Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Renata Sesti-Costa, Fernando F. F. Costa, Nicola Conran
Summary: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder characterized by the production of sickle-shaped red blood cells due to a gene mutation. The disease leads to various complications such as anemia, inflammation, and tissue damage. Macrophages play a role in removing damaged red blood cells and recycling iron for the generation of new red blood cells. In SCD, anemia and inflammation may induce stress erythropoiesis, expanding the number of erythroblastic islands in the bone marrow. Understanding the mechanisms of stress erythropoiesis could potentially contribute to controlling the pathophysiology of SCD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ai Suzaki, Kaori Ohtani, Shihoko Komine-Aizawa, Asami Matsumoto, Shigeru Kamiya, Satoshi Hayakawa
Summary: This study investigated the pathogenic mechanism of massive intravascular hemolysis (MIH) in sepsis caused by Clostridium perfringens. The findings suggest that perfringolysin O (PFO) may be a major virulence factor of sepsis with MIH, inducing potent cytotoxic and proinflammatory cytokine effects which could influence the rapid progression of this fatal disease.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Hematology
Jahnavi Gollamudi, Swapan Kumar Dasgupta, Perumal Thiagarajan
Summary: This article describes a case of DAT-negative hemolytic anemia caused by an anti-IgA antibody. The study found that isolated IgA can promote erythrophagocytosis.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ai Suzaki, Shihoko Komine-Aizawa, Hiroyuki Nishiyama, Satoshi Hayakawa
Summary: Clostridium perfringens bacteremia with massive intravascular hemolysis (MIH) is rare but often fatal. The detailed pathophysiology of this fulminant form of bacteremia is unclear. By reviewing data from two university hospitals, it was found that patients with MIH had higher rates of intense pain at onset, impaired consciousness, shock at presentation, hematuria, metabolic acidosis, and gas formation than patients without MIH. Despite appropriate treatment, all patients with MIH died within a short period of time due to acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome.
INTERNAL AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sebastian Lang, Philipp Wilhelm Saenger, Sandra Kocina, Christian von Loeffelholz
Summary: Our case report provides an overview of the pathophysiology, diagnostic procedures, and possible explanations for Dapsone-induced methemoglobinemia. It demonstrates that even mild chronic methemoglobinemia can induce severe clinical symptoms.
Article
Immunology
Camille Roussel, Papa Alioune Ndour, Eric Kendjo, Sebastien Larreche, Aida Taieb, Benoit Henry, Benedicte Lebrun-Vignes, Charlotte Chambrion, Nicolas Argy, Sandrine Houze, Oussama Mouri, David Courtin, Adela Angoulvant, Herve Delacour, Frederick Gay, Jean-Yves Siriez, Martin Danis, Fabrice Bruneel, Olivier Bouchaud, Eric Caumes, Renaud Piarroux, Marc Thellier, Stephane Jaureguiberry, Pierre Buffet
Summary: This study investigated the use of intravenous artesunate in 1391 patients with severe imported malaria in France from 2011 to 2017, finding that artesunate was widely used, effective, but with a high incidence of adverse events such as anemia and cardiac events. Further exploration should focus on outcomes during pregnancy and rare but potentially severe cardiac adverse events in the context of imported malaria.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhihui Cai, Yutian Zhang, Weijie Zhang, Jinmin Ye, Qinjie Ling, Zhi Xing, Sichun Zhang, Peter R. Hoffmann, Youbin Liu, Weidong Yang, Zhi Huang
Summary: Arsenic contamination in drinking water is a global public health problem. Selenium deficiency is associated with an increased risk of arsenism. This study found that low Se status impairs redox homeostasis, leading to increased As retention in erythrocytes and subsequent phagocytosis by splenic macrophages, resulting in increased inflammatory response.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Evdoxia Kyriazopoulou, Konstantinos Leventogiannis, Georgios Tavoulareas, Efstratios Mainas, Konstantinos Toutouzas, Christos Mathas, Athanassios Prekates, Vissaria Sakka, Periklis Panagopoulos, Konstantinos Syrigos, Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis
Summary: The study aimed to develop presepsin as a diagnostic marker for severe infections of bacterial and viral origin. Three cohorts were recruited: a derivation cohort from hospitalized patients, a first validation cohort from emergency department admissions, and a second validation cohort from COVID-19 pneumonia patients. Presepsin levels were measured in plasma using the PATHFAST assay. Concentrations above 350 pg/ml showed high sensitivity for sepsis diagnosis and 28-day mortality prognosis in both the derivation and validation cohorts. Presepsin may serve as a universal biomarker for severe infections and prediction of poor outcomes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Della Giovampaola, Irene Cavalli, Luciana Mascia
Summary: Sepsis and septic shock are significant global burdens of disease, with sepsis-associated neurological consequences having a profound impact on patients. Sepsis-associated encephalopathy is a severe brain dysfunction that can lead to long-term cognitive impairment. Its pathophysiology involves neuroinflammation and hemodynamic impairment. Clinical manifestations vary, ranging from agitation and restlessness to delirium and coma. Definite diagnosis is challenging, but clinical management focuses on early detection of the infection source, maintenance of hemodynamic stability, and avoidance of metabolic disturbances or neurotoxic drugs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cole A. Guggisberg, Juyoung Kim, Jaekwon Lee, Xiaoli Chen, Moon-Suhn Ryu
Summary: Macrophages recycle iron from erythrocytes and NCOA4 regulates ferritinophagy and iron release. NCOA4 has functional association with immune response.
Article
Hematology
Rafal Mazgaj, Pawel Lipinski, Eunice Sindhuvi Edison, Aleksandra Bednarz, Robert Staron, Olga Haberkiewicz, Malgorzata Lenartowicz, Ewa Smuda, Aneta Jonczy, Rafal R. Starzynski
Summary: During pregnancy, even initially iron-replete females may develop iron-deficiency anemia due to inadequate iron absorption. In iron-deficient pregnancy, levels of the key protein ferroportin are greatly reduced, leading to decreased iron transfer to the fetus, although some iron is retained in the placenta. These findings confirm the important role of ferroportin in regulating iron turnover in iron-deficient pregnant mouse females and their fetuses.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bijun Wen, James M. Njunge, Celine Bourdon, Gerard Bryan Gonzales, Bonface M. Gichuki, Dorothy Lee, David S. Wishart, Moses Ngari, Emmanuel Chimwezi, Johnstone Thitiri, Laura Mwalekwa, Wieger Voskuijl, James A. Berkley, Robert H. J. Bandsma
Summary: Blood metabolomic and proteomic profiles can differentiate between children with severe malnutrition who survive and those who die. The profiles of children who died show increased metabolic substrates, microbial metabolites, acute phase proteins, and inflammatory markers, indicating disruptions in bioenergetic pathways and sepsis-like responses.
Review
Immunology
Orestis Katsoulis, Athina Georgiadou, Aubrey J. Cunnington
Summary: Acute kidney injury is a common complication of severe malaria and an independent risk factor for death. Different aspects of malaria pathology interact to amplify the damaging effects of the host inflammatory response on the kidneys.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hui-Ju Tsai, Beth I. Wallace, Akbar K. Waljee, Xiumei Hong, Sheng-Mao Chang, Yi-Fen Tsai, Mei-Leng Cheong, Ann Chen Wu, Tsung-Chieh Yao
Summary: This nationwide population-based study found that a single course of antenatal corticosteroid treatment is significantly associated with an increased risk of sepsis, heart failure, and gastrointestinal bleeding in pregnant women. Maternal health considerations should be included in future guidelines for antenatal corticosteroid treatment.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pavani Beesetty, Jananie Rockwood, Taku Kaitsuka, Tetyana Zhelay, Siham Hourani, Masayuki Matsushita, J. Ashot Kozak
Summary: Inactivation of TRPM7 kinase leads to alkalinization and enhanced phagocytic activity in macrophages, which can be reversed by NHE1 blockade, suggesting a novel role for TRPM7 kinase in regulating cellular pH and suppressing basal phagocytosis.
