Long-term response to rituximab in patients with relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an uncommon disease in adults, characterized by fever, neurological manifestations, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, renal dysfunction, and the presence of antibodies against the enzyme ADAMTS13. Treatment with plasmapheresis has increased the survival from 10% to more than 90%. Still, there is a subset of patients with resistant TTP who fail to respond to plasmapheresis or remain dependent on this procedure.

Citrus pectin affects cytokine production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Dietary fibers, including pectin, have been shown to exert a favorable effect on a wide spectrum of pathological conditions. Their positive influence on human health is explained by their anti-oxidative, hypocholesterolemic and anti-cancerous effects. However, little has been reported about their activity on the immune system.

Comparison of two techniques for the evaluation of fetomaternal hemorrhage in RhD-negative women: gel agglutination and haemoglobin F determination by flow cytometry.

Background: In the treatment of RhD-negative women, it is clinically important to adjust the RhD immunoglobulin dose to the volume of the fetal-maternal hemorrhage (FMH). The present study compared a standard flow cytometry technique for FMH quantification to a simple alternative, the gel agglutination test.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 118 RhD negative women after delivery, and were analysed for the amount of FMH by both flow cytometry and the gel agglutination test.

Effect of different LDL-apheresis methods on parameters involved in atherosclerosis.

LDL-apheresis lowers the LDL level in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia. The present study compared three apheresis methods--DSA, DALI, and plasma exchange--for effectiveness in removal of LDL and effect on various blood parameters involved in atherogenesis. The study group included 6 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia unresponsive to maximal drug therapy.