Past infections may shape your COVID booster’s punch against Omicron

In a recent study published in Nature Communications, researchers examine the effect of infection and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in healthy individuals with diverse imprinted immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Study: Previous immunity shapes immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccination and Omicron breakthrough infection risk. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock.com Background […]

Michiana helps to combat national blood shortage, here’s how you can help

The American Red Cross is experiencing a national blood shortage. Fewer donors than needed gave this summer, drawing down the national blood supply and reducing distributions of some of the most needed blood types to hospitals. Hurricane Idalia further strained the blood supply with blood drive cancellations and reduced blood and donations in affected areas. […]

Critical blood shortage puts lives at risk in Kern County

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Over the weekend, Kern Medical received a trauma that turned into an “active bleeder” situation. They put the call out to Houchin Community Blood Bank for blood units, which was able to respond. But they say these emergencies are becoming more difficult to manage with such short supply. According to Houchin, […]

Prental Cardiac Screening and Postnatal Major Congenital Heart Defect Prevalence

Key Points Question  Is centralized prenatal cardiac screening associated with the postnatal prevalence of congenital heart defects (CHD), and was postnatal prevalence affected by the introduction of the first trimester screening? Findings  In this cross-sectional study of more than 3.3 million children, the combined prenatal and postnatal incidence of major CHDs remained unchanged over the […]

Mitochondrial Function: Beyond Serving as the ‘Powerhouse of the Cell’

Mitochondrial function goes beyond just being “the powerhouse of the cell,” it turns out. A new study shows that the organelles help determine what undifferentiated cells in a growing embryo eventually will become. After fertilization, an embryo begins as a symmetrical ball of cells with no clear head or tail. But as it develops, signaling […]

Investigation of blood group genotype prevalence in Korean population using large genomic databases

Abstract Blood group antigens, which are prominently expressed in red blood cells, are important in transfusion medicine. The advent of high-throughput genome sequencing technology has facilitated the prediction of blood group antigen phenotypes based on genomic data. In this study, we analyzed data from a large Korean population to provide an updated prevalence of blood […]

Red Cross Facing National Blood Shortage

Donors needed now as hospital demand outpaces blood donations [Marion, Sept. 11, 2023] — The American Red Cross is experiencing a national blood shortage. Fewer donors than needed gave this summer, drawing down the national blood supply and reducing distributions of some of the most needed blood types to hospitals. Hurricane Idalia further strained the […]

3D Stress Patterns in Capillaries Are Caused by Red Blood Cell Squeezing

BYLINE: Mario Boone Newswise — Rockville, Md. (September 15, 2023)—New and unique shear stress patterns can occur in angiogenic capillary (new blood vessel growth) networks, according to a new study in the journal Function. There was also enhancement of low shear stress regions by red blood cells. Shear stress is the frictional force of the […]

Alteration of microbial composition in the skin and blood in vasculitis

Abstract Vasculitis is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by leukocyte infiltration into blood vessels. Various microorganisms have been associated with the pathogenesis of vasculitis; however, the causal microbial agents and underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, possibly because of the technical limitations of pathogen detection. In the present study, we characterized the microbiome profile of […]

Utility of the 21-month neurodevelopmental outcome for predicting neurodevelopmental impairment at 36 months for preterm infants

Abstract Objective To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the 21-month neurodevelopmental outcome for predicting the presence of neurodevelopmental impairment at 36 months corrected age in a population of preterm infants under 29 weeks gestation. Study design This is a retrospective observational cohort study. Preterm infants born under 29 weeks gestation who were followed up […]