ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the success rate and effects on survival of different anti-thymocyte globulin [ATG] preparations in patients diagnosed with aplastic anemia. Of the total 24 patients included in the study, 12 were male and 12 female with a median age of 44 years [range 16-72]. Nine patients received Lymphoglobulin [registered sign], 7 Thymoglobulin [registered sign] and ATG-Fresenius [registered sign] [ATG-F]. There was no significant difference between the three treatment groups in terms in severity of aplastic anemia. The estimated 6-month survival rates for ATG-F, Lymphoglobulin and Thymoglobulin groups were 42.9, 77.8 and 71.4%, respectively. The difference in overall survival rates between groups was not significant, most likely due to the low number of patients. The most striking result was that none of the patients in the ATG-F preparation group showed any response to treatment. The ATG-F group was found to have a significantly inferior response rate [p=0.07]. Our data showed that none of the patients responded to ATG-F treatment. Hence, despite the small number of the patients, we recommend that ATG-F should not be used for treatment of severe aplastic anemia
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to show the hemostatic effect of spray, solution and tampon forms of Ankaferd Blood Stopper[R] [ABS], a unique medicinal plant extract historically used as a hemostatic agent in Turkish folklore medicine, in a porcine bleeding model. Two 1-year-old pigs were used as bleeding models for superficial and deep skin lacerations, grade II liver and spleen injuries, grade II saphenous vein injury and grade IV saphenous artery injury. Spray, solution or tampon forms of ABS were applied after continuing bleeding was confirmed. The primary outcome was time to hemostasis. Volume of blood loss was not measured. The pigs were euthanized at the end of the experiment. Spray or direct application of ABS solution resulted in instant control of bleeding in superficial and deep skin lacerations as well as puncture wounds of the liver. A 40-second application of ABS tampon was sufficient to stop bleeding of skin lacerations, while 1.5- and 3.5-min applications were used to control hemorrhage from the saphenous vein and artery, respectively. No rebleeding was observed once hemostasis was achieved. However, repeated applications of ABS solution and tampon were only temporarily effective in the hemostasis of spleen injury. The data showed that ABS was an effective hemostatic agent for superficial and deep skin lacerations and minor/moderate trauma injuries in a porcine bleeding model