Relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) remains a major clinical challenge, as most patients eventually relapse following standard treatments and are left with limited therapeutic options. Although b-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) CAR-T cell therapy has recently shown remarkable efficacy in select patients, broader implementation is hindered by its reliance on autologous cells, prolonged manufacturing timelines, high costs, and severe immune-related toxicities. These challenges have prompted an urgent demand for safer, more accessible, and rapidly applicable immunotherapeutic alternatives. CBMC (cord blood mononuclear cells) were cultured with irradiated BMMC (bone marrow mononuclear cells) from RRMM patients in the presence of defined cytokines, aiming to develop a new therapeutic immune cell product for RRMM. Their phenotypic and functional characteristics, including non-MHC-restricted and MHC-restricted cytotoxicity mechanisms, were analyzed using surface marker profiling, cytokine secretion assays, in vitro cytotoxicity assays, functional and blocking assays. Antitumor activity was evaluated in xenograft mouse models using MM.1 S and RPMI-8226 cells. We successfully generated CD8+ NKT-like cells through tumor priming, which exhibited potent cytotoxicity and elevated cytokine production against multiple myeloma cell lines and primary RRMM samples. Mechanistically, tumor-priming CD8+ NKT-like cells (TPNC) cytotoxicity was mediated by both non-MHC–restricted pathways involving LFA-1 and DNAM-1, and MHC-restricted, TCR-mediated recognition. TPNC efficiently formed immune synapses, rapidly polarized cytotoxic granules, and engaged in serial killing. In xenograft models, TPNC significantly suppressed tumor progression, prolonged survival, and persisted in circulation without observable toxicity. Based on these findings, we extended the tumor-priming strategy to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), successfully generating TPNC with robust cytotoxic activity. In ALL samples, TPNC exhibited cytotoxicity comparable to anti-CD19 CAR-NK cells. TPNC represents a novel cytotoxic lymphocyte product generated through tumor-driven priming. Their dual recognition capacity, functional versatility, and favorable safety profile highlight their potential as a scalable and personalized immunotherapy platform for hematologic malignancies.

e14534 Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy for six months is recommended for patients who have undergone radical pancreatectomy, regardless of stage. The objective of this study is to analyse the safety and efficacy of administration of autologous natural killer(NK) cells, which are known for their high safety and low toxicity, in combination with standard chemotherapy. Methods: We conducted a phase I study in three patients who had undergone radical (R0) pancreatectomy. The adjuvant chemotherapy regimen consisted of 1000 mg/m 2 gemcitabine administered weekly on days 1, 8, and 15 during a 28-day cycle, followed by a 2-weeks’ rest and 825 mg/m 2 capecitabine administered twice daily for 21 days within the same 28-day cycle, followed by a 7days’ rest. In each cycle of chemotherapy, 50 cc of blood is collected on the first day (D1), and 2x10 9 autologous NK cells, cultured for three weeks, are administered intravenously on the day after the completion of chemotherapy (D22). This process is repeated for all six planned cycles, resulting in a total of six doses. The primary endpoint of the study is to evaluate the safety of combining autologous NK cells with standard adjuvant chemotherapy, and the secondary endpoint is to assess clinical effectiveness, including disease-free survival. Results: Of the three patients enrolled, two patients completed chemotherapy and NK cell infusions and one patient received up to five cycles of chemotherapy and only four NK cell infusions. Grade 3 adverse events were hematological adverse events, including neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia, which were considered to be directly related to chemotherapy. Immune cell activity assays were performed eight times: baseline on cycle 1 D1, then every cycle D1, at the end of treatment and 4 weeks after the end of treatment. No significant changes were observed with the NK cell administration. Conclusions: This study confirmed the safety of administering autologous NK cells to patients who underwent radical pancreatectomy in combination with standard chemotherapy. However, further follow-up is required to confirm the clinical effect of NK cell administration, and studies with larger numbers of patients are needed. Funding: The trial was funded by the Regenerative Medicine Acceleration Foundation (RMAF), project number HX23C0086. Clinical trial information: HX23C0086 .

Flow cytometric lymphocyte subset analysis (FCLSA) is essential for assessing immune status across various diseases and clinical settings. We surveyed current clinical laboratory practices related to FCLSA to establish a baseline reference for future standardization in Korea. Nine university hospitals actively performing FCLSA responded to the 22-question survey, which covered seven categories of laboratory practice. These hospitals used commercial reagent antibody kits from either Beckton Dickinson Biosciences (N=4) or Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (N=5). Most hospitals performed daily instrument setup and scheduled maintenance every 2-6 months. Two levels of commercial quality control materials were routinely used each day. Sample and reagent antibody volumes varied across hospitals, even when the same reagent kit was used. Acquired cell counts ranged from 5×103 to 5×104 cells, with two hospitals adjusting counts based on the cell type analyzed. Most laboratories reported percentages and general opinions; some additionally reported white blood cell and lymphocyte counts, along with lymphocyte percentages. This is the first comprehensive survey on the clinical laboratory practice of FCLSA in Korea. Standardization of FCLSA should be accelerated to ensure reliable and reproducible results.

A novel null HLA-A*24 allele, HLA-A*24:608N, was identified in five Korean subjects including three from a family and two separate individuals. This study was performed to discern its immunological function in transplantation settings. Because this null variant had deletions of approximately 12 k base pairs from intron 3 to 3' end of the HLA-A gene, low resolution HLA typing and amplicon-based next generation sequencing (NGS) typing methods had failed to assign it. Hybrid capture-based NGS method confirmed that this novel variant had a large deletion. T-lymphocyte crossmatching by complement-dependent lymphocytotoxicity and flow cytometry with a serum consisting anti-HLA-A24 antibody revealed negative results, implying that an individual with this allele would not carry a functioning A24 antigen. These findings highlight the importance of identifying a null HLA allele by employing appropriate molecular method and providing expected crossmatching outcomes in a real-world transplantation setting.

Presepsin, a fragment of the CD14 protein identified as a soluble subtype, emerges as a promising biomarker for sepsis diagnosis and prognosis [4-7].Secreted by lipopolysaccharide-recognizing activated monocytes, presepsin offers advantages over existing markers like procalcitonin and C-reactive protein, reportedly releasing earlier and reaching peak concentrations faster [4, 8, 9].Presepsin's potential as a prognostic marker has recently gained traction, particularly for coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients.Studies have demonstrated its ability to enhance outcome prediction when combined with clinical indices, exceeding the accuracy of clinical indices alone [10].Presepsin levels in moderate COVID-19 cases were significantly higher than in mild cases, suggesting its value in guiding treatment and prognosis decisions [11].Moreover, presepsin levels have shown promise in predicting septic acute kidney injury [12].Rapid turnaround times are crucial for sepsis diagnostic biomarkers.However, situations arise where limited laboratory resources necessitate test transfer to reference laboratories.

Autophagy is a self-degradation system for recycling to maintain homeostasis. p62/sequestosome-1 (p62) is an autophagy receptor that accumulates in neuroglia in neurodegenerative diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the elevation of plasma p62 protein levels in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 1A (CMT1A) for its clinical usefulness to assess disease severity. We collected blood samples from 69 CMT1A patients and 59 healthy controls. Plasma concentrations of p62 were analyzed by ELISA, and we compared them with Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy score version 2 (CMTNSv2). A mouse CMT1A model (C22) was employed to determine the source and mechanism of plasma p62 elevation. Plasma p62 was detected in healthy controls with median value of 1978 pg/ml, and the levels were significantly higher in CMT1A (2465 pg/ml, p < 0.001). The elevated plasma p62 levels were correlated with CMTNSv2 (r = 0.621, p < 0.0001), motor nerve conduction velocity (r = - 0.490, p < 0.0001) and disease duration (r = 0.364, p < 0.01). In C22 model, increased p62 expression was observed not only in pathologic Schwann cells but also in plasma. Our findings indicate that plasma p62 measurement could be a valuable tool for evaluating CMT1A severity and Schwann cell pathology.

OBJECTIVES:Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are important for the diagnosis of various autoimmune diseases. ANA are usually detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using HEp-2 cells (HEp-2 IFA). There are many variables influencing HEp-2 IFA results, such as subjective visual reading, serum screening dilution, substrate manufacturing, microscope components and conjugate. Newer developments on ANA testing that offer novel features adopted by some clinical laboratories include automated computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) systems and solid phase assays (SPA).METHODS:A group of experts reviewed current literature and established recommendations on methodological aspects of ANA testing. This process was supported by a two round Delphi exercise. International expert groups that participated in this initiative included (i) the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group "Autoimmunity Testing"; (ii) the European Autoimmune Standardization Initiative (EASI); and (iii) the International Consensus on ANA Patterns (ICAP).RESULTS:In total, 35 recommendations/statements related to (i) ANA testing and reporting by HEp-2 IFA; (ii) HEp-2 IFA methodological aspects including substrate/conjugate selection and the application of CAD systems; (iii) quality assurance; (iv) HEp-2 IFA validation/verification approaches and (v) SPA were formulated. Globally, 95% of all submitted scores in the final Delphi round were above 6 (moderately agree, agree or strongly agree) and 85% above 7 (agree and strongly agree), indicating strong international support for the proposed recommendations.CONCLUSIONS:These recommendations are an important step to achieve high quality ANA testing.

A novel null HLA-A*24 allele, HLA-A*24:608N, was identified in five Korean subjects including three from a family and two separate individuals. This study was performed to discern its immunological function in transplantation settings. Because this null variant had deletions of approximately 12 k base pairs from intron 3 to 3 ' end of the HLA-A gene, low resolution HLA typing and amplicon-based next generation sequencing (NGS) typing methods had failed to assign it. Hybrid capture-based NGS method confirmed that this novel variant had a large deletion. T-lymphocyte crossmatching by complement-dependent lymphocytotoxicity and flow cytometry with a serum consisting anti-HLA-A24 antibody revealed negative results, implying that an individual with this allele would not carry a functioning A24 antigen. These findings highlight the importance of identifying a null HLA allele by employing appropriate molecular method and providing expected crossmatching outcomes in a real-world transplantation setting.

Background:Flow cytometric immunophenotyping of hematolymphoid neoplasms (FCI-HLN) is essential for diagnosis, classification, and minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring. FCI-HLN is typically performed using in-house protocols, raising the need for standardization. Therefore, we surveyed the current status of FCI-HLN in Korea to obtain fundamental data for quality improvement and standardization. Methods:Eight university hospitals actively conducting FCI-HLN participated in our survey. We analyzed responses to a questionnaire that included inquiries regarding test items, reagent antibodies (RAs), fluorophores, sample amounts (SAs), reagent antibody amounts (RAAs), acquisition cell number (ACN), isotype control (IC) usage, positive/negative criteria, and reporting. Results:Most hospitals used acute HLN, chronic HLN, plasma cell neoplasm (PCN), and MRD panels. The numbers of RAs were heterogeneous, with a maximum of 32, 26, 12, 14, and 10 antibodies used for acute HLN, chronic HLN, PCN, ALL-MRD, and multiple myeloma-MRD, respectively. The number of fluorophores ranged from 4 to 10. RAs, SAs, RAAs, and ACN were diverse. Most hospitals used a positive criterion of 20%, whereas one used 10% for acute and chronic HLN panels. Five hospitals used ICs for the negative criterion. Positive/negative assignments, percentages, and general opinions were commonly reported. In MRD reporting, the limit of detection and lower limit of quantification were included. Conclusions:This is the first comprehensive study on the current status of FCI-HLN in Korea, confirming the high heterogeneity and complexity of FCI-HLN practices. Standardization of FCI-HLN is urgently needed. The findings provide a reference for establishing standard FCI-HLN guidelines.

A novel null HLA‐A*24 allele, HLA‐A*24:608N , was identified in five Korean subjects including three from a family and two separate individuals. This study was performed to discern its immunological function in transplantation settings. Because this null variant had deletions of approximately 12 k base pairs from intron 3 to 3′ end of the HLA‐A gene, low resolution HLA typing and amplicon‐based next generation sequencing (NGS) typing methods had failed to assign it. Hybrid capture‐based NGS method confirmed that this novel variant had a large deletion. T‐lymphocyte crossmatching by complement‐dependent lymphocytotoxicity and flow cytometry with a serum consisting anti‐HLA‐A24 antibody revealed negative results, implying that an individual with this allele would not carry a functioning A24 antigen. These findings highlight the importance of identifying a null HLA allele by employing appropriate molecular method and providing expected crossmatching outcomes in a real‐world transplantation setting.

Vox SanguinisVolume 118, Issue 4 p. 319-336 International Forum International Forum on Transfusion Education for Healthcare Professionals Who Administer Blood to Patients in Hospitals and Health Services: Responses Arwa Z. Al-Riyami, Arwa Z. Al-Riyami orcid.org/0000-0001-8649-0650 Search for more papers by this authorLinley Bielby, Linley Bielby orcid.org/0000-0002-6753-3712 Search for more papers by this authorRachel Moss, Rachel MossSearch for more papers by this authorNaomi Rahimi-Levene, Naomi Rahimi-Levene orcid.org/0000-0003-3411-886X Search for more papers by this authorAine O'Kane, Aine O'KaneSearch for more papers by this authorJohn R. Hess, John R. HessSearch for more papers by this authorNoor e Saba, Noor e SabaSearch for more papers by this authorKyeong-Hee Kim, Kyeong-Hee Kim orcid.org/0000-0002-6694-4296 Search for more papers by this authorSatyam Arora, Satyam Arora orcid.org/0000-0002-9048-5624 Search for more papers by this authorSeema Dua, Seema DuaSearch for more papers by this authorClaire L. Barrett, Claire L. Barrett orcid.org/0000-0001-7700-8893 Search for more papers by this authorCarlos A. Gonzalez, Carlos A. GonzalezSearch for more papers by this authorDavid Martin Ferrari, David Martin FerrariSearch for more papers by this authorPaula V. Cini, Paula V. CiniSearch for more papers by this authorMidori Kumagawa, Midori KumagawaSearch for more papers by this authorClaire O'Reilly, Claire O'ReillySearch for more papers by this authorLiz Thrift, Liz ThriftSearch for more papers by this authorSilvano Wendel, Silvano Wendel orcid.org/0000-0002-1941-7733 Search for more papers by this authorRoberta Fachini, Roberta FachiniSearch for more papers by this authorLara Faria Souza Dias, Lara Faria Souza Dias orcid.org/0000-0002-8350-5121 Search for more papers by this authorDung Tran, Dung TranSearch for more papers by this authorChristine T. Steinsvåg, Christine T. SteinsvågSearch for more papers by this authorNancy Dunbar, Nancy Dunbar [email protected] Search for more papers by this author Arwa Z. Al-Riyami, Arwa Z. Al-Riyami orcid.org/0000-0001-8649-0650 Search for more papers by this authorLinley Bielby, Linley Bielby orcid.org/0000-0002-6753-3712 Search for more papers by this authorRachel Moss, Rachel MossSearch for more papers by this authorNaomi Rahimi-Levene, Naomi Rahimi-Levene orcid.org/0000-0003-3411-886X Search for more papers by this authorAine O'Kane, Aine O'KaneSearch for more papers by this authorJohn R. Hess, John R. HessSearch for more papers by this authorNoor e Saba, Noor e SabaSearch for more papers by this authorKyeong-Hee Kim, Kyeong-Hee Kim orcid.org/0000-0002-6694-4296 Search for more papers by this authorSatyam Arora, Satyam Arora orcid.org/0000-0002-9048-5624 Search for more papers by this authorSeema Dua, Seema DuaSearch for more papers by this authorClaire L. Barrett, Claire L. Barrett orcid.org/0000-0001-7700-8893 Search for more papers by this authorCarlos A. Gonzalez, Carlos A. GonzalezSearch for more papers by this authorDavid Martin Ferrari, David Martin FerrariSearch for more papers by this authorPaula V. Cini, Paula V. CiniSearch for more papers by this authorMidori Kumagawa, Midori KumagawaSearch for more papers by this authorClaire O'Reilly, Claire O'ReillySearch for more papers by this authorLiz Thrift, Liz ThriftSearch for more papers by this authorSilvano Wendel, Silvano Wendel orcid.org/0000-0002-1941-7733 Search for more papers by this authorRoberta Fachini, Roberta FachiniSearch for more papers by this authorLara Faria Souza Dias, Lara Faria Souza Dias orcid.org/0000-0002-8350-5121 Search for more papers by this authorDung Tran, Dung TranSearch for more papers by this authorChristine T. Steinsvåg, Christine T. SteinsvågSearch for more papers by this authorNancy Dunbar, Nancy Dunbar [email protected] Search for more papers by this author First published: 10 February 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/vox.13409Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat REFERENCES 1 Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Key Facts Workforce Bulletin. (health-ni.gov.uk). 2022. Available from: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/hscwb-key-facts-june-2022.pdf. Google Scholar 2 LearnBloodTransfusion Landing Page. Available from: https://www.learnbloodtransfusion.org.uk/. Google Scholar 3Robinson S, Harris A, Atkinson S, Atterbury C, Bolton-Maggs P, Elliott C, et al. The administration of blood components: a British Society for Haematology Guideline. Transfus Med. 2018; 28: 3–21. 10.1111/tme.12481 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar REFERENCES 1Riveira MC, Louzon MJ, Tuott EE, Monoski TJ, Cruz-Cody VG, Tesfamariam A, et al. Blood school. Am J Clin Pathol. 2020; 153: 524–9. 10.1093/ajcp/aqz192 PubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar 2Riveira MC, Fredrickson TA, Iha BR, Mitchell SH, White NJ, Arbabi S, et al. Improving emergency department blood product use through nursing education. Transfusion. 2020; 60: 1227–30. 10.1111/trf.15834 PubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar 3Tuott EE, Tadina EC, Monoski TJ, Natividad LM, Riveira MC, Hess JR. Mass casualty drill with paper blood products. Transfusion. 2019; 59: 3054–5. 10.1111/trf.15477 PubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar REFERENCES 1Louw LD, Grobbelaar J, Henn L, van Zyl L, Wernich C, Wessels PL, et al. Management of blood products: nursing knowledge and practices at an academic hospital. Transfus Apher Sci. 2021; 60: 102971. 10.1016/j.transci.2020.102971 PubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar 2Barrett C, Mphahlele K, Khunou I, Mkwanazi T, Moshoeshoe P, Mabine M, et al. The knowledge of transfusion and related practices among doctors at Universitas Academic Complex, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Transfus Apher Sci. 2020; 59: 102739. 10.1016/j.transci.2020.102739 PubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar REFERENCE 1 df NORMAS ADMINISTRATIVAS Y TECNICAS RM 797/13–139/14–1507/15, Ministerio de Salud de la Nacion. Available from: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/sites/default/files/criterios-seleccion-donantes_salud.p. Google Scholar REFERENCES 1 Canadian Blood Services. Clinical Guide to Transfusion, Chapter 9. Google Scholar 2Callum JL. Bloody easy 4. Ontario Regional Blood Coordinating Network: Toronto, ON; 2016. Google Scholar 3 Provincial Blood Coordinating Office: Clinical Transfusion Resource Manual (2019). Google Scholar 4 Standards for Hospital Transfusion Services (Ver. 4.0). Ottawa, ON: Canadian Society for Transfusion Medicine; 2017. Google Scholar 5 CAN/CSA Z902-15 A National Standard of Canada – Blood and blood components. Mississauga, ON: Canadian Standards Association; 2015. Google Scholar REFERENCES 1 Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) [cited 2022 Sep 10]. Available from: https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/brasil/sp/sao-paulo/panorama. Google Scholar 2 Technical Norm for the Performance of Nurses and Nursing Technicians in Hemotherapy. Resolution COFEN number 0511/2016 [cited 2022 Sep 10]. Available from: http://www.cofen.gov.br/resolucao-cofen-no-05112016_39095.html. Google Scholar 3 Qualification of the Transfusion Act. Guide for Awareness and Training. Ministry of Health, National Health Surveillance Agency. First edition. Brasília – DF. 2016 [cited 2022 Sep 10]. Available from: https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/qualificacao_ato_transfusional_guia_sensibilizacao.pdf. Google Scholar 4 World Health Organization. Educational modules on clinical use of blood. World Health Organization. 2021 [cited 2022 Sep 10]. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/350246. Google Scholar 5 Joint Commission International [cited 2022 Sep 10]. Available from https://www.jointcommissioninternational.org/accreditation/. Google Scholar REFERENCES 1 Liverpool Hospital – General Managers Welcome [cited 2022 Oct 14]. Available from: https://www.swslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/liverpool/gm_message.html. Google Scholar 2 BloodSafe ELearning Australia – About Us [cited 2022 Oct 14]. Available from: https://bloodsafelearning.org.au/about-us/. Google Scholar Volume118, Issue4April 2023Pages 319-336 ReferencesRelatedInformation

A novel null HLA‐A*24 allele, HLA‐A*24:608N, was identified in five Korean subjects including three from a family and two separate individuals. This study was performed to discern its immunological function in transplantation settings. Because this null variant had deletions of approximately 12 k base pairs from intron 3 to 3′ end of the HLA‐A gene, low resolution HLA typing and amplicon‐based next generation sequencing (NGS) typing methods had failed to assign it. Hybrid capture‐based NGS method confirmed that this novel variant had a large deletion. T‐lymphocyte crossmatching by complement‐dependent lymphocytotoxicity and flow cytometry with a serum consisting anti‐HLA‐A24 antibody revealed negative results, implying that an individual with this allele would not carry a functioning A24 antigen. These findings highlight the importance of identifying a null HLA allele by employing appropriate molecular method and providing expected crossmatching outcomes in a real‐world transplantation setting.

Background: Patients with hematologic diseases receive frequent transfusions of red blood cells (RBCs), platelets (PLTs), and fresh frozen plasma (FFP).These patients are more likely to develop alloimmunization due to repeated exposure to RBC antigens.The purpose of this study was to investigate the need for extended RBC matching in patients with hematologic diseases and a history of repeated transfusions.Methods: We assessed patients who had undergone bone marrow examination at the Dong-A University hospital, Busan, South Korea from January 2008 to December 2012.A total of 571 patients were examined.We retrospectively investigated the frequency and volume of the transfusions of RBCs, PLTs, and FFP, the diagnosis of each patient, and the generation of unexpected antibodies.Results: Alloimmunization occurred in 18 out of 571 patients (3.15%).Among the identified antibodies, Rhesus (Rh) group antibodies were the most frequently detected (58.6%).The number of RBC transfusion episodes was higher in the alloimmunized group than that in the non-alloimmunized group (P=0.0016).The RBC transfusion volume was also significantly higher in the alloimmunized group than that in the non-alloimmunized group (P=0.0020).Also, the number of PLT transfusion episodes and transfusion volume were higher in the alloimmunized group.There were no statistically significant differences in the sex, age, or FFP transfusions between the two groups. Conclusion:The number of RBC transfusion episodes and the RBC transfusion volume affected the possibility of generating unexpected antibodies.The number of PLT transfusion episodes and the PLT transfusion volume also affected alloimmunization.The Rh antigen should therefore be matched in elderly patients who are expected to receive repeated blood transfusions.(

The number of ABO-incompatible solid organ transplantations (ABOi SOTs) has markedly increased worldwide since the early 2000s. We investigated the choice of ABO group for blood component transfusion in ABOi SOT. We conducted a survey by e-mailing a questionnaire to blood bank specialists at 77 major hospitals in Korea, among whom 34 responded to the survey. In major ABOi SOT, for red blood cells (RBCs), the recipient's type (70.6%) was the most common choice, followed by group O (29.4%); for platelets, group AB (50.0%) was the most common choice, followed by the donor type (38.2%); for plasma, group AB (55.9%) was the most common choice, followed by the donor type (32.4%). In bidirectional ABOi SOT, for RBCs, the recipient's type (55.9%) was the most common choice, followed by group O (44.1%); for platelets and plasma, group AB was the most common choice (94.1% and 97.1%, respectively). The policies for transfusion in ABOi SOT were diverse. We suggest a guideline on the choice of ABO group for transfusion in ABOi SOT to secure patient health and enable an efficient use of blood components.

Background: Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) on HEp-2 cells are important for the diagnosis of systemic rheumatic diseases.ANA is an entry criterion in the 2019 classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).The International Consensus on ANA Patterns (ICAP) and computer-aided immunofluorescence microscopy (CAIFM) and have been introduced for ANA interpretation.This study aimed investigate the status of ANA testing in Korea. Methods:The study conducted an e-mail survey in July 2019.The survey containing 15 items were emailed to 49 clinical pathologists at 42 tertiary referral hospitals and seven reference laboratories.A total of 37 pathologists replied (response rate: 75.5%).Statistical analysis was performed based on the responses from 36 institutions because one hospital did not perform ANA testing.Results: All the laboratories performed ANA testing by IFA on Hep-2 cells.Of these, 21 laboratories (58%) used 1:40 as the screening dilution titer, while the titer of final dilution varied.Ten of 12 laboratories using CAIFM applied it to negative/positive determination, and 59% (n=12 laboratories) used it for reading the fluorescence pattern.Moreover, 33 clinical pathologists (92%) who was familiar with ICAP responded.Furthermore, 33 laboratories (92%) responded that they do not use the anti-cell (AC) code, while 16 laboratories (48%) indicated an intention to use the AC code.Conclusions: The use of 1:40 dilution screening titer for the diagnosis of SLE in laboratories needs to be considered.The findings of this study may be used to better inform standardized ANA reporting and for establishing the Korean ANA reporting guidelines.

Introduction Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are known to be induced by various factors. In this study, we tried to identify circulating levels of NETs in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and to confirm its suitability as a new circulating marker in their detection. Methods We prospectively enrolled 95 patients with a diagnosis of ACS (N = 37) or AIS (N = 58) in Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea. The control group was selected from healthy adults (N = 25) who visited the hospital for health screening. Circulating levels of NETs were evaluated by measuring plasma concentrations of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and DNA-histone complex. Results The concentrations of dsDNA were statistically higher in patients with ACS or AIS than those in the control group (both P < .001). In the univariable and multivariable analyses, statistically significant risk factors were troponin I (TnI) level and dsDNA concentration in the ACS group (P = .046 and P = .015, respectively) and only dsDNA concentration in the AIS group (P = .002). In the receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, the area under the curve values for TnI level and dsDNA concentration in the ACS group were 0.878 and 0.968, respectively, and the value for dsDNA concentration in the AIS group was 0.859. Conclusions In this study, it was confirmed that the circulating level of NETs was increased in patients with ACS and AIS at initial presentation. Findings in this study show that NETs could be used as a new circulating marker for the initial diagnosis of ACS or AIS.