Mean reticolocyte hemoglobin content index plays a key role to identify children who are carriers of β –thalassemia

Reticulocyte (r) and red blood cell (RBC) indices provide reliable parameters for screening and monitoring iron deficiency anemia (IDA) patients and β-thalassemia trait (BTT) carriers. The aim of this study is to identify a simple method for use to distinguish β-thalassemia trait carriers from IDA and to evaluate the correlation between BTT genetic mutation and MCV values and new discrimination index for the detection of β-thalassemia trait (DI-BTT). We analyzed CHr, MCHCr, MCVr, RBC, mean cellular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and mean cellular volume (MCV) indices among a pediatric population of IDA patients (n=90), βthalassemia trait carriers (n=72) and normal controls (NC) (n=131). Furthermore, to distinguish IDA patients from β-thalassemia trait carriers we evaluated clinical utility of new DI for the detection BTTcarriers, using the following polynomial: (RBC × MCHC × 50/MCV)/CHr. We found that CHr, MCVr and DI-BTT mean values were significantly different between βthalassemia trait carriers and IDA patients. CHr, MCVr and DI-BTT plotting curves showed exclusive distribution in β-thalassemia trait carriers. Moreover, DI-BTT was very accurate in differentiating β-thalassemia trait carriers from IDA patients. All BTT patients showed a heterozygous mutation of the β-globin gene including CD39, IVS1.110, IVS1.6 and IVS2.745, IVS2.1 and IVS1.1. The highest MCV values were displayed by those carrying the IVS1.6 mutation. Conclusions: The simultaneous measurement and plotting of CHr and MCVr indices, as well as the DI-BTT allow to distinguish β-thalassemia carriers from IDA patients

The global contribution of vultures towards ecosystem services and sustainability: An experts’ perspective

Summary: The ecosystem services framework is essential for biodiversity conservation, emphasizing the role of nature in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study offers a global view on vulture-associated ecosystem services and their SDG contributions, based on insights from 206 experts. The findings reveal global consensus on the importance of vultures in regulation and maintenance services, such as waste recycling and disease control. Cultural services attributed to vultures are moderate and vary regionally. Provisioning services are consistently rated low across all regions. Experts’ views on vultures' key ecosystem roles are often biased toward well-known services and may not align with all scientific evidence. The study emphasizes vultures’ role in achieving SDGs, particularly impacting life on land and health, and calls for reevaluating their contribution to sustainable practices. It stresses the need to customize conservation to regional values and perceptions, recognizing vultures’ critical role in ecological balance, public health, and sustainable development