comparison of jurkat cell-reactive anti-T lymphocyte globulin and fetal andti-thymocyte globulin preparations in the treatment of aplastic anemia

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

new candidate as a hemostatic agent for difficult situations during variceal bleeding: ankaferd blood stopper

Variceal bleeding is the most challenging emergent situation among the causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Despite substantial improvement, a need remains for therapeutic armamentarium of such cases, which is easy, effective and without side-effect. Ankaferd blood stopper [ABS] is a standardized herbal extract acting as a hemostatic agent on the bleeding or injured areas. In this observational study, a total of four patients with variceal bleeding were treated with endoscopic ABS application. The lesions were bleeding gastric varices [n:3] and bleeding duodenal varix [n:l]. ABS was selected as a bridge to definitive therapies due to unavailability or inappropriateness of bleeding lesions to conventional measures. ABS was instilled or flushed onto the bleeding areas by sclerotherotherapy needle or heater probe catheter. Periprocedural control of the bleeding was achieved in all instances. Thereafter, on an elective basis, two patients with gastric varices underwent cyanoacrylate injection, while third underwent Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and embolization. The patient with duodenal varix refused further therapy, after a few hours after admission and was discharged. He again presented the same day with rebleeding, but died before any attempt could be made to control his bleeding. ABS seems to be effective in cases of variceal bleeding as a bridge to therapy. Its major advantages are the ease of use and lack of side-effects

Biphasic effects of ankaferd blood stopper on renal tubular apoptosis in the rat partial nephrectomy model representing distinct levels of hemorrhage

To investigate the effect of Ankaferd Blood Stopper [ABS], on renal tubular apoptosis and on expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase [eNOS], inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS], and apoptosis protease-activating factor-1 [Apaf-1] in the ipsilateral kidney after an experimentally formed partial nephrectomy in a rat model. The study was performed in 2009 at the Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Animal Laboratory Center, Ankara, Turkey. We divided 24 Wistar rats into the following 4 groups. Group I [GI] - partial nephrectomy [PN] with hilar control as the conventional technique, Group II [GII] - the conventional technique with ABS, Group III [GIII] - received ABS application to the renal parenchyma and collecting duct with hilar control [non-sutured group]. Group IV [GIV] - PN and ABS were performed without hilar control. The ABS solution [1 cc] was applied during the surgery to stop bleeding from resected renal tissue. At first month, all rats were sacrificed. Renal tubular apoptosis was investigated. The mean percentage of apoptotic cell counts in GI were 20% iNOS, 20% eNOS, and 10% Apaf-1. In GII they were 10% iNOS, 20% eNOS, 5% Apaf-1, in GIII they were 40% iNOS, 50% eNOS, 30% Apaf-1, and in GIV they were 5% iNOS, 5% eNOS, and 3% Apaf-1. There was no significant decrease in apoptotic cells in GII, GIII, and GIV, to which we applied ABS. The highest percentage of apoptosis was shown in GIII accompanied by significant inflammation. The lowest percentage was determined in GIV, the non-warm ischemia group. The ABS has a dual biphasic de novo effects on apoptosis. The challenge of severe hemorrhage in the renal tubular cellular micro-environment causes ABS-induced down-regulations in the expressions of apoptotic molecules, indicating that ABS may act as a topical biological response modifier

Hemostatic efficacy of Ankaferd Blood Stopper [R] in a swine bleeding model

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