Adult Blood Research Articles

Appropriate tourniquet pressure for peripherally inserted central catheter placement in the upper arm.

A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement often requires ultrasound guidance. Previous studies using an adult blood pressure cuff have suggested that veins do not easily collapse at the tourniquet pressure from diastolic to systolic blood pressure. When inserting a PICC into the basilic vein of the upper arm, a narrow blood pressure cuff should be used as a tourniquet to avoid concealing the puncture site. The aim of this study was to determine the appropriate tourniquet pressure using a narrow cuff when inserting a PICC into the upper arm. We measured the upper arm's blood pressure of seven healthy participants using a pediatric cuff and applied pressure to the upper arm with the pediatric cuff at six levels: 0mmHg (0), half of the diastolic pressure (D/2), diastolic pressure (D), pressure obtained by combining the systolic and diastolic pressures and dividing by two (DS), systolic pressure (S), and blood pressure as the pulse wave disappears (S + α). An ultrasound probe compressed the basilic vein through the skin. The pressure at which the vein collapsed at each tourniquet pressure was examined. The venous collapse pressure was higher when the tourniquet pressure was D, DS, or S. D to S is appropriate for PICC placement in the basilic vein of the upper arm in terms of venous collapse.

Intermittent Fasting During Ramadan Increases the Absolute Number of Circulating Progenitor Stem Cells in Healthy Subjects.

Fasting regimens have shown profound impact on pro-longevity and tissue regeneration in diverse species. Physiological events can induce a regenerative response in adult stem cells. However, little is known about signaling and activation of adult stem cells which are modulated by fasting. This study analyzed the presence of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) and their circulation in the peripheral blood (PB) of healthy male adults practicing Ramadan fasting. Ten healthy male volunteers were enrolled in this prospective observational study. PB samples were collected twice daily on days 0, 10, 20, and 30 of Ramadan fasting (RF). Populations of stem cells and serum soluble factors were analyzed by flow cytometry. As a response to RF, we report an increase in the average absolute count of circulating of HSPCs, defined as LIN-CD45- and LIN-CD45+ cell subsets expressing the stem markers, CD34 and CD133. Changes in the number of HSPCs subsets reflected changes in the peripheral concentration of chemoattractant soluble factors during fasting. A chemotaxis assay showed a migratory property of HSPCs towards plasma, collected at D30 of fasting that contained a higher concentration of SCF and G-CSF. The relationship between RF and an increase in the number of circulating HSPCs in part, describes a regenerative response to the physiological changes during fasting and may open opportunities to define the role of dietary intervention in the stem cell therapy.

Alexithymia and estimated 10-year cardiovascular disease risk in healthy adults: a community-based cross-sectional study.

This cohort study aimed to explore whether and to what extent alexithymia would be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk over an estimated 10-year period, over and above established clinical cofactors (i.e., depressive symptoms, quality of life, sociodemographic, anthropometric, lifestyle, and biological data), in a low-risk population of blood donors. A sample of 1,021 adult Italian blood donors (age 46.9 ± 8.39; 61.2% men) was consecutively recruited. The 10-year-CVD risk score was estimated using the CUORE risk score (CRS). Sociodemographic, lifestyle, anthropometric, biological, and psychological (i.e., quality of life, depressive symptoms, and alexithymia) CVD risk data were assessed using validated self-report measures or clinical records. As expected, most participants (78.5%) had a low CVD risk (CRS < 3%) and an overall low-risk profile for all the parameters. Compared with subjects at low risk of CVD (n = 911, 78.5%), those with high risk (i.e., rated ≥3 on CUORE risk assessment; n = 250, 21.5%) reported higher levels of alexithymia (p < 0.001). Subjects with higher alexithymia (n = 236, 23.1%) reported higher levels of psychosocial impairment, depressive symptoms, and biological risk variables for CVD. Alexithymia was significantly associated with 10-year CVD risk (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.01-1.04, p = 0.009), even after adjusting for key sociodemographic and clinical risk variables. Although limited by the cross-sectional design, this study is the first to show that alexithymia leads to a higher risk for 10-year CVD estimate in healthy subjects with low-risk profile, regardless of known biomarkers and traditional CVD risk factors.

Tissue-Specific DNA Methylation Changes in CD8+ T Cells During Chronic Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection of Infant Rhesus Macaques

Robust CD8+ T cell responses are critical for the control of HIV infection in both adults and children. Our understanding of the mechanisms driving these responses is based largely on studies of cells circulating in peripheral blood in adults, but the regulation of CD8+ T cell responses in tissue sites is poorly understood, particularly in pediatric infections. DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that regulates gene transcription. Hypermethylated gene promoters are associated with transcriptional silencing and, conversely, hypomethylated promoters indicate gene activation. In this study, we evaluated DNA methylation signatures of CD8+ T cells isolated from several different anatomic compartments during pediatric AIDS-virus infection by utilizing the SIVmac239/251 infected infant rhesus macaque model. We performed a stepwise methylation analysis starting with total cellular DNA, to immunomodulatory cytokine promoters, to specific CpG sites within the cytokine promoters in CD8+ T cells isolated from peripheral blood, lymph nodes, and intestinal tissue during the chronic phase of infection. Tissue-specific methylation patterns were determined for transcriptionally active promoters of key immunomodulatory cytokines: interferon gamma (IFNγ), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). In this study, we observed tissue-specific differences in CD8+ T cell modulation by DNA methylation in SIV-infected infant macaques, highlighting the importance of evaluating cells from both blood and tissues to obtain a complete picture of CD8+ T cell regulation during pediatric HIV infection.

Association between sedentary time, physical activity, biochemical markers in the blood (heart and muscles) and heart failure in adults with congenital heart disease: a study protocol of a cross-sectional cohort study in Sweden (the ACHD trial protocol)

IntroductionAdults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are a heterogeneous group with a large variation in the severity of lesions and symptoms. This population has rapidly grown in recent years due...

Early immune profiling reveals distinct inflammatory responses between children and adults few days after primary SARS-CoV-2 infection.

To date, it is still not clear why during the COVID-19 pandemic children generally developed no or milder symptoms compared to adults. As innate immune responses are crucial in the early defense against pathogens, we aimed at profiling these responses from both adults and children with a primary SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the first months of the pandemic, PBMCs and serum were collected from peripheral blood of adults and children at different time points after testing SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive (PCR+). The levels of SARS-CoV-2 Spike-specific IgG were measured in serum. The cells were cultured for 24 hours in medium only, with heat inactivated SARS-CoV-2 (iSARS-CoV-2) or toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands. The levels of secreted cytokines/chemokines as well as monocyte phenotype were determined. Few days after testing PCR+, PBMCs from PCR+ children secreted higher levels of cytokines/chemokines compared to PCR+ adults, after these cells were incubated either in medium only or after stimulation with iSARS-CoV-2 or TLR ligands. Furthermore, PBMCs from children stimulated with iSARS-CoV-2 secreted significantly higher levels of IL-10 and GM-CSF compared to PBMCs from control children. In contrast, PBMCs from the PCR+ adults secreted lower levels of IL-8 compared to adult controls. Phenotypic analysis of monocytes indicates a smaller proportion non-classical monocytes for adults compared to children. The distinct cytokine profiles, symptom severity, and the proportion of non-classical monocytes correlated to each other. The levels of Spike-specific IgG overtime did not significantly differ between children and adults. Within the first week after testing PCR+, children showed a stronger inflammatory innate immune profile and experienced less severe symptoms compared to adults. Our data implies correlations between the secretion of cytokines/chemokines, proportion of non-classical monocytes, and symptoms severity. These findings enhance our understanding of the distinct pediatric and adult innate immune profile after SARS-CoV-2 infection and contributes to the knowledge necessary to improve future prevention strategies.

Validation of the FF680 upper-arm blood pressure monitor according to the AAMI/ESH/ISO universal standard (ISO 81060-2:2018).

This study evaluated the accuracy of blood pressure measurement in adults using FF680 electronic blood pressure monitors with the Korotkoff-Sound method, in accordance with the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation/European Society of Hypertension/International Organization for Standardization (AAMI/ESH/ISO) universal standards (ISO 81060-2 : 2018). The study was conducted at Shijiazhuang People's Hospital and lasted 56 days, from May 26 to 21 July 2023. Participants, drawn from an adult demographic, underwent data verification and analysis with strict adherence to the trial protocol. For the FF680 electronic blood pressure monitor using the Korotkoff-Sound method, data from 85 valid participants were analyzed. The findings revealed mean differences (standard deviations) of -0.66 mmHg (2.45 mmHg) for SBP and -0.28 mmHg (2.09 mmHg) for DBP. SBP and DBP had standard deviations of ≤6.9 mmHg and ≤6.95 mmHg, meeting the standard requirements. FF680 devices are recommended for adult blood pressure monitoring because they meet the AAMI/ESH/ISO universal requirements (ISO 81060-2 : 2018).

High frequency of mitochondrial DNA rearrangements in the peripheral blood of adults with intellectual disability.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) rearrangements are recognised factors in mitochondrial disorders and ageing, but their involvement in neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), remains poorly understood. Previous studies have reported mitochondrial dysfunction in individuals with both ID and ASD. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of large-scale mtDNA rearrangements in ID and ID with comorbid ASD (ID-ASD). We used mtDNA-targeted next-generation sequencing and the MitoSAlt high-throughput computational pipeline in peripheral blood samples from 76 patients with ID (mean age 52.5years, 37% female), 59 patients with ID-ASD (mean age 41.3years, 46% female) and 32 healthy controls (mean age 42.4years, 47% female) from Catalonia. The study revealed a high frequency of mtDNA rearrangements in patients with ID, with 10/76 (13.2%) affected individuals. However, the prevalence was significantly lower in patients with ID-ASD 1/59 (1.7%) and in HC 1/32 (3.1%). Among the mtDNA rearrangements, six were identified as deletions (median size 6937bp and median heteroplasmy level 2.3%) and six as duplications (median size 10 455bp and median heteroplasmy level 1.9%). One of the duplications, MT-ATP6 m.8765-8793dup (29bp), was present in four individuals with ID with a median heteroplasmy level of 3.9%. Our results show that mtDNA rearrangements are frequent in patients with ID, but not in those with ID-ASD, when compared to HC. Additionally, MitoSAlt has demonstrated high sensitivity and accuracy in detecting mtDNA rearrangements, even at very low heteroplasmy levels in blood samples. While the high frequency of mtDNA rearrangements in ID is noteworthy, the role of these rearrangements is currently unclear and needs to be confirmed with further data, particularly in post-mitotic tissues and through age-matched control studies.

Molecular impact of nicotine and smoking exposure on the developing and adult mouse brain.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) is associated with significant cognitive and behavioral effects on offspring. While neurodevelopmental outcomes have been studied for prenatal exposure to nicotine, the main psychoactive component of cigarette smoke, its contribution to MSDP effects has never been explored. Comparing the effects of these substances on molecular signaling in the prenatal and adult brain may provide insights into nicotinic and broader tobacco consequences that are developmental-stage specific or age-independent. Pregnant mice were administered nicotine or exposed to chronic cigarette smoke, and RNA-sequencing was performed on frontal cortices of postnatal day 0 pups born to these mice, as well as on frontal cortices and blood of the adult dams. We identified 1,010 and 4,165 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in nicotine and smoking-exposed pup brains, respectively (FDR<0.05, Ns = 19 nicotine-exposed vs 23 vehicle-exposed; 46 smoking-exposed vs 49 controls). Prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) alone was related to dopaminergic synapses and long-term synaptic depression, whereas MSDP was associated with the SNARE complex and vesicle transport. Both substances affected SMN-Sm protein complexes and postsynaptic endosomes. Analyses at the transcript, exon, and exon-exon junction levels supported gene level results and revealed additional smoking-affected processes. No DEGs at FDR<0.05 were found in adult mouse brain for any substance (12 nicotine-administered vs 11 vehicle-administered; 12 smoking-exposed vs 12 controls), nor in adult blood (12 smoking-exposed vs 12 controls), and only 3% and 6.41% of the DEGs in smoking-exposed pup brain replicated in smoking-exposed blood and human prenatal brain, respectively. Together, these results demonstrate variable but overlapping molecular effects of PNE and MSDP on the developing brain, and attenuated effects of both smoking and nicotine on adult versus fetal brain.

Protein Kinase C Isozyme Immaturity/Deficiency in Cord Blood Monocytes and Neutrophils.

Reduced/deficient expression of Protein Kinase C (PKC)ζ in Cord blood (CB) T cells is associated with allergy development in children and a propensity to maintain an immature T-helper (Th)2 cytokine profile. In addition, other PKC isozymes are also low in CBTCs. Since previous studies have reported that cord blood/neonatal monocyte and neutrophil functions are significantly lower than cells from adults, it was of interest to see if the CBTC PKC levels were reflected in CB monocytes and neutrophils. Compared to adult blood, CB expresses low levels of PKCα, β2, ε, θ, μ, ζ and λ/ι in monocytes and PKCα, β2, η, θ, μ, ζ and λ/ι in neutrophils. The T-cell PKCζ levels were positively correlated with levels in CB monocytes but not in neutrophils. However, neither the monocytes nor the neutrophil PKCζ were associated with T-cell development towards a Th1 or Th2 cytokine propensity, based on the production of interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 in response to phytohemagglutinin and phorbol myristate acetate. The results demonstrate that some newborn babies display a deficiency in PKC isozymes in monocytes and neutrophils, as reported for T cells. However, unlike T cells, the PKCζ levels of the phagocytes did not correlate with regulation of development towards a Th1 or Th2 cytokine phenotype.

Assessing effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection of equipment and environmental surfaces in cystic fibrosis clinics using an ATP assay.

Infection control guidelines for cystic fibrosis (CF) stress cleaning of environmental surfaces and patientcare equipment in CF clinics. This multicenter study measured cleanliness of frequently touched surfaces in CF clinics using an ATP bioluminescence assay to assess the effectiveness of cleaning/disinfection and the impact of feedback. Eight surfaces were tested across 19 clinics (10 pediatric, 9 adult) over 5 rounds of testing. Rounds 1 and 2 served as uncleaned baseline, and Round 3 occurring after routine cleaning. Rounds 4 and 5 were performed after feedback provided to staff and measured after cleaning. Pass rates defined as <250 relative light units were the primary outcome. Of the 750 tests performed, 72% of surfaces passed at baseline, and 79%, 83%, and 85% of surfaces passed in Rounds 3, 4, and 5, respectively. The overall pass-rate was significantly higher in adult compared to pediatric clinics (86% vs 71%; P < 0.001). In pediatric clinics, blood pressure equipment and computer keyboards in the pulmonary function lab consistently passed, but the exam room patient/visitor chairs consistently failed in all rounds. In adult clinics blood pressure equipment, keyboards in exam rooms and exam tables passed in all rounds and no surface consistently failed. We demonstrate the feasibility of an ATP bioluminescence assay to measure cleanliness of patient care equipment and surfaces in CF clinics. Pass rates improved after cleaning and feedback for certain surfaces. We found that surfaces are more challenging to keep clean in clinics taking care of younger patients.

Relaxivity and In Vivo Human Performance of Brand Name Versus Generic Ferumoxytol.

Ferumoxytol is a superparamagnetic iron-oxide product that is increasingly used off-label for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). With the recent regulatory approval of generic ferumoxytol, there may be an opportunity to reduce cost, so long as generic ferumoxytol has similar imaging performance to brand name ferumoxytol. This study aims to compare the relaxation-concentration dependence and MRI performance of brand name ferumoxytol with generic ferumoxytol through phantom and in vivo experiments. The secondary purpose was to determine the optimal flip angle and optimal weight-based dosing. Phantom experiments were performed using both brand name (AMAG Pharmaceuticals) and generic (Sandoz Pharmaceuticals) ferumoxytol products. Each ferumoxytol product was diluted in saline, and separately in adult bovine whole blood, at 5 iron concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 2.1 mM. Vials were placed in an MR-compatible water bath at 37°C and imaged at both 1.5 T and 3.0 T. Longitudinal and transverse relaxation rate constants (R1, R2, R2*) were measured for each ferumoxytol concentration, and relaxation-concentration curves were estimated. An in vivo dose accumulation study with flip angle optimization was also implemented using a cross-over design, in healthy volunteers. Cumulative doses of 1, 3, 5, and 7 mg/kg diluted ferumoxytol were administered prior to MRA of the chest on a 3.0 T clinical MRI system. For each incremental dose, the flip angle was varied from 40° to 10° in -10° increments over 5 breath-holds followed by a repeated 40° flip angle acquisition. Regions of interest were drawn in the aortic arch, paraspinous muscles, and a noisy area outside of the patient, free from obvious artifact. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was calculated as the quotient of the average signal in the aortic arch and the standard deviation of the noise, corrected for a Rician noise distribution. Contrast-to-noise ratio was calculated as the difference in SNR between the aorta and paraspinous muscles. Absolute SNR and contrast-to-noise ratio values were compared between products for different flip angles and doses. There were no statistically significant or clinically relevant differences in relaxation-concentration curves between AMAG and Sandoz products in phantom experiments. Six healthy volunteers (38.8 ± 11.5 years, 3 female, 3 male) were successfully recruited and completed both imaging visits. No clinically relevant differences in image quality were observed between ferumoxytol products. The optimal flip angle range and dose for both products was 20°-30° and 5 mg/kg, respectively. Brand name and generic ferumoxytol products can be used interchangeably for MRA.

Monocyte and Macrophage Functions in Oncogenic Viral Infections.

Monocytes and macrophages are part of innate immunity and constitute the first line of defense against pathogens. Bone marrow-derived monocytes circulate in the bloodstream for one to three days and then typically migrate into tissues, where they differentiate into macrophages. Circulatory monocytes represent 5% of the nucleated cells in normal adult blood. Following differentiation, macrophages are distributed into various tissues and organs to take residence and maintain body homeostasis. Emerging evidence has highlighted the critical role of monocytes/macrophages in oncogenic viral infections, mainly their crucial functions in viral persistence and disease progression. These findings open opportunities to target innate immunity in the context of oncogenic viruses and to explore their potential as immunotherapies.

Study on the feasibility of using livestock blood as a fetal bovine serum substitute for cultured meat.

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) accounts for the largest portion of the cost of cultured meat production or cell culture experiments and is highly controversial in terms of animal welfare because it is taken from the fetus of a pregnant cow during slaughtering. Nevertheless, FBS is the most important supplement in the cell culture manufacturing process. This study aimed to develop an FBS substitute from slaughterhouse waste blood to reduce the cost of FBS in cultured meat production through various experiments. Our study successfully demonstrated that adult livestock blood obtained from slaughterhouses can effectively replace FBS. Our substitute, when cultured with bovine myosatellite cells, demonstrated cell growth that was either equivalent to or superior to that of commercial FBS. In the process of muscle generation through differentiation, the substitutes from bovine and chicken formed 70%-75% more bovine muscle compared to the control group using FBS. Furthermore, using the FBS substitute can reduce cell culture costs by approximately 61% compared to using commercial FBS. Therefore, the groundbreaking FBS substitute will not only contribute to the development of technology to mass-produce cultured meat using livestock byproducts but will also lower the production cost of media for experimental cell culture or vaccine production.

A-328 Accuracy of the Glucose Test in the i-STAT® G Cartridge Using the i-STAT 1 System for Venous, Arterial and Capillary Whole Blood Specimens in Clinical Settings

Abstract Background Precise and accurate measurements of whole blood glucose levels are important for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of carbohydrate metabolism disorders, such as diabetes and hypoglycemia. This study demonstrates the accuracy of the glucose test in the i-STAT G cartridge with the i-STAT 1 System in arterial, venous, and capillary whole blood specimens in point of care or clinical laboratory settings. Methods The accuracy of the glucose test in the i-STAT G cartridge was assessed at external clinical sites in a method comparison study using whole blood specimens across the measurement range of 20 - 700 mg/dL. Specimens used in this study were venous, arterial, and capillary specimens prospectively collected under Institutional Review Board-approved informed consent or were leftover de-identified venous or arterial specimens. The study included venous whole blood samples from 164 adult subjects (≥ 18 years) and arterial whole blood samples from 173 adult subjects at 3 clinical sites, and capillary whole blood samples from 211 adult subject at 3 clinicals sites and 23 neonate subjects (birth to 28 days) at 2 clinical sites. For venous and arterial whole blood, samples were collected and tested in duplicate on the i-STAT G cartridge and on the i-STAT CHEM8+ cartridge (comparator). For capillary whole blood samples, adult fingerstick samples and neonate heel-stick samples were collected in capillary tubes and tested in singlicate on the i-STAT G cartridge and in singlicate on the epoc® Blood Analysis System (comparator). Passing-Bablok linear regression was performed for venous and arterial whole blood samples using the first replicate from the i-STAT G cartridge versus the mean result of the comparator, and for capillary whole blood samples (adult and neonate combined) using the singlicate result from the i-STAT G cartridge versus the singlicate result of the comparator. Results Passing-Bablok regression of i-STAT G cartridge results versus the comparator was used to calculate slope and correlation coefficient (r). Adult venous whole blood results had slope = 1.00 and r = 1.00, and adult arterial whole blood results had slope = 1.00 and r = 1.00. Adult and neonate capillary whole blood results had slope = 1.00 and r = 1.00. Conclusions These results demonstrate that the i-STAT 1 System delivers accurate glucose test results within ∼2 minutes using the i-STAT G cartridge for venous, arterial and capillary whole blood samples for adult and neonate subjects across a glucose range of 20-700 mg/dL when tested by end-users in a point of care or clinical laboratory setting. This study was funded by Abbott Laboratories.

A-329 Accuracy of the pH, PO2, and PCO2 Tests in the i-STAT® G3+ Cartridge Using the i-STAT 1 System for Venous, Arterial and Capillary Whole Blood Specimens in Clinical Settings

Abstract Background Precise and accurate measurements of blood gases are important for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of respiratory, metabolic, and acid-base disturbances. This study demonstrates the accuracy of the pH, partial pressure of oxygen (PO2), and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) tests in the i-STAT G3+ cartridge with the i-STAT 1 System in arterial, venous, and capillary whole blood specimens in point of care or clinical laboratory settings. Methods The accuracy of the PO2, and PCO2 tests in the i-STAT G3+ cartridge was assessed at external clinical sites in a method comparison study using whole blood specimens across the measurement range for each test: pH 6.5-7.8, PO2 5-700 mmHg, PCO2 5.0-130.0 mmHg. Specimens used in this study were venous, arterial, and capillary specimens prospectively collected under Institutional Review Board-approved informed consent or were leftover de-identified venous or arterial specimens. The study included venous and arterial whole blood samples from ∼140 adult subjects (≥ 18 years) at 3 clinical sites, and capillary whole blood samples from ∼180 adult subject at 3 clinicals sites and ∼25 neonate subjects (birth to 28 days) at 2 clinical sites. The RapidPoint System was used as comparator. For venous and arterial whole blood, samples were collected and tested in duplicate on the i-STAT G3+ cartridge and in singlicate on the RapidPoint System. For capillary whole blood samples, adult fingerstick samples and neonate heel-stick samples were collected in capillary tubes and tested in singlicate on the i-STAT G3+ cartridge and on the RapidPoint System. Passing-Bablok regression was performed for venous and arterial whole blood samples combined, using the first replicate from the i-STAT G3+ cartridge versus the singlicate result from the comparator, and for capillary whole blood samples (adult and neonate combined) using the singlicate result from the i-STAT G3+ cartridge versus the singlicate result from the comparator. Results Passing-Bablok regression of i-STAT G3+ cartridge results versus the comparator was used to calculate slope and correlation coefficient (r). For adult venous and arterial whole blood results, pH had slope = 0.96 and r = 0.99, PO2 had slope = 1.05 and r = 1.00, and PCO2 had slope = 1.04 and r = 0.98. For adult and neonate capillary whole blood results, pH had slope = 1.02 and r = 0.98, PO2 had slope = 1.09 and r = 0.99, and PCO2 had slope = 1.07 and r = 0.96. Conclusions These results demonstrate that the i-STAT 1 System delivers accurate pH, PO2, and PCO2 test results with ∼2 minutes using the i-STAT G3+ cartridge for venous, arterial and capillary whole blood samples for adult and neonate subjects when tested by end-users in a point of care or clinical laboratory setting. This study was funded by Abbott Laboratories.

Higher toll-like receptor 3 expression in umbilical cord blood B cells than in adult blood B cells

Background Umbilical cord blood (UCB), which is considered a rich source of stem cells, has been used for applications in different clinical settings. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the toll-like receptor (TLR) expression levels in UCB B cells as compared to adult blood cells. Aim To determine the phenotypes of B cells in UCB and to investigate their expression of TLR3 as compared to adult blood. Patients and methods Samples of UCB were collected (n=20) after delivery, and peripheral blood samples were collected from female healthy volunteers (n=10) in K2EDTA tubes. Cells were washed twice, then stained using anti-CD19 and anti-TLR3. The samples were acquired by flow cytometry to assess the phenotype of B cells and their expression of TLR3. Besides, the liver and kidney functions were assessed. Results The relative number of CD19+ cells showed lower numbers (5.35%) in UCB than adult blood (15.64%). Additionally, the absolute number of CD19+ cells showed lower numbers by two-fold in cord blood than in adult blood. The relative expression of TLR3 on CD19+ cells showed lower expression in UCB as compared to adult blood by 5.8-fold. However, the absolute number of TLR3+CD19+ was higher in UCB than in adult blood by two-fold. The liver and kidney function showed normal values as investigated the enzyme activity of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin, and creatinine in both cord and adult. Conclusion B cells express lower TLR3 in cord blood than in adult blood. The data from this study open new avenues for the manipulation of cord blood by TLR agonists for clinical application.

A comparison study of 589 and 650 nm on improving stored whole blood stability by irradiation with a low-power diode pumping solid-state laser.

To assess the effects of diode-pumped solid-state laser irradiation with 589nm and 650nm wavelengths on the stability of stored red blood cells in vitro. This is an intervention study that was conducted from April to July 2021 at the Physiology and Medical Physics Laboratory, College of Medicine, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq, and comprised samples of healthy, adult human blood that were put in tubes with citrate-phosphate dextrose-adenine as an anticoagulant. The blood sample was divided into eight equal aliquots and stored for 21 days at 4ºC. The stability test was done on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 of storage time for non-irradiated and radiated aliquots. For 15 minutes, the irradiated aliquots were subjected to a diode-pumped solid-state laser with a wavelength of 589nm or a laser with a wavelength of 650nm at frequencies of 30, 50 and 70 J/cm². Data was analysed using SPSS 24. Exposure of the whole blood to 589nm and a radiation dose of 70J/cm², 50J/cm² and 30J/cm² was associated with a significant reduction in the percentage of haemolysis that ranged 23-42% throughout the whole storage time. Exposure of the whole blood to 650nm wavelength low-level laser therapy and a radiation dose of 70J/cm², 50J/cm² and 30J/cm² was associated with much less reduction in the percentage of haemolysis that ranged 5-9% throughout the whole storage time. Both 589nm and to some extent 650nm low-level laser irradiation generally reduced haemolysis. The wavelength of 589nm lasers had a more effective influence than the 650nm counterpart in improving the stored red blood cells.

Autism spectrum disorder: difficulties in diagnosis and microRNA biomarkers.

We performed a PubMed search for microRNAs in autism spectrum disorder that could serve as diagnostic biomarkers in patients and selected 17 articles published from January 2008 to December 2023, of which 4 studies were performed with whole blood, 4 with blood plasma, 5 with blood serum, 1 with serum neural cell adhesion molecule L1-captured extracellular vesicles, 1 with blood cells, and 2 with peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Most of the studies involved children and the study cohorts were largely males. Many of the studies had performed microRNA sequencing or quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays to measure microRNA expression. Only five studies had used real-time polymerase chain reaction assay to validate microRNA expression in autism spectrum disorder subjects compared to controls. The microRNAs that were validated in these studies may be considered as potential candidate biomarkers for autism spectrum disorder and include miR-500a-5p, -197-5p, -424-5p, -664a-3p, -365a-3p, -619-5p, -664a- 3p, -3135a, -328-3p, and -500a-5p in blood plasma and miR-151a-3p, -181b-5p, -320a, -328, -433, -489, -572, -663a, -101-3p, -106b-5p, -19b-3p, -195-5p, and -130a-3p in blood serum of children, and miR-15b-5p and -6126 in whole blood of adults. Several important limitations were identified in the studies reviewed, and need to be taken into account in future studies. Further studies are warranted with children and adults having different levels of autism spectrum disorder severity and consideration should be given to using animal models of autism spectrum disorder to investigate the effects of suppressing or overexpressing specific microRNAs as a novel therapy.

The effects of alfalfa powder combined with health education on patients with dyslipidemia: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of global mortality, with dyslipidemia recognized as a significant risk factor. Dyslipidemia, characterized by elevated levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides (TG), is associated with an increased lifetime risk of CVD. Although alfalfa’s cholesterol-lowering effects have been demonstrated in animal models, clinical trial data supporting its efficacy in human dyslipidemia treatment are limited. MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted from September 20, 2021, to January 12, 2023, involving patients diagnosed with dyslipidemia. Approved by the China Ethics Committee of Registering Clinical Trials, the study included multiple sites in China. Eligible participants were adults aged 18 years or older, meeting criteria from the Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Adult Blood Lipid Disorders. Participants were randomly assigned to either a health education-only group or a combined alfalfa powder supplementation and health education group for a three-month intervention period. ResultsA total of 160 eligible patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups: the Alfalfa group (n = 80) and the Education group (n = 80). The intervention resulted in significant improvements in key lipid parameters in the Alfalfa group, including reductions in TC, LDL-C, and Apo A1 levels. Although changes in HDL-C levels were not significantly different between the groups, the Alfalfa group exhibited a larger increase. Serum lipid metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) indicated that the combined intervention did not significantly alter the overall blood lipid metabolome but identified fifteen regulated differential metabolites, with the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway significantly affecting lipid metabolism levels. ConclusionSupplementation with alfalfa powder combined with health education significantly reduced TC, LDL-C, and Apo A1 levels in patients with dyslipidemia. KEGG pathway analysis suggests an association between the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway and dyslipidemia. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.