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Background: Many blood collection agencies are generating important data on donor health outcomes using large-scale blood donor cohort studies. Such studies can be very effective when donors provide access to linkage of their data to external health databases, and storage and genomic testing of their blood sample. In this study, we aimed to assess the willingness of Australian blood donors to provide additional data and blood sample for donation-related and other health research. Study design and methods: We invited 2017 donors to complete a survey using four methods (postal letter, postal letter and email, email only, and in-center recruitment). The survey asked for information on demographics, lifestyle behaviors, health, experience and attitude to blood donation, and willingness to give blood sample and additional data for research. Results: Response rates ranged from 23.8% for email only to 77.2% for in-center recruitment. Of those who responded (n = 827), 95.5% indicated they would be willing to provide a blood sample for donation and transfusion-related research. Of these, >90.0% were willing for their sample to be used in research involving genetic testing and other health-related topics. Also, >90.0% were willing to consent for linkage of their information to external health databases. Conclusions: Donors surveyed reported a high willingness to participate in health research by completing surveys, allowing linkage to external datasets, and providing a blood sample. These findings provide strong support for future longitudinal research studies with Australian blood donors.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) could serve as ideal entry points to the deregulated pathways in osteoporosis due to their relatively simple upstream and downstream relationships with other molecules in the signaling cascades. Our study aimed to give a comprehensive review of the already identified miRNAs in osteoporosis from human blood samples and provide useful information for their clinical application. A systematic literature search for relevant studies was conducted in the Pubmed database from inception to December 2020. We set two essential inclusion criteria: human blood sampling and design of controlled studies. We sorted the results of analysis on human blood samples according to the study settings and compiled the most promising miRNAs with analyzed diagnostic values. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo evidence for the mechanisms of the identified miRNAs was also illustrated. Based on both diagnostic value and evidence of mechanism from in vitro and in vivo experiments, miR-23b-3p, miR-140-3p, miR-300, miR-155-5p, miR-208a-3p, and miR-637 were preferred candidates in diagnostic panels and as therapeutic agents. Further studies are needed to build sound foundations for the clinical usage of miRNAs in osteoporosis.

A serum proteome panel, which includes several type-3 cystatins and inter-α-trypsin inhibitors, predicts mortality in severe COVID-19 patients very well, in three independent cohorts., Here, we recorded serum proteome profiles of 33 severe COVID-19 patients admitted to respiratory and intensive care units because of respiratory failure. We received, for most patients, blood samples just after admission and at two more later time points. With the aim to predict treatment outcome, we focused on serum proteins different in abundance between the group of survivors and non-survivors. We observed that a small panel of about a dozen proteins were significantly different in abundance between these two groups. The four structurally and functionally related type-3 cystatins AHSG, FETUB, histidine-rich glycoprotein, and KNG1 were all more abundant in the survivors. The family of inter-α-trypsin inhibitors, ITIH1, ITIH2, ITIH3, and ITIH4, were all found to be differentially abundant in between survivors and non-survivors, whereby ITIH1 and ITIH2 were more abundant in the survivor group and ITIH3 and ITIH4 more abundant in the non-survivors. ITIH1/ITIH2 and ITIH3/ITIH4 also showed opposite trends in protein abundance during disease progression. We defined an optimal panel of nine proteins for mortality risk assessment. The prediction power of this mortality risk panel was evaluated against two recent COVID-19 serum proteomics studies on independent cohorts measured in other laboratories in different countries and observed to perform very well in predicting mortality also in these cohorts. This panel may not be unique for COVID-19 as some of the proteins in the panel have previously been annotated as mortality markers in aging and in other diseases caused by different pathogens, including bacteria.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has created a troublesome issue for employees in biochemistry clinical laboratories due to fears of aerosol generation during sample treatment. This study was designed to assess aerosol production during the pre-analytical procedures for blood and urine samples using a model bacterium. Air sampling and surface swabbing were conducted during four typical procedures. Bacteria were not recovered in any air or surface samples. Other studies have reported low and undetectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA in blood and urine samples, respectively. Therefore, the occupational risk for employees appears to be low in terms of aerosol exposure from processing SARS-CoV-2 patient samples.

Exercise tests are useful tools to evaluate the fitness level of horses in training or with a history of poor performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in blood parameters in three groups of horses undergoing treadmill exercise tests, either to detect the cause of exercise intolerance or to evaluate the level of fitness before a competition. Blood samples were taken from 30 horses before, at the end of, and two hours after a standardized treadmill exercise test, to detect differences in hematological parameters between healthy horses (10, group N), horses with upper (10, group U), and lower airway diseases (10, group L). Packed cell volume, erythrocyte number, hemoglobin, glucose, and total and unconjugated bilirubin concentration were statistically different between the groups, because of increased oxygen demands in respiratory diseases and intravascular hemolysis. This could occur during exercise and is worsened by the increased breakdown of erythrocytes secondary to exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, diagnosed in horses in group L.

Molecular-based carbapenem resistance testing in Gram-negative bacterial bloodstream infections (BSIs) is currently limited because of the reliance on positive blood culture (BC) samples. The T2Resistance™ panel may now allow the detection of carbapenemase- and other β-lactamase encoding genes directly from blood samples. We detected carbapenem resistance genes in 11 (84.6%) of 13 samples from patients with BC-documented BSIs (10 caused by KPC-producing Klebsiellapneumoniae and 1 caused by VIM/CMY-producing Citrobacter freundii). Two samples that tested negative for carbapenem resistance genes were from patients with BC-documented BSIs caused by KPC-producing K. pneumoniae who were receiving effective antibiotic therapy. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the T2Resistance™ panel can be a reliable tool for diagnosing carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacterial BSIs.

Background: Several studies have identified L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) as a strong prognostic marker in endometrial cancer. To further underline the clinical usefulness of this biomarker, we investigated L1CAM as a predictive marker for lymph node metastases and its prognostic impact in curettage specimens and preoperative plasma samples. In addition, we aimed to validate the prognostic value of L1CAM in hysterectomy specimen. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining of L1CAM was performed for 795 hysterectomy and 1134 curettage specimen from endometrial cancer patients. The L1CAM level in preoperative blood samples from 372 patients was determined using ELISA. Results: Expression of L1CAM in curettage specimen was significantly correlated to L1CAM level in corresponding hysterectomy specimen (P

Simple Summary Blood sampling is often performed in laboratory mice. Whilst the techniques are likely to cause only momentary pain or distress, given their frequency of performance, it is essential that the method which best safeguards welfare is used. The small size of mice makes sampling challenging, and use of some routes is controversial due to perceived impact on animal welfare. However, to date, no summary of the evidence relating to welfare impacts arising from these techniques has been presented. This paper presents a systematic review of the literature, with quality appraisal of the studies and an assignment of certainty in the evidence. We conclude that there is not enough high-quality evidence available to make a determination on optimal blood sampling route. We provide recommendations for improving future laboratory animal welfare research through standardisation of outcome measures and enhanced adherence to experimental design and reporting guidelines. Abstract Blood sampling is often performed in laboratory mice. Sampling techniques have the potential to cause pain, distress and impact on lifetime cumulative experience. In spite of institutions commonly providing guidance to researchers on these methods, and the existence of published guidelines, no systematic evaluation of the evidence on this topic exists. A systematic search of Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science was performed, identifying 27 studies on the impact of recovery blood sample techniques on mouse welfare and sample quality. Studies were appraised for quality using the SYstematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) risk of bias tool. In spite of an acceptable number of studies being located, few studies examined the same pairwise comparisons. Additionally, there was considerable heterogeneity in study design and outcomes, with many studies being at a high risk of bias. Consequently, results were synthesised using the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) reporting guidelines. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was utilised for assessment of certainty in the evidence. Due to the heterogeneity and GRADE findings, it was concluded that there was not enough high-quality evidence to make any recommendations on the optimal method of blood sampling. Future high-quality studies, with standardised outcome measures and large sample sizes, are required.

Background Peripheral blood access and venipuncture are a stressful and painful experience in pediatric patients; moreover, it is estimated that more than one attempt is required to achieve the procedure in about one third of children. For this reason, we investigated if Near-infrared light technology routinely used, could give an advantage to venipuncture in a pediatric blood center setting. Methods We conducted an open, pseudo-randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms, in the blood-drawing center, with enrolment of 115 patients between 0 and 18 years, in 14 consecutive working days. Fifty-three subjects were enrolled in group 1 (VeinViewer®) and 62 in group 2 (control group). We divided patients into three subgroups considering their age ( 10 years). The primary study outcome was to assess if the use of VeinViewer® was associated with a reduction of time to perform blood sampling. The secondary outcome was to analyze VienViewer®‘s impact on first attempt success rate in blood sampling. Results No difference was found regarding the duration of blood sampling between the two groups, even after stratifying the patients into the three age subgroups. There was no difference between the two groups in the success at the first attempt in blood sampling. Conclusions Routine use of VeinViewer® is not useful to reduce time of the procedure during venipuncture. Trial registration The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, with number NCT03277092, on September 8, 2017.

Purpose : to assess the loss in hematocrit and hemoglobin, if any, 24 hours after hip arthroscopy. Methods : thirty-five patients were included. Laboratory tests including complete blood count and white blood cells were performed one week prior to surgery and 24 hours after. Surgical time, volume of saline perfusion and pump perfusion was also recorded. Results : mean preoperative hematocrit was 42.01% (4.63 SD), whereas mean postoperative hematocrit at 24 h decreased to 36.78% (SD 5.11) (p Conclusion : a significant decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit after hip arthroscopy was observed. Although patients did not show clinical signs of anemia or bleeding, blood loss should be considered when planning a hip arthroscopy, especially in patients at risk of anemia. According to our results, we recommend a postoperative control analysis at 24 h. Level of Evidence : level II, Diagnostic Study.

BackgroundUganda records an inadequate utilisation of antenatal careprogrammes. The study set out to investigate the factorsassociated with the use of antenatal care content to informpolicy makers of the pertinent factors that need to beinfluenced by policy.MethodData for the study was taken from a nationallyrepresentative Uganda Demographic and Health Survey(UDHS) 2006. The study employed both descriptive andcommunity fixed effects approaches to examine the factorsassociated with the use of antenatal care content inUganda.ResultsOn average, only 16% of women used the full content ofantenatal care. Only 12% of women had a urine sampletaken, 28% a blood sample taken, and 53% their bloodpressure measured. Almost two-thirds of women (63%)took iron supplements, 77% had their weight measured,and 27% were given drugs for intestinal parasites. Theutilisation of the content of care was significantly associatedwith education of the mother and her partner, wealthstatus, location disparities, timing and frequency ofantenatal visits, nature of facility visited, access to media,family planning, and utilisation of professional care.ConclusionEfforts are needed to educate girls beyond secondary level,establish village outreach clinics with qualified staff toattract the hard to reach women in the rural areas, andfacilitate antenatal care utilisation irrespective of the abilityto pay.

International audience; There is growing interest in the evaluation of stress, health and welfare of farm-raised fish. However, there is no scientific consensus about the methodology that is used to assess them. Sturgeon aquaculture is a recent industry with increasing interest in the production of caviar, which is characterized by high turnover and costs. To improve aquaculture efficiency, this study was conducted on routine blood samples, taken from Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii), to test the robustness of using only physiological indicators to assess heat stress, health, and welfare. Sampling was performed after 1 month of prebiotic dietary supplementation followed by 4 weeks of sublethal heat stress. Data interpretation was achieved with a multivariate statistical tool. The expression of heat shock proteins (HSP) was assessed for the first time in sturgeon erythrocytes. Hsp70 and hsp90 expression was triggered by both stress and dietary supplementation. Indicators of non-specific immunity were modified mainly by stress. Complement activity increases with stress while lysozyme activity decreases, but to a lesser extent in supplemented fish. The antioxidant capacity increases with stress while oxidant metabolites decrease and overall oxidative stress was lower for fish that received dietary supplementation. The positive impact of dietary supplementation on health status was observable after a stress challenge. A principal component analysis was used to combine all the measured parameters and to observe patterns in physiological fish status. The four experimental groups of fish were clearly discriminated with this statistical tool. Physiological indicators from blood samples may enable heat stress, health, and welfare to be assessed in Siberian sturgeon.

Late onset neonatal sepsis is one of the major clinical concerns when premature babies receive intensive care. Current practice relies on slow laboratory testing of blood cultures for diagnosis. A valuable research question is whether sepsis can be reliably detected before the blood sample is taken. This paper investigates the extent to which physiological events observed in the patient's monitoring traces could be used for the early detection of neonatal sepsis. We model the distribution of these events with an autoregressive hidden Markov model (AR-HMM). Both learning and inference carefully use domain knowledge to extract the baby's true physiology from the monitoring data. Our model can produce real-time predictions about the onset of the infection and also handles missing data. We evaluate the effectiveness of the AR-HMM for sepsis detection on a dataset collected from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.