White blood cell fragments in platelet concentrates prepared by the platelet-rich plasma or buffy-coat methods.

Background And Objectives: White blood cell (WBC) fragments in platelet concentrates (PCs) may induce allo-immunization in the recipient.

Materials And Methods: As the level of WBC fragments can differ between PCs produced using different methods, we compared PCs prepared by using the buffy-coat method (BC-PCs) in plasma or platelet additive solution (Composol) and PCs prepared using the platelet-rich plasma method (PRP-PCs).

Results: Post-filtration results revealed identical levels of WBC, but significantly higher CD62p expression and a significantly lower amount of total DNA, cell-free DNA and number of WBC fragments (0.

Detection of bacteria in platelet concentrates: comparison of broad-range real-time 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction and automated culturing.

Background: Based on real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, a broad-range 16S rDNA assay was validated and its performance was compared to that of an automated culture system to determine its usefulness for rapid routine screening of platelet concentrates (PCs).

Study Design And Methods: The presence of bacteria in pooled PCs was routinely assessed in an automated culturing system (BacT/ALERT, bioMerieux). The PCR assay was performed with DNA extracted from the same samples as used for culturing.

[The predictive value of autoantibodies in disseminating lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis].

In some conditions e.g. osteoporosis, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia, certain phenomena precede manifestation of the disease and preventive measures can be taken long before the disease presents itself.

European strategies against the parasite transfusion risk.

Protozoal infections are endemic in mainly tropical low income countries, affecting millions of people. Malaria, American trypanosomiasis (Trypanosoma cruzi/Chagas disease) and protozoal tickborne diseases (e.g.

Antiviral efficacy of NS3-serine protease inhibitor BILN-2061 in patients with chronic genotype 2 and 3 hepatitis C.

BILN-2061, a specific and potent peptidomimetic inhibitor of the HCV NS3 protease, has recently been shown to markedly lower serum hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA levels in patients chronically infected with HCV genotype 1 in three 2-day proof of principle studies. The aim of the current study was to assess the antiviral efficacy of BILN-2061 in patients with genotypes 2 and 3 HCV infection. The antiviral efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and tolerability of 500 mg twice-daily BILN-2061 given as monotherapy for 2 days in 10 patients chronically infected with non-genotype 1 HCV (genotype 2: n = 3; genotype 3: n =7) and minimal liver fibrosis (Ishak score 0-2) were assessed in a placebo-controlled (placebo n = 2), double-blind pilot study.

Removal of contaminating DNA from commercial nucleic acid extraction kit reagents.

Due to contamination of DNA extraction reagents, false-positive results can occur when applying broad-range real-time PCR based on bacterial 16S rDNA. Filtration of the nucleic acid extraction kit reagents with GenElute Maxiprep binding columns was effective in removing this reagent-derived contaminating DNA while the sensitivity of the assay was maintained.

Development of white blood cell fragments, during the preparation and storage of platelet concentrates, as measured by using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Background And Objectives: White blood cell (WBC) fragments may cause human leucocyte antigen (HLA) immunization in recipients. We investigated the occurrence and production of WBC fragments in platelet concentrates (PCs) and plasma units, during storage and filtration, by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and flow cytometry.

Materials And Methods: To study the occurrence of WBC fragments, 'male' WBCs were spiked into double-filtered 'female' PCs in a concentration series of 0.

Increased levels of C-reactive protein in serum from blood donors before the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: We previously reported that approximately half of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have specific serologic abnormalities (elevated serum concentrations of IgM rheumatoid factor and/or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies) starting several years before the onset of symptoms. In this study, the presence of serologic signs of inflammation in patients with preclinical RA was investigated with serial measurements of C-reactive protein (CRP).

Methods: Seventy-nine patients (61% female; mean age at onset of symptoms 51 years) who had been blood donors before the onset of RA were identified.

Real-time amplification of HLA-DQA1 for counting residual white blood cells in filtered platelet concentrates.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay based on amplification of a conserved region of the HLA-DQA1 locus was developed and validated to assess its suitability in quantitating low levels of white blood cells (WBCs) in filtered platelet (PLT) concentrates (PCs).

Study Design And Methods: To determine the detection limit, serial dilutions of nonfiltered PCs with known quantities of WBCs were prepared. The analytical sensitivity and accuracy of the assay was tested with WBC concentrations ranging from 300 to 0.

Storage of platelets in additive solution for up to 12 days with maintenance of good in-vitro quality.

Background: Storage of PLT concentrates (PCs) may be extended beyond 5 days, provided in-vitro and in-vivo variables allow longer storage and bacterial screening is performed. The aim of this study was to examine in-vitro storage characteristics of PCs in various storage solutions: plasma only, or mixtures of plasma with PAS-II, PAS-III, PAS-IIIM, and Composol.

Study Design And Methods: PCs from five pooled buffy-coats and WBCs reduced by filtration were stored in 1.

Influence of cell-free DNA in plasma on real-time polymerase chain reaction for determination of residual leucocytes in platelet concentrates.

Background And Objectives: Real-time quantitative (RQ) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to determine the number of residual leucocytes in leucocyte-reduced platelet concentrates (LR-PCs), which should contain < 3.3 leucocytes/ micro l. In this study we investigated the extent to which cell-free DNA, known to be present in plasma, might interfere with this determination.

In vivo PLT increments after transfusions of WBC-reduced PLT concentrates stored for up to 7 days.

Background: Bacterial screening and improvement of storage conditions of leukoreduced PLT concentrates (LR-PCs) allows extension of their storage period from 5 to 7 days.

Study Design And Methods: For in vitro studies, 40 LR-PCs made from five buffy coats and plasma were studied for 8 days. For in vivo studies, routinely produced LR-PCs stored for 2 to 7 days after blood collection were administered to clinically stable thrombocytopenic patients.

Specific autoantibodies precede the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis: a study of serial measurements in blood donors.

Objective: Autoantibodies have been demonstrated in single serum samples from healthy subjects up to 10 years before they developed rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the time course for the development of antibodies before onset of clinical RA is unknown, nor is it known which antibody, or combinations of antibodies, might be most sensitive or specific for predicting future development of the disease. The present study was undertaken to investigate this.

HTLV-I/II prevalence in different geographic locations.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type I (HTLV-I) is the etiological agent of adult T-cell leukemia and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). HTLV-II is a closely related virus, and this infection is not clearly associated with clinical disease, although neurologic disorders are observed resembling HAM/TSP. Prevalence rates for HTLV-I infection in the general population are greater than 1% in the Caribbean Basin, Central Africa, and South Japan.

Comparison of various dimethylsulphoxide-containing solutions for cryopreservation of leucoreduced platelet concentrates.

Background And Objectives: Leucoreduced platelet concentrates (LR-PCs) can be stored at 20-24 degrees C for 5-7 days. When LR-PCs are cryopreserved they can be stored for several years. For cryopreservation to become applicable in blood-bank practice, an off-the-shelf cryoprotectant is needed that can be added to the LR-PC in a sterile manner.

HGV/GB virus C transmission by blood components in patients undergoing open-heart surgery.

Background: To establish the rate of HGV/GB virus C (GBV-C) transmission by blood components in open-heart surgery patients.

Study Design And Methods: From 55 patients receiving blood components, sera were collected before and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 26, and 32 weeks after heart surgery. Serum samples from patients and implicated blood donations were tested for HGV/GBV-C RNA by PCR.

[Coinfection with hepatitis C virus and HIV].

The life expectancy of patients with an HIV infection has improved dramatically since the introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). Retrospective studies have shown that since then, hospital admissions and mortality caused by a co-infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) have increased. Patients with an HIV-HCV co-infection exhibit on average a more rapid progression to liver cirrhosis and liver failure than patients with an HCV monoinfection.

Optimization of real-time PCR assay for rapid and sensitive detection of eubacterial 16S ribosomal DNA in platelet concentrates.

A real-time PCR assay was developed for rapid detection of eubacterial 16S ribosomal DNA in platelet concentrates. The sensitivity of this assay can be hampered by contaminating DNA in the PCR reagents. Digestion of the PCR reagents with Sau3AI prior to PCR amplification was effective in eliminating this contaminating DNA without affecting the sensitivity of the assay.

Chronic hepatitis C patients with a post-treatment virological relapse re-treated with an induction dose of 18 MU interferon-alpha in combination with ribavirin and amantadine: a two-arm randomized pilot study.

Thirty-seven chronic hepatitis C patients with virological relapse (VR) after previous interferon-alpha (IFN) or IFN/ribavirin (Riba) therapy, were re-treated. Patients were randomized for either IFN/Riba and amantadine (Ama) including a 2-week initial high IFN induction course (18 MU IFN daily) (group A) or the same 2-week IFN induction course combined with Riba/Ama, followed by Riba/Ama without IFN (group B). Treatment duration for both groups was 24 weeks with a 24-week follow-up thereafter.