| November 10, 2009 | News for the transfusion medicine and cellular therapy community |
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- Flu pandemic affects U.S. blood supply
A number of blood centers have seen a drop in blood collections because of potential donors contracting the H1N1 flu virus and growing absenteeism in schools and offices due to the pandemic. Some centers also are receiving calls from donors who say they have flulike symptoms a day or two after donating, forcing the centers to discard the blood per FDA regulations. Blood centers are developing emergency plans with the government and hospitals to address blood allocation issues in case the pandemic worsens. A team of researchers also is planning to test blood samples from donors to find out if there's a possibility the H1N1 flu virus would show up in the blood. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model)
(11/10)     
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- Cord blood transplant treats cerebral palsy in little girl
A girl in Colorado showed a reversal of cerebral palsy symptoms after undergoing a transplant of her own cord blood cells at Duke University in North Carolina. A researcher involved with the study on the procedure said it is still uncertain how long the cord blood will last in children with the condition. A study on possible factors that affect the success of cord blood transplants in cerebral palsy patients is being planned for the near future.  FoxNews.com
(11/9), FoxNews.com
(11/9)
- Researchers use blood stem cells to treat Hurler's syndrome
U.S. researchers transfused mice with genetically altered blood stem cells to induce their developing red blood cells to produce a lysosomal enzyme needed to prevent or lessen organ and central nervous system damage from a genetic disorder called Hurler's syndrome. The mouse models showed normal function of tested peripheral organs and an improvement in neurological function after undergoing the treatment. The finding has positive implications for other lysosomal storage diseases, the study's principal author said. New Kerala (India)/Asian News International
(11/10)
- Researchers note gender differences in benefits of Plavix
A U.S. study shows that Plavix, a blood thinner by Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb, reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke in men by 16% and in women by 7%. Researchers concluded that the differing results are not statistically significant and do not undermine the benefits of Plavix in either gender. Reuters
(11/9)
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| | Protide Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Preserving life for tomorrow™
Protide Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a fully integrated organization devoted to the discovery, development and commercialization of technologies and processes in clinical cell therapy, transfusion medicine, cell engineering and transplantation. Click here to learn more. | |
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| Emerging Trends | | |
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- Experts: Hospitals should conduct IT recovery drills, risk assessments
Hospitals should involve IT representatives when staging disaster exercises to give other departments an idea on how IT will recover clinical systems in the event of a disaster, said Jim Grogan of Wayne, Pa.-based SunGard Availability Services. Performing risk assessments will help hospitals identify IT-related hazards prior to an actual disaster, added Timothy Rearick of North Highland in Tallahassee, Fla. HealthLeaders Media
(11/9)
- Haemonetics continues to make advances in blood products industry
Haemonetics has strengthened its position in the blood products industry by developing devices that improve blood collection, donation and storage. The company has developed OrthoPAT, a device that collects patient's blood lost during orthopedic surgeries to clean and transfuse back to the patient after the procedure. The firm also manufactures eLynx, a product that can read a barcode on a blood unit and identify data needed for a safe blood transfusion. TheStreet.com
(11/9)
- Hospital blood bank in Colorado to close
The Valley View Hospital Blood Bank in Glenwood Springs, Colo., is set to close by the end of this month. The blood-mobile unit of St. Mary's Regional Blood Center based in Grand Junction will take its place in performing blood collections. "We see this new cooperative effort as an opportunity to streamline our supply and demand for blood at Valley View," Valley View Blood Bank Director Lisa Lohse said. Grand Junction Free Press (Colo.)
(11/9)
- Rhode Island Hospital gets $11M grant for stem cell research center
The NIH's National Center for Research Resources has awarded an $11 million grant to Rhode Island Hospital to help it set up a stem cell research facility that will focus on the use of adult stem cells in cell repair. The five-year grant will "help us to assemble a group of outstanding, talented investigators who excel in these areas," said Dr. Peter Quesenberry, the hospital's director of hematology/oncology. The Providence Journal (R.I.) (free registration)
(11/10)
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| Government & Regulatory | | |
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- Trade group recommends FDA safety seal for online drug, device data
The FDA should create a universal safety symbol certifying agency-approved data about drugs and medical devices on the Internet, a pharmaceutical trade group recommended. The proposal was issued ahead of a public meeting on how the FDA should handle social and online media promotion of medical products. Reuters
(11/9)
- Beckman CEO: Health reform to slightly boost demand for devices, tests
Overhauling the U.S. health care system to expand insurance coverage would boost the demand for laboratory tests and medical devices by only 1% to 2% per year over the next 10 years because such a proposal would cover many young individuals who don't need regular treatment, said Beckman Coulter CEO Scott Garrett. Garrett said he hopes that a proposed tax on test and device makers would be lowered as lawmakers work to harmonize health reform measures in Congress. Reuters
(11/9)
| Association News | | |
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Study may facilitate analysis of cytokines for TRALI investigation, pathogen inactivation
A study in the November issue of Transfusion concluded that cytokine concentrations in bags and segments of blood components do not differ, and cytokine concentrations in plateletpheresis remain stable for at least 24 hours of storage at 4 degrees Celsius. Samples stored with those conditions can be used to estimate the cytokine concentration of the component at the time of transfusion. This may facilitate analysis of cytokines for investigations of TRALI and evaluation of pathogen inactivation. Read more.
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