The aim of this study was to compare the performance of the automatic TEST 1 ESR system, SIRE Analytical Systems (TEST 1), with that of the the Sedisystem 15, Becton Dickinson (SEDI), and the International Council for Standardization in Haematology reference method (Westergren) for measuring the length of sedimentation reaction in blood (LSRB). This reaction was measured in 418 paired blood samples drawn in K2-EDTA vacuum tubes and specific tubes from patients scheduled for routine LSRB measurement. The TEST 1 system uses micro-sedimentation and quantitative capillary photometry technology, whereas the SEDI uses a CCD camera. For Westergren, a 200 mm column with 3.0 mm internal diameter was used. Compared to Westergren, TEST 1 gives accurate values of LSRB in most of the samples (mean of differences: 0.99 +/- 10.4 mm; 95% CI, -0.807 to 2.78 mm; n =131). Similar results were obtained in the comparison with SEDI (mean of differences: -0.626 +/- 8 mm; 95% CI, -1.756 to 0.5 mm; n = 195). Compared to those of fresh blood samples, LSRB values were significantly lower in 24 h stored samples, either at 4 degrees C (21.5 +/- 2.3 vs. 19.4 +/- 2.2 mm; p (Spearman's coefficient of correlation): 0.981; n = 44) or at room temperature (19.1 +/- 2.5 vs. 16.2 +/- 2.1 mm; p: 0.903; n = 46). In conclusion, TEST 1 is a rapid, reliable system for automatic measurement of LSRB in standard K2-EDTA blood samples. It has a very low imprecision and maintains a good performance in 24 h stored samples. In addition, due to its operational characteristics (60 samples/20 min) it is a suitable tool for clinical laboratories with a high work load as well as for emergency laboratories.

The use of the TH3 seems to be an easy, reliable, and low-cost approach for monitoring fat particle content and removal from postoperative salvaged shed blood in orthopedic procedures.

© F e r r a t a S t o r t i F o u n d a t i o nBendamustine in newly diagnosed myeloma haematologica | 2015; 100(8) 1097dexamethasone is not only another standard of care, but also a new backbone to which novel drugs can be added. 8Bendamustine is a unique bifunctional alkylating agent with proven activity in MM.9 Although it appears to be effective as monotherapy, it is usually combined with other agents, proteasome inhibitors or immunomodulatory drugs. It has an acceptable toxicity profile, and its suitability for patients with renal impairment is of particular note. 10 Although it is commonly used in the relapse setting, bendamustine in combination with prednisone 11 has been approved in Europe in the upfront setting to treat MM patients who are not candidates for HDT-ASCT and who cannot receive thalidomide or bortezomib because they have peripheral neuropathy. The approval was based on a randomized trial in which bendamustine plus prednisone proved to be better than melphalan plus prednisone in terms of complete response rate and time-totreatment failure. 12 The combination of bendamustine plus bortezomib and dexamethasone has been tested in seven phase 1-2 trials conducted in relapsed or relapsed and refractory patients, in whom it yielded overall response rates of 48%-85%, with an acceptable safety profile. 9,13 In newly diagnosed MM patients, two studies conducted in transplant-ineligible patients have tested this combination administering bortezomib in the conventional, twice-weekly schedule. The first of these studies included 44 patients, and preliminary results indicated an overall response rate of 85%. 14 The second was a retrospective study conducted in patients with normal or impaired renal function. The overall response rate was 82% and there were no differences between patients with normal/mildly impaired renal function and those with moderate/severe renal impairment. 15 In this article, we report the efficacy and safety results of the combination of bendamustine plus bortezomib and prednisone (BVP) in newly diagnosed MM patients, but giving bortezomib twice a week during the first cycle and weekly thereafter. This is the first trial conducted in newly diagnosed MM patients which included transplant-eligible and transplant-ineligible patients, and provided a singular opportunity to evaluate the effect of bendamustine on stem cell collection and its efficacy as part of an induction regimen followed by transplantation. Methods Patients and study designPatients with newly diagnosed, untreated, symptomatic, measurable MM were included in this open-label, phase 2 study carried out at 16 centers throughout Spain. All patients received the combination based on BVP: the first cycle consisted of bendamustine 90 mg/m 2 given intravenously (IV) on days 1 and 4, in combination with bortezomib 1.3 mg/m 2 given IV on days 1, 4, 8, 11, 22, 25, 29 and 32 and prednisone 60 mg/m 2 given orally on days 1 to 4. In the following cycles, bendamustine was given on days 1 and 8, and bortezomib on days 1, 8, 1...

Measurement of haemoglobin (Hb) concentration provides a reliable indication of the presence and severity of anaemia. However, other laboratory parameters are usually requested as well, leading to an increase in socio-sanitary costs. Accordingly, this study was undertaken to ascertain the reliability of point-of-care Hb determination with the portable photometer HemoCue-B haemoglobin (HBH) and to evaluate its utility for the initial diagnosis of anaemia. Hb was measured (x3) in 20 venous blood samples diluted with saline (v/v; 1 : 0, 2 : 1, 1 : 1, 2 : 1 and 3 : 1) to obtain a wide range of Hb and in venous and capillary blood samples from 247 primary health care patients. All HBH results were compared with those yielded by the reference cell counter Pentra 120 Retic (ABX). In diluted samples, Hb values obtained with either method were not significantly different (ABX-HBH, -0.01 +/- 0.32 g/dl; 95% CI, -0.04 to 0.028 g/dl) and showed an excellent Pearson's coefficient of correlation (r = 0.992; P < 0.01). HBH provides accurate values if at least 4 mul of blood is loaded into the cuvette. There were no significant differences between Hb measured in venous (v) and capillary (c) blood samples in primary care patients. Eighteen anaemic patients were detected by ABX measurements (7.3%; 15 female/3 male), 18 by HBHv (specificity, 100%; sensitivity, 100%) and 25 by HBHc (eight false positives; one false negative; specificity, 94.4%; sensitivity, 96.5%). Compared with ABX, HBH provides accurate and precise measurements for a wide range of Hb and its use in primary health care seems to be a good method for the initial diagnosis of anaemia.

Return of USB after TKR seems to reduce the need for ABT, especially in patients with preoperative Hb between 12 and 15 g/dl. There is little benefit of USB reinfusion for patients with preoperative Hb > 15 g/dl, whereas patients with preoperative Hb < 12 g/dl would probably benefit from the combination of USB with some other blood-saving method.