A Transfusion Regimen With Same-donor Packed Red Blood Cells Reduces Exposure to Multiple Blood Donors in Craniosynostosis Surgery.

In major craniosynostosis surgery with moderate to severe blood loss, patients may be exposed to multiple donors. We have previously reported a method for reducing donor exposure using mixed pediatric units including plasma. To further reduce donor exposure, we used plasma-free divided pediatric units.

A novel nonsense variant in RHAG underlies a Nordic Rh phenotype.

Background And Objectives: The extremely rare Rh phenotype is characterized by the absence of all Rh antigens on erythrocytes. It is divided into the regulator and amorph types based on the underlying genetic background. The more common regulator type depends on critical variants silencing RHAG, which encodes RhAG glycoprotein, necessary for RhD/RhCE expression.

PET Imaging of Neutrophil Elastase with C-GW457427 in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Pigs.

Today, there is a lack of clinically available imaging techniques to detect and quantify specific immune cell populations. Neutrophils are one of the first immune cells at the site of inflammation, and they secrete the serine protease neutrophil elastase (NE), which is crucial in the fight against pathogens. However, the prolonged lifespan of neutrophils increases the risk that patients will develop severe complications, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

[Awareness of risk for transfusion reactions important for appropriate treatment].

Blood transfusions are still associated with risk for adverse events despite a long tradition for improvement of safety. The incidence of reactions is reported to be about 78/100 000 transfusions with 25 % of these being serious. Some types of reactions are rare and may thus be unrecognised.

Patterns of blood use in Sweden from 2008 to 2017: A nationwide cohort study.

Background: Transfusion patterns in Sweden have not been characterized on a nationwide level.

Study Design And Methods: We conducted a nationwide descriptive cohort study in Sweden from 2008 to 2017. Data on blood donors, donations, component manufacture, transfusions, and transfused patients were extracted from Swedish portion of the Scandinavian Donations and Transfusions (SCANDAT3-S) database.

Inadequate prophylactic effect of low-molecular weight heparin in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate potential markers of coagulopathy and the effects of thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) on thromboelastography (TEG) and anti-factor Xa in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Material And Methods: We conducted a prospective study in 31 consecutive adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients. TEG with and without heparinase and anti-factor Xa analysis were performed.

[Patient was wrongly diagnosed and repeatedly treated for immune thrombocytopenia for 50 years].

We report on a patient with inherited macrothrombocytopenia, MYH9 related disease (MYH9-RD). The patient was wrongly diagnosed and repeatedly treated for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) for nearly 50 years. Cases of misdiagnosed MYH9-RD and other hereditary thrombocytopenias have been described previously.

The 99th percentile and imprecision of point-of-care cardiac troponin I in comparison to central laboratory tests in a large reference population.

Objectives: Determination of cardiac troponin (cTn) is central in the emergency department (ED) for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. In view of adverse effects of long waiting time on patient outcome, implementation of point-of-care-testing (POCT) is suggested if the turn-around-time is longer than 60min. The present study aimed to determine the 99th percentile and imprecision of two POCT in a healthy population measuring cTnI and cTnT and compare these analytical characteristics against three central laboratory test (CLT) for cTnI.

Motivational factors for blood donation in first-time donors and repeat donors: a cross-sectional study in West Pomerania.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyse motivational factors for blood donation in different donor groups.

Background: As the demographic change will result in a decrease of the population in age groups of blood donors, the risk of blood product shortage increases.

Methods: During a 12-month period, every sixth blood donor presenting at the blood donation centre of the University Hospital was asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire assessing motivational factors for blood donation.

An evaluation of the mixed pediatric unit for blood loss replacement in pediatric craniofacial surgery.

Background: Surgical correction for craniosynostosis is often associated with significant perioperative hemorrhage. We implemented a transfusion strategy with a strict protocol including transfusion triggers, frequent assessment of coagulation tests, and the use of a novel transfusion unit, the mixed pediatric unit.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate if the applied transfusion strategy could reduce total blood loss and number of blood donors.

Standardizing the freeze-thaw preparation of growth factors from platelet lysate.

Background: Over the past decades, the focus on the regenerative properties of platelets (PLTs) has intensified and many PLT-derived growth factors are readily used in medical settings. A general lack of standardization in the preparation of these growth factors remains, however, and this study therefore examines the dynamics of growth factors throughout the freeze-thaw procedure.

Study Design And Methods: Plateletpheresis (PA) and PLT-poor plasma (PPP) samples were collected from 10 healthy donors.

Analysis of thromboelastography, PT, APTT and fibrinogen in intraosseous and venous samples-an experimental study.

Background: Laboratory analysis of coagulation is often important in emergencies. If vascular access is challenging, intraosseous catheterization may be necessary for treatment. We studied the analysis of coagulation parameters in intraosseous aspirate during stable conditions and after major haemorrhage in a porcine model.

Impact of physical activity of individuals and creatine kinase on 99th percentiles of troponin I assays.

Determination of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is one central means for diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Assay performance of three troponin I assays was compared previously in a large reference population detecting sex-differences in the 99th percentile only for the Dimension Vista cTnI assay. The present study examined the underlying effects.

Composition of growth factors and cytokines in lysates obtained from fresh versus stored pathogen-inactivated platelet units.

Background: Platelet lysate is a readily available source of growth factors, and other mediators, which has been used in a variety of clinical applications. However, the product remains poorly standardized and the present investigation evaluates the composition of platelet lysate obtained from either fresh or stored pathogen-inactivated platelet units.

Materials And Methods: Platelet pooled units (n = 10) were obtained from healthy blood donors and tested according to standard procedures.

Predonation finger lancet punctures: a potential risk factor for interdonor pathogen transmission in the blood donor clinic.

Background And Objectives: Point-of-care testing using capillary blood from a finger prick is widely used for predonation haemoglobin testing of blood donors. It is common practice to cover the finger prick with a cotton swab and to instruct the donor to press for few minutes. The finger prick can cause blood contamination of surfaces in contact with the lanced finger, especially door handles, risking infectious disease transmission, particularly if another person touching the contaminated door handle also has a punctured fingertip.

Alternative diagnosis to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in two critically ill patients despite a positive PF4/heparin-antibody test.

Thrombocytopenia can cause diagnostic challenges in patients who have received heparin. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is often considered in the differential diagnosis, and a positive screening can be mistaken as confirmation of the disorder. We present two patients who both received low-molecular-weight heparin for several days.

Comparison of the 99th percentiles of three troponin I assays in a large reference population.

Background: The IFCC Task Force on Clinical Applications of Cardiac Biomarkers suggests comparing several contemporary sensitive troponin assays in the same, sufficiently large reference population.

Methods: Three contemporary sensitive assays were used to measure troponin I concentration in samples from a uniquely large healthy population (2404 individuals) and in a sub-group with tighter inclusion criteria of 908 individuals. The 99th percentiles were calculated using quantile regression which takes the entire population into account.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: towards standardization of platelet factor 4/heparin antigen tests.

Background: Laboratory confirmation of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is based on detection of heparin-dependent platelet-activating antibodies. Platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin enzyme-immunoassays (EIA) are a widely available surrogate for platelet-activating antibodies.

Objective: Defining the optical density (OD) reactivity profiles of a PF4/heparin EIA in reference subject and patient populations and the correlation of the EIA results (expressed in OD units) with the prevalence of platelet-activating antibodies.