IgE sensitization profiles to food, inhalant and insect venom in Norwegian blood donors and their impact on blood transfusions.

Allergen-specific immunoglobulin-E (As-IgE) in blood donors (BD) can be transferred to transfusion recipients via plasma-containing blood components (PCBC) and sensitize recipient's mast cells. These cells can activate upon allergen exposure and cause allergy. This study aimed to assess sensitization profiles against an array of allergens in BD to identify donors with As-IgE and explore if this IgE can lead to allergic symptoms in recipients.

DNase analysed by a novel competitive assay in patients with complications after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination and in normal unvaccinated blood donors.

Increased levels of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been detected in individuals with vaccine complications after the ChAdOx1 nCov vaccine with a correlation between the severity of vaccine side effects and the level of NETosis. DNases may disrupt NETs by degrading their content of DNA, and a balance has been reported between NETs and DNases. Because of this and since the inflammatory marker NETs may be used as a confirmatory test in diagnosing VITT, it is of interest to monitor levels of DNase in patients with increased NETs levels.

Effects of storage on quality and function of acid-treated platelets with reduced HLA Class I surface expression.

Background: Refractory patients need to be provided with HLA-matched platelets (PLTs), which require time-consuming cross-matching. Treatment of PLTs with citric acid leads to denaturation of the HLA Class I complexes without significant damage to the PLTs. HLA Class I depleted PLTs could alternatively be used to HLA-matched PLTs for transfusion.

Inflammatory markers calprotectin, NETs, syndecan-1 and neopterin in COVID-19 convalescent blood donors.

Persisting inflammation has been discovered in lungs and other parenchymatous organs of some COVID-19 convalescents. Calprotectin, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), syndecan-1 and neopterin are general key inflammatory markers, and systemically enhanced levels of them may remain after the COVID-19 infection. These inflammatory markers were therefore measured in serum samples of 129 COVID-19 convalescent and 27 healthy blood donors or employees at Oslo Blood bank, Norway.

Elevated NETs and Calprotectin Levels after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccination Correlate with the Severity of Side Effects.

ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination has been associated with the rare side effect; vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). The mechanism of thrombosis in VITT is associated with high levels of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). The present study examines whether key markers for NETosis, such as H3-NETs and calprotectin, as well as syndecan-1 for endotheliopathy, can be used as prognostic factors to predict the severity of complications associated with ChAdOx1 vaccination.

Proteomic study of apheresis platelets made HLA class I deficient for transfusion of refractory patients.

Purpose: Refractoriness can occur after repeated platelet (PLT) transfusions because of alloimmunization to HLA class I antigens on transfused PLTs and generation of anti-HLA antibodies that bind to the foreign PLTs and initiate their destruction. Such refractoriness can be overcome by provision of HLA-matched PLTs from HLA typed donors. However, since the procedure is both expensive and time-consuming, an alternative approach is to deplete PLTs of HLA class I molecules by a brief treatment with citric acid, on ice.

HLA class I depletion by citric acid, and irradiation of apheresis platelets for transfusion of refractory patients.

Background: Patients can form antibodies to foreign human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Class I antigens after exposure to allogeneic cells. These anti-HLA class I antibodies can bind transfused platelets (PLTs) and mediate their destruction, thus leading to PLT refractoriness. Patients with PLT refractoriness need HLA-matched PLTs, which require expensive HLA typing of donors, antibody analyses of patient sera and/or crossmatching.

Antitumor, Anti-Inflammatory and Antiallergic Effects of Mushroom Extract and the Related Medicinal Basidiomycetes Mushrooms, and : A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies.

Since the 1980s, medicinal effects have been documented in scientific studies with the related mushrooms Murill (AbM), (HE) and (GF) from Brazilian and Eastern traditional medicine. Special focus has been on their antitumor effects, but the mushrooms' anti-inflammatory and antiallergic properties have also been investigated. The antitumor mechanisms were either direct tumor attack, e.

NETs analysed by novel calprotectin-based assays in blood donors and patients with multiple myeloma or rheumatoid arthritis: A pilot study.

Two novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), designed to detect complexes containing DNA, leucocyte calprotectin and S100A12 proteins, were generated for improved specificity and rapid measurement of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). The assays were applied on plasma and serum samples from blood donors for establishment of reference values, and from patients with multiple myeloma (MM) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in order to examine putatively increased values in the two different inflammatory conditions. Although NETs were hardly detectable in healthy individuals, NET levels were as expected highly and statistically significantly increased in RA patients.

-Based Mushroom Extract Supplementation to Birch Allergic Blood Donors: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Since Murill (AbM) extract reduced specific IgE and ameliorated a skewed Th1/Th2 balance in a mouse allergy model, it was tested in blood donors with self-reported, IgE-positive, birch pollen allergy and/or asthma. Sixty recruited donors were randomized in a placebo-controlled, double-blinded study with pre-seasonal, 7-week, oral supplementation with the AbM-based extract Andosan. Before and after the pollen season, questionnaires were answered for allergic rhino-conjunctivitis, asthma, and medication; serum IgE was measured, and Bet v 1-induced basophil activation was determined by CD63 expression.

Cytotoxic Effect on Human Myeloma Cells and Leukemic Cells by the Murill Based Mushroom Extract, Andosan™.

Murill is an edible mushroom of the Basidiomycetes family, which has been found to contain a number of compounds with antitumor properties, such as proteoglycans and ergosterol. In the present investigation, we show that the commercial mushroom product Andosan, which contains 82.4% Murill, together with medicinal mushrooms (14.

Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Respond to Short-Term Hypoxia by Secreting Factors Beneficial for Human Islets In Vitro and Potentiate Antidiabetic Effect In Vivo.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) release factors beneficial for islets in vitro and protect against hyperglycemia in rodent models of diabetes. Oxygen tension has been shown to induce metabolic changes and alter ASCs' release of soluble factors. The effects of hypoxia on the antidiabetic properties of ASCs have not been explored.

The Agaricus blazei-Based Mushroom Extract, Andosan™, Protects against Intestinal Tumorigenesis in the A/J Min/+ Mouse.

Background: The novel A/J Min/+ mouse, which is a model for human Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), develops spontaneously multiple adenocarcinomas in the colon as well as in the small intestine. Agaricus blazei Murill (AbM) is an edible Basidiomycetes mushroom that has been used in traditional medicine against cancer and other diseases. The mushroom contains immunomodulating β-glucans and is shown to have antitumor effects in murine cancer models.

3',4'-Dimethoxyflavone and valproic acid promotes the proliferation of human hematopoietic stem cells.

Introduction: Human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have been clinically used for transplantation and gene and cellular therapy for more than 4 decades. However, this use is limited because of the challenges in the ex vivo culturing of HSCs. The major hurdle is to amplify these cells without losing their self-renewing property.

Biological response modifiers in photochemically pathogen-reduced versus untreated apheresis platelet concentrates.

Background: Lipids and other biologically active substances accumulate in platelet concentrates (PCs) during storage. Some of these substances have been suggested to modulate immune responses and to play a pathogenic role in the development of transfusion-related acute lung injury. This study compared the content and impact of some biological response modifiers in PCs treated with pathogen reduction (PR) technology and nontreated PCs.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) inhibition induces apoptosis in leukemic cells through mitochondria-dependent pathway.

The roles of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) in cell survival and apoptosis are controversial. We examined the effect of a specific GSK-3 inhibitor (SB-415286) on the regulation of leukemic cells proliferation and apoptosis. SB-415286 (40 μM) induced cell growth inhibition, β-catenin stabilization, cell cycle arrest in G(2)/M phase, cyclin B1 downregulation, and apoptosis in leukemic cell lines KG1a, K562, and CMK.

Accurate Rh phenotype determination by reticulocyte mRNA typing shortly after multiple transfusions.

Alloimmunization is a common phenomenon after transfusion, with an estimated incidence of 0.5% increasing to 20-60% in chronically transfused patients. In recently transfused patients, serological typing can be hampered by mixed field agglutination.

Evaluation of nonleukoreduced red blood cell transfusion units collected at delivery from the placenta.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of cord blood (CB) as a source of red blood cells (RBCs) for autologous transfusion.

Study Design And Methods: CB was collected in 150-mL storage containers with citrate phosphate dextrose (CPD) as anticoagulant and stored in either saline, adenine, glucose, and mannitol (SAG-M; n = 18) or phosphate, adenine, glucose, guanosine, saline, and mannitol (PAGGS-M; n = 18) for 35 days at 4 degrees C. Hematologic status and hemolysis were studied.

Evaluation of platelet activation and cytokine release during storage of platelet concentrates processed from buffy coats either manually or by the automated OrbiSac system.

Background: This study aimed to compare platelet (PLT) quality during storage of buffy coat (BC) PLT concentrates (PCs), prepared either manually or by the automated OrbiSac system (Gambro BCT).

Study Design And Methods: Following overnight storage at 20 to 22 degrees C, five BCs were pooled with 300 mL of PLT additive solution. Twenty-one PCs were produced manually (M-PCs) and 21 by the automated OrbiSac system (A-PCs).

Platelet activation and residual activation potential during storage of hyperconcentrated platelet products in two different platelet additive solutions.

Background: To improve platelet (PLT) quality, hyperconcentrated PLT concentrates (hcPCs) were compared to standard PLT concentrates (stdPCs) in two different PLT additive solutions, T-Sol and PAS-27a. PAS-27a differs from T-Sol by containing glucose, phosphate, potassium, magnesium, and bicarbonate.

Study Design And Methods: PLTs were harvested by apheresis twice from 14 donors; each unit was divided into two.

Expression and involvement of Toll-like receptors (TLR)2, TLR4, and CD14 in monocyte TNF-alpha production induced by lipopolysaccharides from Neisseria meningitidis.

Background: The present study was undertaken to examine the ability of lipopolysaccharide-containing outer membrane vesicles (OMV-LPS) and purified LPS (P-LPS) from the same meningococcal strain to induce the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLR2 and TLR4) and TNF-alpha production in leukocytes, and further to study the involvement of TLRs, and CD14 in monocyte TNF- alpha production in an ex vivo human whole blood system.

Material/methods: OMV-LPS or P-LPS were added to human whole blood and expression of TLR2/4 and production of TNF- alpha in leukocytes were measured by flow cytometry. To study involvement of TLRs and CD14 in monocyte cytokine production we used monoclonal antibodies against TLR2/4 and CD14.

Outer membrane vesicles from Neisseria meningitidis.

Flow cytometry was used to study the expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD14, and CD62L (L-selectin) and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in an ex vivo human whole-blood system stimulated with lipopolysaccharide-containing outer membrane vesicles (LPS-OMV) from N. meningitidis. Results demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in surface expression of CD11a, CD11b, CD11c and CD14 in granulocytes and monocytes (maximal at 30-120 min) upon OMV-LPS challenge, whereas CD62L expression was heavily downregulated (maximal at 30-120 min).

Platelet-platelet and platelet-leukocyte interactions induced by outer membrane vesicles from N. meningitidis.

Unlabelled: A large part of native meningococcal lipopolysaccharide (LPS), i.e., LPS integrated in the outer cell membrane, is released in the form of 'blebs' from surplus outer membrane material.