The use of strictly equalized (1 degrees C/min) controlled-rate freezing, combined with an intensified cooling rate (2 degrees C/min) during the liquid-to-solid-phase transition period, allows advanced quantitative and qualitative PLT recovery, even though the minor intergroup differences for some variables were observed.

Human glycoprotein of cartilage (YKL-40) synthesizes chondrocytes and synovial cells in inflammatory conditions or remodels the outer cell matrix in osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to conduct a parallel analysis between thickness of cartilage and length of osteophytes, ultrasound indicators of joint destruction, with levels of YKL-40 in serum in patients with primary osteoarthritis. Ultrasound findings and concentration of YKL-40(ng/ml) were examined in 88 patients. The average value cartilage thickness measured on medial condyles of the femur was 1.30 +/- 0.23 mm and on lateral was 1.39 +/- 0.27 mm. Median YKL-40 in patients with shorter osteophytes was 62.0 (44.5-90) ng/ml, and with longer osteophytes was 119 (range 80-171) ng/ml (p = 0.000). YKL-40 can be a marker for the appearance of longer osteophytes (sensitivity = 79.1%; specificity = 61.9%; cut off = 75.0 ng/ml). The duration of illness is very much connected to values of YKL-40 (r = 0.651, p = 0.000). After an illness duration of five years, the concentration of YKL-40 was 83.68 +/- 33.65 ng/ml, after ten years it was 138.22 +/- 48.88 ng/ml, and after 15 and 20 years it was 209.30 +/- 79.36 ng/ml and 218.50 +/- 106.51 ng/ml, respectively. Higher concentrations of YKL-40 indicate the level of cartilage destruction and can be used for assessment of destruction.

Improved cytoreductive potential of plateletapheresis in the treatment of thrombocythemia: a single center study Poboljšani citoreduktivni potencijal trombocitafereze u lečenju trombocitemije To the Editor: Extreme thrombocytosis (ETC; cell-count ≥ 1500  10 9 /L) in the essential thrombocythemia (ET) patients-with altered platelet (Plt) morphology/aggregability (Plt-dysfunction) and immature reticulated Plts-increases the risk of both thromboembolic and/or hemorrhagic events (up to 50%). The evidence-based clinical guideline for therapy of asymptomatic-ET (e.g., exact cytapheresis-threshold, target Plt-count, etc.) is not yet established. In the treatment of symptomatic-ET (when low-dose aspirin or other anti-Plt and the highest doses of chemotherapy are without rapid response or contraindicated, as in pregnancy), cytoreduction by plateletapheresis is useful or essential 1-4. The first cytapheresis in our Apheresis Center was performed in 1971 for treatment of pregnant women with hyperleukocyte-leukostasis 1, 2. The aim of this study was to evaluate cytoreductive potential of the Spectra-Optia/IDL-System, based upon the ex vivo Plt-removal and the in vivo Plt-depletion (Plt-removal/depletion) efficacy (using our modifications of manufacturer's original protocol). The Plt-removal/depletion efficacy of this study was compared to our earlier results (historical database) and the latest literature data for different devices. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second published clinical evaluation of the efficacy and safety of therapeutic plateletapheresis using the Spectra-Optia. In the treatment of a 68-year-old female patient suffering from symptomatic-ET (with headaches, vertigo, visualdisturbances and paresthesia) the Plt-removal/depletion procedure was performed by the Spectra-Optia/IDL-System (Terumo BCT; USA). Our modifications of apheresis protocol included the collection-preference and inlet flow corrections (altered collection speed) as well as an increase of the target cell suspension volume to improve the Plt-removal/depletion