Mixed Blood Research Articles

Numerical study on the performance of mixed flow blood pump with superhydrophobic surface.

To meet the clinical status of the wide application of percutaneous mechanical circulatory support, this paper selects the mixed flow blood pump applied with superhydrophobic surface as the research object. The Navier slip model was used to simulate the slip characteristics of superhydrophobic surface, and the effects of the blade wrap angle and the superhydrophobic surface on the performance of the mixed flow blood pump are studied by numerical simulation. The results show that (1) considering the head, hydraulic efficiency, and hemolysis index of the blood pump, the optimal value of the blade wrap angle of the mixed flow blood pump in this paper is 60°. (2) The hydraulic efficiency of the blood pump with superhydrophobic surface is improved, and the maximum growth rate is about 13.9%; superhydrophobic surface can reduce the hemolysis index of blood pump under various working conditions, and the maximum reduction rate of hemolysis index of blood pump is 22.9%. (3) The variation trends of blood pump head, hydraulic efficiency, and hemolysis index with the increased rotating speed before and after setting superhydrophobic slip boundary conditions are the same as their original variation trends.

Provenance and paleogeography of the Early Paleozoic basin in the northern Yangtze Block: Constraints from detrital zircon U-Pb-Hf data

The Proto-Tethys was a significant post-Rodinia breakup ocean that eventually vanished during the Paleozoic. The closure timing and amalgamation history of numerous microblocks within this ocean remain uncertain, while the Early Paleozoic strata on the northern margin of the Yangtze Block archive valuable information about the evolution of the Shangdan Ocean, the branch of the Proto-Tethys. By comparing the detrital zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopic data from Cambrian, Ordovician, and Silurian sedimentary rocks in the northern Yangtze Block with adjacent blocks, it was found that detrital zircons in Cambrian strata exhibit a prominent age peak at ∼ 900–700 Ma, which indicates that the primary source of clastic material in the basin was the uplifted inner and margin regions of the Yangtze Block. In the Silurian, abundant detrital material from the North Qinling Block was transported to the basin due to the continuous subduction and eventual closure of the Shangdan Ocean. This process led to two distinct age peaks at ∼500–400 Ma and ∼900–700 Ma, indicating a bidirectional provenance contribution from both the North Qinling Block and the Yangtze Block. This shift demonstrates that the initial collision between these two blocks occurred no later than the Silurian. The northern Yangtze Basin transitioned from a passive continental margin basin in the Cambrian to a peripheral foreland basin in the Silurian. Major blocks in East Asia, including South Tarim, North Qilian, North Qinling, and North Yangtze, underwent peripheral subduction and magmatic activity to varying degrees during the late Early Paleozoic, signifying the convergence and rapid contraction of microplates within northern Gondwana and the Proto-Tethys Ocean. These findings provide new insights on the tectonic evolution of the Proto-Tethys Ocean.

Effects of Ethanol leaf extracts of Mangifera indica and Gongronama latifolium on some Haematological Parameters of Albino Wistar Rats

The effects of ethanol leaf extracts of Mangifera indica and Gongronema latifolium on some haematological parameters (Haematocrit, HCT; Mean corpuscular Haemoglobin concentration, MCHC; Neutrophils, NEUT; Red cell Distribution width, RDW; and mixed blood cell count, MXD) in albino wistar rats were evaluated. Sixteen animals (185-223g) were assigned four groups of four rats each. Groups 1 and 3 were treated with 200mg/kg Mangifera indica and Gongronama latifolium respectively.
 Group 2 was treated with 200mg/kg of both plant leaf extracts at 50:50 dosage ratio. Group 4 was not treated and served as control. Treatment was done daily via oral route for one month. The animals were allowed free access to commercial rat mash and water throughout one month treatment. At the end of the treatment, no significant difference (P>0.05) was found in the HCT, MCHC and MXD levels in all the treatment groups when compared to the control. No significant difference (P>0.05) was also found among the treatment groups. NEUT levels in groups 1,2 and 3 animals recorded significant increase (P<0.05) when compared to the control but, no significant difference (P>0.05) was observed among the treatment groups. RDW recorded significant decrease (P<0.05) in groups 1,2 and 3 when compared to the control, but not significant different (P>0.05) was found among the treatment groups. These results implied that ethanol leaf extracts of Mangifera indica and Gongonema latifolium have no adverse effects on the haematological indices studied.

Geochronological and geochemical study of the Late Carboniferous volcanic drilling cores from the Piedmont of the Hala'alate Mountain in West Junggar: Implications for stratigraphic division and tectonic evolution

The West Junggar tectono-magmatic processes are critical for reconstructing the amalgamation history of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). However, the lack of consensus regarding the geochronology, petrogenesis, and tectonic setting of the complex igneous rocks poses a challenge to comprehending the Late Paleozoic tectonic evolution of West Junggar. This study focuses on systematic geochronological and geochemical research of well-preserved drill cores from the Piedmont of the Hala'alate Mountain, including rhyolite, felsic tuff, basalt, and andesite. The ages of these rocks in Late Carboniferous (310–301 Ma) are constrained by zircon UPb dating, excluding them from the Jiamuhe Formation of the Early Permian. The rhyolites and felsic tuffs exhibit apparent affinity to the A-type granite series, characterized by high total alkali and FeOT/MgO values. Plagioclase controls the main residual facies and depleted isotopic compositions (εHf(t) = +10.2 to +13.4; εNd(t) = +7.6 to +8.1), indicating that the magma source originated from the partial melting of juvenile continental materials in an extensional background. The basalts and andesites display high LILEs/LREEs, LILEs/HFSEs ratios, along with low HFSEs, which correspond to arc-affinity geochemical compositions. The high zircon εHf(t) (+7.5 to +14.3) and whole-rock εNd(t) (+7.8 to +7.9) values indicate a depleted pyroxene-rich mantle source modified by metasomatic slab-derived fluids. This implies a large-scale upwelling of mantle materials driven by the overlying lithospheric crustal thinning. Combining the temporal variations of crustal thickness recorded by the Sr/Y and (La/Yb)N ratios in igneous rocks, the tectonic processes of West Junggar during the Carboniferous to Early Permian can be divided into three stages. The first stage involves sustained subduction processes from 350 Ma to 320 Ma, followed by the closure of the oceanic crust and collision orogenesis from 320 Ma to 310 Ma. Finally, and a post-collision extension setting occurred after 310 Ma.

Mitigation role of physical exercise participation in the relationship between blood cadmium and sleep disturbance: a cross-sectional study

The neurotoxicity of heavy metals received increasingly attention in recent years. Sleeping is regulated and coordinated by nervous system, however, the health hazard of heavy metal like cadmium (Cd) exposure on sleep health remained unknown. Rescue strategies like physical exercise (PE) has emerged to mitigate such influence. An epidemiological design with cross-sectional data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2010 was applied. The relationship between three blood heavy metals [cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg)] and sleep disturbance was analyzed. A total of 8,751 participants were finally included in and the weighted participants were 330,239,463. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression indicated that mixed blood metals were positively related to risk of sleep disturbance and the mixture effect of exposure to heavy metals was mainly attributable to Cd (89.1%). Weighted logistic regression showed a significant positive association between the highest quartile of blood Cd and sleep disturbance [(OR (95% CI)): 1.191 (1.014,1.400), p = 0.036] in the fully adjusted model, while no association was found under Pb and Hg exposure. In the association between Q3 and Q4 level of blood Cd and sleep disturbance, moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise group had lower risks than none and low exercise group. In the restricted cubic spline model, it was also verified that higher PE participation was associated with the lowest incidence of sleep disturbance with the increment in Cd concentration. Our study suggested that both policy makers and the public should minimize heavy metal exposure. Moreover, conducting moderate to vigorous physical exercise is a protecting factor to mitigate Cd’s influence on sleep health.

Anopheles mosquito diversity, entomological indicators of malaria transmission and challenges of morphological identification in southwestern Ethiopia

BackgroundA number of Anopheles species play either a primary or secondary role in malaria transmission. This necessitates understanding the species composition, bionomics, and behaviors of malaria mosquitoes in a particular geographic area, which is relevant to design and implement tailored intervention tools. This study aimed to assess the species composition, sporozoite infection rate, and blood meal origins of malaria mosquitoes in two malaria-endemic villages of Boreda district in Gamo Zone, southwest Ethiopia. MethodsThirty houses, 20 for Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps and 10 for Pyrethrum Spray Catches (PSC) were randomly selected for bimonthly mosquito collection from October 2019 to February 2020. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was carried out to detect the blood meal origins and circumsporozoite proteins (CSPs). The entomological inoculation rate (EIR) was calculated by multiplying the sporozoite and human biting rates from PSCs. Anopheles gambiae complex and An. funestus group samples were further identified to species by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Anopheles species with some morphological similarity with An. gambiae complex or An. funestus group were tested using the primers of the two species complexes.ResultsA total of 14 Anopheles species were documented, of which An. demeilloni was found to be the dominant species. An. arabiensis was found to be positive for P. falciparum CSP with the overall CSP rate of 0.53% (1/190: 95% CI 0.01–2.9). The overall estimated P. falciparum EIR of An. arabiensis from PSC was 1.5 infectious bites/person/5 months. Of the 145 freshly fed Anopheles mosquitoes tested for blood meal sources, 57.9% (84/145) had bovine blood meal, 15.2% (22/145) had human blood meal origin alone, and 16.5% (24/145) had a mixed blood meal origin of human and bovine. Anopheles demeilloni were more likely to feed on blood meals of bovine origin (102/126 = 80.9%), while An. arabiensis were more likely to have blood meals of human origin. Eleven samples (2.6%; 11/420) were morphologically categorized as An. demeilloni, but it has been identified as An. leesoni (the only An. funestus group identified in the area) by PCR, though it requires additional verification by sequencing, because different species genes may have amplified for these species specific primers. Similarly, a small number of An. arabiensis were morphologically identified as An. salbaii, An. maculipalpis and An. fuscivenosus.Conclusions and recommendationsIn spite of the wide variety of Anopheles mosquito species, An. arabiensis dominates indoor malaria transmission, necessitating additional interventions targeting this species. In addition, increasing entomological knowledge may make morphological identification less difficult.

T1 Mapping for Differentiating of Haemorrhagic Transformation from Extravasation of Iodine Contrast Agents: A Phantom Study.

To evaluate T1 mapping values in different concentrations of iodine and mixed blood and to simulate the application of T1 mapping in differentiating iodine contrast extravasation and haemorrhage transformation after revascularisation in acute ischemic stroke. A phantom-based experimental study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, China, from October 2020 to December 2021. Fresh blood,pure iodine, blood-iodine mixtures (75/25, 50/50, and 25/75 ratios), and diluted iodine (at a concentration of 2.1 mmol I/L) were scanned in a phantom on 3-T MR T1 mapping imaging. A total of 10 layers in the middle section of tubes were scanned. The mean value of T1 mapping and 95% confidence interval for the investigated sample compositions were calculated and compared by ANOVA. The mean values (95% CI) for fresh blood, [2/3] blood +[1/3] iodine, [1/2] blood+[1/2] iodine, [1/3] blood+[2/3] iodine, and pure iodine were 2108.69 ± 1966.68-2250.71(ms), 1991.72 ± 1763.22-2220.21(ms), 1811.62 ± 1614.79-2008.45(ms), 1624.39 ± 1442.41-1806.37(ms), 1294.68 ± 1172.92-1416.44(ms), respectively. The differences between the T1 mapping values of all compositions were significant (p <0.01), except for fresh blood and the sample consisting of 67% blood. The mean value on T1 mapping (95% CI) was 1294.68 ± 1172.92-1416.44 (ms) in the samples only with diluted iodine, which was significantly different from other investigated samples (p <0.01). The intra-class correlation coefficient between the two times drawing of radiologist A was excellent (ICC=0.913, p<0.01), and between radiologists A and B was 0.99. Iodine contrast extravasation in a phantom setting might be distinguished from haemorrhagic transformation using T1 mapping. Acute ischemic stroke, Haemorrhage transformation, Contrast extravasation, Magnetic resonance imaging, T1 mapping, 3T MRI.

Exploration of sepsis assisting parameters in hospital autopsied-patients: a prospective study

Although Sepsis-3 doesn’t require evidence of bacteremia to diagnose sepsis, clinicians often want to identify the causative pathogen at autopsy. In principle, if the blood cultures are the same at ante- and postmortem, the cause of death is obvious. However, interpretations of postmortem blood cultures are often difficult due to discordance, negativity, mixed infection, and contamination, of pathogens occupying ≥ 50% of the tests. To increase specificity identifying agonal phase sepsis in the situations where blood cultures are discordant, multiple or negative at postmortem, we established a scoring system using blood cultures, procalcitonin (PCN) showing highest sensitivity and specificity for postmortem serum, and bone marrow polyhemophagocytosis (PHP). Histological sepsis showed significantly higher levels of culture score (2.3 ± 1.5 vs. 0.4 ± 0.5, p < 0.001), PHP score (2.5 ± 0.8 vs. 1.0 ± 1.1, p < 0.001), and PCN score (1.8 ± 0.8 vs. 0.8 ± 0.6, p < 0.01) than non-septic patients. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that estimation of three scores was the most reliable indicator for recognizing agonal phase sepsis. These findings suggest that the combination of these three inspections enables to determine the pathological diagnoses of sepsis even it is not obvious by discordant, mixed or negative blood cultures.

Pattern of acute poisoning that required intensive care unit admission in Tanta University poison control center

Abstract Background Poisoning is an important health care problem resulting in high morbidity and mortality rates especially in developing countries. About 4–40% of acute poisoned patients need intensive care units (ICU). Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate pattern of acute poisoning that required ICU admission, clinical characteristics and outcome of these patients in Tanta University Poison Control Center. Patients and methods All acute poisoned cases who admitted to ICU from the start of February 2017 to the end of July 2018 were included. Sociodemographic, characteristic clinical manifestations, laboratory investigations and outcomes were recorded. Results ICU admitted poisoned patients represented 6% of total poisoned patients. More than half of patients (54.4%) were in the age group between 18 and 40 years and 50.7% of patients were females. The highest percentage were from rural areas (87%) with suicidal intentions (76.8%). The main route of exposure was oral route (95%). Median delay time and hospitalization period were 3 h and 43 h, respectively. The most frequent poisons were aluminum phosphide (61.5%), organophosphates (11.5%) and digitalis (4.8%(. 32.7% of patients were hypotensive and 20.3% presented with undetected blood pressure. Mixed metabolic acidosis with respiratory alkalosis was the most frequent arterial blood gases abnormality (40%) and 51.4% of the studied patients died. Conclusion The most frequent three poisons that required ICU admission were aluminum phosphide, organophosphates and digitalis respectively. The alarming clinical presentations were hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnea and mixed arterial blood gas abnormality.

Frequencies of blood donation and types of blood donors on storage lesions as assessed by antioxidants and lipid peroxidation levels

Introduction: Influence of Blood storage lesions on Red Blood Cells transfusion recovery and therapeutic efficacies have been well documented. Several stabilizing additives to counteract or minimize these untoward changes have been formulated. Despite these stabilizers, detectable hemolysis occurs in the blood stored in the blood bank hence, need for search on other contributing factors. Assessment of the effects of Blood Donation Frequencies and Types of Blood Donors on Storage Lesions as Assessed by the Level of Antioxidants and Lipid Peroxidation. Materials and Methods: Ethically approved cross sectional experimental research on a total numbers of 120 recruited male of family replacement donors (n=30) and Remunerated donors (n=90). Remunerated donors were grouped into three (3) based on the frequency of donation per year as mild (n=30), moderate (n=30) and high frequency (n=30) donors. Four hundred and fifty milliliters (450 ml) of blood drawn from each donor into double blood bag containing CPDA-1 anticoagulant. 100 ml of well mixed blood was transferred into the satellite bag, detached and stored in the blood bank at 2-6 C for 35 days. The blood samples analyzed for MDA, TAP, URIC, and GSH at 0, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days of storage. Results: In the recruited donors, majority were above 40 years of age where family donors had secondary education, government employed; feed majorly on carbohydrate, none alcohol drinkers, none cigarette smokers with history of donating more than four years before the study and less than four times donation frequency per year. Remunerated blood donors had primary education, self-employed, moderate alcohol drinkers and moderate cigarette smokers donating more than four times a year and more than four years donation experience. In this study, the GPX, TAP and Uric acids for family were higher than remunerated at baseline and the values decrease across the week for both categories. MDA value for family was lower than remunerated donors at baseline and the values increase across the week for both categories. Conclusion: This study established variation in oxidant and antioxidants levels in whole blood stored up to 5 weeks influenced by Blood Donation Frequencies and Types of Blood Donors on Storage Lesions.

Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with MRI for cervical hyperplastic, tuberculosis-infected, and metastatic lymph nodes.

To explore the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for cervical abnormal lymph nodes. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 150 patients undergoing lymph node examinations at Hangzhou Chest Hospital from January 2017 to December 2019. According to the characteristics of lymph nodes, the patients were divided into three groups: 45 patients had hyperplastic lymph nodes (HLNs; Group-A), 55 had lymph node tuberculosis (LNTB; Group-B), 50 had metastatic lymph nodes (MLN; Group-C). We compared the ultrasonic examination and MRI results between the groups, and compared the diagnostic value of CEUS alone and CEUS plus MRI. Lower resistance indexes (RI) for Groups-A and B than Group-C(P<0.05). Mixed blood flow type was predominant in Group-A, while the lymphohilum type was predominant in Group-B, and the marginal type was predominant in Group-C(P<0.05). The proportion of non-uniform types in Group-B was significantly higher than that in Groups-A and C(P<0.05). After enhancement, the proportions of non-uniform types in Groups-A and B were higher than Group-C(P<0.05). The results of MRI examination showed that positive reinforcement integral (PEI) and maximum slope of increase (MSI) values increased sequentially from Group-B to Group-A, and then to Group-C(P<0.05); while time to peak (TTP) values increased sequentially from Group-C to Group-A, and then to Group-B(P<0.05). The diagnosis accuracy of CEUS combined with MRI was significantly higher than that of CEUS alone(P<0.05). RI-PEI, RI-MSI, and RI-TTP showed high specificity and sensitivity in the diagnosis and differentiation of HLNs, LNTB, and MLNs(P<0.05). CEUS combined with MRI can significantly facilitate the differential diagnosis between HLNs, LNTB, and MLNs. The two diagnosis methods combined improve the diagnosis accuracy of cervical lymph node diseases.

Long-read genome assembly and gene model annotations for the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL

Malaria causes >600 thousand fatalities each year, with most cases attributed to the human-infectious Plasmodium falciparum species. Many rodent-infectious Plasmodium species, like Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium yoelii, have been used as model species that can expedite studies of this pathogen. P.yoelii is an especially good model for investigating the mosquito and liver stages of development because key attributes closely resemble those of P.falciparum. Because of its importance, in 2002 the 17XNL strain of P.yoelii was the first rodent malaria parasite to be sequenced. Although this was a breakthrough effort, the assembly consisted of >5000 contiguous sequences that adversely impacted the annotated gene models. While other rodent malaria parasite genomes have been sequenced and annotated since then, including the related P.yoelii 17X strain, the 17XNL strain has not. As a result, genomic data for 17X has become the de facto reference genome for the 17XNL strain while leaving open questions surrounding possible differences between the 17XNL and 17X genomes. In this work, we present a high-quality genome assembly for P.yoelii 17XNL using PacBio DNA sequencing. In addition, we use Nanopore and Illumina RNA sequencing of mixed blood stages to create complete gene models that include coding sequences, alternate isoforms, and UTR designations. A comparison of the 17X and this new 17XNL assembly revealed biologically meaningful differences between the strains due to the presence of coding sequence variants. Taken together, our work provides a new genomic framework for studies with this commonly used rodent malaria model species.

Forensic DNA Analysis of Mixed Mosquito Blood Meals: STR Profiling for Human Identification

Mosquito vectors captured at a crime scene are forensically valuable since they feed on human blood, and hence, human DNA can be recovered to help identify the victim and/or the suspect. This study investigated the validity of obtaining the human short tandem repeats (STRs) profile from mixed blood meals of the mosquito, Culex pipiens L. (Diptera, Culicidae). Thus, mosquitoes were membrane-feed on blood from six different sources: a human male, a human female, mixed human male-female blood, mixed human male-mouse blood, mixed human female-mouse blood, and mixed human male-female-mouse blood. DNA was extracted from mosquito blood meals at 2 h intervals up to 72 h post-feeding to amplify 24 human STRs. Data showed that full DNA profiles could be obtained for up to 12 h post-feeding, regardless of the type of blood meal. Complete and partial DNA profiles were obtained up to 24 h and 36 h post-feeding, respectively. The frequencies of STR loci decreased over time after feeding on mixed blood until they became weakly detectable at 48 h post-feeding. This may indicate that a blood meal of human blood mixed with animal blood would contribute to maximizing DNA degradation and thus affects STR identification beyond 36 h post-feeding. These results confirm the feasibility of human DNA identification from mosquito blood meals, even if it is mixed with other types of non-human blood, for up to 36 h post-feeding. Therefore, blood-fed mosquitoes found at the crime scene are forensically valuable, as it is possible to obtain intact genetic profiles from their blood meals to identify a victim, a potential offender, and/or exclude a suspect.

Permian-Triassic tectonic evolution of the Ailaoshan orogenic belt in SW China: insights from magmatic records

ABSTRACT The Ailaoshan orogen in SW China records the evolution of the Ailaoshan Paleo-Tethyan ocean and the amalgamation history between the South China and Indochina blocks, an important process for the formation of Southeast Asia. However, its tectonic evolution remains ambiguous with various competing models. We have carried out an integrated geochronological–petrological–geochemical study for the granites, dacites-rhyolites, granodiorites and trachyandesites in this orogen to give new constraints on this issue. The 255–254 Ma granites and the 250–248 Ma dacites-rhyolites show similar geochemical features and are characterized by strongly peraluminous nature, continental crust-like trace element patterns and negative zircon εHf(t) values (−14.4 to −6.6), indicating they derived from partial melting of ancient crust. The 229 Ma hornblende-bearing granodiorites are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous (A/CNK = 0.96–1.01) and belong to high-K calc-alkaline I-type granites. They show depleted whole-rock Sr-Nd and zircon Hf isotope compositions (initial 87Sr/86Sr = 0.7027 to 0.7038, εNd(t) = 4.0 to 4.1, εHf(t) = 9.3 to 11.5), suggestive of derivation from partial melting of juvenile mafic crust. The 226 Ma trachyandesites are characterized by high MgO (4.1–4.6 wt.%), high Mg# (56) and arc-type geochemical affinities with enriched isotope compositions (initial 87Sr/86Sr = 0.7108 to 0.7111, εNd(t) = −7.7 to −7.5, εHf(t) = −6.3 to −3.5). These features indicate that their parental magmas derived from partial melting of enriched lithospheric mantle metasomatized by oceanic sediment-derived melts. These new data, in conjunction with spatial-temporal-temperature variations of igneous rocks, metamorphic records and stratigraphic changes in the region, suggest that the Ailaoshan Paleo-Tethyan ocean closed at the Early Triassic (ca. 250 Ma) which was followed by the Late Triassic postcollisional slab breakoff, and the ocean experienced westward unipolar subduction during its evolution with no assumed eastward subduction.

Hemoadhican, a Tissue Adhesion Hemostatic Material Independent of Blood Coagulation.

Uncontrolled hemorrhage is a leading cause of death, emphasizing the need for novel hemostatic agents. Here, a novel hemostatic polysaccharide hemoadhican (HD) is screened out by analyzing the rheological properties of screened material mixed blood sludges, which is prepared by mixing polysaccharide granules and whole blood to mimic the coagulation in vitro. HD is produced by a bacterial isolate Paenibacillus sp.1229, and the repeating units of HD are →)-α-L-Rhap-(1→3)-β-D-Glcp-(1→4)[4,6-ethylidene-α-D-Galp-(1→4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→3)]-α-D-Manp-(1→. Compared to chitosan and celox, HD achieves more effective hemostasis in animal models with mouse and rat femoral arteries, rat carotid arteries, and rabbit femoral arteries. Especially, HD maintains an excellent hemostatic capability in animals with heparin-induced hemorrhage diathesis. In vitro experiments show HD granules can quickly absorb a small amount of blood component to create a hemophobic blood sludge resistant to high pressure. The blood sludge firmly adheres to damaged tissue and efficiently repels blood. In vitro experiments show that HD does not actively trigger blood coagulation cascade and is independent of blood conditions including heparin treatment. In addition, HD moisturizes wounds and accelerates wound healing, exhibiting excellent biodegradability, and hemocompatibility. The results indicate that HD is a promising hemostatic material for treating traumatic hemorrhages and uncontrollable surgical bleeding.

Evidence of Uranotaenia sapphirina (Diptera: Culicidae) feeding on annelid worms in the Northeastern United States.

Mosquito host-feeding behavior is an important parameter for determining the vector potential of mosquito species in a given locale. Despite the recent discovery of Uranotaenia sapphirina Osten Sacken feeding on annelid hosts in Florida, host association studies for this mosquito species in the United States remain limited. To investigate the blood-feeding pattern of Ur. sapphirina in the northeastern United States, mosquitoes were collected from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey using CDC miniature light traps, peat fiber resting boxes, gravid traps, and backpack aspirators. Vertebrate and invertebrate hosts of this mosquito species were identified through PCR amplification and nucleotide sequencing of portions of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and the 28S ribosomal RNA gene, respectively. Of 21 (24.7%) specimens successfully identified to host species, 47.6% contained solely annelid blood, 14.3% mammalian blood, 14.3% avian blood, and 23.8% with mixed blood of annelid and avian origin. The mud earthworm, Sparganophilus tennesseensis Reynolds (Haplotaxida: Sparganophilidae), was identified as the most common host (n = 14, including mixed bloods), followed by American robin, Turdus migratorius (n = 7, including mixed bloods). Testing of these blood engorged mosquitoes for West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis virus did not result in any positive specimens. This is the first report of Ur. sapphirina feeding on annelids and on both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts in mixed bloodmeals in the northeastern United States. Our findings support the recent report of Ur. sapphirina feeding on invertebrates and further emphasizes the inclination of some mosquito species to feed on a wider range of hosts spanning nontraditional taxonomic groups.

Trophic preferences of Anopheles coluzzii (Diptera: Culicidae): what implications for malaria vector control in Benin?

The main objective of the present study is to assess the preferences in terms of vertebrate hosts of Anopheles coluzzii, the main malaria vector in the pastoral area of Malanville, Benin, where rice cultivation and livestock are the main source of income for the populations. Adult mosquitoes were collected through pyrethrum spray catch, and human landing catch in two communes in Benin: Malanville, a pastoral area, and Porto-Novo, a nonpastoral area. Molecular species identification was performed through PCR within the Anopheles gambiae complex. Blood meal origin and P. falciparum sporozoite infection were determined using ELISA blood meal and circumsporozoite protein tests, respectively. Overall, 97% of females of An. gambiae s.l. were An. coluzzii, with biting behavior more pronounced outdoors in the pastoral area. In Malanville, the main vertebrate hosts on which females An. coluzzii blood fed were goats (44%), humans (24.29%), bovines (22%), and pigs (1.4%). Our results also showed that single-host blood meals (human: 24.29% or animal: 68%) were mostly observed compared to mixed blood meals (8.58%). The human biting rate (HBR) and P. falciparum sporozoite rate (SR) of An. coluzzii were 66.25 bites/man/night and 0.77%, respectively. However, in the nonpastoral zone (Porto-novo), 93.98% of samples were An. coluzzii. The latter blood-fed mostly (86.84%) on humans, with an estimated HBR of 21.53 b/m/n and SR of 5.81%. The present study revealed an opportunistic and zoophagic behavior of An. coluzzii in the Malanville area with an overall low mean SR.

Improvement of Preparation Method of Rats Platelet-Rich Plasma and Quality Detection

To optimize the single centrifugation preparation protocol of rat platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The arterial blood of rats obtained by carotid artery intubation was collected by heparin sodium anticoagulant tubes, and then the blood divided into sterile EP tubes, adjusting the red blood cell concentration with normal saline, while rat PRP was prepared by centrifugation under different conditions (the centrifugal force was 200×g-240×g, and the centrifugal time was 8-12 min). Subsequently, the blood cell count and quality evaluation of anticoagulat whole blood and PRP were performed by hematology analyzer and flow cytometry, respectively, and the differences between different groups were compared. The red blood cell concentration to (5.5-6.5)×1012/L after anticoagulation of rat whole blood was good for PRP extraction. When the blood samples was centrifuged at 220×g for 10 min, the platelet recovery rate was the highest［(53.52±0.63)%］. The level of apoptosis and activation of plateles in PRP were not significantly different compared to whole blood(P>0.05), and the release level of growth factor was significantly increased(P<0.05). It is a key to improve the PRP extraction efficiency by reducing the amount of mixed red blood cell, and this study successfully modified the preparation method of rat PRP, with platelets high recovery rate and stable quality.

High cholesterol levels change the association of biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases with dementia risk: Findings from a population-based cohort.

This study assessed whether in a population with comorbidity of neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular disease (mixed pathology) the association of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and phosphorylated tau181 (p-tau181) with dementia risk varied depending on levels of total cholesterol and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 genotype. Plasma biomarkers were measured using Simoa technology in 768 participants of a nested case-control study embedded within an ongoing population-based cohort. Logistic and spline regression models, and receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated. The strength of the association between GFAP and NfL with risk of a clinical diagnosis of dementia changed depending on cholesterol levels and on APOE ε4 genotype. No significant association was seen with p-tau181. In individuals with mixed pathology blood GFAP and NfL are better predictors of dementia risk than p-tau181, and their associations with dementia risk are amplified by hypercholesterolemia, also depending on APOE ε4 genotype. Cholesterol levels changed the association of blood biomarkers with dementia risk. Blood biomarkers seem to perform differently in community- and clinic-based cohorts. Neurofilament light chain might be a biomarker candidate for dementia risk after stroke.

ALAD and APOE polymorphisms are associated with lead and mercury levels in Italian pregnant women and their newborns with adequate nutritional status of zinc and selenium

The impacts of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ALAD and VDR genes on Pb health effects and/or kinetics are inconclusive at low exposure levels, while studies including APOE SNPs are rare. In this study, we examined the associations of ALAD, VDR and APOE SNPs with exposure biomarkers of Pb and other trace elements (TEs) in Italian pregnant women (N = 873, aged 18–44 years) and their newborns (N = 619) with low-level mixed-element exposure through diet, the environment or endogenously. DNA from maternal peripheral venous blood (mB), sampled during the second and third trimesters, was genotyped for ALAD (rs1800435, rs1805313, rs1139488, rs818708), VDR (rs2228570, rs1544410, rs7975232, rs731236) and APOE (rs429358, rs7421) using TaqMan SNP assays. Personal and lifestyle data and TE levels (mB, maternal plasma, hair and mixed umbilical cord blood [CB]) from the PHIME project were used. Multiple linear regression models, controlling for confounding variables, were performed to test the associations between SNPs and TEs. The geometric means of mB-Pb, mB-Hg, mB-As and mB-Cd (11.0 ng/g, 2.16 ng/g, 1.38 ng/g and 0.31 ng/g, respectively) indicated low exposure levels, whereas maternal plasma Zn and Se (0.72 μg/mL and 78.6 ng/g, respectively) indicated adequate micronutritional status. Variant alleles of ALAD rs1800435 and rs1805313 were negatively associated with mB-Pb levels, whereas a positive association was observed for rs1139488. None of the VDR SNPs or their haplotypes had any association with Pb levels. Regarding APOE, the ϵ4 allele was associated with lower mB-Hg and CB-Hg, while a positive association was found with the ϵ2 allele and CB-Pb when the model included only newborn girls. The observed associations indicate possible modification effects of ALAD and APOE SNPs on Pb or Hg kinetics in women and their newborns with low exposure to non-essential TEs, as well as an adequate nutritional status of Zn and Se.