Adherence to Guidelines at a Stroke Prevention Clinic: A Follow-up Study.

Background: In 2010, we published our stroke prevention clinic's performance as compared to Canadian stroke prevention guidelines. We now compare our clinic's adherence with guidelines to our previous results, following the implementation of an electronic documentation form.

Methods: All new patients referred to our clinic (McGill University Health Center) for recent transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ischemic stroke between 2014 and 2017 were included.

Scientist Spotlight Homework Assignments Shift Students' Stereotypes of Scientists and Enhance Science Identity in a Diverse Introductory Science Class.

Research into science identity, stereotype threat, and possible selves suggests a lack of diverse representations of scientists could impede traditionally underserved students from persisting and succeeding in science. We evaluated a series of metacognitive homework assignments ("Scientist Spotlights") that featured counterstereotypical examples of scientists in an introductory biology class at a diverse community college. Scientist Spotlights additionally served as tools for content coverage, as scientists were selected to match topics covered each week.

Noninvasive pH monitoring for bacterial detection in platelet concentrates.

Background: Bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates (PCs) remains the prevalent posttransfusion infectious risk. The pH SAFE system, a noninvasive method used to measure pH of PC for quality control, was evaluated herein as a rapid method to detect bacterial contamination in PCs.

Study Design And Methods: Pairs of ABO-D-matched apheresis and buffy coat PCs were pooled and split into two pH SAFE platelet bags.

Validation of sterility testing of cord blood: challenges and results.

Background: Sterility testing for cord blood (CB) products is mandatory to prevent transplantation-transmitted microbial infections. Here, the automated BacT/ALERT (bioMérieux) culture system was validated to detect microbial contamination in CB units processed at the Canadian National Public Cord Blood Bank.

Study Design And Methods: A three-phase validation was developed.

Evaluating the 4-hour and 30-minute rules: effects of room temperature exposure on red blood cell quality and bacterial growth.

Background: A 30-minute rule was established to limit red blood cell (RBC) exposure to uncontrolled temperatures during storage and transportation. Also, RBC units issued for transfusion should not remain at room temperature (RT) for more than 4 hours (4-hour rule). This study was aimed at determining if single or multiple RT exposures affect RBC quality and/or promote bacterial growth.

Bacterial screening of outdated buffy coat platelet pools using a culture system and a rapid immunoassay.

Background: Canadian Blood Services performs bacterial screening of buffy coat platelet pools (BCPs) using aerobic BacT/ALERT cultures. This study aimed to determine the rate of detection failures during initial platelet (PLT) screening and evaluate the introduction of anaerobic cultures and immunoassay testing to assess the safety of extending PLT storage beyond 5 days.

Study Design And Methods: Outdated (7- to 10-day-old) BCPs that tested negative during initial screening were assayed with BacT/ALERT and the Verax PLT Pan Genera detection (PGD) test, an immunoassay that detects Gram-positive (GP) and Gram-negative (GN) bacteria.

Evaluation of the BacT/ALERT 3D system for the implementation of in-house quality control sterility testing at Canadian Blood Services.

Background: Until recently, Canadian Blood Services (CBS) was performing quality control sterility testing of blood components using three different processes. This study was conducted in order to standardize sterility testing at all CBS centers in a cost-effective manner using the BacT/ALERT 3D system.

Methods: Blood components including fresh frozen plasma, platelet concentrates, and red blood cells were inoculated with eight bacterial species at target concentrations of 1 and 10 CFU/mL.

Clinical outcome of frequent exposure to Torque Teno virus (TTV) through blood transfusion in thalassemia patients with or without hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

As a consequence of the high prevalence of TorqueTeno virus (TTV) in blood donors, thalassemia patients frequently acquire various genotypes of this virus through therapeutic blood transfusions. At present, the clinical consequences of TTV infection remain indeterminate for these patients. Here, several hundred thalassemia patients were tested for the presence of TTV and its genotypes using a combination of PCR and clone-based DNA sequencing.

Genetic relationship of Torque Teno virus (TTV) between humans and camels in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Torque Teno Virus (TTV) species-cross infection has been documented. However, the genetic relationship between human and animal TTV remains uncertain. In this study, genotypic characterization of TTV in different Camel specimens from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was undertaken for comparison with human UAE TTV.