Foetal stem cells of Umbilical Cord Blood

Abstract After cord blood collection by an obstetrician, stem cell purification has been performed either with a combination o f monoclonal antibodies, using the negative selection Stem Sep method, or with a positive cell selection based on their surface CD34 antigens, using the Mini Macs system. An excellent recovery of hematopoietic progenitors: Burst Forming Unit Erythroid; Colony Forming Unit Granulocyte and Macrophage; and Colony Forming Un it Granulocyte, inversely related to the rising of clamping t ime, have been achieved with the Min i Macs system (54% of colonies, with 90%purity). With the Stem Sep method, recovery of hematopoietic progenitors was 35% (with 80% purity). By early clamping of u mbilical cord blood, we obtained a greater number of CD34+ cells whose clonogenic activity increased with enrich ment. Th is is particu larly useful considering that the nu mber o f CD34+ stem cells contained in a unit of placental blood is enough for transplantation to a child, but not for an adult engraft ment. Thus, using these methods, we can obtain a larger nu mber of CD34+ stem cells which increases the possibility of reducing graft-versus-host disease in adult patients, producing survival rates similar to those with transplantation of bone marro w

Organisational challenges, volumes of oncological activity\ua0and patients' perception during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 epidemic

On February 23rd, the 1st case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was diagnosed at the University Hospital Trust of Verona, Italy. On March 13th, the Oncology Section was converted into a 22-inpatient bed coronavirus disease (COVID) Unit, and we reshaped our organisation to face the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, while maintaining oncological activities