Category: Blood

The earlier that Alzheimer’s disease and other similar conditions can be spotted, the better the treatment options are, and scientists have discovered a blood biomarker that could signal the risk of dementia many years in advance. A team from the National Institute on Aging, the University of Texas, and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US, as well as other institutions across the world, looked at data on 10,981 individuals collected across the course of 25 years. In particular, the researchers analyzed the proteome of these individuals: the complete set of proteins expressed in a body, driving all kinds of biological processes from cell communication to hormone levels. The team found that unusual amounts of certain proteins were linked to dementia risk. (Walker et al., Science Translational Medicine, 2023) The analysis revealed 32 proteins that, when found at unusually high or low levels in the blood in people aged 45 to 60, were associated with an increased risk of developing dementia later in life. “The present study leveraged data from multiple cohorts to identify and characterize 32 proteins and 4 protein networks in plasma of middle-aged adults that were strongly associated with dementia risk in subsequent decades,” write the researchers in their published paper. This study doesn’t go as far as to look at why these protein imbalances are linked to dementia risk, but they could help scientists more accurately assess dementia risk in older adults. Interestingly, many of the proteins weren’t directly involved in the functioning of the brain. That backs up previous research showing that the onset of dementia and its underlying triggers aren’t something that happens exclusively in the brain. Several of the identified proteins were linked to proteostasis, or the healthy regulation of the proteome. This process helps prevent the protein clumps that are found in the brains of people who have developed Alzheimer’s. Other proteins played key roles in the immune system, perhaps showing that there’s something about an immune system reaction or failure that increases the chances of dementia starting to take hold in the brain. There’s still a long way to go with this research, but eventually we may get to the stage where blood can be tested for signs of dementia risk. If those signs are caught earlier, personalized treatments can be put in place. Further down the line, we might one day fully understand how conditions like Alzheimer’s disease get started, and that revelation could well come by watching for imbalances and abnormalities outside of the brain. “We’re seeing so much involvement of the peripheral biology decades before the typical onset of dementia,” neuroscientist Keenan Walker, from the National Institute on Aging, told Nature. The research has been published in Science Translational Medicine.

Credit: bluecinema/Getty Images The ability to detect early Alzheimer’s via a blood test has become something of a holy grail among researchers of the disease. At least one team could be closer than ever to being able to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease using a finger prick blood test. The test has the potential to be used at home and reach more people, they said. One huge plus: It doesn’t have the timing and temperature requirements of traditional blood work, and the results are just as accurate. The research was unveiled last week at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Amsterdam. “Blood tests — once verified and approved — would offer a quick, noninvasive and cost-effective option,” Maria C. Carrillo, PhD, chief science officer of the Alzheimer’s Association, said in a statement. Blood tests are already being used in trials for their ease of use in screening people for the disease. Some evidence has shown they provide similar results in terms of accuracy when compared to brain imaging scans and cerebrospinal fluid tests — tests that are considered the gold standard in Alzheimer’s disease detection. The finger prick test measures neurofilament light (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau181 and 217) — key biomarkers related to Alzheimer’s disease. The team collected blood from the veins and fingers of 77 people in a memory clinic in Barcelona. When they measured the biomarkers, the scientists found that all were detectable in the finger pick samples, and correlated to the findings from standard blood work. Possible blood tests for Alzheimer’s have been in development for several years, with some showing 94% accuracy, McKnight’s has reported. Although a blood test has been considered the obvious alternative to PET scans, one research team is currently developing an EEG “Fastball” test for early Alzheimer’s diagnosis. In addition, new treatment options for Alzheimer’s have led to a push for expanded Medicare coverage of PET scans, as McKnight’s reported last week.

FORT WAYNE — The American Red Cross is in urgent need for new and repeat blood donors immediately to prevent disruptions of medical care in the region. Donors who give blood by July 31 will receive a $20 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice as a thank-you for their gift of life. They will also receive an exclusive Shark Week T-shirt, while supplies last, from Warner Bros. Discovery in commemoration of the 35th anniversary of Shark Week and the theatrical release of “Meg 2: The Trench.” Donors who give blood by Aug. 12 will be automatically entered for a chance to win a three-night, New York getaway for two with a private shark dive adventure at Long Island Aquarium. Here are three upcoming local opportunities to give blood: Today, July 25 American Legion, Garrett: 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., 515 W. 5th Ave, Garrett. Sponsor Code: amleggar. Dayspring Church: 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., 2305 N. Indiana Ave., Auburn. Sponsor Code: daysprich. Monday, July 31 LaGrange First United Methodist Church: noon to 6 p.m., 209 W. Spring St., LaGrange. Sponsor Code: fumclag. To schedule an appointment, go to www.redcrossblood.org, put in your zip code and find a blood drive. Choose a drive to schedule an appointment online, or call 800-733-2767 (800-RED-CROSS). Blood donors receive a free health screening when they give blood. They may track their pulse rate, blood pressure and hemoglobin through the American Red Cross’ free blood donor app.

Tori Kelly hospitalized, treated for blood clots after collapsing | EW.com Skip to content Top Navigation Close this dialog window Explore EW.com Profile Menu Follow Us Close this dialog window Share & More Close this dialog window View image Grammy-winning singer Tori Kelly reportedly hospitalized, treated for blood clots after collapsing this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.

The upcoming blood drive for the Senoia area has been rescheduled by the American Red Cross. Please note that instead of the blood drive being held on August 7th from 1-5 p.m., the drive will be on Monday, August 14th, and will go from 3-7 p.m. The August 14th blood drive is still scheduled at the Senoia United Methodist Church. This blood drive is co-sponsored by the local church and the Optimist Club of Senoia. If you are unable to give, you are encouraged to notify others who may be able to donate. One blood donation can help save up to three lives. The “famous” grilled cheese sandwiches are planned to be served again at the upcoming blood drive. This may especially help some of the donors who may want to give blood around the evening dinner time. As a reminder, the American Red Cross has made some changes that should bring in more donors. The organization announced an eligibility change that results in allowing some people to give blood who previously could not do so. In alignment with new FDA guidelines, the American Red Cross has updated its donor eligibility for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) related to mad cow disease. The Red Cross has eliminated the deferral of donors who spent time in the UK, Ireland or France from 1980 to 2001, who were previously considered to have geographic risk of possible exposure to vCJD. The Red Cross has also eliminated the deferral for individuals who received a blood transfusion from certain European countries from 1980 to present. Those who have questions about their donor record can contact the Red Cross Donor and Client Support Center at 1-866-236-3276. You are encouraged to make an appointment for the upcoming blood drive either by signing up online (http://www.redcrossblood.org/give) or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). NOTE: If the appointment schedule is full, walk-ins may not be able to donate. The Senoia United Methodist Church is in the historic district of Senoia and is located at 229 Bridge Street. It is at the intersection of Seavy and Bridge Streets. For those not familiar with the area, you can turn east at the downtown intersection of Main Street and Seavy Street, and go past Matt’s Smalltown Pizza and the Veranda Bed & Breakfast towards the Seavy Street City Park or State Highway 85. The church is on the right – only about 2 blocks east of Main Street. The need is constant. The gratification is instant. Give Blood. ™ These blood drives are normally held on the first Monday of every three months. The next one is planned for November 6, 2023. Please mark your calendar. If you would like to learn how you can help in this or another worthwhile project sponsored by the Senoia Optimist Club, please email the club at [email protected]. or visit its Facebook page (“Senoia Optimist Club”). If you would like more information about the Senoia United Methodist Church, please visit its web site at http://senoiaumc.org/ or call the church office at 770-599-3245.

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BUCKHANNON, W.Va. (WV News) — St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Rotary Club of Buckhannon-Upshur will hold a blood screening this Saturday at the hospital. Basic blood profile tests will be offered at $35, with additional testing for thyroid for $5, hemoglobin A1C for $15, colon cancer screening for $5 and prostate testing for $20. An additional test for the hepatitis C antibody will be offered for $20.

Facing an urgent need for additional donations, ImpactLife is now providing blood donors with a new opportunity to increase the impact of their donation. Now through Sept. 10, everyone who comes to give blood at ImpactLIfe donor centers or mobile blood drives will receive a voucher to redeem for the donor’s choice of an electronic gift card or an equivalent value contribution to AdoptAClassroom.org. The new promotion comes during a challenging period for our region’s blood supply, according to an ImpactLife release. O-positive and O-negative red blood cell inventories have ranged from just 1.5 days to a 3-days in recent weeks. ImpactLife seeks to maintain a 5- to 7-day supply for all blood types and components to optimally meet patient needs across the region. The projection for the rate of blood donation remains low in the weeks ahead, so donor recruitment teams are ramping up messaging and appealing to all eligible donors to help improve appointment schedules over the next week through Labor Day Weekend. To find an ImpactLife Donor Center location or mobile blood drive, call (800) 747-5401, schedule online at www.bloodcenter.org/locations or via the ImpactLife mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app). ImpactLife is offering incentives to donate blood through Sept. 10. ImpactLife Donor Rewards: July 24 through Sept. 10 Whole blood donations at mobile blood drives: $10 gift card OR $10 AdoptAClassroom.org donation Whole blood donations at ImpactLife donor center locations: $25 gift card OR $25 AdoptAClassroom.org donation First-time donation at ImpactLife donor center location: $50 gift card OR $50 AdoptAClassroom.org donation (see news release) Platelet, plasma, or double red cell donations: $25 gift card OR $25 AdoptAClassroom.org donation First or second time platelet donation: $50 gift card OR $50 AdoptAClassroom.org donation About AdoptAClassroom.org AdoptAClassroom.org believes every child deserves the tools and materials they need to learn and thrive in school. To achieve this, teachers are spending an average of $860 of their own money each year on their classrooms. AdoptAClassroom.org is a national nonprofit that funds PreK-12 teachers and schools across the U.S. to help equip more classrooms and students for success, and offset the financial burden on teachers. Since 1998, AdoptAClassroom.org has raised $65 million and equipped more than 6.4 million students across the U.S The nonprofit organization holds the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and the highest transparency rating offered by Candid/GuideStar. For more information, visit www.bloodcenter.org/teach.

The following is a summary of “Blood Group A Enhances SARS-CoV-2 Infection,” published in the June 2023 issue of Hematology by Wu et al. There is a correlation between certain ABO(H) blood group antigens and an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but the exact mechanisms underlying this association are not yet known. Researchers performed a retrospective study to compare the glycan binding specificity of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2, which enables interaction with host cells, to galectins, a primitive group of carbohydrate-binding proteins. Since ABO(H) blood group antigens consist of carbohydrates, they examined the notable similarity between the SARS-CoV-2 RBD and galectins. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2, including the Delta and Omicron variants, has a specific affinity for blood group A. This was shown by the RBD’s ability to bind to blood group A in a glycan array format and by the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s preferential ability to infect cells that express blood group A. These blood cells pre-treated with a blood group binding galectin were less likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 than blood group A cells not pre-treated with the galectin. The results of this study show that SARS-CoV-2 can bind to blood group A, which suggests a direct link between ABO(H) blood group expression and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Source: ashpublications.org/blood/article/doi/10.1182/blood.2022018903/496471/Blood-Group-A-Enhances-SARS-CoV-2-Infection

Juda: 7/26/2023: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, N2350 County S Monroe: 7/31/2023: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., United Methodist Church, 2227 4th St Darlington: 8/1/2023: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., American Legion, 1400 Keep St Benton: 8/4/2023: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 237 E Main Shullsburg: 8/8/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St. Matthew’s Church, 344 N Judgment St South Wayne: 8/9/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St Johns Catholic Church, 202 Varnum Albany: 8/24/2023: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Lions Building, 402 Cincinnati St New Glarus: 8/18/2023: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., New Glarus Bible Church, 207 6th Street Blanchardville: 8/21/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., American Legion, 218 Mason Monroe: 8/24/2023: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Monroe Bible Church, 2613 8th Ave Schedule an appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).