BACKGROUND Alloimmunization is a known risk of transfusion therapy caused by exposure to foreign RBC antigens. However, alloimmunization is not observed in all transfused patients. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules may contribute to the recognition and presentation of foreign antigens and to the potency of immune responses that result in the production of antibodies. The aim of this study was to determine the association of HLA‐DR and HLA‐DQ polymorphisms with alloimunization to Fya antigen in Croatian patients. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS The study was conducted on 70 alloimmunized patients to Fya antigen and two control groups: 165 healthy Croatian individuals (Control 1) and 45 Fya antigen‐negative nonimmunized patients exposed to Fya antigen (Control 2). Phenotype frequencies for HLA‐DRB1 and HLA‐DQB1 alleles were compared between the cases and control groups. RESULTS Statistically significant differences in phenotype frequencies between cases and controls were found for DRB1*04 (odds ratios [ORs], 10.5 and 18.7 for Control 1 and Control 2, respectively), DRB1*15 (ORs, 8.0 and 6.9), and DQB1*02 alleles (ORs, 0.2 and 0.03); and DRB1*04‐DQB1*03:01 (ORs, 7.9 and 17.6), DRB1*04‐DQB1*03:02 (ORs, 5.5 and 7.6), DRB1*15‐DQB1*06:02 (ORs, 7.3 and 5.5), DRB1*03‐DQB1*02:01 (OR, 0.1), and DRB1*07‐DQB1*02:02 (OR, 0.3) haplotypes. CONCLUSION Several HLA‐DRB1 and HLA‐DQB1 alleles and haplotypes were proved to contribute to and protect from alloimmunization to Fya antigens. Alleles DRB1*04 and DRB1*15, as well as haplotypes DRB1*04‐DQB1*03:02 and DRB1*15‐DQB1*06:02 can be considered as risk factors, while allele DQB1*02 and haplotype DRB1*03‐DQB1*02:01 have a protective role in Fya alloimmunization.

Flavonoids are natural polyphenolic compounds present in a wide spectrum of plants that have a beneficial effect on human health. In the context of cardiovascular diseases related to plaque and thrombus formation, flavonoids exhibit an anti-aggregatory effect. Previously, it has been reported that all tested flavonoids exhibit an antiaggregatory effect on platelet aggregation when measured by impedance aggregometry on whole blood, in the test of aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP). As not all flavonoids have the same targets within signaling pathways, an assumption of a common non-specific mechanism related to lipophilicity is to be considered. To test this hypothesis, reverse-phase thin layer chromatography was used to assess the lipophilicity of flavonoids; impedance aggregometry was used for testing of platelet aggregation and flow cytometry to monitor the influence of flavonoids on platelet activation. Lipophilicity analysis showed a highly negative correlation of logP and MINaAC for groups of flavones and flavanones. As determined by flow cytometry, the exposition of receptors necessary for the promotion of platelet activation and primary clot formation was diminished, i.e., lowered expression of the activated form of integrin αIIbβ3 was observed in the presence of flavanone. Platelet membrane stabilization by flavonoids as a mechanism of antiaggregatory effect has been supported by impedance aggregometry experiments when specific inhibitors of platelet aggregation signaling pathways (U73122, indomethacin, verapamil) were used in the presence of a weak (ADP) and a strong (TRAP-6) agonist of aggregation. While individual flavonoids can have specific targets within aggregation signaling pathways, all flavonoids share a common non-specific mechanism of platelet aggregation inhibition related to their lipophilicity and membrane stabilization that, to some extent, contributes to their antiaggregatory effect.

Transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) has been a widely used therapeutic option in patients with hematologic malignancies, congenital or acquired bone marrow failure, immunodeficiency states and autoimmunity for decades. 1 Peripheral blood has become the most commonly used source of HSC in both autologous and allogeneic transplantation due to easier accessibility and faster engraftment. Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) are collected with leukapheresis procedure, preceded by mobilization of HSC into the

She received intravenous Phenobarbital 10 mg/kg followed by 5 mg/kg/day. Initial laboratory findings including lumbal pucture and initial metabolic evaluation were all unremarkable. A tumor or congenital malformation of the left hemisphere of the brain was suspected after the first two dimensional brain ultrasonography. Multi Slice Computed Tomography (MSCT) revealed left HME, confirmed with the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) together with polymicrogyria of frontal lobe, atypical form of the left Sylvian fissure and the left frontal ventriculomegaly. She developed refractory seizures (tonic; focal with automatismssquelching, eye blinking; generalised, often waking her up from sleep). EEG showed suppression burst pattern and after extensive diagnostic evaluation the Ohtahara syndrome was diagnosed.Despite several different antiepileptic drugs, and their different combination, frequency and severity of the seizures did not improve and she developed severe developmental delay. At the age of 10 months she underwent functional hemispherotomy, and so far, eight months after the surgery she experienced no seizures together with major improvement in neuromotor development (despite strabismus and right hemiparesis which occurred after surgery). Her twin sister is healthy, normally developing, without seizures. Our findings are in comply with the data from the literature, claiming that after surgery the improvement of the patients is remarkable.

Donated human milk is the best substitute for breast milk in the case when the mother cannot feed her baby. Human milk banks provide safe and high quality donated human milk. That was the reason why the Human Milk Bank was established in the Croatian Tissue and Cell Bank at the Zagreb University Hospital Centre in January 2020. The Bank works in accordance with the Law on the Application of Human Tissues and Cells. In this paper, we present the results of the Bank work since from its opening until June 2020. Due to logistic reasons caused by the COVID-19 epidemic and the earthquake in Zagreb, the Human Milk Bank did not collect milk for 43 days. Milk was donated by 31 mothers. Their median age was 31 years and 81% of them had high education level. In 52% of cases, mothers started donating milk three months after giving birth. Most donors donated milk only once (45%). The median period of donation was 46 days. The majority (52%) of donors gave birth for the fi rst time, in the expected term of childbirth (94%), birth weight was >2500 g. Only three of donors’ children (9%) were in intensive care. A total of 175.5 L of milk were collected (mean 5.7 L per donor), of which 151.5 L met the requirements of input quality control, and 141 L were pasteurized. A critical number of viable aerobic and facultative bacteria were identifi ed in 32.6% of milk pools prepared for pasteurization, and 8.9% after pasteurization. For clinical use, 78.7 L were dispensed in three neonatal intensive care units. The Human Milk Bank has already shown the importance of its activities during the fi rst months of operation. In order to be able to meet the needs for donated human milk at the national level, it is necessary to constantly inform mothers about the importance of human milk and to promote its donation.