Voluntary Donors Research Articles

Frequency of Blood Donor Deferrals in Urban Population among Random Voluntary Donors and Evaluation of Gross Differences in Various Study Groups

Introduction: The most important aspect of the blood donor selection criteria is the selection of Healthy donors for donating blood to safeguard the health of the donor as well as the patient. Based on the selection criteria donors are considered either fit or unfit (deferred) to donate blood. Aim: Primary aim of the study is to analyze and evaluate the various causes of donor deferrals in comparison to different regional studies with special emphasis on temporary donor deferrals, in order to retain them as potential future donors. Materials & Methods: A retrospective study was conducted with available data of all donors registered between May 2022 and Dec 2023. Donor deferral data was analyzed for various causes of deferral patterns. Results: A total of 2003 donors registered for voluntary blood donation out of which 244(80.79%) were accepted for donation and 302(15.07 %.) were deferred for various reasons. Total number of temporary deferrals were 244(80.79%) and permanent deferrals were 58(19.20%). Discussion: The overall deferral rate in this study was 15.48%. Low Hemoglobin (36.09%) was the commonest cause for temporary deferral and the commonest age group which had maximum deferrals was 18---25 yrs. Hypertension was the main cause of permanent deferral. Conclusion: The incidence of donor deferral can be reduced by furnishing the appropriate information related to blood donations and educating the general public and blood donors through awareness programs. Follow up of the donors must be encouraged to remove the negative feeling in deferred donors to make them potential future donors.

Low Prevalence of Anti-HBc Antibody and Lack of HBV DNA Among HBsAg-Negative Blood Donors in Iran: A Cross-sectional Study and Review of Literature.

Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) refers to the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the serum or liver of individuals who tested negative for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). This study aimed to determine seropositivity for antibodies against HBV core antigen (anti-HBc) and the frequency of OBI among the HBsAg non-reactive blood donors in Mashhad, northeastern Iran. In this cross-sectional study, serum samples of HBsAg-negative blood donors were examined for anti-HBc during June and August 2018. Anti-HBc-positive samples were tested for antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs), and those with negative results were classified as isolated anti-HBc cases. The presence of HBV DNA in the C, S, and X gene regions was assessed by a qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method in all HBsAg-negative samples. OBI subjects were detected by the presence of at least one HBV genomic region. Of 540 HBsAg-negative donors, 29 (5.4%; 95% confidence interval: 3.6-7.6%) showed seroreactivity for anti-HBc, of whom 18 individuals were also seropositive for anti-HBs. All donors showed negative results for all three HBV genes regardless of their serum anti-HBc status. Based on our findings, we suggest routine screening of Iranian blood donation volunteers for serum anti-HBc and anti-HBs but not HBV DNA.

Whole-body donation through the lens of Shona culture and Christian religion in Zimbabwe.

Voluntary donation is the ethically acceptable method for whole-body acquisition for anatomy education worldwide. In Africa, educational institutions struggle with this since many people remain unwilling to donate their bodies due to the strong influence of cultural and religious beliefs in decision-making. As part of wider efforts to improve the ethical sourcing of bodies in Zimbabwean medical schools, which are heavily reliant on unclaimed bodies, this study sought to determine the influences traditional and religious beliefs have on such decisions. We ascertained traditional and religious leaders' knowledge of whole-body donation, explored cultural and religious views toward death, dying and whole-body donation as well as their underlying reasons. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with traditional chiefs and Christian leaders who are considered the custodians of Zimbabwean traditional cultural and Christian values, respectively. Thematic analysis of traditional chiefs' interviews revealed that none of the chiefs had accurate knowledge regarding whole-body donation or the processes involved. Due to set traditional practices around death, most traditional chiefs viewed the practice as foreign with possible negative repercussions to the dissectors. Most of the Christian leaders had knowledge of whole-body donation. Their views were split between support for whole-body donation and regard as a religious and cultural misfit. Overall, both traditional chiefs and Christian leaders understood the importance of whole-body donation and requested further societal sensitization and education if the practice is to become socially acceptable.

Prevalence and Trends of Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, and Human Immunodeficiency Viruses Over Half a Decade Among Healthy Blood Donors Across Sindh, Pakistan.

Pakistan has a high prevalence of viral hepatitis andthese transfusion-transmitted illnesses (TTIs) pose a major hazard to the health of patients who need blood transfusions, which has a negative impact on the affordability and accessibility of safe blood products in underfunded or less strengthened healthcare systems. While selecting a donor for blood donation, he/she must be healthy enough to donate 500 mL of whole blood, but some of them who were considered the healthiest community were caught to be reactive while getting screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which reflects the true prevalence of these illnesses in this specific population. To study the seroprevalence and trends of HBV, HCV, and HIV in healthy blood donors of Sindh, Pakistan. Blood donated by healthy donors from Sindh, collected from January 2018 to December 2022, was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) at 185 blood centers running under the umbrella of Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority Pakistan (SBTA). The results of serological screening tests for HBV, HCV, and HIV performed from January 2018 to December 2022revealed a continuously increasing trend of all infections. The total number of blood donations in the blood banks across the province showed a progressive increase from 22,822 donors in 2018 to 937,039 donors in 2022, which is 14.21% of the total increase. Among 4,199,195 donors screened from the said period, 3,821,268 (91%) were replacement donors while only 3,77,927 (9%) were voluntary donors. Among them 3,870,598 (92.2%) were males and only 3,285,97 (7.8%) were females, whereas with regardto donors' age, most of them i.e. 2,664,648 (63%), fallin the 29-39 years age group. Overall, from 2018 to 2022, out of a total of 4,199,195 individuals screened, 81,266 (1.94%) tested positive for HCV, 71,688 (1.7%) tested positive for HBV, and 6,711 (0.15%) tested positive for HIV. The total number of positive cases across all three infections was 159,665 (3.80%). The overall average seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV, and anti-HIV among blood donors of 185 blood banks, for five years, was 2.78%, 3.82%, 3.65%, 4.15%, and 4.04%, respectively. The study highlights a concerning increase in the prevalence of HCV, HBV, and HIV among blood donors in Sindh, Pakistan, over the five-year period. It underscores the importance of continued surveillance, prevention, and intervention strategies to address these infections. The recommendations include the promotion of voluntary blood donors and screening of donated blood through a highly sensitive screening assay (nucleic acid testing). There should be centralized blood collection systems having better personnel and equipment, and non-remunerated voluntary blood donations must be strongly encouraged. All these, however, requirestrong political commitment and multisector engagement with comprehensive policy implementation.

Evaluating the effectiveness of three communication modes in promoting repeat voluntary donation behavior in first-time blood donors at a tertiary care blood center in North India

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Due to rapid technological advancements, several new methods such as telephone (TP), e-mail, social media, WhatsApp (WA), and Short Message Services are being used as effectively among blood centers worldwide for postdonation communication with blood donors’ education and motivation to recruit and retain them as repeat and regular voluntary nonremunerated blood donors. The present study was aimed at determining the effectiveness of WA, TP, and personal communications (PCs) as modes of communication to recruit and retain first-time replacement blood donors to become repeat and regular voluntary blood donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This 1-year observational prospective study was conducted in the Post Graduate Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion in Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu. Three hundred first-time blood donors selected for the study were divided into three groups comprising 100 blood donors each as per the mode of communication strategy adopted, namely postdonation PC, TP, and WA groups. RESULTS: The repeat donation rate was highest in the TP group (61%), followed by the WA group (47%) and PC group (37%). The mean repeat donation was found to be significant in the TP group (P = 0.007) and WA group (P = 0.021) as compared PC group while there was no significant difference between the TP group and WA groups (0.751). CONCLUSION: In our study, it was found that of the three communication modes, namely personal, TP, and WA, telephonic communication with a repeat donation rate of 61% was the most effective mode of communication in for motivating and converting first-time blood donors into repeat regular voluntary blood donors.

Understanding Attitudes and Perceptions Towards Blood Donation in Greece: An Analysis Aligned with the Health Belief Model

IntroductionThis study explores attitudes toward blood donation in Greece, where maintaining an adequate supply is challenging. Using the Health Belief Model, we examine factors like perceived severity, vulnerability, and self-efficacy.ObjectivesThe main aims of this study are to assess public perceptions and barriers concerning blood shortage in Greece, and to identify motivators and self-efficacy levels for regular blood donation.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to a sample of Greek adults. The questionnaire was designed based on the constructs of the Health Belief Model and included questions related to perceived severity, vulnerability, self-efficacy, and barriers and facilitators to blood donation. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the responses, calculating means and standard deviations (SDs) for each variable.ResultsPerceived Severity and VulnerabilityParticipants in our study show a heightened awareness of the severity of blood shortages, especially in summer months and during increased surgical interventions. They also acknowledge Greece’s dependency on more than just voluntary donations to meet blood supply needs. These findings align with the Health Belief Model’s constructs of perceived severity and vulnerability, suggesting avenues for promoting donation.Perceived Benefits and BarriersA significant 74% of participants believe they can regularly donate blood and plan to do so in the next six months. However, fear of needles, health concerns, and fears of transmissible diseases act as barriers. According to the Health Belief Model, targeting these barriers could facilitate blood donation.Self-EfficacyA high percentage (74%, SD=5) of participants displayed strong self-efficacy, suggesting they are likely to engage in blood donation if encouraged. This aligns with the Health Belief Model’s emphasis on self-efficacy as a motivator for health actions.Cues to ActionParticipants identified informational campaigns, digital reminders, and social encouragement as cues to action, with a disfavor for financial incentives. These cues could serve as triggers for blood donation, consistent with the Health Belief Model.ConclusionsBy aligning these findings with the Health Belief Model, it becomes evident that there are strong perceptions of severity and vulnerability, but also considerable barriers to overcome. The high self-efficacy among participants and the cues to action identified could serve as bases for targeted interventions to improve blood donation rates.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

INSIGHTS INTO BODY DONOR’S ATTITUDES AND PERSPECTIVES; A SURVEY ON VOLUNTARY BODY DONATION

The study delves into the motivations behind voluntary body donation (VBD) by conducting a retrospective analysis of 120 registered body donors at the Department of Rachana Shareera, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Hassan. The historical context of body donation is explored, tracing its roots back to Hindu religious literature and highlighting key milestones, such as the enactment of the Anatomy Act in India in 1948. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the reasons driving individuals to voluntarily donate their body after death. The materials include the body donor register and relevant literature from Ayurvedic classical texts, contemporary science, journals, publications, and articles. The methods involve a retrospective analysis of the registered voluntary body donors. The study sheds light on the multifaceted reasons behind voluntary body donation, providing insights that can support educational and awareness initiatives in promoting Voluntary body donation. KEY WORDS: Voluntary Body donation, Body Donors

Tourists' willingness to fund local investments in renewable energy: A contingent valuation study from the Galápagos Islands

Renewable energy technologies may have positive socioeconomic and environmental consequences at the local, regional, and global levels. However, transitioning to renewable energy sources requires substantial capital investments, which calls for alternative funding mechanisms, particularly in developing areas. In this study, we used the contingent valuation method to assess the economic feasibility of voluntary contributions from tourists to fund renewable energy projects in the Galápagos Islands, a renowned tourist destination. Of the 336 tourists who completed our survey, 42.3 % were willing to donate. Estimation results based on logit models indicate that the likelihood of giving is inversely related to the donation amount and positively related to the perceived consequentiality of our study and the tourists' familiarity with renewable energy. Conservative estimates indicate that the median tourist would make a one-time donation of US$ 85 to finance the transition to renewable energy. We conclude that voluntary donations from tourists can accelerate the transition to renewable energy and thus help the Galápagos Islands reach their goal of decarbonizing the islands by 2030.

Profile of Blood Donors and Reasons for Deferral at a District Hospital in North Goa

Introduction: A blood transfusion is a life-sustaining procedure in several medical and surgical conditions. It isvital that an adequate inventory of safe blood is established by implementing stringent donor selection criteria andscreening for transfusion transmitted infections by ultrasensitive methods of detection. Despite a huge population,scarcity of blood lingers nationwide and it is important to analyse the varied reasons of deferrals in order to lessenthe deferrals in the future.The aim of this paper is to scrutinise the demographic profile of blood donors and evaluate the patterns andreasons for donor deferral at North Goa District hospital, India.Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study carried out at the Blood Centre , North Goa Districthospital,India,. All those who registered for donation between June 2022 till May 2023 were included in the study.The donors were screened by a questionnaire followed by medical examination and were selected or deferredbased on the guidelines laid down by Drugs and Cosmetics Act,1940 and Directorate General of Health Services,MoHFW,Govt of India1.2 .Data was collected using a proforma and analysed by SPSS software wherever indicated.Results: During this time period, 2611 donors registered for blood donation, out of which 425 donors were deferreddue to diverse reasons. Most of the donors were voluntary donors(98.3%) of which majority were males(86.4%).The commonest cause of deferral in males was high BP(24%) and high Hb(11.3%) whereas the commonest cause ofdeferrals in females was low Hb (46.9%). Most of the donors were rejected due to temporary reasons(97.1%). Thecommonest reason of permanent deferrals was a medical history of uncontrolled DM.

Legal regulation of human somatic rights: transplantation of human organs and biological tissues in Ukraine and foreign countries

The article examines the problems of legal regulation of transplantation of organs and tissues of the human body in Ukraine and foreign countries. Emphasis is placed on legal and ethical difficulties arising in the field of transplantology. It is noted that the right to «mechanize the body» has a number of specific features, namely: the specific nature of the object of these rights - the human body, which is the object of property rights and currently has mainly a monetary value expression; natural dependence on knowledge of biology, genetics, medicine, technology. Their existence and implementation are possible only with the help of achievements of scientific and technical progress; novelty, which has a different degree of expression, depending on the type of protected result of disposal of body or life; ambiguous attitude from the side of religion, morality, ethics, politics; inextricable connection with constitutional (fundamental) human rights in view of the special connection with personal (natural) rights and the peculiarity as an independent group of human rights; exclusivity in terms of its legal consequences in the process and as a result of their implementation. With any change in the physical embodiment of a person, the subjective aspect of legal relations changes, that is, many connections of various branches of legal regulation (civil, marital and family, constitutional, etc.) are affected; the degree of their recognition and implementation reflects the level of development of the state and society in general, etc. It is emphasized that individual somatic rights are reflected both in the legislation of Ukraine and in the legislation of foreign countries. For example, the right to transplant organs in national legislation is not used as a right to dispose of one's body, but as a certain necessity, a medical indication. In order to regulate the issue of organ donation, the legislation of individual states prescribes the practice of establishing special procedures for obtaining the donor's consent to extract a transplant from him (Belgium, Greece, Turkey). Given the lack of transplants for transplant operations, it is important to develop educational work at the state level, explaining to citizens the need to issue voluntary consents for the posthumous use of their donor material. It is worth making proposals for the development and adoption of the State Program of Ukraine aimed at the development of donation. This program should provide organizational, legal and preventive state measures for the promotion and development of legal donation in Ukraine; proposals for the development of a national legal mechanism aimed at encouraging voluntary posthumous donation, which would be based on the lifetime legally formalized consent of potential donors to the posthumous free use of their donor material.

Historical trends and current experiences of anatomical body donation in two Zimbabwean medical schools

BackgroundBody donation is integral to anatomy education, but procurement can be ethically fraught. While voluntary donation is preferred, the use of unclaimed bodies, although considered unethical, is a primary means for body procurement in some countries. This mixed methods study examined historical trends and anatomy technical staff perspectives on body donation in two Zimbabwean medical schools. Methodology and main findingsIn Phase 1, 194 cadaver paper records from January 1984 to January 2021 were reviewed. Unclaimed bodies accounted for 67% while 33% (all white Zimbabweans) were voluntarily donated. Most cadavers were black Africans (62.4%) followed by white Zimbabweans (34.0%). Race was not indicated in seven (3.6%) records. In Phase 2, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven technicians responsible for sourcing cadavers at the two institutions. Data were thematically analysed resulting in the development of eight themes, arranged into three domains. Cadaver procurement themes related to (1) cadaver source, (2) adherence to procurement guidelines, (3) screening for suitability, and (4) cultural and religious beliefs. Cadaver embalmment focused on (5) embalming practices, and (6) hospital mortuary-based embalming. Finally, (7) disposal processes and (8) resource constraints were found to influence cadaver disposal practices. ConclusionsContrary to best practice, there is continued reliance on the use of unclaimed bodies to support anatomy education in the two Zimbabwean medical schools. Improving the ethical sourcing of bodies requires increased efforts to educate all Zimbabweans, especially the black majority, about the role and importance of voluntary body donation in medical education. Additionally, well-structured, and well-resourced body donation programs could enhance ethical procurement.

Characteristics and Motivational Factors of Whole Blood and Convalescent Plasma Donors during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Israel.

Demands for whole blood (WB) and COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) donations during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for blood services throughout the world. This study aims to understand the motivating factors that drive WB and CCP donations in the context of the pandemic. This cross-sectional study is based on data extracted from surveys of the two volunteer donor cohorts. The findings reveal that when compared to CCP donors, WB donors were more likely to view donation as a form of social engagement (97.7% vs. 87.1%, p < 0.01), advantageous in the workplace (46.4% vs. 28.6%, p < 0.01), advantageous in their social network (58.6% vs. 47.0%, p = 0.01), and view their donation in the context of positive self-satisfaction (99% vs. 95.1%, p = 0.01). The average age of CCP donors was 7.1 years younger than those who donated WB (p < 0.01). Motivational factors were also analyzed by sex and religiosity. In conclusion, whereas both donor groups showed a high motivation to partake in these life-saving commitments, WB donors were more likely to be motivated by factors that, when better-understood and implemented in policies concerning plasma donations, may help to increase these donations.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of voluntary blood donation among family donors in the National Blood Transfusion Center

Background: blood donation by human still the only source of blood and blood components. Generally, donors classified into voluntary blood donor, family (or replacement) blood donor and paid blood donors. The safest donors found among people who donate their blood is the voluntarily blood donation. The study of attitude, beliefs, and level of knowledge associated with blood donation may enhance the recruitment of donors to blood donation. Aim of the study: assessment of knowledge, attitude and, practice of voluntary blood donation among family donors in the National Center for Blood Transfusion (NCBT) to identify and recruit potential voluntary blood donors. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out at the National center for Blood Transfusion-Baghdad in the period between October 2022 and February 2023. A questionnaire form was prepared for the assessment. A Total of 100 family (replacement) blood donor were included in the study. Results: The median of age was 33 (mean 34 +SD 8.9) years with range of 20-53 years age. All donors were males. The largest group of the responders (41%) is of secondary level of education. Seventy (70%) donors know their blood group. Sixty-six (66%) donors know the most common blood group in the world. Fifty-nine (59%) donors do not know the volume of blood that collected during each donation; and only 30 (30%) donors know the volume of the donated blood. Sixty-four (64%) donors know the correct duration of donation process. Forty-seven (47%) donors think that the individual can donate blood 2 times in the year; 17 (17%) stated 3 and 21(21%) stated more than 3 donations. Forty five (45%) donors stated that viral diseases can transmitted by blood transfusion, 11(11%) donors believe that cancer transmitted by transfusion , 15(15%) donors stated that chronic disorder can be transmitted by transfusion, while 29(29%) don’t know the diseases that can be transmitted by blood transfusion. Attitude towards Blood Donation; 84(84%) donors stated that donation has no harmful effect on the donor, and 75(75%) donors think that blood donation is beneficial for heath. Fifty-six (56%) donors practice voluntarily donation previously while 44(44%) donors practice replacement donation only. Conclusions there is good attitude toward blood donation and good practice of voluntary non-remunerated donation among family blood donors , in contrary there is a defect in the information and knowledge regarding the volume of donated blood , frequency of donations and the disorders that can transmitted by blood transfusion.

Blood Donor Selection Profile an Important Tool for Blood Safety: An Institutional Experience

Background and Aim: Blood transfusions can be a crucial, life-saving treatment in modern medical and surgical practice. The primary objective of blood transfusion services worldwide is to guarantee the availability of a sufficient and safe supply of blood and blood products. Meticulous donor screening and use of highly sensitive techniques for the detection of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) may help reduce the risk of TTIs and, hence, are important steps to ensure safety for both donor and recipient. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective record-based study done at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. The blood donors’ data from January 2012 to December 2022 (10 years) were collected from the blood bank registry at the study site and were analyzed. Results: Males dominated the donor population (98.2%) with females comprising only (1.8%). In total, 10.9% were found unfit for donation for various reasons. Voluntary donors were (6.3%) and replacement donors were (93.7%). Out of the reasons for deferral, majority 497/1223 (40.6%) donors were deferred due to hemoglobin &lt;12.5 g/dl, followed by 156/1223 (12.8%) deferrals due to alcohol intake within the past 72 h. Conclusion: Safe donor selection is the first step toward safe transfusion services. Identification of population groups that can be targeted to enhance the pool of willing blood donors is made easier by studying and analyzing the blood donor profile.

Seroepidemiologi Antibodi Anti HIV berdasarkan Karakteristik Demografi pada Pendonor Darah di UDD PMI Kabupaten Probolinggo

Background: One of the indicators of HIV virus contamination in donor blood is the presence of anti-HIV antibodies. According to Probolinggo Blood Transfusion Unit, there are 55 blood donors screened reactive for anti-HIV antibodies in 2013-2018. Infected Blood by HIV virus causes a risk to donor recipients, especially the transmission of infection through blood transfusions. The purpose of this study is to describe the seroepidemiological trends of anti-HIV antibodies in blood donors. Methods: Descriptive research using annual data from Probolinggo Blood Transfusion Unit. The samples used in this study were all blood donors in 2013-2019 (29,421 blood donors). Blood donors were screened using Murex Ab/Ag Combination Diasorin UK Branch. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Result: There were 0.19% anti-HIV antibodies reactive in the blood of donors with the characteristics of blood donors were males, O blood types, voluntary and recurrent donors and conducting blood donor Kraksaan District. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, Probolinggo has a relatively low number of anti-HIV antibody findings. Nonetheless, the results show there has been an increase in the results of reactive screening for anti-HIV antibodies over the past 6 years in Probolinggo. Therefore, it is very necessary to maintain the quality of the screening that has been done and coordinate with the Probolinggo DHO to follow up on this problem.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of blood donation among undergraduate medical students in Syria.

Timely transfusion of blood products is crucial, particularly in critical medical situations. Inadequate blood donation rates pose a significant threat to public health, potentially compromising patient care. This study aims to investigate the attitudes and willingness of Syrian college students to engage in blood donation, assess the prevalence of voluntary blood donation, evaluate their understanding of the determinants and procedures involved in the donation process, and identify the key factors influencing their behavior. A cross-sectional study was conducted employing a self-administered questionnaire, distributed in both electronic and hard copy formats among college students. Data analysis was performed using the R Statistical Software. Results were presented in terms of odds ratios (OR), with statistical significance defined at a P value of .05 and a 95% confidence interval. A total of 673 medical students participated in this study, with an average age of 21.6 years. The majority (59.2%) reported a good economic status, and a high level of knowledge (99.7%). A substantial proportion (40.4%) agreed with the notion that blood donation constitutes a personal duty for every eligible individual. Multiple comparison tests revealed a statistically significant P value of .0009716, specifically concerning individuals with low economic status. Our study demonstrates a positive attitude among college students towards voluntary blood product donation. However, the majority have not engaged in voluntary activities unless mandated for specific certification purposes. Donation rates were relatively higher than the reported rates in other similar studies conducted in Middle Eastern countries.

Long-term medical and quality of life outcomes among voluntary liver donors

BackgroundLong-term medical and quality of life outcomes in voluntary liver donors remain under investigated. The objective of the current study was to report long-term medical outcomes and re-evaluate quality of life in living liver donors. MethodsThis was a single center retrospective cohort study of donors who underwent donor hepatectomy between 2012 and 2018. We investigated long-term outcomes in seven domains. These include medical problems, surgical procedures, work related issues, pregnancy outcomes, psychiatric interventions, willingness to donate again, and long-term mortality. Quality of life was evaluated using short-form 36. ResultsThe median follow-up time was 61.4(53.3-83.7) months. Among 698 donors, 80 (11.5%) experienced medical problems, four (0.6%) had work related issues, and 20(2.9%) needed psychiatric assistance. Surgery was performed in 49(7%) donors, and females were more likely to have undergone incisional hernia repair (5.8% vs. 1.9%, P=0.006). There were 79 post-donation pregnancies including 41(51.9%) normal vaginal deliveries, 35(44.3%) cesarean sections, and three (3.8%) miscarriages. Willingness to donate again was reported by 658(94.3%) donors. Donors whose recipients were alive were more likely to donate again (95.5% vs. 90.5%, P=0.01). There were three (0.4%) deaths in the long-term. The mean physical composite score at initial and follow-up evaluation was 86.7±13.9 and 76.5± 20.9(P=0.001), and the mean mental composite score at initial and follow-up evaluation was 92.1± 13.5 and 80.7 ±16 (P=0.001). ConclusionThe overall long-term outlook in living liver donors looks promising. Quality of life parameters might deteriorate over time and frequent re-evaluation might be considered.

Current Resistance of HIV-1 Strains Isolated in Volunteer Blood Donors in Gabon.

Detection of drug resistance mutations (DRMs) and HIV-1 subtypes ensures effective therapeutic management for HIV-infected individuals. In Gabon, data on DRMs are very little available in the population of people living with HIV and also among voluntary HIV-positive blood donors. This study aimed to study subtypes and DRMs in HIV-1-positive volunteer blood donors in Gabon. A cross-sectional study was carried out at the National Blood Transfusion Center of Gabon. A purposive sampling method was used to collect 128 HIV-1 seropositive blood samples. Viral RNA was extracted on real-time PCR (Abbott 2000®), and sequencing was performed on ABI 3500 (Hitachi®). SPSS version 21.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Of the 128 seropositive volunteer donors included, men and the 29-39-age group were more representative at 78.9% and 49.2%, respectively. Eighty-two samples were sequenced. The majority strains identified were subtype A, subtype F, subtype G, CRF02_AG, and CRF45_cpx. The resistance mutations identified were K103N, L210W, E138G, V179D, V179T, and M46L. The prevalence of resistant subtypes was 25.6%. CRF02_AG strains exhibited high-level resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), including efavirenz and nevirapine. The study identified major DRMs in reverse transcriptase and protease that confer high-level resistance to most NNRTIs, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and protease inhibitors. CRF02_AG was more predominant, and the frequency of resistant subtypes was high. However, these data will contribute to the therapeutic choice during the initiation of antiretroviral treatment in treatment-naive patients in Gabon.

Prevalence of transfusion-transmitted infections in hospitalized patients before transfusion and volunteer blood donors in Zhejiang Province, China.

ObjectivesTo assess the need for screening of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) in blood products, we assessed TTI seroprevalence in blood donors and hospitalized patients. MethodsWe collected 2760 serum samples from three regions of Hangzhou, Ningbo and Huzhou from April 2021 to March 2022, and they tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis C (HCV), Treponema pallidum (TP), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Hepatitis E virus (HEV) and Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1/2 (HTLV-1/2) antibody levels. ResultsScreening test results showed that the positive rates for HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-TP were 3.01 %, 0.39 % and 0.18 %, respectively. The positive rates for CMV IgM and CMV IgG were 0.76 % and 96.96 %, while the positive rates for EB VCA-IgM and EB EA-IgG were 1.88 % and 10.47 %; those for HEV IgM and HEV IgG were 1.16 % and 26.05 %, while the HTLV-1/2 antibody positive rate was 0.04 %. The positive rates for CMV IgG, EB EA-IgG and HEV IgG in hospitalized patients before transfusion were higher than in volunteer blood donors, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The overall co-infection rate was 0.29 %. The positive rates for EB VCA-IgM in the males were significantly higher than in females, and EB VCA-IgM and HEV IgG prevalence varied significantly by age. ConclusionOur data demonstrate the risk of TTI exposure and TTI transmission in the Zhejiang population, which poses a threat to blood safety. It is hoped that expansion of pathogen categories (CMV, EBV, HEV and HTLV-1/2) and blood screening programs will contribute to the future adoption of scientific blood transfusion methods.

Achalasia alters physiological networks depending on sex

Achalasia is a rare esophageal motility disorder for which the etiology is not fully understood. Evidence suggests that autoimmune inflammatory infiltrates, possibly triggered by a viral infection, may lead to a degeneration of neurons within the myenteric plexus. While the infection is eventually resolved, genetically susceptible individuals may still be at risk of developing achalasia. This study aimed to determine whether immunological and physiological networks differ between male and female patients with achalasia. This cross-sectional study included 189 preoperative achalasia patients and 500 healthy blood donor volunteers. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, immunological, and tissue biomarkers were collected. Male and female participants were evaluated separately to determine the role of sex. Correlation matrices were constructed using bivariate relationships to generate complex inferential networks. These matrices were filtered based on their statistical significance to identify the most relevant relationships between variables. Network topology and node centrality were calculated using tools available in the R programming language. Previous occurrences of chickenpox, measles, and mumps infections have been proposed as potential risk factors for achalasia, with a stronger association observed in females. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified IL-22, Th2, and regulatory B lymphocytes as key variables contributing to the disease. The physiological network topology has the potential to inform whether a localized injury or illness is likely to produce systemic consequences and the resulting clinical presentation. Here we show that immunological involvement in achalasia appears localized in men because of their highly modular physiological network. In contrast, in women the disease becomes systemic because of their robust network with a larger number of inter-cluster linkages.