Tissue Engineering; Current Status & Futuristic Scope.

Almost 30 years have passed since the term 'tissue engineering' was created to represent a new concept that focuses on the regeneration of neotissues from cells with the support of biomaterials and growth factors. This interdisciplinary engineering has attracted much attention as a new therapeutic means that may overcome the drawbacks involved in the current artificial organs and organ transplantation that have also been aiming at replacing lost or severely damaged tissues or organs. However, the tissues regenerated by tissue engineering and widely applied to patients are still minimal, including skin, bone, cartilage, capillary, and periodontal tissues.

Evidence-Based Usability Principles for Safe Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) Interface Design.

There is a dearth of evidence-based tools to design the safest Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) system possible. An evidence-based list of usability principles for the design of the CPOE interface was developed following a literature review, and validated with the Chief Medical Information Officer and CPOE team at Island Health. The list includes 11 usability principles that can be used to inform ongoing CPOE interface design and evaluation efforts to improve patient safety.

Sex as an independent risk factor for long-term survival after endovascular aneurysm repair.

Background: Several vascular surgical procedures, including repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), show poorer outcomes for women than for men. We evaluated the impact of sex-based demographic differences on survival after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Methods: We reviewed EVARs performed at our institution between 2003 and 2009 and assessed aortic neck variables (length, diameter, angulation, and calcification), iliac artery variables (length, tortuosity, angulation, and calcification), and AAA diameter.

Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in treatment of androgenic alopecia.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has shown remarkable beneficial effects without any major adverse reactions in the treatment of androgenic alopecia. The growth factors in activated autologous PRP induce the proliferation of dermal papilla cells.

Objectives: The objective was to investigate the clinical efficacy of PRP in treatment of androgenic alopecia.

Study of Single Donor Platelet (SDP) Preparation by Baxter CS 3000 plus and Haemonetics MCS plus.

Background: In plateletpheresis blood is withdrawn from a donor in anticoagulant solution and separated into components. Platelets are retained and the remaining components are returned to the individual.

Methods: The present study was aimed to compare the platelet yield and collection efficiency of Baxter CS 3000 plus and Haemonetics MCS plus cell separators and to study adverse donor reactions.

Comparative Study of Blood Cross Matching Using Conventional Tube and Gel Method.

Background: Conventionally tube method is used for compatibility and cross matching in transfusion medicine.

Methods: A comparative study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of conventional tube and gel technique.

Result: Compatibility testing was performed on 1000 blood samples by conventional test tube method and DiaMed gel method.

Should one vaccinate patients with chronic liver disease for hepatitis A virus in India?

Background: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccination is recommended worldwide for patients with chronic liver disease to prevent decompensation due to superinfection with HAV. India being endemic for HAV, the prevalence of pre-existing antibodies against HAV due to subclinical exposure to the virus in childhood among patients with chronic liver disease may be high and, therefore, vaccination may not be needed. However, little data are available on the prevalence of HAV antibody among patients with chronic liver disease in India.

Comparison of CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte counts in HIV-negative pulmonary TB patients with those in normal blood donors and the effect of antitubercular treatment: hospital-based flow cytometric study.

Background: This study was designed to flow cytometrically determine baseline and sequential values of CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte subsets in patients without the human immunodeficiency virus and with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and to correlate these values with those obtained from normal male blood donors and with the radiologic extent of disease and response to therapy.

Methods: We studied 39 male patients without the human immunodeficiency virus and with sputum positive for pulmonary TB who had been admitted to Military Hospital (Cardiothoracic Center) in Pune, India. Clinical, laboratory, and radiologic evaluations of these patients were done.

Cord blood stem cell banking and transplantation.

Stem cells have the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells. Cord blood as a source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) has several advantages as it is easily available, involves non-invasive collection procedure and is better tolerated across the HLA barrier. Since the first cord blood transplant in 1988, over 2500 cord blood HSC transplants have been done world wide.

Collection, Separation, Enumeration and Cryopreservation of Umbilical Cord Blood Haematopoietic Stem Cells - An Experimental Study.

Cord blood as a source of haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) has several advantages as it is easily available, involves non-invasive collection procedure and is better tolerated across the HLA barrier. Since the first cord blood transplant in 1988, over 1000 cord blood HSC transplants have been done world wide. The present study was carried out for collection, separation, enumeration and cryopreservation of cord blood HSC.

Normal values of CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte subsets in healthy indian adults and the effects of sex, age, ethnicity, and smoking.

Background: Information on lymphocyte populations (T, B, and natural killer cells) and subpopulations (CD4 and CD8) in India is generally lacking. Measurement of T-cell subsets is important in India for evaluating disease stage and progression in individuals with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Hence, this study was conducted to provide normal ranges of absolute and percentage values of CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte subsets and the ratio of CD4 to CD8 in normal Indian adults.

Artifical Blood.

Elimination of unwanted side-effects, especially transfusion-transmitted diseases (HIV and hepatitis) and leucocyte-mediated allosensitisation, is an important goal of modern transfusion medicine. The problems and high cost factor involved in collecting and storing human blood and the pending world-wide shortages are the other driving forces contributing towards the development of blood substitutes. Two major areas of research in this endeavour are haemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) and perfluorochemicals.

PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS ANTIBODY IN HETEROGENEOUS POPULATION OF BLOOD DONORS.

The transfusion of blood and blood products exposes recipients to both infectious and non-infectious adverse effects. Information on HCV infection in India is still sketchy. Data on small numbers of volunteer including replacement blood donors tested by ELISA has shown rates of 0.

TRANSFUSION REACTIONS: AFMC EXPERIENCE.

Transfusions of blood and its components are useful and lifesaving. Adverse effects occur during or after transfusion, called hazards or complications of blood transfusion. Complications/hazards of various types which occurred in the patients following transfusion of blood/blood components in Armed Forces Hospitals of Pune-Kirkee complex were analysed with relevant investigations.

STUDY OF WEAK D PHENOTYPE IN HETEROGENEOUS POPULATION.

Weak D is the current phenotypic term used to denote a weakened expression of Rhesus (Rh) D antigen on red cells due to a quantitative or qualitative difference in Rh antigen. The present study was undertaken from January 1986 to August 1997. Out of a total of 5042 Rh D confirmation tests 22 (0.

AUTOLOGOUS TRANSFUSION AFMC EXPERIENCE (1992-1996).

In this era of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and other infectious diseases - complications of homologous blood transfusion, autologous transfusion is the safest possible blood for transfusion. The present study was conducted from January 1992 to August 1996 to analyse the programme of autologous transfusion. A total of 471 pre-operative autologous collections were undertaken out of a total of 27,542 blood collections during this period.