[Nurse telephone follow-up, a beneficial tool in geriatric oncology].

Supporting patients undergoing chemotherapy is one of the priorities of geriatric oncology care. To this effect, a Toulouse hospital team has developed a telephone follow-up service operated by nurse navigators. In collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team of the hospitalisation service, it provides close support to the patient and their family.

[From dependency to autonomy, a geriatric pathway].

Preventing dependency is essential in our ageing society. One of its components is the avoidable dependency which develops during a period of hospitalisation. Caregivers play an important role in helping the elderly person regain their autonomy.

[Role of the nurse in the prevention of dependence].

Preventing frailty in elderly people to delay their dependency is one of the main missions of the Gérontopôle, a centre of expertise for gerontology, in Toulouse. The proposed actions are simple to put in place and the nurses are autonomous in carrying out assessments. Nursing expertise has also been developed within the centre.

Multivariate analysis of determinants of bacterial contamination of whole-blood donations.

Background And Objectives: Introduction of bacteria into blood components at the collection stage seems to be a frequent occurrence. We therefore assessed determinants of bacterial contamination of whole-blood donations to gain insight into contamination mechanisms and direct prevention.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on donors accepted for whole-blood donation in four French blood banks.

Evaluation of performance of white blood cell reduction filters: an original flow cytometric method for detection and quantification of cell-derived membrane fragments.

Background: Contamination of blood products by white blood cells leads to a risk of transmission of infectious agents, particularly abnormal prion protein, the probable causative agent of new-variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Blood product filtration could reduce this risk, but the filtration systems might generate potentially infectious membrane fragments. We developed an original flow cytometric method that allows the detection and quantification of membrane fragments in filtered products and the evaluation of the quantity of destroyed cells.

Efficacy of a new collection procedure for preventing bacterial contamination of whole-blood donations.

Background: Transfusion-related bacterial contamination is a serious problem. The introduction of bacteria into donations at the collection stage seems frequent, despite well-conducted phlebotomy site preparation. Additional preventive measures are required.

Quality, ISO 9002 and haemapheresis service.

Hemotherapy in developed countries is safer than ever but the present perception of society seems different than in the past. As Isbister wrote, during recent years, as blood safety has been progressively improved, the legal risks have been increasing. The first task is to study and define the risks for each activity.

Engineered erythrocytes: influence of P50 rightward shift and oxemia on oxygen transport to tissues.

The red blood cell (RBC) membrane may be reversibly opened using a lysis-resealing continuous flow method. The technology was adapted to the internalisation of an allosteric effector of haemoglobin, Inositol-Hexaphosphate (IHP). This molecule, occupying the allosteric site of 2,3 Bis-Phosphoglycerate with a very large affinity, induces a rightward shift of the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve (ODC).

Internalization and distribution of inositol hexakisphosphate in red blood cells.

Inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6), an allosteric effector of haemoglobin, is able to modify the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve. The rightwards shift of the curve increases the in vivo oxygen delivery to tissues. Such an exogenous substance may be internalized into red blood cells (RBC) using a reversed lysis-resealing process following a hypoosmotic shock, resulting in InsP6-RBC with modified oxygen transport capacity.

Tolerance evaluation of L-asparaginase loaded in red blood cells.

Objective: A pilot clinical study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of a single dose of L-asparaginase loaded in red blood cells (RBCs).

Methods: Thirteen patients received a single dose of L-asparaginase in the range 30-200 i.u.

Improved pharmacodynamics of L-asparaginase-loaded in human red blood cells.

To evaluate the modification of pharmacodynamic parameters induced by the administration of L-asparaginase loaded into red blood cells, 13 patients received a single dose of L-asparaginase internalised into the carrier. The enzyme was loaded using a reversible lysis-resealing process. The dose per patient ranged from 30 to 200 i.

Evaluation of doxorubicin in combination with mafosfamide for in vitro elimination of myeloid and lymphoid tumor cells from human bone marrow.

In an attempt to improve in vitro pharmacological purging of autologous grafts, the ability of doxorubicin (DOX), alone and in combination with mafosfamide (AZ), to eliminate tumor cells from human bone marrow was assessed. HL60 and Raji cells were mixed with a 20-fold excess of normal marrow cells and were incubated either with DOX (0.4-3.

[HLA B27 phenotyping using flow cytometry].

Results of typing for HLA B27 antigens of 106 patients in whole blood with a FITC monoclonal anti HLA B27 antibody and analysis by flow cytometry are compared to the results obtained by the classical microlymphocytoxicity test. By flow cytometry analysis, there are not false negative result, but, because of cross reactions of the used monoclonal antibody with other specificities of the CREG B7 group, false positive result may be encountered. The flow cytometry analysis for typing HLA B27 antigens using a monoclonal antibody can be a good screening technique: so it's rapid and moreover the negative results can be accepted.

Erythrocytes as carriers for L-asparaginase. Methodological and mouse in-vivo studies.

L-Asparaginase has been encapsulated in Swiss mouse or human erythrocytes by hypotonic haemolysis followed by isotonic resealing and reannealing. The details of incorporation and properties of carrier erythrocytes are presented. When L-asparaginase loaded into 51Cr-labelled erythrocytes, was infused intravenously, the same half-life was found for asparaginase and 51Cr.

Thrombocytopenia in systemic lupus erythematosus: association with antiplatelet and anticardiolipin antibodies.

Serum platelet bindable immunoglobulin G (SPbIgG) and anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) have been assayed in SLE patients with (group A, n = 8) and without thrombocytopenia (group B, n = 8). Moreover, we studied the binding of serum IgG on platelet proteins using a Western blotting procedure. Increased levels of SPbIgG were found in all thrombocytopenic patients and in five cases of group B.

Several aspects of red blood cell engineering: potential therapeutic applications.

Erythrocytes can be used to entrap drugs, enzymes or other molecules with active properties, with various encapsulation procedures. The method of internalization we are using includes an hypotonic dialysis step. Carrier erythrocytes survival depends on the dialysis process and the carried molecule.

Modification of partial pressure of oxygen (P50) in mammalian red blood cells by incorporation of an allosteric effector of hemoglobin.

Internalization of inositol hexaphosphate (IHP) in mammalian red blood cells (RBC) produces a modification of the hemoglobin-oxygen affinity, leading to a rightward shift of the dissociation curve. The process of incorporation, based on an osmotic shock, has been tested on RBC of different species. Two dialysis protocols have been defined to transform RBC, the first one for small volumes in a cellulose bag and the other for larger volumes using a commercially available dialysis device.

[In vitro study of platelet preservation during 5 days in reduced-thickness bags].

An in vitro study of platelet concentrates storage for 5 days was performed in PVC bags. Modification of the original three-day containers were introduced by thickness reduction. The results at fifth day were comparable to those at third day in standard plastic bags.

Oxygen transport to tissue modified by entrapment of an allosteric effector of haemoglobin in erythrocytes.

Oxygen affinity of haemoglobin is modulated by several parameters such as the allosteric effector 2-3 DPG for most mammalians. Inositol hexaphosphate (I.H.