Assessment of Coxiella burnetii presence after tick bite in north-eastern Poland.

Purpose: The aim of the study is to assess anti-Coxiella burnetii antibodies presence in inhabitants of north-eastern Poland, to assess the risk of Q fever after tick bite and to assess the percentage of co-infection with other pathogens.

Methods: The serological study included 164 foresters and farmers with a history of tick bite. The molecular study included 540 patients, hospitalized because of various symptoms after tick bite.

Endothelial Microparticles and Blood Coagulation Activation in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy or Radiochemotherapy.

Background/aim: Endothelial microparticles (EMP) are small vesicles which are released from the endothelium and contribute to blood coagulation activation in various clinical settings. The aim of this study was to examine whether EMP influence blood coagulation activation in cancer patients during radiotherapy/radiochemotherapy (RT/RCT).

Materials And Methods: Sixteen head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing RT/RCT and 10 controls were examined.

Endothelial Microparticles and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy or Radiochemotherapy.

Background: Endothelial microparticles (EMPs) released from activated or apoptotic endothelial cells may play a role in coagulation and thrombus formation. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding the impact of EMPs on angiogenesis in patients with cancer.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) undergoing radiotherapy/radiochemotherapy (RT/RCT) and 10 healthy controls were studied.

Very Small Embryonic-Like Stem Cells, Endothelial Progenitor Cells, and Different Monocyte Subsets Are Effectively Mobilized in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients after G-CSF Treatment.

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignant disease of lymphoid progenitor cells. ALL chemotherapy is associated with numerous side effects including neutropenia that is routinely prevented by the administration of growth factors such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). To date, the effects of G-CSF treatment on the level of mobilization of different stem and progenitor cells in ALL patients subjected to clinically effective chemotherapy have not been fully elucidated.

High-frequency (13.56-MHz) and ultrahigh-frequency (915-MHz) radio identification systems do not affect platelet activation and functions.

Background: In radiofrequency identification (RFID) systems used in labeling of blood components, blood cells are subjected to the direct influence of electromagnetic waves throughout the storage period. The aim of this study was to prove the safety of storage of platelet concentrates (PCs) in containers labeled with RFID tags.

Study Design And Methods: Ten pooled PCs obtained from 12 buffy coats each suspended in additive solution were divided into three separate containers that were assigned to three groups: control, PCs labeled with ultrahigh frequency (UHF) range tags and exposed to 915-MHz radio waves, and PCs labeled with high-frequency (HF) range tags and exposed to 13.

Leucoreduction helps to preserve activity of antioxidant barrier enzymes in stored red blood cell concentrates.

Background: Oxidoreductive imbalance is a major cause of excessive haemolysis in in vitro conditions. Leucocytes and blood platelets present in red blood cell concentrates (RBCs) are one of the sources of free radicals, which have a significant effect on the status of stored erythrocytes. The study objective was to assess the effect of leucoreduction on the intensity of lipid peroxidation and the activity of antioxidant barrier enzymes in RBC.

Ozonation of human blood increases sphingosine-1-phosphate in plasma.

Ozonated blood therapy is used in the treatment of several diseases, including superficial infections, burns, dental and intestinal conditions. Except that, the possibility of using ozone to sterilize blood supplies is under promising investigation. However, still little is known regarding the impact of blood ozonation, especially on biologically active serum sphinoglipids.

The effect of continuous-flow automated plateletpheresis on fibrinolytic activity of donor plasma.

Blood circulating in extracorporeal circuit of the apheresis sets has a contact with an artificial surface. The data on the influence of plateletpheresis on fibrinolytic activity are very limited and difficult to interpret. The aim of our study was to estimate the effect of plateletpheresis on the activation of fibrinolysis.