Category: VOL 2 NUMBER 3, 2023

Abstract Introduction: Platelets are fragments of megakaryocytes circulating in the blood and its concentrates are therapeutic in substantial bleeding disorders. Efforts to ensure adequate product quality are required due to their short lifespan and lack of robustness. A descriptive longitudinal laboratory-based study was adopted in this study. The study aimed at determining platelets survival in stored platelet concentrates and evaluating thromboxane A2 for platelets function. Materials and Methods: Platelet concentrates were prepared manually using buffy coat, where about 50ml of concentrates suspended in plasma were allowed to rotate and agitate continuously on platelet agitator at room temperature (20-240C). Aliquots of 4ml each was collected serially for 9 days (day 0 to day 8) from 10 different platelet concentrates collected from 7 male blood donors and 3 female blood donors with age (mean± SD: 36 ± 7.14 years), weight (mean± SD: 66.8 ± 6.01kg), height (mean± SD: 163 ± 4.57cm). The samples were analyzed for platelets count, platelet distribution width (PDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR), using Automated Haematology analyzer (Sysmex XP-300) and thromboxane A2 using standard ELISA technique. Data analysis was carried out using mean, standard deviation as descriptive statistics and logistic regression as inferential statistics; and p <0.05 was considered as evidence of statistical significance. Results: Socio-demographic characteristics had no effect on all parameters estimated. There is variation in platelet count and platelet indices values in stored platelet concentrates compared with the baseline values and the survival of platelets in stored platelet concentrates was relatively stable till day 4 after preparation but depreciation surfaced from day 5 to day 8 compared to baseline values. The study also showed that the degree of deterioration of thromboxane A2 was highly significant at day 3 (p<0.05) while the best duration of storage for platelet concentrates in the study area is the first 3 days, though storage up to day 5 is acceptable (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study confirms thromboxane A2 as a marker for platelet functionality. The best duration of storage for platelet concentrates in the study area is the first two (2) days when no significant deterioration was observed. Keywords: Platelet count, Platelets survival, Platelet concentrates, In-vitro assessment, Thromboxane A2.

Abstract Introduction: This study aims to determine the association of ABO/ Rh Blood groups and haemoglobin genotype with Helicobacter pylori infection among indigenes of Wiyaakara, Ogoni, Rivers State. This is a cross-sectional study carried out in Wiyaakara, Khana Local Government Area in Rivers State to determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and its association with ABO/Rh blood group and haemoglobin genotype. The study was carried out amongst indigenes of Wiyaakara village in Khana LGA of Rivers State, Nigeria. Wiyaakara is part of Ogoni. Materials and Methods: Determination of ABO/Rh blood group was done using tile method. Haemoglobin genotype was determined using cellulose acetate paper electrophoresis while determination of Helicobacter pylori infection was done using the rapid diagnostic test strip method. Results: Out of 130 participants, 48.5% tested positive for Helicobacter pylori infection. Amongst those that tested positive, 68% were females while 32% were males. In ABO blood grouping, blood group O recorded the highest infectivity rate, followed by blood group A, blood group B and AB. Rh positive individuals recorded high frequency of occurrence than Rh negative. Haemoglobin genotype AA recorded high frequency of occurrence than that of AS. Based on odd ratios, the risk for the studied subjects to be infected with Helicobacter pylori was in the order of B>A>O (odd ratios: A = 1.78, B = 9.01, O = 0.54), considering the fact that AB blood group subjects was negligible due to fewer number of subjects (5). Haemoglobin AS subjects were more prone to having Helicobacter pylori than AA subjects. Conclusion: The study has revealed that blood group B individual are more at risk of being infected with Helicobacter pylori in comparison to other ABO blood groups. Additionally, those with haemoglobin AS genotype were also at risk of being infected with Helicobacter pylori than those with haemoglobin AA genotype.

Abstract Background: von Willebrand Factor and factor VIII have been implicated in the vulnerability of causing hypertension which is related/common to some of the ABO blood group antigens. However, the precise mechanism/role of the von Willebrand Factor and factor VIII in hypertension is unknown. The study is a comparative study that is aimed to determine the association of ABO red cell antigen, von Willebrand factor, Factor VIII, and Platelets among hypertensive patients in Kaduna, Nigeria. Methods: To determine this association, fifty-five (55) hypertensive patients and 28 controls were recruited. A purposive sampling technique was employed in selecting the study participants. Determination of the ABO blood group, vWF, FVIII, and platelets was carried out to establish the frequency and the association of ABO blood type with hypertension. Results: It was established that blood group O (43%) has the highest distribution followed by A, B, and AB (6%) the least. There was no significant difference in vWF(ng/L), FVIII(pg/ml), and platelet count(109/l) between the patients and the controls (454.9 and 456.2), (242.0 and 228.4) and (238.0 and 213.0) respectively, p>0.05. The correlation studies showed a strong association between vWF and FVIII (r – 0.544, P<0.0001). There was a significant difference between males’ and females’ vWF and FVIII (P=0.0013 and 0.0029 respectively), indicating females had a higher level of vWF and FVIII, and therefore at higher risk of developing hypertension. Women should therefore be screened for these parameters as a matter of routine. Conclusion: The risk of developing hypertension based on the parameters considered in this study is independent of the ABO blood group of an individual. There is a need for further studies, to confirm or rule out these findings.

Abstract Introduction: Red cell antigens alongside red cell indices provide an essential support to the diagnosis and monitoring of haematological diseases while the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) indicates and monitor an increase in inflammatory activity within the body. This study aims to determine the frequency of Rh-e antigen and reference values of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Red cell indices in an undergraduate student’s population in the Rivers State, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Material and Methods: One hundred and fifty (150) undergraduate students aged between 17-28years were enrolled in the study and standard venipuncture technique used to collect 5ml of blood. Determination of the Rh-e antigen was carried out using anti-e monoclonal antibodies (Lorne Diagnostics UK), Red cell indices obtained using BC 5000 Mindray Haematology Analyser and ESR by Westergren method. Results: Among the 150 subjects, 130 (86.6%) were positive while 20 (13.3%) were negative for Rh-e antigen. The mean±SD of the mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red cell distribution width co-efficient of variation (RDW-CV), red cell distribution widthstandard deviation (RDW-SD) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were 83.12 ± 10.74, 31.13 ± 3.25, 34.00 ± 3.32, 13.32 ± 1.61, 39.70 ± 2.26 and 30.36 ± 2.15 in the same order, while the reference values were 61.64-104.6 for MCV, 24.63-37.63 for MCH, 27.36–40.64 for MCHC, 10.10–16.54 for RDW (CV), 35.18–44.22 for RDW (SD) and 26.06-34.66 for ESR. Gender had no effect on MCV (p=0.3007) and MCHC (p=0.1436) but significant effect on MCH (p=0.030), RDWCV (p<0.001), RDW-SD (p=0.0005) and ESR (p=0.036) with a perfect positive correlation (r=1) between all the studied parameters.

Abstract Introduction: Blood for transfusion or biopharmaceutical medication is obtained through blood donation. It is an indispensable component of health that contributes to saving lives since blood/ blood products are unique. A major source of safe blood is voluntary non-remunerated blood donors. Considering the role of teachers in the education of young people in the populace, this study aims to provide information on knowledge and attitude toward blood donation and the prevalence of Hepatitis B and C among secondary school teachers in Calabar, Nigeria. Methods: With ethical approval and informed consent obtained, a total of 200 apparently healthy teachers and staff were recruited from five secondary schools in Calabar. Structured questionnaires were pre-tested among twenty (20) staff of the University of Calabar before being administered to the study subjects. Blood was collected and screened for the presence of hepatitis B and C using the standard strip method. Data obtained were analyzed using the Chi-square test on SPSS version 21 and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Abstract Background: Blood group antigens have been used to evaluate ethnic diversity of human populations and they also play most important roles in pregnancy and blood transfusion. Knowledge of antigen frequencies is important to assess the risk of alloimmunization and to guide the probability of finding antigen-negative donor blood. This study was aimed at determining the frequencies of ABO, Rh and Kell blood group antigens phenotype among pregnant women. Materials and Methods: The study was cross sectional in nature conducted among 1,250 consecutively recruited pregnant women in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, antenatal clinic in Sokoto from January 2020 to September 2020. The blood grouping were determined using standard tube techniques for ABO while column agglutination card was used for Rh C, E, c, e and Kell blood groups. The data were collected, and calculations were done to determine the frequencies of ABO, Rh, and Kell blood group antigens and chi square was used to determine statistical significance . Results: The distribution of the ABO blood group revealed that 48.5% were group O, 27.3% were group B, 19.4% were group A and 4.8% were group AB. Out the subjects investigated, 93.1%, 30.2%, 24.6% , 90.2% and 97.6%were RhD, RhC, RhE, Rhc and Rhe positive respectively while 2.4% were Kell positive while 97.6% were Kell negative. ABO antigens has statistically significant correlation with Kell antigens.

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