Search

Background and Objectives Total colony-forming cells from thawed cord blood units ( CBUs) include megakaryocytic colony-forming units ( CFU-Mks), which survive the freezing process. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether different megakaryocytic progenitors from unseparated CBUs survive the freezing process and a short-term liquid culture. Materials and Methods Thawed samples of CBUs were cultured in liquid medium. During the cultures, serial samples were drawn to assess the growth of different megakaryocytic progenitors in a semisolid collagen medium with identical cytokines as in the liquid medium. Megakaryocytic cells were detected using immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Results In suspension culture, the megakaryocytic progenitors almost completely lost the ability to generate large (burst-forming unit-like, BFU-like) megakaryocytic colonies in semisolid cultures (large colonies, median count per chamber d0: 7·25 vs. d7: 1·5; P < 0·0001), whereas the number of small colonies (median count per chamber d0: 7·25 vs. d7: 16·0; P = 0·0505) peaked at day seven. Further 7-day culture in suspension resulted in the decline of small colonies as well (d7: 16·0 vs. d14: 5·75; P = 0·0088). Total CFU-Mk count declined from 23·3 (range 12·5-34·0) at d0 to 7·25 (range 1·0-13·5) at d14 ( P < 0·0001). Conclusion Immediately post-thaw, CBUs possess an ability to generate large BFU-like megakaryocytic colonies, whereas the colonies were not detectable in most CBUs in semisolid culture after a short suspension culture. Small CFU-Mks were observed throughout the cultures. It may be that the BFU-Mk colonies matured and acquired CFU-Mk behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of patients with severe immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency and a history of anaphylactic transfusion reaction. Patients include a 62-year-old woman with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and a 56-year-old woman with cryptogenic hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The liver and lung transplantations were successful and the use of washed red blood cell (RBC) and platelet components as transfusion support were effective as well.

A letter to the editor in response to the article "Inaccuracy in factor VIII measurement due to administration of recombinant activated factor VII in vivopu," published in a previous issue of the journal is presented.

In Sweden, mosquitoes are considered the major vectors of the bacterium Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica, which causes tularaemia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether mosquitoes acquire the bacterium as aquatic larvae and transmit the disease as adults. Mosquitoes sampled in a Swedish area where tularaemia is endemic (Örebro) were positive for the presence of F. tularensis deoxyribonucleic acid throughout the summer. Presence of the clinically relevant F. tularensis subsp. holarctica was confirmed in 11 out of the 14 mosquito species sampled. Experiments performed using laboratory-reared Aedes aegypti confirmed that F. tularensis subsp. holarctica was transstadially maintained from orally infected larvae to adult mosquitoes and that 25 % of the adults exposed as larvae were positive for the presence of F. tularensis-specific sequences for at least 2 weeks. In addition, we found that F. tularensis subsp. holarctica was transmitted to 58 % of the adult mosquitoes feeding on diseased mice. In a small-scale in vivo transmission experiment with F. tularensis subsp. holarctica-positive adult mosquitoes and susceptible mice, none of the animals developed tularaemia. However, we confirmed that there was transmission of the bacterium to blood vials by mosquitoes that had been exposed to the bacterium in the larval stage. Taken together, these results provide evidence that mosquitoes play a role in disease transmission in part of Sweden where tularaemia recurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tularemia, caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, where F. tularensis subspecies holarctica has long been the cause of endemic disease in parts of northern Sweden. Despite this, our understanding of the natural life-cycle of the organism is still limited. During three years, we collected surface water samples (n = 341) and sediment samples (n = 245) in two areas in Sweden with endemic tularemia. Real-time PCR screening demonstrated the presence of F. tularenis lpnA sequences in 108 (32%) and 48 (20%) of the samples, respectively. The 16S rRNA sequences from those samples all grouped to the species F. tularensis. Analysis of the FtM19InDel region of lpnA-positive samples from selected sampling points confirmed the presence of F. tularensis subspecies holarctica-specific sequences. These sequences were detected in water sampled during both outbreak and nonoutbreak years. Our results indicate that diverse F. tularensis-like organisms, including F. tularensis subsp. holarctica, persist in natural waters and sediments in the investigated areas with endemic tularemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A levy on nitrogen fertilizer is evaluated, using real life experiences in Austria, Finland and Sweden until 1995. In these countries such a levy system was introduced in 1986, 1976 and 1985, respectively. Rates varied from between 10% and 72% of the price of fertilizer. Price elasticity in these situations was estimated to vary between – 0.1 and – 0.5. In Austria the fertilizer industry at first did not pass the costs of the levy on to the farmers, but fertilizer use decreased by 15%, indicating that not only economic stimuli but also other aspects, such as a growing environmental awareness, influence fertilizer use as well. The decrease in fertilizer use in the three countries has probably led to a reduction of nitrogen load to the environment. Levy revenues were mainly used to support grain exports. Administration costs were low, about 0.75% of the tax revenues. It is concluded that a fertilizer tax as a policy instrument is not a perfect method, but that such economic instruments can be part of an effective policy mix to solve nitrogen problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]