First endocavitary treatment with cord blood platelet gel for perianal fistula.

Cord blood platelet gel is prepared by activation of coagulation in a platelet concentrate obtained from cord blood. During the process of clot formation, platelet alpha-granules release growth factors that promote tissue repair. However, in the form of gel, it is not possible to inject it into small, narrow and deep cavities. Therefore, we analyzed gelification kinetics and developed an application technique of platelet gel in liquid form. This semi-activated form provides for the activation of the coagulation process but not the gelification of the platelet concentrate. In this way, it can be easily inoculated in an endocavitary space, and then complete in vivo the gelification process. We report the successful use of this procedure to heal a recurrent perianal fistula.

Time related variations in stem cell harvesting of umbilical cord blood.

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) contains hematopoietic stem cells and multipotent mesenchymal cells useful for treatment in malignant/nonmalignant hematologic-immunologic diseases and regenerative medicine. Transplantation outcome is correlated with cord blood volume (CBV), number of total nucleated cells (TNC), CD34+ progenitor cells and colony forming units in UCB donations. Several studies have addressed the role of maternal/neonatal factors associated with the hematopoietic reconstruction potential of UCB, including: gestational age, maternal parity, newborn sex and birth weight, placental weight, labor duration and mode of delivery. Few data exist regarding as to how time influences UCB collection and banking patterns. We retrospectively analyzed 17.936 cord blood donations collected from 1999 to 2011 from Tuscany and Apulia Cord Blood Banks. Results from generalized multivariable linear mixed models showed that CBV, TNC and CD34+ cell were associated with known obstetric and neonatal parameters and showed rhythmic patterns in different time domains and frequency ranges. The present findings confirm that volume, total nucleated cells and stem cells of the UCB donations are hallmarked by rhythmic patterns in different time domains and frequency ranges and suggest that temporal rhythms in addition to known obstetric and neonatal parameters influence CBV, TNC and CD34+ cell content in UBC units.

Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type II: exclusion of seven candidate genes.

Congenital dyserythropoietic anemias (CDA) are genetic disorders characterized by anemia and ineffective erythropoiesis. Three main types of CDA have been distinguished: CDA I, CDAII and CDA III, whose loci have been already mapped. After the identification of the locus for CDA II, also known as HEMPAS (hereditary erythroblast multinuclearity with positive acidified serum test), on the long arm of chromosome 20 (20q11.2) we have analyzed by a mutational search seven candidate genes in a large series of CDA II patients. In particular, the following genes have been investigated: integrin beta 4 binding protein, ribophorin II, ubiquitin protein ligase ITCH, mannosil-oligosaccharide alpha-1,2-mannosidase like protein, erythrocyte protein band 4.1 like protein, zinc finger protein PLAGL2, and finally novel zinc finger protein. None of them resulted as the causative gene but several protein variants and DNA polymorphisms have been identified. These data exclude the role of the above mentioned genes in causing CDA II and add further information in the process of cloning the CDA II gene.