Abstract: A heat-treated, viral-inactivated platelet membrane microparticle product is provided. The microparticles may be prepared from outdated mammalian platelets. The microparticle product contains isolated platelet membrane fragments that are free of alloantigens and GP IIb/IIIa complexes further, the product may be used as a pharmaceutical preparation in transfusions.

Abstract: A method for isolating tissue repair promoting substances from human or animal blood, which method comprises collecting the human or animal blood from a single human or animal individual in a first container of a container system comprising at least first and second interconnected containers; centrifuging the container system containing said blood so as to separate the blood in various fractions including a plasma fraction; transferring at least part of the plasma fraction to said second container of the container system; subjecting the plasma fraction in said second container to a low temperature so as to obtain a precipitate comprising tissue repair promoting substances; concentrating said precipitate in said second container so as to obtain a first fraction comprising a major part of the non-precipitated material, and a second fraction comprising at least the major part of the precipitate and a minor part of the non-precipitated material; and separating said second fraction comprising the tissue repair pro

Abstract: The invention features a method for inhibiting proliferation of osteoblasts in a mammal in need of such inhibition. The method entails administering PF4. PF4 can be used to treat both diseases characterized by primary changes in osteoblastic cell function/activity (e.g., ossifying fibroma and fibrous dysplasia, osteoblastoma and osteoid osteoma, and osteosarcoma) and diseases or systemic conditions affecting bone in which abnormal osteoblastic cell function/activity is a secondary effect (e.g., acromegaly, hypercalcemia, primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, osteoporosis, or Paget's disease of bone). In addition, PF4 may be used to treat diseases associated with localized changes in bone metabolism in which abnormal osteoblastic cell function/activity contributes to pathogenic bone changes.

Abstract: The invention provides loaded platelets that include an absorbed loading vehicle having associated diagnostic or therapeutic agents. A method of loading platelets with diagnostic or therapeutic agents is provided. The method includes combining a loading vehicle having associated diagnostics or therapeutic agents with platelets at sufficient concentration and temperature to allow uptake of the loading vehicle by the platelets. Also provided is a method of targeting diagnostic or therapeutic agents to platelet localizing areas. The method includes the steps of: (a) combining a loading vehicle having associated diagnostic or therapeutic agents with platelets at sufficient concentration and temperature to allow uptake of the loading vehicle by the platelets; (b) isolating the platelets from excess loading vehicle; and (c) administering the isolated platelets to an animal in an effective concentration so as to promote targeting of the isolated platelets to platelet localizing areas.

Abstract: The invention is a sterile, plasma-free storage medium for blood components including red blood cells and for platelets processed separately or together. The red cell storage medium includes a physiologically compatible, aqueous electrolyte solution. In one liter of this electrolyte solution there is between about 3.0 grams and about 25.0 grams of dextrose, between about 3.0 grams and about 6.0 grams of sodium citrate, and between about 2.0 grams and about 4.2 grams of sodium bicarbonate. The red cell storage medium is isotonic and has a pH in a range of between about 6.8 and about 7.4. The red cell storage medium is capable of storing and preserving red cells for at least 49 days.

Abstract: Platelet concentrate containing less then 10.sup.6 white blood cells and prepared from a unit of whole blood sample in a closed multiple blood bag system within less than about eight hours after the whole blood is removed from a human. The concentrate is contained in a platelet storage bag made from polyvinyl chloride plasticized with either trioctyltrimellitate or ethylene vinyl acetate.

Abstract: A process and medium are disclosed for the lyophilization of cells, specifically platelets, and cell-like matter, which comprises the use of solutions including monosaccharide hexoses and pentoses, and biocompatible amphipathic polymers to permit the reconstitution of transfusably useful cells, specifically platelets, and cell-like matter.

Abstract: The use of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate as an in vitro anticoagulant agent which retains the platelet activity of stored whole blood or stored plasma for more than about six hours is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for isolating tissue repair promoting substances from human or animal blood which comprises collecting the human or animal blood from a single human or animal individual in a first container of a container system comprising at least a first and second interconnected containers; centrifuging the container system containing the blood so as to separate the blood in various fractions including a plasma fraction; transferring at least part of the plasma fraction to the second container of the container system; subjecting the plasma fraction in the second container to a low temperature so as to obtain a precipitate comprising tissue repair promoting substances; concentrating the precipitate in the second container so as to obtain a first fraction comprising a major part of the non-precipitated material; and separating the second fraction comprising the tissue repair promoting substances from said first fraction within the second container; and optionally heating the second fraction within one of the contai

Abstract: A heat-treated, viral-inactivated platelet membrane microparticle fraction is provided. The microparticles may be prepared from outdated platelets. The microparticle fraction is substantially free of platelet ghosts and may be used as a pharmaceutical preparation in transfusions.

Abstract: Platelet enriched plasma is produced from blood. The platelets are activated by thrombine which causes therelease of platelet-derived growth and angiogenesis factors. A carrier such as a microcrystalline collagen is added to produce a wound-treating salve. The composition is applied directly to wounds and initiates healing in nonhealing wounds as well as accelerating normal wound-healing by increasing vascularization, stimulating fibroblast mitrosis and migration, and increasing collagen synthesis by fibroblasts. The composition is also applied to tissue to facilitate the growth of hair.

Abstract: Biological compositions are freed of functional polynucletides by treatment of the biological composition with psoralen derivatives under irradiation conditions in which the proteins retain their original physiological activities and any polynucleotide present is rendered inactive. More specifically blood components are decontaminated of viruses by the addition of psoralen and irradiation and thereafter adding glucose.

Abstract: 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol is added to blood platelet storage containers at a sufficient level to maintain pH stability of blood platelets within the suitable range (pH 7.2 to 7.4) for use in blood transfusions.

Abstract: The treatment of blood product to inactivate or destroy infective viruses found in animal fluids and tissues, such as the cytomegalovirus, by mixing the blood product with an effective amount of glycyrrhizic triterpenoid compounds in combination with albumin is disclosed.

Abstract: A process and medium are disclosed for the lyophilization of red blood cells which comprises the use of solutions including monosaccharide hexoses and pentoses, and biocompatible polymers to permit the reconstitution of viable red blood cells.

Abstract: There is disclosed a composition and process for disinfecting or essentially sterilizing blood fractions and components of blood. The composition is formed by adding a chlorine dioxide liberating compound with a weak organic acid and a heat activated saccharide.

Abstract: A first aspect of the present invention is a blood platelet preparation comprising blood platelets, an adenylate cyclase stimulator, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, a thrombin inhibitor, and a plasmin inhibitor. A second aspect of the present invention is a plasma-free platelet storage medium containing dextrose, sodium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, and a platelet activation inhibitor, with a preferred platelet activation inhibitor comprising an adenylate cyclase stimulator in combination with a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. A third aspect of the present invention is a process for producing a plasma-free platelet preparation comprising producing platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from whole blood, adding a platelet activation inhibitor thereto, centrifuging the PRP to deposit the platelets on the bottom of the centrifuge container, removing the platelet-free plasma supernatant therefrom and adding a plasma-free liquid platelet storage medium thereto.

Abstract: Novel methods and storage media for storing platelets in a viable condition for at least five days are disclosed. The disclosed methods comprise the steps of providing a platelet rich suspension of platelets and blood plasma; extracting supernatant plasma from that suspension to leave between about 1 to 15 mls of plasma per unit of blood platelets with those platelets to produce a concentrated platelet button; adding 40 to 70 ml/unit of a glucose free aqueous solution to said concentrated platelet button; agitating the resultant solution to resuspend the platelets to provide a synthetic suspension of those platelets; and storing that synthetic suspension in an oxygen permeable container at about 22.degree. C. until needed for use. Two preferred glucose free aqueous platelet storage media are disclosed which generally comprise sodium citrate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and either sodium phosphate or calcium chloride, but not both. The subject media also optionally comprise magnesium sulfate.

Abstract: Healing an external wound of a mammal by administering to the mammal a composition containing purified Insulin-like growth factor-1 and purified transforming growth factor beta.

Abstract: Platelet enriched plasma is produced from blood. The platelets are activated by thrombin which causes the release of platelet-derived growth and angiogenesis factors. A carrier such as a microcrystalline collagen is added to produce a wound-treating salve. The composition is applied directly to wounds and initiates healing in nonhealing wounds as well as accelerating normal wound-healing by increasing vascularization, stimulating fibroblast mitosis and migration, and increasing collagen synthesis by fibroblasts. The composition is also applied to tissue to facilitate the growth of hair.

Abstract: A device for separating mononuclear cells from blood includes a collection tube, a first layer of a liquid density gradient material placed in the tube, a second layer of a gel-like substance placed in the tube and situated above the first layer, a porous foam member placed in the tube and situated above and in contact with the second layer of gel-like substance, and a third layer of a Newtonian gel-like substance placed in the tube above the porous foam member. The gel-like substance of the second layer has a lower specific gravity than that of the liquid density gradient material of the first layer so that it floats on top of the first layer. The gel-like substance of the second layer becomes less viscous when heated such that it is absorbed by the porous foam member and forms a hydraulic barrier between the liquid density gradient material of the first layer and a blood sample placed in the collection tube.

Abstract: A method for preserving blood platelets by freezing the platelets in contact with a cryoprotectant solution containing a sufficient quantity of prostacyclin for the substantially complete inhibition of platelet function and having a pH which promotes the preservation of the platelets and reconstituting the platelets for infusion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel primary citrate anticoagulant which is essentially free of glucose and its use to optimize the viability of stored platelets. The present invention allows platelets to be stored in plasma or synthetic media without the addition of buffer. Specifically the anticoagulant consists essentially of sodium citrate and citric acid.