Hyperbaric treatment of platelets extends in vitro storage to 14 days.

BACKGROUND: Platelets for transfusion have a storage time of 5-7 days at 22°C-24°C, which results in a strain on the supply chain and supply shortages. We describe a novel method to extend platelet storage using xenon (Xe) gas under high pressure and refrigeration. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Apheresis platelets (APU) prepared in 65% platelet additive solution (PAS) were stored under standard conditions (SC) at 20°C-24°C to Day 5. Paired APUs were prepared with Xe and stored to Day 14 at 2°C-6°C under hyperbaric conditions (XHC). A standard panel of in vitro assays was conducted. RESULTS: XHC platelets were viable out to Day 14. The average pH of Day 14 platelets was 6.58, and 86% maintained some degree of swirl compared with 7.02 and 100% swirl for Day 5 SC platelets. The rate of glycolysis was reduced under XHC storage with less glucose consumption and lactate generation. Activation levels for Day 14 platelets, while increased, did not prevent response to agonists in vitro, including epinephrine + Adenosine 5-Diphosphate (EPI/ADP) and thrombin receptor-activating peptide (TRAP) aggregation. Thromboelastogram (TEG) assessment showed 80% or greater conservation of platelet function for Day 14 xenon stored platelets compared with Day 5 SC platelets. DISCUSSION: Platelet storage with the Xe/hyperbaric/cold method is a feasible candidate for extension of storage to 14 days based on in vitro characteristics. In vivo recovery and survival studies are indicated. The capability to extend platelet storage to 14 days would make large strides toward resolving issues of platelet outdating for prophylactic use.

A methodology for analyzing and forecasting sociopolitical destabilization.

The article presents a methodology for the analysis of political crises meant to assess the current situation of sociopolitical (in)stability of the developing and developed societies in question, provide an inertial forecast of the developing situation in a given period, analyse threats to stability threats, and examine possible measures to counteract such threats and their likely influence on the situation. The methodology is based on modeling sociopolitical stability in the country in question with the help of an elaborate logical-mathematical model.

Anomalous nitrogen isotope ratio in comets.

High-resolution spectra of the CN B2 summation operator +-X2 summation operator + (0,0) band at 390 nanometers yield isotopic ratios for comets C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) and C/2000 WM1 (LINEAR) as follows: 165 +/- 40 and 115 +/- 20 for 12C/13C, 140 +/- 35 and 140 +/- 30 for 14N/15N. Our N isotopic measurements are lower than the terrestrial 14N/15N = 272 and the ratio for Hale-Bopp from measurements of HCN, the presumed parent species of CN. This isotopic anomaly suggests the existence of other parent(s) of CN, with an even lower N isotopic ratio. Organic compounds like those found in interplanetary dust particles are good candidates.