Buffy coat-derived platelets cryopreserved using a new method: Results from a pivotal clinical trial on thrombocytopenic patients with acute leukaemia.

The administration of cryopreserved platelets (PLTs) may overcome the limits of platelet shortage and availability, especially during some seasons or in specific contexts like rural areas. After in vitro validation studies, ad hoc prepared buffy coat-derived pooled platelet concentrates (BC-PLTs), treated with dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and cryopreserved (CRY BC-PLTs) at -80 °C with a modified Valeri method, were transfused in patients with severe thrombocytopenia secondary to chemotherapy for acute leukaemia (AL). Five inpatients were enrolled in the pivotal clinical trial NCT02032134: 4 males and 1 female with a mean age of 71 years (range: 65-80). Four patients were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia and 1 had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.Transfusion of one Unit of CRY BC-PLTs resulted effective in active bleeding control in two patients without any adverse reaction or concomitant antihaemorrhagic therapies. CRY BC-PLTs met the currently accepted criteria for cryopreserved PLTs, their transfusion in patients with AL was safe. (Clinical trial: NCT02032134).

Buffy coat-derived platelets cryopreserved using a new method: Results from in vitro studies.

Cryopreservation for the long-term storage of platelets (PLTs) is a useful method to overcome the limits of platelet shortage. This is an in vitro prospective study to evaluate the count, viability, and function of buffy coat-derived pooled platelet concentrates (BC-PLTs), treated with dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and cryopreserved (CRY BC-PLTs) at -80 °C with a modified Valeri method. PLTs were stored in 6% DMSO with a patented kit. Overall, 49 BC-PLTs from 245 healthy volunteer donors were prepared, cryopreserved, and analysed before and after 3, 6, and 9 months of storage. In flow cytometry, a statistically significant reduction in CD 42b (92.7 ± 4.29% at T0 vs. 23.6 ± 27.5% at T3, 16.38 ± 12.54% at T6, and 17.3 ± 9.6% at T9) and PAC-1 (1.9 ± 1.34% at T0 vs. 0.62 ± 0.4% at T3, 0.63 ± 0.83% at T6, and 0.49 ± 0.48% at T9) was observed after storage. CRY BC-PLTs showed a good and stable endogenous thrombin generation potential (nM min): 529.25 ± 98.64 at T0 vs. 533.04 ± 103.15 at T9 months. CRY BC-PLTs showed a good viability in vitro, according to currently accepted criteria for cryopreserved PLTs.

Sexuality in older Spanish women: voices and reflections.

Our research has been aimed at understanding the experience, practice, and sexual life in a group of Spanish women over 50 years of age. We studied a sample of 729 women between 50 and 80 years old. Our results provide qualitative and quantitative information and important insights about the sexual life of Spanish women and identify differences in the experience and reality of sexual life after the age of 70. The status of having or lacking a partner, and a personal interest in emotional relationships and sexual practices, are elements that determine the possibility of enjoying a satisfying postmenopausal sexuality.

Critical feminist gerontology: in the back room of research.

The article takes a feminist approach to gerontology. It examines the stereotypes of ageism that derive from the relationship between culture and old age. It establishes the requirements for a type of research that reflects women's own experience of growing older, as well as the social construction of values related to women's old age. It focuses on the sociocultural features of this population, which faces old age with certain limitations, but also with unparalleled assets.