Targeting patient blood management's first pillar: A multicentric retrospective study on preoperative anemia.

Introduction: Anemia is a common issue in surgical patients and has been associated with worse clinical outcomes, such as a higher probability of transfusions and longer hospital stay. Therefore, Patient Blood Management programs are actively aiming to achieve early identification and treatment of anemia, previous to the surgery.

Methods And Materials: In this study, preoperative hemoglobin within the Blood Order Schedule (BOS) at 16 blood centers in several Brazilian regions were retrospectively evaluated.

Development and implementation of a COVID-19 convalescent plasma program in a middle-income economy.

Introduction: Convalescent Plasma therapy is one of the therapeutic strategies that has been used for patients with the Covid-19 disease. Implementing a program with national extension to supply hospitals with this blood component is a great challenge mainly in a middle-income economy.

Objectives: Our objective was to develop and implement a Covid-19 Convalescent Plasma Program which met established quality standards and was adapted to a reality of limited resources.

Association of preoperative anemia and increased risk of blood transfusion and length of hospital stay in adults undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty: An observational study in a single tertiary center.

Background And Aims: Anemia is a common feature in patients presenting for major elective surgery, and it is considered an independent risk factor associated with adverse outcomes. Although several studies suggest that preoperative anemia is associated with poor outcomes after elective orthopedic surgery, data are still scarce in middle- and low-income countries where this problem may be even greater. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of preoperative anemia in clinical outcomes in patients submitted to hip and knee arthroplasty in a single tertiary hospital.

Hepatitis A infection: a seroepidemiological study in young adults in North-East Italy.

During the period from January to May 1994, the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus infection (anti-HAV) was tested by immunoenzyme assay in the serum samples of 620 apparently healthy subjects (81% males, 19% females), from 10 to 29 years old, resident in North-East Italy (Pordenone and surrounding district). The overall prevalence of anti-HAV was 3.7%.

Decitabine (5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine; DAC) plus daunorubicin as a first line treatment in patients with acute myeloid leukemia: preliminary observations.

The authors report on the preliminary results of an ongoing phase II trial whereby the combination of the new DNA hypomethylating agent, 5-Aza-deoxycytidine (DAC), plus daunorubicin was given as first-line induction therapy to non-pretreated patients with acute myeloid leukemia (except FAB M3). DAC was given as a 4-h intravenous infusion at the dose of 90 mg/m2 daily from days 1-5, while daunorubicin was administered at the dose of 50 mg/m2 on days 1-3. A maximum of two courses were given to the patients with an interval of 4-6 weeks.