Category: Blood

November 29, 2023 1 min read Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary" data-loading-text="Loading ” data-action=”subscribe”> Subscribe Added to email alerts We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact [email protected]. Back to Healio The FDA has cleared a traumatic brain injury blood test for commercial availability, paving the way for its distribution to hospitals in the United States. According to a release from Abbott, the test will run on the company’s Alinity i laboratory instrument, which aims to provide clinicians with a rapid, objective way to assess mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) or concussion in individuals. The FDA has cleared a novel blood-based biomarker test to assess traumatic brain injury, allowing for its distribution to health care centers across the U.S. Image: Adobe Stock Alinity i can be employed within 12 hours of a suspected TBI. The test, which involves blood drawn from an arm, measures two biomarkers that, in elevated concentrations, are highly indicative of brain injury, Abbott said in the release. Results can be achieved within 18 minutes to help clinicians assess concussion and triage patients. A negative test would enable health care professionals to rule out a CT scan, thereby eliminating longer wait times for treatment, per the release. For those who sustain TBI, effects are variable from a few days post-injury or may be permanent, and individuals are more likely to sustain one or more TBI after the first instance. Misdiagnosis or lack of diagnosis can worsen short- and long-term outcomes; therefore, tools that enable rapid evaluation TBI or concussion are essential to proper treatment. “Now that this test will be widely available in labs across the country, medical centers will be able to offer an objective blood test that can aid in concussion assessment,” Beth McQuiston, MD, medical director in Abbott’s diagnostics business, said in the release. “That’s great news for both doctors and people who are trying to find out if they have suffered a traumatic brain injury.” Read more about Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary" data-loading-text="Loading ” data-action=”subscribe”> Subscribe Added to email alerts We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact [email protected]. Back to Healio

DALLAS – Nov. 29, 2023 – A dietary supplement developed by a UT Southwestern Medical Center researcher significantly reduced high blood sugar caused by a diuretic used to lower blood pressure while also correcting electrolyte imbalances, UTSW researchers report. The findings, published in Hypertension, could offer a solution for the serious side effects associated with this class of drugs. Wanpen Vongpatanasin, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of the Hypertension Section in the Division of Cardiology at UT Southwestern, holds the Norman and Audrey Kaplan Chair in Hypertension and the Fredric L. Coe Professorship in Nephrolithiasis Research in Mineral Metabolism. “When patients take a medication, they want to treat one disease and not cause another. These findings suggest we may be able to reduce the risk of elevated blood sugar caused by thiazide diuretics with a simple supplement,” said Wanpen Vongpatanasin, M.D., Director of the Hypertension Section in the Division of Cardiology at UT Southwestern. Dr. Vongpatanasin co-led the study with Charles Pak, M.D. Both are Professors of Internal Medicine and in the Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research. Millions of Americans take thiazide diuretics, a class of medications used to treat high blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although these drugs are very effective, Dr. Vongpatanasin said, they come with significant side effects, including reduced levels of the electrolyte potassium in the blood; higher cholesterol, triglycerides, and other circulating lipids; and elevated glucose (blood sugar), a precursor to Type 2 diabetes. The increase in glucose prompted by these drugs has long been attributed to the decrease in potassium levels. Although low potassium is effectively treated with potassium chloride (KCl) supplements, Dr. Vongpatanasin explained, they don’t seem to affect glucose levels. Thiazide diuretics also can reduce levels of magnesium, another important electrolyte, in blood. To help solve this problem, UT Southwestern researchers previously tested a supplement developed by Dr. Pak that combines potassium, magnesium, and citrate – an acidic compound found in fruits and vegetables. After administering this supplement to patients on thiazide diuretics for three weeks, the researchers found it to be effective at raising potassium and magnesium levels. However, that study was too short to examine the supplement’s effects on glucose. A randomized, double-blind study was conducted on 60 patients taking the thiazide diuretic chlorthalidone for 16 weeks, with half also receiving the combination supplement KMgCit and the other half supplemented only with KCl. During an initial three-week period when patients took the diuretic but didn’t take the supplements, both groups experienced significant reductions in potassium and magnesium and increases in fasting glucose levels. However, once the patients began supplementation, those on KCl increased their potassium levels, and those on KMgCit increased both potassium and magnesium levels. Although glucose measurements stayed high for the KCl group, they dipped an average of 7.9 milligrams per deciliter for the KMgCit group – a significant reduction. Although it’s unclear which component in the combination supplement lowered glucose, previous studies have shown that deficiencies in magnesium can have wide-ranging negative metabolic effects. Future studies will examine the effects of magnesium and citrate separately, Dr. Vongpatanasin said, as well as confirm these effects in more patients on thiazide diuretics for longer durations. Other UTSW researchers who contributed to this study are Orson Moe, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and Physiology and Director of the Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research; Jimin Ren, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Advanced Imaging Research Center and Radiology; Jijia Wang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Applied Clinical Research in the School of Health Professions; John M. Giacona, Ph.D., M.P.A.S., PA-C, CHC, Physician Assistant, Internal Medicine; Danielle Pittman, B.S.N., RN, CEN, Senior Business Analyst; Ashley Murillo, B.S.N., RN, Research Nurse; and Talon Johnson, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow. Dr. Vongpatanasin holds the Frederic L. Coe Professorship in Nephrolithiasis Research in Mineral Metabolism and the Norman and Audrey Kaplan Chair in Hypertension. Dr. Pak holds the Alfred L. and Muriel B. Rabiner Distinguished Academic Chair for Mineral Metabolism Biotechnology Research. Dr. Moe holds the Donald W. Seldin Professorship in Clinical Investigation and The Charles Pak Distinguished Chair in Mineral Metabolism. This research was funded by a Pak Center Endowed Professor Collaborative Support Grant. Drs. Pak, Vongpatanasin, and Moe hold a patent for KMgCit. About UT Southwestern Medical Center UT Southwestern, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty members have received six Nobel Prizes and include 26 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 20 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 13 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 3,100 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties to more than 120,000 hospitalized patients, more than 360,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 5 million outpatient visits a year. Related Stories

11 minutes ago People donate blood at the American Red Cross in Wilmington. (Photo: Kylie Jones/WWAY) WASHINGTON, D.C. (CBS) — This Giving Tuesday, the American Red Cross is hoping you will make giving blood a holiday habit. The nonprofit humanitarian organization says it needs thousands more donations per week to stave off what it calls an “often invisible emergency.” The donation push comes just two months after the non-profit declared a national blood shortage. The American Red Cross said that collecting blood during the holidays is challenging. “Schools are closed, families are on vacation, people are attending functions and festive parties and not really thinking about going out to their local blood drive. But there are still patients in the hospital that need blood to survive,” said Ashley Henyan, spokesperson for American Red Cross. The American Red Cross declared a national blood shortage back in September, citing a busy travel season and back-to-back climate disasters. While donations have increased since then, the non-profit explained it still needs to collect 10,000 more units per week to meet patients’ needs. For those who may be ineligible to donate blood due to medical conditions, travel, or other restrictions, the American Red Cross said you can still give back by volunteering your time. The American Red Cross added that the whole process for donating blood takes about 45 minutes to an hour from start to finish, including time for a post-donation snack. If you’d like to give blood and platelets, you can make an appointment using the Red Cross Blood App or visit their website.

It will come as no surprise to anyone who braves I-5 on a weekday at either 8 a.m. or 5 p.m. (or practically anytime in between) that your blood pressure tends to increase during sudden slowdowns and bumper-to-bumper backups. But a new study suggests that it’s not just the Tesla changing lanes without using a directional that is causing your heart to pound. Ultrafine particles circulating on and near congested freeways — a toxic mixture of exhaust from tailpipes, brake and tire wear, and road dust — increases blood pressure, which could lead to other health problems. “We are beginning to believe that it’s these really tiny particles that are responsible for health effects,” explained lead researcher Joel Kaufman, a University of Washington physician and professor of environmental and occupational health sciences. “It’s not just being in a car, it’s the people who live near roadways that have the same exposures.” Kaufman and his team drove healthy young people between the ages of 22 and 45 through rush-hour traffic in Seattle while monitoring their blood pressure. On some of the drives, unfiltered air was allowed to enter the car. On other drives, the car was equipped with a high-quality HEPA air filter, which blocked 86% of particulate pollution. The study used “sham filters” in some drives and real filters in others, so study participants and their drivers didn’t know whether the air was filtered or not. Researchers found that breathing unfiltered air in the car caused blood pressure increases of 4.5 millimeters of mercury compared to passengers riding in the car with filtered air. The effect is equivalent to someone eating a high-sodium diet, and the increased blood pressure lasted for at least 24 hours after the rush-hour drive in a car with unfiltered air. A blood-pressure increase of five points might not sound like much, but Kaufman said the impact should be weighed in terms of the number of people affected, potentially people who already have high blood pressure or other health issues. “We know that modest increases in blood pressure like this, on a population level, are associated with a significant increase in cardiovascular disease,” Kaufman said. “There is a growing understanding that air pollution contributes to heart problems. The idea that roadway air pollution at relatively low levels can affect blood pressure this much is an important piece of the puzzle we’re trying to solve.” A previous experiment by Kaufman’s lab found that exposure to diesel exhaust fumes increased blood pressure in a controlled environment. This new study, published Tuesday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, was designed to test that earlier finding in a real-world setting by isolating the effects of traffic-related air pollution. The research was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institutes of Health. Kaufman, who has worked at the University of Washington since 1997, said the number of ultrafine particles inside unfiltered cars was striking — tens of thousands of particles per cubic centimeter. Those numbers were reduced dramatically by high-quality filtration. The findings add to growing concerns among public health experts about ultrafine particles, which are less than 100 nanometers in diameter and much too small to be seen. The microscopic particles are unregulated and may pose health risks, even at low levels. Michael Young, a former postdoctoral fellow in the University of Washington’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and lead author of the new study, said the study’s design overcame common obstacles to effectively measuring the impact of traffic-related air pollution. “Studies on this topic often have a challenging time separating the effects of pollution from other roadway exposures like stress and noise, but with our approach, the only difference between drive days was air pollution concentration,” Young said in a press release. “The findings are valuable because they can reproduce situations that millions of people actually experience every day.” Kaufman said the findings have reinforced his own tendencies when he finds himself driving in heavy traffic in and around Seattle. “When I drive, I keep my windows up and my car on recirculate,” he said. Although Kaufman already has a high-quality air filter in his car, he said he’d like to see automakers and after-market filter manufacturers make better filters readily available. “Even better would be reducing the number of cars on the road burning fossil fuels like gasoline or diesel, and making clean and convenient transportation readily available for people who need to commute long distances,” he said. EDITOR’S NOTE: The ending of this story has been amended to more accurately convey Kaufman’s opinion about in-car air filters and the filter he uses in his own vehicle.

When a patient is suffering a trauma that results in massive blood loss, focusing on stopping the bleeding first and then moving to restore the airway second is the best method for patient outcomes, according to a Nov. 28 analysis from the American College of Surgeons. Traditionally, clinicians have been taught the “ABC method,” that is, to restore the airway first, breathing next and circulation last when a patient is experiencing large amounts of blood loss. However, an analysis of research from several institutions shows that prioritizing these things in reverse order — the CAB method — improves chances of patient survival and overall outcomes. In a previous study, the CAB method had a mortality rate of 12.4%, almost half that of the traditional ABC method’s mortality rate of 23%. “Patients with massive bleeding benefit from an approach in which the priority is circulation, instead of securing the airway with intubation. In patients with exsanguinating injuries, we can improve outcomes by delaying intubation and supporting the airway with other maneuvers, such as oxygen and opening the airway,” stated Paula Ferrada, MD, lead author of the study, and chief of trauma and acute care surgery at Falls Church, Va.-based Inova Health System. “Those seconds can be the difference between life and death.”

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — You can give in many ways this “Giving Tuesday,” including blood. Shane Hubbard, Houchin Blood Bank’s Creative Development Coordinator, joined 17 News at Sunrise to talk about how Houchin has been notoriously low on blood donations for the past few weeks, and how locals can prevent a blood shortage this season. How to support nonprofit organizations on ‘Giving Tuesday’ Being that the Giving Tuesday motto is based around donating money and time, community members can also donate monetarily as well. Watch the interview in the player for more details on how you can help.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is known as Giving Tuesday, a time when people are encouraged to donate to a non-profit. One way to show generosity without spending any money is by donating blood. [RELATED: Southwest Virginia organizations participating in Giving Tuesday] Donating blood takes less than an hour and you can save up to three lives with just one donation, according to The American Red Cross. “What an amazing way to give to our fellow neighbors and community by a chance to save their lives. People who need blood need it for a very particular reason, and need it most often for life-saving measures,” said Blue Ridge Red Cross Executive Director, Michelle Dowdy. To find a blood drive near you visit The American Red Cross’ website. Once there, type in a zip code to find a location near you and schedule an appointment. Find Southwest Virginia organizations participating in Giving Tuesday here.

Cabell County in West Virginia has launched a pioneering pilot program that allows injured patients involved in traumatic incidents such as car accidents, shootings, and stabbings to receive blood on the scene of the incident. The program aims to save more lives by providing blood to patients within minutes rather than waiting until they are transported to the hospital. This initiative is the first of its kind in West Virginia, with Cabell County EMS being one of only 116 agencies in the U.S. that have the capability to administer blood prior to hospitalization.

SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) – The Tuesday after Thanksgiving has been named ‘GivingTuesday’ to remind the nation to give back to local nonprofits. For this year’s day of generosity, The Texoma Regional Blood Center is asking for the gift of life, blood. Office supervisor, Tiara Jones, said supply is currently low, especially for A-negative and B-negative blood types. Jones added that blood and platelet donations can be lifesaving for those in need. “Our platelet donors, those help with the clotting factors, especially for cancer patients,” Jones said, “And the blood actually helps improve that red blood cell count so that they can continue to live a normal life.” Jones said donating is free and easy, taking under 30 minutes for blood and around an hour for platelets. Donors will complete a questionnaire to assess their medical status before donating. They will also need to bring their ID or driver’s license. The center is located at 3911 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman, TX. While ‘GivingTuesday’ occurs just once a year, giving back can be helpful year-round. Copyright 2023 KXII. All rights reserved.

Sure, DREDGE is an awesome Lovecraftian fishing game (which recently had a new DLC launch), but what if you want something darker? Dillo Interactive looks to answer that with their own horror-centric fishing game next month with My Little Blood Cult. Launching into Early Access on December 14th on Steam, My Little Blood Cult trades in your trawler for a fishing rod, a sturdy chair, and a vial of blood. Your objective in My Little Blood Cult is simple: become the most powerful cult known to man. How do you do it? Capture demons, monsters, and everything in between by dropping a line into the bowels of the abyss, baited with the blood of your followers, and reel one in. You can increase your odds of pulling in something truly terrifying by upgrading your equipment, finding oddities, and fusing together powerful new lures using alchemy. As you progress, you’ll unlock themed worlds and alters to collect monsters and demons inspired by history, legend, and pop culture. Dillo Interactive plans on keeping My Little Blood Cult in Early Access for about a year to add more demons and features. Some of the planned features include new rooms with expanded demon harvesting, blood letting & summoning mechanics and weekly/monthly event systems. That’s on top of the expanded demon roster and grimoires that players can collect. For Early Access, the game will feature 4 core grimoires and around 58 demons.