Blood Group Determinants Research Articles

ABO Blood Groups, Rhesus Factor, and Rheumatoid Arthritis

The ABO and Rhesus blood group systems play critical roles in clinical practice, particularly concerning their associations with autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ABO blood types, Rh factors, and RA in a Georgian population. A total of 157 participants were included, comprising 93 RA patients and 64 healthy controls. Blood samples were analyzed for ABO and Rh D blood group determination, revealing that blood type O was the most prevalent among RA patients (50.5%), followed by type A (35.5%), while the control group exhibited similar distributions (O: 54.7%, A: 34.4%). The Rh factor analysis indicated a slightly higher prevalence of Rh-positive individuals in the RA group (84 patients) compared to Rh-negative individuals (9 patients). The overall distribution of blood types in RA patients closely mirrored that of the general population, indicating no significant link between ABO blood types and RA. Further research is warranted to explore these associations and their implications for RA pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets.

Prevalence of ABH(O) Blood Group Secretors Among Indigenous Population of Shillong: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background ABH antigens on the surface of red blood cells form Type A, B, AB, and O blood groups. These antigens are also found in body secretions like serum, gastric juices, ovarian cyst fluid, semen, amniotic fluid, sweat, urine, tears, bile, and saliva (except cerebrospinal fluid). People who have these antigens in their body fluids are called secretors. Purpose This study was conductedto find out the prevalence of salivary secretor status among the adult local indigenous population of Shillong, India. Method Unstimulated saliva was collected and processed from 250 apparently healthy adults, determined its secretor status using the absorption-inhibition method, and then analyzed using the Chi-square test to find its association with age, sex, tribe, and blood groups. Results The study found a prevalence of salivary secretor status of 57.2% (n=143), with a slight female predominance of 57.7% (n=64) over males (56.8%, n=79). The highest percentage was found in individuals aged 71-80 (68.8%, n=16), while the least in people aged 18-30 (48.2%, n=40). Khasi tribes had the highest incidence (64.2%, n=88), followed by Garo (55%, n=22), and least in Jaintia tribes (45.2%, n=33). O-blood group individuals had the highest percentage (71%, n=22), while AB-blood group individuals had the least (46%, n=23). We observed a statistically significantcorrelation of salivary secretor status with the blood group and tribe of the individuals but not with their sex and age. Conclusion Saliva can be found on various items in medicolegal cases like robberies, rapes, and hangings, but blood stains may not always be present. Saliva can be used to determine blood groups, potentially aiding in resolving claims of parentage, immigration, kidnapped children, disputed paternity, or identifying victims in mass disasters. ABO(H) determination from body fluids, especially saliva, has been used in forensic investigations before DNA technology. Currently, this can be an initial screening method because DNA methodology is not often available in laboratories in India.

Glycomics of cervicovaginal fluid from women at risk of preterm birth reveals immuno-regulatory epitopes that are hallmarks of cancer and viral glycosylation

During pregnancy the immune system needs to maintain immune tolerance of the foetus while also responding to infection, which can cause premature activation of the inflammatory pathways leading to the onset of labour and preterm birth. The vaginal microbiome is an important modifier of preterm birth risk, with Lactobacillus dominance during pregnancy associated with term delivery while high microbial diversity is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth. Glycans on glycoproteins along the lower female reproductive tract are fundamental to microbiota-host interactions and the mediation of inflammatory responses. However, the specific glycan epitopes involved in these processes are not well understood. To address this, we conducted glycomic analyses of cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) from 36 pregnant women at high risk of preterm birth and 4 non-pregnant women. Our analysis of N- and O-glycans revealed a rich CVF glycome. While O-glycans were shown to be the main carriers of ABO blood group epitopes, the main features of N-glycans were the presence of abundant paucimannose and high mannose glycans, and a remarkable diversity of complex bi-, tri-, and tetra-antennary glycans decorated with fucose and sialic acid. We identified immuno-regulatory epitopes, such as Lewis antigens, and found that fucosylation was negatively correlated to pro-inflammatory factors, such as IL-1β, MMP-8, C3a and C5a, while glycans with only sialylated antennae were mainly positively correlated to those. Similarly, paucimannose glycans showed a positive correlation to pro-inflammatory factors. We revealed a high abundance of glycans which have previously been identified as hallmarks of cancer and viral glycosylation, such as Man8 and Man9 high mannose glycans. Although each pregnant woman had a unique glycomic profile, longitudinal studies showed that the main glycosylation features were consistent throughout pregnancy in women who delivered at term, whereas women who experienced extreme preterm birth exhibited sharp changes in the CVF glycome shortly before delivery. These findings shed light on the processes underlying the role of glycosylation in maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiome and associated host immune responses. In addition, these discoveries facilitate our understanding of the lower female reproductive tract which has broad implications for women’s health.

The Role of Blood Group in Cancer Risk: Correlations with Site, Age, and Body Mass Index

Background: Cancer is a complicated group of diseases in which cells grow and divide without being controlled. It is still one of the main reasons of death in the world, which presents major public health issues. Blood group links to cancer risk have been getting more and more attention over the past few years, among other things being studied. Aim of the study: This study aimed to assess the relation between ABO blood groups and the occurrence of different cancer types among the population of Kirkuk city. Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Kirkuk city from the period 15th October 2023 to 15th May 2024 on cancer patients of Kirkuk's Oncology and Hematology Centre. Data was collected from medical records and patient interviews to examine demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, medical history, and potential exposures. The study included 398 patients diagnosed with cancer within a specified time frame, selected from medical records of healthcare facilities in the target area.. Blood samples were collected from each participant in the study for determination of blood group and Rh. Results: The study reveals that breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer, accounting for 45.98% of all cases. The study presents the distribution of cancer patients according to their blood groups, with O positive and A positive blood types accounting for the highest percentage at 33.67%. Other blood types such as B positive, AB positive, O negative, B negative, AB negative, and A negative are represented in smaller percentages ranging from 1.26% to 20.60%. The duration of cancer is examined in relation to blood groups, providing insights into mean durations across different ABO blood types and Rh factors. Blood type A exhibits the longest mean duration at 1.71 years, followed closely by blood type B at 1.74 years, while blood type O presents a slightly shorter mean duration at 1.52 years. In the current study, blood group A is predominantly seen in brain cancer for males (100%), with a considerable presence in digestive system cancers, split nearly evenly between males (41.94%) and females (58.06%). Blood group B appears infrequently but is represented in the digestive system and female reproductive cancers, demonstrating a minor presence compared to other groups. Skin cancer shows a potential link between blood group distribution and family history of the disease, suggesting a genetic predisposition or a significant association worth further investigation.

Determination of ABO blood group based on secretors or non-secretors analysis in body fluids

Criminal acts often leave traces analyzed by law enforcement, especially by the Indonesian National Police (POLRI). Sometimes, various items were found and analyzed to link the victim and the perpetrator. Blood, the most abundant body fluid, found in crime scenes, consists of cellular and liquid elements. The forensic focuses on red blood, which can be wet or dried at the crime scene. Sometimes, there was no blood or bloodstains found, but objects related to other body fluids, such as: condoms, toothbrushes, the mouth of glass cups, straws, etc, could be found. Blood group analysis could still be carried out based on secretor gene (Se) considering that 80% of the population was of the secretor group. There are two chromosomes related to blood regulation, namely: chromosomes no. 9 and 19. The former relates to the ABO blood group and the latter relates to the secretory phenotype. The basic principle of secretors was antigens found on the surface of red blood cells and all body fluids, except cerebrospinal fluid. The pattern of inheritance on chromosomes 9 and 19 is based on the probability law by Mendell. It stated that all of genotypes (homozygous dominant-recessive or heterozygous) would be passed on to their offspring.

Formation of future specialists in the specialty of human health and physical recreation of the ability to use the indicator of a person's blood group

One of the urgent issues of training specialists in the specialty "Human health and physical recreation" is the formation of skills to carry out valeodiagnosis and valeocorrection according to the blood group indicator. The author's rehabilitation program requires individualization using personality parameters. One of the parameters of individualization is the indicator of a person's blood group. The purpose of the presented research was to create a methodical set of laboratory works for the disciplines "Sports biology with the basics of sports genetics", "Diagnostics and health monitoring", "Fundamentals of sports pharmacology and phytology". A chemical model of blood group determination and hemagglutination reaction has been created, which allows you to visualize the mechanism of blood group determination using monoclonal antibodies without the use of human blood. The presented model also demonstrates multiple allelism, the law of purity of gametes, the process of inheritance of blood groups. The paper also presents the results of an experiment on determining blood groups using plant lectins and an algorithm for determining blood groups using lectin-containing extracts of the four-winged licorice, mouse pea, Japanese sophora, and meadowsweet. Laboratory works "Blood groups and personal portrait of a person" and "Individualization of lifestyle according to the map of blood groups" were developed based on literary data. The work also presents the results of a pedagogical experiment. Data processing statistics show that the laboratory method increases the level of students' knowledge by 24.7%.

ABO AND RHESUS BLOOD GROUP PREVALENCE IN DISTRICT PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN, A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

BACKGROUND: To determine ABO and Rhesus blood group prevalence in the population of Peshawar who sought services in the hematology laboratory of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan. METHODOLOGY: The cross-sectional study, was conducted from August 10 to December 25, 2023, at HMC in Peshawar after ethical board approval. A total of 5342 participants were determined using convenient sampling. Participants of both genders over four months were included, excluding those under four months and unwilling. Informed consent was obtained, and demographic data were collected via a dedicated questionnaire. Blood samples, collected aseptically, underwent blood group determination using the Forward and Reverse tube method, with data analysis conducted using SPSS V26 RESULTS: Out of a total of 5342, the most common ABO was B at 37.01% (1974), then O at 27% (1462), A at 26% (1410), and AB at 10% (496). The majority, 94% (2512), had Rh-positive blood types, with 6% (314) being Rh-negative. Among males, the most common ABO blood group was B at 39.62% (1058), followed by O at 30.13% (804) and A at 22.09% (590), while AB was the least common at 8.16% (218). In females, B was the most common at 34.28% (916), followed by A at 30.68% (820), O at 24.62% (658), and AB at 10.42% (278). CONCLUSION: The study found B as the most common ABO blood group, AB the least, consistent across genders. Rh-positive types were 94%, with females having a higher Rh-negative prevalence. B+ve was common among Rh+ve, and A-ve among Rh-ve individuals.

A machine-learning method for biobank-scale genetic prediction of blood group antigens.

A key element for successful blood transfusion is compatibility of the patient and donor red blood cell (RBC) antigens. Precise antigen matching reduces the risk for immunization and other adverse transfusion outcomes. RBC antigens are encoded by specific genes, which allows developing computational methods for determining antigens from genomic data. We describe here a classification method for determining RBC antigens from genotyping array data. Random forest models for 39 RBC antigens in 14 blood group systems and for human platelet antigen (HPA)-1 were trained and tested using genotype and RBC antigen and HPA-1 typing data available for 1,192 blood donors in the Finnish Blood Service Biobank. The algorithm and models were further evaluated using a validation cohort of 111,667 Danish blood donors. In the Finnish test data set, the median (interquartile range [IQR]) balanced accuracy for 39 models was 99.9 (98.9-100)%. We were able to replicate 34 out of 39 Finnish models in the Danish cohort and the median (IQR) balanced accuracy for classifications was 97.1 (90.1-99.4)%. When applying models trained with the Danish cohort, the median (IQR) balanced accuracy for the 40 Danish models in the Danish test data set was 99.3 (95.1-99.8)%. The RBC antigen and HPA-1 prediction models demonstrated high overall accuracies suitable for probabilistic determination of blood groups and HPA-1 at biobank-scale. Furthermore, population-specific training cohort increased the accuracies of the models. This stand-alone and freely available method is applicable for research and screening for antigen-negative blood donors.

An optical-vibration method for determining blood groups. Assessment of the influence of horizontal mechanical vibrations on the distribution of immune complexes in a sample

An optical-vibration method for determining blood groups. Assessment of the influence of horizontal mechanical vibrations on the distribution of immune complexes in a sample

Gender Identification by Fingerprint Pattern and Salivary Blood Group Antigen Expression: A Forensic Approach.

Introduction Fingerprints found at the crime scene are important and valuable evidence, as they are unique to every individual. Determining the blood group from the blood samples obtained at the site of the crime helps in identifying a person. However, where blood stains are not available, saliva obtained at the crime site can be used to identify the victim. Since fingerprint patterns and blood groups are unique to every individual and remain unchanged throughout life, the correlation between dermatoglyphics and blood groups can be of use in victim identification. Objectives The present study is conducted with the objective of finding out if there is any association between the distribution of fingerprint patterns and blood groups and if this association is of use in gender identification. Materials and method Fingerprint patterns were determined in 200 (females: n = 152, males: n = 48) dental undergraduate students in the age range of 18 to 24 years. ABO blood grouping was done on saliva by using the absorption-elution method. To determine the accuracy of ABO blood group determination using saliva, it was correlated with the ABO blood grouping in blood. Observations and result The most common fingerprint pattern was found to be loops (87, 43.50%), followed by whorls (81, 40.50%) and arches (32, 16.00%). The most common blood group was B (68, 34%), followed by O (46, 23%) and A (42, 21%), and the least common was AB (12, 6%). A higher percentage of secretors in saliva was observed in females (130, 86%) than males (38, 79%). The correlation of gender with blood group and fingerprint pattern showed that in males, the most common blood group was B (20, 42%), and the most common fingerprint pattern was whorls (21, 44%). In females, the most common blood group was B (48, 32%), while the most common fingerprint pattern was loop (68, 45%). Conclusion Present study reports an association between blood group and dermatoglyphics, which may help in gender identification. Saliva can be used as a helpful tool in victim identification in cases where blood stains are not available.

Detection of ABO Blood Groups From Dentin and Pulp by Using the Absorption-Elution Technique: A Forensic Cross-Sectional Study Among the Population of the Al Jouf Province, Saudi Arabia.

Background and objective Human teeth have a significant forensic importance. As they are the hardest of all human tissues, they are not just chemically stable but also their characteristics are maintained for a long time after death even in the most harsh environmental conditions. Despite the advances made in DNA analysis, fingerprinting, etc., ABO blood grouping still plays a significant role in the forensic practice in the field of personal identification, paternity disputes, and several other scenarios including the identification of mass disaster victims. The term blood groups refers to inherited antigens on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs) detected by specific antibodies. Since tooth pulp contains numerous blood vessels, blood group antigens are most certainly bound to be present in tooth pulp. Various studies have shown that blood group antigens in the pulp and dentin are preserved as long as up to two years after the demise of an individual. Absorption-elution technique has been proven to be the most sensitive, reliable, and consistent method to determine the ABO blood group from both the pulp and dentine.This study aimed toascertain the ABO blood group from both the hard (dentin) as well as the soft tissue (pulp) of the tooth by using the absorption-elution (AE) technique and also to determine if there are any variations in identifying the blood groups from the teeth based on age and gender. Material and methods After obtaining due consent, we included patients of both genders aged between 16-60 years visiting the outpatient department (OPD) clinics at the College of Dentistry for periodontal or orthodontic extractions.One patient's blood type was determined by using the slide agglutination technique before any capillary blood extraction was performed; this patient served as a control. For this investigation, we used the pulp and powdered dentin samples taken from the dental extractions to test for the presence of ABO and Rhesus (Rh) factor antigens by using the AE method. The study samples were compared with the control for blood group determination. Statistical analysis was carried out using the chi-square test with Monte Carlo (MC) simulation to check for any correlation of blood grouping with age and gender. Results The dentin and pulp were shown to have positive blood group antigens for the ABO and Rh factors.While neither pulp nor dentin performed significantly differently in identifying the blood group antigens, pulp showed marginally higher accuracy.There was no discernibledifference regarding gender or age in the dentin or pulp of any of the 45 samples studied. Conclusions For determining an individual's blood type and Rh factor, both the hard (dentin) and soft (pulp) tissues of a tooth are valid sources. This is particularly helpful in forensic medicine cases where teeth are the onlyremains that can be viably used to find out a person's identity.

Blood group determination using fingerprint

The fingerprint pattern stands out as the most authentic and unique characteristic defining human identity. This unique pattern is immutable and persists unaltered until an individual's demise. In various circumstances, particularly in legal proceedings, fingerprint evidence is highly regarded. The distinctive minutiae pattern of each person is unparalleled, with the probability of resemblance being exceedingly low, nearly one in sixty-four thousand million. This distinctiveness holds true even for identical duplet. The individualistic ridge pattern persists unchanged from birth, serving as a constant aspect of personal identity. This paper presents a method involving the comparison of specific feature patterns derived from fingerprints for personal identification systems. Fingerprint data is employed in the investigation of blood group determination as well. In the process of fingerprint matching, ridge frequency is assessed, and spatial features are extracted using a Gabor filter for this specific purpose. Consequently, blood group determination can be performed using fingerprint analysis.

Seroprevalence of Transfusion-Transmissible Infections among Family Replacement Donors and Voluntary Non-Remunerated Blood Donors During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sub Saharan Africa.

Introduction : According to WHO, regular, voluntary, unpaid blood donors are the safest group of donors, as they have the lowest prevalence of blood transmitted infections. However, family/replacement blood donors is widely used in sub Saharan Africa and this practice was exacerbated during the COVID 19 pandemic. This study aimed to compare the seroprevalence of infectious markers in family replacement blood donors and voluntary non-remunerated blood donors during the COVID 19 pandemic in a country of sub Saharan Africa. 
 Materials and Methods
 Blood donors received at the National Centre of Blood Transfusion (NBTC) of Dakar from August 1st to October 31th 2021, were included in this study. All donors completed a pre-donation questionnaire. Donors identity, epidemiological parameters, reasons for donation and laboratory results were collected in the Inlog® software of the NBTC. The serological tests for HBV, HIV and HCV were performed with chemiluminescence technology. The Rapid Plasma Reagent test was used to find out treponemal antibodies. The determination of ABO and Rh blood groups was performed using monoclonal antisera following classical hemagglutination test on a plate.
 Results
 A total of 5002 donors were collected during this COVID-19 pandemic period. Blood family/replacement donors represented 54.0% and new voluntary donors represented 52.6%. Comparison of HIV, HCV and syphilis markers seroprevalence showed no statistically significant difference between new voluntary donors and new family replacement donors (p>0.05). However, for HBV the seroprevalence was significantly higher in new family replacement donors (p=0,002).
 Conclusion 
 The proper supply of blood was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic meanwhile replacement donations had contributed to limiting the damage observed with blood shortages. However, the significant differences noted on the seroprevalences of transfusion-transmissible infections between voluntary non-paid donors and family/replacement donors strengthens WHO recommendations for the selection of volunteer non-paid donors to lower transfusion-transmissible HBV in sub Saharan Africa.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Blood Group Antigen A Carriers Exhibit an Extended Progression-Free Survival with no more Immune-Related Adverse Events.

Extensive investigations have been conducted regarding the potential correlation between blood type and the immune system, as well as cancer risk in the Southern Chinese population. However, the prognostic value of the blood group and its genetic determinants in the context of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment remains unclear. Therefore, the associations between the ABO blood group and its single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were examined in relation to ICI treatment outcomes in 370 eligible patients with cancer. This approach allowed us to derive the blood group from the SNPs responsible for blood group determination. In the discovery cohort (N = 168), antigen A carriers (blood types A and AB) exhibited an extended progression-free survival (PFS; hazard ratio (HR) = 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.34-0.98). The association results from the SNP-derived blood were consistent with those from the measured blood group. In the validation cohort (N = 202), Cox regression analysis revealed that the antigen A carriers (rs507666 AA+GA genotype carriers) experienced significantly extended PFS compared with the non-antigen A carriers (HR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.40-0.93). Therefore, a longer PFS was observed in antigen A carriers (P value = 0.003, HR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.44-0.84). Furthermore, haplotype 2 carriers (rs507666 GA and rs659104 GG) demonstrated both extended PFS and improved overall survival. Notably, the presence of antigen A was not associated with the occurrence of overall immune-related adverse events (irAEs) or organ-specific toxicity. In summary, our findings revealed that antigen A carriers did not experience a higher incidence of irAEs while exhibiting better immunotherapy efficacy.

Sex and blood group determination from hair using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics.

Examination of hair with its intact root is commonly used for DNA profiling of the donor. However, its use for gathering other types of information is less explored. Using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the present study aims to explore other relevant aspects in a non-destructive manner for forensics. Determining the sex and blood group of human hair samples were the major goals of the study. Sex determination was accomplished by analyzing the differential vibrational intensities and stretching of various chemical groups associated with hair and its proteins. Statistical inference of spectral data was performed using chemometric algorithms such as PCA and PLS-DA. The PLS-DA model determined sex with 100% accuracy and blood grouping with an average accuracy of 95%. The present study is the first of its kind to determine sex and blood grouping from human scalp hair shafts, as far as the author knows. By acting as a preliminary screening test, this study could have significant implications for forensic analysis of crime scene samples. Human and synthetic hair were used in validation studies, resulting in 100% accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity, with 0% false positives and false negatives. The technique ATR FTIR spectroscopy could complement the currently used methods of hair analysis such as physical examination and mitochondrial or genomic DNA analysis.

Retrospective Study of Blood Transfusion Utilization in Surgical Patients in a Quebec, Canada Health Region: Do We Overestimate the Surgical Risk

Introduction Blood transfusions were initially developed in the 20 th century to support emergency surgery on injured soldiers. Their access and use have since revolutionized our ability to perform elective surgeries. However, there is a misconception that surgical procedures continue to be a primary user of blood transfusions, such that many surgeons have become reliant on blood units being reserved for their patients. A high-risk surgery is currently defined as a 48-hour risk of requiring a transfusion in at least 2-4% of cases ( Blood 2012,120:2954-2963). Patients meeting that risk category must have a blood group determination and cross-match before elective surgeries. While data from the ACS-NSQIP US database reported a decrease from 5.5% to 4% in transfusion rate for general surgery procedures between 2012 and 2018, rates remain elevated, included a risk of 6.6% for hemorrhoid ligation ( Transfusion 2021,61:3119-3128). The present study sought to evaluate the rates of use of transfusions during and immediately following surgery in a Canadian setting. Given improvement in surgical techniques, the regulated training of surgeons, and a universal healthcare access favoring the concentration of more complex surgical cases to regional centers, it was suspected that the need for blood products may be overestimated. Study design We conducted a retrospective study of the use of pRBC transfusions in all surgeries performed during a 24-month period in a single Quebec health region. Region 12 has a mix of urban and rural communities with a total population of almost half a million inhabitants. All types of surgeries are performed, with the exception of cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, and transplantation. The region includes 5 operating theaters, a larger regional center with 8 operating rooms and 4 smaller centers with 2-5 rooms. The current recommendation is for all patients undergoing surgery to have a group determination and cross-match before all major surgeries. Results Between January 2018 to December 2019, a total of 34 934 elective and emergency surgeries were performed. 172 patients received a total of 546 pRBC units (0.49% of surgeries). 395 units were transfused either during surgery or during the first 24 hours post-operatively. During the same period, a total of 10 982 blood units were transfused in the health region for all indications. Only 4.9% were given to surgical patients. Table 1 demonstrates transfusion rates by surgical specialty in Health Region 12. Major surgeries such as thoracic and vascular surgery, and urologic and ENT oncology are centralized to the urban regional center. 9% of vascular surgeries required blood transfusions (half being elective procedures), followed by thoracic surgery with 2.8% of surgeries (half also being elective procedures). All other types of surgeries had a < 1% utilization of blood transfusion, independent of hospital. 34 cases (0.1%) required 3 or more blood units during surgery. Only 3 of 9 patients who received more than 5 blood units during the first 24 hours of surgery survived 30 days post-operatively. Of the 172 patients who were transfused, alloantibodies were found in only 7 patients, of which 4 were significant. All four were already known in the national database, even though two were not detected during the pre-operative cross-match. Conclusions The 48-hour surgical blood transfusion risk in our region is significantly lower than that reported in recent data. Surgical sub-specialization and the concentration of more complex cases in higher volume centers may explain the reduced operative blood transfusion risk. In the present study, only vascular and thoracic surgeries qualified as high-risk, representing only 1.4% of all surgeries performed in the region. Therefore, pre-operative complete cross-matching could be avoided in more than 98% of surgeries, resulting in significant savings in specialized technical time, which is of particular importance at a time of personnel shortages.

318.1: Direct application of flow cytometry for the determination of porcine blood group antigens

318.1: Direct application of flow cytometry for the determination of porcine blood group antigens

ABO Red Cell Antigens, von Willebrand Factor, Factor VIII and Platelet counts among Hypertensive Patients In Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna.

Background: von Willebrand Factor and factor VIII have been implicated in the vulnerability of causing hypertension which is related/common to some of the ABO blood group antigens. However, the precise mechanism/role of the von Willebrand Factor and factor VIII in hypertension is unknown. The study is a comparative study that is aimed to determine the association of ABO red cell antigen, von Willebrand factor, Factor VIII, and Platelets among hypertensive patients in Kaduna, Nigeria. Methods: To determine this association, fifty-five (55) hypertensive patients and 28 controls were recruited. A purposive sampling technique was employed in selecting the study participants. Determination of the ABO blood group, vWF, FVIII, and platelets was carried out to establish the frequency and the association of ABO blood type with hypertension. Results: It was established that blood group O (43%) has the highest distribution followed by A, B, and AB (6%) the least. There was no significant difference in vWF(ng/L), FVIII(pg/ml), and platelet count(109/l) between the patients and the controls (454.9 and 456.2), (242.0 and 228.4) and (238.0 and 213.0) respectively, p>0.05. The correlation studies showed a strong association between vWF and FVIII (r - 0.544, P<0.0001). There was a significant difference between males’ and females’ vWF and FVIII (P=0.0013 and 0.0029 respectively), indicating females had a higher level of vWF and FVIII, and therefore at higher risk of developing hypertension. Women should therefore be screened for these parameters as a matter of routine. Conclusion: The risk of developing hypertension based on the parameters considered in this study is independent of the ABO blood group of an individual. There is a need for further studies, to confirm or rule out these findings.

ABO Blood Grouping and Rhesus Factor Determination From Dental Pulp Tissue: A Forensic Research.

Introduction Collection of blood samples from mass disaster victims and blood grouping is a challenging task. This can be attributed to various reasons. From the forensic odontology perspective, teeth and bones are one of the noteworthy remainsthat can be derived from such sites. Aims and objectives The aim of our study is to detect ABO blood groups and Rhesus (Rh) factor from extirpated pulp tissue of the extracted teeth at zero, three, and six months' time interval by absorption-elution technique. Materials and methods The study consisted of 90 freshly extracted teeth as suggested by a biostatistician. Thirty teeth were analyzed immediately and 60 teeth were stored in vials without any preservative at room temperature. The pulp tissue was extirpated and studied at zero months, three months, and six months to determine blood groups and Rh factors. The extraction socket blood was tested to identify the blood group of that patient and used as a control reference. The blood grouping was done at respective time periods through the absorption-elution method and matched with the control. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24 software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). The chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis test were done. A p-value< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Pulp showed the highest sensitivity for blood groups at zero months but it could be identified up to six months, although the sensitivity and specificity gradually decreased. ABO blood grouping showed higher sensitivity than the Rh factor as time progressed. Conclusion In cases where teeth are the only remains in a forensic condition, the dental pulp can be an authentic source for blood group detection.

Saliva as a Diagnostic Tool in Forensic Odontology: Scope and Methods

Human body fluids such as blood and saliva are the most common sources of biological trace material found at a crime scene. Over the last decade or so there has been a growing interest in saliva and its use as a tool in forensic odontology as an alternative to blood or urine. The added advantage of its noninvasive method of collection even by individuals with limited training, makes saliva a popular fluid for forensic analysis. Saliva is mainly looked for in cases of drug abuse, sexual assault, and in cases involving animal or human bites. This oral fluid has an immense role in linking of suspects or victims to a crime scene, as well as in establishing the identity of unknown individuals. This review details about the various application of saliva in the field of forensic odontology such as age, gender and blood group determination, drug, cigarette consumption detection to the storage of saliva samples for future references.