bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
SI26 Interactive Modelling of the Impact a Flu Pandemic may have on Blood Supplies (on behalf of the NHSBT Emergency Planning Group)
Authors: Jelly M. , Harris C. , Bedford R. 
Published: September 2006

Introduction  The NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has developed emergency plans based on a few scenarios including a potential Human Flu Pandemic. A model has been created illustrating the impact on the national red cell and platelet stocks using current assumptions made by the NHSBT Emergency Planning Group, NHS and the Department of Health (DH).Methodology  As no suitable model was available a model was created in Microsoft Excel, which is widely available within the National Blood Service (NBS) and NHSBT. This allows the user to change planning assumptions which will automatically recalculate the impact on the total NBS stock of red cells and platelets. The model can be used to view different scenarios, e.g.Changes to demand (–10%)Clinical attack rate–the % of total population contracting Flu (25%)Possible duration and profile of pandemic wave as per NHS Flu Contingency Plan% of population caring for victims (5%)Deferral period for donors contracting flu (2 weeks ill and 2 weeks deferred)Whole Blood and component donation supply (increased pre‐pandemic only)Buffy Coat (BC) production (49%)Starting stock (Red Cells 56 k, Platelets 958 doses)% of population self deferring (based on NHSBT figures).Results  The activities modelled in this particular scenario would increase red cell stock from 56 k to 62 k before the virus is isolated in the UK. Once there was widespread activity across the UK, red cell stock would fall to 40 k before recovering after the pandemic ends. Platelet stocks could be maintained if buffy coat production was increased to 49% (normally 29%). If a more extreme scenario is modelled e.g. the clinical attack rate is increased to 50%, red cell stock would fall to 4 k (without further demand reduction) and platelet stock could only be maintained if buffy coat production is increased to 85%.Conclusion  This model is useful in illustrating the impact of flu planning assumptions on the ability of the NBS to maintain supply of red cells and platelets and could model other scenarios e.g. severe weather conditions or terrorist activity. As more information becomes available, the NBS and other Blood Services can use the model to illustrate the impact of revised assumptions and take appropriate action to mitigate problems. The model can be used to assess potential policy decisions e.g. donor deferral periods and it could be used in real time as a potential pandemic emerges to help inform decision‐making by predicting future stock levels. The model is being further developed to assist NBS and NHSBT in predicting impact on staffing resource levels. While the model is dynamic and easily manipulated the eventual output is determined by the accuracy of the assumptions. The ultimate accuracy of the model and the assumptions will only be fully understood if and when a Flu Pandemic develops.
SI30 The Naughties–Recruiting Donors in the Decade of Donor Deferrals
Authors: Wilson J. 
Published: September 2006

Since the millennium, there have been large cohorts of donors affected by blood donor selection criteria in Scotland: Previously Transfused Donors (implemented 2004, 4.9% of donor base affected)Blood Safety and Quality Regulations (implemented 2005, increased medical deferrals from 11.55% to 13.1%, contributing to the increase in total deferral rate – including Hb donor deferrals – from 16% to 20.5%)This means there is now a 26.3% increase in the deferral rate for new donors since 2003/04, and 38.5% increase in deferral rates for regular donors since 2003/04. UK blood services continue to prepare for a vCJD test, which is likely to further erode the donor base. This means the decade poses severe challenges in terms of donor recruitment. At the beginning of 2000, 5.8% of Scots were giving blood. By 2006, this figure has reduced to 5.2%. As we try and recruit further into the ‘nondonor’ population, segmentation analysis has identified increased barriers to giving blood. Further socio‐demographic analysis provides insight into characteristics blood donors, nondonors and lapsed donors may share. To stabilise the donor base after these deferrals, a through the line donor recruitment strategy has been implemented in Scotland, impacting on all these groups. Particularly effective methods include the expansion of a blood group specific and geographically specific direct mail campaign. A variety of traditional advertising techniques have merged with innovative new tactics. The performance of the donor recruitment strategy, and it's continued ability to cope with such massive donor base losses for the remainder of the decade will be evaluated.
SI01 Evidence Base for Transfusion
Authors: Hyde C. , Brunskill S. J. 
Published: September 2006

The exponential growth of innovations in health care and research on them has made it essential that we improve systems to get succinct, accurate summaries of evidence on effectiveness to health care workers, patients, carers and donors when they need it. This is one driving force behind JPAC now. However this simple aspiration requires a number of challenges to be overcome:What evidence should we communicate?How should we bring it together?How do we convert the accumulated evidence it into usable messages that will help?How do we make sure the messages reach the people who need them?This presentation will discuss approaches to each of these questions in turn, focusing particularly on explaining what a systematic review is for those who may not have come across it before. An issue of particular concern is the difference between evidence of ineffectiveness and absence of evidence. The latter is often mistakenly considered identical to the former, and we will explain the nature of this problem. Test yourself: is a research study showing an odds ratio of transfusion related adverse events associated with a new process of 1.2 (95% CI 0.5–11) evidence of ineffectiveness or absence of evidence? The importance of identifying uncertainty about the effectiveness of new approaches, and communicating this clearly, is a further issue we will explore. The goal of bringing together evidence on transfusion is a long term goal. As our guided tour of the JPAC site will demonstrate we have made a good start. However, there is still much work to do and we need everyone's help at many different levels to achieve the ultimate goal.
SI38 Characterisation of Membrane Proteins on Vesicles from Normal Red Cells and on Red Cells of Patients with Membranopathy
Authors: King M. J. , Jepson M. A. , Kumpel B. , Mushens R. , Guest A. 
Published: September 2006

Background  Red cell vesicles are formed either after prolonged blood storage at 4°C or during incubation in calcium‐loaded medium. Unlike mature red cells, these vesicles are depleted in spectrin but carry band 3, glycophorins, acetylcholinesterase and CD47. Absorption of human anti‐D by vesicles indicated the presence of Rh proteins.Study Design  The aims were to identify the membrane components present on red cell vesicles, and to investigate whether red cells after vesiculation in vitro were similar to those from patients with inherited haemolytic anaemias: hereditary spherocytosis (HS) and pyropoikilocytosis (HPP). Vesicles released from fresh normal red cells in Ca2+ loaded medium were purified by filtration through 0.8 μm filters. Specific monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were used to identify integral membrane components. The analytical techniques used were SDS‐PAGE, Western blotting, confocal microscropy, and rosette formation with magnetic beads (Dynabeads) conjugated with anti‐mouse immunoglobulins. Flow cytometry quantified antibody bound to red cells after vesiculation and from patients with HS and HPP.Results  We confirmed depletion of spectrin and the presence of band 3, CD47 and glycophorins in vesicles released from normal red cells. Confocal microscopy demonstrated the coating of Rh(D+) vesicles with human Mab anti‐D. Other membrane molecules detected on the vesicles were Duffy glycoprotein, Kell glycoprotein, glucose transporter, protein 4.2, Rh glycoprotein (RhAG), CD59, and blood group A antigen. Flow cytometry detected reductions in binding of Mabs to band 3, Rh proteins and RhAG on vesiculated red cells as well as on HS red cells. CD47 content was lower on HS than on vesiculated red cells. Greater losses of these membrane components occurred on HPP red cells with a concomitant reduction in CD59, and glycophorins A and C. Confocal microscopy of dual labelled HS and HPP red cells showed that the loss of membrane proteins was not a uniform process but ranged from strong, moderate to dim (or no) fluorescence.Conclusion  Shedding a large number of membrane proteins in red cell vesicles is probably a physiological process of cell ageing. The greater loss of band 3, CD47, Rh protein and RhAG on HS and HPP red cells probably reflects an accelerated vesiculation process secondary to their underlying cytoskeletal defect.
P32 Column Agglutination DAT ‐ the Top and Bottom of it.
Authors: Maley M. , Pearson A. , Stamps R. 
Published: September 2006

Background  There are no published data or recommendations regarding where red cells should be sampled from within a blood sample when performing a direct antiglobulin test (DAT) using concentrated cells. It is postulated that heavily antibody‐coated red cells accumulate at the bottom of the concentrated red cells during centrifugation. To investigate this possibility, we performed DAT's on patient samples and experimental sample mixtures after centrifugation, by aspirating cells from both the top and bottom of the red cells.Methods  Direct antiglobulin testing was carried out using DiaMed DC‐Screening1 monospecific direct antiglobulin cards, which contain anti‐IgG, IgA, IgM, C3c and C3d. The cards also have a negative control well. DAT testing was performed in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. Agglutination strength was interpreted by eye and reaction grades scored on a scale of 0–5. Experimental samples were prepared by mixing aliquots of 100 uL, 250 μL, and 1 μL of IgG coated reagent red cells with 1 mL of uncoated reagent red cells. Red cell sample mixtures were then centrifuged at RCF 3500 for 5 min and DAT testing performed as above.Results  Twelve of 24 patient samples gave results that differed by at least one reaction grade. Of these samples, eight gave reactions that were 1–2 grades stronger with anti‐IgG with cells from the bottom of the concentrated red cells. Three samples gave reactions that were positive in tests from the bottom and negative from the top (1x IgG, 1x IgM, 1x C3d). All three experimental samples gave markedly different reaction grades (reaction grades with cells from the top ranging from 0–1 and from the bottom ranging from 3–4).Conclusions  These results show that performing a DAT using DiaMed monospecific cards with cells from the top of the concentrated red cells of a centrifuged sample may give misleading results. This may be due to heavily coated, denser cells being displaced to the bottom of the red cells during centrifugation. This could have implications when performing autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and possible haemolytic transfusion reaction investigations. Our findings support the view that further in‐depth study of this phenomenon is warranted.
P62 Processing of Whole Femoral Head Allografts: Efficacy and Biological Compatability of a New Procesing Technique
Authors: Board T. N. , Mann J. , Rooney P. , Eagle M. , Hogg P. , Kay P. , Kearney J. 
Published: September 2006

Introduction  Due to the possibility of disease transmission, removal of marrow components from banked, allograft bone is desirable. The majority of bone supplied by Tissue Banks to surgeons in the UK is whole fresh‐frozen femoral heads, which still contain donor bone marrow. Some surgeons wash the bone in‐theatre whilst others do not and actually incorporate the donor marrow with the graft. Little is known about the efficacy of theatre washing to remove marrow components even though evidence suggests that marrow removal results in improved stability and enhanced incorporation of washed bone. We have recently developed a tissue bank‐based bone washing protocol for whole femoral heads and in this study we compare the efficacy of tissue bank‐washed bone and theatre‐washed bone to remove marrow components and assess the biocompatability of the products.Methods  A 12‐step tissue bank protocol has been devised which involves sonication, centrifugation and washes in hydrogen peroxide, ethanol and warm water. Twenty‐four femoral heads were put through this protocol and amounts of soluble protein, DNA and haemoglobin removed at each stage were evaluated. Residual values were obtained by pulverising the final product into a fine powder. Similarly, 24 femoral heads were milled in a bone mill and subjected to four sequential rinses in warm saline, amounts of marrow components removed were evaluated with respect to residual content of pulverised product. Contact and extract cytotoxicity assays were performed on tissue bank‐washed bone, theatre‐washed bone and unwashed bone using a human osteoblastic cell line (MG63) and human skin fibroblasts.Results  The tissue bank‐washing protocol removed a minimum of 99% of soluble protein, DNA and haemoglobin from bone, the washed bone product was not cytotoxic. Theatre‐washed bone removed 41% haemoglobin, 72% DNA and 92% soluble protein, the washed bone product was not cytotoxic, however, unwashed bone was found to be cytotoxic against both cell lines.Conclusion  Tissue bank‐washed bone and theatre‐washed bone both produce a product which is not cytotoxic and more biocompatible than frozen‐thawed unwashed bone. The tissue bank washing protocol is more efficacious and consistant at removing bone marrow components than currently used techniques of in‐theatre washing after milling. We would suggest that tissue bank‐washed bone would allow for safer and more biocompatible allograft usage.
The effect of tillage system and use of a paraplow on weed flora in a semiarid soil from central Spain
Authors: DORADO J , LÓPEZ‐FANDO C 
Published: September 2006

SummaryField experiments were conducted to study weed population shifts in long‐term conservation tillage systems. The objectives of this study were to determine weed community abundance, diversity and composition on conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT), no‐tillage with paraplow (ZT) and no‐tillage (NT) systems, and to identify species that are associated with specific tillage systems. The paraplow is a subsoiling technique that results in a deep loosening of the soil, in order to alleviate compaction in certain soils where NT is practiced. The results showed significant differences in both the composition and the abundance of weeds, depending on the tillage systems. Weed diversity, species richness and Shannon's diversity and evenness indices were higher under the conservation tillage systems than in the CT system. In addition, various weed species were associated with reduced tillage systems. For instance, Anthemis arvensis, Hirschfeldia incana and Lolium rigidum became more prevalent in the NT system, whereas Chenopodium album and Filago pyramidata dominated in the ZT system. Therefore, the application of a paraplow treatment changed the weed community in the NT system. Other weed species, such as Capsella bursa‐pastoris and Torilis nodosa, dominated in all three conservation tillage systems, whereas soil disturbance by mouldboard ploughing favoured species such as Polygonum aviculare and Phalaris paradoxa.
Feeding with speed: prey capture evolution in cichilds
Authors: HIGHAM T. E. , HULSEY C. D. , ŘÍČAN O. , CARROLL A. M. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThe diversity of both the locomotor and feeding systems in fish is extensive, although little is known about the integrated evolution of the two systems. Virtually, all fish swim to ingest prey and all open their buccal cavity during prey capture, but the relationship between these two ubiquitous components of fish feeding strikes is unknown. We predicted that there should be a positive correlation between ram speed (RS) and maximum gape (MG) because the accuracy of a predatory strike goes down with an increase in RS and fish with larger mouths eat larger, more evasive prey. For 18 species of neotropical cichlids, we used phylogenetic‐independent contrasts to study the relationship between the predator closing speed (RS) and mouth size (MG) during prey capture. To provide a robust comparative framework, we augmented existing phylogenetic information available from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene with sequences from the S7 nuclear ribosomal intron for these species. Then, we captured high‐speed (500 images per second), lateral view feeding sequences of each species by using a digital video camera and measured both RS and MG. Uncorrected species values of MG and RS were positively and significantly correlated. When accounting for any of the set of phylogenetic relationships recovered, the independent contrasts of RS and MG remained significantly, and positively, correlated. This tight evolutionary coupling highlights what is likely a common relationship between locomotor behaviour and feeding kinematics in many organisms.
A comparison between multivariate Slash, Student'stand probit threshold models for analysis of clinical mastitis in first lactation cows
Authors: Chang Y‐M. , Gianola D. , Heringstad B. , Klemetsdal G. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryRobust threshold models with multivariate Student'stor multivariate Slash link functions were employed to infer genetic parameters of clinical mastitis at different stages of lactation, with each cow defining a cluster of records. The robust fits were compared with that from a multivariate probit model via a pseudo‐Bayes factor and an analysis of residuals. Clinical mastitis records on 36 178 first‐lactation Norwegian Red cows from 5286 herds, daughters of 245 sires, were analysed. The opportunity for infection interval, going from 30 days pre‐calving to 300 days postpartum, was divided into four periods: (i) −30 to 0 days pre‐calving; (ii) 1–30 days; (iii) 31–120 days; and (iv) 121–300 days of lactation. Within each period, absence or presence of clinical mastitis was scored as 0 or 1 respectively. Markov chain Monte Carlo methods were used to draw samples from posterior distributions of interest. Pseudo‐Bayes factors strongly favoured the multivariate Slash and Student'stmodels over the probit model. The posterior mean of the degrees of freedom parameter for the Slash model was 2.2, indicating heavy tails of the liability distribution. The posterior mean of the degrees of freedom for the Student'stmodel was 8.5, also pointing away from a normal liability for clinical mastitis. A residual was the observed phenotype (0 or 1) minus the posterior mean of the probability of mastitis. The Slash and Student'stmodels tended to have smaller residuals than the probit model in cows that contracted mastitis. Heritability of liability to clinical mastitis was 0.13–0.14 before calving, and ranged from 0.05 to 0.08 after calving in the robust models. Genetic correlations were between 0.50 and 0.73, suggesting that clinical mastitis resistance is not the same trait across periods, corroborating earlier findings with probit models.
Age and distal colonic findings determine the yield of advanced proximal neoplasia in Chinese patients with rectal bleeding
Authors: Liou Jyh‐Ming , Lin Jaw‐Town , Wang Hsiu‐Po , Huang Shih‐Pei , Lin Jou‐Wei , Wu Ming‐Shiang 
Published: September 2006

AbstractBackground and Aims:  Few data were available on the optimal diagnostic strategy for Chinese patients with hematochezia. We aimed to evaluate the impact of age and distal colonic findings on the yield of diagnostic strategies in young Chinese patients with hematochezia.Methods:  Consecutive outpatients aged less than 50 years were analyzed using a hypothesized mixed diagnostic strategy to determine the optimal cut‐off age for the use of sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. The efficacy and cost of the diagnostic strategy and the number of colonoscopies needed to detect one advanced proximal neoplasm (APN) using different cut‐off ages were assessed.Results:  In the hypothesized mixed diagnostic strategy for young patients, the sensitivities for the detection of APN were 100%, 92% and 75% if the cut‐off ages were 30, 35 and 40 years, respectively. The cost needed to detect one APN would be $US 3155, $US 3179 and $US 3497 if the cut‐off ages were 30, 35 and 40 years, respectively. Colonoscopy would be performed in 84%, 69% and 51% of patients if the cut‐off ages were 30, 35 and 40 years, respectively.Conclusion:  Colonoscopy should be considered for Chinese patients with rectal bleeding who are aged ≥35 years or those aged <35 years who have adenoma in the distal colon.
High prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and inferior vena cava obstruction among patients with liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma in Nepal
Authors: Shrestha Santosh Man , Shrestha Shobhana , Shrestha Ananta , Tsuda Fumio , Endo Kazunori , Takahashi Masaharu , Okamoto Hiroaki 
Published: September 2006

AbstractBackground: Little is known about the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and the genotype distribution among patients with liver diseases in Nepal, where obstruction of the hepatic portion of the inferior vena cava (IVCO) is common. The aim of the present paper was to assess the roles of HBV infection and IVCO in liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Nepal.Methods: Serum samples from 121 patients (89 male, 32 female; age, 55.0 ± 13.6 years) with or without IVCO consisting of 70 LC patients and 51 HCC patients in Nepal, were tested for HBV‐DNA.Results: The HBV‐DNA was detected in 68 patients (56%) including 20 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐negative patients: 33 LC patients (47%) and 35 HCC patients (69%) had detectable HBV‐DNA (P = 0.0303). Among the 89 patients with IVCO, HBV‐DNA was detected in HCC patients significantly more frequently than in LC patients (80%vs43%,P = 0.0005). The frequency of HBV viremia was significantly higher among HCC patients with IVCO than those without (80%vs44%,P = 0.0236), and that of HBV viremia with IVCO was significantly higher among HCC patients than among LC patients (55%vs27%,P = 0.0153). The HBV genotypes A and D were predominant, and genotype A was significantly more frequent among HCC patients than among LC patients (22%vs6%,P = 0.0090). Among HCC patients, those with genotype A HBV were significantly younger than those with genotype D (43 ± 13vs57 ± 12 years,P = 0.0252).Conclusion: Hepatitis B virus alone (especially genotype A) or in concert with IVCO may be responsible for development of HCC in Nepal.