Optimization of human platelet lysate production and pathogen reduction in a public blood transfusion center.

Background: Human platelet lysate (HPL) has been proposed as a safe and efficient xeno-free alternative to fetal bovine serum (FBS) for large-scale culturing of cell-based medicinal products. However, the use of blood derivatives poses a potential risk of pathogen transmission. To mitigate this risk, different pathogen reduction treatment (PRT) practices can be applied on starting materials or on final products, but these methods might modify the final composition and the quality of the products.

[Severe spotted fever by Rickettsia rickettsii, in tourist in the Argentine Northwest].

On the fifth day after leaving the Parque Nacional El Rey, province of Salta, Argentina, where she made rural tourism, a woman of Italian origin, aged 47, developed an acute fever followed by a petechial and purpuric rash that progressed rapidly to multiorgan failure. She died on the sixth day after hospitalization. There were references to tick bites and a skin lesion similar to tache noire was found.

Safety and effectiveness of vinflunine in patients with metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelial tract after failure of one platinum-based systemic therapy in clinical practice.

Background: Patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelial tract (TCCU) who fail initial platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced disease represent a challenge in daily clinical practice. Vinflunine is approved by the European Medicine Agency (EMA) but, up to now, limited experience has been reported outside clinical trials.

Methods: We assessed the efficacy and safety of vinflunine in an unselected group of 102 consecutive patients with metastatic TCCU.

Cardiovascular risk in women attending primary care centres: baseline data of the EVA study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension, cardiovascular risk factors and target organ damage using baseline data from the EVA study.

Methods: EVA is a 5-year multicentre prospective study of women aged between 40 and 70 years attending primary care centres in a rural-urban area in the north of Spain. The recruitment period was between October 2009 and January 2010.

Isolation and characterization of the environmental bacterial and fungi contamination in a pharmaceutical unit of mesenchymal stem cell for clinical use.

Design and implementation of an environmental monitoring program is vital to assure the maintenance of acceptable quality conditions in a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit of human mesenchymal stem cells. Since sterility testing methods require 14 days and these cells are only viable for several hours, they are currently administered without the result of this test. Consequently environmental monitoring is a key element in stem cell banks for assuring low levels of potential introduction of contaminants into the cell products.

Cardiac resynchronization in a child with dilated cardiomyopathy and borderline QRS duration: speckle tracking guided lead placement.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is proved to prevent heart transplantation in some patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and mechanical dyssynchrony. We report of the benefit of CRT accomplished by atrial synchronized single-site left ventricular pacing in an 8-year-old boy with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, normal atrioventricular conduction, borderline QRS complex duration (120 ms), and marked mechanical left ventricular dyssynchrony proved by echocardiographic speckle tracking.

Chromosomal imbalances identified by comparative genomic hybridization in sporadic parathyroid adenomas.

Objective: To identify chromosomal gains and losses in sporadic parathyroid adenomas (PAs).

Methods: Fourteen sporadic PAs were studied by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH).

Results: The fourteen studied PAs showed chromosomal imbalances.