Search Results (12)

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of Platelet Concentrates (PCs) in the contest of Hemorrhagic, Actinic, and Radiation Cystitis, plus Urethral Obstruction or Stenosis. Eligibility criteria: Open article in English or Italian regarding in situ applications of PCs for the selected pathologies. Information sources: MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and ELSEVIER. Risk of bias: High (and discussed). Methods for synthesis of results: Selection of relevant contents, resumed by digital tools, checked by authors and used throughout the manuscript. Included studies: 13 screened articles + 7 personal sources + 37 “extra” articles. Synthesis of results: Pre-clinical and clinical studies demonstrated substantial symptom relief, mucosal restoration, and improved growth factor levels, reducing recurrence rates and complications. However, preparation protocols and results varied among studies. Limitations of evidence: Frequent low-quality studies with mall sample size, plus heterogeneous experimental setups and nomenclature/preparations. Interpretation: PCs demonstrate promise due to their bioactive components, enhancing tissue repair and reducing inflammation with no significant adverse events. Despite positive outcomes in pre-clinical and clinical studies, variability in preparation protocols and small sample sizes, together with inconsistent results, highlight the need for high-quality research to validate PCs’ clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Full article

Background: Coronary artery disease is caused by changes in the coronary arteries due to the atherosclerotic process and thrombotic changes. A very important role in the development of the atherosclerotic process in the coronary vessels is played by the inflammatory process and the immune response. Due to the important role of lipids and the coagulation process in the atherosclerotic process, research has also focused on genes affecting lipid metabolism and the coagulation system. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is an enzyme that metabolises lipids, hydrolysing triglycerides to produce free fatty acids and glycerol. Protein C (PC) is an essential component of coagulation and fibrinolysis. It is activated on the endothelial surface by the membrane-bound thrombin-thrombomodulin complex. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has a number of important functions in processes related to fibroblast and smooth muscle cell function. Due to their influence on lipid metabolism and coagulation processes, LPL, PROCR (endothelial cell protein C receptor) and PDGF may affect the atherosclerotic process and, thus, the risk of coronary heart disease. The aim of the study was to examine the associations between the LPL rs264, PROCR rs867186 and PDGF rs974819 gene polymorphisms and the risk of unstable angina and selected clinical parameters. Methods: The study included 232 patients with unstable angina and 144 healthy subjects as the control group. Genotyping was performed using real-time PCR. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the distribution of the polymorphisms tested between the patients with unstable angina and the control subjects. The results showed associations between the PROCR rs867186 and PDGF rs974819 polymorphisms and some clinical parameters in patients with unstable angina. In patients with the PDGF rs974819 CC genotype, there were increased values for cholesterol and LDL serum levels in comparison with patients with the PDGF rs974819 CT and TT genotypes. In patients with the PROCR rs867186 AA genotype, HDL serum levels were lower than in patients with the GA genotype. Conclusions: The results of our study did not show that the LPL rs264, PROCR rs867186 and PDGF rs974819 gene polymorphisms were significant risk factors for unstable angina in our population. The results of the study suggest that PDGF rs974819 and PROCR rs867186 may be associated with some parameters of lipid metabolism. Full article

At Canadian Blood Services, despite the use of 2% chlorhexidine and 70% isopropyl alcohol (standard disinfectant, SD) prior to venipuncture, Cutibacterium acnes evades eradication and is a major contaminant of platelet concentrates (PCs). Since C. acnes forms bacterial aggregates known as biofilms in the sebaceous niches of the skin, this study aimed to assess whether sebum-like components impact disinfectant efficacy against C. acnes leading to its dominance as a PC contaminant. C. acnes mono-species and dual-species biofilms (C. acness and a transfusion-relevant Staphylococcus aureus isolate) were formed in the presence and absence of sebum-like components and exposed to SD, a hypochlorous acid-based disinfectant (Clinisept+, CP), or a combination of both disinfectants to assess disinfectant efficacy. Our data indicate that sebum-like components significantly reduce the disinfectant efficacy of all disinfectant strategies tested against C. acnes in both biofilm models. Furthermore, though none of the disinfectants led to bacterial eradication, the susceptibility of C. acnes to disinfectants was heightened in an isolate-dependent manner when grown in the presence of S. aureus. The reduction of skin disinfection efficacy in the presence of sebum may contribute to the overrepresentation of C. acnes as a PC contaminant and highlights the need for improved disinfection strategies. Full article

Bacterial contamination of platelet components (PC) poses the greatest microbial risk to recipients, as bacteria can multiply over the course of PC storage at room temperature. Between 2010 and 2020, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) screened over 170,000 buffy coat-derived pooled (BCDP) and single-donor apheresis platelets (SDAPs) with the BACT/ALERT 3D microbial detection system (Biomerieux, L’Etoile, France), using a two-step screening protocol which incorporated primary and secondary cultures. Although the protocol was successful in averting septic transfusion reactions (STRs), testing large sample volumes at later time points was reported to improve detection of bacterial contamination. A modified large-volume delayed sampling (LVDS)-type protocol was adopted in 2020, which in the case of SDAP was applied to collections rather than individual splits (2020–2023, 44,642 PC screened). Rates of bacterial contamination for BCDP were 0.125% on Day-2, 0.043% on Day-4 vs. 0.191% in the post-LVDS period. SDAP contamination rates in the pre-LVDS period were 0.065% on Day-1, 0.017% on Day-4 vs. 0.072% in the post-LVDS period. Confirmed STRs were absent, and the interdiction rate for possibly contaminated SDAP was over 70%. In the post-LVDS period, BCDPs had a higher total positivity rate than SDAPs, 0.191% (1:525) versus 0.072% (1:1385), respectively, (chi-squared 12.124, 1 df, p = 0.0005). The majority of organisms detected were skin-flora-type, low pathogenicity organisms, including coagulase-negative staphylococci and Cutibacterium acnes, with little change in the frequency of clinically significant organisms identified over time. Both protocols prevented the issue of potentially harmful components contaminated (rarely) with a range of pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Serratia marcesens, Staphylococcus aureus, and streptococci. Culture positivity of outdates post-LVDS whereby 100% of expired platelets are retested provides a residual risk estimate of 0.06% (95% CI 0.016–0.150). However, bacterial contamination rates in expired platelets did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference between the pre-LVDS 0.100% (CI 0.033–0.234) and post-LVDS 0.059% (0.016–0.150) periods (chi-squared = 0.651, 1 df, p = 0.42). Full article

Platelet concentrate (PC) is a blood component that is used to prevent or manage bleeding associated with thrombocytopenia or impaired platelet function. The aim of our study was to assess the compliance of ordering physicians with the most recent PC transfusion guidelines in our academic medical center. All PC transfusions performed between January 2019 and December 2022 were analyzed. The appropriateness of PC transfusions was assessed based on the most recent PC transfusion guidelines. During 2019–2022, there were 362 (0.2%) PC recipients out of 161,762 hospitalized patients. There were 971 PCs transfused during the analyzed period. Inappropriate transfusions accounted for 53.3% of cases, and most of them were given prophylactically (80.2%). Compliance with platelet transfusion guidelines varied among departments. The overall percentage of inappropriately transfused PC ranged from 50.7% to 60.8% in successive years. Educational activities should target clinicians performing procedures associated with high rates of inappropriate PC transfusions. Implementing clinical decision support systems can help reduce unnecessary PC transfusions and associated costs. The majority of inappropriate PC transfusions in our medical center were given as prophylaxis against bleeding. Prescribers should be educated about evidence-based transfusion triggers for the prophylactic use of PC in various clinical scenarios. Full article

Nowadays, the standard media used in clinical-scale mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) production to supply hundreds of clinical trials uses animal-derived components as supplements, which raises several health concerns. Consequently, the development of xeno-free media supplements has emerged. In the current study, the effect of pulse electric field (PEF) application to platelet concentrates (PC) with no therapeutic value for producing platelet releasates (PR) able to sustain the ability of bone marrow-MSCs (BM-MSCs) to self-renew and differentiate was tested. It was demonstrated that PEF application to PC induces platelet activation and growth factor (GF) release, namely PDGF, FGF, IGF, and TGF-β. The highest GF release was observed for TGF-β, achieving similar levels to those attained in platelet lysates (PL). BM-MSCs expanded in the presence of PR obtained by the application of PEF (7 pulses of 10 and 12.5 kV/cm) to PC (PR PEF) retained the characteristic MSC cell-surface markers, and the ability to proliferate and differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. In this study, evidence is provided that PR PEF represents a suitable alternative to fetal bovine serum (FBS) for use in MSC production. Full article

The present research work focused on the biosensing capabilities of one-dimensional (1D) defected photonic crystal (PC). This proposed structure is capable of simultaneously discriminating between normal and infected samples containing the platelet, plasma, and hemoglobin components of blood. The proposed biosensor was designed by creating a defect layer D of air in the middle of 1D PC (PQ)^N to form modified 1D PC with a defect as (PQ)^N/2D(PQ)^N/2. The period number (N) of 1D PC (PQ)^N was chosen to be 10. The cavity region of air was used to investigate only one of the five samples, at each time, that are part of this study. The theoretical findings of the proposed work were obtained using the well-known transfer matrix method in addition to MATLAB software. The results were computed corresponding to defect layer thicknesses of 200 and 700 nm under normal incidence to overcome the difficulties associated under oblique incidence corresponding to TE and TM polarized waves. We examined the performance of the proposed design by calculating the sensitivity, figure of merit, and quality factor values of the biophotonic sensor loaded with different samples. It was found that the sensitivity of our design reaches to a maximum of 428.6 nm/RIU corresponding to the defect layer thickness of 700 nm, when the cavity is loaded with an infected blood sample containing plasma only. This study successfully simultaneously examined the normal and infected blood samples containing the platelet, plasma, and hemoglobin components of blood. Full article

No cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI) have been reported. The detection of viral RNA in peripheral blood from infected patients and blood components from infected asymptomatic blood donors is, however, concerning. This study investigated the efficacy of the amotosalen/UVA light (A/UVA) and amustaline (S-303)/glutathione (GSH) pathogen reduction technologies (PRT) to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in plasma and platelet concentrates (PC), or red blood cells (RBC), respectively. Plasma, PC prepared in platelet additive solution (PC-PAS) or 100% plasma (PC-100), and RBC prepared in AS-1 additive solution were spiked with SARS-CoV-2 and PR treated. Infectious viral titers were determined by plaque assay and log reduction factors (LRF) were determined by comparing titers before and after treatment. PR treatment of SARS-CoV-2-contaminated blood components resulted in inactivation of the infectious virus to the limit of detection with A/UVA LRF of >3.3 for plasma, >3.2 for PC-PAS-plasma, and >3.5 for PC-plasma and S-303/GSH LRF > 4.2 for RBC. These data confirm the susceptibility of coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 to A/UVA treatment. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the S-303/GSH treatment to inactivate SARS-CoV-2, and that PRT can reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 TTI in all blood components. Full article

Phosphorylcholine (PC) is a structural component of various pathogens and is involved in bacterial adhesion via the platelet-activating factor receptor (PAF-R). In this study, we investigated how PC expression affects cell adhesion and invasion of Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes). Eight clinical strains of S. pyogenes were cultured, and PC expression was measured using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Bacterial adherence and invasion were examined using Detroit 562 cells. An anti-PC-specific monoclonal antibody (TEPC-15) was used to inhibit bacterial PC, and a PAF-R antagonist (ABT-491) was used to inhibit cellular PAF-R. The emm gene was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction with the standard primers. The level of PC expressed on the S. pyogenes surfaces differed in each strain and differed even in the same emm genotype. Adherence assay experiments showed a significant negative correlation between TEPC-15 and ABT-491 inhibitory effects and PC expression in S. pyogenes. Similarly, intracellular invasion assay experiments showed a significant negative correlation between TEPC-15 and ABT-491 inhibitory effects and PC expression in S. pyogenes. This study suggests that S. pyogenes is involved in cell adhesion and invasion by PC. Full article

(1) Background: We reviewed the logistics of the implementation of pathogen reduction (PR) using the INTERCEPT Blood System™ for platelets and the experience with routine use and clinical outcomes in the patient population at the Sírio-Libanês Hospital of São Paulo, Brazil. (2) Methods: Platelet concentrate (PC), including pathogen reduced (PR-PC) production, inventory management, discard rates, blood utilization, and clinical outcomes were analyzed over the 40 months before and after PR implementation. Age distribution and wastage rates were compared over the 10 months before and after approval for PR-PC to be stored for up to seven days. (3) Results: A 100% PR-PC inventory was achieved by increasing double apheresis collections and production of double doses using pools of two single apheresis units. Discard rates decreased from 6% to 3% after PR implementation and further decreased to 1.2% after seven-day storage extension for PR-PCs. The blood utilization remained stable, with no increase in component utilization. A significant decrease in adverse transfusion events was observed after the PR implementation. (4) Conclusion: Our experience demonstrates the feasibility for Brazilian blood centers to achieve a 100% PR-PC inventory. All patients at our hospital received PR-PC and showed no increase in blood component utilization and decreased rates of adverse transfusion reactions. Full article

Platelet concentrates (PCs), mostly represented by platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) are autologous biological blood-derived products that may combine plasma/platelet-derived bioactive components, together with fibrin-forming protein able to create a natural three-dimensional scaffold. These types of products are safely used in clinical applications due to the autologous-derived source and the minimally invasive application procedure. In this narrative review, we focus on three main topics concerning the use of platelet concentrate for treating musculoskeletal conditions: (a) the different procedures to prepare PCs, (b) the composition of PCs that is related to the type of methodological procedure adopted and (c) the clinical application in musculoskeletal medicine, efficacy and main limits of the different studies. Full article

Background: Platelet concentrate (PC) is one of the main products used in a therapeutic transfusion. This blood component requires special storage at blood banks, however, even under good storage conditions, modifications or degradations may occur and are known as platelet storage lesions. Methods: This research was performed on scientific citation databases PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science, for publications containing platelet storage lesions. The results obtained mainly reveal the clinical applicability of miRNAs as biomarkers of storage injury and as useful tools for a problem affecting public and private health, the lack of PC bags in countries with few blood donors. The major studies listed in this review identified miRNAs associated with important platelet functions that are relevant in clinical practice as quality biomarkers of PC, such as miR-223, miR-126, miR-10a, miR-150, miR-16, miR-21, miR-326, miR-495, let-7b, let-7c, let-7e, miR-107, miR-10b, miR-145, miR-155, miR-17, miR-191, miR-197, miR-200b, miR-24, miR-331, miR-376. These miRNAs can be used in blood banks to identify platelet injury in PC bags. Conclusion: The studies described in this review relate the functions of miRNAs with molecular mechanisms that result in functional platelet differences, such as apoptosis. Thus, miRNA profiles can be used to measure the quality of storage PC for more than 5 days, identify bags with platelet injury, and distinguish those with functional platelets. Full article