The National Blood Center, Kuala Lumpur interprets laboratory results for the von Willebrand factor (vWF) profile based on guidelines provided by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, which were established based on the Caucasian population [1-2]. The vWF profiles among the Malay population has not yet been established.
The goals of this study were to determine the vWF profiles of the different ABO blood types among Malays and to evaluate their association with demographic characteristics and smoking habits.
One hundred and forty Malay donors participated in this study. Factor VIII (FVIII), vWF antigen, and ristocetin cofactor (RiCof) levels and collagen binding activity (CBA) were measured by coagulometric clot detection, latex agglutination, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Haematological parameters decrease following one unit of whole blood donation which results in a detrimental effect on cardiorespiratory fitness and maximal exercise capacity. However, it remains unclear to what extent blood donation will impact exercise performance across varying levels of cardiorespiratory fitness. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of a standard blood donation on maximal exercise performance performed 24 h post-blood donation in individuals with varying levels of cardiorespiratory fitness. Methods: Forty-two males (mean age 22 ± 2.1 years) were recruited and segregated into Low, Moderate and Superior fitness groups. Subjects performed a multi-stage shuttle run test on the day prior to a standard blood donation procedure, and subsequently 24 h post-blood donation. Blood samples were taken on both test days and analysed for haematological parameters. Results: Exercise performance, represented by predicted VO2max were 0.6%, 1.0% and 4.1% lower in the Low, Moderate and Superior fitness groups respectively. However, the magnitude of reduction was only statistically significant in the Superior fitness group (p = 0.017). Compared to baseline, all fitness groups demonstrated significant reductions in haematocrit (Low: -8.4%, Moderate: -9.1%, Superior: -7.2%) and haemoglobin (Low: -7.6%, Moderate: -7.8%, Superior: -5.5%) levels at 24 h post-blood donation. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that changes in haemoglobin concentrations were not associated with changes in exercise performance in all groups. Conclusion: Exercise performance was only significantly reduced in the Superior fitness group. Well-trained individuals should be refrained from blood donation just prior to competitions.
Introduction: The National Blood Center, Kuala Lumpur interprets laboratory results for the von Willebrand factor (VWF) profile based on guidelines which were established based on the Caucasian population. The VWF profiles among the Malay population has not yet been established. The current study aims to determine the VWF profiles of the different ABO blood types among Malays and to evaluate their association with demographic characteristics and smoking habits. Methods: One hundred and forty Malay donors were involved. Factor VIII (FVIII:C), VWF antigen (VWF:Ag), and ristocetin cofactor (VWF:RiCof) levels and collagen binding activity (VWF:CBA) were measured by coagulometric clot detection, latex agglutination, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The majority of donors (59.3%) were 30–49 years old, male (81.43%), non-smokers (74.3%), and overweight (71.4%). The Malay VWF:Ag were slightly higher than those of Caucasians, Indians, Thais, and Chinese, but the average ratios of VWF activity (i.e., VWF:RiCof level and VWF:CBA) to VWF:Ag were slightly lower than those of the other populations. The highest level of VWF:Ag was found among those with the B blood group, followed by types A and O. Conclusion: Malays with type O blood had lower values of the components of the VWF profile compared to subjects with non-O blood. The higher levels of these elements and lower VWF activity to VWF:Ag ratio in Malays compared to other populations suggest that ethnicity impacts the plasma VWF levels and their interaction with collagen and platelets.
CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+ T regulatory cell (Tregs) represents approximately 8-10% of the total CD4+ T cell population and are important for immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmune development. Thus, harnessing their functions as immune modulator may be coupled with the rapid advancement of nanotechnology development. Plant-mediated biosynthesis of silver nanoparticle (AgNP) is noteworthy due to simplicity, rapid rate and potentially render more biocompatibility with biomolecules. This study identified the effect of biosynthesized-AgNPs from Garcinia atroviridis (GA) in modulating inflammatory properties of Treg cells in Non-Obese Resistant (NOR). GA extract was used to biosynthesized AgNPs and was tested on the effect of inducing inflammatory properties in CD4+IL17Rhigh cells following 72hr in vitro treatment. Methods: Conventional CD4+CD25-Foxp3- cells from female NOR mice were sorted using magnetic separation and cultured in RPMI in the presence of anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies, TGF-β and IL-2 cytokines. Cells were then treated with or without GA-AgNPs for 48hr of iTreg cell induction and then re-cultured with new media treated with respective treatments received. After 72hr in vitro culture, cells were stained with fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies for flow cytometry. Results: Current result showed that AgNPs suppress CD4 expression in CD4+IL17Rhigh population. MAPK pathway proteins remain unchanged in both control and AgNP-treated groups. Conclusions: The preliminary findings may suggest the properties of GA-AgNPs in modulating CD4+ T cell population in normal condition. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involve in such interaction. Current findings serve as basis in further identifying the immunomodulatory profile of nanoparticle for potential therapeutic use.