bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Elaborating patient information with patients themselves: lessons from a cancer treatment focus group
Authors: Moumjid Nora , Morelle Magali , Carrère Marie‐Odile , Bachelot Thomas , Mignotte Hervé , Brémond Alain 
Published: May 2003

AbstractObjective  To assess the significance of patients' input in the elaboration of a patient information booklet.Design  Qualitative study based on focus group discussions.Setting  Centre Léon Bérard, a comprehensive cancer centre in the Rhône‐Alpes region of France.Participants  (1) A multidisciplinary working group (oncologists, health economists and one clinical psychologist) wrote up initial information documents concerning possible breast cancer treatments. (2) A focus group comprised of patients with a history of breast cancer and healthy volunteers discussed their reactions to these documents.Main outcome measure  Analysis of the focus group's reactions according to key themes predetermined by the working group and related themes introduced by the focus group itself.Results  The focus group proposed numerous, significant modifications to answer requests for additional information, clarification and better readability in the information booklets.Discussion/Conclusions  This qualitative analysis showed a significant input of patients' perspective in the elaboration of patient information. It is also an additional support to the feasibility and appropriateness of the focus group technique. The next stage will be to test whether information documents produced here conform to the needs of patients currently undergoing treatment.
The use of willingness to pay to assess public preferences towards the fortification of foodstuffs with folic acid
Authors: Dixon Simon , Shackley Phil 
Published: May 2003

AbstractObjectives To assess public attitudes towards the fortification of flour with folic acid, and quantify their intensity of preference towards the proposed policy.Design Structured interviews describing the proposed policy of fortification followed by questions about the respondent's preferences towards fortification.Setting and participants  A United Kingdom community sample of 76 people interviewed at home.Main variables studied Direction of preference towards fortification, willingness to pay (WTP) for the preferred course of action, and the reasons behind their preferences.Results  Responses showed that 51 (67%) were in favour of fortification, 15 (20%) were opposed, while the remaining 10 (13%) were either indifferent or were unsure. Those in favour of fortification tended to be younger and poorer than those opposed to it. Willingness to pay estimates show that those in favour of food fortification had more intense preferences, with mean and median WTP around twice as great. Reasons for being willing to pay were centred on the health benefits, with particular reference being made to the intervention saving lives and it being preventative. Those opposed tended to believe that there was insufficient evidence.Conclusions The combination of a policy vote, WTP and qualitative data, allow us to assess the direction, intensity and motivations behind people's preferences. Further work needs to be undertaken to gather more robust estimates of public preferences for fortification, and to better understand attitudes towards public health interventions more generally.
Preliminary validation of the Satisfaction With Decision scale with depressed primary care patients
Authors: Wills Celia E. , Holmes‐Rovner Margaret 
Published: May 2003

AbstractObjective To conduct a preliminary validation of the Satisfaction With Decision (SWD) scale with depressed primary care patients.Design  Cross‐sectional observational pilot study using a postal survey.Setting and participants  Depressed primary care patients (n = 97) who recently had made a new decision about antidepressant medication use completed surveys regarding their treatment decisions.Main variables  Measures included patient‐reported satisfaction with decision, decisional conflict, knowledge about depression and treatment, decision involvement, pain and health status, antidepressant medication efficacy, and satisfaction with health services.Results  The SWD scale had good internal consistency reliability (α = 0.85). Evidence for construct validity was confirmed via a hypothesized pattern of relationships between the SWD scale and other measures. Decision satisfaction was associated with several issues of relevance for designing patient‐centred decision support interventions: (1) knowledge about depression and treatment; (2) involvement in health‐related decisions; and (3) aiding evaluation of trade‐offs among pros and cons of treatment.Conclusions  The results of this pilot study show that the SWD scale appears to be a psychometrically sound and practical measure for research with this population. Additional research is needed on the theoretical nature of decision satisfaction and developing and testing patient‐centred decision support interventions for depression treatment.
Patient characteristics as predictors of primary health care preferences: a systematic literature analysis
Authors: Jung Hans Peter , Baerveldt Cor , Olesen Frede , Grol Richard , Wensing Michel 
Published: May 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo identify associations between various cultural and demographic factors and patients’ primary health care preferences.Search strategy Searches were performed in MEDLINE (1966–December 2000), PsycINFO (1977–May 2001) and Sociological Abstracts (1963–December 2000). Identified papers were checked for more papers.Inclusion criteria Studies with a focus on primary health care or health care in general, asking patients about preferences with regard to health care, reporting quantitative results and examining the relations between specific patient characteristics and patient preferences.Data extraction and synthesis Data were extracted from studies using a scoring form to register what methods were used, which patient characteristics were analysed and which patient characteristics significantly influenced patients’ preferences with regard to different aspects of health care (P < 0.05).Main results A total of 145 studies were included with 2276 comparisons between subgroups of patients. Of all the comparisons, 607 (27%) showed a significant association between patient characteristics and preferences with regard to primary health care. Age and economic status significantly related to patient preferences in 38 and 33% of the comparisons, respectively. Education, health status, family situation, sex, and utilization of health care related significantly to patient preferences in less than 25% of the comparisons.Conclusions This review of the literature showed patient characteristics to be an important determinant of preferences regarding many aspects of primary health care defined as general practice care or health care, in general. All of the patient characteristics examined here showed at least some significant associations with preferences for primary health care.
The Role of Decision Analysis in Transfusion Medicine
Authors: AuBuchon James P. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractTransfusion medicine has become challenged by its own success. Within little more than two generations, diligent workers in this field have transformed blood conservation and transfusion techniques from a ‘cottage industry’ with unpredictable outcomes to a science that delivers components that are safe and efficacious and transfusion advice that is increasingly based on evidence rather than speculation.
Platelets Stored in a Glucose‐Free Additive Solution or in Autologous Plasma – An Ultrastructural and Morphometric Evaluation
Authors: Klinger Matthias H.F. , Josch Mirko , Klüter Harald 
Published: May 2003

AbstractWe evaluated a new glucose‐free citrate‐acetate‐NaCl platelet additive solution (PAS 2). In series I, platelet concentrates (PC) were prepared by apheresis and subsequently stored either in plasma (n =16) or in PAS 2 (n =15). In series II, PCs were prepared from pools of four buffy coats (BC) and stored in plasma (n =12) or in PAS 2 (n =11). By means of ultrastructural morphometry, the volume fractions of α‐granules, the open canalicular system (OCS) and the fraction of storage granules secreted into the OCS were analyzed during storage for up to 8 days. Additionally, we determined pH, glucose, lactate, pCO2, HCO3–, lactate dehydrogenase and platelet factor 4. Apheresis platelets stored in plasma showed no changes in their contents of α‐granules and in the fractions of the OCS. In contrast, apheresis platelets stored in PAS 2 displayed a decrease of their relative volume fraction of α‐granules from 9.1±1% on day 1 to 3.7±0.9% on day 5. The fraction of the OCS increased from 7.4±0.8% on day 1 to 17.1±1.4% on day 3. On day 8, 93±9% of all platelets were lysed. Levels of glucose were significantly lower in these preparations and after day 3 glucose consumption decreased to zero. Among PC derived from pooled BC, differences between storage in PAS 2 or plasma were less striking. Only the fraction of α‐granules secreted into the OCS was significantly greater in BC derived PC stored in PAS 2 on all days. These PCs stored in PAS 2 had a higher plasma carryover (30%) in comparison to apheresis PC stored in PAS 2 (10%). We conclude that plasma is superior to PAS 2 for storage of both apheresis and buffy coat platelets. For preservation of the structural integrity of platelets, the use of PAS 2 requires a minimum of 30% plasma carryover.
Testing Plasma Pools for Markers of Viral Contamination: The UK Experience
Authors: Ferguson Morag , Minor Philip D. , Garrett A. John , Page Mark , Thorpe Robin , Barrowcliffe Trevor 
Published: May 2003

AbstractThe transmission of viral infections through the use of products derived from blood has emphasised the need for adequate validation of the production process, testing of materials used in production and quality control tests on the final product. Since the late 1980s, as part of its batch release procedures, NIBSC has tested for markers of viral infectivity plasma pools used in production of blood products used in the UK. As a result of testing over 9,000 pools, NIBSC has identified 9 pools contaminated with HBsAg and 2 pools containing antibodies to HIV‐1. Since routine screening of plasma pools for anti‐HCV was introduced in 1993, 8 pools out of the 4,000 tested have been found to contain antibodies to HCV. In addition, the release of 12 batches of blood products was withheld and it is known that further batches of material produced from the positive pools were not submitted for batch release. Studies involving assays of dilutions of known positive plasma samples indicated that there is considerable variation in the endpoint dilutions of antigen or antibody detected by test kits from different manufacturers. The selection and validation of the kits used in such testing is therefore important. The usefulness of standardised low‐level external controls in assays of plasma pools for markers of viral infection is discussed.
More on False Thrombocytopenias: EDTA‐Dependent Pseudothrombocytopenia Associated with a Congenital Platelet Release Defect
Authors: Silvestri Federico , Masotti Adriana , Pradella Paola , Zaja Francesco , Barillari Giovanni , De Marco Luigi 
Published: May 2003

AbstractWe report herein the case of a 54‐year‐old woman with a moderate bleeding tendency, diagnosed as an EDTA‐dependent pseudothrombocytopenia associated with a congenital platelet release defect. The patient, at the age of 12, had a misleading diagnosis of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and all the recurrent bleeding problems she had during her life were referred to that disease. The recent correct diagnosis of a false thrombocytopenia stimulated further laboratory investigation on the cause of the patient's bleeding tendency with the consequent identification of a congenital platelet deficiency of the arachidonic acid pathway. This finding is of relevant importance for the management of the patient in case of elective surgery or hemorrhagic emergency.
A New Low‐Incidence Antigen in the Kell Blood Group System: VLAN (KEL25)
Authors: Jongerius J.M. , Daniels G.L. , Overbeeke M.A.M. , Petty A.C. , Reid M. , Oyen R. , Rijksen H. , van Leeuwen E.F. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractA multilaboratory investigation has identified a new low‐incidence antigen ‘VLAN’ on the red cells of a blood donor. The VLAN antigen is destroyed by 2‐aminoethylisothiouronium bromide treatment of the donor's red cells suggesting an association with the Kell system. Monoclonal antibody‐specific immobilization of erythrocyte antigen analysis with anti‐VLAN and with several mouse monoclonal antibodies directed at epitopes on the Kell glycoprotein gave positive results, indicating that the VLAN antigen is located on the Kell glycoprotein. The VLAN red blood cells have the common Kell phenotype: KEL:–1,2,–3,4,5,–6,7,–10,11,12,13,14,–17,18,19,–21,22,–23,–24. Additional serologic data indicate that the VLAN antigen is not part of any other ISBT blood group system, collection or series. A family study showed that the VLAN antigen is inherited since the red cells of two sisters and one niece of the propositus are also VLAN+. The ISBT Working Party on Terminology for Red Cell Surface Antigens has assigned VLAN to the Kell blood group system as KEL25 (number for computer listings 006025).
First Case of HIV‐1 Group O Infection in Spain
Authors: Soriano V. , Gutiérrez M. , García‐Lerma G. , Aguilera O. , Mas A. , Bravo R. , Pérez‐Labad M. L. , Baquero M. , González‐Lahoz J. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractA 34‐year‐old woman born in Bilbao, a northern city in Spain, was first seen at our institution in April 1995. She had maintained a monogamous sexual relation in the preceding 6 years with a 35‐year‐old male, and previously has sex only sporadically with two other persons. She as well as her three partners were Spanish‐born, and had neither a history of transfusions, nor of injecting drugs, nor were they homosexual.
Role of the Blood Transfusion Service in Tissue Banking
Authors: Warwick Ruth M. , Eastlund Ted , Fehily Deirdre 
Published: May 2003

AbstractTissue transplantation and banking are rapidly growing services throughout the world reflecting the widening availability of transplantable cadaver tissue and the mounting clinical indications particularly in orthopaedic, plastic and cardiovascular surgery. In the US tissue banking is more established, yet continues to show a rapid growth profile. In the UK it is currently organised in a variety of different ways and by a number of different organisations. The risks of disease transmission by tissue transplantation are similar to those for blood transfusion and the majority of tissues are grafted during procedures that are not life saving. The danger of disease transmission has resulted in the introduction of legislation in the US which allows the FDA to inspect tissue banks and to recall and destroy tissues. In the UK, there is currently no regulation or inspection of tissue banks to demonstrate that donor selection, tissue processing and tracking are conducted to acceptable standards. Blood transfusion services in the UK, US, New Zealand, Australia and possibly other countries have extended their roles to include organ and tissue donation to varying degrees, with the collection, processing and distribution of bone and tendon allografts most commonly undertaken. They have readily available special capabilities and experience with an established infrastructure, compliant with Good Manufacturing Practice, placing them in an ideal position to provide this service safely and cost‐effectively.
Influence of the Red Blood Cell Preparation Method on the Efficacy of a Leukocyte Reduction Filter
Authors: Alcorta I. , Pereira A. , Sanz C. , Terol M. J. , Ordinas A. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractThe performance of a leukocyte reduction bedside filter with different types of RBC concentrates was analyzed. Three types of RBCs were prepared: buffy‐coat‐depleted RBCs suspended in saline‐adenine‐glucose‐mannitol (SAGM)‐additive solution (BC‐RBCs; n = 20), RBCs suspended in SAGM‐additive solution without buffy coat removal (SAGM‐RBCs; n = 20), and RBCs drawn in CPDA‐1 conservative solution and processed for component preparation by the platelet‐rich plasma method (CPDA‐RBCs; n = 20). The units were filtered within 8 h of collection. One filter was used for every 2 units. High numbers of residual WBCs were found even in the units filtered first. Filtration of CPDA‐RBCs resulted in a higher residual WBC content than SAGM‐RBCs or BC‐RBCs (p = 0.0032 and p = 0.0002, respectively). The filter performance strikingly decreased when the WBC load per filter exceeded 4 × 109 or the platelet load was less than 100 × 109. We conclude that filter performance varies with the WBC and platelet content of the RBC concentrates. Under the experimental conditions assayed in this study CPDA‐RBCs are the least appropriate ones to be used for bedside leukocyte reduction.
Estimation of the Progenitor Cell Yield in a Leukapheresis Product by Previous Measurement of CD34+ Cells in the Peripheral Blood
Authors: Möhle Robert , Murea Simona , Pförsich Margit , Witt Barbara , Haas Rainer 
Published: May 2003

AbstractTo assess whether measurement of CD34+ cells in the peripheral blood allows one to estimate the progenitor cell yields of subsequent leukapheresis procedures, 733 corresponding blood and leukapheresis samples were analyzed. Peripheral blood progenitor cells of cancer patients were mobilized with hematopoietic growth factors alone or postchemotherapy, and harvested processing 10 liters of blood for each leukapheresis product. The CD34+ cell count (CD34+ cells/μl blood) correlated most closely with the progenitor cell yield in the corresponding leukapheresis product (CD34+ cells/kg bodyweight, r = 0.80), while the proportion of circulating CD34+ cells to the white blood and mononuclear cells predicted the yield less reliably (r = 0.74 and r = 0.60). The CD34+ cell yield was independent of the white blood count (r = 0.04), whereas a weak correlation was found between the mononuclear cell count and the number of CD34+ cells/kg collected (r = 0.42). It was unlikely to obtain the threshold quantity of 2.5 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg required for rapid engraftment when counts below 10 CD34+ cells/μl blood were detected. At levels between 10 and 30 CD34+ cells/μl sufficient autografts could be harvested, whereas 30–100 CD34+ cells/μl were required to achieve this by a single leukapheresis. A surplus of CD34+ cells was likely above 100 CD34+ cells/μl which could be useful for progenitor cell enrichment techniques. The correlation between the CD34+ cell count and progenitor cell yield was independent of the mobilizing regimen and whether leukaphereses had been performed previously. In conclusion, the number of CD34+ cells/μl blood allows a reliable prediction of the CD34+ progenitor cell yield in subsequent leukapheresis procedures. However, rare cases of unexpectedly sufficient progenitor cell yields may be observed even at CD34+ cell levels below detection limit.
The Low‐Incidence Blood Group Antigen, Wda, Is Associated with the Substitution Val557→ Met in Human Erythrocyte Band 3 (AE1)
Authors: Bruce Lesley J. , Zelinski Teresa , Ridgwell Kay , Tanner Michael J. A. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractThe Waldner blood group antigen (Wda) was first identified in members of a Hutterite kindred. Evidence that the gene governing the Waldner polymorphism is located on chromosome 17, and the observation that the antigen is inactivated by chymotrypsin prompted the investigation of a possible association between Wda and band 3. Single Stranded Conformational Polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequence analysis of the AE1 gene, from subjects of known Waldner phenotypes, showed a heterozygous mutation leading to the substitution Val557→ Met in the presumptive Wd(a+) heterozygotes. Therefore the Wda blood group antigen is associated with the presence of Met557 on band 3. The Waldner antigen has been assigned to the Diego blood group system with the International Society of Blood Transfusion number DI5.
Hepatitis A Transmission by Factor IX Concentrates
Authors: Lawlor E. , Graham S. , Davidson F. , Yap P. L. , Cunningham C. , Daly H. , Temperley I. J. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractFactor IX concentrates unlike factor VIII concentrates have not to date been associated with the transmission of hepatitis A virus (HAV). A retrospective study by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on a batch of factor IX concentrate used to treat two haemophilia B patients who developed jaundice and IgM anti‐HAV antibodies within 50 days of factor IX administration in 1985 revealed the presence of HAV RNA. These findings indicate that factor IX concentrates can transmit HAV and that appropriate viral inactivation steps to inactivate non‐enveloped viruses as well as enveloped viruses are necessary to ensure the safety of factor IX concentrates.
Removal of Parvovirus and Hepatitis A Virus by Metal Chelate Affinity Chromatography during the Preparation of Replenine ®: A High‐Purity Factor IX Concentrate
Authors: Roberts Peter L. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractThe widespread use of specific virus inactivation techniques such as solvent/detergent, pasteurisation and severe dry‐heat treatment, has greatly increased the safety of coagulation factor concentrates [1]. All these techniques are highly effective against known blood‐borne enveloped viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. In addition, they should also prove effective against the recently described GB group of hepatitis viruses [3], given that these are enveloped viruses related to hepatitis C.
The Use of DNA Typing for Human Platelet‐Specific Antigens in the Daily Routine: A Case Report
Authors: Stein Sophia , Drabbels Jos , van 't Sant Paul , Witvliet Marian D. , Bein Gregor , Claas Frans H. J. , Doxiadis Ilyas 
Published: May 2003

AbstractHuman platelets express a variety of immunogenetically determined alloantigens. Besides the classical HLA class I antigens, which are found on almost all nucleated cells, platelet‐specific antigens can cause alloimmunization in susceptible patients.