Retrorectal cystic hamartoma is a rare type of congenital cystic lesion usually diagnosed in middle-aged women. Although mostly asymptomatic, patients may present with symptoms resulting from local mass effect or with a complication. The most important complications of these cysts are infection with secondary fistulization and malignant degeneration. Because of such non-specific nature of symptoms and rare incidence, it is not unusual to have a delay in clinical diagnosis. MRI has evolved to be the investigation of choice for the evaluation of presacral tumors as it can provide excellent anatomic detail and soft tissue contrast. Role of preoperative biopsy is controversial especially with improvements in the imaging techniques. When diagnosed these lesions should be excised because of the risk of malignant transformation.
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted and pushed the healthcare settings to extremes across the globe. It was extremely challenging to sustain blood donation, and strategies could be formulated on knowing fears hindering blood donation.Methods A cross-sectional survey using Google Forms â through WhatsApp and email after obtaining the ethical clearance. The survey questionnaire was validated for content using the Delphi technique, and pilot tested for finalization.
ResultsThe survey was attempted by 1066 participants, and 749 participants who had not donated since pandemic were included in the study. A little more than half, 415 (55%) reported either one or more than one fear during the pandemic which hindered blood donation. They reported lack of confidence in the safety measures at the hospitals and fear of transmitting infection to family, in 415 (55%) of the participants each, respectively. The fear of COVID-19 hospital infection risk and hospital entry was statistically significant across the age groups that are eligible for blood donation.
ConclusionsThe clear and dedicated confidence building measures to sustain blood donation using all communication modalities clearly emerge as the most important strategies to augment blood donation in the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures should include information about implementation of safety measures to mitigate COVID-19 transmission at the blood centres and that the act of blood donation does not increase risk of COVID-19 and therefore the risk of transmission of infection to family.
Salt loading before blood donation in young college going whole blood donors does decrease the VVRs in the immediate post donation period; however the decrease was limited to a trend and could not attain statistical significance.
Background and Objectives: ABO haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is a lesser recognized entity; however, the severity may vary in neonates.This prospective observational study was performed to determine the severity and risk of ABO-HDFN in neonates born to O group mothers.
Materials and Methods: A total of 260 neonates born to non-alloimmunized blood group O mothers were recruited. Blood group O neonates were excluded from the study. Neonatal direct antiglobulin test (DAT) was performed using the column agglutination technique. They were monitored for clinical and laboratory parameters and followed up at 6-8 weeks. The maternal anti-A and anti-B titres (IgM and IgG) were also done. Results: A total of 176 neonates with blood group A (77/260; 29.6%) and B (99/260; 38.1%) were finally included in the study, and 15 (8.5%) of them were DAT positive. Overall, 26.7% (47/176) neonates received phototherapy, 172 (97.7%) survived and none required readmission. The median (inter-quartile range [IQR]) maternal IgG anti-B titre (32 [32-64]) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than the IgG anti-A titre (16 [8-64]). The maximum total serum bilirubin in neonates had a significant positive association with neonatal birth weight (p = 0.045), positive DAT (p = 0.006) and requirement of phototherapy (p < 0.001). The relative risk (95% CI) of a DAT-positive neonate requiring phototherapy was 4.55 (3.12-6.33).
Conclusion:The frequency of ABO incompatibility in neonates born to group O mothers was 67.69% (176/260). The maternal IgG titre of ≥64 could be a good predictor for identifying the neonates at risk of developing hyperbilirubinaemia requiring phototherapy.
Introduction:The blood mobile is one of the modern methods of mobile blood collection facility funded through the third phase of National AIDS Control Programme by the National Blood Transfusion Council of India.Material and Methods:A retrospective analysis of data in relation to the blood mobile was carried out with respect to the number of blood donation camps, number of blood units collected, adverse donor reactions, and the expenditure that occurred during the blood collection in the blood mobile from 1st January 2012 to 30th June 2014.Results:There were 64, 84 and 62 blood donation camps conducted in the blood mobile with collection of 3301, 5166 and 2842 blood units during 2012, 2013 and the first half of 2014. The percentage of voluntary blood collection in blood mobile was 8.5% in 2012, increased to 12.4% in 2013 and stands at 14.39% in the first half of 2014. The difference in the means of the adverse donor reactions in the blood mobile and the outdoor camps was not statistically significant.Discussion and Conclusion:The blood mobile is definitely an asset as far as augmentation of voluntary blood donation is concerned, ensures stable collection of blood for better provision of blood and blood components. However the facility requires a comprehensive annual maintenance with incorporation of onsite quick response team both from the manufacturer of the vehicle, and the blood collection equipments. Adequate provision of funding for operational expenditure would in turn facilitate optimum utilization of this facility.
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