Rapid bedside rejuvenation of red blood cell with an autologous cell salvage device.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: During storage, red blood cells (RBCs) undergo physicochemical changes which affect the quality, function, and in vivo survival of transfused packed RBCs (pRBC). Changes include decreased 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) levels, decreased ATP, changes in mechanical properties and oxidative injury. RBC rejuvenation is a method used to increase levels of 2,3-DPG and ATP in pRBCs. This process requires incubating the pRBCs with a rejuvenation solution and subsequent washing. Standard blood bank protocols using the COBE 2991 Cell Processor require several hours of preparation. The objective of this study was to verify if a bedside protocol for rejuvenating pRBC and washing with the Sorin Xtra autologous cell salvage system could be used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Outdated pRBC units were obtained and rejuvenated in a model operating suite using a dry air incubator for 1 h at 37°C. Six units of pRBCs were pre-diluted with saline (1000 ml) and six units were not pre-diluted with saline. All units were washed with normal saline (1000 ml) using an apheresis-design cell salvage device in manual mode and wash volume set to 3000 ml. Samples were collected and analyzed for standard RBC quality parameters at baseline and post-wash. RESULTS: Total pRBC wash efficiency was 94% ± 12% at a final hematocrit of 67.7 ± 5.9% while maintaining post-wash hemolysis 0.24 ± 0.12 %. Pre-dilution prior to washing did not confer statistically significant differences in final RBC quality parameters with the notable exceptions of calculated hemolysis and supernatant potassium levels (P < 0.05). The washing process can be completed within 10 min. The post-wash RBC parameters are appropriate for immediate transfusion to patients.

Molecular cloning of a ripening-specific lipoxygenase and its expression during wild-type and mutant tomato fruit development.

A 94-kD protein that accumulates predominately in tomato (Ly-copersicon esculentum) fruit during ripening was purified, and antibodies specific for the purified protein were used to isolate cDNA clones from a red-ripe fruit cDNA library. A sequence analysis of these cDNAs and cross-reactivity of the 94-kD-specific antibodies to the soybean lipoxygenase (LOX) L-1, L-2, and L-3 proteins and soybean LOX L-1-specific antibodies to the 94-kD protein identified it as a member of the LOX gene family. Maximum levels of the 94-kD LOX mRNA and protein are present in breaker to ripe and red-ripe stages, respectively. Expression of 94-kD LOX in different tissues from mature green and red-ripe tomato fruits was found to be greatest in the radial walls of ripe fruit, but immunocytolocalization using tissue printing suggests that the highest accumulation of its protein occurs in locular jelly. None of 94-kD LOX is expressed in nonripening mutant fruits of any age. Never-ripe mutant fruit accumulate the 94-kD LOX mRNA to levels similar to those obtained in wild-type fruit, but fail to accumulate the 94-kD LOX protein. Collectively, the results show that expression of 94-kD LOX is regulated by the ripening process, and ethylene may play a role in its protein accumulation.

Multipoint linkage mapping of the Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy gene.

The clinical features to establish the diagnosis of X-linked Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EMD) were recently redefined at the European EMD workshop in Baarn 1991. These criteria were used to select families from the literature and two new families for linkage analysis with the DNA markers F9, DX52, DXS15, F8C and DXS115. Recombinations are observed with the DNA markers F9, DXS52 and DXS15. No recombinations were found with F8C and DXS115. Multipoint linkage analysis indicates with a maximum location score of 73.9 that the EMD locus maps very close to F8C.

Evidence for linkage of the central core disease locus to the proximal long arm of human chromosome 19.

Central core disease of muscle (CCD; MIM 117000) is a rare inheritable myopathy that is frequently found in association with susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia (MHS). This observation has prompted us to perform a linkage study in CCD families using various chromosome 19q probes that are linked to the MHS locus and map close to the ryanodine receptor gene (RYR1), a strong MHS candidate gene. Our genetic linkage data support a location of the CCD gene on proximal 19q13.1 and thus suggest that CCD and MHS may be allelic.

No evidence for linkage of autosomal dominant proximal spinal muscular atrophies to chromosome 5q markers.

Two recent articles have reported the linkage of a gene for recessive spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) on the chromosome region 5q11.2-13.3. Our data show no linkage of the dominantly inherited forms of SMA to this chromosome region.

The minor-groove binding DNA-ligands netropsin, distamycin A and berenil cause polyploidisation via impairment of the G2 phase of the cell cycle.

Distamycin A, netropsin and berenil are known to cause undercondensation of heterochromatic regions of metaphase chromosomes. These ligands interfere with DNA curvature by binding to the minor groove of the DNA. Whereas the effects of these ligands upon chromatin structure are well established, little is known about their possible interference with cell cycle progression. We show that the presence of these DNA-ligands causes protracted cell growth consisting of a prolongation of the G1 phase of the cell cycle along with arrest in the G2 compartment. Concomitant with these cell kinetic disturbances the DNA ligands cause increased polyploidisation. These observations suggest that the DNA-minor groove may play an important role in progression through the G2 phase and proper mitotic transit.

Duplication 8q24.2----qter and 15q14----pter resulting from a 3:1 meiotic segregation of a maternal reciprocal translocation.

We report on a 16-year-old female with duplication 8q24.2----qter and 15q14----pter resulting from a 3:1 segregation of a maternal balanced reciprocal translocation. This mode of unbalanced segregation could be predicted from Pachytene-diagram drawing. Most of her clinical manifestations can be related to the proximal 15q trisomy. To our knowledge there is only one previous report of a similar chromosome constitution.

Complex chromosomal rearrangement in a woman with multiple miscarriages.

We report on a 23-yr-old healthy female with repeated miscarriages and a de novo complex chromosomal rearrangement (CCR) involving chromosomes 1, 2, 5 and 11 with 5 breakpoints. A review of cases reported in the last five yr is provided.

Deletion 1q42.3----qter in a girl with psychomotoric retardation and multiple dysmorphisms.

A de novo deletion 1q42.3----qter in a 10-month-old girl with psychomotoric retardation and multiple dysmorphic signs is reported. The patient's symptoms are in accordance with a recently described distal 1q deletion syndrome.