Category: Blood

Rafael Chávez has dedicated part of his life to raising carrier pigeons. The work that he considers his hobby has its rewards, such as the joy he brings to families celebrating and honoring some of life’s special moments. Chávez, of Jalisco, Mexico, has been dedicated to “colombofilia” for more than 35 years. It’s an art that consists of the breeding and training of birds to turn them into carrier pigeons. One of Chávez’s pigeons. “I dedicate myself because I like it, it is something very beautiful, it is something very original,” said Chávez. “Since I was a child, and since Guadalajara, I have it in my blood.” Chávez has released doves at quinceañera celebrations, weddings, funerals and many other special events, leaving indelible memories for thousands of people. He has more than 300 pigeons that fulfill different functions. Some are for breeding and others for competitions, which have earned him thousands of dollars in prizes. The white pigeons, a symbol of peace, are the most popular. “I have to train them [so] that they come back here, in my area,” says Chávez. “And now [at] two, three months, I start giving them 10, 20 miles, up to 400.” Having spent their entire lives in captivity, it’s easy to think the pigeons are in immediate danger when they’re released. However, they have their own natural GPS that guides them. That navigation and guidance system remains a mystery to science. But what is not a mystery is that they return to their place no matter where they are released. In some cases traveling great distances. “The farthest they’ve come back? [Up to] 400 miles,” says Chávez. “My pigeons have also returned from Arizona and San Francisco.” In addition to making a living and entertaining, Chávez is very proud of a great achievement. “I am the first Mexican who started using white pigeons in the city of Los Angeles,” he said proudly. Another of the great challenges that Chávez has, in addition to taking care of his “little ones,” as he calls them, is preventing hawks from killing them since they are part of the diet of these birds of prey. Lee esta historia en español aquí.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The FDA is investigating an alarming finding on a promising cancer therapy invented at Penn Medicine. It’s being linked to rare, secondary cancers. The agency said it received 19 reports of new blood cancers in patients who got the CAR T treatment. Some outcomes included hospitalization and death. RELATED: New gene therapy turns blood cells into cancer fighters CAR T cell therapy was approved in 2017 and involves extracting disease-fighting T-cells from a patient. They are re-engineered to attack cancer and then infused back into the body. The FDA says, for now, the overall benefits of the therapy still outweigh the risk. Action News has reached out to Penn for a statement regarding the finding. ALSO SEE: Moves in Medicine: New treatment for multiple myeloma

In Part 1 we focused on interpreting blood tests related to red blood cells and clotting. Now we turn our attention to blood tests focusing on white blood cells and tumor markers. To recap, blood tests can be used to monitor your condition, by checking: How well your treatments are working Whether it is safe for you to continue your current treatment plan The effects of your medications Whether any of your blood cell types are below or above the normal range, and whether your blood is clotting normally The levels of electrolytes, minerals, hormones, oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood Whether you have an infection How well your organs and systems are working The ABCs of white blood cells White blood cells, also called leukocytes or WBCs, are the centerpiece of the immune system’s response that helps your body fight off infections, destroy abnormal cells and prevent illness. WBCs usually live only few days, so your bone marrow continually makes new ones. There are five basic types, but 60-70% of them are neutrophils. When your neutrophil count is low (neutropenia), you are at higher risk of infection, because your immune system is weaker. Some level of neutropenia is common during cancer treatment. If your provider orders a complete blood count (CBC) with differential, the results will include the number of white blood cells — as a number and/or a percentage — and the types of WBCs and how many of each type is in your blood. The level of WBCs in your blood remains fairly stable, but your counts may go up or down, depending on what is going on in your body. For example, bacterial infections tend to cause a rise in neutrophils, allergies cause a rise in eosinophils, and viral infections cause a rise in lymphocytes. The normal range for WBC count is usually 4,500-11,000, which can be written as 4.5-11 x 10³. Types of White Blood Cells Low Numbers Can Be Due To: High Numbers Can Be Due To: Neutrophils 40-79% Neutrophils (number of) 1.6-8 Infections Some medications including chemotherapy Blood cancers or bone Marrow Diseases Ionizing Radiation Vitamin deficiency (B12, folate, copper) Bacterial infections Some viral, fungal and parasite infections Acute inflammation (heart attack, severe burns) Lymphocytes 10-45% Lymphocytes (number of) 1-4.5 Infectious diseases (AIDS, viral hepatitis, TB) Autoimmune disorders (lupus) Steroid treatment Blood cancers and disorders Chemotherapy or radiation treatment A recent infection Arthritis or other disorder that causes long-lasting inflammation Reaction to new medication Blood cancers Splenectomy (removal of the spleen) Monocytes 1-13% Monocytes (number of) 0.1-1.0 Blood cancers and disorders Polycythemia vera Connective tissue diseases Infections Inflammatory bowel disease Depression Marathon running Chronic inflammation Infection Autoimmune disease Blood cancers Eosinophils 0.060% Eosinophils (number of) 0.0-0.70 Heavy use of alcohol Overproduction of cortisol (Cushing’s syndrome) or steroid use Stress reactions Burns Acute infection Allergies, asthma Parasite & fungal infections Autoimmune disease Inflammatory conditions Adrenal disorders Toxin Tumors Basophils 0.020% Basophils (number of) 0.0-0.3 Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) Acute hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions Infections Chronic inflammation (lupus, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, allergies) Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) Myeloproliferative disorders (polycythemia vera) Tumor markers 101 Your blood may also show the presence of tumor markers (biomarkers), which the National Cancer Institute describes as “anything present in or produced by cancer cells or other cells of the body in response to cancer or certain benign (noncancerous) conditions.” Tumor markers can indicate: Your risk level for certain cancers How aggressive your cancer is Whether your cancer is responding to treatment Whether your cancer can be treated effectively with targeted therapy Whether your disease has gone into remission or recurred In the past, the only tumor markers that had been identified were proteins that were produced in higher amounts by cancer cells. However, with advances in science, we have learned that genetic markers can also be used as tumor markers. These include gene mutations, changes in the DNA of the tumor and specific ways the tumor’s genes are expressed (how the genes change the way the cell looks/acts). Today many different tumor markers are in clinical use. It’s important to understand that no single tumor marker can show whether someone has cancer. Some tumor markers are associated with only one type of cancer; others, with multiple cancer types — but there is no “universal” tumor marker that can reveal the presence any type of cancer. Never miss another Cancer Talk blog! Sign up to receive our monthly Cancer Talk e-newsletter. Sign up! Another limitation is that the levels of a tumor marker can rise and fall continually, so it may be difficult to use the information provided by the blood sample. Also, some tumors do not have a marker, and even for the tumors that do, not every person with that type of cancer will have the marker. For more information about white blood cells, see the Roswell Park publication “Understanding Your Blood Tests.” You’ll find it online in the Patient Education Library in the MyRoswell patient portal, or you can pick up a copy of the brochure from The 11 Day Power Play Cancer Resource Center or ask your nurse in your care center. Learn more about tumor markers from the National Cancer Institute.

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ADVERTISEMENT Red Planet Pictures has optioned the rights to Sarah Pinborough’s The Dog-Faced Gods trilogy and is in development on an adaptation of the first novel, A Matter of Blood. Set in contemporary London, the six-part adaptation will follow detective Cass, who is drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a serial killer. When his older brother is found dead alongside his family, Cass becomes the prime suspect and must fight to prove his innocence while saving his marriage and searching for the serial killer. The adaptation is being executive produced by Belinda Campbell, Tom Mullens and Caroline Skinner for Red Planet Pictures and Pinborough. Pinborough has had previous novels adapted for the screen, with Behind Her Eyes on Netflix and Insomnia on Paramount+. “Sarah is the author of the moment, and one of the most prolific and talented fantasy thriller novelists in the world, so we’re over the moon to be working with her as she brings A Matter of Blood to life with an audaciously bold and brilliant vision,” said Mullens. “We’re always looking to push the genre boundaries, and this is the perfect project to do just that.” Pinborough said, “I have been quietly in love with Cass Jones and his story since writing him, and I’m so excited to be working with such a dynamic and creative team at Red Planet Pictures to bring him to life—with a bang—on the screen. It’s such a joy; I’m loving every minute of it!”

It took Marvel a few years, but they had the common sense to give Marvel Zombies the “Black, White & Blood” treatment this year. The second issue is out this week, and it’s stacked with incredible creators and incredible stories. Watch as Reed Richards attempts to save humanity, Beta Ray Bill fights forever with his impenetrable skin, and witness Warpath take one for the team. This is an exceptional anthology issue that’s well worth picking up. It starts with a sharply written story by Gail Simone and Dal Eaglesham titled “Under the Eye of an Unkind Future.” This story resembles a classic Fantastic Four tale with sharp art and creative ways of conveying Mr. Fantastic’s abilities. It opens with the First Family dropping Reed off, who knows for a fact humanity has seven days before all is lost. Rendered in sepia tones that border on red, red here conveys a sense of doom hanging over everything. Usually, red is used for blood, but we see Reed slowly go mad. Simone writes a psychological story as we read Reed’s thoughts via captions and see he’s slowly losing himself even when a robot is programmed to keep him eating and sleeping. She also utilizes Iron Man well here to show that Reed’s lack of social skills grows worse as the days wear on. Ultimately, this tale is about a man who can’t live without his family, especially when all is lost. This story largely works because Simone never loses sight of Reed’s humanity, nor does she make it a gore-fest. <img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-528926" data-attachment-id="528926" data-permalink="https://aiptcomics.com/?attachment_id=528926" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview-4.jpeg?fit=756%2C1148&ssl=1" data-orig-size="756,1148" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview 4" data-image-description data-image-caption=" Poor Reed, but what a great opening story! Credit: Marvel ” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview-4.jpeg?fit=198%2C300&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview-4.jpeg?fit=674%2C1024&ssl=1″ class=”ezlazyload wp-image-528926 size-full” src=”data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20width=%22740%22%20height=%221124%22%3E%3C/svg%3E” alt=”Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood #2″ width=”740″ height=”1124″ title=”MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002 Preview 4″ data-ezsrcset=”https://aiptcomics.com/ezoimgfmt/i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview-4.jpeg?w=756&ssl=1 756w,https://aiptcomics.com/ezoimgfmt/i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview-4.jpeg?resize=198%2C300&ssl=1 198w,https://aiptcomics.com/ezoimgfmt/i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview-4.jpeg?resize=674%2C1024&ssl=1 674w” sizes=”(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px” data-recalc-dims=”1″ ezimgfmt=”rs rscb2 src ng ngcb2 srcset” data-ezsrc=”https://aiptcomics.com/ezoimgfmt/i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview-4.jpeg?resize=740%2C1124&ssl=1″> Poor Reed, but what a great opening story!Credit: Marvel Erica Schultz and Nelson Daniel take Beta Ray Bill on an adventure across the stars in “The Last Ballad of Beta Ray Bill.” Featuring Skuttlebutt, this is a Beta Ray Bill on the run with his back against the wall. You can see how this story could fit in Daniel Warren Johnson’s excellent miniseries. Early on we learn Beta Ray Bill’s skin being chew-proof is a detriment as he loses friends and questions why he fights at all. Schultz does a fabulous job of capturing the character’s heroism and utilitarian demeanor. He will never give up. It’s not in his blood. The use of red serves as a reminder of Beta Ray Bill’s strength, not blood or gore, which is another pleasant surprise. Closing out this issue is “Warpath” by Doug Wagner and Juan Gedeon. Warpath, Siryn, Feral, Cannonball, Spiral, and Boom-Boom are collecting the heads of their zombie friends, but we learn quickly Cable is still standing. Super powerful, Warpath uses the fact that he will turn to their advantage in an action-packed, last-ditch effort. Gedeon gets creative with how the action moves across the page, with a great sense of detail in his cartooning. Overall, it’s a nice action-heavy romp that evens out the internal narrative-focused first two tales. Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood #2 is an excellent chapter in a long line of great tales in the Black, White & Blood legacy. Above all else, the duration of the three tales maximizes the entertainment, never getting too action-heavy or character-focused. For a zombie series, Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood is thrillingly alive. <img loading="eager" decoding="async" width="932" height="554" src="https://medicalguru.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/marvel-zombies-2-e1701134258821.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="'Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood' #2 is thrillingly alive" srcset sizes data-attachment-id="529359" data-permalink="https://aiptcomics.com/2023/11/29/marvel-zombies-black-white-blood-2-review/marvel-zombies-2/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/marvel-zombies-2-e1701134258821.jpg?fit=932%2C554&ssl=1" data-orig-size="932,554" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="marvel zombies 2" data-image-description data-image-caption=" Marvel ” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/marvel-zombies-2-e1701134258821.jpg?fit=300%2C178&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/marvel-zombies-2-e1701134258821.jpg?fit=740%2C321&ssl=1″ title=”marvel zombies 2 e1701134258821″ ezimgfmt=”rs rscb2 src ng ngcb2 srcset” importance=”high” fetchpriority=”high”> ‘Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood’ #2 is thrillingly alive Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood #2 Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood #2 is an excellent chapter in a long line of great tales in the Black, White & Blood legacy. Above all else, the duration of the three tales maximizes the entertainment, never getting too action-heavy or character-focused. For a zombie series, Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood is thrillingly alive. Reader Rating0 Votes 0 Exceptionally drawn and written opening story Beta Ray Bill is revealed to be a truly godly hero Fun X-Men backup that’s filled with action Great curation of three tales that work well together X-Men tale is a little lighter on deeper and meaningful character work Join the AIPT Patreon Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as: � Remove all ads on the website � Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT � Access to our monthly book club � Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month � And more! Sign up today Sign up for our newsletter

With the holiday season in full swing, Carolina offers the community many ways to serve and lend a helping hand. One such opportunity is the 25th annual Holiday Carolina Blood Drive, hosted Dec. 7 by the Employee Forum and the American Red Cross. “You feel like you’re doing something that’s good for mankind,” said Dr. Amelia F. Drake, professor of otolaryngology at the UNC School of Medicine and the first person to sign up for this year’s Holiday Carolina Blood Drive. Based on 2022’s turnout, Drake won’t be alone. Last year, 369 people came to donate blood, nearly a third of them for the first time. Since 1999, the drive has accepted 8,105 donors, who contributed a combined 7,828 units of blood. Dr. Amelia Drake was the first to sign up for 2023’s Holiday blood drive. (submitted photo) “People are able to give at a time when it’s needed,” Drake said. “It’s a time of year when this kind of donation is the most rewarding.” Drake also feels that the Holiday Carolina Blood Drive highlights illnesses that most people often ignore. “We see sickness around us every day, and I appreciate that we can all participate in something that goes to a good cause and do something about it,” Drake said. Where to register While the blood drive does accept walk-ups on the day of the event, you can beat the crowds by reserving your donation time. There are still times available at the American Red Cross’ Blood Services site or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800­-733-2767). Make sure you’re eligible to donate As the drive approaches, check to make sure you are eligible to give by entering the date of your last donation. This online calculator considers whole blood, power red and platelet donations. Where to go This year’s Holiday Carolina Blood Drive is from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 at Fetzer Hall. Free parking is available in Cobb Deck. In addition to free food, donors will also receive a commemorative T-shirt celebrating 25 years of the Holiday Carolina Blood Drive’s commitment to service. For more details or information on volunteering, visit carolinablooddrive.unc.edu.

Blood oranges could provide citrus growers with another variety to grow in the cold-hardy citrus region. But further research is needed to verify its effectiveness in the Southeast, says Ali Sarkhosh, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor. “We harvested those fruit in Quincy at the North Florida Research and Education Center. We still don’t know if we harvest the same fruit in Central Florida if we would we get those responses. Sarkhosh said. He added that regional testing is needed in Florida to determine if there is a pre-harvest climate impact and effect on fruit quality after harvest. Read the full article on citrusindustry.net.

Results demonstrate remote monitoring program’s ability to expand access and improve outcomes to coincide with National Diabetes Awareness Month EAST LANSING, Mich., Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — To coincide with November’s National Diabetes Awareness Month, MSU Health Care announced today how its Care Everyday remote monitoring program, delivered to patients across the state of Michigan in collaboration with Assure Health, has improved outcomes for patients living with diabetes. On average, patients enrolled in Care Everyday for 12 months saw a 13.25-pound decrease in their body weight, as well as a 10.91-point reduction in their blood sugar (measured in mg/dL). According to the CDC, losing 5% to 10% of your weight can improve your health and well-being, which is between 8.5 and 17 pounds for an individual who is 5’9″ tall. If you have diabetes, you may find your blood sugar levels are easier to manage and that you need less diabetes medicine. These outcomes demonstrate how Care Everyday helps patients make significant progress in metrics that are important for living with diabetes. “We are thrilled to witness the remarkable results of our Care Everyday program with Assure Health,” said Michael Weiner, DO, MSM, MSIST, MSU Health Care chief medical officer. “This transformative initiative not only reflects our commitment to innovative health care but also underscores the tangible impact technology can have on improving the well-being of our patients. Together, we are shaping a healthier future, one where proactive, remote monitoring plays a pivotal role in achieving lasting health outcomes.” Care Everyday provides patients with chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, COPD, and heart failure with cellular-connected health devices, which are designed to be easy-to-use and work right out of the box. When patients take readings with these devices, the readings are securely transmitted to the patient’s dedicated nurse care manager, who reviews the data and intervenes or escalates to an MSU Health Care doctor when appropriate. The recent successful diabetes outcomes follows news from last year about Care Everyday moving half of patients with uncontrolled blood pressure to controlled status within six months of enrollment. Further, as part of the Care Everyday program, both data from provisioned devices and care manager insights map directly to patient charts, providing seamless care between Care Everyday care managers and MSU Health Care providers. Michigan community members can sign up for the Remote Patient Monitoring program to benefit from the Care Everyday and MSU Health Care partnership. Care Everyday is improving the MSU Health Care patient experience, as participation is tied to increased ownership of their health outcomes, reduced ER admissions, and improved satisfaction. “Amid a nationwide shortage of endocrinologists, diabetes care and awareness is more important than ever,” said Jaye Noel, Chief Endocrinologist and Medical Director of Diabetes Programs at Assure Health. “We are thrilled to see the success of Care Everyday for patients with diabetes and look forward to continuing to expand access to care across Michigan in partnership with MSU Health Care.” Care Everyday is available to MSU Health Care patients through provider referral, and interested patients can also indicate their interest to self-enroll. For more information, please visit https://rpm.healthcare.msu.edu/. About MSU Health Care:MSU Health Care is the fully integrated academic health center of Michigan State University, representing more than 600 faculty and affiliate providers. Our commitment to safe, high-quality patient care is realized through our comprehensive services for people of any age, education of the next generation of health care providers and medical research. MSU Health Care providers treat ongoing primary care as well as some of the rarest forms of cancer and neurological conditions along with advanced surgical, pharmaceutical, rehabilitation, therapy and imaging services. With more than 100 affiliates located next door and as far as Ludington, Saginaw, Detroit, and Marquette, MSU Health Care is building hope and healing for Michigan. Our clinical efforts support future advancements through academic and research initiatives at Michigan State University. https://healthcare.msu.edu/ About Assure Health:Assure Health was founded in 2020 by Jeffrey Nadel and Craig Bolz in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and has developed an industry-leading care delivery model to support virtual care and remote monitoring for patients with chronic conditions. Assure Health’s evidence-based programs leverage leading clinicians and easy-to-use technology to keep patients healthy at home through personalized, on-demand care. Assure Health provides patients with access to a dedicated nurse care manager and connected devices to monitor and manage their chronic conditions while collaborating directly with primary care providers and other members of patients’ care teams to improve outcomes and lower costs. To learn more, please visit www.myassurehealth.com. SOURCE MSU Health Care

The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive on Friday, December 1st, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Ashley Outlet store in Duluth (801 W. Central Entrance). Donors can schedule an appointment by going to redcrossblood.org and enter “FM”. People can also call to make an appointment at 1-800-RED-CROSS. According to the American Red Cross, there is a nationwide blood shortage and in early August, the blood supply dropped around 25%. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Those who give blood during this event will receive a $10 Amazon giftcard by email and will have the opportunity to win a $50 Amazon giftcard. If you can’t donate, but still want to help, the Red Cross wants you to consider joining their volunteer team or help spread the word by promoting their blood drives on social media. Furniture Mart in Duluth is a new sponsor for this blood drive and is proud to partner with the American Red Cross. For more information about the American Red Cross, call 1-800-733-2767 or visit redcross.org. For Related Stories: Blood Donor Community Events Duluth