The effects of drone transportation on blood component quality: A prospective randomised controlled laboratory study.

The use of uncrewed aerial vehicles (drones) has increased over the last decade. However, their application in healthcare has not been fully examined, in part, due to regulations preventing flight beyond the visual line of sight. This prospective randomised controlled laboratory study aimed to determine whether the in vitro quality of packed red blood cell components is maintained when transported by drone, beyond visual line of sight.

Universal irradiation of platelets: Does irradiation affect the quality, effectiveness, and safety of platelets for transfusion?

We aimed to identify any detrimental effects on platelet quality and clinical effectiveness, of irradiated platelets compared to non-irradiated platelets for transfusion. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The protocol was prospectively registered on PROSPERO [CRD42023441930].

Reintubation Rate and Mortality After Emergent Airway Management Outside the Operating Room.

Background: Little is known about reintubations outside of the operating room. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reintubation rate and mortality after emergent airway management outside operating room (OR), including intensive care unit (ICU) and nonICU settings.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study.

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.

A comparison of platelet function in cold-stored whole blood and platelet concentrates.

Background: There is renewed interest in the use of whole blood (WB) for the resuscitation of trauma patients. Platelet function in stored WB compared to platelet concentrates is not well established and was assessed in vitro in this study.

Methods: Leucocyte-depleted cold-stored WB (CS-WB) was prepared using a Terumo WB-SP Imuflex kit and held at 2-6°C alongside: (A) UK standard pooled platelets stored at 20-24°C (RT-PLTS), (B) pooled platelets stored at 2-6°C (CS-PLTS), and (C) platelet-rich plasma produced using the Terumo kit (CS-PRP), for 21 days.

A comparison of the effect of X and gamma irradiation on red cell storage quality.

Background And Objectives: Irradiation of red cell components is indicated for recipients at risk of transfusion-associated graft vs. host disease. Current technologies available comprise of a gamma (γ) or an x source of radiation.

Aquaglyceroporin-3's Expression and Cellular Localization Is Differentially Modulated by Hypoxia in Prostate Cancer Cell Lines.

Aquaporins are required by cells to enable fast adaptation to volume and osmotic changes, as well as microenvironmental metabolic stimuli. Aquaglyceroporins play a crucial role in supplying cancer cells with glycerol for metabolic needs. Here, we show that AQP3 is differentially expressed in cells of a prostate cancer panel.

High laboratory mouse pre-weaning mortality associated with litter overlap, advanced dam age, small and large litters.

High and variable pre-weaning mortality is a persistent problem in laboratory mouse breeding. Assuming a modest 15% mortality rate across mouse strains, means that approximately 1 million more pups are produced yearly in the EU to compensate for those which die. This paper presents the first large study under practical husbandry conditions to determine the risk factors associated with mouse pre-weaning mortality.

Correction: Development and characterisation of acoustofluidic devices using detachable electrodes made from PCB.

Correction for 'Development and characterisation of acoustofluidic devices using detachable electrodes made from PCB' by Roman Mikhaylov et al., Lab Chip, 2020, 20, 1807-1814, DOI: 10.1039/C9LC01192G.

Development and characterisation of acoustofluidic devices using detachable electrodes made from PCB.

Acoustofluidics has been increasingly applied in biology, medicine and chemistry due to its versatility in manipulating fluids, cells and nano-/micro-particles. In this paper, we develop a novel and simple technology to fabricate a surface acoustic wave (SAW)-based acoustofluidic device by clamping electrodes made using a printed circuit board (PCB) with a piezoelectric substrate. The PCB-based SAW (PCB-SAW) device is systematically characterised and benchmarked with a SAW device made using the conventional photolithography process with the same specifications.

Emergent airway management outside of the operating room - a retrospective review of patient characteristics, complications and ICU stay.

Background: Emergent airway management outside of the operating room is a high-risk procedure. Limited data exists about the indication and physiologic state of the patient at the time of intubation, the location in which it occurs, or patient outcomes afterward.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data on all emergent airway management interventions performed outside of the operating room over a 6-month period.

Effect of storage of plasma in the presence of red blood cells and platelets: re-evaluating the shelf life of whole blood.

Background: There is renewed interest in administering whole blood (WB) for the resuscitation of patients with bleeding trauma. The shelf life of WB was established decades ago based on the viability of red blood cells. However, plasma quality during WB storage is not established.

Monocyte-macrophage activation is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis in HIV monoinfection independently of the gut microbiome and bacterial translocation.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common among people living with HIV. There are limited data available on the pathophysiology of NAFLD and the development of fibrosis in this population.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of bacterial translocation, adipose tissue dysfunction, monocyte activation and gut dysbiosis in patients with HIV monoinfection and NAFLD.

Label-Free Volumetric Quantitative Imaging of the Human Somatic Cell Division by Hyperspectral Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering.

Quantifying the chemical composition of unstained intact tissue and cellular samples with high spatio-temporal resolution in three dimensions would provide a step change in cell and tissue analytics critical to progress the field of cell biology. Label-free optical microscopy offers the required resolution and noninvasiveness, yet quantitative imaging with chemical specificity is a challenging endeavor. In this work, we show that hyperspectral coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy can be used to provide quantitative volumetric imaging of human osteosarcoma cells at various stages through cell division, a fundamental component of the cell cycle progress resulting in the segregation of cellular content to produce two progeny.

Laboratory assessment of the quality of adult and neonatal red cell concentrates manufactured from whole blood, exchange transfusion or intrauterine transfusion red cell units.

Background: We evaluated the quality of red cell components in additive solution over 42 days of storage when re-manufactured from neonatal exchange transfusion (ExTx) or intrauterine transfusion (IUT) units on day 7 for issue to adults, neonates or infants.

Materials And Methods: Red cell concentrates (RCC) manufactured from WB were compared to RCC re-manufactured from ExTx or IUT on day 7, and red cell splits (RCS) manufactured from WB were compared to RCS re-manufactured from ExTx or IUT on day 7. All components were stored at 2-6°C and tested throughout storage until day 42 for in vitro parameters of red cell quality.

Probing cytochrome P450 bioactivation and fluorescent properties with morpholinyl-tethered anthraquinones.

Structural features from the anticancer prodrug nemorubicin (MMDX) and the DNA-binding molecule DRAQ5™ were used to prepare anthraquinone-based compounds, which were assessed for their potential to interrogate cytochrome P450 (CYP) functional activity and localisation. 1,4-disubstituted anthraquinone 8 was shown to be 5-fold more potent in EJ138 bladder cancer cells after CYP1A2 bioactivation. In contrast, 1,5-bis((2-morpholinoethyl)amino) substituted anthraquinone 10 was not CYP-bioactivated but was shown to be fluorescent and subsequently photo-activated by a light pulse (at a bandwidth 532-587 nm), resulting in punctuated foci accumulation in the cytoplasm.

Investigation of the quality of stored red blood cells after simulated air drop in the maritime environment.

Background: Maritime medical capability may be compromised by blood resupply. Air-dropped red blood cells (RBCs) is a possible mitigation factor. This study set out to evaluate RBC storage variables after a simulated parachute air drop into the sea, as limited data exist.

A Comparison of Red Cell Rejuvenation versus Mechanical Washing for the Prevention of Transfusion-associated Organ Injury in Swine.

Background: We evaluated the effects of two interventions that modify the red cell storage lesion on kidney and lung injury in experimental models of transfusion.

Methods: White-landrace pigs (n = 32) were allocated to receive sham transfusion (crystalloid), 14-day stored allogeneic red cells, 14-day red cells washed using the red cells washing/salvage system (CATS; Fresenius, Germany), or 14-day red cells rejuvenated using the inosine solution (Rejuvesol solution; Zimmer Biomet, USA) and washed using the CATS device. Functional, biochemical, and histologic markers of organ injury were assessed for up to 24 h posttransfusion.

Randomized trial of red cell washing for the prevention of transfusion-associated organ injury in cardiac surgery.

Background: Experimental studies suggest that mechanical cell washing to remove pro-inflammatory components that accumulate in the supernatant of stored donor red blood cells (RBCs) might reduce inflammation and organ injury in transfused patients.

Methods: Cardiac surgery patients at increased risk of large-volume RBC transfusion were eligible. Participants were randomized to receive either mechanically washed allogenic RBCs or standard care RBCs.

Targeting protein homeostasis with nelfinavir/salinomycin dual therapy effectively induces death of mTORC1 hyperactive cells.

Uncontrolled cell growth in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex occurs due to inappropriate activation of mechanistic (mammalian) target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). The current therapy, rapamycin, produced promising clinical trial results, but patient tumours regrow if treatment is discontinued, revealing rapamycin has cytostatic properties rather than a cytotoxic effect. Taking advantage of the enhanced levels of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress present in TSC2-null cells, we investigated drug combinations producing a cytotoxic response.