Comparison of platelets characteristics according to various processing methods

To date different techniques of platelet concentrates (PC) preparation and processing are proposed to achieve the best efficiency of transfusions and to minimize the risks post-transfusion reactions. However, data on the impact of different approaches to PC preparation and processing on morphological and functional characteristics of platelets and, as a consequence, the clinical efficacy of transfusions is controversial. In this paper we analyzed the impact of the platelet storage solution and different methods of pathogen inactivation (X-rays, UV-irradiation after photosensitization with riboflavin) on morphological and functional parameters of platelets. Our findings allow optimizing the technology of preparation and processing of PC to achieve greater effectiveness of transfusion therapy.</p

Comparison of harvesting methods and clinical application of apheresis platelet concentrates with additive solution

Platelet concentrates (PC) are used worldwide in the fields of oncology, oncohaematology and bone marrow transplantation. One of the main tasks of clinical transfusiology is the development and improvement of technologies aimed to increase quality and safety of PC. In particular, such technologies are represented by using of platelet additive solutions (PAS). The main advantages of this approach are: a reduction of immune and non-immune transfusion reactions risk, an improvement of pathogen inactivation quality and enhancing a clinical effect of PC transfusions after storage. Numerous different PAS and methodologies of their application are suggested to date. In this review we have described and classified recent data on different PAS and the benefits of their clinical application

Blood ACE Phenotyping for Personalized Medicine: Revelation of Patients with Conformationally Altered ACE

Background: The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) metabolizes a number of important peptides participating in blood pressure regulation and vascular remodeling. Elevated blood ACE is a marker for granulomatous diseases and elevated ACE expression in tissues is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Objective and Methodology: We applied a novel approach —ACE phenotyping—to find a reason for conformationally impaired ACE in the blood of one particular donor. Similar conformationally altered ACEs were detected previously in 2–4% of the healthy population and in up to 20% of patients with uremia, and were characterized by significant increase in the rate of angiotensin I hydrolysis. Principal findings: This donor has (1) significantly increased level of endogenous ACE inhibitor in plasma with MW less than 1000; (2) increased activity toward angiotensin I; (3) M71V mutation in ABCG2 (membrane transporter for more than 200 compounds, including bilirubin). We hypothesize that this patient may also have the decreased level of free bilirubin in plasma, which normally binds to the N domain of ACE. Analysis of the local conformation of ACE in plasma of patients with Gilbert and Crigler-Najjar syndromes allowed us to speculate that binding of mAbs 1G12 and 6A12 to plasma ACE could be a natural sensor for estimation of free bilirubin level in plasma. Totally, 235 human plasma/sera samples were screened for conformational changes in soluble ACE. Conclusions/Significance: ACE phenotyping of plasma samples allows us to identify individuals with conformationally altered ACE. This type of screening has clinical significance because this conformationally altered ACE could not only result in the enhancement of the level of angiotensin II but could also serve as an indicator of free bilirubin levels

Use of plerixafor for hematopoietic stem cells mobilization in allograft donors

Unsuccessful mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) before apheresis in allograft donor is a factor adversely affecting the characteristics of the obtained cell product and, as a consequence, the therapy outcome. This study investigates the efficacy and safety of plerixafor as an additional alternative drug for HSCs mobilization after nsuccessful mobilization using G-CSF. Mobilization of HSC in all cases was performed using a preparation of G-CSF during 5 days. The ineffectiveness of this in 17 donors was revealed on the fourth day from the beginning of the mobilization, and therefore plerixafor was administered to all donors in this cohort 11–12 hours before cytapheresis. Use of plerixafor allowed obtaining a transplant with good cellular characteristics in all cases. Plerixafor safety profile comparable with GCSF has also been demonstrated. Based on the results of this study it was concluded about efficacy and feasibility of plerixafor as “rescue” therapy after unsuccessful mobilizationwith G-CSF.</p

A quadratic upper bound on the size of a synchronizing word in one-cluster automata

International audienceČerný’s conjecture asserts the existence of a synchronizing word of length at most (n-1)² for any synchronized n-state deterministic automaton. We prove a quadratic upper bound on the length of a synchronizing word for any synchronized n-state deterministic automaton satisfying the following additional property: there is a letter a such that for any pair of states p, q, one has p·a^r=q·a^s for some integers r, s (for a state p and a word w, we denote by p·w the state reached from p by the path labeled w). As a consequence, we show that for any finite synchronized prefix code with an n-state decoder, there is a synchronizing word of length O(n²). This applies in particular to Huffman codes