METHODS: MSC were isolated from human bone marrow mononuclear cells based on plastic adherent properties and expanded in vitro in the culture medium. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) were characterised using microscopy, immunophenotyping, and their ability to differentiate into adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteocytes. hMSC were then injected into athymic mice, which had induced glomerulonephropathy (GN).
RESULTS: Test mice (induced GN and infused hMSC) were shown to have anti-human CD105(+) cells present in the kidneys and were also positive to anti-human desmin, a marker for mesangial cells. Furthermore, immunofluorescence assays also demonstrated that anti-human desmin(+) cells in the glomeruli of these test mice were in the proliferation stage, being positive to anti-human Ki-67.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that hMSC found in renal glomeruli differentiated into mesangial cells in vivo after glomerular injury occurred.
METHODS: A total of 760 voluntary donors who attended the Blood Bank, Penang Hospital or offsite blood donation campaigns from April to May 2014 were recruited. The ABO and RhD blood groups were determined by the conventional tile method and the solid phase method, in which the tube method was used as the gold standard.
RESULTS: For ABO blood grouping, the tile method has shown 100% concordance results with the gold standard tube method, whereas the solid-phase method only showed concordance result for 754/760 samples (99.2%). Therefore, for ABO grouping, tile method has 100% sensitivity and specificity while the solid phase method has slightly lower sensitivity of 97.7% but both with good specificity of 100%. For RhD grouping, both the tile and solid phase methods have grouped one RhD positive specimen as negative each, thus giving the sensitivity and specificity of 99.9% and 100% for both methods respectively.
CONCLUSION: The 'InTec Blood Grouping Test Kit' is suitable for offsite usage because of its simplicity and user friendliness. However, further improvement in adding the internal quality control may increase the test sensitivity and validity of the test results.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty units of FFP kept at -20°C were thawed using a 37°C water bath and immediately sampled for baseline Factor II (FII), Factor VIII (FVIII) and fibrinogen activity levels and sterility testing. Each unit was then divided into two smaller bags (i.e. Bag I and Bag II) and kept at 4°C. At 6 hours and Day 3, representative samples were taken from Bag I for coagulation factor activity assays, while at Day 5 representative samples were taken from Bag II for coagulation factor activity assays and sterility testing.
RESULTS: FII activities at the four time points were 73.43%, 73.73%, 71% and 69.8%, respectively, while FVIII activities were 177.63%, 144.37%, 80.8% and 70.97%, respectively. Fibrinogen levels at the four time points were 3.24 g/L, 3.24 g/L, 3.21 g/L and 3.20 g/L, respectively. All samples were free from microbial contamination even at Day 5.
CONCLUSION: The mean reduction in FII and fibrinogen activities on Day 5 was 5% and 1%, respectively. However, FVIII activity declined significantly by approximately 60% at Day 5. Despite these reductions, thawed plasma stored for up to 5 days at 4°C is still suitable for use as the coagulation factor activity levels still exceed the minimum release criteria recommended in quality assurance regulations.