THE SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OF IRANIAN BLOOD TRANSFUSION ORGANIZATION (KHOON)
Year:2010 | Volume:7 | Issue:3 (28)|Papers Count:10

Background and Objectives: There is growing evidence indicating that growth factors derived from platelets can be used in wound healing. This study aimed to investigate whether old platelets can be used as the main material for preparation of platelet gel and as substitute for FBS and FCS in cell culture medium.Materials and Methods: In this exprimental study, platelets were prepared from voluntary blood donors by centrifugation. To prove the hypothesis that the platelet gel and the growth factor derived from expired platelets are able to propagate different cells, platelet derived factors were prepared from both new and expired platelet-rich plasma. The concentration of platelet-derived growth factors was measured by ELISA and cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay.Results: The results showed the high quality of platelet gel obtained from old platelets. Our results also revealed that old platelets released growth factors similar to those released by new platelets. The growth factors derived from old and new platelets had the same proliferation effects on MSC, CHO, and Fibroblast cell lines.Conclusions: Old platelets released the same growth factors that new platelets did; this showed that old platelets as valuable constituents of blood are cost effective to be used.

Background and Objectives: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is one of the most malignant forms of acute leukemia with a fatal course of only weeks which represents 10-15% of AML in adults. Arsenic trioxide as a single agent factor (without chemotherapy) is the treatment of choice for APL patients; it induces cell death through apoptosis but the mechanism by which arsenic targets apoptosis and dramatically affects gene expression remains poorly understood. Since arsenic is used as first line treatment in Iran, it is worth investigating its effect on expression of genes involved in APL.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, to understand the underlying mechanisms of cell death induction by arsenic, we treated NB4 cell line in a dose and time dependent manner. Extracting RNA and synthesis of cDNA, gene expression of apoptotic genes in mitochondrial pathway including caspase3, Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 was analyzed through Real-Time PCR.Results: Our findings showed that As2O3-induced cell death was paralleled by reduced expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 but the expression of Caspase3 and Mcl-1 did not change after arsenic treatment.Conclusions: These results suggest that changes in Bcl-2 gene expression may be one of the mechanisms of action of arsenic in induction of apoptosis, while Caspase3 and Mcl-1 gene expression are not affected by arsenic at the transcriptional level.

Background and Objectives: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is one of life-threatening post-transplantation complications. Several recent studies have described a significant correlation between transplantation outcome and three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NOD2 gene. This study was conducted to evaluate the association of NOD2 gene polymorphisms with the occurrence of GVHD in acute myelogenous leukemia patients who underwent HSCT from their HLA-matched sibling donors.Materials and Methods: We examined retrospectively NOD2 genotypes by PCR-SSP both in 124 patients who underwent HSCT and in their donors; then, the association of the genetic polymorphisms on acute and chronic GVHD was evaluated. Median follow up of patients was 40 months (range of 28-77 months). Statistical analyses were performed using Chi-square test and SPSS software. Results: Mutation incidence was the same between donors and recipients as 12.1%. In three of the patient-donor pairs (2.4%) SNPs occurred in both resulting in an overall frequency of 21.8% in patient-donor pairs. There weren’t any significant differences between aGVHD and cGVHD incidence rates when donor/recipient pairs with SNPs were compared with the pairs without SNPs. aGVHD and cGVHD incidence rates in the former pairs were 52% and 56% and in the latter pairs 50.5% and 55%, respectively.Conclusions: No impact of NOD2 SNPs on incidence of acute and chronic GVHD was observed. Further studies are required to ascertain whether the findings of this study can be extended to other disease groups. In addition, further studies are required to identify the relevance of other SNPs.

Background and Objectives: Transfusion transmitted infection is one of the most important transfusion reactions. In this study, we tried to find new cases of HCV in thalassemic patients having referred to Adult Thalassemia Clinic after 1996 and to trace them back for sources of infection.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study in which all patients were studied; census method of data collection was used. Those patients with no test record before 1996 that appeared to be positive in their first test attempt were not considered a new HCV positive case. The new cases were just those whose past negative HCV Ab test results changed into positive in new test. For data analysis, SPSS version 14 was used.Results: Out of 395 file records, 274(69.4%) were thalassemia major, and 110 (27.8%) intermediate. We had 109 HCV positive cases (27.5%) out of whom 21 were those infected after 1996. Out of the latter, 5 had complete medical records by which 54 blood donors were identified; however, only 37 (68.5%) were traced and found to be negative for HCV Ab. Noteworthy that 81% of these safe donors were shown to be repeated donors.Conclusion: Since there had been one or more donors whose donations had been administered to each patient with no possibility for them to be traced, we were not able to prove the transmission of HCV from donors to recipients. Other possibilities including hospital transmission, patient to patient transmission, and transmission by nurses involved in blood administration should be taken into account.

Background and Objectives: Heamoglobin color scale (HCS) is a simple, reliable, and inexpensive method for screening blood donors before donation. We decided to carry out this study to compare the diagnostic value of Hb strip test and CuSo4 test with the gold standard method (cyan metheamolgobin).Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 506 blood donors were selected. At first, the Hb level of skin puncture blood was measured by CuSo4 method and Hb strip test. Then, venepuncture samples taken from all donors were measured with cyan metheamoglobin method. The acceptance criteria of Hb in strip test are the level higher than 14 g/dL and in cyan metheamoglobin the level higher than 12.5g/dL. Chi-square was performed for final data analysis using SPSS 13.Results: Analysis of results showed that sensivity and specifity rates of Hb strip test with positive predictive value of 23.3% are 100% and 95.6%, respectively. In the CuSo4 method sensivity and specifity were 100% and 95% with the reportedly positive predictive value of 21.8%. Comparison of Hb strip test and CuSo4 method with the gold standard test (cyan metheamoglobin) showed a significant difference (p< 0.005). Cell counter results indicated that the level of Hb in 41 out of 506 blood donors was higher than 17 g/dL which is not countable in the Hb strip test.Conclusions: This study showed Hb strip test compaired with CuSo4 method has a higher sensivity and specifity rate; thus, it can be used as a simple, reliable and inexpensive method.

Background and Objectives: AIDS is a pandemic disease that threatens the world population. At first, this disease was transmitted by blood products in Iran; however, it expanded through other routes. Considering this change of transmission pattern, it is necessary to raise the awareness of the public especially high risk groups thereby placing impact on prevention. The present cross–sectional study was carried out to determine knowledge level of high school students of Chabahar city about AIDS.Materials and Methods: A cross sectional survey among randomly selected high school students in Chabahar city was conducted. The students responded to anonymous questionnaires. Knowledge and attitude were scored. Sample size was 500 and data analysis was performed by SPSS version 17.Results: Out of 500 students, 51.6% (258) and 48.4% (242) were boys and girls, respectively; among them 47.6% had good and 36.6% moderate knowledge about AIDS. Knowledge of girls was estimated to be significantly higher than boys. In 48% of students, the attitude towards HIV positive persons was bad and in 19% good. There was shown to be a direct correlation between attitude and practice with knowledge.Conclusions: Although the knowledge level of the students seems to be good, misconceptions about the routes of transmission were common. There was a substantial intolerant attitude towards AIDS and HIV positive patients. We recommend that strategies for AIDS risk reduction in Iranian high schools to be implemented.

Background and Objectives: FFP (Fresh Frozen Plasma) containing all coagulation factors is used to treat coagulation disorders. In the present study, FFP consumption in Children Medical Center was studied to evaluate transfusion indications leading to blood orders some of which might have been unnecessary bringing about inappropriate blood use or unused blood donations.Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, 1262 FFP order and reservation requests during one year for being administered to 735 patients were reviewed by census method. The results were analyzed by Chi square and SPSS.Results: Out of 1262 requested FFP units, 952 (75.4%) were transfused, and 90 units (7.13%) though thawed were not. Out of 220 reserved units, only 22 units were transfused.Conclusions: Taking more attention in ordering will prevent blood loss and increase economic saving. The blood bank of Children Medical Center does not embark on thawing FFP before its usage is finally confirmed so that blood loss is somehow avoided.

Background and Objectives: Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell disorder which accounts for about 10% of all hematologic cancers; 99% of patients diagnosed are older than 40 years of age. The aim of this study is to evaluate the recognized cellular and molecular factors effective on the emergence and development of MM.Materials and Methods: In the present study, 150 articles about genetic translocation, osteoclast and osteoblast cells, chemokines, signaling pathways, and Multiple Myeloma published in recent years were firstly selected to be reviewed. Out of this number, 69 which applied to cellular and molecular biology of MM were selected to be studied.Results: Bone lesions and pathological fractures are the most important complications of Multiple Myeloma. Recurrent infection, renal insufficiency, hyperproteinemia, amyloidosis, hypercalcemia, decrease of alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin are other complications which are mostly caused by cell-cell interaction, chemokine, and immunoglobulin signal induction.Conclusions: The results show that infiltration of tumor cells like myeloma cells is due to secretion of some factors from BM cells as well as the presence of calcium and iron whose concentration is high in BM.