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W Reed

Publications and source records attributed to W Reed.

97 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Sample suitability for the detection of minor white cell populations (microchimerism) by polymerase chain reaction.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing use of highly sensitive testing with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to study white cell microchimerism after transfusion and transplantation. This study investigated possible artifactual sources of allogeneic sample contamination before PCR testing. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Quantitative Y-chromosome PCR was used to study microchimerism among transfused patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia by using residual specimens from the clinical laboratory. High levels of circulating male white cells among transfused patients with SCD but not thalassemia led to concern over the artifactual origin of male cells. To investigate, paired specimens were collected from 26 female SCD patients: one specimen underwent processing only for PCR, while the other underwent testing in the clinical laboratory before PCR as a process control. All laboratory instruments were also assessed for their ability to impart male allogeneic cells to aliquots of female blood. RESULTS: Thirty-three (31%) of 107 SCD samples, but 0 of 20 thalassemia samples, gave a high-level PCR signal. One of 26 paired samples that was not exposed to clinical laboratory equipment had low-level PCR positivity while 10 of the 26 became strongly positive after testing on a blood cell analyzer and a reticulocyte analyzer. Sixteen of 32 female samples became positive after reticulocyte analysis, while none became positive after blood cell analysis. Samples from thalassemia patients tested PCR-negative because reticulocyte counts had not been performed. CONCLUSION: Allogeneic cell contamination is common with clinical laboratory equipment. These samples may not be suitable for microchimerism studies. In addition to method controls, process controls should be employed where appropriate.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Collection of sibling donor cord blood for children with thalassemia.

Bone marrow transplantation has curative potential for patients with thalassemia major who have a matched sibling marrow donor, but usefulness of alternative stem cell sources is undergoing investigation. Cord blood (CB) from a sibling has different characteristics from marrow and has potential advantages and disadvantages as a stem cell source. Whereas many families caring for a child with thalassemia major (or other transplant-treatable condition) experience an additional pregnancy, most give birth at hospitals without the infrastructure needed to collect and process the new infant's CB. To address this, and with funding from the National Institutes of Health, we have developed the first noncommercial CB program, operating across the United States, designed specifically to facilitate medically indicated CB collections from sibling donors. Using a case-management model, we have collected CB for 25 thalassemia families in eight states. Three of these CB units have now been used for transplantation; two others are human leukocyte antigen-identical and contain adequate nucleated cell dose to perform transplantation in their intended recipient. We conclude that a CB bank focused on sibling donations may be a useful stem cell resource and that families with specific medical need, such as a child with thalassemia, should consider preserving CB from siblings.

Blood Specimen Collection↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sibling donor cord blood banking for children with sickle cell disease.

Although hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has curative potential for selected patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), most patients who are eligible for transplantation do not have a suitable donor. Cord blood (CB) from a sibling could provide an alternative stem cell source that, while not as well established as marrow, may offer certain advantages for selected families. These potential advantages include low risk to the infant donor, the possibility that mismatched CB units from sibling donors may be acceptable for transplantation, prompt availability of a stored CB unit for transplant, and decreased risk of clinically significant graft-versus-host disease. When families with SCD (or other transplant-treatable condition) conceive a sibling, no comprehensive research resource exists to assist the family in collecting the new infant's CB. With support from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, we are developing a noncommercial research-based CB Banking Program specifically for medically indicated sibling donations. In preliminary experience, we have collected CB from 52 SCD families across 19 states. Of these, 2 CB units have thus far been used for transplantation and 9 others are HLA-identical. We conclude that a CB bank focusing on sibling-donations may be feasible, but further study is required to determine whether such a bank can collect CB units of sufficient quantity and quality to support controlled trials of sibling CB transplantation. Families with a specific medical need, such as those already caring for a child with SCD, should consider collecting sibling CB as part of comprehensive care if the opportunity becomes available.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Simple mucins (T, sialosyl-T, Tn and sialosyl-Tn) are not diagnostic for malignant breast lesions.

Immunohistochemical study of the distribution of carbohydrate core-structures on O-linked glycoproteins (T, sialosyl-T, Tn and sialosyl-Tn) was performed using specific monoclonal antibodies on 148 primary breast lesions, including 10 normal breast tissues, 16 benign lesions and 122 invasive carcinomas (79 localized and 43 metastatic lesions). T antigen, not observed in normal breast tissue, was present in 31% of the benign lesions and in some cases of morphologically normal epithelium adjacent to tumor cells, compatible with altered glycosylation being an early event. Sialosyl-T (s-T) antigen was present in all cases of normal epithelium and in 81% of the benign lesions. Both Tn and sialosyl-Tn (s-Tn) antigen were present in normal breast lesions. Both Tn and sialosyl-Tn (s-Tn) antigen were present in normal breast tissue (30%) and benign lesions (31% and 19%). In the malignant lesions, 20% were positive for T antigen, 82% for s-T antigen, 66% for Tn antigen and 22% for s-Tn antigen. The staining pattern was nearly identical for carcinomas with and without lymph node metastases. In conclusion, immunostaining for simple mucins does not permit a clear distinction between benign and malignant breast lesions.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗