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Background: Lipoprotein apheresis (LA) is considered as an add-on therapy for patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). We aimed to analyze the data collected in the last 15 years from FH patients treated with LA, to elucidate the benefit of this procedure with respect to plasma lipids, biomarkers of inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction and soluble endoglin.Results: 14 patients (10 heterozygous FH patients (HeFH), 4 homozygous FH patients (HoFH)) were treated by long-term lipoprotein apheresis. Lipid levels were examined, and ELISA detected biomarkers of inflammation and soluble endoglin. Paired tests were used for intergroup comparisons, and a linear regression model served to estimate the influence of the number of days patients were treated with LA on the studied parameters. LA treatment was associated with a significant decrease of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, HDL-C, and apoB, in both HeFH and HoFH patients, after single apheresis and in a long-term period during the monitored interval of 15 years. Biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction were reduced for soluble endoglin, hsCRP, and MCP-1, and sP-selectin after each procedure in some HeFH and HoFH patients.Conclusions: LA treatment up to 15 years, reduced cholesterol levels, levels of biomarkers related to endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation not only after each procedure but also in the long-term evaluation in FH patients. We propose that long-term LA treatment improves lipid profile and endothelial dysfunction in familial hypercholesterolemia patients, suggesting a promising improvement in cardiovascular prognosis in most FH patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Česká a Slovenská Neurologie a Neurochirurgie is the property of Czech Medical Association of JE Purkyne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this work was to describe polyaniline salts synthesized and to assess the mechanical and anticorrosion properties of alkyd resin-based coating materials pigmented with them, in dependence on the pigment volume concentration and type. Polyaniline salts were prepared by oxidative polymerization in the solutions of inorganic (hydrochloric, phosphoric, and sulfuric) and organic ( p-toluenesulfonic and 5-sulfosalicylic) acids. Polyaniline salts were characterized by thermal analysis and spectroscopic methods. Electrical conductivity was also measured by the van der Pauw method, and the molecular weight of the polyaniline was determined by gel permeation chromatography. Furthermore, the particle size of the solid salts was measured, and the morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Subsequently, the parameters required to formulate pigmented organic coatings, i.e., density and critical pigment volume concentration were determined. A soybean oil-based fast drying alkyd resin of medium oil length was used as the binder for the organic coating material. Organic coatings containing the polyaniline salts at pigment volume concentrations 0%, 1%, 5%, 10%, and 15% were formulated and subjected to a standard accelerated cyclic corrosion tests. The organic coatings (paint films) were also subjected to mechanical tests and to the electrochemical test by potentiodynamic polarization studies. Graphical Abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This 4-month study (10 May - 6 September 2012) evaluated the effects of supplementary feeding on common carp ( Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) growth, water quality, natural food availability and nutrient balance under different pond treatment regimes (eight rectangular earthen ponds; 0.03 ha surface area; 3-year-old carp). The nitrogen and phosphorus budgets were calculated as the difference between input (food, fish stocked and influent water) and output (effluent water and fish harvested). Three types of supplementary feeds were used: wheat, thermally-treated wheat, and thermally-treated and pressed wheat. An additional test group was provided with naturally available forage only and served as a control. The type of supplementary feed did not influence the water quality, with the exception of dissolved oxygen. No significant differences among experimental ponds were observed in zooplankton abundance. The use of modified cereals (especially thermally-treated and pressed wheat) improved carp growth performance and resulted in lower nutrient concentrations in effluent water via improving their digestibility. Both thermally-treated and thermally-treated and pressed cereals improved the balance of phosphorus; hence these diets could be beneficial, not only from the fish production point of view but also as a tool to reduce the deterioration of pond water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transfusiology & Haematology Today / Transfuze a Hematologie Dnes is the property of Czech Medical Association of JE Purkyne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Higher biomass especially of some aquatic macrophyte species offered a higher density of phytophilous zoobenthos, but did not increase the proportion of non‐planktonic to planktonic prey in young‐of‐the‐year perch Perca fluviatilis. Both abundance and biomass of non‐planktonic prey dominated over planktonic prey in the pond with lower biomass of aquatic macrophytes and lower food. Survival of P. fluviatilis was lower (20%) in the pond with lower food than in the other pond (34%), however, specific growth rate (1·3% day−1) and final Fulton's condition factor of P. fluviatilis were similar in both ponds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Otorhinolaryngology & Phoniatrics / Otorinolaryngologie a Foniatrie is the property of Czech Medical Association of JE Purkyne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background. Using our statin analysis method, it was possible to uncover a significant drop in statin levels (atorvastatin, simvastatin, and metabolites) after extracorporeal LDL-cholesterol elimination (EE) in severe familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). The purpose of this work was to identify the mechanism underlying this drop and its clinical significance as well as to proposemeasures to optimize a pharmacotherapeutical regimen that can prevent the loss of statins. Methods. Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) connected to the triple quadrupole MS/MS system was used. Patients. A group of long-term treated patients (3-12 years of treatment) with severe FH (12 patients) and treated regularly by LDL-apheresis (immunoadsorption) or haemorheopheresis (cascade filtration) were included in this study. Results. After EE, the level of statins and their metabolites decreased (atorvastatin before/after LDL-apheresis: 8.83/3.46 nmol/l; before/after haemorheopheresis: 37.02/18.94 nmol/l). A specific loss was found (concentration of atorvastatin for LDL-apheresis/haemorheopheresis: 0.28/3.04 nmol/l in washing fluids; 11.07 nmol/l in filters). To prevent substantial loss of statin concentrations, a pharmacotherapeutic regimen with a longer time interval between the dose of statins and EE is recommended (15 hours). Conclusions. A specific loss of statins was found in adsorbent columns and filters. The decrease can be prevented by the suggested dosage scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheological conditions basically influence tissue perfusion, oxygen and nutrient supply, tissue regeneration and in its consequence the course of pathological processes, especially in microcirculation and partially even in macrocirculation. Haemorheotherapy has shown to be successful in several indications (critical disorders in microcirculation) when other methods of therapy have failed. In this study we describe the changes of effectivity indicators in haemorheopheresis treatment and their clinical importance in cases of eye microcirculation, statoacoustic apparatus and disorders of the lower extremities. We treated with haemorheopheresis (separator Cobe.Spetra + Evaflux filter) 24 patients (16 patients with age related macular degeneration, 5 with critical peripheral arterial foot disease, and 3 with acute hearing loss). After the procedures α2-macroglobulin decreases by about 58%, fibrinogen by about 69%, IgM by about 61%, LDL-cholesterol by about 77%, apolipoprotein B by about 76% and lipoprotein(a) by about 63%. It corresponds with a decrease in blood and plasma viscosity and clinical improvement in the observed patients, i.e. visual improvement, acceleration of tissue defect healing and improvement in hearing. We noticed 7.1% clinically insignificant side-effects. The method of haemorheopheresis was safe. It led to improvement in patients' clinical condition in the above mentioned indications when other methods of treatment failed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transfusiology & Haematology Today / Transfuze a Hematologie Dnes is the property of Czech Medical Association of JE Purkyne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Group of 152 patients (investigated before autologous transplantation) and 35 healthy donors for allogeneic transplantation was examined for the risk of infection transmission that can be associated with the infusion of cryopreserved peripheral blood progenitor cells to the patient and/or cross-contamination of stored grafts. No laboratory signs of active infection were found in 22 donors (63 %) and in 91 patients (60%). The most common was active infection by herpes viruses — 50 cases in patients, 21 cases in donors; hepatitis B was found in only two cases. The rate of clinically unsuspected (but dangerous) infections in donors and patients thus remains relatively high in spite of the fact that the system of donor search and the whole transplantation procedure have improved in the last years. The system of safety assurance is extremely important and the whole palette of preventive tests according to EBMT ( European Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group) and ISHAGE ( International Society for Hemotherapy and Graft Engineering) is fully justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a group of 71 patients and 22 donors the danger of infection transmission by infusion of cryopreserved peripheral blood progenitor cells to the patient and/or cross contamination of stored grafts was evaluated. No laboratory signs of active infection were found in 15 donors (13 related, 2 unrelated; 68 %) and in 55 patients (77 %). Active infection by herpesviruses was the most common (in 13 patients and 7 donors), hepatitis B being found in only one case. The cytomegalovirus IgG test was the most common marker of previous infection; it was found in 14 donors and 55 patients. The rate of clinically unsuspected infections in donors and patients including cases requiring immediate treatment among the patients group is relatively high and fully justifies the practice of prophylactic serological testing in the whole range of tests according to the European Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group and International Society for Hematotherapy and Graft Engineering in both autologous and allogeneic transplantations of hematopoietic stem cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AC133 antibody provides an alternative to CD34 for the selection and characterization of cells necessary for engraftment in transplant situations. We studied the effect of stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin 3 (IL-3) and interleukin 11 (IL-11) on the ex vivo expansion of human CD34+/AC133+ progenitors isolated from leukapheresis products from chemotherapy plus granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) -mobilized adult donors. MiniMACS AC133+ isolated cells contained a mean of 85% (80-90) AC133+ cells. Enriched AC133+ cells co-expressed CD34+ 80%, CD71low 36.6 % and CD33+ 6.6 %. After a seven-day ex vivo expansion in the presence of SCF + IL-3 + IL-11, the number of cells increased 19 times. These cells expressed a mean 12% CD34+ and 74% CD71+ (23% CD 71high) and 59% CD33+. This means that the absolute number of CD34+ cells increased slightly, the number of CD33+ increased 100 times and cells with high density CD71high (23%) appeared. These cells represent the cells committed to erythroid differentiation. The increase in the number of CFU-GM with various combinations of cytokines SCF + Il-3 + IL-11 will be discussed. The number of CFU-GM in culture after a seven-day ex vivo expansion in the presence of SCF + IL-3 + IL-11 increased 45 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To support multicyclic, dose-intensive chemotherapy in breast cancer, we assessed the effects of reinfusing hematopoietic progenitors either as a leukapheresis product or as mobilized unprocessed whole blood. In this clinical study, 16 consecutive female breast cancer patients were given six cycles of chemotherapy regimen EC (epirubicin (150 mg/m2) and cyclophosphamide (1250 mg/m2) on day 1). In the first cycle, 24 h after chemotherapy, mobilization of the peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) was started with growth factor G-CSF (Neupogen; Amgen-Roche) at a dose of 5 μg/kg/day for 13 days. In all other cycles G-CSF had been given at the same dose from day 7. On days 11, 12 and 13 the leukaphereses were performed and their products cryopreserved. On day 14 whole blood was collected. The median peak incidence of CFU-GM (granulocyte–macrophage colony-forming unit) in peripheral blood was approximately 50 times the baseline level. The leukapheresed PBPC were divided into portions and reinfused after the fourth, fifth and sixth chemotherapy courses. The support with mobilized whole blood was given after the second and third cycles. The effects of the support of whole blood vs leukapheresed PBPC on hematopoietic recovery were compared. The best yields of leukaphereses were achieved on day 13 after initiation of the chemotherapy. The mean number of CD34+ cells was 4.93 × 106/kg (s.d. 2.7; range 0.36–10.54 × 106/kg) the amount of CFU-GM was 2.18 × 105/kg (s.d. 1.3; range 0.07–4.2 × 105/kg). The yields of CFU-GM in 450 ml whole blood collected on day 14 reached 0.51 × 105/kg (s.d. 0.28; range 0.05–1.5 × 105/kg) and of CD34+ cells were 1.3 × 106/kg (s.d. 0.8, range 0.18–2.58 × 106/kg). PBPC yields in 450 ml of unprocessed whole blood were in some cases not... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The therapeutic method of reverse isolation in patients using an aseptic environment in the Life Island or Laminar Air Flow Unit apparatus systems is described on the basis of data from the literature and the authors' experience. A historical summary of views on treatment in an aseptic environment is followed by a description of the method of work with the system of reverse isolation, including important technical, operational and other data. The main indications for treatment are given and the authors' experience with the reverse isolation of 36 patients suffering from blood diseases who were treated in this way over the past four years is evaluated. The experience gained confirms data from the literature that reverse isolation is unequivocally successful in reducing the number of infections in immunologically weakened persons. Other aspects have not yet been definitely assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the advantages of large volume erythrocytapheresis (LVE) therapy in patients with erythrocytosis. Improvement in symptomatology; Causes of polyglobulia; Efficacy of LVE therapy.

BACKGROUND: Using our statin analysis method, it was possible to uncover a significant drop in statin levels (atorvastatin, simvastatin, and metabolites) after extracorporeal LDL-cholesterol elimination (EE) in severe familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). The purpose of this work was to identify the mechanism underlying this drop and its clinical significance as well as to propose measures to optimize a pharmacotherapeutical regimen that can prevent the loss of statins. METHODS: Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) connected to the triple quadrupole MS/MS system was used. Patients. A group of long-term treated patients (3-12 years of treatment) with severe FH (12 patients) and treated regularly by LDL-apheresis (immunoadsorption) or haemorheopheresis (cascade filtration) were included in this study. RESULTS: After EE, the level of statins and their metabolites decreased (atorvastatin before/after LDL-apheresis: 8.83/3.46 nmol/l; before/after haemorheopheresis: 37.02/18.94 nmol/l). A specific loss was found (concentration of atorvastatin for LDL-apheresis/haemorheopheresis: 0.28/3.04 nmol/l in washing fluids; 11.07 nmol/l in filters). To prevent substantial loss of statin concentrations, a pharmacotherapeutic regimen with a longer time interval between the dose of statins and EE is recommended (15 hours). CONCLUSIONS: A specific loss of statins was found in adsorbent columns and filters. The decrease can be prevented by the suggested dosage scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]