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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.

A requirement for quantum information processors is the in situ tunability of the tunnel rates and the exchange interaction energy within the device. The large energy level separation for atom qubits in silicon is well suited for qubit operation but limits device tunability using in-plane gate architectures, requiring vertically separated top-gates to control tunnelling within the device. In this paper, we address control of the simplest tunnelling device in Si:P, the tunnel junction. Here we demonstrate that we can tune its conductance by using a vertically separated top-gate aligned with ±5 nm precision to the junction. We show that a monolithic 3D epitaxial top-gate increases the capacitive coupling by a factor of 3 compared to in-plane gates, resulting in a tunnel barrier height tunability of 0-186 meV. By combining multiple gated junctions in series we extend our monolithic 3D gating technology to implement nanoscale logic circuits including AND and OR gates.

Multiplex nucleic acid amplification assays that simultaneously detect multiple respiratory pathogens in a single nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) specimen are widely used for rapid clinical diagnostics. We evaluated Allplex Respiratory Panel (RP) 1, 2, 3, and the BioFire FilmArray RP assay for detecting respiratory pathogens from NPS specimens. In all, 181 NPS specimens obtained from patients suspected of having respiratory infections during the non-influenza season (August–December 2019) were included. The Allplex RP 1, 2, and 3 detected 154 samples positive for respiratory viruses, whereas the BioFire FilmArray detected viruses in 98 samples. Co-infection with two or more viruses was detected in 41 and 17 NPS specimens by Allplex RP and the BioFire FilmArray RP, respectively. For adenoviruses, Allplex RP 1 detected 31 specimens, compared to 34 by the BioFire FilmArray. In all, 64 NPS specimens were positive for human enterovirus (HEV) and human rhinovirus (HRV) on the Allplex RP, in contrast to 39 HEV/HRV on the BioFire FilmArray. The parainfluenza virus (PIV-1–4) detection rate differed between the two systems. Most discrepant results were observed for NPS specimens with high cycle threshold values obtained by Allplex RP. This study showed concordant performance of the Allplex RP 1, 2, 3, and the BioFire FilmArray RP for the simultaneous detection of multiple respiratory viruses.

State preparation and measurement of single-electron spin qubits typically rely on spin-to-charge conversion where a spin-dependent charge transition of the electron is detected by a coupled charge sensor. For high-fidelity, fast readout, this process requires that the qubit energy is much larger than the temperature of the system limiting the temperature range for measurements. Here, we demonstrate an initialization and measurement technique that involves voltage ramps rather than static voltages allowing us to achieve state-to-charge readout fidelities above 99% for qubit energies almost half that required by traditional methods. This previously unidentified measurement technique is highly relevant for achieving high-fidelity electron spin readout at higher temperature operation and offers a number of pragmatic benefits compared to traditional energy-selective readout such as real-time dynamic feedback and minimal alignment procedures.

Introduction Autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation has become a standard treatment option for many oncology patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of two cell separators, Spectra Optia (Terumo BCT, Japan) and Amicus (Fresenius-Kabi) for autologous PBSC collection. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 56 apheresis by Spectra Optia with Continuous Mononuclear Cell Collection (cMNC) from 20 patients, and 50 apheresis by Amicus from 27 patients between December 2018 and December 2019. CD34+ collection efficiency (CE2) and platelet (PLT) loss were evaluated. Results There was no significant difference in CD34+ CE2 between Spectra Optia with cMNC (median, 28.8%) and Amicus (median, 33.1%; P = 0.537). PLT loss was significantly lower in Amicus (median, 28.6%) than in Spectra Optia with cMNC (median, 37.8%; P = 0.009). Conclusion CD34+ CE2 was comparable between Spectra Optia and Amicus, and PLT loss was significantly lower in Amicus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report comparing autologous PBSC collection of the Spectra Optia and Amicus. These results may provide general guidance with regard to device selection to apheresis clinics that use both separators for optimal outcomes depending on each patient's characteristics.

Angiogenesis is important for the proliferation and survival of multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Bone marrow (BM) microvessel density (MVD) is a useful marker of angiogenesis and an increase in MVD can be used as a marker of poor prognosis in MM patients. We developed an automated image analyzer to assess MVD from images of BM biopsies stained with anti-CD34 antibodies using two color models. MVD was calculated by merging images from the red and hue channels after eliminating non-microvessels. The analyzer results were compared with those obtained by two experienced hematopathologists in a blinded manner using the 84 BM samples of MM patients. Manual assessment of the MVD by two hematopathologists yielded mean±SD values of 19.4±11.8 and 20.0±11.8. The analyzer generated a mean±SD of 19.5±11.2. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman plot of the MVD results demonstrated very good agreement between the automated image analyzer and both hematopathologists (ICC=0.893 [0.840-0.929] and ICC=0.906 [0.859-0.938]). This automated analyzer can provide time- and labor-saving benefits with more objective results in hematology laboratories.

Objective We compared the clinical outcomes of recipients of ABO-incompatible (ABOi) kidney transplantation (KT) according to the blood group of the plasma transfused. Materials and Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of 60 recipients of ABOi-KT with blood type O and A or B donors. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between 2 groups of recipients: 1 group received AB plasma regardless of the donor’s blood type (n = 30), and the other group received donor-type plasma (n = 30). Results There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of demographic characteristics. Transfusion of donor-type plasma was noninferior to transfusion of type AB plasma in terms of both rejection-free survival and rejection rate (P = .455, P = .335). Conclusion There was no significant prognostic difference between the 2 groups. In terms of blood supply and inventory management, we suggest that the blood group of the plasma should match the donor’s type.

The immunogenicity of a blood group antigen is a measure of its likelihood of inducing alloantibodies. Although the immunogenicity of blood group antigens has been analyzed in Caucasian populations, immunogenicity to date has not been analyzed in Asian subjects. The present study therefore evaluated the relative immunogenicity of blood group antigens in a Korean population.All available data of unexpected antibody identification tests performed at Asan Medical Center between 1997 and 2021 were analyzed. The relative immunogenicity of a blood group antigen relative to K antigen was calculated based on relative numbers of alloantibodies and the probabilities of antigen-negative recipients receiving antigen-positive RBC units.A total of 3898 antibody identification results were included, with 1632 (41.9 %) from male patients. The ranking of antigen immunogenicity was: E c e C K Jk(a) Lu(a) S Fy(a) Fy(b) Jk(b) Di(b) Di(a) in the total population and E c e C Jk(a) Fy(a) Fy(b) S K Lu(a) Jk(b) Di(b) Di(a) in male patients.The rank order of immunogenicity for blood group antigens in this study provides information about relative immunogenecity in Koreans. These findings also provide supporting evidence regarding antigen selection for extended antigen-matched transfusions in recipients of multiple transfusions.

ABO antibodies occur naturally and usually exist as alloantibodies. They are the most clinically significant in cases of transfusions. However, there are very few reports on auto-anti-A or B. A 58-year-old man visited our hospital for evaluation of an inguinal mass. Blood typing was performed, while preparing the patient for an excisional biopsy. Forward and reverse typing showed a typical AB and A pattern. Results of the direct antiglobulin and unexpected antibody screening tests were negative. The serum did not react with AB3 cells. The biopsy revealed a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. After completing four cycles of R-CHOP chemotherapy, the patient achieved complete remission. There were no anti-B antibodies found on repeat ABO typing. This report shares our experience on unexpected anti-B antibody findings in a patient with an A1B blood type. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of anti-B antibodies in a patient with an A1B blood type in Korea.

Objective We designed a study to compare the efficacy of cryoprecipitate-reduced plasma (CRP) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP), at the level of individual sessions, for treating refractory thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). Materials and Methods Platelet counts (× 10³/μL) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD; IU/L) levels were measured before and after each session. We compared the mean-percentage and absolute changes in platelet count and LD after each TPE session. Results The data from 33 patients treated for TMA between 2009 and 2018 were collected for this study. Both absolute and percentage increases in the platelet count were statistically significant (P = .003 and P = .011, respectively) when CRP was used. However, when patients were divided into subgroups according to specific diagnosis, no significant differences were found among the groups, except in terms of the absolute platelet count increase in the thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura group (P Conclusion The platelet count increase was higher when patients received CRP than when they received FFP. We found that CRP may be a rescue option for patients with refractory TMA.

To ensure safe red blood cell (RBC) transfusion practice, it is important to comply with storage and transport requirements of RBC units. We conducted a comprehensive survey on the practice of RBC transport and storage to explore the awareness of and compliance with the 30-minute rule, the current status of RBC unit transport, and possible utility of temperature indicators (TIs) to reduce RBC wastage.From June to August of 2019, 64 blood bank physicians (14 questions) in 64 secondary- and tertiary-care hospitals and 673 nurses (13 questions) in 42 tertiary-care hospitals replied to a questionnaire survey. The results of the survey were analyzed with descriptive statistics.Among the physicians surveyed, 97.0% (N=62) of hospitals had transfusion guidelines in place. The RBC wastage in 2018 ranged from less than five units to more than 200 units. Among the nurses surveyed, 99.4% (N=669) were aware of and complied with the 30-minute rule; 13.5% (N=91) of the nurses had experience of RBC wastage due to violation of the 30-minute rule. Both physicians (67%, N=43) and nurses (83.1%, N=559) responded that TIs would help reduce RBC wastage.This is the first survey on the practices related to RBC transport and storage in Korea. This study provides fundamental data on current practice for the blood cold chain, insights into RBC wastage, and highlights the utility of TIs.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) that evolves into acute leukemia with blasts of mixed phenotypes has rarely been reported and has no distinct diagnostic category. Herein, we describe a 79-year-old Korean female patient with MDS–excess blasts (MDS-EB) that evolved into acute leukemia; the blasts simultaneously expressed B-lymphoid and myeloid antigens. The patient was diagnosed with MDS-EB with blasts of myeloid lineage coexpressing a few B-lymphoid antigens with 7q and 20q abnormalities. The disease progressed to acute leukemia with blasts carrying more B-lymphoid antigens, which was immunophenotypically compatible with B-lymphoid/myeloid acute leukemia. Unlike previously reported patients whose blast populations are bilineal, our patient is the first with biphenotypic acute leukemia that progressed from MDS. The diagnosis of our patient introduces the possibility that many other types of biphenotypic acute leukemia may have gone undiagnosed and encourages hematologists to designate a specific diagnostic category for this type of disease, so that it can more readily be detected and studied in the future.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Temperature indicators (TIs) are used to monitor the surface temperature of red blood cell (RBC) units. We compared the utility of a newly developed time-temperature indicator (TTI) prototype, Freshzone TTI (FZTTI) (Freshzone, Seoul, South Korea) and two US Food and Drug Administration-approved TIs, Safe-T-Vue 10 (STV10; Temptime Corporation, Morris Plains, NJ) and Blood Temp 10 (BT10; Timestrip UK Ltd, Cambridge, UK). MATERIALS AND METHODS FZTTI, STV10 and BT10 were attached to 91 RBC units after issue (including eight units that were stored in refrigerators in the ward before transfusion). The time for colour change (CC) was monitored based on the 30-min rule. The CC of FZTTI indicated the total time elapsed since the temperature of RBC units exceeded 10°C, and the CC of STV10 and BT10 indicated that the temperature of RBC units exceeded 10°C. RESULTS In 83 units, the median time for CC differed significantly between FZTTI and the TIs (51.4 min in FZTTI vs. 13.9 min in STV10 and 10.5 min in BT10, both at p

Donor spins in silicon provide a promising material platform for large scale quantum computing. Excellent electron spin coherence times of \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${T}_{2}^{* }=268$$\end{document}T2*=268 μs with fidelities of 99.9% have been demonstrated for isolated phosphorus donors in isotopically pure 28Si, where donors are local-area-implanted in a nanoscale MOS device. Despite robust single qubit gates, realising two-qubit exchange gates using this technique is challenging due to the statistical nature of the dopant implant and placement process. In parallel a precision scanning probe lithography route has been developed to place single donors and donor molecules on one atomic plane of silicon with high accuracy aligned to heavily phosphorus doped silicon in-plane gates. Recent results using this technique have demonstrated a fast (0.8 ns) two-qubit gate with two P donor molecules placed 13 nm apart in natSi. In this paper we demonstrate a single qubit gate with coherent oscillations of the electron spin on a P donor molecule in natSi patterned by scanning tunneling microscope (STM) lithography. The electron spin exhibits excellent coherence properties, with a \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${T}_{2}$$\end{document}T2 decoherence time of 298 ± 30 μs, and \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${T}_{2}^{* }$$\end{document}T2* dephasing time of 295 ± 23 ns., Multi-donor molecules in Si provide a promising qubit platform, offering advantages over single donor qubits in terms of performance and fabrication. Here, the authors report a single qubit gate and long coherence times in a P donor molecule qubit in natural Si patterned by scanning tunneling microscope hydrogen lithography.

Background Criteria for selection of FFP blood type has not been clearly established and use of group AB plasma is preferred by numerous transplantation protocols. Aims This study assesses the safety and efficacy of alternative group A or B plasma in ABO incompatible solid organ transplantation. Materials & methods Alternative use of group A or B plasma (incompatible plasma) was inevitable during the shortage of group AB plasma. Experience from select number of patients during the period of extreme group AB plasma shortage is described. Results The result of alternative use of group A or B plasma was within expectation, showing effective reduction of isoagglutinin titers for pre-operative desensitization and efficacy for treatment of post-operative patients. No immediate hemolytic transfusion reaction was reported. Discussion While validation in a larger cohort of patients is necessary, our limited experience have shown satisfactory clinical outcomes without adverse events. Conclusions Use of incompatible group A or B plasma is a viable option when group AB plasma is limited.

We report a 10-year-old female patient with der(X)t(X;3)(q21.1;q22.1), resulting in 3q duplication and Xq deletion. The main clinical feature was primary ovarian failure and there was no abnormal phenotype corresponding to 3q duplication syndrome. This might be explained by the XIST gene at the X-inactivation center on Xq13.2, which was not deleted in this case. The conventional karyotyping was preliminarily reported as 46,X,inv(X) (q13q26) due to the similar banding patterns of Xq13.2-q24 and 3q25.33-q29. This case highlights the value of using a chromosomal microarray as a clinical diagnostic test for individuals with developmental delay or congenital anomalies.