bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Amotosalen interactions with platelet and plasma components: absence of neoantigen formation after photochemical treatment
Authors: Lin Lily , Conlan Maureen G. , Tessman John , Cimino George , Porter Seth 
Published: September 2005

BACKGROUND: The INTERCEPT Blood System (Baxter Healthcare Corp., and Cerus Corp.) is a photochemical treatment (PCT) process that uses amotosalen (S‐59) and ultraviolet A (UVA) illumination to inactivate a broad spectrum of pathogens.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To evaluate the potential of the process to create neoantigens, the amounts of residual amotosalen and photoproducts present in PCT platelets (PLTs) and PCT plasma were quantified. The initial amount of amotosalen was 150 µmol per L. After illumination with 3 J per cm2 UVA and before transfusion, a compound adsorption device was used to substantially reduce the amounts of free amotosalen and unreactive photodegradation products. Patient serum samples from Phase III clinical trials were assayed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies to potential amotosalen neoantigens.RESULTS: After PCT, 15 percent of the starting amount of amotosalen remains bound to PLTs, and 15 to 22 percent remains bound to plasma components. The majority of bound amotosalen is associated with lipid. Less than 1 percent of PLT‐bound amotosalen and approximately 2 percent of plasma‐bound amotosalen can be extracted into the water‐soluble protein fraction. In seven Phase III clinical trials, 523 patients received more than 8000 units of PCT PLTs or PCT plasma. None of the patients exhibited clinical or laboratory manifestations of neoantigenicity. Furthermore, no other alteration of PLT membrane proteins was identified based on testing for lymphocytotoxic antibodies and PLT‐specific alloantibodies.CONCLUSION: These results indicate that no neoantigens were detected by ELISA after PCT, suggesting that transfusion of PCT PLTs or PCT plasma does not induce adverse immunologic responses.
Missense mutations outside the catalytic domain of the ABO glycosyltransferase can cause weak blood group A and B phenotypes
Authors: Seltsam Axel , Blasczyk Rainer 
Published: September 2005

BACKGROUND: Only little is known about the impact of amino acid substitutions outside an enzyme's active site on A and B transferase activity.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A panel of blood group A‐ and B‐specific plasmids containing the six known missense mutations of the coding sequence upstream of exon 6 of the ABO gene were constructed. HeLa cells were used to transfect ABO expression plasmids.RESULTS: Expression of ABO variants containing single or multiple missense mutations in HeLa cells resulted in a significant decrease in the percentage of antigen‐expressing cells (up to 29%) and in mean fluorescence intensity (MFI; up to 50%) compared to transfection with ABO*A101 or ABO*B101. Coexpression of the respective antithetical wild‐type construct (ABO*A101 and ABO*B101, respectively) further reduced cell surface expression of variant ABO constructs in regard to the percentage of expressing cells (up to 53% decrease) and MFI (up to 59% decrease).CONCLUSION: Weak A and B subgroups can arise from transferases with amino acid changes in the N‐terminal domain, particularly in AB phenotypes, where normal A1 or B1 glycosyltransferases compete for the same substrates.
Decreased sepsis related to indwelling venous access devices coincident with implementation of universal leukoreduction of blood transfusions
Authors: Blumberg Neil , Fine Lynn , Gettings Kelly F. , Heal Joanna M. 
Published: September 2005

BACKGROUND: Randomized trials and animal models demonstrate that leukoreduction of transfusions can reduce the risk of post‐operative infections. We performed a retrospective study of sepsis related to indwelling venous access devices (line related infections) before and after the July 2000 implementation of universal leukoreduction.METHODS: Line related infection data were collected from hospital infection control records for an 18‐month period before and after July 2000. Transfusion histories were obtained from transfusion service records.RESULTS: Line related infections decreased in number from 150 to 98 (−35%) in transfused patients after implementation of universal leukoreduction, whereas line related infections increased from 41 to 45 (+10%) in nontransfused patients (p = 0.04). This corresponded to a decrease from 5.3 to 3.3 infections/10,000 patient days in transfused patients (p = 0.002). The infection rate remained stable in nontransfused patients at 1.5 infections/10,000 patient days both pre‐ and postimplementation of universal leukoreduction. Quantitatively similar decreases (33–45%) were seen in transfused surgical, medical and pediatric patients.CONCLUSIONs: A substantial and statistically significant decrease in line related infections occurred coincident with implementation of universal leukore‐duction. These improved outcomes were observed in transfused but not nontransfused patients, across all clinical services, suggesting a causal relationship with universal leukoreduction.
Blood irradiator dosimetry with BANG polymer gels
Authors: Fearon Thomas , Criss Valli R. , Luban Naomi L.C. 
Published: September 2005

BACKGROUND:  Transfusion‐associated graft‐versus‐host disease is believed to be a preventable complication of blood transfusion in susceptible high‐risk patients. Irradiation of allogeneic blood components is considered to be a safe and effective method inhibiting the proliferative capacity of lymphocytes. Physical factors that influence dose delivery include source and sample geometry, homogeneity of the dose distribution within the irradiation volume, and factors that influence dose absorption within the sample.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  Polymer gel dosimetry was used to evaluate the three‐dimensional dose distribution for blood bags, platelet (PLT) bags, and syringes in typical geometries.RESULTS:  The qualitative dose distribution within a cylindrical phantom determined with the polymer gel was in good agreement with the distribution in water determined with a DOSE‐MAP film dosimetry system. Dose uniformity in blood bags and syringes was acceptable. Low signal strength and volume averaging hamper determination of the dose in PLT bags.CONCLUSION:  Geometrical considerations in routine blood product irradiation may be evaluated with the use of polymer gel dosimetry. The procedures, however, are highly technical and are susceptible to low signal‐to‐noise and volume averaging considerations under certain geometrical configurations. Under clinical conditions, a reasonably uniform dose can be delivered to blood and blood components in a freestanding irradiator.
A noninvasive strategy for screening prospective blood donors for anemia
Authors: Lotfi Ramin , Wernet Dorothee , Starke Uwe , Northoff Hinnak , Cassens Uwe 
Published: September 2005

BACKGROUND:  The reliability of capillary hemoglobin (Hb) as an indicator for eligibility to donate blood is discussed controversially. Therefore, a noninvasive alternative with acceptable predictive values was established and evaluated.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  Donor candidates were selected according to their Hb level. The first donation was performed 6 weeks after this selection step. A venous blood sample was collected from all donors at the end of their donation and a postdonation Hb determination was performed. Donors with acceptable postdonation Hb values were permitted to donate next time without any predonation Hb measurement. Donors with low postdonation Hb values were permitted to donate only after a venous Hb measurement had shown an acceptable value. Sensitivity and specificity were determined by comparing the gold standard (i.e., venous Hb measurement) with the presented method of Hb estimation for 19,534 donors.RESULTS:  Taking the postdonation Hb as an indicator for eligibility saved 97 percent of donors from being tested unnecessarily by capillary Hb measurement. This procedure resulted in a specificity of 92.6 percent and a sensitivity of 37.9 percent for Hb cutoff levels of 135 and 125 g per L for men and women, respectively. The sensitivity increased rapidly to 100 percent for Hb levels below 105 g per L. The average deviation from true Hb level was 6 g per L.CONCLUSION:  The presented noninvasive method distinctly saves time and expenditure without endangering blood donors.
Residual risk of transfusion‐transmitted human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus infections in Italy
Authors: Gonzalez Margarita , Règine Vincenza , Piccinini Vanessa , Vulcano Francesca , Giampaolo Adele , Hassan Hamisa Jane 
Published: September 2005

BACKGROUND: Estimating the risk of transfusion‐transmitted infections (TTIs) is essential for monitoring blood safety. The residual risk of TTI was estimated for nearly 90 percent of the blood supply in Italy.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were analyzed from 1,079,281 repeat donors, corresponding to 5,361,000 donations made in blood transfusion centers throughout Italy in the period 1999 through 2001. The residual risk of transfusion‐transmitted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections was estimated with the incidence rate–window period model. The denominator for the incidence rate (i.e., the number of person‐years at risk) was estimated on a sample of 5850 donors.RESULTS: The risk of an infectious donation entering the blood supply, per 1 million donations, was 1.91 (probable range, 0.52‐3.32) for HIV, 16.74 (9.57‐24.01) for HCV, and 69.16 (43.12‐102.70) for total HBV (adjusted for vaccination and hepatitis B surface antigen transience).CONCLUSION: In Italy, the estimated residual risk of TTI is apparently low, particularly for HIV infection. Although the estimated risks are higher for HCV and HBV, the introduction of mandatory viral detection tests for HCV in 2002 should account for an 80 percent reduction in the HCV risk. Moreover, the ongoing HBV vaccination program will contribute to reducing the risk of transfusion‐transmitted HBV.
Prevalence of selected viral infections among temporarily deferred donors who returned to donate blood: American Red Cross blood donor study
Authors: Zou Shimian , Musavi Fatemeh , Notari Edward P. , Fujii Karen E. , Dodd Roger Y. ,   ARCNET Study Group
Published: September 2005

BACKGROUND:  Health history questions are introduced into the predonation interview to identify blood donors believed to pose a higher risk of infectious diseases to recipients. This study assesses the current impact of some of those questions.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  Donor deferral and donation data were extracted from a research database of the American Red Cross. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen or antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, or human T‐lymphotropic virus was obtained for different groups of donors who were temporarily deferred in 2000 through 2001 and later returned to donate blood in 2000 through 2003. The results were compared with either first‐time or repeat donors in 2000 through 2003, while controlling for differences in sex, age, and year of donation.RESULTS:  Of donors temporarily deferred in 2000 through 2001 who had had no donation or deferral during the previous 2 years, only 22.08 percent subsequently returned to donate blood in 2000 through 2003. Donations from returning donors who had been deferred for potential infectious disease risk did not show a higher prevalence for any of the viral markers when those with no donation or deferral during the previous two years were compared with first‐time donations, and those with prior donation were compared with repeat donations.CONCLUSION:  Blood donors temporarily deferred in 2000 through 2001 for potential risk of viral infection who later returned to donate blood did not appear to pose a higher risk compared to first‐time or repeat donors. The effectiveness of some of the currently used deferral questions in reducing viral risks warrants further study.
Safety and impact of donor‐type red blood cell transfusion before allogeneic peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation with major ABO mismatch
Authors: Scholl Sebastian , Klink Anne , Mügge Lars‐Olof , Schilling Kristina , Höffken Klaus , Sayer Herbert G. 
Published: September 2005

BACKGROUND:  Changes within the ABO system are regularly observed phenomena in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation (PBPCT). Major ABO mismatch can lead to different clinical problems including acute hemolysis after infusion of the allograft, delay of red blood cell (RBC) engraftment, or even manifestation of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA).STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  This retrospective study demonstrates the safety and the impact of donor‐type RBC transfusion before allogeneic PBPCT in major ABO settings as routinely performed at our transplantation unit. This study reports on transfusion of mismatched RBCs at the end of the conditioning period in 35 patients who underwent allogeneic PBPCT, which led to a decrease in isoagglutinin titers in most cases.RESULTS:  A decrease of isoagglutinin titer after donor‐type RBC transfusion can significantly reduce the demand of RBC transfusion between transplantation and Day +30 (p = 0.003). Interestingly, patients who developed PRCA were not observed, a complication being regularly documented by other groups.CONCLUSION:  A decrease of isoagglutinin titers by in vivo immunoadsorption before allogeneic PBPCT does not only lack severe complication but also leads to a reduction in demand of RBC transfusion after engraftment and may reduce the incidence of PRCA in these patients.
Novel weak D types 31 and 32: adsorption‐elution–supported D antigen analysis and comparison to prevalent weak D types
Authors: Körmöczi Günther F. , Förstemann Elisabeth , Gabriel Christian , Mayr Wolfgang R. , Schönitzer Diether , Gassner Christoph 
Published: September 2005

BACKGROUND:Weak D types are thought to express rather quantitative than qualitative D antigen variants. Distinct type‐specific phenotypes and weak D cases with anti‐D alloimmunization, however, suggest a variable degree of D antigen alteration.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:Variant D types were investigated by use of molecular typing,RHDsequencing, extended serologic D antigen investigations, and flow cytometric D antigen density determination.RESULTS:Two novel weak D types were discovered, termed weak D type 31 and 32 with singleRHDnucleotide substitutions coding for amino acid exchanges in predicted intracellular RhD polypeptide stretches, with antigen densities of approximately 130 and 50 D sites per red blood cell, respectively. Adsorption‐elution technique–supported D epitope mapping of these two weak D types, the recently described weak D type 26, and of the most common Central European weak D types (weak D types 1, 2, 3, 4.0, and 4.1) demonstrated the expression of all tested D epitopes. In contrast, a distinct D epitope loss was detected in weak D type 15 and partial D control samples.CONCLUSION:All novel and prevalent weak D types expressed all tested D epitopes. Our results indicate that adsorption‐elution techniques may be of advantage whenever D epitope loss is suspected in extremely weak D variants.
Use of intravenous immunoglobulin for treatment of neurologic conditions: a systematic review
Authors: Fergusson Dean , Hutton Brian , Sharma Michael , Tinmouth Alan , Wilson Kumanan , Cameron D. William , Hebert Paul C. 
Published: September 2005

BACKGROUND:  Given the increasing use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for various neurologic conditions and uncertainty pertaining to its benefits and harms, a systematic review was conducted of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating IVIG for all neurologic indications for which there was at least one published trial.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  For this systematic review, a systematic search strategy was applied to MEDLINE (1966‐June 2003) and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (June 2003) to identify potentially eligible RCTs comparing IVIG to placebo or an active control. All dosage regimens were considered. Abstracts were excluded, and no restriction was placed on language of publication. Two investigators independently performed data extraction with a standardized form. Measures of effect were calculated for each trial independently, and studies were pooled based on clinical and methodologic judgment as to its appropriateness. Where pooling of trials was inappropriate, a qualitative discussion of findings is provided.RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:  Thirty‐seven trials representing 14 conditions were identified. IVIG is more effective than placebo for treatment of relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis and idiopathic chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. There is also potential benefit for treatment of multifocal motor neuropathy, myasthenia gravis, dermatomyositis, stiff‐person syndrome, and Lambert‐Eaton myasthenic syndrome. There was insufficient evidence to determine whether IVIG therapy was more effective than plasma exchange for Guillain‐Barré syndrome. There was also insufficient evidence regarding paraprotein‐associated polyneuropathy. No evidence of benefit was observed for secondary progressive multiple sclerosis or inclusion body myositis.
Relationships between lung function, smoking and morphology of dermal elastic fibres
Authors: Just Miquel , Monsó Eduard , Ribera Miquel , Carles Lorenzo Joan , Morera Josep , Ferrandiz Carles 
Published: September 2005

Objective:  To investigate the relationship between lung function and dermal elastic fibres in non‐smokers and smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Method:  A cross‐sectional study was performed with lung function as the outcome [forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)%, FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC)% and residual volume (RV)/total lung capacity (TLC)%] and smoking (pack‐years) and morphology of dermal elastic fibres (fibres/mm2 and percentage histologic field filled with them) as independent variables, with assessment of the associations between these variables by univariate and multivariate testing.Results:  Sixty outpatients reporting chronic cough and/or phle\gm were enrolled (16 non‐smokers/44 smokers; COPD: 26, 43.3%). Both lung function and elastic fibres in the reticular dermis (fibres/mm2rs = 0.36, percentage of the histologic field filled by elastic fibres rs = 0.48, P ≤ 0.01) correlated with cumulative smoking (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient). Lung function parameters correlated with percentage of the histologic field filled by elastic fibres (FEV1%: r = −0.43; FEV1/FVC%: r = −0.36 and RV/TLC%: r = 0.43; P ≤ 0.01, Pearson correlation coefficient), and COPD was significantly related to this morphologic parameter (odds ratio 1.26, 95% confidence interval 1.06–1.48; P = 0.006), associations that depended mainly on cumulative smoking.Conclusion:  Lung function impairment with an obstructive pattern is associated with morphologic abnormalities in the reticular dermis appearing in the histologic section as an increase in the percentage of the field filled by elastic fibres. This relationship depends on cumulative smoking and suggests a common effect of smoking on the elastic fibres in both lung and skin.
Comparison of four direct algorithms for computing inbreeding coefficients
Authors: SARGOLZAEI Mehdi , IWAISAKI Hiroaki 
Published: September 2005

ABSTRACTOne widely used measure in genetic analyses of livestock species is the inbreeding coefficient. Computation costs of inbreeding coefficients are of importance for large populations. Very recently, a ‘direct’ method for computing inbreeding coefficients was modified using a relatively efficient method to construct lists of ancestors in which the integrity of chronological order within each ancestral path is kept. Using simulated data, the computational efficiency of the recently modified algorithm was investigated by comparing it with three other algorithms – the original direct algorithm, its previously modified algorithm and another direct algorithm. The recently modified algorithm became considerably faster than the original algorithm and its previous modification when the number of generations increased, and it was fast relative to the other direct algorithm when the average number of generations and family size were not large. When only animals born in the most recent year were evaluated with the knowledge of inbreeding coefficients for their ancestors, the recently modified algorithm outperformed the other algorithms, indicating its possible advantage in updating situations.
Heritability estimates of liabilities to digestive diseases in heavy racehorses
Authors: KUMAGAI Masashi , SUZUKI Keiichi , SHINOHARA Hisashi , OHTOMO Yukiko , NISHIDA Akira 
Published: September 2005

ABSTRACTData on 1410 heavy racehorses were taken from theHokkaido Banei Horse Racing Result Bookpublished during 1997–2000. Heritabilities were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood method with a full data set of the accumulated prize winnings and the frequency of medical treatment against digestive diseases. Heritability estimates for the same traits were also obtained using a partial data set from affected animals only. In addition, a ‘two classes, one threshold’ model was applied to the full data set for the heritability estimation of liability to the diseases. Heritabilities estimated by restricted maximum likelihood with the full data set were quite low: 0.09 ± 0.02 for the prize winnings and 0.08 ± 0.03 for all three digestive diseases – colic resulting from flatulence, constipation and overfeeding. Low heritabilities were also estimated for each of the three kinds of colic. Medium heritabilities were estimated for colic resulting from constipation (0.30 ± 0.19) and overfeeding (0.46 ± 0.22) using the partial data set taken from the affected animals. Using the threshold model, higher heritabilities from 0.42 ± 0.04 to 0.57 ± 0.03 were estimated for the liabilities to all three digestive diseases and to the individual digestive diseases. These results suggest that liability evaluation of the frequency of medical treatment is insufficient because all non‐affected animals are scored as 0. The high heritabilities estimated by the threshold model with half‐sib relationships should be verified in future studies by comparing them with estimates from other genetic relationships and with realized heritabilities from a small‐scale practical selection program.
Effect of time of the addition of glucose to a medium on the development of 1‐cell stage mouse embryos
Authors: MASUDA Shinya , KOYANAGI Fukashi 
Published: September 2005

ABSTRACTIn the present study, 1‐cell stage mouse embryos were cultured with or without glucose, and their development to the blastocyst stage was compared. Embryos cultured in a glucose‐free medium had a higher percentage of development to the 8‐cell stage, and they had higher developmental speeds compared with those cultured in a glucose‐containing medium. The percentages of embryos that developed to the early blastocyst stage, blastocyst stage and expanded blastocyst stage were much lower than those developed in a glucose‐containing medium. This suggests that the culture of 1‐cell stage embryos in a glucose‐containing medium inhibits development at the 8‐cell stage, and that glucose is necessary for blastocyst formation. Previous reports indicate that, from the 1‐cell stage to the 4‐cell stage, glucose inhibits embryo development. In the present study, exposure of early embryos to a glucose‐free medium improved subsequent embryo development, and there was no difference in the percentage of development to the stages ranging from the 8‐cell stage to the expanded blastocyst stage between embryos cultured in a glucose‐free medium from the 1‐cell stage to the 2‐cell, 4‐cell and 8‐cell stage. This indicates that embryo development is improved when a 1‐cell stage embryo is exposed to a glucose‐free medium before and during the 2‐cell stage, and glucose only has an inhibitory effect on embryo development during conversion from the 1‐cell stage to the 2‐cell stage.