Human Blood Research Articles

Front-Tracking and Gelation in Sessile Droplet Suspensions: What Can They Tell Us about Human Blood?

Recently developed imaging techniques have been used to examine the redistribution of human red blood cells and comparator particles dispersed in carrier fluids within evaporating droplets. We demonstrate that progressive gelation initiates along an annular front, isolating a central pool that briefly remains open to particulate advection before gelation completes across the droplet center. Transition to an elastic solid is evidenced by cracking initiating proximal to front locations. The arrested flow of cellular components, termed a "halted front", has been investigated using a time-lapse analysis "signature". The presence of a deformable biocellular component is seen to be essential for front-halting. We show a dependence of front-halt radius on cell volume-fraction, potentially offering a low-cost means of measuring hematocrit. A simple model yields an estimate of the gel zero-shear yield-stress. This approach to understanding the drying dynamics of blood droplets may lead to a new generation of point-of-care diagnostics.

Post mortem chiral analysis of MDMA and MDA in human blood and hair

Drug-related fatalities in the EU are predominantly associated with opioids. MDMA (Ecstasy) consumption results in fewer lethal intoxications despite its widespread use. This study investigates MDMA-related fatalities, focusing on enantiomer ratios of MDMA and its metabolite MDA to explore the role of metabolism in fatal outcomes.MDMA induces euphoria, increased empathy, and physiological effects such as tachycardia, hypertension, and hyperthermia. Metabolism mainly involves CYP1A2 and CYP2D6, with polymorphism of the latter influencing metabolism rates. Our institute observed several MDMA-related fatalities, which prompted an investigation into the potential role of inefficient drug metabolism in these cases.A novel quantitative chiral analysis method was developed and validated for MDMA, MDA, amphetamine and methamphetamine enantiomers in human blood. Analysis of post mortem blood samples from eleven MDMA-related fatalities exhibited a wide range of concentrations and enantiomer ratios. Variability in R/S MDMA ratios, however, could be linked to the time period of metabolism. Hair analysis revealed high MDMA concentrations in all segments, irrespective of prior drug abuse anamnesis. Therefore, hair analysis may not be suitable for the assessment of past drug use in ecstasy-related fatalities.The results indicated that elevated levels of the MDMA enantiomer are correlated with longer survival times in cases of intoxication. However, there was no clear evidence for slowed MDMA metabolism as a cause of lethal intoxications. While challenges remain due to the diversity of cases, this study contributes valuable insights into ecstasy intoxications, aiding future interpretation of post mortem analysis.

Toehold and Hairpin Assembly-Mediated Tripedal DNA Walker for Circulating Tumor DNA Detection in Human Blood

Toehold and Hairpin Assembly-Mediated Tripedal DNA Walker for Circulating Tumor DNA Detection in Human Blood

Extract from Psidium guineense Sw leaves: An alternative against resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus

Psidium guineense SW., commonly known as sour guava, is used in traditional medicine to address diverse health issues, such as inflammation, infections, and gastrointestinal disorders. Although previous research has highlighted the antimicrobial properties of the root extract and the antioxidant potential of its fruits, information regarding the activities associated with the leaf extract is lacking. The aim of the study was to use the traditional knowledge of the biological properties of P. guineense and investigate its antimicrobial activity, mechanism of action, synergistic effects, and antivirulence activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined for S. aureus, including antibiotic-resistant isolates. The synergy between the extract and antibiotics was evaluated. A growth curve was constructed for S. aureus treated with the extract. The anti-hemolytic activity was assessed by inhibiting hemolysis in human blood, and the inhibition of staphyloxanthin (STX) was examined. The extract effectively inhibited all strains with MIC and MBC values ranging from 256 to 512 µg/mL and 512 to 1024 µg/mL, respectively. Antimicrobial synergy experiments demonstrated the enhanced effectiveness of antibiotics, especially ciprofloxacin, when combined with the P. guineense extract, especially with ciprofloxacin, resulting in complete synergy against all S. aureus strains. In growth curve tests, the extract inhibited growth at MIC of 256 µg/mL within 8 h and significantly delayed it at MIC/2 (128 µg/mL) within 12 h. In antivirulence tests, the extract effectively reduced hemolysis and STX production by S. aureus at MIC and MIC/2, indicating its potential as an antimicrobial agent with antivirulence properties. The extract effectively inhibited S. aureus, including drug-resistant strains with low MIC and MBC values, exhibiting strong antimicrobial and synergistic properties with antibiotics. also In addition, the extract accelerated recovery by limiting bacterial growth and exhibiting antivirulence capabilities, reducing the severe symptoms of S. aureus infections.

RNA sequencing comparing centenarian and middle-aged women lymphoblastoid cell lines identifies age-related dysregulated expression of genes encoding selenoproteins, heat shock proteins, CD99, and BID.

Women typically live longer than men, and constitute the majority of centenarians. We applied RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) of blood-derived lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from women aged 60-80 years and centenarians (100-105 years), validated the RNA-seq findings by real-time PCR, and additionally measured the differentially expressed genes in LCLs from young women aged 20-35 years. Top RNA-seq genes with differential expression between the age groups included three selenoproteins (GPX1, SELENOW, SELENOH) and three heat shock proteins (HSPA6, HSPA1A, HSPA1B), with the highest expression in LCLs from young women, indicating that young women are better protected from oxidative stress. The expression of two additional genes, BID encoding BH3-interacting domain death agonist and CD99 encoding CD99 antigen, showed unique age dependence, with similar expression levels in young and centenarian women while exhibiting higher and lower expression levels, respectively, in LCLs from women aged 60-80 years compared with the two other age groups. This age-related differential expression of BID and CD99 suggests elevated inflammation susceptibility in middle-aged women compared with either young or centenarian women. Our findings, once validated with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and further cell types, may lead to novel healthy aging diagnostics and therapeutics.

The alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist PHA 568487 dampens inflammation in PBMCs from patients with newly discovered coronary artery disease.

The alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) regulates inflammation in experimental models and is expressed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in human atherosclerotic plaques. However, its role in regulating inflammation in patients with cardiovascular disease is unknown. This study aims to investigate whether α7nAChR stimulation can reduce the inflammatory response in PBMCs from patients with newly diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD). Human PBMCs, extracted from patients with verified CAD (n = 38) and control participants with healthy vessels (n = 38), were challenged in vitro with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in combination with the α7nAChR agonist PHA 568487. Cytokine levels of the supernatants were analyzed using a multiplex immunoassay. Patients in the CAD group were reexamined after 6 mo. The immune response to LPS did not differ between PBMCs from control and CAD groups. α7nAChR stimulation decreased TNFα in both control and CAD groups. The most pronounced effect of α7nAChR stimulation was observed in patients with CAD at their first visit, where 15 of 17 cytokines were decreased [IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-17A, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, MCP-1, MIP-1β, and TNFα]. In conclusion, stimulation with α7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 dampens the inflammatory response in human PBMCs. This finding suggests that the anti-inflammatory properties of the α7nAChR may have a role in treating CAD.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The α7nAChR is an important regulator of inflammation; however, its anti-inflammatory function in patients with newly diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD) remains unclear. We demonstrate that stimulation of α7nAChR with PHA 568487 attenuates the inflammatory response in immune cells extracted from healthy controls and patients with newly diagnosed CAD, with a more pronounced effect observed in patients with CAD. This suggests that the anti-inflammatory properties of α7nAChR may have a role in treating chronic inflammatory diseases.

Chromatin structure and 3D architecture define the differential functions of PU.1 regulatory elements in blood cell lineages

The precise spatiotemporal expression of the hematopoietic ETS transcription factor PU.1, a key determinant of hematopoietic cell fates, is tightly regulated at the chromatin level. However, how chromatin signatures are linked to this dynamic expression pattern across different blood cell lineages remains uncharacterized. Here, we performed an in-depth analysis of the relationships between gene expression, chromatin structure, 3D architecture, and trans-acting factors at PU.1 cis-regulatory elements (PCREs). By identifying phylogenetically conserved DNA elements within chromatin-accessible regions in primary human blood lineages, we discovered multiple novel candidate PCREs within the upstream region of the human PU.1 locus. A subset of these elements localizes within an 8-kb-wide cluster exhibiting enhancer features, including open chromatin, demethylated DNA, enriched enhancer histone marks, present enhancer RNAs, and PU.1 occupation, presumably mediating PU.1 autoregulation. Importantly, we revealed the presence of a common 35-kb-wide CTCF-flanked insulated neighborhood that contains the PCRE cluster (PCREC), forming a chromatin territory for lineage-specific and PCRE-mediated chromatin interactions. These include functional PCRE-promoter interactions in myeloid and B cells that are absent in erythroid and T cells. By correlating chromatin structure and 3D architecture with PU.1 expression in various lineages, we were able to attribute enhancer versus silencer functions to individual elements. Our findings provide mechanistic insights into the interplay between dynamic chromatin structure and 3D architecture in the chromatin regulation of PU.1 expression. This study lays crucial groundwork for additional experimental studies that validate and dissect the role of PCREs in epigenetic regulation of normal and malignant hematopoiesis.

Vitamin B12 Protects Against Genotoxicity Induced by Cisplatin.

Cisplatin is an effective synthetic chemotherapeutic drug used for cancer treatment. Vitamin B12 has been shown to possess anti-genotoxic activity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin B12 on chromosomal damage induced by cisplatin. The level of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and chromosomal aberrations (CAs) were measured in cultured human blood lymphocytes treated with cisplatin and/or vitamin B12. The results showed a significantly elevated frequency of CAs and SCEs of cisplatin-treated cultures compared to the control (P < 0.05). The CAs and SCEs induced by cisplatin were significantly lowered by pretreatment of cell cultures with vitamin B12. In addition, cisplatin caused a slight reduction in the mitotic index (MI), while vitamin B12 did not modulate the effect of cisplatin on MI. Vitamin B12 can protect human lymphocytes against genotoxicity associated with cisplatin.

4,4'-Sulfonyldianiline Derived Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogen for the Detection of Ofloxacin.

The excessive use of antibiotic ofloxacin (Oflx) can cause serious detrimental effects to human health. Therefore, the utmost research priority is required to develop facile methods to detect Oflx. Herein, a V-shaped aggregation-induced emission (AIE) active Schiff base SDANA was introduced for the fluorescent turn-on detection of Oflx. The Schiff base SDANA was synthesized by condensing 4,4'-sulfonyldianiline with two equivalents of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde. The nearly non-fluorescent SDANA in DMSO showed strong orange emission with the increase in HEPES buffer (H2O, 10 mM, pH 7.4) fractions in DMSO from 70 %-95 % due to the combined effects of AIE and ESIPT. The DLS and SEM analyses were performed to complement the formation of self-aggregates of SDANA. With the addition of Oflx, the fluorescence emission of AIE luminogen (AIEgen) SDANA (λem=575 nm, λex=400 nm) was blue-shifted and enhanced at 530 nm. The interactions of Oflx over the surface of SDANA aggregates disrupted the intramolecular charge transfer and aggregation morphology of SDANA, which gave a distinct fluorescence response to detect Oflx. The detection limit for Oflx was estimated as 0.81 μM, and the developed probe AIEgen SDANA was applied for the quantification of Oflx in human blood serum.

Evaluation of Genotoxic and Hemolytic Effects of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and Microcystis aeruginosa Biomass Extracts on Human Blood Cells In Vitro

This study explores the in vitro effects of cyanotoxins from the methanolic extract of the cyanobacteria Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and Microcystis aeruginosa on human blood cells, with samples drawn from the Gruža reservoir in Serbia. These cyanobacteria, which made up 98.5% of the reservoir’s phytoplankton, reached densities of 4,656,450 cells mL−1, with A. flos aquae (3,105,120 cells mL−1) as the dominant species, followed by M. aeruginosa (1,480,130 cells mL−1). A cyanotoxin analysis of biomass detected anatoxin-a (3.56 µg g−1), cylindrospermopsin (6.86 µg g−1), microcystin LR (0.87 µg g−1), and microcystin RR (2.47 µg g−1). This study assessed the genotoxic potential of the methanolic extract of the cyanobacterial biomass by evaluating the DNA damage and the Genetic Damage Index (GDI) in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from healthy donors. The results showed a dose-dependent increase in the DNA damage, from 35.67 ± 4.93% at 10 µg mL−1 to 95.67 ± 1.53% at 100 µg mL−1, with a corresponding rise in the GDI from 0.61 ± 0.02 to 2.39 ± 0.07. The extract also caused the concentration-dependent hemolysis of red blood cells, with 5.63% hemolysis at the highest concentration (200 µg mL−1). These findings underscore the significant genotoxic risks posed by cyanotoxins from biomass extracts of A. flos aquae and M. aeruginosa, particularly in water sources used for human consumption.

Impact of sample processing delays on plasma markers of inflammation, chemotaxis, cell death, and blood coagulation.

Biosampling studies in critically ill patients traditionally involve bedside collection of samples followed by local processing (ie. centrifugation, aliquotting, and freezing) and storage. However, community hospitals, which care for the majority of Canadian patients, often lack the infrastructure for local processing and storage of specimens. A potential solution is a "simplified" biosampling protocol whereby blood samples are collected at the bedside and then shipped to a central site for processing and storage. One potential limitation of this approach is that delayed processing may alter sample characteristics. To determine whether delays in blood sample processing affect the stability of cytokines (IL-6, TNF, IL-10, IFN-γ), chemokines (IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, MCP-4, MIP-1α, MIP-1β), cell-free DNA (cfDNA) (released by dying cells), and blood clotting potential in human blood samples. Venous blood was collected into EDTA and citrate sample tubes and stored at room temperature (RT) or 4°C for progressive intervals up to 72 hours, prior to processing. Plasma cytokines and chemokines were quantified using single or multiplex immunoassays. cfDNA was measured using Picogreen DNA Quantification. Blood clotting potential was measured using a thrombin generation assay. Blood samples were collected from 9 intensive care unit (ICU) patients and 7 healthy volunteers. Admission diagnoses for the ICU patients included sepsis, trauma, ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleed, and hyperkalemia. After pre-processing delays of up to 72 hours at RT or 4°C, no significant changes were observed in plasma cytokines, chemokines, cfDNA, or thrombin formation. Delayed sample processing for up to 72 hours at either RT or 4°C did not significantly affect cytokines, chemokines, cfDNA, or blood clotting potential in plasma samples from healthy volunteers and ICU patients. A "simplified" biosampling protocol is a feasible solution for conducting biosampling research at hospitals without local processing capacity.

Adaptive Changes in Human Leukocytes in Response to a Long-Term Stay in Antarctica

Oxidative stress and aging are known to alter the copy number (CN) of satellite III repeat (1q12) (SatIII(1q)) and telomeric repeat (TR) in the DNA of human cells. The extreme conditions of Antarctica could potentially affect the CN of these repeats in human blood cells, which may be associated with inhibition of the antioxidant system and activation of apoptosis. In this work, we analyzed the CN of ribosomal DNA (rDNA), SatIII(1q), and TR repeats in the leukocytes of 11 male members of the expedition to Vostok station in 2019–2020. To observe dynamic changes in the number of repeating elements of the genome and the degree of their oxidation, six blood samples were taken: before arrival in Antarctica, after 27, 85, 160, 270, and 315 days of wintering. To analyze adaptive changes, the expression levels of the BAX, BCL2, NOX4, NRF2, SOD1, and HIF1 genes were measured. We detected a decrease in SatIII(1q) CN and an increase in TR CN against the background of a stable rDNA CN in human blood cells during wintering. These changes, along with a decrease in the 8-oxodG in DNA, are associated with an increase in the activity of the NOX4 gene, a decrease in the activity of the NRF2 gene, and an increase in the expression of the proapoptotic protein BAX. Thus, wintering in Antarctica stimulates an adaptive response in the human body, which includes increased elimination from the bloodstream of “ballast” cells with a high level of DNA oxidation, a high SatIII(1q) content, and a low TR content. An increase in ROS levels due to chronic activation of the NOX4 gene along with the blocked NRF2 gene may play a significant role in the development of the response.

The Calcium Homeostasis of Human Red Blood Cells in Health and Disease: Interactions of PIEZO1, the Plasma Membrane Calcium Pump, and Gardos Channels.

Calcium ions mediate the volume homeostasis of human red blood cells (RBCs) in the circulation. The mechanism by which calcium ions affect RBC hydration states always follows the same sequence. Deformation of RBCs traversing capillaries briefly activates mechanosensitive PIEZO1 channels, allowing Ca2+ influx down its steep inward gradient transiently overcoming the calcium pump and elevating [Ca2+]i. Elevated [Ca2+]i activates the Ca2+-sensitive Gardos channels, inducing KCl loss and cell dehydration, a sequence operated with infinite variations in vivo and under experimental conditions. The selected health and disease themes for this review focus on landmark experimental results that led to the development of highly constrained models of the circulatory changes in RBCs homeostasis. Based on model predictions, a new perspective emerged, pointing to PIEZO1 dysfunction as the main trigger in the formation of the profoundly dehydrated irreversible sickle cells, the main pathogenic participants in vaso-occlusion, the root cause of sickle cell disease.

Magneto-optical Goos–Hänchen shift in uniaxial anisotropic epsilon-near-zero metamaterials

Abstract We theoretically investigate the enhancement of the magneto-optical Goos-Hänchen (MOGH) shift in multilayer structure combining uniaxially anisotropic epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterials with magneto-optical (MO) materials. The structure enables the excitation of magneto-optical surface plasmon resonance (MOSPR) without the need for a prism or grating coupler, thereby achieving a significant enhancement of the MOGH shift. The effect of the thickness of the ENZ layer and the type of magnetic metal in this structure on the MOGH shift is also discussed. Based on the above structure, we design a high-sensitivity miniature biosensor that is used for the detection of hemoglobin concentration in human blood. The maximum sensitivity achievable with this sensor is 1.4×106 λ/RIU. The results of this investigation contribute to the development of biosensors towards miniaturization and integration.

Optimizing CAR-NK Cell Transduction and Expansion: Leveraging Cytokine Modulation for Enhanced Performance.

Cellular immunotherapy has emerged as one of the most potent approaches to treating cancer patients. Adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells as well as the use of haploidentical natural killer (NK) cells can induce remission in patients with lymphoma and leukemia. Although the use of CAR T cells has been established, this approach is currently limited for wider use by the risk of severe adverse events, including cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. Moreover, the risk of triggering graft vs host reactions in settings of allogeneic T cell infusion limits the use to autologous CAR T cells if advanced CRISPR engineering is not applied. In contrast, NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a safe approach even in allogeneic settings. However, efficient transduction of primary blood NK cells with vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G) pseudotyped lentivirus commonly used for T cell modification remains challenging. This article presents a detailed method that significantly enhances the transduction efficiency of NK cells by utilizing a short-term culture in cytokine-supplemented medium. It also encompasses the preparation of high-titer and high-quality lentiviral particles for optimal NK cell transduction. Overall, this protocol details the step-by-step culture of NK cells in cytokine-supplemented medium, their transduction with VSV-G lentiviral vectors, and subsequent expansion for functional assays. © 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Isolation of NK cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) Basic Protocol 2: NK cell expansion and transduction with lentivirus for generating CAR-NK cells Support Protocol 1: Plasmid amplification Support Protocol 2: Lentivirus preparation Support Protocol 3: Lentivirus titration.

Human decidua basalis mesenchymal stem/stromal cells enhance anticancer properties of human natural killer cells, in vitro

IntroductionMesenchymal stem cells/stromal cells from the Decidua Basalis of the human placenta (DBMSCs) express wide range of effector molecules that modulate the functions of their target cells. These properties make them potential candidate for use in cellular therapy. In this study, we have investigated the consequences of interaction between DBMSCs and natural killer (NK) cells for both cell types.MethodsDBMSCs were cultured with IL-2-activated and resting non-activated NK cells isolated from healthy human peripheral blood and various functional assays were performed including, NK cell proliferation and cytolytic activities. Flow cytometry and microscopic studies were performed to examine the expression of NK cell receptors that mediate these cytolytic activities against DBMSCs. Moreover, the mechanism underlying these effects was also investigated.ResultsOur findings revealed that, co-culture of DBMSCs and NK cells resulted in inhibition of proliferation of resting NK cells, while proliferation of IL-2 activated NK cells was increased. Contrarily, treatment of DBMSC’s with comparatively high numbers of IL-2 activated NK cells, resulted in their lysis, whereas treatment with low numbers resulted in reduction in their proliferation. Cytolytic activity of NK cells against DBMSCs was mediated by several activating NK cell receptors. In spite of the expression of HLA class I molecules by DBMSCs, they were still lysed by NK cells, excluding their involvement in cytolytic activity. In addition, preconditioning NK cells by DBMSCs, enhanced their ability to suppress tumor cell proliferation and in severe cases resulted in their partial lysis. Lysis and decrease of tumor cell proliferation is associated with increased expression of important molecules involved in anticancer activities.DiscussionWe conclude that DBMSCs exhibit dualfunctions on NK cells that enhance their anticancer therapeutic potential.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolation from mouse and rabbit blood to quantify active nucleotide and define brincidofovir dose for smallpox.

Aim: Brincidofovir has been approved by the US FDA for the treatment of smallpox via the "Animal Rule". The active moiety, cidofovir diphosphate (CDV-PP), was measurable in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), but quantitation in animals was challenging given their limited blood volume. The aim of this study was to optimize PBMC isolation from rabbit and mouse blood to allow quantitation of CDV-PP.Materials & methods: PBMC isolation methods using various separation media were evaluated using blood from naive and brincidofovir-dosed animals. CDV-PP was quantified using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.Results & conclusion: PBMC isolation yields were increased by >fourfold compared with yields obtained using human methods, allowing cross-species exposure comparisons.

Prevalence of &lt;i&gt;Wuchereria bancrofti&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Plasmodium Spp.&lt;/i&gt; infection in &lt;i&gt;Anopheles&lt;/i&gt; mosquitoes and human blood sampled from Matayos in Busia County, Western Kenya

INTRODUCTION Lymphatic filariasis and malaria are mosquito-borne diseases and are co-endemic in coastal Kenya. We evaluated the occurrence of co-infections with Wuchereria bancrofti and Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agents of Lymphatic filariasis and malaria, respectively, in humans and known Anopheles vectors from Matayos constituency, Busia County, western Kenya. MATERIALS AND METHODS The samples were collected purposively based on clinical case reports. Members of the An. gambiae and An. funestus species complexes present and the presence of W. bancrofti and P. falciparum were detected using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Positive PCR amplicons were purified and Sanger sequenced. RESULTS In this study, 292 Anopheles mosquitoes were analyzed, and 288 of these (98.63%) were successfully identified by PCR. The majority of mosquitoes identified belonged to the An. funestus complex (85.76%) while An. gambiae complex mosquitoes comprised 14.24%. Two W. bancrofti infections were detected in the mosquitoes, one each in An. leesoni and An. funestus s.s. with an infection rate of 0.46% and 4.17% respectively. No P. falciparum was detected in the mosquito or human blood samples and only 2 blood samples (2.17%) were positive for W. bancrofti. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequenced 18S rRNA gene showed that all W. bancrofti sequences from this study shared a close relationship with W. bancrofti sequences distributed in other regions. No case of co-infection of P. falciparum and W. bancrofti was found in the mosquito or blood samples analyzed. CONCLUSION This study confirms the presence of W. bancrofti infection in the human population and mosquito vectors in Matayos. The study also indicated that the majority of Anopheles mosquitoes from the study area belong to An. funestus complex. This study recommends additional screening before Mass Drug Administration, and that mosquito control programs be strengthened in the study area.

Functional Foods in Preventing Human Blood Platelet Hyperactivity-Mediated Diseases—An Updated Review

Backgrounds/Objectives: Abnormal platelet functions are associated with human morbidity and mortality. Platelets have emerged as critical regulators of numerous physiological and pathological processes beyond their established roles in hemostasis and thrombosis. Maintaining physiological platelet function is essential to hemostasis and preventing platelet-associated diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer metastasis, immune disorders, hypertension, diabetes, sickle cell disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, myeloproliferative disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Platelets become hyperactive in obesity, diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle, hypertension, pollution, and smokers. Platelets, upon activation, can trawl leukocytes and progenitor cells to the vascular sites. Platelets release various proinflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenic factors and shed microparticles in the circulation, thus promoting pathological reactions. These platelet-released factors also maintain sustained activation, further impacting these disease processes. Although the mechanisms are unknown, multiple stimuli induce platelet hyperreactivity but involve the early pathways of platelet activation. The exact mechanisms of how hyperactive platelets contribute to these diseases are still unclear, and antiplatelet strategies are inevitable for preventing these diseases. Reducing platelet function during the early stages could significantly impact these diseases. However, while this is potentially a worthwhile intervention, using antiplatelet drugs to limit platelet function in apparently healthy individuals without cardiovascular disease is not recommended due to the increased risk of internal bleeding, resistance, and other side effects. The challenge for therapeutic intervention in these diseases is identifying factors that preferentially block specific targets involved in platelets’ complex contribution to these diseases while leaving their hemostatic function at least partially intact. Since antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin are not recommended as primary preventives, it is essential to use alternative safe platelet inhibitors without side effects. Methods: A systematic search of the PUBMED database from 2000 to 2023 was conducted using the selected keywords: “functional foods”, “polyphenols”, “fatty acids”, “herbs”, fruits and vegetables”, “cardioprotective agents”, “plant”, “platelet aggregation”, “platelet activation”, “clinical and non-clinical trial”, “randomized”, and “controlled”. Results: Potent natural antiplatelet factors have been described, including omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, and other phytochemicals. Antiplatelet bioactive compounds in food that can prevent platelet hyperactivity and thus may prevent several platelet-mediated diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Conclusions: This narrative review describes the work during 2000–2023 in developing functional foods from natural sources with antiplatelet effects.

Electrochemical Biosensor for Detecting both Pb2+ and Hg2+ in Human Blood

Many studies have demonstrated that lead ion ( Pb2+ ) and mercury ion ( Hg2+ ) are harmful to human health. Lead was found to accumulate in the kidney, leading to oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation in the nephrons, and possess marked testicular toxicity. Mercury is well-known to produce nephrotoxicity, inflammatory responses and induce oxidative stress and apoptosis. These heavy metals can enter the human body in various ways, such as through skin or inhalation routes, or contaminated drinking water and food. But heavy metal poisoning is not easy to diagnose because existing detecting measures has many disadvantages cause them can’t widely spread. So, seeking an easy way to detect them in human blood to discover lead or mercury poisoning is an unmet need. This paper develops a new reusable biosensor for detecting both Pb2+ and Hg2+ in human blood. This work is based on the reaction between guanine and Pb2+ form of G-quadruplex and Hg2+ connect two thymines together cause the variation of electrochemical signal. The signal is magnified by methylene blue-gold nanoparticles (MB-AuNP) to increase the limit of detection Although the reuse part of sensor is still in theory, but this approach can make the cost of sensor low and create the feasibility of recycle. Overall, providing a new idea to make contributions to the prevention of heavy metal poisoning is the reason why this study is conducted.