PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E M Wood

Publications and source records attributed to E M Wood.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Comparison of family histories in FTLD subtypes and related tauopathies.

Pedigrees from 269 patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), including frontotemporal dementia (FTD), FTD with ALS (FTD/ALS), progressive nonfluent aphasia, semantic dementia (SD), corticobasal degeneration, and progressive supranuclear palsy were analyzed to determine the degree of heritability of these disorders. FTD/ALS was the most and SD the least heritable subtype. FTLD syndromes appear to have different etiologies and recurrence risks.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Expression of Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines during reticulocyte maturation: using a CD71 flow cytometric technique to identify reticulocytes.

Flow cytometric methods commonly used to identify reticulocytes are of limited usefulness in malarious areas, since RNA staining also detects plasmodia. An important antigen expressed on reticulocytes is Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC, also known as Fy), the receptor for Plasmodium vivax. An early marker for reticulocytes is CD71 (transferrin receptor). We have been interested in CD71 as an alternative marker for reticulocytes in the context of Fy expression. Flow cytometry was used to determine the expression of Fy on CD71-positive and -negative reticulocytes and to correlate serology and genotype. A reduction of 13 percent was seen in Fy6 expression between CD71-positive reticulocytes and RNA-positive reticulocytes. CD71 disappears early during reticulocyte maturation, while Fy6 expression is relatively preserved. CD71 is an alternative to staining for RNA for reticulocyte assays relating to Fy6 expression.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed2003

Audit of a paediatric directed donation programme.

OBJECTIVE: A paediatric directed donation programme (DDP) was instituted by Women's and Children's Health in conjunction with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in response to public demand following a case of transfusion-transmitted HIV. This audit assesses the first 18 months of the programme. METHODS: Retrospective analysis, from February 2000 to July 2001, examining the number of units of blood requested, donated, and transfused, as well as the use of allogeneic (non-directed) blood. RESULTS: The DDP received 125 referrals. Most (78%) were for elective surgery. Of the 89 eligible children, 76% (68) had blood donated for them by an ABO/Rhesus-compatible parent, 81% of whom were first-time blood-donors. No donor tested positive for infectious markers. In total, 221 units of blood were requested and 116 units were collected. Non-collection was mainly a result of parent-child ABO incompatibility or medical ineligibility of the proposed donor. Of the children for whom blood was collected, 28 (41%) received no transfusion and eight (12%) received non-directed components in addition to DDP blood; thus, 32 (47%) received solely the blood from their directed donor. Of the units collected, 53 (46%) were transfused and 63 (54%) were discarded. CONCLUSIONS: While the paediatric DDP serves a community need, the programme has a high wastage rate, is time-consuming, labour-intensive and an expensive alternative when compared with the provision of non-directed volunteer blood. In continuing the programme, appropriateness of referral needs to be refined to reduce wastage rates.

Blood Banks↗
PubMed2001

Duffy-null promoter heterozygosity reduces DARC expression and abrogates adhesion of the P. vivax ligand required for blood-stage infection.

The Duffy blood group antigen is an essential receptor for Plasmodium vivax entry into erythrocytes in a process mediated by the parasite ligand, the Duffy binding protein (DBP). Recently, individuals living in a malaria endemic region of Papua New Guinea were identified as heterozygous for a new allele conferring Duffy negativity, which results in 50% less Duffy antigen on their erythrocytes. We demonstrate that DBP adherence to erythrocytes is significantly reduced for erythrocytes from heterozygous individuals who carry one Duffy antigen negativity allele. These data provide evidence that emergence of this new allelic form of Duffy negativity is correlated with resistance against vivax malaria.

Alleles↗
PubMed2001

Accuracy of predonation Hct sampling affects donor safety, eligibility, and deferral rates.

BACKGROUND: Safe blood donation depends upon reliable predonation Hct screening. Earstick (ES) capillary samples are frequently used, but they may not be accurate. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Predonation ES and fingerstick (FS) and postdonation venous Hct results were compared in 1960 whole-blood and 210 apheresis donors. The validity of using postdonation venous samples to evaluate predonation ES and FS Hct was assessed in 20 whole-blood donors. The impact of Hct screening method on donor Hct deferrals was examined during periods when either ES or FS sampling was used exclusively. RESULTS: All donors were eligible to donate on the basis of a predonation capillary Hct of > or = 38 percent. In venous samples obtained immediately after donation, 36 percent of whole-blood donors had a Hct <38 percent. With correction for a decrease of approximately 2 Hct units during donation, 20 percent of these donors had a predonation Hct <38 percent. The lowest venous Hct was 23.1 percent. FS samples showed better correlation with venous Hct. Hct discrepancies were similar for apheresis donors. Hct deferrals were significantly higher with FS sampling, especially among women. CONCLUSION: Hct determinations from ES samples overestimate venous Hct. Fingerstick samples are more sensitive in detecting anemia. The accuracy of predonation Hct sampling has implications for donor safety, eligibility, and deferral rates.

Blood Component Removal↗
PubMed2001

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus sepsis associated with the transfusion of contaminated platelets: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Platelet transfusion-associated sepsis is usually due to donor skin flora introduced into the unit during phlebotomy. An unusual case of a platelet component contaminated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is reported. CASE REPORT: A 54-year-old man, terminally ill with progressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, developed fever and hypotension during a platelet transfusion. He was receiving multiple antibiotics, including vancomycin. Blood cultures taken soon after transfusion were negative. An aliquot taken from the platelet pool grew MRSA at a count of 1.6 x 10(8) CFUs per mL. One of the individual bags constituting the pool showed MRSA at a count of 5.1 x 10(8) CFUs per mL. The patient died soon after the platelet transfusion. This case was reported to the FDA and submitted to the BaCon Study. The identity of the isolate and its methicillin resistance were confirmed by the CDC as part of the BaCon Study protocol. The source of contamination of the implicated unit could not be established with certainty. CONCLUSION: The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms poses additional challenges for the diagnosis and treatment of transfusion-associated sepsis. Measures to prevent or intercept the transfusion of contaminated platelets should be developed.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed2000

Prevention of monocyte adhesion and inflammatory cytokine production during blood platelet storage: an in vitro model with implications for transfusion practice.

A novel platelet additive solution [ThromboSoltrade mark (TS)] was designed to allow extended refrigerated platelet storage. It has been shown to preserve platelet function and prevent cytokine accumulation in platelet concentrates stored for up to 9 days. It consists of amiloride, adenosine, sodium nitroprusside, dipyridamole, quinacrine, and ticlopidine. We hypothesized that the cytokine inhibition may be due to prevention of monocyte (MC) adhesion and activation on the surfaces of platelet storage bag plastic polymers. In an in vitro model, we incubated purified peripheral blood MCs on discs of polyolefin and polyvinylchloride from platelet storage bags, and on polystyrene, in the presence of TS for up to 7 days. We found that after incubation with TS, adherent MC numbers were decreased by >80-95% compared with controls on all surfaces examined. Levels of cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-1RA, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha] were low in wells with TS but rose progressively in the controls during incubation. Amiloride alone had similar effects on adhesion and cytokine release as the complete TS preparation. Removing amiloride from TS abrogated these effects. These findings suggest an important role for TS and amiloride in monocyte function, and have implications for the development of agents designed for prolonged platelet storage.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1979

Variation in chromosome 19.

Variations in centromeric staining of chromosome 19 appear to be an uncommon polymorphism inherited in a Mendelian manner and easily seen in G-banded cells. It should not be misinterpreted as a structural cytogenetic abnormality.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Ultrastructural localization of cationic proteins in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The present investigation is concerned with the use of the post-formalin ammoniacal silver reaction to detect the arginine-rich cationic proteins in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes at the ultrastructural level. These proteins appear to function as neutral proteases in antibacterial action and as mediators of inflammation. Originally, the ammoniacal silver reaction relied upon primary fixation in dilute formalin which prevented optimum fixation of tissues. This study shows that by using the proper sequence of glutaraldehyde fixation and the ammoniacal silver solution in conjunction with osmium tetroxide treatment, better fixation of the tissue and localization of the ammoniacal silver reaction can be achieved. Also, the ammoniacal silver reaction in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes is exclusively located in the large, crystalline cytoplasmic granules of eosiniphils. All other cytoplasmic granules of neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils were found to be devoid of the ammoniacal silver reaction product. These results are contrary to previously published experimental data. Possible explanations for this discrepancy are discussed.

Ammonia↗
PubMed1976

Placental cultures for cytogenetic assessment in saline-aborted fetuses.

Confirmation of cytogenetically abnormal fetuses following saline abortion has been shown to be possible with the placenta as the source of viable fetal cells. The method is described in detail. In one third of cultures, only female cells were present. Differentiation between maternal and female fetal tissue when no numerical or structural cytogenetic disorder is present requires detailed analysis of fluorescently stained chromosomes for polymorphisms.

Abortion, Induced↗