Clinical diagnosis that necessitates the use of centralised facilities and site visits might be difficult for patients in resource-constrained or remote settings. As a result, the development of a low-cost test that uses smartphone data collecting and transmission to enable illness self-management and point-of-care (POC) diagnostics would be advantageous. The PCV of canine blood collections can be extrapolated using a smartphone photograph. Filter paper has been utilized to hold the plasma samples, and photos were taken in various conditions using a smartphone. These findings were then contrasted with PCV values performed on the identical samples in accordance with WHO recommendations. Many samples were examined, and it was discovered that smartphone photos taken in a controlled setting could accurately predict the samples’ PCV. Whether testing samples of a regular erythroid mass or a polycythemic sample, this projection was the most correct. The findings of this study reveal that using Image Enhancement Techniques, smartphone-obtained photos can be used to estimate canine PCV. If this can be included into a smart device, it might be used in low-resource environments.

Background: Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder of hemoglobin causing myriad of pathology including anemia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the baseline values of steady state hemoglobin and Packed cell volume as a guide to managing the early recognition of hemolytic crises in sickle cell anemia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the sickle cell patients attending the Sickle cell clinic of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja. A blood sample of 4.5 ml blood was collected from each participant for hemoglobin concentration and Packed cell volume. All blood samples were also screened for HIV and hemoglobin phenotypes were done using cellulose acetate hemoglobin electrophoresis at pH 8.6.Results: A total of 98 subjects in steady state were recruited, consisting of 53 (54.1%) females and 45 (45.9%) males. The overall means were 7.92±1.49 and 24.46±4.76; a female mean of 7.73±1.45; 23.89±4.60, and a male mean of 8.14±1.54 and 25.14±4.91 were obtained for hemoglobin and Packed cell volume, respectively. Sixty – nine of the 98 (70.40%) subjects have been previously transfused with blood.Conclusion: The mean hemoglobin concentration and Packed cell volume in males was higher than females. The overall mean was lower than what was expected for age and sex. Over two-third of sickle cell anemia population had been transfused.

Background: Blood transfusion is associated with side effects caused by residual leukocytes in blood and blood components. Using leukodepleted blood components can decrease some of these adverse effects. Among the various methods to remove leukocytes in blood components, prestorage leukoreduction has been most efficient, but the evidence of clinical side effects awaits further studies. We evaluated changes of electrolytes in prestorage leukocyte-reduced red blood cells.Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, one hundred twenty eight Packed cells were studied: 64 unfiltered Packed cells and 64 prestorage filtered Packed cell. Two groups were matched as sex and age. Electrolytes such as Calcium, Sodium, and Potassium of two groups were measured, and compared during preparation.Results: In this study, mean of Calcium in unfiltered and filtered group were 6.16±1.09 mg/dl and 5.57±2.21 mg/dl, respectively (P-value<0.055). Mean of Sodium in unfiltered group also was 155.91+/-9.51meq/l and in filtered group, 153.05+/-13.21meq/l (P-value<0.163), and mean of Potassium in unfiltered group was 5.01+/-1.72 meq/l and in filtered group, 7.42+/-2.45meq/l (P-value<0.001).Conclusion: Releasing of Potassium during preparation of prestorage leukoreduction can cause increased Potassium level and hemoglobin concentration changes in prestorage filtered Packed cell.

Background: The incidence and hematological effects of helminth infection during pregnancy were investigated among pregnant women in Isiala, Mbano, Southeast Nigeria.Methods: Totally 282 pregnant women were enlisted for the study between October 2011 and September 2012. Stool samples were examined for intestinal helminths using formalin-ether sedimentation technique. Hemoglobin (Hb) and Packed cell volume (PCV) levels were evaluated in venous blood samples using Sahli's and microhaematocrit methods respectively.Results: Forty six (16.3%) subjects were infected with at least one helminth parasite, 24 (8.5%) hookworm, 14 (5.0%) and 2 (0.7%) A. lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura infections respectively. Intestinal helminthiases in pregnant women was significantly associated with age (P<0.05). The prevalence of intestinal helminthiases by parity was also significantly different (P<0.05) with primigravidae having the highest infection rate (27.5%). Hematological assessment showed that the prevalence of anemia among the women was 58.9% (mean±SD=9.3±1.0). The differences in hemoglobin levels by age groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The contributory effect of gastrointestinal helminths in anemia showed that infected pregnant women had lower mean hemoglobin (8.60±0.22g/dl) than the uninfected (9.72±0.07g/dl). Significant difference (t-value=5.660, P<0.05) was observed between the Hb of the infected and uninfected pregnant women. In addition, infected pregnant women had mean PCV of 26.09±0.65% while the uninfected had 34.54±2.96%. The mean PCV of infected pregnant women was significantly different (t-value=0.013, P<0.05) from that of the uninfected.Conclusion Anti-helminthic therapy after the first trimester should be part of the antenatal programme. Intestinal helminth infection showed significant negative correlation with Hb and PCV and contributed moderately to anemia.

To establish a dynamic and fine suspension culture, four different methods of tomato cell suspension culture were compared. Hypocotyl explants of the tomato cultivar Jina were used for callus induction on Murashige and Skoog (MS) Medium supplemented with three different phytohormone combinations. Then, one gram of each type of calli was transferred to 50 mL of liquid MS medium with four combinations of auxins and cytokinins to produce cell suspensions. The growth rate, judged by cell turbidity, cell fresh weight, and cell viability was evaluated. The best suspension culture was obtained by using friable calli formed on MS medium containing 1 mg L-1 NAA and 0. 1 mg L-1 kinetin, transferred to the liquid MS supplemented with 2 mg L-1 NAA, 0. 2 mg L-1 2, 4-D and 0. 2 mg L-1 zeatin.

Objective: Several years pass from the first human attempts for blood transfusion and during these years' different studies and changes have occurred in this regard and today it is considered as a specialty. The aim of blood transfusion is increasing the tissue oxygenation and preventing the bleeding. Transfusion is accompanied with side effects and problems like infectious disease and blood incompatibility reactions and so on. It also has great expenses. For these reasons nowadays we try to reduce the transfusion rate in different ways. In this study, we assessed the necessary cases of transfusion and the wasted Packed cell units that were sent to Semnan university hospitals.Subjects and Methods: This study was retrospective and we followed up 1152 Packed cell units from blood transfusion organization till just the time of transfusion. This study is a retrospective research based on transfusion notebooks of hospital blood banks and patient files. The data was analyzed by SPSS verrsion 6.Results: From 1152 Packed cell units which were sent to hospitals, 759 units (65.9%) were discarded and 393 units (34.1%) were transfused. From 393 transfused units, 322 units (81.9%) were used for thalassemic patients, for whom the decision for transfusion was easy; hence not much evaluation was needed. From the rest 71 units, 52 units (73.2%) had correct indication and 19 units (26.8%) were unnecessary for transfusion.Conclusion: According to these results 65.9% Packed cell units were discarded. This study demonstrates an incorrect programming of blood transfusion organization. Unnecessary transfusion cases show a careless and lack of information in this regard, so teaching and forming hospital committees for reviewing patient files and improving transfusion services seem in order.

Introduction: Anemia is a common health condition caused by a decrease in red blood cells. Some medicinal plants are used as a remedy to treat anemia. This study compares the anti-anemic properties of different doses of the aqueous extracts of Ficus capensis (AEFC) and its combination with the aqueous extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (AECA) in phenylhydrazine-induced anemic rats. Methods: Anemia was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg phenylhydrazine for five consecutive days. Graded doses of the extracts were given by oral gavage once a day continuously for 30 days. At the end of the treatment, blood was collected for hematological analysis. Results: The antianemic effects of AEFC and its combination with AECA were demonstrated by significant increases (P < 0. 05) in the hemoglobin (HGB), Packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell (RBC) count of the extract-treated groups compared to the anemic control group. There was a better increase in the HGB levels of a combination of 400 mg/kg AEFC + AECA (13. 97 ±,2. 53) compared to 400 mg/kg AEFC (12. 06 ±,0. 02). The PCV increased more in 400 mg/kg combination of AEFC + AECA (41. 94 ±,0. 37) compared to 400 mg/kg AEFC (36. 31 ±,1. 51). A significant (P < 0. 05) increase was observed in the RBC count of a combination of 400 mg/kg AEFC + AECA (6. 36±, 0. 51) compared to 400 mg/kg AEFC (4. 75 ±,0. 46). Conclusion: Although AEFC improved the haematological parameters of the animals when administered alone, its combination with AECA yielded a far much better result by totally restoring the haematological parameters of the phenylhydrazine-induced anemic rats to normal.

Background and Objective: Irrational consumption of blood products leads to unwanted side effects in patients and imposes additional financial burdens on society and patients. This study was done to determine the pattern of consumption of Packed red blood cells (PRBC) in hospitalized newborns and children. Methods: This prospective descriptive-analytic study was conducted on 80 newborn (less than 4 months age) 36 children (more than 4 months to 16 years old) who used PRBC in Sari Bu-Ali Sina hospital, north of Iran. Demographic characteristics of patients and parameters of blood product were recorded and compared with standard guideline. Results: During the study period, administration of 116 units of PRBC (28. 5%) was studied. Totally, in 24 % of cases PRBC consumption did not follow the guideline. PRBC consumption was inappropriately prescribed for patients with hemoglobin higher than 12 g/dL (12%) and for patients with hemoglobin higher than 10 g/dL (12%). Both of the consumption volume to weight ratio (P<0. 05) and rate of infusion (P<0. 05) were significantly higher in children less than or equal to 4 months, than in children older than 4 months. The most commonly indications were respiratory distress syndrome in neonates (62. 1%) and bone marrow suppression (14. 7%). Conclusion: A significant percentage of patients were received PRBC out of guideline recommendations. It seems, for rational use of PRBC in children and neonates the existing guidelines should be more considered to reduce the cost and side effects.