Hemoglobin Concentration Research Articles

Efficacy and Safety of Roxadustat for Anemia in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Nonmyeloid Malignancies: A Randomized, Open-Label, Active-Controlled Phase III Study.

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of roxadustat, a first-in-class hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, for chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies receiving multicycle treatments of chemotherapy. In this open-label, noninferiority phase III study conducted at 44 sites in China, 159 participants age ≥18 years with CIA nonmyeloid malignancy and CIA were randomly assigned (1:1) to oral roxadustat or subcutaneous recombinant human erythropoietin-α (rHuEPO-α) three times a week for 12 weeks. Roxadustat starting dosages were 100, 120, and 150 mg three times a week for participants weighing 40-<50, 50-60, and >60 kg, respectively. rHuEPO-α starting dosage for all participants was 150 IU/kg three times a week. Both roxadustat and rHuEPO-α dosages could be modified. The primary end point was least-squares mean (LSM) change in hemoglobin (Hb) concentration from baseline to the concentration averaged over weeks 9-13. Of the 159 participants randomly assigned, 140 were included in the per-protocol set (roxadustat, n = 78; rHuEPO-α, n = 62). The LSM (95% two-sided CI) change from baseline to weeks 9-13 in Hb concentration was 17.1 (13.58 to 20.71) g/L with roxadustat and 15.4 (11.34 to 19.50) g/L with rHuEPO-α (mean difference [95% CI], 1.7 [-3.39 to 6.84]). The lower bound of the one-sided 97.5% CI for the treatment difference (‒3.4 g/L) was greater than the predefined noninferiority margin of ‒6.6 g/L, establishing noninferiority. Noninferiority was supported by five of six key secondary end points. Rates of adverse events were generally comparable between treatments and consistent with previous findings. Roxadustat was noninferior to rHuEPO-α in treating CIA in participants with nonmyeloid malignancies receiving multicycle treatments of myelosuppressive chemotherapy. The oral formulation of roxadustat may potentially increase compliance.

Features of the immune system and levels of blood transport components in residents of the arctic of the Russian Federation.

The peripheral venous blood of 191 residents of the Arctic of the Russian Federation (Murmansk Oblast) aged 21-55 analyzed comprehensively. Blood was sampled from the ulnar vein on an empty stomach in the morning. The hemogram, phagocytic activity of neutrophils, lymphocyte content with CD3, CD4, CD8, CD10, CD19, CD16, CD71, CD25, HLA-DR and CD95 phenotypes, concentrations of cytokines: TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10, extracellular receptor pool: sCD71, sCD62L, sApo-1/Fas, sFasL, circulating immune complexes (CIC) and blood transport components: haptoglobin (Hp), transferrin, IgM, IgG, IgA, IgE (immunoglobulins M, G, A and E) low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were evaluated. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and comparative, factorial, and regression analyses. Residents of the Murmansk Oblast exhibit a high prevalence of erythrocytosis (62.3%), thrombocytosis (25.0%), leukocytosis (20.1%), and increased hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations (42.5%), coupled with a significantly decreased level of active phagocytes (47.6%). A significantly decreased level of lymphocytes with phenotypes CD3 (92.4%), CD4 (40.4%), CD71 (62.3%) was revealed, coupled with the activation of lymphocytes with phenotypes CD16 (50.1%), CD8 (37.5%), CD19 (15.9%) and increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory IFN-γ (47.9%), IL-6 (33.3%), and TNF-α (20.1%). Elevated levels of sCD71 (56.6%), sCD62L (32.1%), sApo-1/Fas (22.1%), sFasL (10.2%), and autoantibodies to double-stranded DNA (57.1%), RNA (10.4%), and oLDL (oxidized-modified LDL) (16.3%) were recorded in residents of the Murmansk Oblast. Arctic residents showed elevated concentrations of Hp (63.3%), IgM (63.9%), IgA (42.4%), IgE (18.8%), LDL (24.9%), and a decreased level of HDL (21.1%) owing to an ApoA-I ligand deficiency (58.1%). Elevated levels of Hp in the blood are associated with increased erythrocyte aggregation frequency, T-lymphocyte activation, and increased concentration of free receptors of the extracellular pool. Increased IgM and IgA levels in the blood are attributed to the need to bind components of the extracellular receptor pool sCD71, sCD62L, sApo-1/Fas, sFasL and are associated with decreased levels lymphocyte with CD8 and CD16 phenotypes. The humoral immune response in Arctic residents is triggered when the cellular component of immunity is under strain which compounded by ineffective clearance of metabolic byproducts owing to imbalanced LDL and HDL lipid transport complexes. The immune system of Arctic residents is characterized by excessive cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes and increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, free forms of receptors of the extracellular pool, and autoantibodies. The change in the content of transport components of the blood system is directed at maintaining homeostasis by exhibiting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory properties.

Impact of Same Red Blood Cell Infusion at Different Intervals on Premature Infants' Hemoglobin Levels.

Blood transfusions are performed in small amounts in premature infants. Few studies have focused on the effect of the same red blood cell (RBC) package at different intervals on increasing hemoglobin(Hb) concentration. We aimed to determine the effect of infusion of the same RBC package at different time intervals on Hb levels in premature infants. Data were collected about premature infants who received the same package of RBC transfusion at two different intervals. Venous blood Hb levels before and within 24hours after transfusion were measured for the first and second transfusions. Overall, 196 premature infants with anemia were included in the study. The data were categorized into four groups (Group I, Group II, Group III and Group IV) based on the varying intervals between transfusions of the same red blood cells. Hb levels of the first and second transfusions with the same RBC package showed a significant difference pre and posttransfusion. Hb increments varied among groups: Group I (43.00 g/L), Group II (34.50 g/L), Group III (32.00 g/L), and Group IV (32.50 g/L), with Group I demonstrating a significant difference compared to Groups II, III, and IV (P<0.05), while no differences were noted among the latter groups. In premature infants with anemia, hemoglobin levels significantly increased after infusion of the same RBC package at different intervals. An interval of 1week had the most significant effect. There are differences in the effect of infusion of the same RBC at different time intervals on hemoglobin levels in premature infants. An interval of 1week had the most significant effect.

Intravenous versus oral iron for anaemia among pregnant women in Nigeria (IVON): an open-label, randomised controlled trial

Oral iron for anaemia in pregnancy is often not well tolerated, with poor adherence. Iron administered intravenously might address these tolerance and adherence issues. We investigated the effectiveness and safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose versus oral ferrous sulphate on anaemia and iron deficiency among pregnant women in Nigeria. We did a multicentre, open-label, parallel, randomised controlled trial of pregnant women (aged 15-49 years) with haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations of less than 10 g/dL at 20-32 weeks' gestation from 11 primary, secondary, or tertiary health facilities in Nigeria (five in Lagos and six in Kano). Exclusion criteria included vaginal bleeding, blood transfusion or major surgery within the past 3 months, symptomatic anaemia, anaemia known to be unrelated to iron deficiency, clinically confirmed malabsorption syndrome, previous hypersensitivity to any form of iron, pre-existing maternal depression or other major psychiatric illness, immune-related diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, or severe allergic reactions. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) by nurses and doctors using a web-based randomisation service to either receive a single dose of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (20 mg/kg to a maximum of 1000 mg) or oral ferrous sulphate (200 mg; 65 mg elemental iron) three times daily until 6 weeks postpartum. The study was primarily unmasked. Primary outcomes were maternal anaemia (Hb <11 g/dL) at 36 weeks' gestation and preterm birth at before 37 weeks' gestation, with analysis by intention to treat in participants with available data. This study was registered at the ISRCTN registry on Dec 10, 2020 (ISRCTN63484804) and on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04976179) on April 7, 2021. Between Aug 10, 2021, and Dec 15, 2022, 13 724 pregnant women were screened for eligibility. 12 668 were excluded due to ineligibility for inclusion, and 1056 provided consent to participate and were randomly assigned to either the intravenous or oral administration groups. 527 were assigned to the intravenous ferric carboxymaltose group and 529 were assigned to the oral ferrous sulphate group. 518 in the intravenous group were assessed at 36 weeks' gestational age and after 518 deliveries, and 511 completed the 6 weeks postpartum visit. 513 in the oral ferrous sulphate group were assessed at 36 weeks' gestational age and after 512 deliveries, and 501 completed the 6 weeks postpartum visit. No significant difference was found in anaemia at 36 weeks (299 [58%] of 517 in the intravenous group vs 305 [61%] of 503 in the oral group; risk ratio 0·95, 95% CI 0·85-1·06; p=0·36), nor in preterm birth (73 [14%] of 518 vs 77 [15%] of 513; 0·94, 0·70-1·26; p=0·66). There were no significant differences in adverse events. The most common adverse events were diarrhoea (in six participants) and vomiting (in three participants) in the oral group and fatigue (in two participants) and headache (in two participants) in the intravenous group. Although the effect on overall anaemia did not differ, intravenous iron reduced the prevalence of iron deficiency to a greater extent than oral iron and was considered to be safe. We recommend that intravenous iron be considered for anaemic pregnant women in Nigeria and similar settings. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Accuracy of the model derived from red blood cell indices in predicting α0-thalassemia trait among non-anemic pregnant women

BackgroundThe study aims to establish prediction model derived from red blood cell indices to improve the accuracy of α0-thalassemia trait screening in non-anemic pregnant women. MethodA diagnostic study as secondary analysis on the prospective database was conducted. The participants were pregnant women, undergoing α0-thalassemia screening at first visit antenatal care using red blood cell indices with confirmation by PCR method. Diagnostic performance of each of red blood cell parameter and their combination derived from logistic regression analysis in predicting α0-thalassemia trait were determined. FindingsThe total 587 Thai pregnant women were included in the analysis, consisting of 136 cases of α0-thalassemia trait and 451 normal controls. Diagnostic performance analysis revealed that, the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) provided a sensitivity of 98.5 % and a false positive rate of 20.2 %. While The mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) provided a sensitivity of 99.3 % and a false positive rate of 15.7 %. The combined-parameters prediction model including hemoglobin (Hb), MCV, MCH, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red cell distribution width (RDW), and red blood cell (RBC) count, demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.992, sensitivity of 99.3 %, and much lower false positive rate of 4 %. InterpretationThe combined-parameter prediction model provided excellent diagnostic performance with low false positive rate. The application of the prediction model could decrease unnecessary PCR method for α0-thalassemia testing, thereby decreasing the cost of investigation. Our proposed model can possibly have a great impact or significant change in clinical practice, especially in Southeast Asia.

Efficacy and Safety of Adding Empagliflozin to Liraglutide on Renal Function in Patients with Advanced-Stage Type 2 Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The aim of this study was to investigate the additional effects of empagliflozin on liraglutide in patients with advanced-stage type 2 diabetic kidney disease. Forty-one patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to treatment with liraglutide alone during the first 6 months and subsequent treatment with liraglutide plus empagliflozin during the next 6 months (liraglutide plus empagliflozin group) (n = 20) or treatment with liraglutide alone for 12 months (liraglutide group) (n = 21). Liraglutide was administered subcutaneously once daily at a starting dose of 0.3 mg/day and up-titrated weekly by 0.3 mg to a maximum dose of 0.9 mg/day. Empagliflozin was administered orally at a dose of 10 mg once daily. The primary outcome was the change in renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate) during the latter 6 months. Secondary outcomes were changes in body weight, systolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid, blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and urine protein creatinine ratio during the latter 6 months. Empagliflozin significantly increased the hemoglobin concentration (from 12.9 ± 1.9 to 13.7 ± 1.9 g/dL; p<0.05) and decreased body weight (from 66.1 ± 12.9 to 64.5 ± 12.6 kg; p<0.05). No significant differences were observed between the groups for estimated glomerular filtration rate, systolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid, blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and urine protein creatinine ratio. Empagliflozin increased hemoglobin concentration and decreased body weight in patients with advanced-stage type 2 diabetic kidney disease who received liraglutide. However, empagliflozin did not provide short-term benefits with regard to renal function decline, urinary protein excretion, or glycemic control in these patients.

A Survey of Obstetric Anaesthesia Services and Practices in the United Kingdom.

Background Variability in obstetric anaesthetia practice and care delivered within the UK is under-explored. The ObsQoR study explored structures, processes, and outcomes of obstetric anaesthesia in 107 hospitals within the UK's National Health Service, and the results of the hospital-level survey are reported here. Methods Hospitals were surveyed to assess obstetric anaesthesia provision, practice, and care delivery. Questions explored staffing, service provision and training, facilities present, clinical practices, outcome measurement, and key indicators of quality in obstetric anaesthesia. Results We received responses from 106 participating hospitals, representing 69% of all UK obstetric units. One hundred (94%) hospitals had a dedicated consultant obstetric anaesthetist within working hours, with 27 (25%) of hospitals' duty anaesthetists having additional clinical responsibilities outside the care of obstetric patients outside of working hours. Around 102 hospitals (98%) offer multidisciplinary team training, of which 95 (93%) use a simulation-based method. Dedicated high-risk antenatal clinics were present in 50 (47%) hospitals. The majority of hospitals provide written patient information in multiple languages for discussing obstetric anaesthesia options (77, 82%). Seventy-three hospitals (69%) use point-of-care testing to estimate haemoglobin concentration. Labour epidural analgesia is most commonly delivered via patient-controlled epidural analgesia in 80 (76%) hospitals, and the incidence of post-dural puncture headaches was recorded by 80 (76%) hospitals. Conclusions These results demonstrate variation in the provision of staffing, facilities, clinical practices, and outcome measurements across the UK. To deliver safe and equitable care across the UK, there needs to be standardisation of anaesthetic peripartum care based on national recommendations and the benchmarking and measurement of appropriate markers of quality.

The effect of different visual feedback interfaces of music training games on speech rehabilitation in hearing-impaired children: An fNIRS study

Singing plays a critical role in enhancing musicality, sound discrimination, and attention, and proves advantageous for speech rehabilitation in children with hearing impairments. Computer-based training games are well-suited to the learning behaviors of children, with substantial evidence suggesting that music training augments speech training capabilities in this demographic. Despite this, there is a lack of detailed exploration into the design of interactive online music training interfaces tailored for these needs. This study investigates brain activation changes using two visual feedback singing games, analyzed through functional near-infrared spectroscopy: a serious game (SG) and an entertainment game (EG) with visually enhanced feedback. It also assesses the efficacy of home-based music training software for speech rehabilitation.Methods involved recording oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (Delta [HbO]) signals from the prefrontal cortex, motor cortex, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe in 21 children (average age: 9.3 ± 1.9 years) during two singing interface experiments. Subjects also completed the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) questionnaire post-experiment.Main results showed that brain regions, particularly the temporal lobe, exhibited stronger and more pronounced activation signals with the SG interface compared to the EG, suggesting that SG is more effective for speech system rehabilitation. The Intrinsic Motivation Scale results revealed higher acceptability for SG than for EG. This study provides insights into designing online speech rehabilitation products for children with hearing impairment, advocating for better interactive training methods from a neuroscience perspective.

Comparison of the effectiveness of ferrous ascorbate with ferrous sulphate in improving haemoglobin percentage among ante-natal mothers in rural field practice area of a medical college

ABSTRACT Background: Anaemia in pregnancy is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a haemoglobin concentration of less than 11 g/dl in venous blood. The prevalence of anaemia among ante-natal mothers in India is 50.3%[3]. The government of India supplies ferrous sulphate for prophylaxis and treatment of anaemia among ante-natal mothers for free through the reproductive maternal neonatal and child health + adolescent (RMNCH+A) programme. However, patient compliance is poor due to gastrointestinal disturbances (of all registered pregnancies, less than 1/3 consumed a full course of ferrous sulphate). Previous studies in different settings have shown increased compliance and higher mean haemoglobin levels with ferrous ascorbate, which is more affordable than other commercially available compounds. Objective: Hence, the current study was done to compare the effectiveness of ferrous ascorbate with ferrous sulphate in improving haemoglobin percentage among ante-natal mothers in a rural field practice area of a medical college. Methods: An interventional community-based study was conducted in the rural field practice area of Andhra Medical College. The study was done among 76 registered (registered at Rural Primary Health Centre Simhachalam) ante-natal mothers in gestational age 13–17 weeks with haemoglobin concentration of 7–10.9 g/dl (mild to moderate anaemia) after taking informed consent. The study was performed for two years. Ante-natal mothers who were registered but unavailable during the study period, with a medical history of haematological disorders, chronic cardiac and kidney diseases, known or suspected to have sensitivity to iron compounds, with known thyroid dysfunction or mental illness were excluded from the study. Results: There was a rise in haemoglobin among the entire study population, which was statistically significant (P &lt; 0.0001). There was a higher rise in haemoglobin among the antenatal women who took ferrous ascorbate than among those who took ferrous sulphate (mean difference = 0.344 gm/dl) after 12 weeks of follow-up, which was statistically significant (P = 0.014). Conclusion: The study compared the effectiveness of ferrous ascorbate with ferrous sulphate in improving haemoglobin percentage among antenatal mothers in a medical college’s rural field practice area. There was a significant rise in haemoglobin percentage among the study group, which was on ferrous ascorbate with better compliance and fewer gastrointestinal side effects.

Design of an electrochemical hydrogel nanocomposite immunosensor for the detection of hemoglobin in blood

A novel hybrid hydrogel nanocomposite immunosensor was developed for the electrochemical detection of hemoglobin in blood. The transducing element was based on carbon black (CB)-nanomodified screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) on which a poly(ethylene glycol)-diacrylate hydrogel (PEGDA) doped with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was photopolymerized in situ. The fabricated PEGDA-AuNPs/CB-SPEs were then functionalized with oriented anti-hemoglobin antibodies. The immunosensor was analyzed by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) at different modification steps, while its morphology was evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The analytical performances of the resulting PEGDA-AuNPs/CB-SPE immunosensor were assessed by DPV analysis, demonstrating the ability of the proposed system to detect hemoglobin in both standard solution and serum samples with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.005 mg/mL within a dynamic response in a concentration range from 0.005 to 0.1 mg/mL. Slight interference was observed in the presence of glucose and ascorbic acid at concentrations much higher than those physiologically present in the blood. Moreover, any matrix effect was evidenced in serum samples, with a good recovery value of 107 ± 4 % obtained for a hemoglobin concentration of 0.025 mg/mL.

Functional connectivity and cerebral cortex activation during the resting state and verbal fluency tasks for patients with mild cognitive impairment, Lewy body dementia, and Alzheimer's disease: A multi-channel fNIRS study

ObjectiveTo explore changes in cerebral cortex activation and functional connectivity during resting-state and verbal fluency tasks in patients with different types of dementia. MethodsWe recorded oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (HbO) signals detected by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) from the prefrontal cortex, partial parietal cortex, and cortex of the temporal lobe in four groups of participants: mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Lewy body dementia (LBD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and cognitively normal (CN). ResultsThe study recruited 120 older adults with MCI (n = 30), LBD (n = 28), AD (n = 30), or CN (n = 32). The mean functional connectivity of the frontal and temporal lobe in resting state was significantly less in the AD (0.19 ± 0.11) group than in the MCI (0.23 ± 0.11), LBD (0.29 ± 0.12), and CN (0.40 ± 0.11) groups (p < 0.001). Further, the mean HbO concentrations in the brain regions and channels were significantly lower in the AD group than in the LBD and MCI groups (p < 0.001). Cognitive levels correlated significantly with the mean HbO concentrations in the resting state and verbal fluency task conditions. ConclusionThe fNIRS HbO signals significantly differed in the cerebral cortex regions in participants with different types of dementia. These findings suggest that fNIRS can effectively enhance the differential diagnosis and assessment of dementia.

Establishment of reference intervals of haematology and biochemistry analytes in ICR mice of different ages.

Outbred stocks of mice are widely used in pre-clinical research as these animals possess a diversified genetic background when compared with inbred strains of mice. It is crucial to assess particular alterations in the physiological and functional profiles of laboratory animals using haematological and biochemical indicators. These values can also differ between laboratories because they are influenced by many different factors. We aimed to provide normal values and reference intervals for selected haematology and biochemistry analytes of 570 ICR mice at three different ages: 6-8 weeks, 10-14 weeks and 6-9 months. Reference values were calculated by non-parametric methods. For comparisons between sexes, the independent-sample t-test and Mann-Whitney test were employed, and analysis of variance was used for age differences. The findings of the study revealed age-related declines in haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations. Mice aged 6-9 months had statistically higher platelet counts in their blood than mice of other ages. The white blood cell count had a significant age effect and progressively decreased with age. As mice get older, the percentage of neutrophils, monocytes and basophils increases, but the percentage of lymphocytes decreases. For the biochemical values, age-related significant differences in glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and albumin concentrations were found. It was also found that creatinine concentrations were comparable across all age ranges. The values presented in the present work can be used as a reference to interpret clinical pathology data for other studies and to evaluate health status.

Effect of vitamin D supplementation on clinical outcomes in adult patients with COVID-19: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as a major global health crisis. Vitamin D, a crucial fat-soluble vitamin, has been recommended for COVID-19 patients, though evidence of its effectiveness is inconsistent. This systematic literature review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on COVID-19-related outcomes. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Primary outcomes included mortality and hospital length of stay, while secondary outcomes encompassed C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, D-dimer, hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations, and lymphocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts. Data analysis was performed using Stata™ Version 14. A total of 16 trials were analyzed. The meta-analysis revealed that vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced hospital length of stay (mean difference = -1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.23, -0.09; p = .033) with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 69.2%, p = .002). Subgroup analysis showed a more pronounced reduction in studies with vitamin D dosages ≤10 000 international units (IU) (mean difference = -1.27; 95% CI: -1.96, -0.57; p < .001) and in patients over 60 years old (mean difference = -1.84; 95% CI: -2.53, -1.14; p < .001). Additionally, vitamin D significantly reduced CRP concentrations in older adults (>60 years) (mean difference = -1.13; 95% CI: -2.07, -0.18; p = .019). No significant changes were found in ferritin, D-dimer, Hb concentrations, or in lymphocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts (p > .05). In conclusion, while vitamin D supplementation did not significantly affect most COVID-19-related biomarkers, however, it reduces the length of hospital stay.

Impact of iron deficiency anemia on academic achievement among female university students in Saudi Arabia.

Anemia, particularly iron deficiency anemia (IDA), is a prevalent health issue globally and in Saudi Arabia, especially among young adult females. This study investigates the association between anemia and academic achievement among female students at the Female Health Campus of Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study included 118 randomly selected participants aged 18-22. A validated questionnaire was administered to the study participants. The participants underwent blood tests for complete blood count (CBC) parameters and iron profile analysis. The study reported that 52.5% of the female students had anemia and low serum iron levels. Regarding academic performance, significant positive correlations were found between various CBC parameters including white cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, and serum iron. However, no significant correlations were observed between red blood cell count and platelet count with academic performance. Demographic variables were also associated with a higher odds ratio of anemia. The study highlights the prevalence of anemia among female students and its potential impact on academic achievement. The current study underscores the importance of addressing anemia in young adult females and implementing appropriate interventions to improve their educational outcomes.

Iron supplementation post-blood donation in Vietnam: Impact on hemoglobin, red cell indices, and iron reserves

Background. Regular blood donation plays a pivotal role in mitigating the formation of free radicals by regulating iron accumulation. However, frequent blood donation can lead to chronic iron deficiency. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of daily iron supplementation as an intervention to expedite hemoglobin (Hb) recovery among frequent blood donors at a hospital in Vietnam. Methodology. Conducted longitudinally within the Hematology Department of a Hanoi hospital from February to July 2023, our study involved 104 eligible participants. They received a daily iron supplement comprising 100 mg of elemental iron, 0.75 mg of folic acid, and 5 mg of zinc sulfate for a minimum of 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected at three key time points: before blood donation during recruitment, immediately after donation, and at least 8 weeks post-donation. Results. Our findings revealed moderate, statistically significant positive correlations between elemental iron administration and changes in platelet count (PLT), hematocrit (HCT), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) (r = 0.753, p &lt;0.001; r = 0.887, p &lt;0.001; and r = 0.703, p &lt;0.001, respectively). Additionally, weak but significant correlations were observed between elemental iron administration and red blood cell count (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red cell distribution width coefficient of variation (RDWC), and red cell distribution width standard deviation (RDWS) (r = 0.260, p = 0.002; r = 0.302, p = 0.005; r = 0.160, p = 0.010; r = 0.120, p = 0.020; and r = 0.400, p &lt;0.001, respectively). Conclusion. Over an eight-week duration, the regimen of daily iron supplementation yielded significant improvements in both red cell variables, red cell indices, and iron study variables, demonstrating its potential clinical impact.

Study of some physiological parameters in renal failure patients with hepatitis C virus infection

Renal failure is defined as the kidneys' inability to execute excretory functions, resulting in the retention of nitrogenous waste products in the blood. Therefore, the current study was aimed at detecting the hepatitis C virus in renal failure patients and investigating measurements of urea, creatinine, phosphorus, calcium and albumin. Also, Hb and ABO blood groups were investigated. In this study, 20 blood samples were collected from people aged (24–83) of both sexes and included (10) renal failure, (10) renal failure with hepatitis C and (10) controls aged (23–66). A highly significant increase (P&lt;0.01) was observed in urea, creatinine and phosphorus levels in patients infected with renal failure without HCV and renal failure with hepatitis C virus infection groups in comparison to the control group. The other parameters albumin and hemoglobin concentration showed a highly significant decrease in renal failure patients with hepatitis C virus infection when compared to the healthy group. Calcium displayed a non-significant increase (P&lt;0.05) in patients with renal failure without HCV when compared to renal failure with HCV infection. But albumin, urea and hemoglobin showed a nonsignificant decrease (P &gt; 0.05) in patients with renal failure without hepatitis C infection when compared to those with renal failure. The ABO blood groups results for renal failure patients without hepatitis C virus infection showed the highest percent in the O+ blood group (60%) followed by A+, B+, AB+ and Arecorded as 10% for each one. The renal failure patient with hepatitis C virus infection group showed the highest percent of the O+ blood group (50%) followed by A+, B+, AB+ and A- recorded as (20%), (10%), (10%) and (10%) respectively.

Pre-exercise supplementation with curcuma xanthorrhiza roxb has minimal impact on red blood cell parameters but reduces oxidative stress: a preliminary study in rats.

This study examined the effects of longterm pre-exercise Curcuma xanthorriza Roxb supplementation on red blood cell indices along with circulating malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in response to endurance exercise to address previously inconsistent findings. Male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus; n = 20, aged 12-16 weeks) were divided equally into an exercise-only group (C) and three groups supplemented with Curcuma extract at dosages of 6.75 (T1), 13.50 (T2), and 20.25 mg (T3). Curcuma extract supplementation was administered for 28 d immediately prior to exercise. Following 28 d of exhaustive swimming, the hematocrit and erythrocyte count increased by 15% (p = 0.06). Pre-exercise Curcuma supplementation did not significantly affect mean corpuscular volume or mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. Longterm exercise intervention resulted in elevated MDA levels by 41% (p <0.001), while Curcuma supplementation (13.50 mg) attenuated this increase by 16.6% (p = 0.09). Additionally, Curcuma supplementation resulted in a dose-dependent increase in SOD levels, with an 82.6% increase observed at 20.25 mg (p = 0.028). Our preliminary findings indicated that pre-exercise supplementation with Curcuma extract had a negligible effect on changes in red blood cell markers, but it mitigated the increase in oxidative stress induced by exercise training. Our future research direction will involve applying the findings to humans.

Toxoplasma gondii infection affects the complete blood count and disturbs the markers of oxidative stress from the vital organs of wild rodents

Rodents are the synanthropic mammals that are existing in close proximity to humans and their belongings and have the potential to act as the reservoir for a variety of parasites having zoonotic potential. Present study was designed to report the molecular prevalence and phylogenetic evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii in the blood samples of four wild rodent species [Rattus rattus (N = 122), Mus musculus (N = 64), Rattus norvegicus (N = 57) and Dryomys nitedula (N = 1)] that were trapped during May 2022 till July 2023 from three districts in Punjab (Jampur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan) and three districts (Upper Dir, Mardan and Bunar) in Pakistan. Results revealed that 44/244 (18%) rodents amplified ITS-1 gene of Toxoplasma gondii through PCR. Parasite prevalence varied between the rodent species. Highest rate of infection was found in Rattus norvegicus followed by Rattus rattus and Mus musculus. For both rat species, Toxoplasma gondii infection significantly varies between the sampling districts. DNA sequencing and BLAST analysis confirmed the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in rodent blood samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Pakistani isolates were genetically diverse and clustered with the isolates that were reported from worldwide countries. Complete blood count analysis revealed that parasite infected rodents had disturbed lymphocyte, mean platelet volume, mean corpuscular volume (and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. Markers of oxidative stress analysis revealed that infected rodent had elevated malondialdehyde levels in liver and kidney while disturb catalase concentrations in kidney and heart as compared to uninfected animals. In conclusion, we are reporting a relatively high prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Pakistani rodents. Infection leads to disturbed complete blood count and markers of oxidative stress in the vital organs. We recommend large scale studies in various geo-climatic regions of Pakistan to report the incidence and prevalence of this pathogen among the rodents in order to prevent their infections in local people as well as in livestock.

Efficient purification of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products from Sus scrofa lung tissue and synthesis of its binding ligand, glycated bovine serum albumin

A receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) has emerged as a crucial player in various pathological conditions due to its involvement in inflammation and cellular dysfunction. Its soluble isoform, sRAGE, has garnered significant attention for its competitive inhibitory effects and potential therapeutic applications. However, obtaining sRAGE with appropriate glycosylation patterns for binding to glycated proteins has been challenging, often requiring costly expression systems. Here, we present a novel approach for producing and purifying sRAGE from Sus scrofa lungs, bypassing the need for expensive expression systems. Previous protocols for sRAGE extraction faced reproducibility issues due to high viscosity and haemoglobin content of the solution. To address this, we developed a method for selective haemoglobin precipitation using a zinc-containing buffer, enabling purification via various chromatographic methods. Through a combination of chromatographic techniques, we obtained sRAGE in suitable purity, identified using HPLC-MS/MS. Additionally, producing glycated proteins for RAGE receptor activation often involved lengthy protocols or inadequate separation from reactants. Thus, we devised a rapid method for producing and purifying pure BSA glycated with ribose, addressing a critical gap in the field. Functional studies, conducted using Native PAGE, demonstrated the capability of purified proteins to bind to each other.

Investigating Skeletal Muscle Pump Function Using Thigh EMG, Thigh NIRS, And Stroke Volume Data In The FRAILMatics Physiological Cohort

Abstract Background The pioneering female physiologist Frances Hellebrandt first highlighted the significance of the skeletal muscle pump in circulation in the 1930s. However, the mechanisms underlying the muscle pump's function remain elusive, particularly in older individuals. It is thought that during muscle contraction, increased intramuscular pressure facilitates the expulsion of blood from the muscle's veins, aiding venous return. This contraction-induced pressure gradient assists in pushing blood towards the heart, increasing preload, and subsequently stroke volume (SV). In this study we investigated muscle pump activity using continuous measurements of thigh muscle activity, thigh total haemoglobin concentration (Hb), and cardiac SV. Methods 22 individuals (aged 70.8±5.3 years, 77.3% female) recruited from a Falls and Syncope Unit (St James’s Hospital, Dublin) underwent non-invasive measurements of Hb (NIRS PortaLite, Artinis Medical Systems, The Netherlands), electromyography (EMG) (Shimmer3, Research Ltd, Ireland), and SV (Finapres Nova, Finapres Medical Systems, The Netherlands) during a 10-second thigh squeeze test. Pre-processing involved data quality checks, alignment, and resampling. 60-second regions of interest were extracted, normalised, and processed using MATLAB (R2023a, TheMathWorks, Inc., Natick, MA, USA). Cross-correlation and Granger causality analyses were conducted to explore relationships between signals. Results Thigh Hb and EMG signals lagged 8.4 and 8.5 seconds behind SV, respectively. Granger Causality analysis revealed a significant causal relationship from both Hb and EMG to SV in 68% of participants at measured lags. Conclusion The observed ~8.5-second lag between thigh measurements and SV implies a plausible temporal relationship between muscle activation and venous return, further supported by significant causal relationships found in a substantial portion of participants using Granger causality analysis. These findings underscore the importance of continued research in this area, not only for advancing our understanding of physiological mechanisms but also for informing potential clinical applications aimed at optimising cardiovascular health and function.