Nurses� hemovigilance knowledge and performance after teach-back, concept map, and lecture: A quasi-experimental study

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of teaching by three methods of teach-back, concept map, and lecture on knowledge and performance of nurses in hemovigilance process. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 108 Iranian nurses. In the lecture group, the educational intervention was conducted during a 4-hour session; and in the concept map and teach-back groups, it was performed in two 2-hour sessions. The nurses� knowledge and performance were measured by �routine blood transfusion knowledge questionnaire (RBTKQ)� and �self-reporting performance-evaluator questionnaire�. Results: After the interventions, knowledge was significantly higher in the teach-back and the concept map groups compared to the lecture group (p = 0.001), but the performance in the lecture group was higher than the other two groups (p = 0.01). No statistically significant differences were found between teach-back and concept map groups. Conclusion: Teach-back and concept map methods were effective in improving the nurses� hemovigilance knowledge, while the lecture was associated with a significant increase in their performance. Therefore, integrating the hemovigilance teaching methods is suggested. © 2021 Blood safety; Hemovigilance, Knowledge; Teaching; Nurses; Work performance. © 202

The impact of iron supplementation efficiency in female blood donors with a decreased ferritin level and no anaemia. Rationale and design of a randomised controlled trial: a study protocol

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: There is no recommendation to screen ferritin level in blood donors, even though several studies have noted the high prevalence of iron deficiency after blood donation, particularly among menstruating females. Furthermore, some clinical trials have shown that non-anaemic women with unexplained fatigue may benefit from iron supplementation. Our objective is to determine the clinical effect of iron supplementation on fatigue in female blood donors without anaemia, but with a mean serum ferritin </= 30 ng/ml. METHODS/DESIGN: In a double blind randomised controlled trial, we will measure blood count and ferritin level of women under age 50 yr, who donate blood to the University Hospital of Lausanne Blood Transfusion Department, at the time of the donation and after 1 week. One hundred and forty donors with a ferritin level </= 30 ng/ml and haemoglobin level >/= 120 g/l (non-anaemic) a week after the donation will be included in the study and randomised. A one-month course of oral ferrous sulphate (80 mg/day of elemental iron) will be introduced vs. placebo. Self-reported fatigue will be measured using a visual analogue scale. Secondary outcomes are: score of fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), maximal aerobic power (Chester Step Test), quality of life (SF-12), and mood disorders (Prime-MD). Haemoglobin and ferritin concentration will be monitored before and after the intervention. DISCUSSION: Iron deficiency is a potential problem for all blood donors, especially menstruating women. To our knowledge, no other intervention study has yet evaluated the impact of iron supplementation on subjective symptoms after a blood donation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00689793

Clinical evaluation of iron treatment efficiency among non-anemic but iron-deficient female blood donors: a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT: Iron deficiency without anemia (IDWA) is related to adverse symptoms that can be relieved by supplementation. Since a blood donation can induce such an iron deficiency, we investigated the clinical impact of an iron treatment after blood donation. METHODS: One week after donation, we randomly assigned 154 female donors with IDWA aged <50 years to a 4-week oral treatment of ferrous sulfate vs. placebo. The main outcome was the change in the level of fatigue before and after the intervention. Also evaluated were aerobic capacity, mood disorder, quality of life, compliance and adverse events. Biological markers were hemoglobin and ferritin. RESULTS: Treatment effect from baseline to 4 weeks for hemoglobin and ferritin were 5.2 g/L (p < 0.01) and 14.8 ng/mL (p < 0.01) respectively. No significant clinical effect was observed for fatigue (-0.15 points, 95% confidence interval -0.9 to 0.6, p = 0.697) or for other outcomes. Compliance and interruption for side effects was similar in both groups. Additionally, blood donation did not induce overt symptoms of fatigue in spite of the significant biological changes it produces. CONCLUSIONS: These data are valuable as they enable us to conclude that donors with IDWA after a blood donation would not clinically benefit from iron supplementation. Trial registration: NCT00689793

Challenging the Moral Status of Blood Donation

The World Health Organisation encourages that blood donation becomes voluntary and unremunerated, a system already operated in the UK. Drawing on public documents and videos, this paper argues that blood donation is regarded and presented as altruistic and supererogatory. In advertisements, donation is presented as something undertaken for the benefit of others, a matter attracting considerable gratitude from recipients and the collecting organisation. It is argued that regarding blood donation as an act of supererogation is wrongheaded, and an alternative account of blood donation as moral obligation is presented. Two arguments are offered in support of this position. First, the principle of beneficence, understood in a broad consequentialist framework obliges donation where the benefit to the recipient is large and the cost to the donor relatively small. This argument can be applied, with differing levels of normativity, to various acts of donation. Second, the wrongness of free riding requires individuals to contribute to collective systems from which they benefit. Alone and in combination these arguments present moral reasons for donation, recognised in communication strategies elsewhere. Research is required to evaluate the potential effects on donation of a campaign which presents blood donation as moral obligation, but of wider importance is the recognition that other-regarding considerations in relation to our own as well as others’ health result in a range not only of choices but also of obligations

Increased Expression of MiR-27a and MiR-24-2 in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the predominant types of esophageal cancer with poor prognosis which shows high prevalence in eastern countries. Studying microRNAs that were considered for their capabilities such as tissue-specific expression and involvement in different cell features may be informative in the field of diagnostic and prognostic tumor markers. The expression levels of miR-27a and miR-24-2 have been reported to be dysregulated in various cancers and contribute in tumorigenesis and progression; thus, evaluating their expressional behavior and its association with tumor states alteration in ESCC could potentially be helpful. Methods: The study was conducted on 30 fresh specimens including tumor and normal counterparts� tissues of ESCC. After the extraction of total RNA, complementary DNA synthesis was performed by the use of linear specific primers. Eventually, real-time polymerase chain reaction was carried out for the measurement of microRNAs expression level. Results: According to the obtained data, miR 27a and miR-24-2 were significantly upregulated (~2.5 fold, p < 0.05) in tumor specimens compared with their normal adjacent tissue; Moreover, upregulation of miR-27a and 24-2 showed cooperative relationship while analyzed. However, there was no correlation between clinicopathological features and microRNAs upregulation. Conclusions: The results of this study show that miR-27a and miR-24-2 cooperatively upregulate in ESCC and suggest that these microRNAs can be introduced as a candidate for further study in the field of screening and prognostic biomarkers. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

Histological evaluation of the effect of platelet-rich plasma on pulp regeneration in nonvital open apex teeth: An animal study

Aim: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which is a concentration of growth factors found in platelets, may be a suitable material for pulp regeneration. The aim of this animal study was a histological evaluation of PRP on pulp regeneration in nonvital teeth with immature apices. Materials and methods: A total of 40 premolar dogs' teeth were chosen for this study. After general anesthesia, the teeth were exposed, and subsequently, pulps were removed and the cavities were opened to the oral cavity. After 2 weeks, root canals were irrigated and disinfected with sodium hypochlorite with noninstrumentation technique, and triple antibiotic paste was placed inside the canals. Cavities were sealed with a temporary restoration. About 4 weeks later, canals were irrigated again and the teeth were randomly divided into three groups. Bleeding was evoked with overinstrumentation, then experimental materials for each group PRP, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), and parafilm respectively were placed over the bleeding, and orifices were sealed with MTA and glass ionomer. After 3 months, dogs were sacrificed and the teeth were separated from the jaws and sections prepared for histological evaluation. Results: Regeneration was shown in 44.7% of the samples. About 47.3% of the samples in the MTA group and 42.1% of the samples in the PRP group showed regeneration; however, no regeneration was observed in the parafilm group. Chi-square test showed no significant difference between groups I and II. The soft regenerative tissue included pulp-like tissue and vessels. Mineralized regenerative tissue included cementumlike, periodontal ligament-like, and bone-like tissues. No normal pulp and nerve tissue were observed. Conclusion: Both PRP and MTA may be ideal scaffolds to accelerate the regeneration process. Clinical significance: Pulp repair in immature permanent teeth with weak roots has a better outcome than replacement of the pulp with gutta-percha or biomaterials

Association between Serum HLA-G Levels in The First Trimester of Pregnancy and The Onset of Preeclampsia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Study

Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) levels are among the biomarkers suggested for pre-eclampsia (PE). This study is aimed at determining the possible relationship between low soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) levels in maternal blood at the beginning of pregnancy and subsequent PE. We searched the international scientific databases of Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus. We extracted the studies investigating the relationship between the serum levels of HLA-G in the first trimester of pregnancy and the onset of PE using the appropriate keywords. The collected data were analyzed using the random-effects meta-analysis model and STATA (version 14). A total of 5 studies met the eligibility criteria, and the total sample size was 668 subjects. The mean and SD age of case subjects was 31.41 & PLUSMN; 4.16 years, while it was 30.56 & PLUSMN; 3.5 for control subjects. According to the findings, there was an inverse relationship between HLA-G serum level in the first trimester of pregnancy and the subsequent onset of PE, standard mean difference (SMD)=-1.51 95% confidence interval (CI):-2.26,-0.75, I2=90.8%, P=0.000. Based on these results, low sHLA-G level in early pregnancy has a positive correlation with subsequent PE, and the significant role of sHLA-G in the early stages of placentation can be proven