Relationship between the ABO blood group and COVID-19 susceptibility, severity and mortality in two cohorts of patients.

Background: Several articles reported the existence of an association between ABO blood groups and COVID-19 susceptibility. Group A and group O individuals showed a higher and lower risk, respectively, of becoming infected. No association was observed between ABO groups and mortality.

T cell responses and viral variability in blood donation candidates with occult hepatitis B infection.

Background & Aims: Occult HBV infection (OBI) is defined by the presence of HBV DNA in the liver and/or serum and negative HBsAg testing. Since the implementation of highly sensitive HBV DNA screening, OBI is also detected in healthy blood donors. The aims of this study were to investigate HBV-specific immune responses and genetic variability in donors with OBI, established by HBV DNA in serum.

Comparison of blood component preparation methods from whole blood bags based on buffy coat extraction.

We compared the data of our quality control laboratory of the blood components according to the blood component preparation method that we used. We prepared blood components from top and top whole blood (WB) bags and manual pooling of buffy coats (BCs) (method I) or from top and bottom WB bags and automated pooling of BCs with OrbiSac (method II). Pooled platelet concentrates (PC) obtained with method II had higher platelet content when compared with pooled PCs obtained with method I (3.

Study of drying systems for the utilization of biodegradable municipal solid wastes as animal feed.

The effectiveness of different drying systems used for the dehydration of certain fractions of biodegradable municipal solid wastes with a high moisture content (fruit and vegetable remains) was analyzed. Some tests using small amounts of the material were carried out in natural and forced convection ovens. For larger quantities of wastes, a discontinuous cabinet dryer and a continuous rotary dryer were used.

Use of polyethylene glycol for performing autologous adsorptions.

Background: Our reference adsorption procedure is to autoadsorb serum with ZZAP-pretreated patients' red cells (RBCs), although it is time-consuming. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG) for performing autologous adsorption procedures without pretreatment of patients' RBCs.

Study Design And Methods: Equal volumes of patient's plasma, patient's RBCs, and PEG were mixed.

Microbiological characterization of food residues for animal feeding.

A description is offered of microbiological characterization of the biodegradable fractions present in food wastes so that those fractions can be transformed in such a way that they will fulfil the specifications involved in their use as raw materials in other production areas. In this way the wastes can be converted into sub-products, hence minimizing the amount of them eventually sent to rubbish dumps. Of all the types of residues analyzed, only those obtained by separate collection from fishmongers' and greengrocers' sections of large supermarkets and small shops were valid for the objectives of the project and were subjected to a heat treatment to test whether or not this treatment was capable of reducing their microbiological content to the point of converting them into acceptable raw materials for animal feed.

Influence of glucose concentration on the effects of aspirin, ticlopidine and clopidogrel on platelet function and platelet-subendothelium interaction.

Clinical studies have shown that the ability of aspirin to prevent cerebrovascular accidents is weaker in patients with diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine whether high concentrations of glucose modified the effect of aspirin, ticlopidine and clopigodrel on platelet function and platelet-subendothelium interactions. This in vitro study tested three different concentrations of glucose.

In vitro effects of clopidogrel on the platelet-subendothelium interaction, platelet thromboxane and endothelial prostacyclin production, and nitric oxide synthesis.

Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet drug that belongs to the group of thienopyridines. Because of its main mechanism of action most studies of clopidogrel have centered on the platelet ADP pathway. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of clopidogrel, ticlopidine, and aspirin, on platelet activation by collagen (the main inducer of platelet activation in vivo), prostanoid, and NO production, and the effects on blood perfusion experiments.

Quantification of foetomaternal haemorrhage. An analysis of two cytometric techniques and a semiquantitative gel agglutination test.

Traditional tests to screen for foetomaternal haemorrhage are time-consuming and difficult to perform. The Kleihauer test is widely used but difficult to standardize. We evaluated three techniques for quantifying foetomaternal haemorrhage: a semiquantitative gel agglutination test and two flow cytometric techniques.

Evaluation of the fibrinolytic system in full-term neonates.

Plasminogen activity and antigen, euglobulin fibrinolytic activity, tissue-type plasminogen activator activity and antigen urokinase-type plasminogen activator antigen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity and antigen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 antigen, tissue-type plasminogen activator/plasminogen activator inhibitor complexes, alpha 2-antiplasmin, histidine-rich glycoprotein, and fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products were measured in blood samples taken from the umbilical vein of 100 healthy full-term newborns. Results were compared with a control group of 30 healthy adults. The overall fibrinolytic activity assessed on fibrin plates was significantly increased (P < 0.

[Assessment of the hemostatic system in healthy preterm and fullterm newborns].

Assessment of the hemostatic system in premature and newborn infants. When the newborn is compared to older children and adults, several differences in the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems have been described; near-adult values are achieved for most components by 6 months of life. The newborn has an impaired platelet aggregation, reduced synthesis of clotting factors and inhibitors and molecular abnormalities in some proteins of blood coagulation.

Coexistence of essential thrombocythemia and multiple myeloma.

We describe a patient with essential thrombocythemia (ET) who developed multiple myeloma (MM) 5 years after the initial diagnosis. A review of the literature revealed no additional reports of the association of these two diseases. Development of MM was not related to treatment of essential thrombocythemia.