Quantitative analysis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia using the pp65 antigenemia assay and the COBAS AMPLICOR CMV MONITOR PCR test after blood and marrow allogeneic transplantation.

The performance of a commercially available qualitative PCR test for plasma (AMPLICOR CMV Test; Roche Diagnostics) and a quantitative PCR test for plasma and leukocytes (COBAS AMPLICOR CMV MONITOR Test; Roche Diagnostics) was evaluated with samples from 50 blood or marrow allogeneic transplant recipients who received short courses of sequential ganciclovir therapy (2 weeks intravenously followed by 2 weeks orally) based on a positive cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp65 antigenemia (AG) assay. The number of persons with a positive CMV test was significantly higher for leukocyte-based assays (AG, 67.5%; PCR, 62.

A prospective study of G-CSF effects on hemostasis in allogeneic blood stem cell donors.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is used in healthy donors of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) for allogeneic transplantation. However, some data have recently suggested that G-CSF may induce a hypercoagulable state, prompting us to study prospectively 22 PBSC donors before and after G-CSF 5 microg/kg twice daily. We sought evidence for changes in the following parameters: platelet count, von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag) and activity (vWF activity), beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG), platelet factor 4 (PF-4), platelet activation markers (GMP-140 and PAC-1), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), coagulant factor VIII (FVIII:C), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), thrombomodulin (TM) and tissue plasminogen activator antigen (tPA:Ag) prior to G-CSF and immediately before leukapheresis.

Erythromycin-associated ergotamine intoxication: arteriographic and electrophysiologic analysis of a rare cause of severe ischemia of the lower extremities and associated ischemic neuropathy.

Vasospasm associated with ergotamine is a well-known phenomenon. In this case report we present a rare drug interaction between erythromycin and ergotamine at normal doses causing lower extremity ischemia in a 36-year-old woman. Nitroprusside proved to be the treatment of choice.

Surgical model for in vivo evaluation of cultured epidermal sheets in mice.

The objective of this study was to establish a novel surgical model for the grafting of cultured epidermal sheets in mice in order to optimize studies on the behavior of these grafts. Graft-related skin immunology and wound-healing studies also would benefit from this adapted surgical approach. Adapted tie-over surgical procedures were established for mice and promptly applied.