Delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction due to Kidd antibodies

A delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction (DHTR) encompasses a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) developed anytime between 24 hours to 28 days after cessation of transfusion, a positive eluate or a newly identified alloantibody in the plasma or serum along with features of haemolysis in the patient. Routinely, it is expected that with the transfusion of one unit of packed red cells in a patient of average height and weight, the haemoglobin level and hematocrit increase by 1 g/dL and 3% respectively. However, in a patient with DHTR, an inadequate rise of post-transfusion haemoglobin (< 1 g/dL) or rapid fall in haemoglobin back to pre-transfusion levels is observed. Kidd antibodies are particularly known to cause DHTR, maybe alone or in unison with other antibodies. Detection of these alloantibodies is consequential in providing good transfusion support to these patients. These events may be difficult to detect as they may present as varied clinical features or immunological nuisances. In this case series, we have presented three cases of DHTR with special emphasis on their clinical presentations, immunohaematological evaluations, laboratory parameters and the role of proper transfusion support in these patients to avoid further complications.     

Dietary patterns and the risk of abnormal blood lipids among young adults: A prospective cohort study

Background and aimsThe extent to which dietary patterns influence the risk of abnormal blood lipids throughout young adulthood remains unclear. The aim was to investigate whether early young adulthood dietary patterns predict the risk of abnormal blood lipids during later young adulthood.Methods and resultsWe used data from a long running birth cohort study in Australia. Western dietary pattern rich in meats, processed foods and high-fat dairy products and prudent pattern rich in fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts, whole grains and low-fat dairy products were derived using principal component analysis at the 21-year follow-up from dietary data obtained using a food frequency questionnaire. After 9-years, fasting blood samples of all participants were collected and their total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterols and triglyceride (TG) levels were measured. Abnormal blood lipids were based on clinical cut-offs for total, LDL and HDL cholesterols, and TG and relative distributions for total:HDL and TG:HDL cholesterols ratios. Log-binomial models were used to estimate risk of each outcome in relation to dietary patterns. Greater adherence to the Western pattern predicted increased risks of high LDL (RR: 1.47; 95%CI: 1.06, 2.03) and TG (1.90; 1.25, 2.86), and high ratios of total:HDL (1.48; 1.00, 2.19) and TG:HDL (1.78; 1.18, 2.70) cholesterols in fully adjusted models. Conversely, a prudent pattern predicted reduced risks of low HDL (0.58; 0.42, 0.78) and high TG (0.66; 0.47, 0.92) and high total:HDL (0.71; 0.51, 0.98) and TG:HDL (0.61; 0.45, 0.84) cholesterols ratios.ConclusionThis is the first prospective study to show greater adherence to unhealthy Western diet predicted increased risks of abnormal blood lipids, whereas healthy prudent diet predicted lower such risks in young adults. Addressing diets in early course may improve cardiovascular health of young adults.     

Tumor-associated high endothelial venules mediate lymphocyte entry into tumors and predict response to PD-1 plus CTLA-4 combination immunotherapy

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超声引导下关节腔内注射重组人Ⅱ型肿瘤坏死因子受体-抗体融合蛋白(益赛普)治疗血友病性关节病

目的 观察超声引导下关节腔内注射重组人Ⅱ型肿瘤坏死因子受体-抗体融合蛋白（益赛普）治疗血友病性关节病（HA）的价值。方法 回顾性分析32例接受超声引导下穿刺关节腔注射益赛普的HA患者，对比观察治疗前及治疗后1个月血友病关节健康评分（HJHS）、视觉模拟评分（VAS），以及超声所示目标关节增生滑膜厚度、血流信号、Melchiorre及中国早期血友病性关节病超声检测（HEAD-US-C）评分，评估其治疗价值。结果 对32例均成功完成超声引导下穿刺关节腔及腔内注射益赛普，共对18例膝关节、7例肘关节及7例踝关节进行治疗。术后未出现感染、出血等并发症。治疗后1个月，目标关节HJHS、VAS、Melchiorre评分、HEAD-US-C评分及增生滑膜最大厚度、平均厚度、血流信号均低于治疗前（P均<0.01）。结论 超声引导下关节腔内注射益赛普治疗HA安全、有效。     

The effect of ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccine on arterial thrombosis development and platelet aggregation in female rats

ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 adenoviral vector vaccine (ChAd) against coronavirus disease 2019 has been associated with vaccine-induced thrombosis and thrombocytopenia (VITT), especially in young women who have presented with unusual localized thrombosis after receiving the vaccine. The pathogenesis of VITT remains incompletely understood. We tried to provide new insights into mechanisms underlying this phenomenon in the model of arterial thrombosis electrically induced in the carotid artery of female rats. At 28 days post-vaccination, ChAd induced SARS-CoV-2-specific neutralizing antibody responses in all animals. The analysis of the blood vessel/thrombus area showed slight luminal narrowing of the carotid artery with extravasation of blood in vaccinated rats. These small changes were not accompanied by differences in thrombus weight and composition. The vaccinated animals presented a slight increase (by around 14–24%) in platelet aggregation. ChAd did not significantly affect blood coagulation, platelet counts, and their activation markers. Unaffected thrombus formation, the lack of thrombocytopenia and all the measured blood and hemostasis parameters that predominantly stayed unchanged, indicate that the ChAd does not increase the risk of arterial thrombosis development in female rats.     

Contemporary Epidemiology of and Risk Factors Associated with Removal of a Pathologically Normal Appendix in Children with Suspected Appendicitis

BackgroundThe goal of this study was to characterize contemporary performance benchmarks and risk factors associated with negative appendectomy (NA) in children with suspected appendicitis.MethodsA multicenter retrospective cohort analysis of children undergoing appendectomy for suspected appendicitis was performed using data from the 2016–2021 NSQIP-Pediatric Appendectomy Targeted Public Use Files. Multivariable regression was used to evaluate the influence of year, age, sex, and WBC count on NA rate, and to generate rate estimates for NA based on different combinations of demographic characteristics and WBC profiles.Results100,322 patients were included from 140 hospitals. The overall NA rate was 2.4%, and rates decreased significantly during the study period (2016: 3.1% vs. 2021: 2.3%, p < 0.001). In adjusted analyses, the highest risk for NA was associated with a normal WBC (<9000/mm³; OR 5.31 [95% CI: 4.87–5.80]), followed by female sex (OR 1.55 [95% CI: 1.42–1.68]) and age <5 years (OR 1.64 [95% CI 1.39, 1.94]). Model-estimated risk for NA varied significantly across demographic and WBC strata, with a 14.4-fold range in rates between subgroups with the lowest and highest predicted risk (males 13–17 years with elevated WBC [1.1%] vs. females 3–4 years with normal WBC [15.8%]).ConclusionsContemporary NA rates have decreased over time, however NA risk remains high in children without a leukocytosis, particularly for girls and children <5 years of age. These data provide contemporary performance benchmarks for NA in children with suspected appendicitis and identify high-risk populations where further efforts to mitigate NA risk should be targeted.Level of EvidenceIII.