Giving blood and enrolling on the stem cell donor registry: ranking of obstacles and motives in Switzerland.

Background: To obtain a better understanding of factors affecting blood and blood stem cell donation behavior in Switzerland, a series of studies has been performed. In the recent study of this series, which is described here, motivators and barriers in the field of blood and blood stem cell donation were identified.

Methods: Web-based survey data from a non-random sample of the Swiss population 2012/2013 (n = 3,153) were used to describe and compare the ranking of motives and obstacles to donate blood and to enroll on the Swiss blood stem cell registry.

Stem cells in translation: impression of the ISSCR Regional Meeting in Florence.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research hosted an exciting meeting on stem cell-based translational medicine in Florence, Italy in September 2013. This report gives an overview of recent advances and breakthroughs presented at the meeting.

Individual Characteristics Associated with Blood Donation: A Cross-National Comparison of the German and Swiss Population between 1994 and 2010.

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare individual characteristics associated with blood donation in the German and Swiss population between 1994 and 2010.

Methods: Population-based survey data from the Eurobarometer 1994 and 2009, the Swiss Health Survey 1997, and the Swiss Blood Donation Survey 2010 were used to compare age-adjusted percentages of German and Swiss adults ever having donated blood (n = 8,746). A multivariate logistic regression was applied to the pooled data to estimate odds ratios (OR).

Impact of selection of cord blood units from the United States and swiss registries on the cost of banking operations.

Background: Over the last 2 decades, cord blood (CB) has become an important source of blood stem cells. Clinical experience has shown that CB is a viable source for blood stem cells in the field of unrelated hematopoietic blood stem cell transplantation.

Methods: Studies of CB units (CBUs) stored and ordered from the US (National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and Swiss (Swiss Blood Stem Cells (SBSQ)) CB registries were conducted to assess whether these CBUs met the needs of transplantation patients, as evidenced by units being selected for transplantation.

Diagnostic accuracy of the Rivalta test for feline infectious peritonitis.

Background: The Rivalta test has been used routinely in Europe to diagnose feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in cats with effusions, but its diagnostic accuracy is uncertain.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to calculate sensitivity, specificity, and positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values of the Rivalta test for FIP and to identify correlations between a positive Rivalta test and variables measured in effusion fluid and peripheral blood.

Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records of cats with effusions were reviewed, and cats with conclusive results for the Rivalta test were included.

[Pericardial effusion in a cat with feline infectious peritonitis].

This case report describes the disease progression of a male cat with pericardial effusion. Clinical signs (dyspnea, lethargy, and weakness) started very acutely. The initial laboratory profile showed only an increase in alanine aminotransferase enzyme activity.

Quantitative comparison of constitutive promoters in human ES cells.

Background: Constitutive promoters that ensure sustained and high level gene expression are basic research tools that have a wide range of applications, including studies of human embryology and drug discovery in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Numerous cellular/viral promoters that ensure sustained gene expression in various cell types have been identified but systematic comparison of their activities in hESCs is still lacking.

Methodology/principal Findings: We have quantitatively compared promoter activities of five commonly used constitutive promoters, including the human β-actin promoter (ACTB), cytomegalovirus (CMV), elongation factor-1α, (EF1α), phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) and ubiquitinC (UbC) in hESCs.

NANOG reporter cell lines generated by gene targeting in human embryonic stem cells.

Background: Pluripotency and self-renewal of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is mediated by a complex interplay between extra- and intracellular signaling pathways, which regulate the expression of pluripotency-specific transcription factors. The homeodomain transcription factor NANOG plays a central role in maintaining hESC pluripotency, but the precise role and regulation of NANOG are not well defined.

Methodology/principal Findings: To facilitate the study of NANOG expression and regulation in viable hESC cultures, we generated fluorescent NANOG reporter cell lines by gene targeting in hESCs.

Effects of nasal mask leak and heated humidification on nasal mucosa in the therapy with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP).

The purpose of this study was to determine the objective short-term influence of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) therapy, nasal mask leak (NML) and heated humidifiers (HH) to nasal conditioning of spontaneously breathing subjects. This was a prospective, non-randomized, non-blinded day-time study. Eighteen healthy subjects were enrolled in the study.

A retroviral packaging cell line for pseudotype vectors based on glioma-infiltrating progenitor cells.

Background: Early clinical trials for gene therapy of human gliomas with retroviral packaging cells (PC) have been hampered by low transduction efficacy and lack of dissemination of PC within the tumor. In the current approach, these issues have been addressed by creating a stable packaging cell line for retroviral vectors pseudotyped with glycoproteins of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) based on tumor-infiltrating progenitor cells.

Methods: Tumor-infiltrating progenitor cells, which had been isolated from adult rat bone marrow (BM-TIC), were modified to stably express Gag-Pol proteins of moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MLV) and glycoproteins of LCMV.

Radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy on nasal polyps: preliminary results.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy (RFITT) in patients with nasal polyps.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of prospectively collected data from 17 consecutive patients (11 men and 6 women; mean age, 51.7 +/- 16.

Influence of passive humidification on respiratory heat loss in tracheotomized patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in total respiratory heat loss during use of a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) in tracheotomized patients.

Methods: Tracheal humidity and temperature were measured before the application and during use of the HME (plastic foam impregnated with CaCl2), and total respiratory heat loss was calculated.

Results: No significant difference was found between the convective heat exchange before and after use of the HME for a 10-minute period.

[Tonsillotomy].

Background: In contrast to tonsillectomy, only intracapsular parts of palatine tonsil are resected in tonsillotomy. This procedure has been revived for treatment of tonsillar hypertrophy causing obstructive sleep apnoea. Tonsillar hypertrophy is the most relevant cause for obstructive sleep apnoea in children often associated with malnutrition due to problems with swallowing.

[Identification and evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea in children before adenotonsillectomy using evaluative surveys].

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) caused by enlarged tonsils and adnoids is common in early childhood. SDB without alterations in alveolar ventilation or sleep architecture is called primary snoring and affects up to 3-12 % of young children. In contrast, SDB with associated apneas or hypopneas affects between 0.

Selective transduction of malignant glioma by lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus glycoproteins.

Malignant gliomas are the most frequent primary brain tumors and have a dismal prognosis due to their infiltrative growth. Gene therapy using viral vectors represents an attractive alternative to conventional cancer therapies. In a previous study, we established lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) glycoproteins (GPs) and demonstrated transduction of human malignant glioma cells in culture.

Multilevel temperature-controlled radiofrequency therapy of soft palate, base of tongue, and tonsils in adults with obstructive sleep apnea.

Objectives/hypothesis: The concept of two-level pharyngeal collapse in patients with obstructive sleep apnea is too simplified. Aggressive multilevel surgeries addressing several airway segments, including skeletal surgery, demonstrate improved success rates.

Study Design: The study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of multilevel radiofrequency application to soft palate, tonsils, and base of tongue in 16 white patients (mean age, 56.