Adverse reactions associated with autologous blood transfusion: evaluation and incidence at a large academic hospital

BACKGROUND: It is acknowledged that autologous blood is the safest for the patient to receive. However, it is generally not appreciated that transfusion reactions to autologous blood may occur, despite the fact that it is the patient's own blood. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective review of all transfusion reactions reported to a hospital transfusion service from 1991 through 1996 was performed, and all reactions to autologous blood were further investigated. RESULTS: Reported adverse reactions to autologous blood composed 2.1 percent of all transfusion reactions investigated in the hospital, involving 0.16 percent (15/9,353) of all transfused preoperatively donated autologous red cell units and 0.027 percent (5/18,506) of all intraoperatively salvaged units. Further investigation revealed that 60 percent (12/20) of these adverse reactions were felt to be clinically important and directly attributable to the autologous blood transfusion. Adverse reactions included febrile nonhemolytic (5) and allergic (4) reactions, an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction secondary to a clerical error (1 intraoperatively salvaged unit), and other nonsignificant adverse reactions (2). Eight adverse reactions were determined these reactions to be unrelated to the autologous transfusion. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that the blood given is the patient's own blood, transfusion reactions to autologous blood do occur. As it is for allogeneic transfusion, any suspected adverse reaction to autologous blood transfusion should be investigated.     

Provisional restoration options in implant dentistr

Unlike their use in conventional crown and bridge, provisional restorations during implant therapy have been underutilized. Provisional restorations should be used to evaluate aesthetic, phonetic and occlusal function prior to delivery of the final implant restorations, while preserving and/or enhancing the condition of the peri-implant and gingival tissues. Provisional restorations are useful as a communication tool between members of the treatment team which, in most cases, consists of the restorative clinician, implant surgeons, laboratory technicians, and the patient. This article describes and discusses the various options for provisionalization in implant dentistry. Clinicians should be aware of the different types of provisional restorations and the indications for their use when planning implant retained restorations.     

Protective immunity in the rat model of congenital toxoplasmosis and the potential of excreted-secreted antigens as vaccine components

Toxoplasma infection is a major cause of severe foetal pathology both in humans and in domestic animals, particularly sheep. We have previously reported the development of an experimental model to study congenital toxoplasmosis in the rat. Here we demonstrate that, as in humans, total protection against congenital toxoplasmosis can be achieved regardless of the strain of Toxoplasma gondii used to infect rats, or when initial and challenge infections were carried out with different strains. Chronic infection is associated with a highly specific immunity that involves both B-and T-cell responses beginning at day 10 postinfection. The antibody isotype analysis revealed that whereas immunoglobulin (Ig)G2b is the major elicited isotype, no IgG1 antibodies are detected. T cell proliferation was assayed using crude Toxoplasma extracts or excretory-secretory antigens (ESA). The analysis of T cell supernatants showed the specific secretion of both interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma by activated T cells. Immunization of rats before pregnancy with either crude Toxoplasma extracts or with ESA elicited a B cell response that included antibodies of the IgG1 isotype and conferred on the newborns high levels of protection. Preliminary experiments of immunization using two HPLC-purified ESA, GRA2 and GRA5, conferred, a significant protection although to a lesser extent. This experimental model represents an attractive model for the identification of future vaccine candidates against congenital toxoplasmosis.