The effect of ferritin-guided iron supplementation among Danish female first-time blood donors

Background

The identification of blood donors at risk of developing low hemoglobin (Hb) and subsequent intervention is expected to reduce donation-induced iron deficiency and low Hb among blood donors. This study explores the effects of ferritin-guided iron supplementation for female first-time donors implemented in four of five administrative regions in Denmark.

Study Design and Methods

We included 45,919 female first-time donors in this study. Hb values were determined in donations of included donors during a 2-year follow-up period. For each region, an intervention group (after implementation) and a control group (before implementation) were defined. The primary outcome was Hb below the donation threshold (7.8 mmol/L ~ 12.5 g/dL) at the time of donation, in the control group, and the intervention group, using logistic regression. The secondary outcome was the number of donations per donor given during the follow-up period.

Results

We observed a statistically significant decrease in the risk of female first-time donors experiencing a donation with low Hb after ferritin-guided iron supplementation was introduced: Odds ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.71–0.95. We found a statistically significant increase in the number of donations per donor during the follow-up period after intervention; rate ratio: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02–1.08.

Discussion

Ferritin-guided iron supplementation led to a significant reduction in the occurrence of low hemoglobin (Hb) levels among Danish female first-time blood donors. The intervention was additionally associated with an increase in the number of donations per donor.     

Sex differences in time to task failure during early pubertal development

Introduction: We compared fatigability and activation of elbow flexor muscles in children at 3 pubertal stages during a sustained submaximal contraction. Methods: In 72 healthy children (39 boys) aged 11 ± 3 years (range, 8–14 years), differences in fatigability (time to task failure) and muscle activation were compared at 3 Tanner stages (T1–T3). Results: Time to task failure and muscle activation were similar between boys and girls at prepubertal Tanner stage 1. Time to task failure was briefer for girls than boys at Tanner stages 2 and 3 and was predicted by the coactivation indices and percent body fat in girls. Muscle torque was the only predictor for the time to task failure in boys. Conclusions: Differences in fatigability and muscle coactivation were evident during the initial pubertal stages (T2 and T3), but not before the onset of puberty (T1). Muscle Nerve 49 : 887–894, 2014     

Soziale Ungleichheit in der regionalen Ausbreitung von SARS-CoV-2

Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz - Ob sozioökonomische Faktoren die Ausbreitung von SARS-CoV‑2 beeinflussen, ist nicht ausreichend beantwortet, da...     

A 3-D-Printed Patient-Specific Ultrasound Phantom for FAST Scan

Ultrasound phantoms are commonly used to assess the performance of ultrasound systems and ensure their proper functionality, in addition to providing opportunities for medical training. However, Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) phantoms, in particular, are prohibitively expensive and procedure specific. This work explores the use of additive manufacturing to fabricate a patient-specific, full-scale torso ultrasound phantom. Phantom geometry was derived from anonymized computed tomography scans and segments into discrete organs. The digital organs (torso, skeleton, liver, spleen) were 3-D printed and used as castable molds for producing their respective body features. These organs were integrated with artificial hemorrhages to produce a realistic training tool for FAST scans. The resulting phantom is low in cost, has a verified shelf-life of at least 1 y and was positively reviewed by a trauma and emergency radiologist for its ability to provide accurate geometric and ultrasound information.     

Primary sarcomas of the spine: population-based demographic and survival data in 107 spinal sarcomas over a 23-year period in Ontario,Canada

Background contextSpinal sarcomas are a rare, heterogeneous group of mesenchymal tumors. Current literature reporting demographic variables and survival information is limited to small case series, and a single registry with variable treatment modalities and time periods.PurposeWe report on population-level data regarding all spinal sarcomas diagnosed over a 23-year period in Ontario, Canada, for the purposes of calculating incidence and prevalence of these tumors. Secondarily, survival is assessed by tumor type as well as adjuvant therapies during this time period.Study designRetrospective Cohort StudyPatient samplePopulation-based data from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) between 1993 and 2015.Outcome measuresOutcome measures include incidence and prevalence of spinal osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma of the spine, as well as 2-, 5-, 10- and 15-year survival and prevalence of adjuvant therapies.MethodsUtilizing population-based data from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) between 1993 and 2015, ICD codes were searched and available data extracted for the purposes of reporting basic demographic information and calculation of Kaplan Meyer survival curves. Databases include the Ontario Cancer Registry, Discharge Abstract Database, Ontario Health Insurance Plan, National Ambulatory Care Reporting System, Registered Persons DataBase (death) were analyzed.ResultsOne hundred and seven spinal sarcomas were identified, with a mean incidence was 0.38 sarcomas per million population per year, that was stable over time. The mean prevalence was 8.1 sarcomas per million population. The most common diagnosis was Ewing's sarcoma (48 [44.9%] patients), followed by chondrosarcoma (33 [30.8%] patients), and osteosarcoma (26 [24.3%] patients). Chondrosarcoma had the highest survival rates with 77.2% and 64.2% 5- and 10-year survival rates, respectively, followed by Ewing's sarcoma with 48.1% and 44.9% 5 and 10-year survival and osteosarcoma with 36.0% and 30.9% 5- and 10-year survival.ConclusionsSpinal sarcoma is a rare disease with variable survival depending on the histologic diagnosis. This population-level study involves a heterogeneous group of patients with variable stages of disease at presentation and variable treatments. Our data fit with the published literature for survival for those treated conservatively and surgically. Our data show considerable improvement in 5- and 10-year mortality when compared with previous population level studies on earlier patient cohorts, likely reflecting improvements in systemic and surgical treatments.     

Nontarget screening of production waste samples from Leuckart amphetamine synthesis using liquid chromatography - high-resolution mass spectrometry as a complementary method to GC-MS impurity profiling

The established approaches of suspect and nontarget screening (NTS) using liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) are usually applied in the field of environmental and bioanalytical analysis. Herein, these approaches were employed on a forensic-toxicological application by analyzing different production waste samples from controlled amphetamine synthesis via Leuckart route to evaluate the suitability of this methodology for identification of route-specific organic substances in such waste samples. For analysis, two complementary LC techniques were used to cover a broad polarity spectrum. After data processing and peak picking using the enviMass software and further manual data restriction, 17 features were tentatively identified as suspects, three of which were subsequently identified with reference substances. All suspects had been previously identified in studies, in which gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was successfully applied for synthesis marker assessment in waste and amphetamine samples. Remaining features with high signal intensity and assigned sum formula were selected for the attempt of structure elucidation. Seven potential synthesis markers were tentatively identified, which were not yet reported, except the sum formula of one compound, and which were partly also detected in real case waste samples afterward. The innovative application of the NTS approach using LC-HRMS for the analysis of aqueous amphetamine synthesis waste samples showed its suitability as extension to GC-MS analysis as it was possible to successfully identify seven new potential marker compounds, which are specific either for the conversion of the pre-precursors α-phenylacetoacetonitrile and α-phenylacetoacetamide to benzyl methyl ketone or for the subsequent Leuckart synthesis route after their conversion.     

Langzeitüberleben bei Krebs: Definitionen,Konzepte und Gestaltungsprinzipien von Survivorship-Programmen

Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz - Aufgrund von diagnostischen und therapeutischen Fortschritten in der Hämatologie und Onkologie und entsprechend steigenden...     

Altered representation of expected value in the orbitofrontal cortex in mania

Objective: Increased responsiveness to appetitive and reduced responsiveness to aversive anticipatory cues may be associated with dysfunction of the brain reward system in mania. Here we studied neural correlates of gain and loss expectation in mania using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Method: Fifteen manic patients and 26 matched healthy control individuals performed a monetary incentive delay task, during which subjects anticipated to win or lose a varying amount of money. Varying both magnitude and valence (win, loss) of anticipatory cues allowed us to isolate the effects of magnitude, valence and expected value (magnitude‐by‐valence interaction). Results: Response times and total gain amount did not differ significantly between groups. FMRI data indicated that the ventral striatum responded according to cued incentive magnitude in both groups, and this effect did not significantly differ between groups. However, a significant group difference was observed for expected value representation in the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC; BA 11 and 47). In this region, patients showed increasing BOLD responses during expectation of increasing gain and decreasing responses during expectation of increasing loss, while healthy subjects tended to show the inverse effect. In seven patients retested after remission OFC responses adapted to the response pattern of healthy controls. Conclusions: The observed alterations are consistent with a state‐related affective processing bias during the expectation of gains and losses which may contribute to clinical features of mania, such as the enhanced motivation for seeking rewards and the underestimation of risks and potential punishments. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.