Search

Introduction. Poor graft function is one of the most severe complications after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, which manifests as pancytopenia/cytopenia in the blood count, with the presence of complete or incomplete donor chimerism. There are three entities of graft weakness: 1. poor graft function: pancytopenia with complete donor chimerism, 2. graft failure: pancytopenia with incomplete, i.e., mixed donor chimerism and 3. graft rejection: progressive decline of donor chimerism. Definition. Poor graft function is diagnosed as pancytopenia (hemoglobin < 70 g/L, absolute neutrophil count < 0.5 x 109/L, platelets < 20 x 109/L) for 3 consecutive days from D+28, excluding the presence of severe graft versus host disease and relapse, with complete donor chimerism in poor graft function, and incomplete in graft failure. Risk factors and therapeutic principles. The most common risk factors for poor graft function are a small dose of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells in the transplant, graft versus host disease, cytomegalovirus infection, the presence of donor-specific antibodies, high serum ferritin, i.e., iron overload, as well as splenomegaly. Pathogenetic mechanisms in the development of poor graft function are still not fully elucidated. The role of the microenvironment of the patient?s bone marrow is also important, as well as disorders of the immune system Therapeutic options for overcoming this complication include using selected ?stem cell boost?, mesenchymal stem cells, and newer medical agents (N-acetyl cysteine, atorvastatin, thrombopoietin receptor agonists). Conclusion. The type of poor function of the graft is defined in relation to the percentage of donor chimerism, and is necessary for planning further treatment strategy.

Conventional hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a well-known treatment method for numerous acquired and congenital hematopoietic disorders, disorders of the immune system, as well as certain metabolic disorders. Stem cells (SCs) can be defined as cells capable of self-renewal with a high proliferative capacity and the potential to differentiate into functionally competent mature cells. Stem cells can be divided into embryonic SCs (ESCs) and tissue-specific or adult SCs - such as bone marrow (BM) stem cells, peripheral blood (PB) stem cells, and SCs derived from umbilical cord blood (UCB), as well as other non-hematopoietic or somatic SCs. SCs in adults are characteristically considered to be restricted in their regenerative and differentiative potential, while embryonic stem cells are 'true' totipotent/pluripotent cells, due to their ability to develop into endoderm, ectoderm, or mesoderm - all three embryonic tissue types in the human body. They are the most promising, but also the most controversial type of potentially transplantable SCs. Immature hematopoietic SCs have the potential of differentiating, not only into all blood cells, but also into some somatic cell types (SC plasticity). In different clinical settings, the transplantation of immature stem cells leads to the repopulation of recipient bone marrow, with subsequent complete, stable, and long-term reconstitution of hematopoiesis. Given that immature stem cells are also capable of homing to different tissues, autologous stem cell implantation into a damaged and/or ischemic area induces their colonizing and consecutive transdifferentiating into cell lineages of the host organ, including neovascularization. Thus, they are clinically applicable in the field of regenerative medicine for the treatment of myocardial, brain, vascular, liver, pancreatic, and other tissue damage. The purpose of this overview is to recapitulate the key developments in the rapidly evolving area of stem cell research, as well as to review the use of SCs in conventional transplantations and in regenerative medicine. Additionally, a brief critical evaluation of our own stem cell research will be summarized.

Background/Aim. After the introduction of a careful selection procedure for blood donors and the implementation of highly sensitive screening tests for transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs), blood has become a very safe product concerning TTIs. However, due to the existence of a ?window? period during which these ?markers? cannot be detected, as well as the emergence of new pathogens, the risk is still present. Implementation of pathogen reduction technology (PRT) provides a proactive approach to improving blood safety. By damaging nucleic acids, PRT selectively inactivates pathogens and leucocytes. Nevertheless, during the process, plasma proteins are also damaged to some extent. The aim of this study was to conclude whether there is a difference in the effect of PRT on protein S (PS) and alpha 2-antiplasmin (?2AP) regarding the time of inactivation: inactivation immediately after plasma separation from whole blood (before freezing) vs. inactivation after freezing/thawing. Methods. The voluntary donors? blood is taken into a quadruple bag system, centrifuged, and separated into blood products. Control group plasma was first inactivated by the Mirasol? PRT system and then frozen. Experimental group plasma was immediately frozen and, after four months, thawed and inactivated. PS and ?2AP activity was examined in samples after separation, inactivation, and thawing. Results. Analyzing PS and ?2AP activity, no statistically significant difference was found between the initial samples. The trend of protein activity reduction after inactivation and freezing/thawing was present in both groups but without a statistically significant intergroup difference. Conclusion. No statistically significant difference was found between the activity values of PS and ?2AP after immediate inactivation, before freezing, and after freezing/thawing, making stored plasma units suitable for safe and efficient inactivation directly before clinical use and according to the patient?s blood type.

Chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL), Ph + is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder, which, due to its specificity for many decades, has attracted the attention of researchers of specialties. This disease was among the first malignant haemopathies that received their “ID card” since molecular precisely defined the basic pathological substrate, that origin of the disease. Over the past decades we have witnessed the evolution of the therapeutic approach in the treatment of from oral cystostatic therapy, radiotherapy, through recombinant interferon alpha (IFN-alpha), haematopoeza stem cell transplantation, to the targeted molecular therapy of the tyrosine inhibitor (TKI). In this report we present patient with a diagnosis of Ph + in the early chronic phase at the age of 13 all relevant analyzes. During the past 26 years, all modalities of CGL treatment were applied in patients, according to the time period, concluding with the second generation resulting in complete remission of diseases with excellent quality of life and identical expectations for the future, as well as in healthy population.