New Technology Eases Critical Blood Shortages
Each year in the U.S. millions of blood donors see a critical part of their donation literally go down the drain.

FlowMedica Inc. Launches the Benephit(R) XT Infusion System
FlowMedica Inc., a medical device company pioneering targeted renal therapy (TRT®), announced the release of the Benephit® XT Infusion System, a next-generation infusion system designed for implementing TRT - the direct delivery of physician-specified medications and other therapeutic agents to the kidneys via the renal arteries.

FDA Clears for Marketing First Rapid Test to Screen for Bacterial Contamination in Blood Platelets
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared for marketing the first rapid test to detect bacterial contamination in blood platelets prior to transfusion. 

Frequent Hemodialysis At Night May Improve Some Outcomes For Patients With End-Stage Kidney Disease
Patients who received hemodialysis at night six times a week for treatment of end-stage kidney disease had improvements on certain outcomes, including reduced need for blood pressure medications and improvement in selected quality of life measures, compared to patients who received conventional hemodialysis three times weekly.

FDA Considers Reforming Use, Selection of Advisory Panels
Federal advisers who met to consider whether to restrict doses of popular antianemia drugs were themselves under scrutiny during the hearing.

Canada's Blood Supply 'Safe as Anywhere,' Says Agency's CEO
Canadians' trust in the safety of the country's blood supply has recovered since the tainted blood scandal, the head of Canadian Blood Services said.

Report Assails F.D.A. Oversight of Clinical Trials
The Food and Drug Administration does very little to ensure the safety of the millions of people who participate in clinical trials, a federal investigator has found.

The Dialysis Business: Fair Treatment?
Kent J. Thiry, the chief executive of DaVita, a leading provider of dialysis services, regularly dons a Three Musketeers costume at company meetings, brandishes a sword and leads employees in chants of "All for One and One for All". At a meeting last year in Dallas, he rode a longhorn bull around the hotel, surrounded by parade floats made by employees.

NeoStem Announces Launch of "Stem for Life'' Foundation to Promote Public Awareness of Adult Stem Cell Promise and Accelerate Groundbreaking Science
NeoStem, Inc. the first company to specialize in the collection, processing and long term storage of stem cells from healthy adults for personal use in times of critical medical need announced the launch of the "Stem for Life" Foundation dedicated to heightening public awareness and knowledge of the benefits and the promise of utilizing adult stem cells to treat serious medical conditions in the burgeoning regenerative medicine industry.

A Fresh Approach for Blood Banks
America's blood banks are looking for young blood.  An aging donor population and ever-changing donor restrictions have blood banks nationwide trying new ways to lure young donors.

Regulations Complicate Military Blood Drives
With five years of war behind us and more in front, Americans want to do their part for the war effort, which is a little harder to do than it was during World War II.


ABSTRACTS, REVIEWS AND SPECIAL REPORTS

Complications of Apheresis in Children
Although the frequency of complications in adults undergoing therapeutic apheresis is low, there are little data in children.

A Multicenter Pilot-Randomized Controlled Trial of the Feasibility of an Augmented Red Blood Cell Transfusion Strategy for Patients Treated With Induction Chemotherapy for Acute Leukemia or Stem Cell Transplantation
A multicenter, single-blinded pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a larger RCT to determine the effect of the hemoglobin concentration on bleeding risk.

Quality of Leucoreduced Red Blood Cell Concentrates: 5 Years of Follow-Up in France
Since 1998, prestorage leucoreduction of all cellular blood components has been made mandatory in France. The French blood service needed to follow the data on the quality of the blood components prepared by blood centres.

Arbios Announces Management Changes
Arbios Systems, Inc. announced Walter C. Ogier has resigned as President and CEO and as a member of the Company's Board of Directors.

Dr. Andrew I. Schafer Appointed Head of Department of Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
A renowned hematologist and leader in academic medicine, Dr. Andrew I. Schafer has been named chairman of the Department of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and physician-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Haemonetics Announces Resignation
Haemonetics Corporation announced Tom Lawlor's resignation as President of the Company's Patient Division, effective September 21, 2007.

Aethlon Medical Expands Cancer Research Initiative
Aethlon Medical, Inc., disclosed that it has initiated further studies to support the use of its Hemopurifier(R) technology in cancer care.

Akzo Nobel Unit to Coordinate Pandemic Flu Vaccine Program
Akzo Nobel's NV biopharmaceutical unit Nobilion announced in a press release that it will coordinate an international consortium to develop a pandemic influenza vaccine.

Sanofi-Aventis To Work With Chinese Experts In Cancer Stem-Cell Research
Sanofi-aventis will expand its footprint in China by collaborating with Tianjin’s Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital in the field of cancer stem cells, the French drug maker announced

Medical Countermeasures to Enhance Platelet Regeneration and Increase Survival Following Radiation Exposure (RC1)

NCI Limited Competition: Cooperative Human Tissue Network-CHTN (U01)

Optimizing Prevention and Healthcare Management for the Complex Patient

Food and Drug Administration (United States of America)

Revisions to the Requirements Applicable to Blood, Blood Components and Source Plasma; Correction

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request; Medical Devices: Current Good Manufacturing Practice Quality System Regulations

Substantially Equivalent 510(k) Device - Platelet PGD Test System - Verax Biomedical Inc

Abstract Submission Site Now Open

The online site for submitting abstracts for presentation at the ASFA 2008 Annual Meeting is now open.

Physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals are encouraged to submit abstracts on all aspects of apheresis, including research, clinical, educational, or administrative topics/projects.

Abstracts will be considered for presentation in one of the following formats:
• Oral: A 10-minute oral presentation by an author plus 5 minutes for questions.
• Poster: A visual display. An author must be present. Posters will be displayed for the entire conference.

Abstracts are welcome from both ASFA members and non-members. There is no limit to the number of abstracts that an individual may submit.

Abstracts should be submitted only if an author intends to attend the meeting and present the abstract if accepted. Those presenting abstracts will be responsible for their own travel and meeting expenses. The rules applying to abstracts are indicated on the Abstract Submission System and must be followed. All abstracts will be published in the Journal of Clinical Apheresis.

BEST ABSTRACT AWARDS - Open to ASFA Members and Non-members

ASFA is pleased to offer Best Abstract Awards in the following categories. To be eligible for these awards, the applicant must be the first author and the author who will present the abstract. The following awards are open to both ASFA members and non-members:
• $1500 ASFA Donor Apheresis Best Abstract Award
• $1500 ASFA Gastroenterology Best Abstract Award
• $1500 ASFA Hematology Best Abstract Award supported by THERAKOS
• $1500 ASFA Nephrology Best Abstract Award
• $1500 ASFA Neurology Best Abstract Award
• $1500 ASFA Ophthalmology Best Abstract Award
• $1500 ASFA Rheumatology Best Abstract Award
• $1500 ASFA Transplantation Best Abstract Award

ALLIED HEALTH AND JUNIOR INVESTIGATOR AWARDS – Open to ASFA Members Only

ASFA also presents two prestigious awards reserved for ASFA members only. To be eligible for the following awards, one must be the first author, the author who will present the abstract, and an ASFA member:
• $1500 ASFA Allied Health Award
• $1500 ASFA Junior Investigator Award

The recipients of all of the above awards will be selected by the ASFA Abstracts Committee. ASFA may reject abstracts that are considered inappropriate for any reason. Abstracts, once submitted, cannot be withdrawn from publication.

Abstracts must be submitted via the online Abstract Submission System at www.apheresis.org/Abstracts/. Instructions for submission will be available on the Abstract Submission System, which will open on September 10, 2007. Abstracts will NOT be accepted by email, mail, or fax.

Abstract Submission Deadline: December 10, 2007 (11:59pm PT)

Click Here to Submit an Abstract

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