Anemia Status Research Articles

The effect of giving sweet potato leaf-based functional drink to increase HB levels

BeckgroundMenstruating young women experience twice as much iron loss as young men. One alternative effort that can be made is to provide functional drinks that are useful for overcoming anemia. Functional beverages must provide nutritional intake and sensory satisfaction, such as good taste and good texture, using sweet potato leaves (Ipomoea Batatas L). Sweet potato leaves are chosen as raw material because, besides being abundantly available and accessible to cultivate, they are also very cheap, so that they can reduce production costs. Pancalang Health Center is one of the Health Centers in the Kuningan Regency Area with reasonably high sweet potato cultivation. AimsThis study aims to determine the level of compliance with functional drink consumption, determine hemoglobin levels before and after functional drink intervention, describe anemia status before and after functional drink intervention, describe the effects of functional drink consumption, and nutritional status picture before and after consuming functional drink products. Research methodeThe study was conducted by quasi-experiment in one group (nonrandomized pre-test and post-test without control group design). Purposive sampling was carried out by Purposive Sampling on adolescents at the Pancalang Health Center, Kuningan Regency. Data collection was done by checking HB levels before the intervention and after the intervention. The intervention is carried out for 52 days. Resultsand Conclussion: The majority of respondents were compliant in consuming functional drinks, and only 7.5 % were non-compliant. The median before the intervention is 11 and after the intervention is 12 and a p value of <0,001 is obtained, meaning that statistically there is a significant difference between HB before the intervention and after the intervention. ContributionThere was a significant difference between Hb levels before the intervention and after the intervention, obtaining a p-value of <0.001.

Diet, Protein, Iron and Vitamin C Intake on Anemia Status of Adolescent Girls

Background: Anemia is a condition of the body in which the level of Hemoglobin (Hb) in the blood is below normal. Anemia in adolescents has an impact on decreased concentration, memory, and brain performance in adolescents, as well as stunted physical growth, first menstruation, decreased immunity and learning achievement. Objective to find out whether there is a relationship between diet, protein intake, iron intake and vitamin C intake on the anemia status of adolescent girl Methods: This research was conducted in May 2023. This type of research is a descriptive study with a cross-sectional research design. The sample size in this study was 70 respondents. The data for this research were taken by direct interviews using a questionnaire and a 3 × 24 hour Recall form with the results of Univariate and Bivariate data Results: The results of the study with univariate analysis showed that 4 students (5.7%) had anemia status. A good diet was 85.7%, protein intake was insufficient by 88.6%, iron intake was insufficient by 87.1%, and vitamin C intake was insufficient by 97.1%. The results of the cross-table analysis showed that female students with anemia had a poor diet of 75%, protein intake was 100%, iron intake was 100% insufficient, and vitamin C intake was insufficient by 100%. Conclusion: Bivariate analysis shows an F change value of 0.000 (&lt;0.05) meaning there is a significant relationship between the variables of diet, protein intake, iron intake and vitamin C intake on the anemia status of young women, and this relationship shows an R value: 0.603 meaning a relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable is strong.

The effect of late presentation on HIV related mortality among adolescents in public hospitals of north showa zone Oromiya, Ethiopia; 2022: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundLate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis is the most prominent cause of HIV/AIDS-related mortality and also increases the risk of transmission and spread of the disease in society. Adolescents are the most vulnerable population’s age group for HIV infection in several settings, but expanding access to early HIV testing remains a challenge. Consequently, a significant proportion of adolescents are still dying of HIV-related causes, and the current study aimed at assessing the effect of late presentation on HIV-related mortality among adolescents living with HIV.MethodsAn institutional-based retrospective cohort study was conducted from August 21–November 21, 2022, at selected public hospitals in the North Showa Zone of Oromiya, Ethiopia. All adolescents living with HIV who had received no ART and presented for ART follow-up at public hospitals from September 1, 2012, to August 31, 2021, were included in the study. Data entry was done by Epi-data version 3.1.1 software and exported to Stata version 16 for further analysis. Both bi-variable and multivariable analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazard model to compare the HIV-related mortality of early and late-presented adolescents using an adjusted hazard ratio at a 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsA total of 341 medical records of adolescents were included in the study, contributing an overall incidence rate of 3.15 (95% CI: 2.21–4.26) deaths per 100 person-years of observation throughout the total follow-up period of 1173.98 person-years. Adolescents with late presentation for HIV care had three times the higher hazard of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 3.00; 95% CI: 1.22–7.37) as compared to those with early presentation for HIV/AIDS care. Adolescents within the age range of 15–19 years old (aHR = 3.56; 95% CI: 1.44–8.77), rural residence (aHR = 2.81; 95% CI: 1.39–5.68), poor adherence to ART (aHR = 3.17; 95% CI: 1.49–6.76), and being anemic (aHR = 3.09; 95% CI: 1.52–6.29) were other independent predictors of HIV-related mortality.ConclusionThe study found a substantial link between HIV late presentation to care and mortality among adolescents. Residence, age, antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication adherence, and anemia status were also found to be other independent predictors of HIV-related mortality. To achieve the ultimate aim of lowering mortality among adolescents living with HIV, rigorous emphasis must be placed on early presentation for HIV/AIDS care. In addition, counseling on adherence and prompt diagnosis and treatment of anemia are highly recommended to reduce mortality.

A hierarchical cluster analysis for clinical profiling of tofacitinib treatment response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Tofacitinib is the first oral JAK inhibitor approved for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To enhance our understanding of tofacitinib drug response, we used hierarchical clustering to analyse the profiles of patient who responded to the treatment in a real-world setting. Patients who commenced on tofacitinib treatment were selected from 12 major rheumatology centres in Malaysia. The aim was to assess their response to tofacitinib defined as achieving DAS28-CRP/ESR ≤ 3.2 and DAS28 improvement > 1.2 at 12weeks. A hierarchical clustering analysis was performed using sociodemographic and clinical parameters at baseline. All 163 RA patients were divided into three clusters (Clusters 1, 2 and 3) based on specific clinical factors at baseline including bone erosion, antibody positivity, disease activity and anaemia status. Cluster 1 consisted of RA patients without bone erosion, antibody negative, low baseline disease activity measure and absence of anaemia. Cluster 2 comprised of patients without bone erosion, RF positivity, anti-CCP negativity, moderate to high baseline disease activity score and absence of anaemia. Cluster 3 patients had bone erosion, antibody positivity, high baseline disease activity and anaemia. The response rates to tofacitinib varied among the clusters: Cluster 1 had a 79% response rate, Cluster 2 had a 66% response rate, and Cluster 3 had a 36% response rate. The differences in response rates between the three clusters were found to be statistically significant. This cluster analysis study indicates that patients who are seronegative and have low disease activity, absence of bone erosion and no signs of anaemia may have a higher likelihood of benefiting from tofacitinib therapy. By identifying clinical profiles that respond to tofacitinib treatment, we can improve treatment stratification yielding significant benefits and better health outcomes for individuals with RA.

Screening of malaria infections in human blood samples with varying parasite densities and anaemic conditions using AI-Powered mid-infrared spectroscopy

BackgroundEffective testing for malaria, including the detection of infections at very low densities, is vital for the successful elimination of the disease. Unfortunately, existing methods are either inexpensive but poorly sensitive or sensitive but costly. Recent studies have shown that mid-infrared spectroscopy coupled with machine learning (MIRs-ML) has potential for rapidly detecting malaria infections but requires further evaluation on diverse samples representative of natural infections in endemic areas. The aim of this study was, therefore, to demonstrate a simple AI-powered, reagent-free, and user-friendly approach that uses mid-infrared spectra from dried blood spots to accurately detect malaria infections across varying parasite densities and anaemic conditions.MethodsPlasmodium falciparum strains NF54 and FCR3 were cultured and mixed with blood from 70 malaria-free individuals to create various malaria parasitaemia and anaemic conditions. Blood dilutions produced three haematocrit ratios (50%, 25%, 12.5%) and five parasitaemia levels (6%, 0.1%, 0.002%, 0.00003%, 0%). Dried blood spots were prepared on Whatman™ filter papers and scanned using attenuated total reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) for machine-learning analysis. Three classifiers were trained on an 80%/20% split of 4655 spectra: (I) high contrast (6% parasitaemia vs. negative), (II) low contrast (0.00003% vs. negative) and (III) all concentrations (all positive levels vs. negative). The classifiers were validated with unseen datasets to detect malaria at various parasitaemia levels and anaemic conditions. Additionally, these classifiers were tested on samples from a population survey in malaria-endemic villages of southeastern Tanzania.ResultsThe AI classifiers attained over 90% accuracy in detecting malaria infections as low as one parasite per microlitre of blood, a sensitivity unattainable by conventional RDTs and microscopy. These laboratory-developed classifiers seamlessly transitioned to field applicability, achieving over 80% accuracy in predicting natural P. falciparum infections in blood samples collected during the field survey. Crucially, the performance remained unaffected by various levels of anaemia, a common complication in malaria patients.ConclusionThese findings suggest that the AI-driven mid-infrared spectroscopy approach holds promise as a simplified, sensitive and cost-effective method for malaria screening, consistently performing well despite variations in parasite densities and anaemic conditions. The technique simply involves scanning dried blood spots with a desktop mid-infrared scanner and analysing the spectra using pre-trained AI classifiers, making it readily adaptable to field conditions in low-resource settings. In this study, the approach was successfully adapted to field use, effectively predicting natural malaria infections in blood samples from a population-level survey in Tanzania. With additional field trials and validation, this technique could significantly enhance malaria surveillance and contribute to accelerating malaria elimination efforts.

Impacts of anemia and its determinants among 6–59 months age children residing in Dayniile internally displaced person’s camps, Banadir region, Somalia

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The prevalence of anemia in children under 5 years of age is a multifaceted issue influenced by various factors, leading to diverse findings across studies. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among children under 5 years of age living in internally displaced persons camps in the Dayniile district of Somalia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2022 and July 2023 in Mogadishu, Somalia. Blood samples from children under 5 years of age were checked for malaria and parasites, as well as for hemoglobin, erythrocytes, hematocrit, mean cell volume, and hematocrit. SPSS version 27.0.1 was used for data analysis, involving descriptive and inferential statistics. Fisher’s exact test examined anemia associations due to low expected counts. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia among children under 5 years old was 17.6%. Anemia severity varied from mild (8.4%) to moderate (8.7%) to severe (0.5%). No significant correlation was found between a child’s primary caregiver and anemia status nor between anemia and sex, age, maternal factors, or family income sources. However, the presence of income from other relatives was statistically significant (P = 0.046*), indicating that financial support from extended family members may reduce the incidence of severe anemia in young adults. Children with a history of malaria had notably higher rates of mild and moderate anemia (25.0% and 75.0%, respectively) than those without. CONCLUSION: Our study, along with previous research, underscores the complexity of the prevalence of childhood anemia and its contributing factors. Addressing anemia in children from lower-income families and urban areas requires tailored intervention. In addition, controlling malaria and promoting breastfeeding are essential strategies for reducing the prevalence of anemia in young children. Overall, a multifaceted approach considering socioeconomic, health, and dietary factors is crucial for the well-being of children under 5 years old.

Knowledge of Intestinal Parasitic Infection and Anemia among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Ogun State

A study was conducted at General Hospital Ijebu Igbo antenatal section to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection and anemia in pregnant women. A questionnaire was administered to 42 pregnant women who attended the antenatal section of the clinic during the study period. Out of these 42 pregnant women, 18 (42.9%) provided both fecal and blood samples for parasitological and hematological analysis. 50% of the respondents fall within 16-25years age group, while those within 36-45years have the lowest percentage (22.2%). 50% have the knowledge of the helminth infection, out of the 9(50%) that have the knowledge, only 7(77.8%) have the knowledge of how the infection is being transmitted. Of 18 respondents, 13(72%) have the knowledge of anemia, and 5(28%) of them had no prior knowledge of it. The parasitological analysis revealed three intestinal parasite which are Ascaris lumbricoides (22.2%), Enterobius vermicularis (11.11%) and Entamoeba histolytica (5.56%). There were no reported cases of severe anaemic condition in this hospital based study. This suggests that the awareness level of anemia and parasitic infection is moderately high. Therefore, screening for intestinal parasites and deworming of infected pregnant women should be included in antenatal care.

Multiple Infections, Nutrient Deficiencies, and Inflammation as Determinants of Anemia and Iron Status during Pregnancy: The MINDI Cohort.

In pregnant women with multiple infections, nutrient deficiencies, and inflammation (MINDI), the study of anemia and iron status is limited. For this cross-sectional study (n = 213 Panamanian indigenous women), we investigated if hemoglobin, anemia (Hb < 110 g/L), ferritin, serum iron, serum transferrin receptor, and hepcidin were associated with (1) maternal nutritional status and supplementation practices, (2) biomarkers of inflammation, and (3) presence/absence of infections. Hierarchical generalized linear and logistic regression models and dominance analyses identified the relative importance of these predictors. Anemia (38%), which was likely underestimated due to low plasma volume (95%), was associated with lower ferritin, vitamin A, and weight-for-height, suggesting anemia of undernutrition. Inflammation was not associated with Hb or anemia; nevertheless, higher CRP was associated with increased odds of low serum iron and higher ferritin and hepcidin, indicating iron restriction due to inflammation. The length of iron supplementation did not enter models for anemia or iron indicators, but a multiple nutrient supplement was associated with higher ferritin and hepcidin. Moreover, iron supplementation was associated with higher odds of vaginal trichomoniasis but lower odds of caries and bacterial vaginosis. The complex pathogenesis of anemia and iron deficiency in MINDI settings may require other interventions beyond iron supplementation.

THE THE ROLE OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS ON HEMOGLOBIN LEVELS IN ADOLESCENTS

Background: Adolescents were one of the strong foundations for the future of the nation because of their role in development and progress of the country. Healthy physical and psychological conditions will form a strong and resilient adolescent character which is affected by adequate nutritional intake. So that if nutrients are not sufficient, it can cause disturbances in metabolic processes. Inadequate intake of nutrients such as protein and iron will aggravate the occurrence of anemia and lead to malnutrition. Indirectly, nutritional status will also affect the occurrence of anemia. Objectives: This study was to examine the relationship between nutritional status and adolescent hemoglobin levels. Methods: This study was an analytic study with Cross Sectional approach. Respondents were 46 students of SMP PGRI 01 Bantur in Malang regency conducted in August 2023. Independent variable was nutritional status using weight, height and Body mass index (BMI) and dependent variable was anemia using hemoglobin level. BMI was calculated using formula weight divided by height square. The analysis used both univariate and bivariate analysis. Bivariate analyzed using Spearman rank correlation test. Results: Results showed 76,1% adolescents classified normal nutritional, 19,6% overweight and 2,2% underweight and obese. The hemoglobin level, 86,9% normal and 13,1% anemia. Based on the results of statistical tests using rank spearman test, the p value = 0.044 less than 0,05. It means there was a significant correlation between nutritional status and anemia. Conclusion: There is a relationship between nutritional status with Hb levels in adolescents. Enrichment of nutritional intake will give big impact on nutritional and anemia status among adolescents.

Relationship of hemoglobin levels with outcomes in deceased donor kidney transplant: a retrospective cohort study.

Anemia is frequent in patients undergoing replacement therapy for kidney failure. Anemia in the pre- and post-transplantation period might be related to kidney transplant outcomes. The current study therefore sought to assess the relationship between anemia, delayed allograft function (DGF), chronic kidney allograft dysfunction (CAD), and death from any cause following kidney transplantation from a deceased donor. This was a retrospective study with 206 kidney transplant patients of deceased donors. We analyzed deceased donors' and kidney transplant patients' demographic data. Moreover, we compared biochemical parameters, anemia status, and medicines between DGF and non-DGF groups. Afterward, we performed a multivariate analysis. We also evaluated outcomes, such as CAD within one year and death in ten years. We observed a lower frequency of pre-transplant hemoglobin concentration (Hb) but higher frequency of donor-serum creatinine and red blood transfusion within one week after transplantation in the group with DGF. In addition, there was an independent association between Hb concentration before transplantation and DGF [OR 0.252, 95%CI: 0.159-0.401; p < 0.001]. There was also an association between Hb concentration after six months of kidney transplantation and both CAD [OR 0.798, 95% CI: 0.687-0.926; p = 0.003] and death from any cause. An association was found between pre-transplantation anemia and DGF and between anemia six months after transplantation and both CAD and death by any cause. Thus, anemia before or after transplantation affects the outcomes for patients who have undergone kidney transplantation from a deceased donor.

Validation of a prognostic nomogram for locally advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) ± systemic therapy (ST).

6088 Background: The interplay among prognosticators in OPC patients (pts) may be influenced by sociodemographic, geographic, epidemiologic and genetic features. We aimed to validate an existing prognostic nomogram (PN) (Fakhry et al 2017) in a large, independent, geographically homogeneous pt cohort. Methods: We retrospectively collected data on consecutive OPC pts treated with definitive IMRT (66-72 Gy) ± systemic therapy (ST) in 14 South-European Centres from 2007 to 2019. We analysed the role of the nomogram prognostic factors (PF) (T and N stage, age, p16 status, smoking, performance status, weight loss, anemia, education, and marital status) with respect to overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and we also evaluated alcohol abuse, comorbidities according to ACE-27 and the presence of a caregiver as added PF. The PN was evaluated in terms of discrimination performance (Harrel C-index) and calibration (ratio O/E and calibration line). Model was recalibrated evaluated via optimism adjusted C-index. Results: We considered 786 pts, with a median follow-up of 63 months (0-189). The table reports pts characteristics. The PN showed a good discrimination for OS and PFS both at 2- and 5-years, not dissimilar from original external validation, with a C-index of 0.75 (CI 95% 0.70-0.79,) and 0.68 (0.64-0.72), respectively. Adding alcohol abuse, comorbidities and caregiver presence did not change the PN. Regarding OS, the model estimated risk was slightly higher than the observed, with an O/E ratio of 0.73 (CI 95% 0.57-0.93) and 0.60 (0.49-0.74) at 2- and 5- years and calibration slope of 1.07 (0.83-1.31). For PFS, the O/E ratio was 0.48 (0.40-0.58) at 2 years and 0.50 (0.42-0.58) at 5 years, and a calibration slope of 0.89 (0.66-1.12). Both for OS and PFS rescaling of baseline hazard and model coefficients resulted in a better calibrated model. Model was validated also after missing data imputation, via MCE (m=5) showing consistent estimates. Conclusions: We validated the prognostic nomogram developed by Fakhry et al. in a large independent European cohort, demonstrating its applicability. These real-life data may represent the benchmark for the design of new prospective clinical trials.[Table: see text]

ANAEMIA, EXPECTANT MOTHERS AND DIETARY HABITS: ISSUES AND CONCERNS

The problem of anaemia among expectant mothers, instead of declining has increased over the years at the all India level and also in almost all the states of the country though differentially. These revelations come from the comparative analysis of the NFHS- 4 and NFHS- 5 data on anaemia released in the year 2000 and 2022 respectively. A review of the studies attributes the problem to inadequate nutritious food available to the expectant mothers during the period of pregnancy when the need of the body for iron and calcium increases for the proper growth of the foetus. In the absence of which the women are unable to bear the pressures of bleeding in the pre and post delivery period, leading to low weight baby birth and premature births, and at times resulting in high maternal mortality. This paper examines the status of anaemia among expectant mothers and its relationship with dietary habits.

HUBUNGAN TINGKAT PENGETAHUAN TENTANG ANEMIA PADA STATUS GIZI DAN KADAR HEMOGLOBIN REMAJA PUTRI DI DESA BANTARSARI, BOGOR, JAWA BARAT

Based on Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) in 2018, the prevalence of anemia in adolescent was 32%. Anemia in teenage girls have negative impacts on pregnancy in the future. This study was to find out the knowledge of anemia and nutrition, the percentage of anemia, whether there were relationship between the knowledge about anemia and nutritional status, and the relationship between the knowledge about anemia and hemoglobin levels in teenage girls in Bogor. This research was a cross sectional study. Data were collected by filling out questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and hemoglobine levels. The subjects were female students, 12 to 20 years from 2 schools at Bantarsari Village, Bogor, December 2022. It was found that 25 subjects (22.1%) had poor nutritional status, 23 subjects (20.4%) suffered from anemia and the majority of research subjects had fairly good knowledge (92.9%). In the Bivariate test, a significant relationship was found between the level of knowledge of research subjects and the level of anemia (P = 0.009) and a significant relationship was obtained between the level of knowledge of research subjects and nutritional status (P = 0.003). Therefore it is important to increase the knowledge of teenage girls about anemia.

The effect of dietary diversity on anemia levels among children 6-23 months in sub-Saharan Africa: A multilevel ordinal logistic regression model.

Anemia is the most common hematologic disorder of children worldwide. Since dietary diversity is a main requirement of children is to get all the essential nutrients, it can thus use as one of the basic indicator when assessing the child's anemia. Although dietary diversity plays a major role in anemia among children in sub-Saharan Africa, there is little evidence of an association between the dietary diversity and anemia level to identified potential strategies for prevention of anemia level in sub-Saharan Africa. To examine the association between dietary diversity and anemia levels among children aged 6-23 months in sub-Saharan Africa. The most recent Demographic and Health Surveys from 32 countries in SSA were considered for this study, which used pooled data from those surveys. In this study, a total weighted sample of 52,180 children aged 6-23 months was included. The diversity of the diet given to children was assessed using the minimum dietary diversity (MDD), which considers only four of the seven food groups. A multilevel ordinal logistic regression model was applied due to the DHS data's hierarchical structure and the ordinal nature of anemia. With a p-value of 0.08, the Brant test found that the proportional odds assumption was satisfied. In addition, model comparisons were done using deviance. In the bi-variable analysis, variables having a p-value ≤0.2 were taken into account for multivariable analysis. The Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was presented for potential determinants of levels of anemia in the multivariable multilevel proportional odds model. The overall prevalence of minimum dietary diversity and anemia among children aged 6-23 months were 43% [95% CI: 42.6%, 43.4%] and 72.0% [95% CI: 70.9%, 72.9%] respectively. Of which, 26.2% had mild anemia, 43.4% had moderate anemia, and 2.4% had severe anemia. MDD, being female child, being 18-23 months age, born from mothers aged ≥25, taking drugs for the intestinal parasite, higher level of maternal education, number of ANC visits, middle and richer household wealth status, distance of health facility and being born in Central and Southern Africa were significantly associated with the lower odds of levels of anemia. Contrarily, being 9-11- and 12-17-months age, size of child, having fever and diarrhea in the last two weeks, higher birth order, stunting, wasting, and underweight and being in West Africa were significantly associated with higher odds of levels of anemia. Anemia was a significant public health issue among children aged 6-23 months in sub-Saharan Africa. Minimum dietary diversity intake is associated with reduced anemia in children aged 6 to 23 months in sub-Saharan Africa. Children should be fed a variety of foods to improve their anemia status. Reducing anemia in children aged 6-23 months can be achieved by raising mother education levels, treating febrile illnesses, and improve the family's financial situation. Finally, iron fortification or vitamin supplementation could help to better reduce the risk of anemia and raise children's hemoglobin levels in order to treat anemia.

AUTOMATED ANAEMIA DETECTION FROM CONJUNCTIVA IMAGES : A MACHINE LEARNING APPROACH FOR ANDROID APPLICATION

Anaemia is a common global disorder condition in which the red blood cell count is lower than normal. Traditional diagnostic methods often prove costly, invasive, and inaccessible, leading to delays in treatment and severe consequences. This study explores non-invasive techniques leveraging smartphone technology for efficient anaemia detection. Some researcher investigated that eye’s conjunctiva analysis can a viable alternative, considering its rich blood vessel network and sensitivity to anaemia indicators, independent of skin color. Utilizing smartphone cameras, the study establishes a robust correlation between the color of the conjunctiva and anaemia status, offering a promising avenue for non-invasive diagnosis. Employing a hybrid methodology, the study integrates You Only Look Once (YOLO) version 8 for efficient object detection, achieving a mean average precision of 96% in extracting Regions of Interest (ROI) from conjunctiva images. Subsequently, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) classification of features extracted from these ROI’s attained an 83% accuracy rate in determining anaemia status. Furthermore, the study aims to extend its impact by developing an Android application using the Flutter framework. This application integrates the established YOLO and KNN approaches, enabling real-time anaemia detection through smartphone cameras. Such a tool holds the potential to facilitate early evaluations in resource-constrained regions, enabling timely diagnosis and intervention, thus mitigating the adverse effects of untreated anaemia.

The Outcome of Use of Intravenous Iron Carboxymaltose on the NYHA Class and the Six-Minute Walk-Test in Patients with Heart Failure: Assessing Functional Improvement

BACKGROUND: Chronic heart failure (CHF) significantly impairs quality of life and exercise capacity, often exacerbated by concurrent iron deficiency. Intravenous ferric-carboxymaltose (FCM) has shown promise in addressing these deficiencies, improving both biomarkers of iron status and functional outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of intravenous ferric-carboxymaltose on functional class and exercise capacity, as measured by the six-minute walk-test (6MWT), in patients with iron-deficient chronic heart failure. METHODS: This prospective, single-arm study was conducted from April to September 2023 at the Cardiology unit of Frontier Corps Teaching Hospital, Shakas Peshawar, and Mardan Medical Complex, Mardan, Pakistan. Participants underwent baseline evaluations including demographic information, medical histories, physical examinations, and functional tests such as the 6MWT. Follow-up evaluations after three months of FCM therapy assessed changes in functional indicators. Statistical analyses included tests for significance and descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Sixty patients participated, with a mean age of 55.87 ± 13.22 years and a mean BMI of 28.14 ± 9.71 kg/m^2. Initial assessments showed a mean LVEF of 33.54 ± 6.68%, with 75% classified as NYHA class III. Baseline 6MWT completion was 10 laps. Initial mean hemoglobin was 11.82 g%, MCV 78.48 fl, TSat 20.43%, and serum iron 50.55 mcg/dL. After treatment, hemoglobin increased to 13.65 g%, MCV to 80.23 fl, TSat to 23.05%, and serum iron to 55.40 mcg/dL. Participants completed 19 laps in the 6MWT, with 63.34% improving to NYHA class II. P-values were &lt;0.0001 for these changes, indicating statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Intravenous ferric-carboxymaltose significantly enhances functional capacity and iron status in patients with CHF and iron deficiency, irrespective of anemia status. Future research should explore how comorbid conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and renal failure influence treatment outcomes.

Analysis of mutational variations in TP53 tumour suppressor gene among Pakistani head and neck cancer patients.

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of TP53 mutation among Pakistani head and neck cancer (HNC) patients who visited Nishtar Hospital Multan and Nishtar Institute of Dentistry (NID), Multan, Pakistan. While significant research has been conducted on the role of p53 in HNC throughout the world, this study is the first of its kind in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 242 samples (121 cases and 121 controls) were collected from Nishtar Hospital Multan and NID, Multan, Pakistan. After histopathological analysis to determine the stage type and grade of malignancy, DNA extraction and sequencing were carried out to assess any mutations in the TP53 region (exons 5-8). Genetic screening was performed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) technique and Chromas 2.6.6 was used to visualise the sequencing results. The mean age of cases was 50.73 ±16.41 years and controls were 37.55 ± 15.51 years. The frequency of HNC was higher in male patients (65.28%) than in female patients (34.71%). Overall, this cancer was found to be significantly more prevalent in the age group of >35-55 years (p < 0.001). Smoking (51% versus 14%), naswar usage (15.7% versus 6.6%), poor oral hygiene (52.9% versus 29.8%) and anemic status (57.0% versus 4.1%) were significantly associated with cases (p ≤ 0.05) compared to controls. Only 04 samples exon 5 (1 sample), exon 7 (2 samples) and exon 8 (1 sample) with changed mobility patterns were found on the SSCP gel. All mutations were missense and heterozygous. Out of four mutant samples, three mutations were in the hotspot regions (codon 175, 245 and 248) of p53. Based on this study, there may be a weak association between the TP53 exon 5-8 mutation and HNC patients in Southern Punjab, Pakistan.

Prevalnce of Anemia and Associated Factors in Jashore District of Bangladesh – A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Anemia is a global public health problem affecting both developing and developed countries with major consequences on human health as well as social and economic development. It occurs at all stages of the life cycle but is more prevalent in pregnant women and young children. Anemia during pregnancy is a major cause of morbidity and mortality of pregnant women in developing countries and has both maternal and fetal consequences. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with anemia in Bangladeshi human subjects, especially women. Methodology: This cross-sectional survey was held on human subjects (N=528), of which 4% were children (n=27), 27% male (n=141), 33% non-pregnant female (n=173) and 36% pregnant female (n=187). The signs and symptoms of participants were also considered. The study participants for this study were people who were categorized as: children 6-59 months, children 5-11 years, children 12-14 years, men (15 years of age and above), non-pregnant women (15 years of age and above) and female (pregnant). The survey was held on 528 patients of children (27), male (141), non-pregnant female (173) and pregnant female (187). The questionnaire had been developed including the basic information about anemia associated with dietary habits and relevant factors in details. The questionnaire contained seven section: background information, personal information, history of patients, dietary information, signs and symptoms, diagnostic information and pregnancy status for females. Blood samples of the subjects had been tested for percentage value of hemoglobin. Results: The anemic children were affected by thalassemia genetically. Among the people, more than 50% were below 6 months of age. More than 80% of anemic patients had been found suffering from different diseases. Of them, 10% patients suffered from accidental blood loss. Among the female anemic patients, 63% had been habituated with excessive menstrual bleeding. Pregnant women had been found suffering from mild to moderate anemia (characterized by hemoglobin concentration) but non-pregnant had been noticed with moderate anemia. This might be due to the undiagnosed mild anemic condition in non-pregnant female. Almost 65% of pregnant women had children and among them, 58% had previous pregnancy within last 2 years. In our observation, 25% of the anemic pregnant women had previous abortion history and 34% affected by bleeding during pregnancy. The education level was below secondary in 55% of anemic adult patient. Conclusion: Mild to moderate anemia prevails among the study subjects. Their lifestyle modification especially intake of iron rich food and suppliments seem apt in overcoming this crisis.

The relationship between anaemia and the use of treated bed nets among pregnant and non-pregnant women in Ghana.

Studies have indicated that the risk of malaria, particularly its association with anaemia in pregnant women, increases when treated bed nets are not used. This paper utilizes a statistical mechanical model to investigate whether there is a statistical relationship between the presence or absence of anaemia in pregnant and non-pregnant women and their decision to sleep under treated bed nets. Data from the Ghana Malaria Indicator Survey (GMIS), which includes both rural and urban malaria-endemic areas in Ghana, were employed in this study. A total of 2,434 women, comprising 215 pregnant and 2,219 non-pregnant participants, were involved. Among these, 4.76% of the pregnant and anaemic women and 45.89% of the non-pregnant and anaemic women slept under treated bed nets, while 0.86% of the pregnant and anaemic and 6.82% of the non-pregnant and anaemic women did not. The findings revealed that, in the absence of social interaction, non-anaemic pregnant women have a lower prevalence of choosing to use bed nets compared to their anaemic counterparts. Additionally, non-pregnant anaemic women showed a positive private incentive (30.87%) to use treated bed nets, implying a positive correlation between anaemia and the choice to sleep in a treated bed net. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that both pregnancy and anaemia status have a relationship with the use of treated bed nets in Ghana, especially when social interactions are considered. The interaction strength between non-pregnant and anaemic women interacting with each other shows a negative estimate (-1.49%), implying that there is no rewarding effect from imitation. These insights are crucial for malaria prevention and control programs, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to enhance the use of treated bed nets among both pregnant and non-pregnant women in Ghana's malaria-endemic regions.

Epidemiological investigation of iron deficiency among preschool children in 10 provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities in China

Objective: To understand the current status of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia among preschool children in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a multi-stage stratified sampling method to select 150 streets or townships from 10 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities (East: Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, and Hainan; Central: Henan; West: Chongqing, Shaanxi, Guizhou, and Xinjiang; Northeast: Liaoning). From May 2022 to April 2023, a total of 21 470 children, including community-based children aged 0.5 to<3.0 years receiving child health care and kindergarten-based children aged 3.0 to<7.0 years, were surveyed. They were divided into 3 age groups: infants (0.5 to<1.0 year), toddlers (1.0 to<3.0 years), and preschoolers (3.0 to<7.0 years). Basic information such as sex and date of birth of the children was collected, and peripheral blood samples were obtained for routine blood tests and serum ferritin measurement. The prevalence rates of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia were analyzed, and the prevalence rate differences were compared among different ages, sex, urban and rural areas, and regions using the chi-square test. Results: A total of 21 460 valid responses were collected, including 10 780 boys (50.2%). The number of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers were 2 645 (12.3%), 6 244 (29.1%), and 12 571 (58.6%), respectively. The hemoglobin level was (126.7±14.8) g/L, and the serum ferritin level was 32.3 (18.5, 50.1) μg/L. The overall rates of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia were 10.4% (2 230/21 460), 28.3% (6 070/21 460), and 3.9% (845/21 460), respectively. The prevalence rate of anemia was higher for boys than for girls (10.9% (1 173/10 780) vs. 9.9% (1 057/10 680), χ2=5.58, P=0.018), with statistically significant differences in the rates for infants, toddlers and preschoolers (18.0% (475/2 645), 10.6% (662/6 244), and 8.7% (1 093/12 571), respectively, χ2=201.81, P<0.01), and the rate was significantly higher for children in rural than that in urban area (11.8% (1 516/12 883) vs. 8.3% (714/8 577), χ2=65.54, P<0.01), with statistically significant differences in the rates by region (χ2=126.60, P<0.01), with the highest rate of 15.8% (343/2 173) for children in Central region, and the lowest rate of 5.3% (108/2 053) in Northeastern region. The prevalence rates of iron deficiency were 33.8% (895/2 645), 32.2% (2 011/6 244), and 25.2% (3 164/12 571) in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, respectively, and 30.0% (3 229/10 780) in boys vs. 26.6% (2 841/10 680) in girls, 21.7% (1 913/8 821), 40.0% (870/2 173), 27.1% (2 283/8 413), 48.9% (1 004/2 053) in Eastern, Central, Western, and Northeastern regions, respectively, and each between-group showed a significant statistical difference (χ2=147.71, 29.73, 773.02, all P<0.01). The prevalence rate of iron-deficiency anemia showed a significant statistical difference between urban and rural areas, 2.9% (251/8 577) vs. 4.6% (594/12 883) (χ2=38.62, P<0.01), while the difference in iron deficiency prevalence was not significant (χ2=0.51, P=0.476). Conclusions: There has been a notable improvement in iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia among preschool children in China, but the situation remains concerning. Particular attention should be paid to the prevention and control of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia, especially among infants and children in the Central, Western, and Northeastern regions of China.