Stability of coagulation factors in feline fresh frozen plasma intended for transfusion after 1 year of storage.

OBJECTIVES: The most common use of plasma transfusion is for haemostatic purposes, but coagulation factor activities in stored feline plasma are unknown. The concentration and stability of coagulation factors I (fibrinogen), II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII in feline fresh frozen plasma (fFFP) stored for 1 year were studied. METHODS: Fifty-five units of fFFP were produced from 55 fresh whole-blood donations obtained from indoor healthy blood donor cats. Twenty-one units were stored for <2 weeks (T0) and 34 were stored for 1 year (T1). After the completion of storage, specific coagulation factor activities for factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII were tested using modified one-stage activated partial thromboplastin or prothrombin time assays. Fibrinogen was determined using the Clauss method. RESULTS: Significantly decreased activities were observed for factors II (T0: 101.94% ± 19.06%; T1: 73.23% ± 39.06% [P = 0.001]), VII (T0: 102.78% ± 24.69%; T1: 60.08% ± 38.17% [P <0.001]), VIII (T0: 77.52% ± 30.39%; T1: 50.32% ± 23.8% [P = 0.001]), XI (T0: 88.76% ± 22.73%; T1: 66.28% ± 22.2% [P = 0.001]) and XII (T0: 89.50% ± 21.85%; T1: 55.46% ± 23.18% [P <0.001]) when comparing units at time 0 and after 1 year of storage. No significant difference was observed for factors IX (T0: 84.86% ± 29.35%; T1: 71.37% ± 22.23% [P = 0.064]) and X (T0: 96.24% ± 25.1%; T1: 83.91% ± 49.54% [P = 0.236]). Unexpectedly, a significant increase was observed for factor V (T0: 71.94% ± 24.14%; T1: 97.89% ± 62.33%; P = 0.046). Fibrinogen was 2.76 ± 1.09 g/l at T1. Factors VIII, XII and VII had the lowest mean activities after 1 year. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Although a decrease in most coagulation factors activities was noted with storage, 1-year-old fFFP was haemostatically active in vitro. The most suitable factors for quality control assessment of fFFP are factors VII and VIII. Approximately 13-20 ml/kg of fFFP is required to administer a minimum of 10 IU/kg coagulation factor activity.

Quantitative assessment of infusion pump-mediated haemolysis in feline packed red blood cell transfusions.

OBJECTIVES: Haemolysis caused by the use of peristaltic infusion pumps (PIPs) has been described in human and canine packed red blood cells (pRBCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different linear PIPs on the haemolysis of feline pRBC units stored for a long time. METHODS: Feline pRBC units stored with adenine, dextrose, mannitol and sodium chloride (SAGM) were manufactured. After 35-42 days of storage at 2-4°C, a line administration system with a 180 µm filter was attached to every pRBC bag, the system was drained by gravity alone (8 drops/min) and a 1.3 ml sample was collected (G). A NIKI V4 pump was then used at a flow rate of 25 ml/h, the flow was stopped when the infusion system was filled with blood coming from the infusion pump and another 1.3 ml sample was collected (NK). Finally, an Infusomat FmS pump was evaluated, collecting another 1.3 ml sample (IM). Packed cell volume (PCV) was measured in all samples by microhaematocrit centrifugation, total haemoglobin (HGB) was measured using a specific haemoglobin analyser and, after centrifugation, free HGB was determined by spectrophotometry. The percentage of haemolysis was calculated. Friedman's test was used to compare the samples. RESULTS: Fifteen feline pRBC units were evaluated. The average degree of haemolysis for sample G (gravity-assisted) was 1.12%. Comparison of the degree of gravity-assisted haemolysis with haemolysis in PIP NK (1.13%) and IM (1.14%) samples revealed no significant differences, with differences of only 0.01% and 0.02%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The results of this study demonstrate that the use of two common PIPs in veterinary hospitals does not produce levels of haemolysis that are significantly different than that caused by gravity alone during transfusion of feline pRBCs at a rate of 25 ml/h.

Protocolo del estudio 'ADHIFAC': valoración de la adherencia al tratamiento hipoglucemiante y detección de hipoglucemias en farmacias comunitarias españolas / The 'ADHIFAC' study protocol: assessment of adherence to glucose-lowering treatment and detection of hypoglycemia in Spanish community pharmacies

INTRODUCCIÓN: la falta de adherencia implica peor control de la diabetes y aumento del número de complicaciones, lo que a menudo se traduce en un mayor gasto sanitario. Las hipoglucemias, en ocasiones inadvertidas, son una de las principales consecuencias de la no adherencia y su prevención pasa por intervenciones multidisciplinares que ayuden a la mejora de la adherencia. OBJETIVOS: medir la adherencia a hipoglucemiantes, detectar y cuantificar hipoglucemias inadvertidas y recurrentes, conocer la percepción de los pacientes sobre su tratamiento y derivar al médico en casos de no adherencia e hipoglucemias no solucionadas. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: estudio observacional, transversal y multicéntrico, en farmacias comunitarias, realizado a partir de abril de 2019 con diabéticos tipo 2 en tratamiento con hipoglucemiantes que lleven ≥12 meses con la misma pauta. Para la detección de hipoglucemias, los que estén en tratamiento con sulfonilureas, glinidas y/o insulinas. Diseño de un cuestionario con datos sociodemográficos, enfermedades y tratamientos. Utilización del test MMAS-8 para detectar no adherencia y del test de Clarke para hipoglucemias. Si se detecta incumplimiento y/o hipoglucemia y no se puede solucionar por el farmacéutico se derivará al médico de familia. ANÁLISIS ESTADÍSTICO: se utilizará el programa STATA13 para Windows®. Se realizarán análisis bivariados y multivariados. La significación se fijará en p < 0,05. Aplicabilidad de los resultados: se espera conocer la falta de adherencia y los factores que la causan y la prevalencia de las hipoglucemias inadvertidas para, en otro proyecto, establecer un programa de intervención farmacéutica que se muestre eficiente para mejorar la adherencia farmacoterapéutica de los pacientes en tratamiento con hipoglucemiantes y disminuir la aparición de hipoglucemias

INTRODUCTION: Lack of adherence results in worse control of diabetes and an increased number of complications, often resulting in higher healthcare spending. Hypoglycemia, which is sometimes unrecognized, is one of the main consequences of non-adherence to treatment. It is prevented through multidisciplinary interventions which help improve adherence. OBJECTIVES: to measure adherence to hypoglycemic agents, to detect and quantify unrecognized and recurrent hypoglycemia, to learn patients' perceptions of their treatment and refer them to doctors in cases of non-adherence and unsolved hypoglycemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study in community pharmacies, conducted from April 2019 with type 2 diabetics in treatment with hypoglycemic agents for ≥12 months on the same drug regimen. To detect hypoglycemia, those treated with sulfonylureas, glinides and/or insulin. Design of a questionnaire with sociodemographic data, diseases and treatments. Use of the MMAS-8 test for non-adherence and the Clarke hypoglycemia awareness test. If non-compliance and/or hypoglycemia is detected and cannot be resolved by the pharmacist, it will be referred to the family doctor. Statistical analysis: the STATA13 program will be used for Windows®. Bivariate and multivariate analyses will be conducted. Statistical significance will be set at p < 0.05. APPLICABILITY OF THE RESULTS: we hope to gain awareness of the lack of adherence and its causal factors and the prevalence of unrecognized hypoglycemia so that, in another project, an efficient pharmaceutical intervention program can be established to improve adherence to pharmacotherapy of patients treated with hypoglycemic agents and reduce the occurrence of hypoglycemia

Distribution of feline AB blood types: a review of frequencies and its implications in the Iberian Peninsula.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to document the prevalence of feline blood types in the Iberian Peninsula and to determine the potential risk of incompatibility-related transfusion reactions in unmatched transfusions and the potential risk of neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI) in kittens born to parents of unknown blood type. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from blood donors of the Animal Blood Bank (BSA-Banco de Sangue Animal). Blood typing was performed using a card method (RapidVet-H Feline Blood Typing; MDS). RESULTS: The studied population comprised 1070 purebred and non-purebred cats from Portugal and Spain aged between 1 and 8 years. Overall, frequencies of blood types A and B were 96.5% and 3.5%, respectively. No AB cats were found. Based on these data, the potential risks of NI and transfusion reactions in unmatched transfusions were calculated to be 6.8% and 2.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Unlike previous studies, no type AB cats were found in this study. Although the calculated potential risks of transfusion reaction in unmatched transfusions and neonatal isoerythrolysis were low, blood typing prior to blood transfusion and blood typing of cats for breeding purposes are highly recommended.

Impact of COPD in patients with lung cancer and advanced disease treated with chemotherapy and/or tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

While it is relatively well known that the prognosis of patients with lung cancer (LC) treated with surgery is worse in the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it is unknown if this assessment can be extrapolated to patients with advanced disease treated with chemotherapy and/or tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The aim of our study is to analyze the clinical characteristics and survival rates in patients with LC and COPD, and to compare these to the patients without airflow obstruction. From 471 evaluable patients, 324 (69%) were not treated with surgery due to disseminated disease (stages 3B and 4). Of them, 47.7% also had COPD. All patients were treated at the moment of diagnosis according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines with platinum-based chemotherapy or tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Kaplan-Meier curves showed no significant differences in overall survival between COPD and non-COPD patients (log-rank P=0.65). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model adjusting for the most relevant variables, the adjusted hazard ratio (HRadj) was statistically significant for performance status (HRadj =1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-1.59; P=0.002) and clinical stage (HRadj =0.67, 95% CI: 0.50-0.89; P=0.006), but not for COPD status (HRadj =1.20, 95% CI: 0.83-1.50; P=0.46). Our conclusion is that at present, when using standard care in advanced LC (stages 3B and 4), COPD does not have a significant deleterious impact on overall survival.