Comprehensive analysis of parvovirus B19 infection in blood donors: epidemiological trend and implications for transfusion safety and management strategies in Italy.

Parvovirus B19 (B19V) presents a significant concern in the context of blood transfusion safety, given its potential for transmission through contaminated blood products, and the increased viral circulation recently reported across Europe. This study examines the recent epidemiological trends of B19V in Italy, where a notable increase in B19V-positive plasma units was observed during early 2024. While routine NAT testing for B19V in individual blood donations is not currently justified, the existing screening protocols for plasma intended for industrial fractionation are crucial to ensure the safety of plasma-derived medicinal products.

Dataset of mechanically induced thermal runaway measurement and severity level on Li-ion batteries.

The deployment of Li-ion batteries covers a wide range of energy storage applications, from mobile phones, e-bikes, electric vehicles (EV) to stationary energy storage systems. However, safety issue such as thermal runaway is always one of the most important concerns preventing Li-ion batteries from further market penetration. A standardized single-side indentation test protocol was developed to mechanically induce an internal short-circuit.

Patient Blood Management in pediatric and adolescent bone marrow donors: results from an Italian survey.

Background: Current national and international guidelines (Italian Bone Marrow Donor Registry [IBMDR], World Marrow Donor Association [WMDA] standards) provide an indication for preoperative autologous blood donation (PAD) only in adult family and volunteer non-family donors in anticipation of bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) donation to avoid the use of homologous transfusions. In addition, there is no clear guidance from the relevant scientific societies regarding pediatric and adolescent donors.

Material And Methods: To assess the actual use of PAD in pediatric (up to 14 years) and adolescent (aged 15-18 years) family donors in relation to BM HSC donation in the five years 2017-2021, a specific online questionnaire was administered to blood establishments and clinical units of pediatric transplantation programs responsible for BM HSC collection.

The Italian registry of therapeutic apheresis in SISTRA: Year of activity 2023.

The Italian Registry of Therapeutic Apheresis (IRTA) collects clinical data on patients undergoing therapeutic apheresis procedures throughout the national territory, with the main objective of improving the quality and safety of the care provided to the patient. Given the importance of centralizing the collection and analysis of information on therapeutic apheresis, the National Blood Center (NBC), at the request of the Italian Scientific Society of Hemapheresis and Cellular Manipulation (SIdEM), has included IRTA in the Information System of Transfusion Services (SISTRA), which is the information system of the Ministry of Health for the exchange of data on blood and its derivatives between the Italian Regions and the NBC. This manuscript reports IRTA activity data for 2023 maintaining the general approach introduced in previous manuscripts to facilitate comparison with already published activity data (2020-2022).

Securing commitment and control for the supply of plasma derivatives for public health systems. I: A short review of the global landscape.

The social market economies of the Western world considered the provision of plasma derivatives produced from publicly owned blood services as a legitimate state commitment and, until the last decades of the 20th century, many of the relevant jurisdictions maintained state-supported fractionation plants to convert publicly collected plasma into products for the public health system. This situation started to change in the 1990s, because of several converging factors, and currently, publicly owned/subsidized, not-for-profit fractionation activity has shrunk to a handful of players. However, the collection of plasma from publicly owned blood services has continued and recent developments have increased the interest of state authorities globally to increase the volume of plasma collected to increase the level of strategic independence in the supply of crucial plasma-derived medicines from commercial market pressures, particularly the global for-profit fractionation sector with its dominance of source plasma from paid donors in the United States.

Securing commitment and control for the supply of plasma derivatives for public health systems. II: A survey of national pathways.

Background And Objectives: Pressures on the supply of plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs) have led to the efforts to increase the level of plasma collected by public health authorities.

Materials And Methods: Public blood collectors were assessed regarding their routes towards domestically sourced plasma and PDMPs.

Results: The collectors' operations were specified and analysed.

The use of predictive modelling to determine the likelihood of donor return during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Artificial intelligence (AI) uses sophisticated algorithms to "learn" from large volumes of data. This could be used to optimise recruitment of blood donors through predictive modelling of future blood supply, based on previous donation and transfusion demand. We sought to assess utilisation of predictive modelling and AI blood establishments (BE) and conducted predictive modelling to illustrate its use.

Effectiveness of Highly Purified Cannabidiol in Refractory and Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus: A Case Series.

Introduction: Refractory and super-refractory status epilepticus are medical emergencies that must be promptly treated in consideration of their high mortality and morbidity rate. Nevertheless, the available evidence of effective treatment of these conditions is scarce. Among novel antiseizure medications (ASMs), highly purified cannabidiol (hpCBD) has shown noteworthy efficacy in reducing seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), Dravet syndrome (DS), and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC).

Platelet rich plasma for facial rejuvenation: an overview of systematic reviews.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a non-surgical therapy for facial rejuvenation is increasingly adopted. This article aims to review the literature and critically appraise the available evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of PRP for facial rejuvenation.

Material And Methods: An overview of systematic reviews (SRs) of PRP use for facial rejuvenation.

A survey on the implementation of Patient Blood Management programs in Italy.

Background: Since 2012, in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) resolution WHA63.12 of 05/21/2010, the Italian National Blood Center has been promoting patient blood management (PBM). In order to verify the level of PBM implementation nationwide, we submitted a survey to all healthcare providers.

Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for COVID-19: an overview of systematic reviews.

Objectives: A reappraisal of the validity of the conclusions of systematic reviews (SRs) related to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for the treatment of COVID-19.

Methods: An overview of SRs (umbrella review). The methodological quality of the SRs was assessed using the AMSTAR 2 checklist; quality of the evidence from the trials included in each SR was appraised following the GRADE approach.

The Italian registry of therapeutic apheresis in SISTRA: Year of activity 2022.

Therapeutic apheresis refers to a group of extracorporeal blood processing procedures used in the treatment of a variety of systemic diseases. These complex procedures are burdened by adverse reactions related to both procedures and underlying medical conditions. Given the importance of centralizing the collection and the analysis of information on therapeutic apheresis, the Italian National Blood Center (NBC), at the request of the Italian Scientific Society of Hemapheresis and Cell Manipulation (SIdEM), implemented the Italian Registry of Therapeutic Apheresis (IRTA) including it in the Information System of Transfusion Services (SISTRA), coordinated by the NBC.

Practice of Monitoring Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity by Audiology, ENT, and Oncology Specialists: A Survey-Based Study in a Single Italian Medical Center.

Ototoxic drugs can result in hearing loss and tinnitus. Early detection of the ototoxic process can help minimize or prevent these consequences. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has provided guidelines for monitoring ototoxicity, whereas Italy has not yet implemented a national monitoring protocol.

Palliative short-course radiotherapy (RAPASH study) in patients with rectal cancer.

Background: Palliative radiation therapy (RT) is used to treat symptomatic rectal cancer although clinical benefits and toxicities are poorly documented. There is no consensus about the optimal RT regimen and clinical practice undergoes significant changes. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of short-course (SC) RT in this setting of patients.

Platelet rich plasma use for treatment of acne scars: an overview of systematic reviews.

Background: A reappraisal of the conclusions of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses validity related to Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), alone or in combination with other treatments, compared to regimens PRP-free for the treatment of acne scars.

Materials And Methods: An overview of SRs. The methodological quality of the reviews was assessed using AMSTAR-2 checklist; quality of the evidence of primary studies was appraised following the GRADE approach.

Pictorial adaptation of the quality of recovery 15 scale and psychometric validation into a pediatric surgical population.

Patient reported outcomes measures (PROMS) are important endpoints to measure patient health status in the perioperative setting. However, there are no good tools to measure PROMS in the pediatric surgical population. Patients 7 to 17 years old undergoing surgery were included and followed up for 1 day after surgery (POD1).

Hyperimmune Globulins for the Management of Infectious Diseases.

This review is focused on the use of hyperimmune globulin therapy to treat some infectious diseases of viral or bacterial origin. Despite the introduction of antibiotics and vaccines, plasma immunoglobulin therapy from whole blood donation can still play a key role. These treatments provide passive transfer of high-titer antibodies that either reduces the risk or the severity of the infection and offer immediate but short-term protection against specific diseases.

Plasma collection and supply in Europe: Proceedings of an International Plasma and Fractionation Association and European Blood Alliance symposium.

At the symposium organized by the International Plasma and Fractionation Association and European Blood Alliance, experts presented their views and experiences showing that the public sector and its blood establishments may strengthen the collection and increase the supply of plasma using the right strategies in plasma donor recruitment, retention and protection, scaling-up collection by increasing the number of donors within improved/new infrastructure, supportive funding, policies and legislation as well as harmonization of clinical guidelines and the collaboration of all stakeholders. Such approaches should contribute to increased plasma collection in Europe to meet patients' needs for plasma-derived medicinal products, notably immunoglobulins and avoid shortages. Overall, presentations and discussions confirmed that European non-profit transfusion institutions are committed to increasing the collection of plasma for fractionation from unpaid donors through dedicated programmes as well as novel strategies and research.

Transaxillary approach enhances postoperative recovery after mitral valve surgery.

Objectives: Several thoracic incisions have been described and different techniques used for cardiopulmonary bypass, myocardial protection, and valve exposure in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery. The aim of this study is to compare the early outcomes of patients operated using a simplified minimally invasive approach through a right transaxillary (TAxA) access with those achieved with conventional full sternotomy (FS) operations.

Methods: Prospectively collected data of patients who underwent mitral valve surgery between 2017 and 2022 at 2 academic centres were reviewed.

Prognostic role of plasma vitamin D and its association with disease characteristics in germ cell tumours.

Background: Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy among young men. Vitamin D has pluripotent effects on cancer pathogenesis and plays a role in the metastatic cascade. The aim of this study is to analyze plasma vitamin D in association with clinico-pathological findings and prognosis in patients with germ-cell tumors (GCTs).