Transfusion of D positive red cells to selected D-negative patients.

Background: To transfuse packed red blood cells isogroup ABO D is a usual transfusion practice. However, when there is not enough D negative blood available, we can transfuse positive red blood cells to negative patients. Immunocompetent D negative individuals may develop serologically detectable anti-D antibodies within 3 months after exposure to D positive red blood cells.

Identification of six new RHCE variant alleles in individuals of diverse racial origin.

Background: The introduction of molecular methods into routine blood typing is prompting the identification of new blood group alleles. Discrepancies between the results of genotyping and serology or chance events uncovered during genotyping prompted additional investigations, which revealed six new RHCE variant alleles.

Study Design And Methods: Samples from eight blood donors, two patients (one prenatal), and a patient's relative, all of diverse racial origin, were analyzed by standard serology methods, targeted genotyping arrays, DNA sequencing, and allele-specific polymerase chain reaction.

Screening for occult malignancy with FDG-PET/CT in patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism.

Extensive screening strategies to detect occult cancer in patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) are complex and no benefit in terms of survival has been reported. FDG-PET/CT (2-[F-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography), a noninvasive technique for the diagnosis and staging of malignancies, could be useful in this setting. Consecutive patients ≥ 50 years with a first unprovoked VTE episode were prospectively included.

[Foetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. A review and case report].

Foetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia is the most common cause of severe thrombocytopenia in the newborn. It is an acute disorder which implies that foetal platelets are destroyed during the pregnancy due to a maternal alloimmune IgG antibody. More than 80% of Caucasians are HPA-1a specific.

[Perioperative blood management in primary total knee arthroplasty].

Preoperative autologous blood collection and the reinfusion of postoperative blood salvaged from wound drainage can help to decrease the use of homologous blood transfusion in total knee arthroplasty. We have evaluated 100 primary total knee arthroplasties carried out at the García Orcoyen Hospital between 2001-2003. Eighty-eight point seven percent (88.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibition reduces CXCL-8 levels but fails to prevent fibrin generation and does not improve outcome in a rabbit model of endotoxic shock.

The effects of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were examined in a rabbit model of endotoxic shock. Intravenous administration of lipopolysaccharide (100 microg/kg/hr) for 6 hours (n = 11) increased TNF-alpha levels. Fibrinogen was partially consumed, and fibrin deposits were seen in kidney and lungs at 24 hours.

Interleukin (IL)-8 and growth related oncogene-alpha in severe endotoxemia and the effects of a tumor necrosis factor-alpha/IL-1beta inhibitor on these chemokines.

FR167653 inhibits the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta, powerful inducers of CXC chemokines IL-8 and growth related oncogene (GRO)-alpha. The production of IL-8 and GRO-alpha was investigated and the effects of FR167653 were examined in a rabbit model of endotoxin shock. Male New Zealand rabbits were given endotoxin at a dose sufficient to induce DIC.

The endotoxin-induced plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 increase in rabbits is not tumor necrosis factor-alpha dependent and can occur in the absence of interleukin-1beta.

The plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)-dependent fibrinolytic inhibition occurring in endotoxemia contributes to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Previous findings suggest that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) are responsible for the increase in the level of PAI-1. These observations usually arose from mild endotoxemia models.

Long-term survival in primary plasma cell leukemia after therapy with VAD, autologous blood stem cell transplantation and interferon-alpha.

Primary plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare form of plasma cell neoplasm with a poor prognosis. Conventional melphalan-based treatments have been most disappointing. We report the case of a 62-year-old man with a primary form of PCL treated with VAD combination achieving an objective response, and who received high-dose melphalan and autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation followed by interferon-alpha.