No abstract available.
Blood Group Incompatibility* ; Bromelains*

BACKGROUND: A weak D type resulted from a quantitative reduction of the RhD antigen, whereas a partial D type resulted from a qualitatively altered RhD protein. Based on different serological properties from a weak D type, a partial D type was suspected in cases with anti-D in their serum or if nonreactive to some reagents. Most Red Cross Blood Centers pay attention to donors in determining RhD typing with a monoclonal anti-D reagent. This study examined the reactivity patterns of 4 different monoclonal anti-D reagents in RhD typing and a weak D test in 14 cases with partial D. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected a total of 201, 847 samples from blood donors and screened out 649 samples as Rh-negative in RhD typing with monoclonal anti-D (Bioscot) and bromelin treatment applied to an automatic analyzer between October 2002 and March 2003. Further, we performed RhD typing and weak D test using the tube method with 4 commercially available monoclonal anti-D reagents. In 14 cases with different reactivity patterns, we performed a confirming test for partial D using a `ID-partial RhD-typing' (Diamed, Switzerland) set consisting of 6 monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: Partial D(DFR) was observed in 92.9% (13/14) and a partial D(indeterminate) was observed in 7.1% (1/14). The red blood cells from 14 cases with partial D were not agglutinated with 4 various commercially available anti-D reagents. However, in subsequently performed weak-D tests, different reactivity to their anti-D reagents were shown, namely irresponsiveness (Dade Behring, 14/14, 100%), trace-to-1+ responsiveness (Ortho-clinical diagnostics, 13/14, 92.9%), trace-to-3+ responsiveness (Bioscot, 14/14, 100%), and 1+-to-3+ responsiveness (GreenCross, Korea, 14/14, 100%). CONCLUSIONS: Considering that the most partial D discovered in the Southwestern area of Korea was partial D(DFR), it is recommended that RhD typing and/or weak D tests in blood donors should be done using more than two anti-D reagents from different clones.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Blood Donors ; Bromelains ; Clone Cells ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents* ; Korea ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors

Anti-Xga is a rarely occurring antibody, and only two cases with this antibody have been reported in Koreans. We describe here another example of anti-Xga which was detected in a 47-year-old male. The patient suffered from burn injury on the 20% of body surface area, acute renal failure, and ulcer bleeding. Unexpected antibody identification test demonstrated anti-Xga, which was reactive only by antiglobulin phase, and the reaction disappeared after the treatment with bromelin. The red cell phenotype of this patient was Xg(a-). Fourteen units of packed red blood cell were transfused without any adverse reactions. It has an important clinical concern in safe transfusion practice to determine the specificity and the clinical significance of blood group alloantibodies.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Body Surface Area ; Bromelains ; Burns ; Erythrocytes ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Isoantibodies ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: We aim to evaluate the efficacy of pollen extract in association with vitamins in patients affected by chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and to evaluate the level of the pro-inflammatory mediators interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with CP/CPPS between January and December 2015 were enrolled in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to receive oral capsules of pollen extract and vitamins (group A) or bromelain (group B) for 3 months. At the enrolment time and 3 months after enrolment, all patients completed questionnaires (the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index [NIH-CPSI] and the Short Form-36 and underwent urological examinations and microbiological evaluation. Levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were evaluated in seminal plasma. RESULTS: Sixty-five male patients (mean age of 32.7±4.7 years) were analysed (group A, n=32; group B, n=33). At the follow-up examination, 24 of the 32 patients in group A showed a significant reduction in the NIH-CPSI total score compared with 8 of the 33 patients in the bromelain group (p<0.001). Moreover, the mean level of IL-8 was significantly lower in the pollen extract and vitamins group when compared with the bromelain group (298 pg/mL vs. 736 pg/mL, respectively; p<0.001). In group A we found a statistically significant reduction in the levels of IL-8 between enrolment and the follow-up visit (878 pg/mL vs. 298 pg/mL, respectively; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with pollen extract and vitamins improved the quality of life in CP/CPPS patients by reducing the levels of pro-inflammatory IL-8.
Bromelains ; Capsules ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8* ; Interleukins ; Male ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Pelvic Pain* ; Pollen* ; Prostatitis ; Quality of Life ; Semen ; Treatment Outcome* ; Vitamins*

BACKGROUND: Specific IgE antibodies against the low-molecular-weight carbohydrate antigen that does not bridge IgE molecules on mast cells are not associated with clinical symptoms. Cross reactivity can be determined in allergen-specific IgE detection assays when the carbohydrate structures between pollen allergens and plant derived food allergens are similar; in such cases, false positive results for grain or legume allergens can be reported for pollen allergic patients who are not sensitized to those allergens. This phenomenon arises owing to the presence of cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the impact of CCD interference on the results for pollen allergen-specific IgE antibodies in the general adult population and to perform CCD inhibition tests evaluating the involvement of CCD on samples positive to pollen allergens. METHODS: Serum samples from 322 subjects were tested for IgE antibodies to pollens and CCD. The research subjects were given questionnaires about pollen allergic symptoms to help assess the presence of allergies. Allergen IgE antibodies for Japanese cedar, Japanese cypress, orchard grass, ragweed, MUXF, bromelain, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and ascorbate oxidase (ASOD) were analyzed. RESULTS: It was observed that among individuals who tested positive to any of the pollen allergens, the positive ratio of CCD-specific IgE antibody was the highest for HRP (13.5%–50.0%). The results from the inhibition tests revealed that CCD was marginally present. Although IgE antibodies for cedar pollen did not react with CCD, IgE antibodies for Japanese cypress, orchard grass, and ragweed might be detected by the presence of CCD. CONCLUSION: The results of the inhibition tests revealed the obvious presence of CCD suggesting its involvement. Considering these findings, careful evaluation of patient IgE results should be performed for Japanese cypress, orchard grass, and ragweed.
Adult ; Allergens ; Ambrosia ; Antibodies ; Ascorbate Oxidase ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bromelains ; Cryptomeria ; Cupressus ; Dactylis ; Fabaceae ; False Positive Reactions ; Horseradish Peroxidase ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Mast Cells ; Plants ; Pollen ; Research Subjects ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal

OBJECTIVETo assess whether the dietary supplement (bromelain) has the potential to reduce plasma fibrinogen and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients with diabetes.

METHODSThis randomized placebo controlled, double blind, parallel design, efficacy study was carried out in China and investigated the effect of 12 weeks of bromelain (1,050 mg/day) on plasma fibrinogen. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) recruited 68 Chinese diabetic patients [32 males and 36 females; Han origin, mean age of 61.26 years (standard deviation (SD), 12.62 years)] with at least one CVD risk factor. Patients were randomized into either bromelain or placebo group. While bromelain group received bromelain capsule, the placebo group received placebo capsule which consisted inert ingredient and has no treatment effect. Subjects were required to take 1,050 mg (3×350 mg) of either bromelain or starch-filled placebo capsules, two to be taken (2×350 mg) after breakfast and another (350 mg) after dinner, daily for 12 weeks. Plasma fibrinogen, CVD risk factors and anthropometric indicators were determined at baseline and at 12 weeks.

RESULTSThe change in the fibrinogen level in the bromelain group at the end of the study showed a mean reduction of 0.13 g/L (standard deviation (SD) 0.86g/L) compared with the mean reduction of 0.36 g/L (SD 0.96 g/L) for the placebo group. However, there was no significant difference in the mean change in fibrinogen between the placebo and bromelain groups (mean difference=0.23g/L (SD 0.22 g/L), =0.291). Similarly, the difference in mean change in other CVD risk factors (blood lipids, blood pressure), blood glucose, C-reactive protein and anthropometric measures between the bromelain and placebo groups was also not statistically significant. Statistical differences in fibrinogen between bromelain and placebo groups before the trial despite randomization may have influenced the results of this study.

CONCLUSIONThis RCT failed to show a beneficial effect in reducing fibrinogen or influencing other selected CVD risk factors but suggests other avenues for subsequent research on bromelain.

Blood Glucose ; Bromelains ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Demography ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Placebos ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome