Red cell proteasome modulation by storage, redox metabolism and transfusion.

Background: Proteasomes are proteolytic complexes with prominent roles in the control of protein homeostasis and cellular viability. However, little is known about the effects of storage and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) on the activity and topology of red blood cell (RBC) proteasomes.

Materials And Methods: We investigated the concentration (by GeLC-MS proteomics analysis and immunoblotting), activity (by using peptide substrates and proteasome inhibitors), and subcellular/extracellular distribution (following cell fractionation and isolation of extracellular vesicles, respectively) of RBC proteasomes in fresh blood and RBCs from control and G6PD donors following storage in leukoreduced units.

Current Practice in FFP Preparation and Use in Greece: A National Survey.

Objective: Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusion is widely used in modern clinical settings. Practices regarding its use vary due to lack of guidelines from randomized trials. The aim of this study was to assess both the current practices regarding FFP production, use, and wastage and the implementation of quality control (QC), female donor plasma production policies, and use of pharmaceutical hemostatic agents in Greece.

The effect of red cell shape on the measurement of red cell volume. A proposed method for the comparative assessment of this effect among various haematology analysers.

Shape changes of abnormally deformed red cells in aperture impedance haematology analysers are known to affect MCV, MCHC and haematocrit estimation. However, different counters vary in the manifestation of this effect. We performed a comparative study among five analysers.