Hematocrit Values Research Articles

Evaluation of Patient-Centric Sample Collection Technologies for Pharmacokinetic Assessment of Large and Small Molecules.

Low-volume sampling devices offer the promise of lower discomfort and greater convenience for patients, potentially reducing patient burden and enabling decentralized clinical trials. In this study, we determined whether low-volume sampling devices produce pharmacokinetic (PK) data comparable to conventional venipuncture for a diverse set of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and small molecules. We adopted an open-label, non-randomized, parallel-group, single-site study design, with four cohorts of 10 healthy subjects per arm. The study drugs, doses, and routes of administration included: crenezumab (15 mg/kg, intravenous infusion), etrolizumab (210 mg, subcutaneous), GDC-X (oral), and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ, 200 mg, oral). Samples were collected after administration of a single dose of each drug using conventional venipuncture and three low-volume capillary devices: TassoOne Plus for liquid blood, Tasso-M20 for dry blood, both applied to the arm, and Neoteryx Mitra® for dry blood obtained from fingertips. Serum/plasma concentrations from venipuncture and TassoOne Plus samples overlapped and PK parameters were comparable for all drugs, except HCQ. After applying a baseline hematocrit value, the dry blood concentrations and PK parameters for the two monoclonal antibodies were comparable to those obtained from venipuncture. For the two small molecules, two bridging strategies were evaluated for converting dry blood concentrations to equivalent plasma concentrations. A baseline hematocrit correction and/or linear regression-based correction was effective for GDC-X, but not for HCQ. Additionally, the study evaluated the bioanalytical data quality and comparability from the various collection methods, as well as patient preference for the devices.

A lentivirus-vectored feline erythropoietin gene therapy strategy in tissue culture and rodent models for the potential treatment of chronic renal disease-associated anemia.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a third-generation lentivirus-based vector encoding the feline erythropoietin (EPO) (feEPO) gene in vitro and in rodent models in vivo. This vector incorporates a genetic mechanism to facilitate the termination of the therapeutic effect in the event of supraphysiologic polycythemia, the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) "suicide gene." CFRK cells and replication-defective lentiviral vectors encoding feEPO were used for in vitro experiments. Eight Fischer rats were enrolled in the pilot in vivo study, 24 EPO-deficient mice were used in the initial mouse study, and 15 EPO-deficient mice were enrolled in the final mouse study. Efficacy of a third-generation lentivirus encoding feEPO was determined in vitro using western blot assays. Subsequently, in a series of rodent experiments, animals were administered the viral vector in progressively increasing inoculation doses with serial measurements of blood packed cell volume (PCV) over time. We documented production of feEPO protein in transduced CRFK cells with subsequent cessation of production when treated with the HSV-TK substrate ganciclovir. In vivo, we demonstrated variably persistent elevated PCV values in treated rats and mice with eventual return to baseline values over time. These results provide justification for a lentiviral gene therapy approach to the treatment of nonregenerative anemia associated with chronic renal disease in cats.

How does maternal anemia affect the levels of umbilical cord brain-derived neurotrophic factor?

ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of maternal iron deficiency anemia on the umbilical cord level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays a very important role in the central nervous system. MethodsOur research was planned as a quantitative, prospective, and analytical type of study. A total of 90 volunteers, term, singleton pregnant hospitalized in the Health Sciences University Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic between September 2021 and August 2022 were included in this study. While 45 of these pregnants were pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia (hemoglobin ≤ 110 g/L and serum ferritin level ≤ 12 μg/L), 45 cases were in the control group without iron deficiency anemia (hemoglobin > 110 g/L, serum ferritin > 12 μg/L). When pregnant were admitted to the hospital, blood samples were taken to analyze hemoglobin, mean cell volume (MCV), iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity, total iron binding capacity, serum ferritin, transferrin, and CRP levels. Also, we noted the maternal age, gravida, parity, birth weight, head circumference, type of birth, 1. minute Apgar score, and 5. minute Apgar score. During the delivery; after the umbilical cord had been clamped and cut, we took 5 cc of umbilical cord blood. Then, we put it in the serum-separating laboratory tubes. After we centrifuged these blood samples, we put the serum parts in the Eppendorf tubes to be stored at −80 degrees Celsius. At the end of the study, we calculated the level of BDNF using special human brain-derived neurotrophic factor ELISA kits. The umbilical cord BDNF levels of the maternal iron deficiency anemia group and the control group were compared statistically. ResultsWhen we evaluated the fetal umbilical cord BDNF values of 90 participants, the median value BDNF in the babies of 45 anemic mothers was 3.16 (IQR 0.73), and the median BDNF value of the babies of 45 healthy mothers was 5.37 (IQR 1.02). We found a statistical difference between BDNF and hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, and iron values between these two groups. ConclusionIn conclusion, the BDNF value of the babies of healthy individuals is higher than that of anemic individuals. Our study showed that the amount of BDNF in the umbilical cord blood was significantly affected by maternal iron deficiency anemia.

Evaluation of whole blood profile as a tool in COVID-19 diagnosis and screening. A cross-sectional study

Backgroung: the COVID-19 epidemic began in December 2019, and the shortage of diagnostic resources has affected the reported data on the number of cases, resulting in variations in reported cases between countries. This situation underscores the necessity for a deeper understanding of SARS-CoV-2 pathophysiology, including blood profiles and potential predictors. Methods: hematological variables were studied in 200 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, before the vaccination period started. We analyzed hemogram parameters: erythrocytes, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), hematocrit, red cell distribution width (RDW), platelets, mean platelet volume (MPV), leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), up to 9 days after positive result for COVID-19. Results: the positive COVID-19 group presented a higher mean age, as well as a higher frequency of male individuals. Erythrocyte, hemoglobin, hematocrit and MCH values were significantly lower, while RDW and PLR showed higher values in the positive group. Leukocytes, neutrophil and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio presented higher values in the positive COVID-19 group. Conclusion: data showed that the hemogram, a low-cost, minimally invasive exam, supports diagnosis and screening of COVID-19, allowing better evaluation of the disease course and assisting medical decisions facing lack of resources in a pandemic situation.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Hounsfield Unit Value and Hounsfield Unit to Hematocrit Ratio in Predicting Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) of the brain is a primary neuroimagingmodalityin emergencypatients suspected of having cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). Theobjective of thestudy was to determine thediagnostic accuracy of Hounsfield unit (HU) values and the ratio of HU to hematocrit value (HU/Htc) inpredicting CVST in suspected patients. A retrospective, case-control study was done in a tertiary care institute which included 35 patients with CVST constituted as cases and 41 patients without CVST as controls on the basis of magnetic resonance venography (MRV). Non-contrast CT brain of all 76 subjects were assessed by two experienced radiologists independently. HU values of dural venous sinuses were calculated in both groups, and HU/Htc ratio was also determined.StatisticalPackage for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0(SPSS© for Windows, IBM© Corp.) was used for statistical analysis. Independent samples t-test was applied to compare the means of continuous variables. The diagnostic values were computed using the Calculator 1 tool on clinical research calculators tab on vassarstats.net. The predictive values of HU and HU/Htc ratio were estimated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. In CVST group, the mean Hounsfield Unit (HU) value was "75.9±3.9 (mean±SD)", while in control group, it was57.78±4.65 (mean±SD), p < 0.001. The mean HU/Htc ratio was 1.98±0.42 (mean±SD) in the CVST group and 1.51±0.12 (mean±SD) in the control group (p < 0.001). Optimum cut-off HU value was calculated as 68, with 97% sensitivity and 100% specificity. For HU/Htc ratio, optimum cut-off was calculated as 1.69, yielding 71.4% sensitivity and 100% specificityon the basis of ROC curves. The difference was not statistically significant in hemoglobin and hematocrit (Htc) values between the cases and controls. Thequantitative measurementslike HU value and HU/Htc ratioprovidean easily obtainable metric inpatients with suspected CVST on non-contrast CT brain, thusenhancing the role ofnon-contrast CT brain in diagnosing CVST.

Cell Salvage Using the Autotransfusion Device CATSmart®: A Randomized Controlled Bicentric Trial Evaluating the Quality of Two New Flex Wash Programs

Background: The use of cell salvage and autologous blood transfusion is an important and widespread method of blood conservation during surgeries with expected high blood loss. The continuous autotransfusion device CATSmart^® (Fresenius Kabi, Germany) contains two new washing programs on the device called Flex wash 3 and Flex wash 5. To the best of our knowledge, there are no published clinical data regarding the performance of the two new washing programs. Methods: In total, 69 patients undergoing cardiac or orthopedic surgery were included in this randomized, controlled, bicentric trial to validate the red cell separation process and washout quality of Flex wash 3 compared to Flex wash 5. After washing, the primary quality target was to determine hematocrit value, recovery rate, albumin, and total protein elimination rate in the packed red cells (PRCs). The secondary objective was to assess the elimination of heparin by measuring the factor anti-Xa activity by a 1- and 2-stage assay in PRC after washing. Results: In the whole cohort of patients, hematocrit was 16.00% [9.15%; 21.30%] (median [Q1; Q3]) in the wound blood and 69.90% [51.10%; 80.90%] in the PRC resulting in a recovery rate of 63.92% [47.06%; 88.13%]. The albumin elimination rate was 98.77% [97.94%; 99.27%], and the total protein elimination rate was 98.85% [97.76%; 99.42%]. The heparin elimination rate was 99.95% [99.90%; 99.97%] in the 1-stage assay and 99.70% [99.41%; 99.87%] in the 2-stage assay. There was no difference between Flex wash 3 and Flex wash 5 washing procedure regarding the recovery rate 63.75% [46.64%; 78.65%] versus 67.89% [47.20%; 92.69%] (p = 0.85), albumin elimination rate 98.74% [97.67%; 99.27%] versus 98.78% [98.10%; 99.28%] (p = 0.97), protein elimination rate 98.79% [97.94%; 99.47%] versus 98.92% [97.58%; 99.42%] (p = 0.88), and anti-Xa elimination rate in the 1-stage assay 99.94% [99.79%; 99.97%] versus 99.95% [99.92%; 99.97%] (p = 0.24) and in 2-stage assay 99.66% [99.20%; 99.86%] versus 99.77% [99.47%; 99.90%] (p = 0.23). Conclusions: The two new washing procedures, Flex wash 3 and Flex wash 5, enable sufficient and comparable red cell separation and washout quality of albumin, total protein, as well as heparin.

Photoperiod manipulation improves growth performance, haematological indices and economic returns of Indian butter catfish, Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch, 1794).

Photoperiod manipulation is emerging as an effective approach for regulating physiological functions in fish. This study aimed to assess the impact of photoperiod on the growth performance, haematological responses, and economic returns of the endangered and highly valued Indian butter catfish, Ompok bimaculatus. Fish with an average body weight of 28.60 ± 4.78g were randomly placed in six FRP tanks, each measuring 120 × 45 × 60 cm3. Each tank contained 20 fish exposed to a light intensity of 1500lx under different photoperiods [24:0 light: dark (L: D), 15L: 9D, 12L: 12D, 9L: 15D, 0L: 24D and a natural photoperiod (control)], and fed at a daily rate of 2% of their body weight twice daily for 60 days. The fish in the 15L: 9D photoperiod exhibited the highest final weight (g), percentage weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR) and survival rate, while the lowest was displayed in 24L: 0D photoperiod group. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was at its lowest in the catfish subjected to the 15L: 9D photoperiod. Regarding haematological parameters, the 15L: 9D photoperiod group showed higher total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, haemoglobin levels, and haematocrit values compared to the other groups. Conversely, the 0L: 24D group, which experienced prolonged darkness, exhibited the lowest values in these parameters. Moreover, the 24L: 0D, 9L: 15D, and 0L: 24D groups displayed a lower mean corpuscular volume (MCV) but higher mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) when compared to the control group. The economic analysis revealed that O. bimaculatus reared in a moderate photoperiod (15L: 9D) displayed better growth, feed utilization, and overall health. This finding suggests that adopting a 15L: 9D photoperiod can lead to enhanced production and improved economic returns for farmers culturing this high-value catfish in the future.

Growth and Health Response to Dietary Supplementation of Pineapple Peel Extract in Labeo Rohita (Hamilton, 1822) Fingerlings

ABSTRACT: The introduction of protease enzyme supplementation in the early stages of fish can address protease deficiency, thereby promoting increased protein digestion and overall organismal well-being. This study focuses on evaluating the influence of Ananas comosus peel extract (AcPE) on the growth, biochemical profile, and haematological characteristics of Labeo rohita fingerlings. Over a 45 day period, L. rohita fingerlings were fed a basal diet enriched with AcPE (at a ratio of 1:2 extract to feed), with observations taken at 15-day intervals. The control group received the basal diet without AcPE. The findings highlight an overall enhancement in growth parameters among the experimental group fingerlings that were fed the AcPE-supplemented diet, with the exception of length gain, when compared to the control group. Examination of the fingerlings' biochemical profiles revealed a significantly higher protein and amino acid content, while carbohydrate and lipid content remained relatively stable within the two groups. In terms of haematological profiles, a noteworthy increase in total red blood cell count and haematocrit value was observed, while white blood cell count and haemoglobin concentration did not exhibit significant variations. This study underscores the potential benefits of incorporating AcPE into the basal diet as an eco-friendly approach for waste management, while simultaneously enhancing the growth and health of L. rohita fingerlings.

Effects of meloxicam on the welfare of Holstein calves from 6 weeks to 6 months old undergoing amputation dehorning

Amputation dehorning (AD) is a common practice performed on calves, causing harmful effects such as pain, distress, anxiety, and fear. These effects extend to behavioral, physiological, and hematological responses, prompting serious ethical concerns regarding animal welfare, even when performed with local anesthesia. Meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, has been widely used to mitigate the side effects of dehorning and disbudding in calves. However, there is a notable gap in research regarding the effects of meloxicam on calves aged 6 wk to 6 mo undergoing AD procedures. This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of co-administering meloxicam with lidocaine, a cornual nerve anesthetic, in alleviating the adverse effects caused by the AD procedure in calves within this age range, compared with the use of lidocaine alone. Thirty Holstein calves were enrolled and randomly divided into 2 groups. The first group received a subcutaneous injection of 5 mL of lidocaine in the horn area and a subcutaneous injection of 0.9% saline at a dose of 0.025 mL/kg in the neck, administered 10 min before the AD procedure. The second group received a combination of lidocaine and meloxicam: a subcutaneous injection of 5 mL of lidocaine in the horn area and a subcutaneous injection of 20 mg/mL meloxicam at a dose of 0.025 mL/kg in the neck, also administered 10 min before the AD procedure. To avoid subjective bias, the researchers were blinded to the treatment groups. Pain-related behaviors, including tail flicking, head shaking, ear flicking, head rubbing, head crossing bar, and kicking, were observed, and physiological parameters, including heart rate, rectal temperature, respiration rate, mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT), daily active steps, and food intake were monitored. Hematological conditions were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and routine blood tests. The data were processed using a generalized linear mixed model. The outcomes demonstrated that the AD procedure increased the frequencies of ear flicking and resulted in rises in the respiration rate, heart rate, rectal temperature, and daily active steps. It also led to decreases in total food intake, forage intake, hay intake, MNT, and increased concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PgE2), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO), and malondialdehyde, as well as glutathione peroxidase activity. However, calves that received meloxicam treatment showed significant improvements in response to the AD procedure, including lower respiration rates, heart rates, and rectal temperatures; higher MNT; and lower intermediate cell ratio. They also had higher red blood counts, hemoglobin levels, hematocrit values; larger mean platelet volumes; and lower concentrations of PgE2, IL-1β, TNF-α, and NO. These results suggest that co-administration of lidocaine and meloxicam may aid in mitigating the adverse effects induced by the AD procedure on these calves, thereby supporting the use of meloxicam in conjunction with a local anesthetic in AD procedures for calves aged 6 wk to 6 mo.

Early complications in scoliosis surgery and relation to preoperative factors: A single-center retrospective study.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the perioperative complications of the patients who underwent scoliosis surgery in our hospital and the factors that may affect the outcome. Between 2014 and 2018, scoliosis patients recorded data was examined retrospectively. Age, gender, height, body weight, comorbidity, Cobb index, scoliosis etiology, operation time, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocyte, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, coagulation value, operation time, level of instrumentation, intraoperative and postoperative blood loss, blood transfusion, intraoperative fluid administration, preoperative pulmonary function test values, blood gas values, urine outputs, hospital (LOS) and post anesthesia care unit stays, complications and mortality rates were examined. The files of 77 patients (48 female, 29 male) were retrospectively analyzed. The average age was 19.54 ± 16.32 years and 98.7% were elective surgery. The mean of LOS was 13.55 ± 9.13 days. As the preoperative hematocrit value decreases, LOS increases significantly. In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, smokers and high ASA scores, LOS is prolonged in patients with previous operations. As intraoperative colloid administration increased, crystalloid and blood products increased, it was also observed that the amount of crystalloid increased LOS. As the amount of intraoperative colloid or red blood cell administration increases, the duration of surgery and anesthesia increases, also increases the duration of post anesthesia care unit. Compared to patients with complications (n = 29) to the patients without complications (n = 47), it was found that they had longer anesthesia, and surgery times, also longer LOS times (P < .05). Our study showed that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the preoperative period, smoking, high ASA score, excessive use of colloid, prolonged duration of surgery and anesthesia, and long intubation durations increase the length of hospital stay. Preoperative comorbidity is directly related to postoperative complications and causes longer hospitalization after reconstructive scoliosis surgery.

Predictive value of red blood cell distribution width and hematocrit for short-term outcomes and prognosis in colorectal cancer patients undergoing radical surgery.

Previous studies have reported that low hematocrit levels indicate poor survival in patients with ovarian cancer and cervical cancer, the prognostic value of hematocrit for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients has not been determined. The prognostic value of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) for CRC patients was controversial. To investigate the impact of RDW and hematocrit on the short-term outcomes and long-term prognosis of CRC patients who underwent radical surgery. Patients who were diagnosed with CRC and underwent radical CRC resection between January 2011 and January 2020 at a single clinical center were included. The short-term outcomes, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared among the different groups. Cox analysis was also conducted to identify independent risk factors for OS and DFS. There were 4258 CRC patients who underwent radical surgery included in our study. A total of 1573 patients were in the lower RDW group and 2685 patients were in the higher RDW group. There were 2166 and 2092 patients in the higher hematocrit group and lower hematocrit group, respectively. Patients in the higher RDW group had more intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.01) and more overall complications (P < 0.01) than did those in the lower RDW group. Similarly, patients in the lower hematocrit group had more intraoperative blood loss (P = 0.012), longer hospital stay (P = 0.016) and overall complications (P < 0.01) than did those in the higher hematocrit group. The higher RDW group had a worse OS and DFS than did the lower RDW group for tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage I (OS, P < 0.05; DFS, P = 0.001) and stage II (OS, P = 0.004; DFS, P = 0.01) than the lower RDW group; the lower hematocrit group had worse OS and DFS for TNM stage II (OS, P < 0.05; DFS, P = 0.001) and stage III (OS, P = 0.001; DFS, P = 0.001) than did the higher hematocrit group. Preoperative hematocrit was an independent risk factor for OS [P = 0.017, hazard ratio (HR) = 1.256, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.041-1.515] and DFS (P = 0.035, HR = 1.194, 95%CI: 1.013-1.408). A higher preoperative RDW and lower hematocrit were associated with more postoperative complications. However, only hematocrit was an independent risk factor for OS and DFS in CRC patients who underwent radical surgery, while RDW was not.

Changes in red blood cell parameters during incremental exercise in highly trained athletes of different sport specializations.

During physical exercise, the level of hematological parameters change depending on the intensity and duration of exercise and the individual's physical fitness. Research results, based on samples taken before and after exercise, suggest that hematological parameters increase during incremental exercise. However, there is no data confirming this beyond any doubt. This study examined how red blood cell (RBC) parameters change during the same standard physical exertion in athletes representing different physiological training profiles determined by sport discipline. The study included 39 highly trained male members of national teams: 13 futsal players, 12 sprinters, and 14 triathletes. We used multiple blood sampling to determine RBC, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit value (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) before, during (every 3 min), and after (5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 min) an incremental treadmill exercise test until exhaustion. There were no significant exercise-induced differences in RBC parameters between athletic groups. No significant changes were recorded in RBC parameters during the low-intensity phase of exercise. RBC, Hb, and Hct increased significantly during incremental physical exercise, and rapidly returned to resting values upon test termination. The general pattern of exercise-induced changes in RBC parameters is universal regardless of the athlete's physiological profile. The changes in RBC parameters are proportional to the intensity of exercise during the progressive test. The increase in hemoglobin concentration associated with the intensity of exercise is most likely an adaptation to the greater demand of tissues, mainly skeletal muscles, for oxygen.

Parasitological and serological detection of Trypanosoma evansi on Bali cattle at the Pesanggaran slaughterhouse, Denpasar, Indonesia using hematological profile

Abstract. Apsari IAP, Suratma NA, Swacita IBN, Soma IG, Sari TK, Putra IPC, Sudipa PH. 2024. Parasitological and serological detection of Trypanosoma evansi on Bali cattle at the Pesanggaran slaughterhouse, Denpasar, Indonesia using hematological profile. Biodiversitas 25: 1057-1062. Bali cattle (Bos sondaicus Blyth, 1842 syn. Bos javanicus domesticus Wilckens, 1905) are vulnerable to blood protozoan infections like Trypanosoma evansi. Indonesia's warm and moist environment provides ideal conditions for blood-sucking flies such as Stomoxys calcitrans, Haematobia irritans, and Hipobosca sp. to thrive and spread. These flies act as carriers of T. evansi, which can then infect Bali cattle. This study aims to detect the presence of T. evansi in Bali cattle. Blood samples were collected from 275 Bali cattle at the Pesanggaran slaughterhouse, Denpasar City, Bali, Indonesia. The samples were examined using the Giemsa-Staining Blood Smear (GSBS) method and hematology profile examination using Hematology Analyzer RT-7600 for Vet. Serum samples were also collected for serologic examination using the Card Agglutination Test for Trypanosomiasis (CATT) method. The hematological profile data obtained were analyzed descriptively, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine the significance of hematological values between female and male cattle seropositive to T. evansi. The results showed that the T. evansi parasite was not detected in the blood smear examination. However, the serological detection with CATT revealed that 6.54% (18/275) of Bali cattle were positive for T. evansi. The hematological profiles of T. evansi seropositive cattle remained within the normal range, except for neutrophil percentage. White Blood Cell (WBC), Hemoglobin (Hb) levels, and hematocrit (PCV) values of male cattle were significantly (P?0.05) lower than those of females. Therefore, based on serological examination, it can be concluded that the protozoa T. evansi is present in 6.54% of Bali cattle at the Pesanggaran slaughterhouse.

Effects of a phytogenic diet on growth, haemato-immunological parameters, expression of immune- and stress-related genes, and resistance of Oncorhynchus mykiss to Lactococcus garvieae infection

Phytogenic additives have been implicated in aquafeed owing to their proven growth-stimulating, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immune-enhancing efficacies. Herein, a short-term feeding experiment (21 days) was designed to explore the effects of a phytogenic additive, PASSIF MOOD® (PM, a mixture of Valeriana officinalis and Passiflora incarnata extracts), on growth, haemato-biochemical variables, immunity, and mRNA expression responses of rainbow trout fingerlings. After feeding, fish were experimentally infected with Lactococcus garvieae and monitored for an additional 20 days. Six groups were fed a commercial diet supplied with different PM levels as 0, 470, 940, 1410, 1880, and 2350 mg/kg and labeled as PM0 (control), PM1, PM2, PM3, PM4, and PM5 groups, respectively. Results revealed significant improvements in the growth of PM-supplied groups compared to the control. Dietary PM significantly increased RBC count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values compared to those fed on a control diet. Stress indicators such as blood glucose and cortisol levels were significantly decreased in all PM groups than in controls. Moreover, there were significant increases in myeloperoxidase, respiratory burst, and lysozyme activities in PM groups than the control. The highest expression levels of the lysozyme II gene were found in the PM3, PM4, and PM5 groups. Moreover, the mRNA transcripts of il-10 and IgM heavy chain genes were significantly increased in all PM groups compared to the controls. Alternatively, the expression of tnf-α and hsp70 genes were significantly decreased in all PM groups compared to the controls. After challenge, the survival rates in PM0, PM1, PM2, PM3, PM4, and PM5 groups were 37.34%, 84.0%, 85.34%, 68.0%, 64.0%, and 36.0%, respectively, suggesting enhancement of the fish resistance in PM1, PM2, PM3, and PM4 groups compared to control. The results suggest the growth-promoting, antistress, and immunomodulatory roles of the tested phytogenic additive.

Optimizing the transfusion strategy in surgical patients in a Lebanese university hospital

Background and purposeOur aim was to analyze factors that influence transfusion requirements in surgical patients in order to achieve a transfusion-saving strategy.MethodsData was collected from patient’s files at the Notre Dame de Secours-Jbeil University Hospital Center between January 2017 and June 2019. Selection was made for 400 patients who had undergone surgery and required transfusion. The studied variables were age, sex, and type of surgery whether planned or urgent with its expected level of bleeding. The presence of chronic anemia, coronary artery disease, values of hemoglobin and hematocrit before and after transfusion, iron status preoperatively, and post-operation complications were also noted.ResultsThe analysis of 400 transfused surgical patients showed that the mean age was 62 ± 18 years with 52.5% women and 47.5% men. In 82.3% of patients, surgical bleeding was expected, 77.8% of surgeries were scheduled, and 22.3% were urgent. Fifty-two percent of patients were known to have coronary artery disease. Orthopedic (35%) and cardiothoracic (29.5%) surgeries had the highest transfusion rate.Among all patients, only 106 patients (26.5%) underwent a preoperative iron workup. The pre-transfusion levels of hemoglobin were 9.9 ± 0.6 and hematocrit of 29.7 ± 1.9. 26.3% of patients had a post-transfusion complication.On the other hand, 19.5% of women and 20% of men were already anemic when admitted to the hospital.Anemic women required 7.6 times more transfusions than non-anemic, while anemic men required 12.38 times more transfusions than non-anemic men. Age, presence of coronary artery disease, and chronic anemia have been found to be factors increasing the risk of post-transfusion complications. Finally, urgent and unplanned surgeries are 2.9 times more likely to cause post-transfusion complications.ConclusionThis study therefore confirms that anemic patients are more likely to receive perioperative blood transfusions. Consequently, in order to reduce blood transfusion and its complications, it would be beneficial primarily to diagnose and treat anemia preoperatively. Other transfusion-saving strategies could also be useful in the setting of surgical bleeding, such as the use of tranexamic acid and different autologous transfusion methods like the cell saver.

Evaluation of Age and Gender-Related Patterns in Clinical Features and Hematological Findings Among Hypothyroidism Patients in the Al-Jouf Region of Saudi Arabia: A Hospital-Based Study.

The prevalence of hypothyroidism is high in Saudi Arabia and the contributing factors are iodine deficiency and lack of balanced nutrition. This study aims to correlate the gender, age, and presence of co-morbidities with the laboratory findings and clinical presentation. A cross-sectional study was done in the hospitals of the Al-Jouf region. The files of the patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism from the last two years were retrieved by non-probability consecutive sampling technique.IBMSPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23, (Released 2015;IBMCorp., Armonk, New York, United States) was used for data entry and analysis. Descriptive statistics were presented as frequencies and proportions (for qualitative variables) and mean and standard deviation (SD) (for continuous data). Associated factors were identified through a chi-square test. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Most of the patients were females within the age group of 36 to 50 years. Significant differences were observed between male and female patients with respect to the FT4 levels, hemoglobin (Hb) levels, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) values, and RBC counts (p-values of <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001 and <0.001, respectively). However, no significant differences were observed between male and female patients in the TSH levels and hematocrit values. Most of the patients were euthyroid (77.24%). The pattern of thyroid function status did not show significant differences with respect to the gender of participants and the different age groups (p-values of 0.447 and 0.775, respectively). The most common co-morbidities observed were diabetes and hypertension. No significant association between the co-morbidities and the pattern of thyroid function status was observed. The most common symptoms were epigastric pain, fatigue, constipation, drowsiness, altered bowel habits, and weight gain. This hospital-based study provides valuable insights into some epidemiological characteristics, clinical features, and hematological findings in hypothyroidism patients of the Al-Jouf region. Significant differences were observed between male and female patients with respect to the FT4 levels, Hb levels, MCV, MCH, MCHC values, and RBC counts. The findings strengthen the existing knowledge base and emphasize the importance of timely detection and management of hypothyroidism in this population. Implementation of salt iodination programs and a timely evaluation of the hematological parameters is recommended. Further research is warranted to delve into the hidden mechanisms and long-term ramifications of hematological changes associated with hypothyroidism.

Obstrüktif Uyku Apnede (OUA) Ortalama Trombosit Hacmi (OTH) ve OUA'da Sürekli Pozitif Hava Yolu Basıncı (CPAP) Tedavisinin OTH Üzerine Etkisi

Aims: In this study, our objective was to evaluate mean platelet volume (MPV), an indirect marker of platelet activation, in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and assess the effect of OSA treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on MPV&#x0D; Methods: In this study, records of consecutive patients who underwent polysomnographic evaluation for OSA symptoms in the Sleep Disorders Laboratory during a one-year period were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who had both complete blood count and MPV measurements were included in the study.&#x0D; Results: A total of 158 patients, including 51 females (32.3%) and 107 males (67.7%), were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 51±13 (min-18, max-82) years. OSA was detected in 74.1% (117/158) of the patients. It was determined that as the severity of OSA increased, hemoglobin and hematocrit values increased significantly. There was no significant difference in platelet count according to the presence and severity of OSA. The MPV was significantly lower in severe OSA cases compared to those without OSA and mild OSA cases. A negative correlation was observed between MPV and the apnea-hypopnea index, desaturation index, and the amount of oxygen saturation below 90% during sleep. There was no significant difference in median erythrocyte and thrombocyte counts, hematocrit percentage and hemoglobin values before and after treatment in OSA patients who used CPAP therapy. However, a significant decrease in MPV was observed after OSA treatment compared to pre-treatment. (p=0.021).&#x0D; Conclusions: The results of the study do not support an increase in MPV and hence platelet activation in severe OSA patients compared with those without OSA. However, the results suggest that one month of CPAP treatment reduces MPV and thus platelet activation in severe OSA patients. Further controlled, prospective studies including treatment outcomes are needed on this subject.

Population pharmacokinetics of everolimus in renal transplant recipients receiving long-term multiple immunosuppressive therapy

Everolimus is used for immunosuppression after renal transplantation. This study aimed to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) model of everolimus using therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) data of patients under long-term multiple immunosuppressive therapy, including tacrolimus. To develop the model, 185 renal transplant recipients with 3358 everolimus blood concentrations during a median postoperative period of 35.3 months were included. The PopPK model is described as a one-compartment model with first-order absorption. The population mean of apparent clearance is 8.92 L/h (relative standard error = 3.6%), and this negatively correlated with the dose-normalized concentration (C/D) of tacrolimus and hematocrit value, and positively correlated with a daily dose of everolimus (i.e. TDM effect). The usefulness of dose adjustment using the final popPK model was assessed by a simulation study. The ratio of the first trough measurement within the therapeutic range of 3–8 ng/mL increased from 69.8% in the original dose to 87.9% in the individual dose calculated by the final PopPK model. The tacrolimus C/D ratio before initiating everolimus therapy and the hematocrit value were useful to estimate the initial dose of everolimus and can improve the safety and effectiveness of immunosuppressive therapy involving everolimus.

Epidemiological and clinicopathological findings of feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus infections in domestic cats from the Brazilian semiarid region

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are retroviruses of great importance for domestic cats with a worldwide distribution. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the epidemiological and clinicopathological aspects of the infection by FIV and FeLV in cats from the Brazilian semiarid region. Cats treated between 2011 and 2021 at the teaching veterinary hospital of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid Region that were submitted to a point-of-care (POC) test to detect anti-FIV IgG antibodies and FeLV antigen were enrolled in the study. Overall, 454 cats were selected, of which 30.2% [95% CI = 26.0% – 34.3%] were FIV-positive, 1.1% [95% CI = 0.9% – 1.2%] were FeLV-positive, and 0.7% [95% CI = 0.1% – 1.3%] were coinfected by both retroviruses. No statistical association was found between the studied retroviruses (P = 0.144). Multivariable analysis detected significant associations between FIV infection and male sex [OR = 5.7, 95% CI = 3.0–10.7, P < 0.0001), age between 19 and 78 months [OR = 5.2, 95% CI = 2.2–12.1, P < 0.0001], age greater than 78 months [OR = 12.8, 95% CI = 5.1–31.9, P < 0.0001], crossbreed [OR = 4.1, 95% CI = 1.2–13.4, P = 0.021], the presence of oral disease [OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.3–3.4, P = 0.004], reduced red blood cell (RBC) count [OR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.9–7.2, P < 0.0001], and an albumin:globulin (A:G) ratio lower than 0.6 [OR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.6–7.1, P = 0.001]. No statistical analyses were performed for FeLV infection due to the low number of positive animals. In the quantitative analyses of hematological parameters, FIV-positive cats presented lower values for RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, lymphocytes, and platelets compared to the negative animals. In the biochemical profile, cats infected with FIV showed higher creatinine, urea, total protein, and globulin values, while lower values for albumin and A:G ratio were observed (P < 0.05). The findings of this study characterized the prevalence, clinicopathological findings, and risk factors associated with FIV and FeLV in cats from the Brazilian semiarid region. They may help support veterinary practitioners in diagnosing feline retroviruses. The FIV prevalence observed is among the highest reported in Brazil, demonstrating the need for prevention and control strategies for this retrovirus.

First experimental observation on biology of the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium (Novyella) homonucleophilum (lineage pSW2), with remarks on virulence and distribution

Species of subgenus Novyella remain most fragmentarily studied amongst avian malaria agents. Transmission of the recently described Plasmodium (Novyella) homonucleophilum (lineage pSW2) occurs broadly in the Old World, including Europe, however biology of this pathogen remains insufficiently investigated. This study provided the first data on the development of P. homonucleophilum in the experimentally infected Eurasian siskins Spinus spinus exposed by inoculation of infected blood. The parasite strain was isolated from a naturally infected song thrush Turdus philomelos, multiplied in vivo, and inoculated to six Eurasian siskins. The same number of birds were used as negative controls. All exposed birds were susceptible, and the controls remained uninfected during the entire study (172 days). Prepatent period was 8–12 days post exposure (dpe). Maximum parasitaemia reached 50–90 % of infected erythrocytes between 20 and 44 dpe. Then, parasitaemia decreased but remained relatively high during the entire observation. Three of six exposed birds died, indicating high virulence of this infection. The parasitaemia increase coincided with a decline of haematocrit value, indicating anaemia. Polychromasia was evident in all infected birds but not in controls. Body mass of exposed birds increased, coinciding with increased food intake. The latter probably is an adaptation to compensate energy loss of hosts due to the long-lasting parasitism. Exo-erythrocytic stages were not found, suggesting that long-lasting parasitaemia was entirely due to erythrocytic merogony. The lineage pSW2 has been reported broadly in the Old World and is likely a generalist infection. Neglected avian Novyella malaria parasites are worth more attention of researchers due to their cosmopolitan distribution and high virulence.