Richard Lower: The Origins of Blood Transfusion

Where Do We Stand in Blood Transfusion Practices: Insights From the First Clinical Audit From Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Objective To evaluate the appropriateness of packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions across different departments of a tertiary care hospital. Methods This audit included 632 patients admitted to the major departments of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan, who received one or more PRBC transfusions from November 2023 till July 2024. Six categories were defined who had different characteristics and thresholds for PRBC transfusion according to the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies Red Blood Cell Transfusion International Guidelines. The appropriateness of PRBC transfusions was evaluated by checking if the pre-transfusion hemoglobin (Hb) met the threshold as specified in the guidelines. The chi-square test was used to test the association between the appropriateness of PRBC transfusions and the gender, department, and category of the patient. The significance of the difference in the mean pre-transfusion Hb was determined using an independent samples t-test. Results The median age was 30 years (IQR: 23-48.75). The majority of the patients were female (n=430, 68%). Patients from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics (n=267, 42.2%) outnumbered those from other departments. The majority of PRBC transfusions were inappropriate (n=465, 73.6%). Most transfusions in female patients (83.3%), in the patients of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics (95.5%), and in patients in the general category (86.9%) were found inappropriate. In the case of inappropriate transfusion, the mean pre-transfusion Hb was significantly different among departments, with the highest (14.1 gm/dL) value documented in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Conclusion Female patients, patients in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and patients in the general category had the highest frequency of inappropriate PRBC transfusions.

Future Blood Debt: Projecting Blood Supply and Demand of Korea Based on Subnational Population Projections (2021-2050)

BACKGROUND

South Korea faces a critical challenge with its rapidly declining fertility rates and an increasingly aging population, which significantly impacts the country's blood supply and demand. Despite these nationwide trends, regional disparities in blood supply and demand have not been thoroughly studied.

METHODS

This research utilized blood donation data from the Korean Red Cross and blood transfusion data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. We analyzed these datasets in conjunction with regional population projections to simulate blood supply and demand from 2021 to 2050 across South Korea. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the impact of various factors, including the number of donors, age eligibility criteria for donations, frequency of donations, and blood discard rates.

RESULTS

Our projections indicate a decreasing trend in blood supply, from 2.6 million units in 2021 to 1.4 million units by 2050, while demand is expected to peak at 5.1 million units by 2045 before declining. Metropolitan areas, particularly Gyeonggi Province, are projected to experience the most severe shortages. Sensitivity analyses suggest that increasing the donation frequency of existing donors and relaxing age eligibility criteria are more effective strategies in addressing these imbalances than merely increasing the number of new donors. Blood discard rates showed minimal impact on the overall blood shortage.

CONCLUSION

The findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted strategies to mitigate national and regional blood supply shortages in South Korea. Encouraging frequent donations from experienced donors and broadening eligibility criteria are critical steps toward stabilizing the blood supply amidst demographic shifts. These strategies must be prioritized to address the impending regional disparities in blood availability.

Modern advances in heart transplantation

Heart transplantation (HTx) is the only definitive therapy for patients with end stage heart disease. With the increasing global prevalence of heart failure, the demand for HTx has continued to grow and outpace supply. In this paper, we will review advances in the field of HTx along the clinical journey of a HTx recipient. Starting with the sensitized patient, we discuss current methods to define sensitization, and assays to help identify clinically relevant anti-HLA antibodies. Desensitization strategies targeting all levels of the adaptive immune system are discussed with emphasis on novel techniques such as anti-CD 38 blockade and use of the Immunoglobulin G-Degrading Enzyme of Streptococcus Pyogenes. We next discuss donor procurement and the resurgence of donation after circulatory death as a viable strategy to significantly and safely increase the donor pool. Post-transplant, we evaluate non-invasive surveillance techniques including gene expression profiling and donor-derived cell-free DNA. Last, we discuss the ground-breaking developments in the field of xenotransplantation.

A Review of Amelioration of Awareness About Blood Donation Through Various Effective and Practical Strategies

Blood donations play a crucial role in medical care; however, the global shortage of donors remains and has a serious impact on medical interventions. The challenges involved include the lack of public awareness of the importance of blood donation, the lack of understanding of the process and eligibility criteria for blood donation, and the lack of comprehensive strategies aimed at raising awareness and participation among potential donors, with particular emphasis on the involvement of young people. It is essential to recognize that blood donation delivers significant benefits to donors and recipients, improves overall health, and ultimately saves lives. Various initiatives, such as blood donation camps, dynamic social media campaigns, and strategic networking of medical professionals, have proved effective in promoting blood donation. In particular, in the event of an emergency, the availability of sufficient blood supplies is increasingly essential, underlining the urgent need to establish and maintain a sustainable blood donor network. An in-depth understanding of the motivation and conservation of donors is crucial in this context, as it is known that demographic factors significantly impact the frequency of blood donation. In addition, ethical and legal considerations require careful attention, highlighting the essential role of obtaining informed consent and ensuring the confidentiality of donors throughout the process. As we look ahead to the evolving landscape, it presents a series of formidable challenges. These challenges encompass the critical necessity to broaden and diversify our donor base, thereby extending and varying our sources of financial support for specific initiatives, organizations, or projects. Moreover, we must proactively harness the opportunities presented by emerging technologies and commit ourselves to closing the information gaps within the existing public knowledge sphere. In summary, the review emphasizes the paramount importance of ongoing efforts to strengthen and enrich donors' engagement through customized strategies and educational outreach.

Normal saline: Past, present, and future

Normal saline (NS) is the most widely used agent in the medical field. However, from its origin to its widespread application, it remains a mystery. Moreover, there is an ongoing debate on whether its existence is reasonable, harmful to the human body, or will still exist in the future. The current review traces back to the origins of NS and provides a brief overview of the current situation of infusion. The purpose may shed some light on the possibility of the existence of NS in the future by elaborating on the origin of NS and the research status of the impact of NS on the human body.

The History of Hemorrhagic Shock and Damage Control Resuscitation

The understanding and management of hemorrhagic shock have evolved significantly over the last 400 years. Injured patients in shock mandate immediate surgeon involvement. Every graduating surgical resident and every surgeon taking trauma call should thoroughly understand the concepts of damage control resuscitation and be prepared to care for these patients. This review seeks to revisit the history of hemorrhagic shock and the evolution of damage control resuscitation.

A Low-Cost Open Source Device for Cell Microencapsulation

Microencapsulation is a widely studied cell therapy and tissue bioengineering technique, since it is capable of creating an immune-privileged site, protecting encapsulated cells from the host immune system. Several polymers have been tested, but sodium alginate is in widespread use for cell encapsulation applications, due to its low toxicity and easy manipulation. Different cell encapsulation methods have been described in the literature using pressure differences or electrostatic changes with high cost commercial devices (about 30,000 US dollars). Herein, a low-cost device (about 100 US dollars) that can be created by commercial syringes or 3D printer devices has been developed. The capsules, whose diameter is around 500 µm and can decrease or increase according to the pressure applied to the system, is able to maintain cells viable and functional. The hydrogel porosity of the capsule indicates that the immune system is not capable of destroying host cells, demonstrating that new studies can be developed for cell therapy at low cost with microencapsulation production. This device may aid pre-clinical and clinical projects in low- and middle-income countries and is lined up with open source equipment devices.

Cell encapsulation: Overcoming barriers in cell transplantation in diabetes and beyond

Cell-based therapy is emerging as a promising strategy for treating a wide range of human diseases, such as diabetes, blood disorders, acute liver failure, spinal cord injury, and several types of cancer. Pancreatic islets, blood cells, hepatocytes, and stem cells are among the many cell types currently used for this strategy. The encapsulation of these "therapeutic" cells is under intense investigation to not only prevent immune rejection but also provide a controlled and supportive environment so they can function effectively. Some of the advanced encapsulation systems provide active agents to the cells and enable a complete retrieval of the graft in the case of an adverse body reaction. Here, we review various encapsulation strategies developed in academic and industrial settings, including the state-of-the-art technologies in advanced preclinical phases as well as those undergoing clinical trials, and assess their advantages and challenges. We also emphasize the importance of stimulus-responsive encapsulated cell systems that provide a "smart and live" therapeutic delivery to overcome barriers in cell transplantation as well as their use in patients.