four patients were admitted for unexplained deep venous thrombosis (group I, n = 19, 9 men and 10 women) and/or arterial thrombosis (group II, n = 35, 21 men and 14 women).

Increasing erythrocyte aggregability with the progressive grades of chronic venous insufficiency: importance and mechanisms.

Erythrocyte aggregation (EA) has appeared as the most interesting parameter among rheological measurements in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). We therefore conducted two different kinds of studies to provide further information about the distribution and mechanisms of EA in CVI. We first analysed EA values in 67 patients, classified according to 3 evolutive groups: 27 patients suffering only from subjective symptoms of venous disease (grade 1), 19 patients with varicosis and sapheno-femoral incompetence (grade 2), 21 patients with varicosis and trophic skin changes (grade 3).

Red cell aggregability increases with the severity of venous insufficiency.

Several studies have suggested the presence of hemorheological abnormalities in venous insufficiency. The present prospective study was carried out to determine whether the increase in hemorheological disturbances parallels the evolution of the disease. Patients were recruited among ambulant outpatients and classified in 3 evolution stages of venous insufficiency according to the clinical and functional examination.

A randomized, double-masked study on the treatment of retinal vein occlusion with troxerutin.

Hemorheologic factors probably play a role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of retinal vein occlusion. Accordingly, we designed a prospective, randomized, double-masked study to evaluate the effect of troxerutin, a rheologic drug, on retinal vein occlusion. Fifty-three patients were included, 27 with central retinal vein occlusion and 26 with branch retinal vein occlusion.

Elevated erythrocyte aggregation in patients with central retinal vein occlusion and without conventional risk factors.

Background: Retinal venous circulation is characterized by the combination of a low flow state and a high vascular resistance, which would make it particularly dependent on blood viscosity. Erythrocyte aggregation is the chief determinant of blood viscosity at low shear rates. Recent studies have demonstrated increased erythrocyte aggregation in many systemic vascular disorders and also in retinal vein occlusion.

Red blood cell aggregability in patients with a history of leg vein thrombosis: influence of post-thrombotic treatment.

Reversible aggregation of red blood cells (RBC) plays an important role in determining blood flow properties, and it is this aggregation which increases blood viscosity at low shear rates. The structure and sites of venous thrombi, as well as the fact that stasis is a major predisposing factor in venous thrombosis, suggest a strong association between vein thrombosis, slow blood flow and increased blood viscosity. RBC aggregation and disaggregation were measured (SEFAM erythroaggregameter, France) in 54 patients with a history of unexplained leg vein thrombosis.

[Erythrocyte aggregation and clinical course stages of venous insufficiency of the legs].

A double vicious circle at the venule and capillary level had already been pointed out by J. Dormandy and G. Nash as a pathophysiologic mechanism of rheological disorders associated with venous insufficiency of the lower limbs.

[Increase of erythrocyte disaggregation shear rate in arterial hypertension].

Aggregation index and critical disaggregation shear rate (which represent the minimum shear rate necessary to break up the aggregates) have been measured for 21 hypertensive and 17 normotensive subjects by a laser technique (erythro-aggregameter SEFAM). A simultaneous measurement of blood viscosity by a Couette viscometer with coaxial cylinders at different shear rate allowed the calculation of critical disaggregation shear stress by the product of critical disaggregation shear rate and blood viscosity. The comparison of the results of normotensive and hypertensive subjects showed a higher aggregation index (22%, p less than 0.

[Erythrocyte aggregation in vascular disease. Influence++ of hypertension].

In vascular diseases, when the vasomotor reserve is exhausted, microcirculation is strongly dependent on blood fluidity. For patients with vascular disorders, it was therefore decided to evaluate red blood cells (RBC) aggregation and disaggregation (SEFAM erythro-aggregometer) which are important factors determining blood viscosity in low flow areas. Our results show that, in essential hypertension (EH), RBC aggregation is significantly increased (+15%), and disaggregation is decreased (-20%).

Increased red blood cell aggregation in retinal vein occlusion.

Reversible aggregation of red blood cells (RBC) plays an important role in determining the flow properties of blood, and is the cause of the increase in blood viscosity at low shear rates. Retinal venous circulation is characterized by the combination of a low flow state and a high vascular resistance which might severely limit its capacity to adjust to high blood viscosity. These characteristics make the venous circulation in the retina particularly dependent on haemorheological factors.

[Increase of erythrocyte aggregation in retinal vein occlusion].

Erythrocyte aggregation is one of the principal determinants of blood viscosity at low shear rates (low flow). Anatomical and hemodynamical characteristics make retinal venous circulation particularly dependent on hemorheological factors. Erythrocyte aggregation and other laboratory parameters (haematocrit, fibrinogen, plasma proteins, clotting) were measured in 85 patients presenting with retinal vein occlusion and 64 controls matched for age, sex and vascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, smoking).

[Erythrocyte aggregation and retinal vein occlusion. Preliminary data for a randomized study on the efficacy of anti-erythrocyte aggregation (troxerutin) in retinal vein occlusion].

Erythrocyte aggregation (EAg) is one of the principal determinants of blood viscosity at low shearing rates (slow flow). The retinal venous circulation, characterised by a slow circulatory rate and a high resistance to flow, creates a favourable environment for the formation of erythrocyte aggregates. EAg and other laboratory parameters (haematocrit, fibrinogen, plasma proteins, clotting) were measured in 64 patients presenting with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and 64 controls matched for age, sex, risk factors (HT, diabetes, smoking) and concomitant vascular disease.

Viscoelastic properties of red cell membrane in hereditary elliptocytosis.

The viscoelastic properties of the RBC membrane are in part determined by a submembrane network of proteins consisting of spectrin alpha beta heterodimers (SpD) assembled head-to-head to form spectrin tetramers (SpT) and spectrin oligomers (SpO). SpT, in turn, are connected into a two-dimensional network by the linkage of distal ends of SpT to protein 4.1 and actin.