Evaluating a New Photopheresis System: A Comparison with Two Established Systems on Cell Yield and Collection Efficiency.

Unlabelled: : Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is a well-established and efficacious cell therapy for a range of diseases. The objective of this retrospective study was to compare the new Amicus Blue inline system with the Therakos Cellex inline system and the Spectra Optia offline system in terms of collection efficiency, mononuclear cell (MNC) yield of mononuclear cell products (MCPs), processing time and correlation between MCP cell count and peripheral blood count of patients.

Methods: This retrospective study compared 127 procedures utilizing the Spectra Optia offline system, 93 procedures employing the Amicus Blue inline system, and 81 procedures applying the Therakos Cellex inline system.

Dissecting the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections in blood donors with pauci- or asymptomatic COVID-19 disease course at initial infection.

Background: Understanding the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections is crucial for public health policy, vaccine development, and long-term disease management. However, data on reinfections in the general population remains scarce.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate SARS-CoV-2 antibody dynamics among Austrian blood donors, representing healthy adults, over two years following primary infection and to evaluate the reinfection risk.

Epstein-Barr virus reactivation is not causative for post-COVID-19-syndrome in individuals with asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2 disease course.

Purpose: Post-COVID-19-Syndrome (PCS) frequently occurs after an infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, the understanding of causative mechanisms is still limited. Aim of this study was to determine the PCS rate among SARS-CoV-2 seropositive blood donors as representatives of supposedly healthy adults, who had experienced an asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 disease course, and to examine whether Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is reactivated in individuals reporting PCS.

Collection efficiency of mononuclear cells in offline extracorporeal photopheresis: can processing time be shortened?

Background: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is a well-established but lengthy and burdensome cell-based therapy for various diseases such as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, graft-versus-host disease and organ rejection after transplantation. The number of mononuclear cells (MNCs) that needs to be collected to obtain a clinical response to ECP is still under debate. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the number of lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils in mononuclear cell products (MCP) by flow cytometry and the collection efficiency in the offline ECP setting.

SARS-CoV-2 IgG Levels Allow Predicting the Optimal Time Span of Convalescent Plasma Donor Suitability.

Convalescent plasma (CP) has been in use for the treatment of numerous infectious diseases for more than a century, recently also for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A major challenge for this treatment is identifying suitable donors with sufficient levels of functional antibodies and to determine the optimal time span for CP donation. In this retrospective study, we analyzed 189 CP donations of 66 donors regarding anti-SARS-CoV-2 anti-S IgG antibody levels.

Persistence of Naturally Acquired and Functional SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Blood Donors One Year after Infection.

The developmental course of antibodies produced after a SARS-CoV-2 infection has been insufficiently investigated so far. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels against the viral nucleocapsid- and spike-protein among Austrian blood donors as a representative group of a supposedly healthy population within the first year after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. The impact of age, sex, vaccination status, AB0-blood group and awareness about the infection was evaluated.

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 total antibody is higher in younger Austrian blood donors.

Purpose: Frequently the infection with coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be asymptomatic or provoke only mild symptoms. These cases often remain unnoticed, so it is difficult to estimate the actual numbers of infections. Aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 total antibody in Austrian blood donors.

Leukocyte-Reactive Antibodies in Female Blood Donors: The Austrian Experience.

Introduction: Antibody-mediated transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is caused by antibodies against human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) or human neutrophil antigens (HNAs), and is one of the most serious complications associated with transfusion medicine. Prevention strategies like testing allo-exposed female blood donors have not yet been introduced nationwide in Austria. To assess the need and feasibility of routine leukocyte antibody testing, the prevalence of leukocyte-reactive antibodies in an Austrian female donor population was been determined using classical cell-based methods which were compared with a high-throughput bead-based method.

Single-use IgE-selective immunoadsorber column for the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disease with unmet therapeutic need in a critical cohort of recalcitrant cases. Immunoadsorption (IA) aims at an immunomodulatory depletion of pathogenic serum mediators and has recently revealed promising clinical results for the treatment of AD.

Objective: To determine efficacy, sustainability, safety, and clinical impact of IgE selective IA in AD using a single-use IgE immunoadsorber column.

Metabolomic profiling identifies potential pathways involved in the interaction of iron homeostasis with glucose metabolism.

Objective: Elevated serum ferritin has been linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D) and adverse health outcomes in subjects with the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). As the mechanisms underlying the negative impact of excess iron have so far remained elusive, we aimed to identify potential links between iron homeostasis and metabolic pathways.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, data were obtained from 163 patients, allocated to one of three groups: (1) lean, healthy controls (n = 53), (2) MetS without hyperferritinemia (n = 54) and (3) MetS with hyperferritinemia (n = 56).

Intermittent low-dose bevacizumab in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia : A case report.

Background: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is an inherited autosomal dominant disease presenting with recurrent bleeding episodes and iron deficiency anemia due to vascular malformations. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is associated with an increased risk of stroke, gastrointestinal bleeding and pulmonary hypertension and life expectancy is significantly reduced. Excess vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role in the pathophysiology of the disease.

The DAU cluster: a comparative analysis of 18 RHD alleles, some forming partial D antigens.

Background: The Rh system is the most complex and polymorphic blood group system in humans with more than 460 alleles known for the RHD gene. The DAU cluster of RHD alleles is characterized by the single-nucleotide change producing the p.Thr379Met amino acid substitution.

An alternative mini buffy coat preparation method for adult patients with extracorporeal photopheresis contraindications.

Background: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an important cell-based therapy for various diseases but is limited to patients eligible for apheresis. We developed an alternative mini buffy coat (BC) preparation method using the Spectra Optia® apheresis system and compared its efficacy of white blood cell (WBC) recovery with the standard mini BC preparation method already established for pediatric patients.

Methods: Whole blood (450 ± 45 mL) samples were collected from 30 randomly selected healthy volunteer blood donors and divided into two groups.

Iron depletion with a novel apheresis system in patients with hemochromatosis.

Background: Phlebotomy represents the standard treatment option for iron overload in hemochromatosis (HC). Recently, red blood cell (RBC) apheresis has increasingly been used to remove iron. In this study we evaluated the depletion program of the newly developed Spectra Optia device.

An antibody microarray analysis of serum cytokines in neurodegenerative Parkinsonian syndromes.

Background: Microarray technology may offer a new opportunity to gain insight into disease-specific global protein expression profiles. The present study was performed to apply a serum antibody microarray to screen for differentially regulated cytokines in Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal syndrome (CBS).

Results: Serum samples were obtained from patients with clinical diagnoses of PD (n = 117), MSA (n = 31) and PSP/CBS (n = 38) and 99 controls.

Regulatory T cells predict the time to initial treatment in early stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Background: Early stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia is characterized by a highly variable course of disease. Because it is believed that regulatory T cells (T(regs) ) are potent suppressors of antitumor immunity, the authors hypothesized that increased T(regs) may favor disease progression.

Methods: T(reg) levels (cluster of differentiation 3 [CD3]-positive, [CD4]-positive, CD25-positive, and CD127-negative) in peripheral blood from 102 patients were analyzed by flow cytometry.

Influence of red blood cell transfusion on mortality and long-term functional outcome in 292 patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objective: To analyze the influence of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions on mortality and outcome of patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and to determine predictors of unfavorable neurologic long-term outcome in this patient population.

Design: Cohort study with post-intensive care unit (ICU) prospective evaluation of functional long-term outcome.

Setting: Ten-bed neuro-ICU in a tertiary care university hospital.

Prevention of transfusion of platelet components contaminated with low levels of bacteria: a comparison of bacteria culture and pathogen inactivation methods.

Background: This study compared the efficacy of bacterial detection with inactivation for reducing the risk associated with transfusion of platelet (PLT) components contaminated with low levels of bacteria.

Study Design And Methods: Twenty-one double-dose PLTs were spiked with seven species of bacteria at three levels (0.003-0.