Search Results (241)

This study investigated the prevalence and molecular characteristics of canine vector-borne pathogens (CVBPs) circulating in diverse dog populations in Thailand by using molecular diagnostic methods. A total of 400 blood samples were collected from four groups (n = 100 each): stray dogs (Group A), vector-borne disease–suspected companion dogs (Group B), healthy companion dogs presenting for routine examination (Group C), and companion dogs presenting with non-vector-borne illnesses (Group D). The overall infection rate was 46.25%. Ehrlichia spp. were the most frequently detected pathogens (23.5%), followed by Babesia spp. (16.5%), Rickettsia spp. (15.0%), and Anaplasma spp. (11.5%). The prevalence differed markedly among groups, including group A (88.0%), group B (54.0%), group C (27.0%) and group D (16.0%) (p < 0.05). DNA sequence analysis showed 100% identity with GenBank™ reference sequences, confirming the presence of Ehrlichia canis, Rickettsia asembonensis, Babesia vogeli, and Anaplasma platys. The detection of CVBPs across all groups demonstrates free-roaming and owned dogs serve as reservoirs for substantial ongoing infections and pose potential zoonotic implications to humans. Overall, these findings emphasize the importance of sustained molecular surveillance, improved vector control strategies, and proactive monitoring of high-risk dog populations to reduce the burden of CVBPs in Thailand. Full article

Avian haemosporidian parasites, especially Plasmodium juxtanucleare, Leucocytozoon caulleryi, and Leucocytozoon sabrazesi, represent major threats to poultry health and production. However, there is limited epidemiological information about these pathogens in domestic chickens in Southern China, which hinders effective disease prevention and control. The objective of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional survey to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of these three parasites in Guangxi and Hunan Provinces between June 2024 and December 2025. A total of 941 blood samples were collected from domestic chickens and analyzed using both nested PCR targeting the cytb gene and species-specific PCR assays targeting the coxI gene. The overall detection rate of haemosporidian infection was 25.40% (239/941). P. juxtanucleare was the most commonly detected species, with a detection rate of 23.59% (222/941), followed by L. caulleryi at 1.81% (17/941), while no L. sabrazesi infections were identified. Analysis of risk factors showed that chickens older than 90 days had significantly higher detection rates for both P. juxtanucleare and L. caulleryi compared to younger birds. Additionally, breed-specific differences were noted, with black-bone and partridge chickens showing higher susceptibility to P. juxtanucleare than three-yellow chickens. Genetic analysis of coxI sequences demonstrated high conservation among P. juxtanucleare isolates (99.7–100% similarity) and complete identity among L. caulleryi strains. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that all sequences clustered with the corresponding reference strains from GenBank. This study presents an epidemiological evaluation of these three haemosporidian parasites in domestic chickens from Guangxi and Hunan Provinces, identifying P. juxtanucleare as a widespread pathogen and highlighting age and breed as important risk factors. These results emphasize the importance of ongoing monitoring and targeted control measures in the area. Full article

Background and Objectives: Previous comparisons between right anterior mini-thoracotomy (RAT) and partial upper sternotomy (PS) for aortic valve replacement (AVR) have shown similar clinical outcomes. This study aims to assess the potential in-hospital cost differences in one technique over the other. Materials and Methods: Between 2018 and 2023, 303 patients at our institution underwent minimally invasive isolated AVR (241 PS vs. 62 RAT). Endocarditis, emergencies, and reinterventions were excluded. A 1:1 nearest neighbor propensity-matched analysis without replacement was performed. Perioperative clinical outcomes and hospital costs were analyzed, comparing total and average (per patient) direct, indirect, and total hospital costs between the two groups. Multivariable linear regression identified significant predictors of hospital costs. Results: Sixty-two well-matched pairs were analyzed. Significant differences were found in intraoperative (PS: 27/62, 43.5% vs. RAT: 10/62, 16.1%, p = 0.002) and postoperative transfusions (PS: 33/62, 53.2% vs. RAT: 16/62, 25.8%, p = 0.003), and median intensive care unit (ICU) hours (PS: 52.2 vs. RAT: 45.7, p = 0.007). Average direct, indirect, and total hospital costs were significantly higher for PS (p = 0.038, p = 0.040, and p = 0.035, respectively), with significant blood bank cost differences favoring RAT (p = 0.010). Multivariable linear regression showed that intraoperative and postoperative transfusions, ICU, and hospital length of stay were significantly associated with hospital costs, but not the surgical approach. Conclusions: PS and RAT have comparable perioperative clinical outcomes, with differences observed only in the number of transfusions and ICU stay, both favoring RAT. Given the significant perioperative differences and regression analysis results, the cost advantage of RAT is likely mediated through its impact on these perioperative outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Blood donation is a critical component of healthcare systems worldwide, yet donor recruitment remains challenging. This study evaluates the knowledge, attitudes, motivations, and practices (KAP) of blood donation among the general population in Saudi Arabia to identify key barriers and propose targeted interventions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured, validated questionnaire distributed over five months (December 2022 to April 2023) via social media and in-person recruitment at the Central Blood Bank in Riyadh. A total of 1150 participants aged 18–60 years residing in Saudi Arabia were included in the final analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results: Participants demonstrated moderate knowledge (mean score 5.43 ± 1.81 out of 9), with significantly higher scores among males, individuals aged 21–30 years, and those holding a bachelor’s degree. Attitudes toward donation were highly positive (mean score 15.46 ± 2.74 out of 20) and correlated with age, gender, marital status, and occupation. Despite this positive outlook, only 34.96% of participants had donated blood previously, although 95.25% expressed willingness to do so. Primary motivators included mobile donation units (89.22%) and paid leave (89.22%), whereas 51.22% of respondents considered current media campaigns ineffective. Common barriers to donation included health concerns (25.30%), time constraints (12.87%), and fear of needles (7.74%). Conclusions: This study reveals a critical disparity between positive public attitudes and actual donation practices in Saudi Arabia. To enhance donor participation, we recommend implementing convenient donation strategies such as mobile blood drives, workplace incentives, and more effective, culturally tailored educational campaigns. Addressing these factors could help Saudi Arabia improve its voluntary donation rates and ensure a sustainable, safe blood supply. Full article

Background: Polygenic risk scores for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), organized by gene networks shared between the blood and brain, may provide insights into underlying disease mechanisms common to both tissues. Methods: We derived a blood–brain network-based polygenic risk score (nbPRS) from AD-associated genetic variants for three blood-brain networks, selected by the preservation of blood and brain gene co-expression networks, and AD association. Participants from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI, n = 1109), Framingham Heart Study (FHS, n = 8310), the Religious Orders Study Memory Aging Project (ROSMAP, n = 1215), and Mount Sinai Brain Bank (MSBB, n = 323) were stratified into low- and high-nbPRS subgroups, then profiled using longitudinal and cross-sectional data. We compared the conversion from normal cognition to AD between nbPRS subgroups. Genes differentially expressed among low- and high-nbPRS individuals were profiled with classical neuropathological markers and we investigated potential biologically relevant pathways for the genes significantly expressed in high-risk individuals. Results: Individuals with high nbPRS in three AD-associated networks (M2, M6, M14) demonstrated significant impairment in executive function and memory performance, whereas high-risk individuals in networks M2 and M14 had significantly reduced hippocampal volume. We observed high-risk individuals in M2 and M14 developed AD at twice the rate of low-risk individuals in these networks. HLA genes were differentially expressed with transcriptome-wide significance among low- and high-nbPRS individuals in M14 and associated with neuroinflammatory and tau pathology. Conclusions: Polygenic risk scores derived from blood and brain networks can differentiate individuals with a high risk of AD conversion. Full article

Background/Objectives: Alloantigen H is one of thirteen systems in the chicken. Little is known about this system which has two serological alleles. The objectives of this study were (1) to identify the genetic region encoding the chicken alloantigen H, and (2) to develop DNA detection-based methods to aid H system allele identification. Methods: SNP genotypes from Axiom chicken SNP arrays were established for samples with known H system serological types. Sources of DNA included two elite Hy-Line White Leghorn lines segregating for alloantigen H, non-pedigreed samples from the Northern Illinois University (NIU) DNA bank, plus inbred line samples. Sequence information was also available for the commercial and inbred lines. Results: GWAS results from the elite Hy-Line lines and NIU DNA bank samples showed a very strong peak in the same 4.20–4.30 Mbp region on chromosome 24. Predicted cell membrane expression and the presence of non-synonymous SNP were criteria to identify candidate genes. Seven genes in this region have membrane-associated products: MCAM (CD146), THY1, MFRP, CLDN25, KCNJ14L, ABCG4, and PDZD3. However, only MCAM had an SNP variation that matched the serological haplotypes. Lines known to be segregating for the H system had concordance rates between serological results and SNP haplotype of 95% for both the elite HYL lines and 99% for the NIU samples, indicating that the MCAM (CD146) gene encodes the chicken H blood system. Conclusions: The gene product is a cell adhesion molecule affecting multiple activities including angiogenesis, development, cell differentiation, cell migration, signaling transduction, and immune responses. Long, short, and soluble isoforms are found in chickens. The described DNA-based typing methods facilitate future investigations to examine H haplotype frequencies in lines with identified differential responses such as growth or immune responses. Determining H haplotype association with egg production, feed conversion, and other traits with economic importance will aid in determining the significance of this immune-related gene in overall poultry health. Full article

Background and Objectives: To assess whether country-level changes in major cardiometabolic risk factors were associated with concurrent changes in age-standardized death rates (ASDR) from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke between 2000 and 2015. Materials and Methods: We conducted a multinational ecological analysis using harmonized data from WHO, NCD-RisC, and the World Bank across 157 countries (n = 157). Absolute changes in systolic blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and total cholesterol were standardized to z-scores. Linear regression models examined change–change associations, adjusting for income group and behavioral factors. Income-stratified and quartile-based analyses were performed. Results: Between 2000 and 2015, IHD and stroke mortality declined, while obesity and diabetes increased. In adjusted models, change in total cholesterol showed the most consistent association with change in IHD ASDR (β = 13.09, 95% CIs = 4.58–21.60, p = 0.003), whereas the other risk factors did not show consistent independent associations. Significant associations were confined to high- and upper middle-income countries, where change in total cholesterol was associated with IHD mortality. Conclusions: Changes in total cholesterol showed the most consistent correspondence with concurrent changes in IHD mortality at the country level, whereas other cardiometabolic risk factors showed less consistent patterns. These patterns were observed mainly in high- and upper–middle-income countries, suggesting heterogeneity by socioeconomic context. Full article

Background/Objectives: The United States is facing a national blood shortage, which is a function of the reduced number of donors since the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing use of balanced hemostatic resuscitation for severely bleeding trauma patients. As a result, recent attempts to define futility based on clinical and laboratory criteria have been proposed. There is no literature on the frequency of institutional futility protocols, either at hospitals or blood collection centers. Methods: The Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies sent out a survey to 800 United States hospitals and blood collection centers to determine the frequency of trauma futility protocols and the need to limit blood for non-trauma patients due to high use in trauma patients. Results: 213 (26.6%) institutions responded. 10.8% of hospitals and blood collection centers reported having a trauma futility protocol, and those hospitals and blood collection centers with futility protocols were more likely to have needed to limit blood to non-trauma patients due to high consumption by trauma patients. Conclusions: Trauma futility protocols at hospitals and blood collection centers are uncommon. Because of the national shortage of blood products available for trauma and non-trauma cases, implementing institutional trauma futility protocols may help to curb the incidence of blood limitation to non-trauma patients. Increased awareness and communication between blood bankers and traumatologists during the declaration of futility may reduce blood wastage and enhance the nation’s blood supply reservoirs. Full article

Healthcare professionals face numerous challenges when analyzing data and providing treatment, including determining which parameters to measure, the frequency of measurement, i.e., how frequently to measure them, and the responsibility for monitoring patient health with new medical devices. Machine learning (ML) techniques are efficient predictive models used to improve early prediction of patient care and reduce the cost of implementing healthcare systems. This study proposes a new model (data prediction and labeling using a negative feature based on a multi-agent system (PLPF-MAS)) that provides a smart city-based healthcare system for the continuous monitoring of patients’ vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and blood oxygen saturation. It also predicts future states and provides suitable recommendations based on clinical events. The MIMIC-II database of the MIT physio bank archive is used, which contains 1023 patient records. Additionally, the EHR dataset is used, which contains 10,000 patient records. The models were trained and evaluated for six bio-signals. The PLPF-MAS model is distinguished from traditional methods in its advanced system, which combines the activities of several agents and the intelligent distribution of responsibilities among them. The LR agent measures the model’s reliability in parallel with the AE-HMM agent to predict the Prisk; it then sends the data to a coordinator and a supervisory agent to monitor and manage the model. Our model is characterized by strong flexibility and reliability, the ability to deal with large datasets, and a short response time. It provides recommendations and warnings about risks, and it can predict clinical states with high accuracy. The new model achieved an accuracy of 98.4%, a precision of 95.3%, a sensitivity of 99.2%, a specificity of 99.1%, an F1-Score of 97.1%, and an $R^2$ of 98%, when the MIMIC-II dataset was used. Conversely, it achieved an accuracy of 93%, a precision of 92%, a recall of 94%, an F1-Score of 93%, an AUC-ROC of 94%, and an AUC-PR of 89% when the EHR dataset was used. Full article

Deprivation of sleep (DS) is linked to increased risk of immune-mediated diseases. Toll-like receptors (TLR7, TLR9) and BANK1 are key B-cell signaling components that may contribute to their pathogenesis. Seventy-six adults underwent polysomnography (PSG) followed by DS. Venous blood was collected after PSG and DS. Mood was evaluated before and after each stage using Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. Participants were classified as Responders (REs) or Non-Responders (NRs) based on mood changes post-DS. Gene mRNA expression of TLR7, TLR9, and BANK1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was analyzed by qRT-PCR. DS reduced TLR7 expression in the entire study group and within NRs, REs, and male and female subgroups (all p < 0.001). During analysis of covariance, women exhibited higher TLR7 expression than men post-DS (p = 0.022), independent of age and body mass index (BMI). At baseline, women exhibited lower expression of TLR9 (p = 0.009, independent of age and BMI), which was abolished after DS (p = 0.570). BANK1 expression increased post-DS in the entire study group and in NRs (p = 0.021), but not REs (p = 0.329). DS modulates B-cell-related immune signaling, with reduced TLR7 and increased BANK1 expression in a sex- and mood-dependent manner. Full article

Background: Recent advancements in blood transfusion and transfusion medicine have increasingly integrated innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and computational intelligence. Despite numerous reviews on these topics, a comprehensive synthesis of the existing evidence is lacking. Objective: This narrative review of reviews aims to summarize and critically appraise the current literature on AI-driven and emerging technological approaches in blood transfusion, providing a structured overview for researchers and clinicians. Methods: A total of 19 reviews were selected through a systematic search strategy. Studies were assessed for methodological quality, scope, and clinical relevance, using adapted criteria from narrative review checklists. Data were extracted regarding the type of technology, application in transfusion medicine, study population, and reported outcomes. Results: The included reviews highlight several key domains: AI-assisted prediction of transfusion requirements, automated blood typing and crossmatching, advanced monitoring of blood products, and integration of computational models in blood banking workflows. Most studies reported promising applications but revealed substantial heterogeneity in methods, limited clinical validation, and variable reporting quality. Conclusions: AI and emerging technologies offer significant potential to improve the safety, efficiency, and personalization of blood transfusion. However, standardization of study designs, comprehensive validation, and robust reporting are essential to translate these innovations into routine clinical practice. This review of reviews provides a structured synthesis to guide future research and implementation strategies in transfusion medicine. Full article

Technological advancements in blood donor screening have significantly improved blood safety. However, certain testing challenges and limitations continue to face blood banks in donor screening for the hepatitis B virus, resulting in occasional cases of transfusion transmission. These cases are mostly related to donors presenting within the window period and donors with occult hepatitis B infection. There are several other challenges that professionals in transfusion medicine, infectious diseases, gastroenterology, and public health must be aware of. Maintaining the highest test sensitivity is a key parameter for enhancing blood safety, and the review describes current recommendations in this regard, along with relevant advancements. The diversity of viral genotypes and the potential for mutations affecting the surface antigen may negatively affect the performance of both serologic and nucleic acid tests. Serologic tests may also be affected by several interferences, endogenous or exogenous to the sample. A clear understanding of these challenges is necessary to create effective policies and procedures and to properly manage atypical cases. Full article

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is a highly infectious disease with a global distribution caused by the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), primarily affecting cattle. Dairy farms play a central role in the persistence and spread of BVDV in Italy, making control strategies and genetic studies essential to reduce its circulation. This work aimed to identify and characterize the genotype and subgenotype of BVDV infecting cattle in a specific area of Sardinia. Ten BVDV Sardinian strains were isolated and sequenced from the blood of infected cattle collected into EDTA tubes during outbreaks between 2018 and 2024. Then, to characterize the isolates, phylogenetic and variant analyses were performed on the entire collection of BVDV genomes available to date in GenBank. All Sardinian isolates were assigned to the BVDV-1b subgenotype. Except for two divergent strains, the isolates clustered into a distinct monophyletic clade characterized by 61 exclusive variants absent in all other analyzed sequences. These findings point to the existence of a distinct Sardinian genomic signature. Moreover, among these mutations, 19 missenses distributed on genes encoding the E1, E2, Core, NS3, NS4B and NS5A proteins could have a relevant functional impact, given the role these proteins play in the virus life cycle and in interaction with the host. Full article

Background and Objectives: Transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) impose a considerable healthcare burden globally. Despite rigorous screening protocols, these infections can still be present among apparently healthy blood donors, potentially compromising the safety of transfusion recipients. Understanding the frequency of TTIs among blood donors is crucial for ensuring a healthy blood supply and gaining insights into the epidemiology of these infections within a community. Materials and Methods: The main objective of this study is to determine the frequency of TTIs among healthy blood donors, aged 18 to 60 years, at King Abdulaziz Hospital in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia. Data was collected retrospectively at the blood bank center from 1 January 2023, to 31 December 2023. Results: There were 8831 blood donors included. Saudi participants emerged as the dominant nationality, comprising 57% of the total sample (5036 out of 8831 donors). The prevalence of TTIs among blood donors varied according to the individual markers used. The overall TTI reactivity rates were low. Anti-HBc was the most common TTI-positive marker (7.5%), followed by syphilis (0.5%), HBV NAT (0.3%), HBsAg, and anti-HCV (0.3%). On the other hand, the lowest TTI-positive markers were HIV-1/-P2 and HTLV-1/-2 (0.04%). In Saudi participants, the most prevalent TTI marker was anti-HBc with a rate of 5.8% (293 out of 5036), followed by HBsAg (0.3%), syphilis (0.3%), and HBV NAT (0.2%). Conclusions: The present study found that HBV outperformed other TTI markers compared to the regional reports. However, in our research and the earlier reports, the rates of seropositive patients were noticeably low for HIV, HTLV, and malaria, while the rate for syphilis was higher, particularly among non-Saudi donors. NAT assays are crucial for screening blood donations for TTIs, which can help the early detection of infections and significantly reduce serological window periods. For a precise estimation of the frequency of TTIs, large prospective multicenter studies from various regions of the KSA are required. Full article

Background: Patient blood management (PBM) is a patient-centered, evidence-based approach for optimizing anemia management, minimizing blood loss, and ensuring appropriate transfusion. Artificial intelligence (AI) provides powerful tools for prediction, diagnosis, and decision support across PBM, but current evidence remains emerging and not yet consolidated. Objectives: This review synthesizes AI applications in PBM, summarizing predictive, diagnostic, and decision support models; highlighting methodological trends; and discussing challenges for clinical translation. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception to 31 March 2025. Eligible studies reported AI models addressing the three established PBM pillars. Studies on transfusion safety and blood bank operations relevant to PBM were also included. Extracted data covered study characteristics, predictors, models, validation strategies, and performance. The findings were narratively synthesized given study heterogeneity. Results: A total of 338 studies were included, spanning anemia detection, bleeding risk stratification, transfusion prediction, transfusion safety, and inventory management. Deep learning (DL) predominated in image-based anemia detection, while ensemble and gradient boosting methods frequently outperformed baselines in bleeding and transfusion risk prediction. Recurrent and hybrid architectures proved effective for blood supply forecasting. Across domains, machine learning and DL models generally surpassed logistic regression, clinical scores, and expert judgment. Despite strong internal performance, external validation and clinical deployment remain limited. Conclusions: AI is advancing PBM by enabling earlier anemia detection, more accurate bleeding and transfusion prediction, and smarter resource allocation. Translation into practice requires standardized reporting, robust external validation, explainability, and workflow integration. Future work should emphasize multimodal learning, prospective evaluation, and cost-effectiveness. Full article