RESUMEN
Blood transfusion is a common practice in hospitals. In many diseases, transfusion of red blood cells can be a life-saving measure. Knowing the blood group phenotypes of the donors in any population is important to improve health care services and to better serve patients. We aimed to determine the blood group phenotypes of the regular donors visiting the main blood donation center in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). A total of 500 regular blood donors were included, and blood group antigens were tested using serologic methods. Major blood group systems included in this testing were ABO, Rh, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, Lewis, Lutheran, MNS, and P1PK. The most prevalent ABO/D blood type was group O, D+ (29.6%), with the most prevalent phenotype in the Rh blood group system reported as R1r (34.4%). In the Kell system, the K-k+ phenotype was reported in 92.4 percent of individuals tested. The rare Duffy null phenotype, Fy(a-b-), was reported in 11.0 percent of the cohort. Most donors (99.0%) were Lu(b+). In the Lewis system, the phenotype Le(a-b+) was seen in 61.8 percent of the donors. MNS system phenotypes were comparable to the reports from Saudi Arabia and India, with M+N+S-s+ being the most prevalent (21.2%). The prevalence of many major blood group phenotypes in the UAE blood donor population showed similarities to results from populations in neighboring countries, but other phenotype prevalences were unique to this population. This finding can be used to build a blood group registry for the local population that can better serve hospitals' transfusion requirements.Blood transfusion is a common practice in hospitals. In many diseases, transfusion of red blood cells can be a life-saving measure. Knowing the blood group phenotypes of the donors in any population is important to improve health care services and to better serve patients. We aimed to determine the blood group phenotypes of the regular donors visiting the main blood donation center in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). A total of 500 regular blood donors were included, and blood group antigens were tested using serologic methods. Major blood group systems included in this testing were ABO, Rh, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, Lewis, Lutheran, MNS, and P1PK. The most prevalent ABO/D blood type was group O, D+ (29.6%), with the most prevalent phenotype in the Rh blood group system reported as R1r (34.4%). In the Kell system, the Kk+ phenotype was reported in 92.4 percent of individuals tested. The rare Duffy null phenotype, Fy(ab), was reported in 11.0 percent of the cohort. Most donors (99.0%) were Lu(b+). In the Lewis system, the phenotype Le(ab+) was seen in 61.8 percent of the donors. MNS system phenotypes were comparable to the reports from Saudi Arabia and India, with M+N+Ss+ being the most prevalent (21.2%). The prevalence of many major blood group phenotypes in the UAE blood donor population showed similarities to results from populations in neighboring countries, but other phenotype prevalences were unique to this population. This finding can be used to build a blood group registry for the local population that can better serve hospitals' transfusion requirements.
Asunto(s)
Donantes de Sangre , Antígenos de Grupos Sanguíneos , Sistema del Grupo Sanguíneo ABO , Tipificación y Pruebas Cruzadas Sanguíneas , Humanos , Fenotipo , Prevalencia , Emiratos Árabes Unidos/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Acute leukemia is the major cause of mortality in hematological malignancies. Despite improvement of survival with current chemotherapies, patients die from the disease or side-effects of treatment. Thus, new therapeutic agents are needed. Frondoside A is a triterpenoid glycoside originally isolated from the sea cucumber, Cucumaria frondosa that has potent antitumor effects in various cancers. The current study investigated the effects of frondoside A in acute leukemia cell lines alone and in combination with drugs used for this malignancy. This study is the first comparing the efficacy of frondoside A to available conventional drugs. The acute leukemia cell lines used were CCRF-CEM, HL-60 and THP-1. Cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations of vincristine sulphate, asparaginase and prednisolone alone and in combination with frondoside A. The inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) for each compound was determined for the cell lines. CCRF-CEM cells were very sensitive to frondoside A treatment while HL-60 and THP1 were less sensitive. Frondoside A markedly enhanced the anticancer effects of all of the conventional drugs. Synergistic effects were seen with most of the combinations. Frondoside A may be valuable in the treatment of acute leukemia, particularly when used in combination with current therapeutic drugs.
Asunto(s)
Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Sinergismo Farmacológico , Glicósidos/farmacología , Leucemia/tratamiento farmacológico , Leucemia/patología , Triterpenos/farmacología , Enfermedad Aguda , Animales , Humanos , Pepinos de Mar/química , Células Tumorales CultivadasRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: A cross-match to transfused unit ratio of less than 2.0 is frequently used to assess performance in many hospital blood banks. This brief report was initiated to evaluate the practice at a local hospital and to emphasize the importance of regular educational sessions to improve blood transfusion practice. METHOD: Retrospective data on cross-match : transfused (C : T) ratio of all departments was collected and educational sessions were given to improve practice. Thereafter, a new set of data was collected and change in practice was assessed. RESULTS: Initial data showed total (C : T) ratio of 1.95. After medical staff education, analysis showed clinically significant improvement in blood utilization practice with a (C : T) ratio of 1.60. CONCLUSION: This brief report indicates the importance of regular physician education, the potential role of blood transfusion committee, and the need to implement clear guidelines for blood transfusion.