Latest Red blood cell Stories
Image Credit: © South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology Research of wounds on a 5,300-year-old body found frozen in the Italian Alps in 1991 has produced the oldest red blood cells ever identified, and suggests the well preserved “Iceman” did not immediately die from his injuries, nor did he live for a few days, scientists report in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface. The bloody discovery is a first for the “Iceman,” called Oetzi, which has been extensively studied since...
Johns Hopkins study shows wide variation in transfusion use in operating rooms Citing the lack of clear guidelines for ordering blood transfusions during surgery, Johns Hopkins researchers say a new study confirms there is still wide variation in the use of transfusions and frequent use of transfused blood in patients who don't need it. The resulting overuse of blood is problematic, the researchers say, because blood is a scarce and expensive resource and because recent studies have...
A lot of people were skeptical when two young California-based researchers set out more than a decade ago to create a completely human-derived alternative to the synthetic blood vessels commonly used in dialysis patients. Since then, they've done that and more. "There were a lot of doubts in the field that you could make a blood vessel, which is something that needs to resist pressure constantly, 24-7, without any synthetic materials in it," explains Nicolas L'Heureux, a co-founder and the...
The theory that pigeons' famous skill at navigation is down to iron-rich nerve cells in their beaks has been disproved by a new study published in Nature. The study shows that iron-rich cells in the pigeon beak are in fact specialized white blood cells, called macrophages. This finding, which shatters the established dogma, puts the field back on course as the search for magnetic cells continues. "The mystery of how animals detect magnetic fields has just got more mysterious" said Dr...
Embargoed news from Annals of Internal Medicine AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks) recommends a restrictive red blood cell transfusion strategy for stable adults and children, according to new guidelines being published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Physicians should consider transfusing at a hemoglobin threshold of 7 to 8 g/dL, as the evidence shows no difference in mortality, ability to walk independently, or length of hospital stay between patients on a...
Within all our cells lies two meters of DNA, highly ordered in a structure of less than 10 micro meters in diameter. Special proteins called histones act as small building bricks, organising our DNA in this structure. Preservation of the structure is necessary to maintain correct function of our genes, making histones detrimental for maintaining a healthy and functional body. The research group of Associate Professor Anja Groth from BRIC, University of Copenhagen, has just elucidated a...
SAN DIEGO, March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (HemaQuest), a biotechnology company focused on developing small molecule therapeutics to treat hemoglobin disorders, announced today that it has closed a $13 million extension of their Series B financing. The Series B Extension is being funded by its existing investors: Aberdare Ventures, De Novo Ventures, Forward Ventures, Latterell Venture Partners and Lilly Ventures. Proceeds from the financing will be...
The disparity in stroke-related deaths among black and white children dramatically narrowed after prevention strategies changed to include ultrasound screening and chronic blood transfusions for children with sickle cell anemia, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2012. Before stroke prevention efforts changed in 1998, black children were 74 percent more likely to die from ischemic strokes than white children. This gap is in...
Young infants and toddlers with sickle cell anemia who received the drug hydroxyurea were no more likely to have cellular genetic damage than those who received a placebo or inactive medicine, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., yesterday at the American Society of Hematology's annual meeting in San Diego, Calif. These findings provide further evidence of the safety of hydroxyurea for children with sickle...
New research in the FASEB Journal suggests that EPO poses a risk to blood vessels in the brain and body Erythropoietin or EPO might be considered a "performance enhancing" substance for athletes, but new research published online in The FASEB Journal (http://www.fasebj.org) shows that these enhancements come at a high cost--increased risk of vascular problems in the brain. According to the study, short- or long-term use of EPO raises blood pressure by constricting arteries, which reduces...
