Blood / Hematology News From Medical News Today

DVT And PE In Joint Replacement Patients May Be Prevented By Aspirin

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:00:00 PST

Following a total joint replacement, anticoagulation (blood thinning) drugs can prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot deep within the extremities, or a pulmonary embolism (PE), a complication that causes a blood clot to move to the lungs. However, prolonged use of these therapies may increase the risk of hemorrhage and infection...

For Atrial Fibrillation Patients At Risk For Stroke, Easy-To-Use Blood Thinners Likely To Replace Coumadin

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

Within a few years, a new generation of easy-to-use blood-thinning drugs will likely replace Coumadin for patients with irregular heartbeats who are at risk for stroke, according to a journal article by Loyola University Medical Center physicians. Unlike Coumadin, the new drugs do not require patients to come in to the clinic on a regular basis to check the dose...

Is Economy Class Air Travel Linked To Blood Clot Risk? Apparently Not

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

"Economy Class Syndrome" is a myth, your risk of developing a blood clot during a long-distance economy trip by plane is not higher than in first class, researchers report in an article published in Chest...

Racial Disparities Likely Reduced By Sickle Cell Anemia Stroke Prevention Efforts

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

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...

Patients With Anemia May Be At More Than Triple The Risk Of Dying After A Stroke

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

Being anemic could more than triple your risk of dying within a year after having a stroke, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2012. "Among stroke patients, severe anemia is a potent predictor of dying throughout the first year after a stroke," said Jason Sico, M.D...

Mandatory Sickle Cell Trait Screening For Athletic Participation Opposed By American Society Of Hematology Policy

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

The American Society of Hematology (ASH), the world's largest professional society concerned with the causes and treatment of blood disorders, has issued a policy statement* opposing mandatory screening of athletes for sickle cell trait as a prerequisite to athletic participation and urging athletics programs to adopt universal preventive interventions in their training program...

New Catalytic Process Could Convert By-Products Of Diesel Production Into Anticoagulant Drugs And More

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:00:00 PST

A new catalytic process discovered at Cardiff University could unleash a range of useful new by-products from diesel fuel production. More sustainable production of sulphur-free diesel from natural gas and biomass is increasing. However the by-products, hydrocarbons like decane and other low value alkanes have little practical use...

Blood-Forming Stem Cells' Growth Identified

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:00:00 PST

Scientists with the new Children's Research Institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified the environment in which blood-forming stem cells survive and thrive within the body, an important step toward increasing the safety and effectiveness of bone-marrow transplantation. Institute investigators led by Dr...

A 'Disruptive Science' Ready For Commercial Development - Gene Therapy

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

The time for commercial development of gene therapy has come. Patients with diseases treatable and curable with gene therapy deserve access to the technology, which has demonstrated both its effectiveness and feasibility, says James Wilson, MD, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of Human Gene Therapy in a provocative commentary and accompanying videocast...

Short-Term Pulmonary, Immunologic, Or Coagulation Status Unaffected By Duration Of RBC Storage

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

There is no difference in early measures of pulmonary function, immunologic status or coagulation status after fresh versus standard issue single-unit red blood cell (RBC) transfusion, according to a new study from the Mayo Clinic. "Longer duration of RBC storage is thought to increase the risk of transfusion-related pulmonary complications," said Daryl J...

Chemists Unlock Potential Target For Drug Development

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

A receptor found on blood platelets whose importance as a potential pharmaceutical target has long been questioned may in fact be fruitful in drug testing, according to new research from Michigan State University chemists. A team led by Dana Spence of MSU's Department of Chemistry has revealed a way to isolate and test the receptor known as P2X1...

New Drug Labels For Kidney Disease Patients

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently recommended that clinicians be more conservative when they prescribe chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with drugs that treat red blood cell deficiencies. But the drug label's recommendations fall short, according to two commentaries appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN)...

Drug Helps Maintain Platelet Inhibition And Anti-Clotting Levels Prior To Cardiac Surgery

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:00:00 PST

According to a study in the January 18 issue of JAMA, patients who stop using an antiplatelet agent, such as clopidogrel, before undergoing cardiac surgery to reduce their risk of bleeding and received intravenously the platelet inhibitor cangrelor, achieved a higher rate of maintenance of platelet inhibition than those who were given placebo...

Blood Clots After Hip Or Knee Replacement - Study Looks At Prevalence

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:00:00 PST

According to a study in the January 18 issue of JAMA, approximately 1 in every 100 patients undergoing knee replacement surgery, and 1 in every 200 patients undergoing hip replacement surgery who use current preventive medications for venous thromboembolism (VTE; a blood clot that develops within a vein that might become serious), will develop VTE before being discharged from hospital...

Drug Helps Maintain Platelet Inhibition And Anti-Clotting Levels Prior To Cardiac Surgery

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:00 PST

According to a study in the January 18 issue of JAMA, patients who stop using an antiplatelet agent, such as clopidogrel before undergoing cardiac surgery to reduce their risk of bleeding and received intravenously the platelet inhibitor cangrelor achieved a higher rate of maintenance of platelet inhibition than those who were given placebo...

Analysis Examines Rate Of In-Hospital Blood Clots Following Hip Or Knee Replacement

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:00 PST

According to a study in the January 18 issue of JAMA reveals, approximately 1 in every 100 patients undergoing knee replacement surgery and 1 in every 200 patients undergoing hip replacement surgery who use current preventive medications for venous thromboembolism (VTE; a blood clot that develops within a vein that might become serious), will develop VTE before being discharged from hospital...

Annual Bleeding Events And Frequency Of Infusions Reduced By Preventive Hemophilia A Treatment

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:00:00 PST

A Rush University Medical Center led international research team has announced that a treatment to prevent bleeding episodes in children with hemophilia A also is effective for adolescents and adults. The preventive therapy will "optimize care for hemophilia patients of all ages by stopping unexpected bleeding events that can have a detrimental impact on the lives of patients," said Dr...

Circulating Tumor Cells Analyzed In Patients With Lung Cancer

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:00:00 PST

Researchers have developed a method to analyze circulating tumor cells in the blood of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. This method, which can analyze a sample size as small as three cells, may allow clinicians to track cancer progress and treatments and could help them develop new therapies...

Test All Hospitalized Patients For Blood Glucose Levels, Experts Say

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:00:00 PST

Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar (glucose) levels, is a common, serious and expensive health care problem in hospitalized patients that is linked to an increased risk of health complications and mortality. It can also affect non-diabetic hospitalized patients. According to observational studies, 32 to 38% of patients in community hospitals suffer from hyperglycemia...

Dialysis Treatments Go Green

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

Solar power can help offset high utility costs and make hemodialysis treatments more environmentally friendly, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The findings point the way to a 'green dialysis' future where utilities and other consumables are no longer taken for granted but are used and reused wisely...

Before Prescribing Clopidogrel Should Genetic Testing Occur? Apparently Not

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:00:00 PST

A study in the December issue of JAMA reports that despite the U.S...

Futuristic Therapy: Steering Microrobots Through Blood Vessels For Disease Treatment

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

Microscopic-scale medical robots represent a promising new type of therapeutic technology. As envisioned, the microbots, which are less than one millimeter in size, might someday be able to travel throughout the human bloodstream to deliver drugs to specific targets or seek out and destroy tumors, blood clots, and infections that can't be easily accessed in other ways...

Targeted Blocking Of Cell Death Prevents Fatal Condition Septic Shock

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

Researchers of VIB and UGent have discovered a new approach to preventing septic shock, an often fatal extreme inflammatory reaction of the body. It is the most frequent cause of death at intensive care departments in hospitals. In sepsis, acute inflammation is attended by low blood pressure and blood clots, causing the organs to stop working...

Hide And Seek Signals In The Immune System

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

The white blood cells that fight disease and help our bodies heal are directed to sites of infection or injury by 'exit signs' - chemical signals that tell them where to pass through the blood vessel walls and into the underlying tissue...

Restricting Post-Surgery Blood Transfusion Is Safe For Some Hip Patients

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

More than half of the older, anemic patients in a New England Journal of Medicine study did not need blood transfusions as they recovered from hip surgery, according to new research co-authored by University of Maryland School of Medicine scientists. The findings could immediately change the way such patients are treated...

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