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The article discusses an international forum from the journal "Vox Sanguinis" about donor notification and counselling techniques for transfusion-transmissible infections markers. Topics include notifying donors on positive screening test on the blood that has been donated, the role of counselling and donor notification in both blood safety and donor care, and the important elements for a notification message.

Background and Objectives Molecular analyses of Rhnull individuals have revealed that abnormalities occur only at the RH or RHAG gene. Rhnull phenotype arises from two distinct genetic mechanisms, the amorph and the regulator type. Here, we genetically analysed a Japanese Rhnull family and identified a novel RHAG mutation. Materials and Methods RBC samples from two family members were phenotyped using the standard serological techniques and BLOODchip Reference for the predicted phenotype. Scanning electron micrographs of red blood cells ( RBCs) were generated. All 10 RHAG exons were subjected to DNA sequencing. Results RBCs in 2 Rhnull samples did not contain Rh or Rh AG antigens. The screening tests for irregular RBC antibodies identified anti-Rh29 in 2 samples and anti-C+e in the older sister of the proband. A molecular base analysis revealed a novel c.790C>T (p.Arg263X) mutation in exon 5 of RHAG gene. Conclusion The samples with the novel c.790C>T (p.Arg263X) mutation in exon 5 of the RHAG gene were identified as regulator type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives CD36 antibody ( Ab) causes several disorders: neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, platelet transfusion refractoriness and non-haemolytic transfusion reactions. However, there is no gold-standard test for CD36 Ab. Materials and Methods We developed a transfectant panel cell line-based Mo Ab-independent antigen capture assay system for detection of CD36 Ab and compared it with the monoclonal antibody-specific immobilization of platelet antigens ( MAIPA) system in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Results Our new system was characterized by (1) gene-transfected cell lines, but not panel platelets; (2) not being hampered by HLA Abs; and (3) no need to use CD36 Mo Abs to ensure the antigen specificity of this detection system. In addition, it showed a much better receiver operating characteristic curve than the MAIPA system. Conclusions The present results indicate that our new system permits highly sensitive and specific detection of CD36 Ab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Am and Bm phenotypes are characterized by weak expression of the A or B antigens, respectively, by red blood cells with a normal expression by the saliva of secretors. Deletion of the regulatory element in the first intron of the ABO gene and disruption of the GATA motif in the element were found to be responsible. In this study, we identified a novel mutation within the GATA motif (G>C substitution at position c.28 + 5830) in the regulatory element of the A allele that might diminish transcription activity causing the generation of the AmB phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 11-month-old girl with congenital heart disease developed infective endocarditis. Blood cultures revealed an unusual gram-negative rod, Rahnella aquatilis. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of netilmicin and ceftazidime. This is the first case report of infective endocarditis caused by this organism. R. aquatilis should be recognized as a clinical pathogen capable of causing life-threatening infection in children and adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor entitled "Persisting mesonephric duct in a neonate with ipsilateral renal agenesis" is presented.

A letter to the editor entitled "Minimal change variants: IgM nephropathy" is presented.

Presents a letter to the editor concerning immunoglobulin A nephropathy associated with cyclic neutropenia.

Focuses on a study which examined the influence of prolonged corticosteroid therapy on the outcome of steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome. Methodology; Results; Conclusion.

Purpose: To define the clinical and histological characteristics of nephritis in patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) and their immunological profiles., Methods: The clinical, immunological, and histological findings of nine patients with XLA and nephritis were retrospectively analyzed., Results: Based on kidney histological findings, patients with XLA and nephritis could be divided into two groups, viz., chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) and tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN). The two groups showed different immunological profiles. Patients in the CGN group exhibited an atypical immunological profile of XLA, with pathogenic leaky B cells producing immunoglobulins that may play a role in forming immune complexes and causing immune-mediated glomerulonephritis. In contrast, patients in the TIN group exhibited a typical immunological profile of XLA, suggesting that antibody-independent/other BTK-dependent mechanisms, or immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IgRT)-related immune/nonimmune-mediated nephrotoxicity causes TIN., Conclusion: Nephritis occurring in patients with XLA could have links between their renal pathology and immunological status. Careful observation is recommended to detect kidney pathology in patients with XLA on IgRT., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: The role of iron in, and the prognosis of, pediatric Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) with macrohematuria (MH)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) (MH-AKI) have not been evaluated. Thirty percent of adults with MH-AKI, and especially those who are older, show progression to chronic kidney disease., Methods: We evaluated the immunohistopathologic characteristics of renal biopsy samples from pediatric patients with MH-AKI IgAN and controls, using Berlin Blue to identify iron, CD163 (a hemoglobin-scavenging receptor), and CD68 (a total macrophage marker), then compared the findings against the clinical characteristics of the patients., Results: We enrolled 44 children as follows: 19 with IgAN but no MH or AKI; 5 with IgAN and MH but no AKI (MH (+) AKI (-) IgAN); 11 with MH-AKI IgAN; and 9 with no IgAN, MH, or AKI, according to a renal biopsy. Berlin Blue staining was detected predominantly at the injured tubulointerstitium, and the areas of staining in children with MH (+) AKI (-) and MH-AKI IgAN were significantly more extensive. The areas of Berlin Blue and CD163 staining did not perfectly match; however, areas of Berlin Blue were surrounded by immunopositivity for CD163. No children with MH-AKI IgAN showed decreased renal function at their last visit., Conclusion: Children with IgAN and MH, with or without AKI, showed considerable iron deposition in their renal tubules. CD163-positive cells might scavenge hemoglobin in patients with MH-AKI IgAN, but not their roles as macrophages. The renal prognosis of pediatric MH-AKI IgAN is good., (© 2024 International Society of Nephrology. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Marital status is a well-known social determinant of health. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect attachment, critical to establishing and maintaining intimate relationships, such as marital status., Objective: This study examined the association between ACEs and marital status among older Japanese adults., Participants and Setting: This research used data from a nationwide population-based study among functionally independent people aged 65 and above in Japan., Methods: ACEs were assessed by self-reported questionnaires on the following experiences before 18 years old: parental death, parental divorce, parental mental disease, exposure to intimate partner violence, physical abuse, psychological neglect, psychological abuse, and poverty. Marital status was asked as currently having a spouse (including common-law marriage), widowed, divorced, or unmarried. Associations between the total number of ACEs and marital status were analyzed by multinomial logistic regression., Results: Three or more ACEs showed higher risks of being widowed, divorced, or unmarried. Psychological neglect led to higher divorce risks among males (RRR, 95%CI = 1.41, 1.13-1.76) and females (RRR, 95%CI = 1.56, 1.28-1.89). Childhood poverty showed higher risks of unmarried among males (RRR, 95%CI = 1.25, 1.02-1.53) and females (RRR, 95%CI = 1.41, 1.18-1.69). Association between ACEs and divorce risks showed gender differences (RRR, 95%CI of having three or more ACEs in males: 2.19, 1.66-2.90; in females: 3.45, 2.71-4.38; p for interaction = 0.034)., Conclusions: ACEs showed higher risks of being widowed, divorced, and unmarried among older Japanese people. Policy to tackle ACEs and research investigating how ACEs, attachment, and relationship quality influence marital status are required to promote well-being in later life., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Longitudinal change in flourishing during the pandemic of COVID-19 would provide new insight to reveal determinants of well-being. We aimed to describe changes in flourishing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan and to examine the association of sex, age, education, and income with changes in flourishing. Utsunomiya COVID-19 seROprevalence Neighborhood Association (U-CORONA) study conducted in October 2020 and November 2021 was used (n = 419 in 2020 and n = 478 in 2021, and n = 327 for both waves). Flourishing was assessed using a 12-item multidimensional flourishing scale including six domains. Change of flourishing was categorized into decreased, unchanged, and increased. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to longitudinal data to estimate the relative risk ratio of increase and decrease in flourishing scores. Cross-sectional analysis showed that the mean score of flourishing was approximately seven in both waves, with no sex differences, but older adults had higher scores than young-aged adults. We found that men were twice as likely to lose their flourishing scores as women and lower levels of education were associated with 2-3 times declining flourishing scores than higher levels of education. Age and income were not significantly associated with the change of flourishing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, flourishing declined, and men and lower-educated people were more vulnerable. In prolonged difficult situations, support for men and less educated people may contribute to the prevention of declining well-being in Japan., Competing Interests: None of the authors has any conflict of interest to declare., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Sparse labeling of individual cells is an important approach in neuroscience and many other fields of research. Various methods have been developed to sparsely label only a small population of cells; however, there is no simple and reproducible strategy for managing the probability of sparse labeling at desired levels. Here, we aimed to develop a novel methodology based on the Cre-lox system to regulate sparseness at desired levels, and we purely analyzed cleavage efficiencies of loxP mutants by Cre. We hypothesized that mutations in the loxP sequence reduce the recognition efficiency by Cre, which enables the regulation of the sparseness level of gene expression. In this research, we mutagenized the loxP sequence and analyzed a library of loxP variants. We evaluated more than 1000 mutant loxP sequences, including mutants with reduced excision efficiencies by Cre ranging from 0.51% to 59%. This result suggests that these mutant loxP sequences can be useful in regulating the sparseness of genetic labeling at desired levels., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

This paper describes the utilization of the downwashes of multicopters for gas-sensing applications. Multirotor drones are an attractive platform for sensing applications. Their high maneuverability enables swift scanning of a target area with onboard sensors. When equipped with a gas sensor and used for gas-sensing applications, however, the strong downwash produced by the rotors poses a problem. When a multicopter is hovering at a low altitude, gas puffs leaked from a gas source on the ground are all blown away. Here, we propose to use two multicopters connected by a rod or a string and place a gas sensor at the midpoint of the rod/string. The downwash generated by each multicopter spreads radially after it impinges on the ground. When two multicopters are connected, the airflows spreading radially along the ground from the two multicopters impinge at the center and are deflected in the upward direction. Gas puffs wafting near the ground surface between the two multicopters are carried by this upward airflow to the gas sensor. Experimental results are presented to show the soundness of the proposed method. The connected quadcopters hovering over an ethanol gas source was able to detect the gas even with a moderate cross-flow.

Here, we report on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations conducted to develop a chemical sample collection device inspired by crayfish. The sensitivity of chemical sensors can be improved when used with a sniffing device. By collecting fluid samples from the surroundings, all solute species are also collected for the sensor. Crayfish generate jet-like water currents for this purpose. Compared to simply sucking water, food smells dissolved in the surrounding water can be more efficiently collected using the inflow induced by the jet discharge because of the smaller decay of the inflow velocity with the distance. Moreover, the angular range of water sample collection can be adjusted by changing the directions of the jet discharge. In our previous work, a chemical sample collection device that mimics the jet discharge of crayfish has been proposed. Here, we report CFD simulations of the flow fields generated by the device. By carefully configuring the simulation setups, we have obtained simulation results in which the angular ranges of the chemical sample collection in real experiments is well reproduced. Although there are still some discrepancies between the simulation and experimental results, such simulations will facilitate the process of designing such devices.