One more health benefit of blood donation: reduces acute-phase reactants, oxidants and increases antioxidant capacity

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.

Association between Blood Donation and Malignant and Benign Tumour Risk: A Population-Based Study of 3.4 Million Participants in China

This study aims to identify the relationship between blood donation and malignant and benign tumour hospitalization risk. The cohort study was constructed in Shaanxi, China, to include blood donors and match nonblood donors one-to-one by gender, age, and county of residence. The study compared the hospitalization records of two groups from 2012 to 2018. A log-binomial regression model was used to estimate the relative risk (RR) of tumour risk between donors and nonblood donors among different age groups. A total of 1,625,599 donors were recruited (including 968,823 males) and compared with the matched nonblood donor group. Significantly lower risk of malignancy in males was found among donors (adjusted RR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.75–0.92). Lower risks for specific types of tumours among donors were observed, including liver (0.42, [0.28–0.67]), lung (0.74, [0.59–0.87]), lymphoma (0.75, [0.62–0.85]), and oesophagus (0.55, [0.41–0.72]). However, the risk of brain cancer was higher among male donors (RR 1.19 [1.06–1.29]). Among female donors, lower risk of liver (0.57, [0.42–0.79]) and oesophagus malignancy (0.73, [0.62–0.88]) was observed. For benign tumours, male donors have a lower risk of benign skin tumour (0.79, [0.62–0.94]) and hemangioma and lymphangioma (0.75, [0.51–0.89]), while female donors have a lower risk in hemangioma and lymphangioma (0.65, [0.44–0.83]). We also found that the risk decreased with age among donors in the prevalence of tumours compared to that in nonblood donors ( $p<0.05$ ). Blood donation appears to be significantly associated with various tumour risks among both males and females. Overall, the risk of tumours decreased more substantially with age in blood donors compared with nonblood donors. Further research is warranted to investigate the impact of ‘health donor effects’ on these findings.

Wet-cupping on calf muscles in polycystic ovary syndrome: a quasi-experimental study

OBJECTIVES

Current modalities for treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are not curative and using them for a long period is associated with adverse effects. According to Persian Medicine recommendations, wet cupping on calf muscles can induce menstrual bleeding. In the present study, the effect of wet-cupping (traditional bleeding from capillary vessels) was assessed on menstrual cycles (as primary outcome), hirsutism, and laboratory manifestation of PCOS.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental study was conducted from 2016/5/21 until 2017/5/20 on 66 PCOS women within the age range of 20-40 years and a menstrual interval of at least 60 days during the last year. Participants' calf muscles were cupped on day 26 of their last menstruation cycle following the Persian Medicine recommendations. They were followed for 12 weeks and a menstruation history and physical examination was done twice (4 and 12 weeks after wet cupping). Insulin Resistance (IR) and Free Androgen Index (FAI) were evaluated at baseline and end of the study.

RESULTS

Wet-cupping on calf muscles significantly improved menstrual cycles' frequency 0.37(95% CI: 0.13, 0.51), p-value=0.001 and hirsutism after 4 and 12 weeks of intervention were -1.9 (95% CI: -2.5, -0.5), p-value<0.001 and -1.4(95% CI: -2.1, -0.8), p-value<0.001, respectively. While it was not significant in changing the IR and FAI. About 33% of participants suffered from mild temporary discomforts (which were resolved within a few minutes of rest) and 9% reported mild long-term side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

It is considered that wet-cupping on calf muscles can be propounded as an optional treatment of PCOS for those not willing to use chemical medication.

Voluntary Blood Donation Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Central Ethiopia

Background

Increasing the availability of safe blood is a major challenge in developing countries. Given the scant amount of community-based data in Africa, this study examines the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of blood donation of Ethiopian adults.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 421 adult residents of Adama town using face-to-face interviews with translated questionnaires. Knowledge and attitude levels were assessed using a set of questions and those who answered above mean for knowledge and attitude questions were categorized as above-average knowledge level and favorable attitude, respectively. The data were coded and entered into EPI Info™ version 7, transferred to SPSS version 25 for cleaning and analysis. All variables with p<0.25 in the bivariable analysis were examined as candidate variables in the multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

Less than half, 47% (95% CI: 42–52%) of the study participants have above-average knowledge level about blood donation and 48% (95% CI: 43–53%) have favorable attitudes towards blood donation. Only 17% (95% CI: 13–21%) of study participants ever donated blood of which 14.6% of them donated for replacement and less than 2% (1.95%) are voluntary donors. Younger age of 18–25 AOR: 95% CI: 3.40 (1.30, 12.43), having good knowledge AOR: 95% CI: 2.21 (1.26, 3.89) and favorable attitude AOR: 95% CI: 10.25 (4.90, 21.44) were factors independently associated with blood donation practice.

Conclusion

The level of blood donation practiced in the study area is low. Low knowledge and poor attitudes are independent predictors of low inclination to donate, so awareness creation and improving attitudes in blood donation campaigns, particularly among older people is necessary to increase voluntary blood donation.

Hematological, biochemical and antioxidant indices variations in regular blood donors among Mediterranean regions

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

One of the most important problems in Mediterranean regions is finding blood donors to overcome the high need of its population. Understanding the health benefits of blood donation frequency will activate more volunteers to donate. The aim of this study variations of hematological and biochemical indices in regular male and female donors from Greece and Italy METHODS: A cross-sectional study consisted of 350 voluntary blood donors (VDs)was conducted in two mediterranean Blood Banks, Greece and Italy. The first one from the General Hospital of Naousa, Greece on samples of 90 regular and 60 first-time blood donors. The second one from AOU Sassari, Sardinia, Italy on convenient samples of 100 first-time samples and 100 regular blood donors. Donors' particulars were obtained from blood bank records. The hematological and biochemical parameters were determined for all donors and Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) only for greek VDs.

RESULTS

High frequency blood donation of Greek VDs could be associated with evidence of reduction of body iron stores, reduced oxidative stress and improvement of liver function biomarkers in regular groups. Interestingly, Sardinian regular male VDs presented increased iron stores in compare with the first time VDs. In both Mediterranean populations (Greeks and Italians) the lipid profile of the female regular blood donors has been improved in compare with the first timers.

CONCLUSION

Regular blood donation increases antioxidant capacity and affects positively the hematological parameters and biochemical biomarkers in donors. Gender plays an important role in relation to all hematological and biochemical parameters. Further studies in larger population should evaluate the beneficial-effect of blood donation and promote people to donate more frequent.