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Biomedical subjects

G Sirchia

Publications and source records attributed to G Sirchia.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Prospective evaluation of posttransfusion hepatitis.

The incidence of posttransfusion hepatitis (PTH) was determined prospectively at our institution. An active surveillance program of transfused surgical patients was set up; alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were determined before transfusion and at monthly intervals for 6 months after transfusion. Patients with confirmed ALT values greater than 2.5 times the upper reference values were referred to the out-patient clinics for diagnosis. Of 4051 surgical patients who underwent transfusion between January 1986 and December 1989, 2459 (60.7%) were enrolled in the surveillance program, and 1018 (25.1%) completed the follow-up; 238 patients received autologous blood only and were used as controls. No PTH was observed in the control patients, and the incidence of the disease in patients receiving homologous blood was 10.97 percent in 1986, 6.58 percent in 1987, 5.55 percent in 1988, and 4.29 percent in 1989; the decreasing trend is significant (p = 0.018).

Alanine Transaminase↗

Purification of immunomodulatory factors in human peripheral blood leukocytes.

Procedure is described for purifying low-molecular-weight factors with antigen-aspecific properties from a dialysate of human leukocyte extract. It includes gel chromatography on Sephadex G-25 and G-15, ion-exchange chromatography, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a C18 hydrophobic column and gel permeation HPLC. The immunosuppressive factor (mol.wt. 800-1000) was purified to near homogeneity. It is probably of peptidic nature, although it is pronase resistant. The enhancer factor (mol.wt. 300-600) is eluted from chromatographic columns together with a hypoxanthine-like substance. Nevertheless, the biological activity cannot be attributed to the purine derivative. Identification of this amplifier activity is still lacking.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Removal of white cells from red cells by transfusion through a new filter.

The effectiveness of a new filter (RC100) for the preparation of white cell-depleted red cells (RBCs) at the bedside was evaluated in vitro and in vivo using three RBC products: standard RBC concentrate (CPDA units), RBCs suspended in saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol additive solution after the removal of plasma (SAGM units), and RBCs suspended in SAGM after the removal of plasma and buffy coat (SAGM-BC units). Median RBC recovery was at least 92 percent when 2 units were administered through one filter; median values for residual white cells and platelets were less than or equal to 20 x 10(6) and less than or equal to 2.5 x 10(9) per 2 units, respectively. The in vivo study was carried out in 80 multiply transfused patients with thalassemia, 35 of whom had experienced frequent nonhemolytic transfusion reactions when given standard or buffy coat-free RBCs. During the 6-month study, each patient was given two transfusions of each type of RBC product One febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction occurred in each of two patients receiving SAGM-BC units, but in no other case. If the flow rate is not reduced, the median transfusion time is 35 minutes per CPDA unit and 15 minutes per SAGM and SAGM-BC unit. It is concluded that the transfusion of RBCs through the RC100 is a simple and effective procedure to administer white cell-depleted RBCs prepared at the bedside.

Blood Transfusion↗

Effects of blood donation on cerebral blood flow velocity.

Eighteen healthy male blood donors, nine with hematocrit (Hct) of 0.40 to 0.45 (normal Hct) and nine with Hct of 0.49 to 0.52 (upper-limit Hct), were monitored by continuous-wave internal carotid Doppler sonography and hematologic tests for 28 days after blood donation, to ascertain whether and to what extent a single standard donation may modify the velocity of cerebral blood flow. The two groups had similar mean predonation values of internal carotid flow velocity (ICFV): blood donation was followed in both groups by a slight, transient decrease of ICFV at the end of phlebotomy, due to donation-induced hypovolemia, and then by an increase of ICFV lasting 7 to 10 days. Analysis of individual profiles revealed that only four of nine upper-limit and six of nine normal Hct donors displayed a positive trend (increase) in the ICFV within the first week after donation, and that it was due mainly to a rise in systolic flow velocity. Mean Hct and arterial oxygen content showed a negative trend (decrease) within the first week that was opposite to the ICFV trend. Other laboratory variables, including serum proteins and plasma fibrinogen concentration, and the iron status indicators did not change, except for serum ferritin, which also decreased within the first week after phlebotomy. It can be concluded that blood donation may result in a short-term increase of blood flow velocity that is independent of Hct predonation levels in approximately one-half of the donors.

Adult↗

Comparison of platelet activation and membrane glycoprotein Ib and IIb-IIIa expression after filtration through three different leukocyte removal filters.

We evaluated three filters used for leukocyte removal from platelet concentrates: Imugard IG 500, Pall PL100 and Sepacell PL-10A. Filter performance, platelet activation and expression of membrane glycoproteins Ib and IIb-IIIa were evaluated. Imugard, Pall and Sepacell showed median postfiltration in vitro platelet recoveries of 88, 84 and 80%, and total residual leukocyte counts of 16.1, 7.5 and 0.6 x 10(6)/pool of 8 platelet concentrates, respectively. Mean platelet volume was reduced after filtration with all filters. Postfiltration values of glycoproteins Ib and IIb-IIIa, and of activation markers GMP 140 and gp 53 were not significantly different from prefiltration values. Filtration through Imugard, Pall and Sepacell did not induce significant platelet activation or modifications of platelet membrane glycoproteins Ib and IIb-IIIa.

Cell Separation↗

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies in Italian blood donors. The Italian Cooperative Group.

11,117 blood donors from 24 blood transfusion services evenly distributed throughout the various Italian regions were tested for the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in the serum and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level. The results are as follows: (1) anti-HCV seroprevalence in Italy was 0.87% with a difference between Northern and Southern regions (0.68 vs. 1.37%) and between younger and older subjects (0.62 vs. 1.21%); (2) prevalence of elevated ALT levels was 4.74% without a North-South effect (except than for markedly elevated ALT levels); (3) anti-HCV seroprevalence was higher in subjects with elevated ALT (5.0%), with a North-South effect (2.2 vs. 9.9%) and particularly high (19.2%) in subjects with markedly elevated ALT; (4) ALT levels were elevated in 26.2% of anti-HCV positive subjects, with a North-South effect (14 vs. 40.5%).

Adult↗