The expanding role of blood and tissue establishments in the development of advanced therapy medicinal products.

Background Aims: The relationship between blood establishments and advanced cellular therapies is evident in several European countries, with some involved in research and development and/or in manufacturing. The aim of the present study was to understand the advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP) infrastructural, regulatory and logistic requirements needed for the Irish Blood Transfusion Service to support advanced therapeutics in Ireland.

Methods: An online survey consisting of 13 questions was distributed in a targeted manner to the identified ATMP stakeholders in Ireland, namely those working in industry, health care, regulatory agencies or education.

Convalescent plasma from Norwegian blood donors to treat COVID-19.

Background: At the start of the pandemic, the Norwegian Directorate of Health and Norwegian blood banks initiated the production of COVID-19 convalescent plasma within the framework of clinical studies. In this article we describe the blood donors who participated.

Material And Method: Blood donors who had recovered from COVID-19 were recruited to donate single donor plasma for the purpose of patient treatment.

COVID-19 patients treated with convalescent plasma.

Background: In Norway, treatment with COVID-19 convalescent plasma has been given through the NORPLASMA project. The treatment was initially offered to critically ill patients after an individual assessment, but from December 2020, the indication was limited to critically ill, immunocompromised patients. In this article we describe clinical characteristics, comorbidity and mortality in patients who received convalescent plasma in these two periods.

The impact of donor biological variation on the quality and function of cold-stored platelets.

Background And Objectives: Room temperature-stored platelets (RTPs) maximize platelet viability but limit shelf life. The aims of this study were to investigate the impact of donor variability on cold-stored platelets (CSPs) and RTP, to determine whether RTP quality markers are appropriate for CSP.

Materials And Methods: Double platelet donations (n = 10) were collected from consented regular male donors stored in 100% plasma.

Safety and feasibility of platelet transfusion through long catheters in the neonatal intensive care unit: an in vitro study.

Objective: To assess the safety and feasibility of platelet transfusion through small-bore long lines used in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), including double-lumen umbilical venous catheters (UVCs) and 24 G and 28 G peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs).

Design: Prospective in vitro controlled study.

Setting: Blood transfusion service laboratory.

Platelets for advanced drug delivery in cancer.

Introduction: Cancer-related drug expenses are rising with the increasing cancer incidence and cost may represent a severe challenge for drug access for patients with cancer. Consequently, strategies for increasing therapeutic efficacy of already available drugs may be essential for the future health-care system.

Areas Covered: In this review, we have investigated the potential for the use of platelets as drug-delivery systems.

The changing profile of SARS-CoV-2 serology in Irish blood donors.

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the progression of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Ireland over the first three waves of infection.

Method: A selection of blood donor serum samples collected between February 2020 and December 2021 were analysed by various commercially available serological assays for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 ( = 15,066).

Results: An increase in seropositivity was observed between wave 1 (February to September 2020) and wave 2 (November and December 2020) of 2.

Training of medical students in the use of emergency whole blood collection and transfusion in the framework of a civilian walking blood.

Introduction: In this report, we describe a training program in emergency whole blood collection and transfusion for medical students at the University of Bergen. The overall aim of the program is to improve the availability of early balanced blood transfusion for the treatment of patients with life-threatening bleeding in rural health care services.

Study Design And Methods: The voluntary training program provides the knowledge needed to practice emergency whole blood transfusions and understand the system for emergency whole blood collection in the framework of a civilian walking blood bank (WBB).

Carbamylation of Integrin : The Mechanistic Link to Platelet Dysfunction in ESKD.

Background: Bleeding diatheses, common among patients with ESKD, can lead to serious complications, particularly during invasive procedures. Chronic urea overload significantly increases cyanate concentrations in patients with ESKD, leading to carbamylation, an irreversible modification of proteins and peptides.

Methods: To investigate carbamylation as a potential mechanistic link between uremia and platelet dysfunction in ESKD, we used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) to quantify total homocitrulline, and biotin-conjugated phenylglyoxal labeling and Western blot to detect carbamylated integrin (a receptor required for platelet aggregation).

COVID-19 convalescent plasma: current status, lessons from the past and future perspectives.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, blood transfusion services worldwide started collection of convalescent plasma as early as possible, as exemplified by the response in Norway. There were challenges related to donor selection, donor safety, testing for relevant antibodies and indications for and dosing of the convalescent plasma. As more knowledge became available, the product quality was more standardised.

In vitro quality and hemostatic function of cold-stored CPDA-1 whole blood after repeated transient exposure to 28°C storage temperature.

Background: Blood products are frequently exposed to room temperature or higher for longer periods than permitted by policy. We aimed to investigate if this resulted in a measurable effect on common quality parameters and viscoelastic hemostatic function of cold stored CPDA-1 whole blood.

Study Design And Methods: 450 ml of whole blood from 16 O Rh(D) positive donors was collected in 63 ml of CPDA-1 and stored cold.

Prehospital Whole Blood Transfusion Programs in Norway.

Background: Prehospital management of severe hemorrhage has evolved significantly in Norwegian medical emergency services in the last 10 years. Treatment algorithms for severe bleeding were previously focused on restoration of the blood volume by administration of crystalloids and colloids, but now the national trauma system guidelines recommend early balanced transfusion therapy according to remote damage control resuscitation principles.

Materials And Methods: This survey describes the implementation, utilization, and experience of the use of low titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) and blood components in air ambulance services in Norway.

[A young woman with dyspnoea and proteinuria].

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus and anti-phospholipid syndrome may cause severe haematological complications despite few other symptoms of disease.

Case Presentation: A previously healthy woman in her late twenties was admitted to hospital with chest pain and dyspnoea. CT of the thorax revealed bilateral pulmonary embolism and urine sampling showed haematuria and proteinuria.

Freeze-dried platelets are a promising alternative in bleeding thrombocytopenic patients with hematological malignancies.

Thrombosomes are trehalose-stabilized, freeze-dried group O platelets with a 3-year shelf life. They can be stockpiled, rapidly reconstituted, and infused regardless of the recipient's blood type. Thrombosomes thus represent a potential alternative platelet transfusion strategy.

Platelet Microparticles Decrease Daunorubicin-Induced DNA Damage and Modulate Intrinsic Apoptosis in THP-1 Cells.

Platelets can modulate cancer through budding of platelet microparticles (PMPs) that can transfer a plethora of bioactive molecules to cancer cells upon internalization. In acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) this can induce chemoresistance, partially through a decrease in cell activity. Here we investigated if the internalization of PMPs protected the monocytic AML cell line, THP-1, from apoptosis by decreasing the initial cellular damage inflicted by treatment with daunorubicin, or via direct modulation of the apoptotic response.

In vitro characteristics and in vivo platelet quality of whole blood treated with riboflavin and UVA/UVB light and stored for 24 hours at room temperature.

Background: There is a global increase in whole blood usage and at the same time, emerging pathogens give cause for pathogen reduction technology (PRT). The Mirasol PRT has shown promising results for plasma and platelet concentrate products. Treatment of whole blood with subsequent platelet survival and recovery analysis would be of global value.

Effect of leukoreduction and temperature on risk of bacterial growth in CPDA-1 whole blood: A study of Escherichia coli.

Background: Collection of non-leukoreduced citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA-1) whole blood is performed in walking blood banks. Blood collected under field conditions may have increased risk of bacterial contamination. This study was conducted to examine the effects of WBC reduction and storage temperature on growth of Escherichia coli (ATCC® 25922™) in CPDA-1 whole blood.

A whole blood based resuscitation strategy in civilian medical services: Experience from a Norwegian hospital in the period 2017-2020.

Background: Civilian and military guidelines recommend early balanced transfusion to patients with life-threatening bleeding. Low titer group O whole blood was introduced as the primary blood product for resuscitation of massive hemorrhage at Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway, in December 2017. In this report, we describe the whole blood program and present results from the first years of routine use.