Economic implications of FDA platelet bacterial guidance compliance options: Comparison of single-step strategies.

Background: Bloodborne pathogens pose a major safety risk in transfusion medicine. To mitigate the risk of bacterial contamination in platelet units, FDA issues updated guidance materials on various bacterial risk control strategies (BRCS). This analysis presents results of a budget impact model updated to include 5- and 7-day pathogen reduced (PR) and large volumed delayed sampling (LVDS) BRCS.

UVB (290-315 nm) inactivation of the SARS CoV-2 virus as a function of the standard UV index.

Unlabelled: The inactivation time for the SARS CoV-2 virus, mostly by a portion of UVB spectrum (290-315 nm) in sunlight, has been estimated using radiative transfer calculations and a relative wavelength sensitivity virus inactivation action spectrum A. The action spectrum is adjusted for the SARS CoV-2 virus using a derived UV dose D = 3.2 J/m for 90% inactivation to match laboratory results for the inactivation of SARS CoV-2 virus droplets on steel mesh.

Economic Analyses of Pathogen-Reduction Technologies in Blood Transfusion: A Systematic Literature Review.

Background: Technologies used in the processing of whole blood and blood component products, including pathogen reduction, are continuously being adopted into blood transfusion workflows to improve process efficiencies. However, the economic implications of these technologies are not well understood. With the advent of these new technologies and regulatory guidance on bacterial risk-control strategies, an updated systematic literature review on this topic was warranted.

Inactivation times from 290 to 315 nm UVB in sunlight for SARS coronaviruses CoV and CoV-2 using OMI satellite data for the sunlit Earth.

UVB in sunlight, 290-315 nm, can inactivate SARS CoV and SARS CoV-2 viruses on surfaces and in the air. Laboratory exposure to ultraviolet irradiance in the UVC range inactivates many viruses and bacteria in times less than 30 min. Estimated UVB inactivation doses from sunlight in J/m are obtained from UVC measurements and radiative transfer calculations, weighted by a virus inactivation action spectrum, using OMI satellite atmospheric data for ozone, clouds, and aerosols.

Comparison of Near-surface NO Pollution with Pandora Total Column NO during the Korea-United States Ocean Color (KORUS OC) Campaign.

Near-surface air quality (AQ) observations over coastal waters are scarce, a situation that limits our capacity to monitor pollution events at land-water interfaces. Satellite measurements of total column (TC) nitrogen dioxide (NO) observations are a useful proxy for combustion sources but the once daily snapshots available from most sensors are insufficient for tracking the diurnal evolution and transport of pollution. Ground-based remote sensors like the Pandora Spectrometer Instrument (PSI) that have been developed to verify space-based total column NO and other trace gases are being tested for routine use as certified AQ monitors.

Assessment of NO observations during DISCOVER-AQ and KORUS-AQ field campaigns.

NASA's Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality (DISCOVER-AQ, conducted in 2011-2014) campaign in the United States and the joint NASA and National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) Korea-United States Air Quality Study (KORUS-AQ, conducted in 2016) in South Korea were two field study programs that provided comprehensive, integrated datasets of airborne and surface observations of atmospheric constituents, including nitrogen dioxide (NO), with the goal of improving the interpretation of spaceborne remote sensing data. Various types of NO measurements were made, including in situ concentrations and column amounts of NO using ground- and aircraft-based instruments, while NO column amounts were being derived from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on the Aura satellite. This study takes advantage of these unique datasets by first evaluating in situ data taken from two different instruments on the same aircraft platform, comparing coincidently sampled profile-integrated columns from aircraft spirals with remotely sensed column observations from ground-based Pandora spectrometers, intercomparing column observations from the ground (Pandora), aircraft (in situ vertical spirals), and space (OMI), and evaluating NO simulations from coarse Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) and high-resolution regional models.

Regional characteristics of NO column densities from Pandora observations during the MAPS-Seoul campaign.

Vertical column density (VCD) of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was measured using Pandora spectrometers at six sites on the Korean Peninsula during the Megacity Air Pollution Studies-Seoul (MAPS-Seoul) campaign from May to June 2015. To estimate the tropospheric NO VCD, the stratospheric NO VCD from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) was subtracted from the total NO VCD from Pandora. European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis wind data was used to analyze variations in tropospheric NO VCD caused by wind patterns at each site.

Earth Observations from DSCOVR/EPIC Instrument.

The NOAA Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft was launched on February 11, 2015, and in June 2015 achieved its orbit at the first Lagrange point or L1, 1.5 million km from Earth towards the Sun. There are two NASA Earth observing instruments onboard: the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology Advanced Radiometer (NISTAR).

Intraoperative Diagnosis and Management of Acute Hypotensive Blood Transfusion Reaction (AHTR): A Report of Two Cases.

BACKGROUND Acute hypotensive transfusion reaction (AHTR) is characterized by the abrupt onset of hypotension immediately after the start of transfusion and usually resolves when transfusion ceases. Recent studies have shown an association with pre-operative treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. This report presents two cases of AHTR in non-related patients and describes the diagnosis and management.

Method-specific and unexplained reactivity in automated solid-phase testing and their association with specific antibodies.

The inherent tradeoff between sensitivity and specificity in the detection of unexplained antibodies has been the objective of many studies, editorials, and journal articles. Many publications note that no method is capable of detecting all clinically significant antibodies while avoiding all clinically insignificant antibodies. This study describes the frequency of nonspecific reactivity and unexplained reactivity in solid-phase testing, along with the subsequent development of specific antibodies (Abs).

Economic Implications of Pathogen Reduced and Bacterially Tested Platelet Components: A US Hospital Budget Impact Model.

Background: US FDA draft guidance includes pathogen reduction (PR) or secondary rapid bacterial testing (RT) in its recommendations for mitigating risk of platelet component (PC) bacterial contamination. An interactive budget impact model was created for hospitals to use when considering these technologies.

Methods: A Microsoft Excel model was built and populated with base-case costs and probabilities identified through literature search and a survey of US hospital transfusion service directors.

Use of a model for A1c formation to estimate average glucose operative between short-interval measurements of %A1c.

Background: Estimated average glucose (AG) is generally reported along with hemoglobin A1c measurements according to a standard calculation. Given a normal red blood cell lifetime of 120 days, serial A1c measurements at intervals <120 days are not completely independent. For short interval measurements, a change in AG (ΔAG) necessarily underestimates the change in average glucose operative during the interval (ΔG).

The first evaluation of formaldehyde column observations by improved Pandora spectrometers during the KORUS-AQ field study.

The Korea-United States Air Quality Study (KORUS-AQ) conducted during May-June 2016 offered the first opportunity to evaluate direct-sun observations of formaldehyde (HCHO) total column densities with improved Pandora spectrometer instruments. The measurements highlighted in this work were conducted both in the Seoul megacity area at the Olympic Park site (37.5232° N, 27.

Carcinogenicity assessment of baricitinib in Tg.rasH2 mice and Sprague-Dawley (Crl:CD) rats.

Baricitinib is a potent and selective Janus kinase (JAK)1 and JAK2 inhibitor, and is approved for the treatment of moderately to severely active RA in adults in Europe, Japan, and other countries. This study evaluated the carcinogenic potential of baricitinib in Tg. rasH2 mice and Sprague-Dawley (Crl:CD) rats.

Validation of a New Method to Automatically Select Cases With Intraoperative Red Blood Cell Transfusion for Audit.

Background: Hospitals review allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusions for appropriateness. Audit criteria have been published that apply to 5 common procedures. We expanded on this work to study the management decision of selecting which cases involving transfusion of at least 1 RBC unit to audit (review) among all surgical procedures, including those previously studied.

Average glucose from hemoglobin A for altered red blood cell lifetimes: Predictions based on a model for hemoglobin A1c formation.

Background: A model for hemoglobin A (HbA) formation was used to predict the relationship between average glucose (AG) and %HbA under conditions of altered red blood cell lifetime (RCL).

Methods: Using a kinetic mass balance model for formation of HbA in red blood cells as a function of age (time in circulation), whole blood %HbA vs. glucose was calculated based on the nonlinear distribution of red blood cells as a function of age across RCL.

Does therapeutic plasma exchange have a role in the treatment of prosthetic hip-associated cobalt toxicity? A case report and literature review.

Background: Prosthetic hip-associated cobalt toxicity (PHACT) is an uncommon, but potentially devastating, complication for patients with metal-on-metal hip implants (MoMs). Clinical management of PHACT is poorly defined, with primary intervention being MoM explant followed by chelation therapy. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in cobalt toxicity has not been previously described.

Cost of Purchased Versus Produced Plasma from Donor Recruitment Through Transfusion.

Background: Plasma is used to treat acquired coagulopathy or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, or to reverse warfarin effect. Scant data are available, however, about its costs.

Objective: To estimate total costs of plasma from production through administration, from the perspective of a US hospital blood donor center (BDC).

Toxicity of Hexamoll(®) DINCH(®) following intravenous administration.

Alternative plasticizers to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) for blood bags have been sought for many years. Cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, diisononylester (Hexamoll(®) DINCH(®)) is an alternative that has been evaluated in preliminary studies for compatibility and efficacy to preserve whole blood. While Hexamoll(®) DINCH(®) has an extensive database for mammalian toxicity via oral administration, data were needed to evaluate toxicity from intravenous (IV) administration to support the use of the plasticizer Hexamoll(®) DINCH(®) in blood bags.

Evaluation of different testing methods for identification of RhIG in red blood cell antibody detection.

Background: RhIG has had great success in protecting fetuses from potential harm; however, little work has been done to demonstrate how long RhIG reactivity is detected in the mother after administration when using common red blood cell antibody detection methods.

Study Design And Methods: A retrospective investigation was performed examining positive antibody identification panels due to RhIG. These panels were run on solid-phase (SP) testing.

Sensitization, pathologic, and imaging findings comparing symptomatic and quiescent failed renal allografts.

Late allograft failure (LAF) is a common cause of end stage renal disease. These patients face interrelated challenges regarding immunosuppression management, risk of graft intolerance syndrome (GIS), and sensitization. This retrospective study analyzes sensitization, pathology, imaging, and transfusion requirements in 33 LAFs presenting either with GIS (22) or grafts remaining quiescent (11).