Human leukocyte antigen class II (DRB1 and DQB1) alleles and haplotypes frequencies in patients with pemphigus vulgaris among the Serbian population.

The etiology of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is multifactorial and includes genetic, environmental, hormonal, and immunological factors. Inheritance of certain Human class II leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles is by far the best-established predisposing factor for the development of PV. Class II HLA alleles vary among racial/ethnic backgrounds.

Exchange Transfusion for Severe Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: 17 Years' Experience from Vojvodina, Serbia.

This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of the main risk factors for severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, to determine the incidence of exchange transfusion (ET) in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (the northern part of Serbia) and to describe the experience with ET performed in premature and term infants during the past 17 years. We performed a retrospective data analysis of 398 newborn infants who underwent a double volume ET from 1997 to 2013. During the 17 year study period, a decreasing incidence of ET, expressed per thousand newborns, was observed.

Efficacy of CD34+ Stem Cell Therapy in Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy Is Absent in Patients With Diabetes but Preserved in Patients With Insulin Resistance.

Unlabelled: We evaluated the association of diabetes and insulin resistance with the response to cell therapy in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). A total of 45 outpatients with DCM received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for 5 days. CD34(+) cells were then collected by apheresis and injected transendocardially.

Influence of Cyp2c19*2 Gene Variant on Therapeutic Response During Clopidogrel Treatment in Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis.

Background: Despite the proven clinical effect of oral antiplatelet drugs, a considerable number of patients do not have an adequate response to clopidogrel. The aim of our study was to determine the influence of loss-of-function variant allele on clopidogrel responsiveness in patients with carotid artery stenosis.

Methods: One hundred and twelve patients with carotid artery stenosis undergoing endarterectomy were included in this one-year prospective study.

The 3' end prothrombin gene variants in serbian patients with idiopathic thrombophilia.

Thrombophilia is a multifactorial disorder that arises from the interaction of acquired and genetic risk factors. Despite the significant efforts made to understand the etiology of this disease, there are still a certain number of patients suffering from idiopathic thrombophilia. The aim of this study was to screen the 3' end of the prothrombin (FII) gene, which is susceptible to gain-of-function mutations due to its non canonical architecture, in patients with idiopathic thrombophilia and to determine its eventual role in the pathogenesis of thrombophilia.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection among blood donors in Serbia: A multicentre study.

Background: The epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have not yet been described in Serbia.

Aims: To determine the prevalence of anti-HCV-positive individuals among first-time blood donors and the risk factors for hepatitis C transmission.

Methods: A multicentre case-control study nested within a prospective cohort study was conducted at 10 main transfusion centres in Serbia in 2013 and 27,160 blood donors who gave blood for the first time were included.

TNF, IL12B, and IFNG Gene Polymorphisms in Serbian Patients with Psoriasis.

Background: Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease with a strong genetic basis. Cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukins (ILs) such are IL-12 and IL-23, and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) are released from various inflammatory and resident cells, and have been implicated in the initiation/maintenance of inflammation. Certain alleles of the aforementioned cytokines may be associated with disease susceptibility/severity.

Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibody Levels in Blood Supply of Shiraz Blood Transfusion Institute, Iran.

Background: The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the blood donors has been poorly studied. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis in blood products.

Methods: A total of 250 blood products (112 fresh frozen plasma and 138 packed cells) in the Blood Transfusion Institute, Shiraz, Iran were tested for specific T.

Factor V Leiden mutation and high FVIII are associated with an increased risk of VTE in women with breast cancer during adjuvant tamoxifen - results from a prospective, single center, case control study.

Background: Estimates of the risk ratio of tamoxifen-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) in breast cancer patients range from 2.4 to 7.1.

Intracoronary transplantation of CD34(+) cells is associated with improved myocardial perfusion in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: We investigated the effects of intracoronary transplantation of CD34(+) cells on myocardial perfusion in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods And Results: We enrolled 21 patients with DCM (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] <40%, New York Heart Association functional class III) who underwent peripheral stem cell mobilization with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). CD34(+) cells were collected by means of apheresis.

The 3'end prothrombin gene variants in patients with different thrombotic events.

Background: Prothrombin (FII) A19911G and C20221T gene variants are associated with increased prothrombin levels and potentially represent thrombotic risk factors.

Objective: To determine the frequency of A19911G and C20221T FII gene variants in patients with thrombotic disorders and in women who have experienced pregnancy loss (PL).

Methods: We determined the frequency of these variants in 133 patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT), 80 patients with isolated pulmonary embolism (PE), 101 patients with idiopathic PL, and 180 control individuals.

Giving blood donors something to drink before donation can prevent fainting symptoms: is there a physiological or psychological reason?

The vasovagal reaction has been widely studied but its anatomic and physiological nature remains uncertain. The mechanisms underlying vasovagal reaction related to blood donation are not completely understood either. Does its occurrence depend on the blood donors' physical characteristics and health variables or psychological factors? On the basis that a psychological approach considerably prevents donor reactions, the effect of fruit juice ingestion was studied in a group of 1849 first-time high-school students as a simple strategy to avoid systemic reactions at blood donation.

Effects of transendocardial CD34+ cell transplantation in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: We investigated the effects of transendocardial CD34(+) cell transplantation in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Methods And Results: In a prospective crossover study, we enrolled 33 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy with New York Heart Association class III and left ventricular ejection fraction <40%. In phase 1, patients were treated with medical therapy for 6 months.

Arnault Tzanck (1886-1954), founder of the first blood centre worldwide.

Arnault Tzanck was at the origins of French transfusion and the founder of the first blood centre worldwide. This article retraces his career and personal itinerary and that path which led him to give his build the country's first organized and modern blood transfusion structure.

HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 allele and haplotype frequencies in the Serbian population.

This study provides the first published detailed analysis of five loci polymorphisms as well as reports of two, three and five loci haplotype frequencies in the Serbian population in a sample of 1992 volunteer bone marrow donors recruited from different part of the country. Typing was performed by PCR SSO method combined with PCR SSP techniques to resolve ambiguities. In total, 16 HLA-A, 28 HLA-B, 14 HLA-C, 13 HLA-DRB1 and 5 HLA-DQB1 allelic groups were identified.

Comparison of transendocardial and intracoronary CD34+ cell transplantation in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: In an open-label blinded study, we compared intracoronary and transendocardial CD34(+) cell transplantation in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Methods And Results: Of the 40 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, 20 were randomized to receive intracoronary injection and 20 received transendocardial CD34(+) cell delivery. In both groups, CD34(+) cells were mobilized by filgrastim, collected via apheresis, and labeled with technetium-99m radioisotope for single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging.

Systematic RH genotyping and variant identification in French donors of African origin.

Background: RH molecular analysis has enabled the documentation of numerous variants of RHD and RHCE alleles, especially in individuals of African origin. The aim of the present study was to determine the type and frequency of D and/or RhCE variants among blood donors of African origin in France, by performing a systematic RH molecular analysis, in order to evaluate the implications for blood transfusion of patients of African origin.

Materials And Methods: Samples from 316 African blood donors, whose origin was established by their Fy(a-b-) phenotype, were first analysed using the RHD and RHCE BeadChips Kit (BioArray Solutions, Immucor, Warren, NJ, USA).