Lipaemic plasma: An objective non-invasive photometric method to classify plasma turbidity and its association with red cell haemolysis.

Background And Objectives: Plasma components are visually inspected, and non-transparent, turbid units are rejected for transfusion and fractionation. Additionally, in case a plasma component is deemed lipaemic, there is conflicting data on the accompanying red cell concentrate (RCC) in vitro quality. As visual inspection of plasma turbidity is a subjective method, we aimed to devise an objective measurement using a quick, non-invasive, table-top spectrophotometry-based method.

The effect of near-infrared low-level light on the in vitro quality of platelets during storage.

Background And Objectives: Near-infrared (NIR) light has been successfully applied to improve the quality of mouse platelets during storage. Because it is suspected that the mitochondria contain the primary photon acceptor, we hypothesized that human platelets for transfusion may be affected similarly and could benefit from NIR light treatment.

Materials And Methods: The optimal light dose was determined using portions of platelet concentrates (PCs) in PAS-E.

Why might cord blood be a better source of platelets for transfusion to neonates?

Thrombocytopenia (defined as a platelet count <150×10/L) is a common condition in preterm neonates and may occur in 18-35% of all infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Neonatal platelet functionality in terms of reactivity is often described as reduced compared to adults, even in healthy, term neonates. However, this platelet "hyporeactivity" does not correspond to a global functional impairment of the normal delicately balanced neonatal hemostatic system.

Red blood cells as oxygen carrier during normothermic machine perfusion of kidney grafts: Friend or foe?

Renal ex vivo normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) is under development as an assessment tool for high-risk kidney grafts and as a means of achieving more physiologically accurate organ preservation. On-going hemolysis has been reported during NMP, as this technique relies on red blood cells for oxygen delivery. In this study, we confirm the occurrence of progressive hemolysis during 6-hour kidney NMP.

Towards standardized human platelet lysate production in Europe: An initiative of the European Blood Alliance.

Human platelet lysate (hPL) is a supplement for cell culture media that can be derived from platelet concentrates. As not-for-profit blood establishments, we endorse the evolution of maximally exploiting the potential of donated blood and its derived components, including platelets. The decision to use platelet concentrates to supply hPL as a cell culture supplement should align with the principles and values that blood establishments hold towards the use of donated blood components in transfusion.

Efficacy and safety of platelet additive solution-E stored platelet concentrates.

Introduction: In 2018, platelet (PLT) additive solution-E (PAS-E) was introduced. The implementation of PAS-E was expected to diminish the number of allergic reactions in recipients following a PLT transfusion. Here, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of transfusions with PLTs stored in PAS-E.

Allogeneic Serum Eye Drops: A Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Clinical Effectiveness of Two Drop Sizes.

Introduction: Allogeneic serum from blood donors is starting to be used to treat patients with dry eye disease (DED). However, the optimal dose is not known. We therefore aimed to evaluate the clinical efficaciousness and user-friendliness of micro-sized versus conventional-sized allogeneic serum eye drops (SEDs).

[Not Available].

Is whole blood transfusion also an option? Whole blood is gaining popularity in the treatment of traumatic massive haemorrhage. The prospective study of Hazelton et al. in 2022 shows that mortality is reduced in patients treated with whole blood and components versus the use of components only.

[Is whole blood transfusion also an option?].

Whole blood is gaining popularity in the treatment of traumatic massive haemorrhage. The prospective study of Hazelton et al. in 2022 shows that mortality is reduced in patients treated with whole blood and components versus the use of components only.

Current transfusion practice and need for new blood products to ensure blood supply for patients with major hemorrhage in Europe.

Background: New blood products are considered for treatment of patients with major hemorrhage. The aim of this report is to describe the current transfusion practices in Europe for patients with major hemorrhage and explore the need for new or modified blood products to ensure prehospital and in-hospital blood supply.

Study Design And Method: The European Blood Alliance (EBA) Working Group on Innovation and New Blood Products' subgroup on major hemorrhage performed a survey among the EBA member states.

Recommendations for in vitro evaluation of blood components collected, prepared and stored in non-DEHP medical devices.

Background And Objectives: DEHP, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, is the most common member of the class of ortho-phthalates, which are used as plasticizers. The Medical Device Regulation has restricted the use of phthalates in medical devices. Also DEHP has been added to the Annex XIV of REACH, "Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals" due to its endocrine disrupting properties to the environment.

Donor variation in stored platelets: Higher metabolic rates of platelets are associated with mean platelet volume, activation and donor health.

Background: Platelets (PLTs) differ in glycolytic activity, resulting in rapid acidification of 'poor' storing PLT concentrates (PCs) in plasma, or depletion of glucose when stored in PLT additive solution (PAS). We aimed to understand why PLT glycolysis rates vary between donors and how this affects storage performance.

Study Design And Methods: Buffy coats from donors <45, 45-70 and >70 years were selected and single-donor PCs in plasma or PAS-E were prepared.

Clinical and in vitro evaluation of red blood cells collected and stored in a non-DEHP plasticized bag system.

Background And Objectives: Di-ethyl-hexyl-phthalate (DEHP) is currently the main plasticizer used for whole blood collection systems. However, in Europe, after May 2025, DEHP may no longer be used above 0.1% (w/w) in medical devices.

The history of buffy coat platelet concentrates: The Dutch story.

The buffy coat method as a source for platelet concentrates was developed in the 1970s and is still used in many blood centres around the world. Development of the method sparked various technological advances in blood collection, processing and storage. At the time, the need for platelet concentrates sharply increased because of better treatment regimens for (onco)haematological diseases, which forced blood centres to standardize and automate their production processes as much as the technology would allow.

Malaria-associated adhesion molecule activation facilitates the destruction of uninfected red blood cells.

Severe malarial anemia (SMA) is the main cause of malaria-associated infant mortality in malaria endemic countries. One major factor that contributes to SMA is the accumulation of uninfected red blood cells (uRBCs) in the spleen. We report the activation of adhesion molecules Lutheran/basal cell adhesion molecule (Lu/BCAM) and CD44 on uRBCs from Plasmodium falciparum in vitro cultures and patients with malaria that mediates adherence to the splenic extracellular matrix (ECM) components laminin-α5 and hyaluronic acid (HA), respectively.

The Gardos effect drives erythrocyte senescence and leads to Lu/BCAM and CD44 adhesion molecule activation.

Senescence of erythrocytes is characterized by a series of changes that precede their removal from the circulation, including loss of red cell hydration, membrane shedding, loss of deformability, phosphatidyl serine exposure, reduced membrane sialic acid content, and adhesion molecule activation. Little is known about the mechanisms that initiate these changes nor is it known whether they are interrelated. In this study, we show that Ca2+-dependent K+ efflux (the Gardos effect) drives erythrocyte senescence.

Quality of Platelets in Stored Whole Blood.

Transfusion of whole blood rather than blood components is gaining popularity. It is easy to use, with one transfusion product to administer rather than 3, and is held at one storage temperature. It only contains anticoagulant-preservative solution, while components contain various storage solutions, which in theory may induce dilution coagulopathy.

Oxidative stress activates red cell adhesion to laminin in sickle cell disease.

Vaso-occlusive crises are the hallmark of sickle cell disease (SCD). They are believed to occur in two steps, starting with adhesion of deformable low-dense red blood cells (RBCs), or other blood cells such as neutrophils, to the wall of post-capillary venules, followed by trapping of the denser RBCs or leukocytes in the areas of adhesion because of reduced effective lumen-diameter. In SCD, RBCs are heterogeneous in terms of density, shape, deformability and surface proteins, which accounts for the differences observed in their adhesion and resistance to shear stress.

A Homozygous Mutation on the HBA1 Gene Coding for Hb Charlieu (HBA1: c.320T>C) Together with β-Thalassemia Trait Results in Severe Hemolytic Anemia.

A 4-year-old boy, a β-thalassemia (β-thal) carrier, with an unexplained severe chronic microcytic anemia was referred to us. Sequencing of the α-globin genes revealed a Hb Charlieu [α106(G13)Leu→Pro, : c.320T>C, p.

Ligand binding properties of two Brugia malayi fatty acid and retinol (FAR) binding proteins and their vaccine efficacies against challenge infection in gerbils.

Parasitic nematodes produce an unusual class of fatty acid and retinol (FAR)-binding proteins that may scavenge host fatty acids and retinoids. Two FARs from Brugia malayi (Bm-FAR-1 and Bm-FAR-2) were expressed as recombinant proteins, and their ligand binding, structural characteristics, and immunogenicities examined. Circular dichroism showed that rBm-FAR-1 and rBm-FAR-2 are similarly rich in α-helix structure.

Human and murine splenic neutrophils are potent phagocytes of IgG-opsonized red blood cells.

Red blood cell (RBC) clearance is known to occur primarily in the spleen, and is presumed to be executed by red pulp macrophages. Erythrophagocytosis in the spleen takes place as part of the homeostatic turnover of RBCs to remove old RBCs. It can be strongly promoted by immunoglobulin G (IgG) opsonization of RBCs, a condition that can occur as a consequence of autoantibody or alloantibody formation.

Onchocerca volvulus: The Road from Basic Biology to a Vaccine.

Human onchocerciasis - commonly known as river blindness - is one of the most devastating yet neglected tropical diseases, leaving many millions in sub-Saharan Africa blind and/or with chronic disabilities. Attempts to eliminate onchocerciasis, primarily through the mass drug administration of ivermectin, remains challenging and has been heightened by the recent news that drug-resistant parasites are developing in some populations after years of drug treatment. Needed, and needed now, in the fight to eliminate onchocerciasis are new tools, such as preventive and therapeutic vaccines.