L. McMillan

Pathogen reduction of fresh plasma using riboflavin and ultraviolet light: effects on plasma coagulation proteins.

BACKGROUND: Treatment with riboflavin and ultraviolet (UV) light reduces the pathogens present in blood components. This study assessed changes to the coagulation proteins that had occurred during this treatment of fresh plasma units before freezing.

Cold storage of pooled, buffy‐coat‐derived, leucoreduced platelets in plasma

Background  This study was designed to determine which in vitro assays would be most useful for studying the effects of cold storage on platelet concentrates and to establish an in vivo model for platelet recovery and survival.

Polymers for the rapid and effective activation and aggregation of platelets

Platelets are responsible for plugging sites of vascular injury, where upon activation they spread out and become cross-linked, preventing further blood loss. It is desirable to control the activation process on demand for applications such as the rapid staunching of blood flow following trauma. Polymers are the material of choice in many biological areas, with physical properties that allow control of morphology as well as ease of functionalisation and production. Herein, polymer microarrays were used to screen a complex human fluid (platelet rich plasma) to identify polyacrylates that could be used to modulate platelet activation. Several polymers were identified which rapidly activated platelets as determined by CD61P binding and subsequent confirmation by scanning electron microcopy analysis. This approach enabled a direct comparison between the natural agonist collagen and synthetic polymers with respect to the activation status of the platelets as well as the number of bound platelets. Further investigations under physiological flow demonstrated that the static microarray experiments gave viable candidates for potential medical applications while specific protein binding to the polymers was identified as a possible mode of action. The approach demonstrates the ability of polymer microarrays to identify new polymers for specific biological activation events and in this case allowed the identification of materials that allowed higher levels of platelets to bind in advanced activation states than the natural standard collagen in static and flow studies.

Freezing of buffy coat–derived, leukoreduced platelet concentrates in 6 percent dimethyl sulfoxide

BACKGROUND: There has recently been renewed interest in freezing platelets (PLTs) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for the treatment of major traumatic injuries, especially in military situations. This study examined PLTs that were frozen in small volumes of 6 percent DMSO at −80°C.

Storage of apheresis platelet concentrates after manual replacement of >95% of plasma with PAS 5

Recently, a glucose‐ and bicarbonate‐containing additive solution termed PAS 5 demonstrated acceptable 7‐day platelet storage after >95% plasma replacement with PAS on the day of collection (Day 0). In this study, we examined platelet storage in >95% PAS 5 after manual washing of Day 1 apheresis platelets in plasma collected using either the Amicus or Trima plateletpheresis devices.

Evaluation of a potassium removal filter on irradiated red cells stored in SAGM

Irradiation of red cell concentrates RCCs) can lead to well‐documented elevated extracellular potassium concentrations. Transfusion of these products has the potential, if given as a massive/rapid transfusion, to lead to transient hyperkalemia. A potassium absorption filter (PAF) has recently been developed and has been proven to effectively remove excess K+. However, data are lacking on the red cell quality parameters over storage after irradiation.

Characteristics of prion‐filtered red cells suspended in pathogen‐inactivated plasma (MB treated or solvent‐detergent treated) for neonatal exchange transfusion

Background and Objectives  Neonates undergoing exchange transfusion require < 5‐day‐old red cells suspended in plasma. This study assesses the effect of replacing the saline, adenine, glucose and mannitol (SAGM) of prion reduced (P‐Capt) red cells with either methylene blue–treated plasma (MBTFFP) or OctaplasLG to reduce the risk of variant Creutzfelt–Jakob disease transmission.

A Novel B-Weak Hybrid Allele With A Non-Repeating Cbf-Enhancer Region

Background and Objectives  The DiaMed Impact R tests platelet function under close to physiological flow conditions. The machine is designed to use whole blood but by adding back compatible red cells, it can be used to study stored platelet concentrates. To date, red cells ≤14 days old have been used. In this study, the effect on the assay of using red cells stored for up to 60 days was examined.

Characterization of a Monoclonal Antibody to Erythroid Related Factor

We describe here a novel IgG monoclonal antibody to erythroid-related factor (ERAF), also known as alpha hemoglobin stabilizing protein (AHSP) and eryththroid differentiation related factor (EDRF). Our antibody named PCE 5 is an IgG(1) kappa chain and is to the peptide sequence MVTVVE ranked highly in our active site analysis and binds with high affinity to ERAF.