Impact of different syringe pumps on red cells during paediatric simulated transfusion.

BACKGROUND: Critically ill patients frequently need blood transfusions. For safety, blood must be delivered via syringe infusion pumps, yet this can cause red cell damage and increase the rate of haemolysis. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate biochemical and haemolytic markers of red blood cells transfused in three different types of syringe infusion pumps at two different infusion rates (10 and 100 mL/h). DESIGN AND METHODS: A lab-based study using aliquots of 16 red blood cell bags was undertaken. Haemolysis markers (total haemoglobin [g/dL], haematocrit [%], free haemoglobin [g/dL], potassium [mmol/L], lactate dehydrogenase [U/L], osmolality [mOsm/kg], pH, degree of haemolysis [%]) were measured before and after red blood cell infusion and exposure. Three different syringe infusion pumps brands (A, B, and C) were compared at two different infusion rates (10 and 100 mL/h). RESULTS: Total haemoglobin fell significantly in all red blood cell units during manipulation (pre-infusion: 26.44 ± 5.74; post-exposure: 22.62 ± 4.00; P = .026). The degree of haemolysis significantly increased by 40% after manipulation of the red blood cells. Syringe infusion pump A caused a 3-fold increase in potassium levels (3.78 ± 6.10) when compared with B (-0.14 ± 1.46) and C (1.63 ± 1.98) (P = .015). This pump also produced the worst changes, with an increase in free haemoglobin (0.05 ± 0.05; P = .038) and more haemolysis (0.08 ± 0.07; P = .033). There were significant differences and an increase in the degree of haemolysis (P = .004) at the infusion rate of 100 mL/h. CONCLUSIONS: Syringe infusion pumps may cause significant red blood cell damage during infusion, with increases in free haemoglobin, potassium, and the degree of haemolysis. Some pump types, with a cassette mechanism, caused more damage. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: In many intensive care units, bedside nurses are able to consider infusion pump choice, and understanding the impact of different pump types on red blood cells during a transfusion provides the nurses with more information to enhance decision-making and improve the quality of the transfusion.

Bladder cancer risk associated with family history of cancer.

Twin studies suggest a familial aggregation of bladder cancer, but elements of this increased familial risk of bladder cancer are not well understood. To characterize familial risk of bladder cancer, we examined the relationship between family history of bladder and other types of cancer among first-degree relatives and risk of bladder cancer in 1193 bladder cancer cases and 1418 controls in a large population-based case-control study. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between family history of bladder cancer (defined as at least one first-degree family member with bladder cancer or a cancer of any other site). We also evaluated cancer aggregation of specific sites in family members. Participants with a first-degree relative with bladder cancer had nearly double the risk of bladder cancer (OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.9) as those without a family history of bladder cancer. Risk was increased for having a sibling with bladder cancer (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.3-5.3) compared to no siblings with cancer. Bladder cancer risk was elevated when participants reported a first-degree relative with a history of female genital cancer (OR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.1), melanoma (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.02-3.6), and tobacco-associated cancer (OR = 1.3, 95% CI 1.06-1.6). These findings add to evidence of a familial predisposition to bladder cancer. Clarification of the aggregation of bladder cancer in families and with other cancer sites will be of interest as many loci and common polymorphisms related to bladder cancer have yet to be identified in large genomic studies.

Pesticide exposure and risk of aggressive prostate cancer among private pesticide applicators.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among men in developed countries; however, little is known about modifiable risk factors. Some studies have implicated organochlorine and organophosphate insecticides as risk factors (particularly the organodithioate class) and risk of clinically significant PCa subtypes. However, few studies have evaluated other pesticides. We used data from the Agricultural Health Study, a large prospective cohort of pesticide applicators in North Carolina and Iowa, to extend our previous work and evaluate 39 additional pesticides and aggressive PCa. METHODS: We used Cox proportional hazards models, with age as the time scale, to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between ever use of individual pesticides and 883 cases of aggressive PCa (distant stage, poorly differentiated grade, Gleason score ≥ 7, or fatal prostate cancer) diagnosed between 1993 and 2015. All models adjusted for birth year, state, family history of PCa, race, and smoking status. We conducted exposure-response analyses for pesticides with reported lifetime years of use. RESULTS: There was an increased aggressive PCa risk among ever users of the organodithioate insecticide dimethoate (n = 54 exposed cases, HR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.80) compared to never users. We observed an inverse association between aggressive PCa and the herbicide triclopyr (n = 35 exposed cases, HR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.48, 0.95), with the strongest inverse association for those reporting durations of use above the median (≥ 4 years; n = 13 exposed cases, HR=0.44, 95% CI=0.26, 0.77). CONCLUSION: Few additional pesticides were associated with prostate cancer risk after evaluation of extended data from this large cohort of private pesticide applicators.

Usual adult occupation and risk of prostate cancer in West African men: the Ghana Prostate Study.

OBJECTIVES: Established prostate cancer (PCa) risk factors include age, family history of PCa and African ancestry. Studies, mostly among highly screened, predominantly European ancestral populations, suggest that employment in certain occupations (eg, farming, military) may also have an increased risk for PCa. Here, we evaluated the association between usual adult occupation and PCa risk in Ghanaian men, a population with historically low rates of PCa screening. METHODS: The Ghana Prostate Study is a case-control study of PCa that was conducted from 2004 to 2012 in 749 cases and 964 controls. In-person interviews were conducted to collect information from participants, including longest held job. Industrial hygienists classified job titles into occupational categories. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate ORs and 95% CIs for the association between longest held job and PCa risk (overall, aggressive (Gleason≥7)), controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS: Risk was increased among men in management (overall PCa OR=2.2, 95% CI 1.4 to 3.2; aggressive PCa OR=2.2, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.5) and military occupations (overall PCa OR=3.4, 95% CI 1.7 to 7.0; aggressive PCa OR=3.5, 95% CI 1.5 to 8.3). Risks were also elevated for management and military-specific jobs based on 3-digit level Standard Occupational Classification definitions. Sensitivity analyses accounting for access to medical care did not show significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides some evidence for increased risk of PCa among men in management and military occupations, which is consistent with the published literature. Additional research is needed to clarify the drivers of the associations between these occupations and PCa.

Serum polybrominated diphenyl ether concentrations and thyroid function in young children.

Thyroid hormones are essential for proper neurodevelopment in early life. There is evidence that exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) affects thyroid function, but previous studies have been inconsistent, and no studies among children have been conducted in the United States where PBDE levels are particularly high. Serum levels of seven PBDE congeners and thyroid hormones and other thyroid parameters were measured in 80 children aged 1-5 years from the southeastern United States between 2011 and 2012. Parents of the children completed questionnaires with details on demographics and behaviors. Multivariate linear regression models were used to estimate the associations between serum PBDE levels, expressed as quartiles and as log-transformed continuous variables, and markers of thyroid function. BDE-47, 99, 100 and 153 were detected in >60% of samples, and were summed (∑PBDE). PBDE congeners and ∑PBDE were positively associated with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). A log-unit increase in ∑PBDE was associated with a 22.1% increase in TSH (95% CI: 2.0%, 47.7%). Compared with children in the lowest quartile of ∑PBDE exposure, children in higher quartiles had greater TSH concentrations as modeled on the log-scale (second quartile: ß=0.32, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.09, 0.74; third quartile: ß=0.44, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.85; and fourth quartile: ß=0.49, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.89). There was also a tendency toward lower total T4 and higher free T3 with increasing PBDE exposure. Results suggest that exposure to PBDEs during childhood subclinically disrupts thyroid hormone function, with impacts in the direction of hypothyroidism.

Targeted Deep Sequencing of Bladder Tumors Reveals Novel Associations between Cancer Gene Mutations and Mutational Signatures with Major Risk Factors.

PURPOSE: Exome- and whole-genome sequencing of muscle-invasive bladder cancer has revealed important insights into the molecular landscape; however, there are few studies of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer with detailed risk factor information. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We examined the relationship between smoking and other bladder cancer risk factors and somatic mutations and mutational signatures in bladder tumors. Targeted sequencing of frequently mutated genes in bladder cancer was conducted in 322 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded bladder tumors from a population-based case-control study. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), evaluating mutations and risk factors. We used SignatureEstimation to extract four known single base substitution mutational signatures and Poisson regression to calculate risk ratios (RR) and 95% CIs, evaluating signatures and risk factors. RESULTS: Non-silent KDM6A mutations were more common in females than males (OR = 1.83; 95% CI, 1.05-3.19). There was striking heterogeneity in the relationship between smoking status and established single base substitution signatures: current smoking status was associated with greater ERCC2-Signature mutations compared with former (P = 0.024) and never smoking (RR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.09-1.80; P = 0.008), former smoking was associated with greater APOBEC-Signature13 mutations (P = 0.05), and never smoking was associated with greater APOBEC-Signature2 mutations (RR = 1.54; 95% CI, 1.17-2.01; P = 0.002). There was evidence that smoking duration (the component most strongly associated with bladder cancer risk) was associated with ERCC2-Signature mutations and APOBEC-Signature13 mutations among current (P trend = 0.005) and former smokers (P = 0.0004), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data quantify the contribution of bladder cancer risk factors to mutational burden and suggest different signature enrichments among never, former, and current smokers.

Effects of Blood Transfusion Sets on Red Blood Cell Hemolysis.

This experimental randomized study compared the effects of macrodrop and microdrop blood transfusion sets on red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis. Twenty units of packed RBCs from different donors were infused through 48 infusion sets from 2 manufacturers at infusion rates of 10 and 100 mL/h. Pre- and postinfusion analysis was performed to determine total hemoglobin (g/dL), hematocrit (%), free hemoglobin (g/dL), potassium (mmol/L), haptoglobin (g/L), and degree of hemolysis (%). The results demonstrated that the level of free hemoglobin (P < .001) and degree of hemolysis (P < .001) increased postinfusion. A higher degree of hemolysis was noted when the RBCs were infused at a rate of 10 mL/h through a microdrop blood transfusion set.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk and organophosphate and carbamate insecticide use in the north American pooled project.

Organophosphates and carbamates have been among the most commonly used insecticides, with both agricultural and residential uses. Previous studies have suggested associations of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) with some of these chemicals; however, many studies have been limited in their ability to evaluate associations with lymphoma subtypes. We evaluated the use of eleven organophosphate and two carbamate insecticides in association with NHL in the North American Pooled Project, which includes data from case-control studies in the United States and Canada (1690 cases/5131 controls). We used unconditional logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders, including use of other pesticides, to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between these chemicals and NHL overall, and NHL subtypes, i.e., follicular (FL), diffuse large B-cell (DLBCL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) and others. Ever use of malathion was associated with increased risk of NHL overall (OR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.14-1.81) compared with never users. Categories using tertiles of duration (<4 yrs., 4-12 yrs., and >12 yrs) also showed a significant exposure-response for increasing years of use of malathion and risk of NHL (OR<4vsUnex = 1.33 (0.88, 2.03), OR4-12vsUnex = 1.42 (1.02, 1.96), OR>12vsUnex = 1.55 (1.05, 2.28, p-trend < 0.01)). In addition, malathion use was statistically significantly associated with FL (OR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.11-2.27) and DLBCL (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.16-2.22) while there were no apparent associations with SLL or other subtypes, the p-value for heterogeneity across subtypes, however, was not significant. These results support previous studies suggesting an association between insecticide use and NHL overall, and provide new information on associations with NHL subtypes.

Early life exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and mid-childhood lipid and alanine aminotransferase levels.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) may disrupt lipid homeostasis and liver function, but data in children are limited. OBJECTIVE: We examined the association of prenatal and mid-childhood PFAS exposure with lipids and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in children. METHODS: We studied 682 mother-child pairs from a Boston-area pre-birth cohort. We quantified PFASs in maternal plasma collected in pregnancy (median 9.7weeks gestation, 1999-2002) and in child plasma collected in mid-childhood (median age 7.7years, 2007-2010). In mid-childhood we also measured fasting total (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and ALT. We then derived low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from TC, HDL-C, and TG using the Friedewald formula. RESULTS: Median (interquartile range, IQR) perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorodecanoate (PFDeA) concentrations in child plasma were 6.2 (5.5), 4.3 (3.0), and 0.3 (0.3) ng/mL, respectively. Among girls, higher child PFOS, PFOA, and PFDeA concentrations were associated with detrimental changes in the lipid profile, including higher TC and/or LDL-C [e.g., ß per IQR increment in PFOS=4.0mg/dL (95% CI: 0.3, 7.8) for TC and 2.6mg/dL (-0.5, 5.8) for LDL-C]. However, among both boys and girls, higher plasma concentrations of these child PFASs were also associated with higher HDL-C, which predicts better cardiovascular health, and slightly lower ALT, which may indicate better liver function. Prenatal PFAS concentrations were also modestly associated with improved childhood lipid and ALT levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that prenatal and mid-childhood PFAS exposure may be associated with modest, but somewhat conflicting changes in the lipid profile and ALT levels in children.

Prenatal Mancozeb Exposure, Excess Manganese, and Neurodevelopment at 1 Year of Age in the Infants' Environmental Health (ISA) Study.

BACKGROUND: Although growing evidence suggests that early-life excess manganese (Mn) impairs neurodevelopment, data on the neurodevelopmental effects of mancozeb, a fungicide containing Mn, and its main metabolite ethylenethiourea (ETU) are limited. OBJECTIVE: We examined whether prenatal mancozeb exposure and excess Mn were associated with neurodevelopment in 355 1-y-old infants living near banana plantations with frequent aerial mancozeb spraying in Costa Rica. METHODS: We measured urinary ETU, hair Mn, and blood Mn concentrations in samples collected 1-3 times during pregnancy from mothers enrolled in the Infants' Environmental Health (ISA) study. We then assessed neurodevelopment in their 1-y-old infants using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition (BSID-III). We estimated exposure-outcome associations using linear regression models adjusted for maternal education, parity, gestational age at birth, child age, Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment score, and location of neurodevelopmental assessment. RESULTS: Median (P25-P75) urinary ETU, hair Mn, and blood Mn measured during pregnancy were 3.3 µg/L (2.4-4.9; specific gravity-corrected), 1.7 µg/g (0.9-4.1), and 24.0 µg/L (20.3-28.0), respectively. Among girls, higher ETU was associated with lower social-emotional scores [ß per 10-fold increase=-7.4 points (95% CI: -15.2, 0.4)], whereas higher hair Mn was associated with lower cognitive scores [-3.0 (-6.1, 0.1)]. Among boys, higher hair Mn was associated with lower social-emotional scores [-4.6 (-8.5, -0.8)]. We observed null associations for blood Mn, language, and motor outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that maternal exposure to mancozeb and excess Mn during pregnancy may have adverse and sex-specific effects on infant neurodevelopment. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1955.

Hemólise de eritrócitos em dispositivos de infusão intravenosa: revisão integrativa da literatura / Hemolysis of erythrocytes in intravenous infusion devices: An integrative review of the literature / Hemolisis de eritrocitos en dispositivos de infusión: revisión integrativa de la literatura

Hemólise extracorpórea pode ser identificada durante processos hemoterápicos. O enfermeiro é um dos profissionais responsáveis pela administração de hemocomponentes e controle de possíveis riscos, portanto deve apropriar-se de conhecimentos que respaldem a prática clínica. O objetivo foi identificar na literatura aspectos relacionados à hemólise em concentrados de hemácias decorrentes de administração de sangue por dispositivos de infusão intravenosa. Realizou-se Revisão Integrativa da Literatura. Incluídos artigos na língua inglesa, espanhola e portuguesa, sem delimitação da data, indexados em quatro bases de dados. Foram selecionadas 12 (100,0%) produções científicas, sendo que em sete (58,3%) foram analisadas bombas de infusão, em duas (16,7%) a manipulação de eritrócitos, em duas (16,7%) a hemólise com combinações de dispositivos e em uma (8,3%) cateter intravenoso. Os resultados de quatro (33,3%) destes estudos evidenciaram ocorrência de hemólise. Os estudos apontaram que pode ocorrer hemólise durante a passagem do componente por bombas de infusão e cateteres (AU).

Extracorporeal hemolysis may be identified during hemotherapy. The nurse is one of the professionals responsible for the administration of blood components and the control of possible risks, and must therefore acquire the knowledge which supports clinical practice. The objective was to identify, in the literature, aspects related to hemolysis in concentrates of red blood cells resulting from the administration of blood through intravenous infusion devices. An Integrative Review of the Literature was undertaken, including articles in the English, Spanish and Portuguese languages, without limitation of data, indexed in four databases. A total of 12 (100.0%) scientific productions were selected, of which seven (58.3%) analyzed infusion pumps, two (16.7%) the handling of erythrocytes, two (16.7%) hemolysis with combinations of devices, and one (8.3%), the intravenous catheter. The results of four (33.3%) of these studies evidenced the occurrence of hemolysis. The studies indicated that hemolysis can occur during the passage of the component through infusion pumps and catheters (AU).

Hemolisis extracorpórea puede ser identificada durante procesos hemoterápicos. El enfermero es uno de los profesionales responsables por la administración de hemocomponentes y control de posibles riesgos, por lo tanto debe apropriarse de conocimientos para garantizar la práctica clínica. El objetivo fue identificar en la literatura aspectos de la hemolisis en concentrados de hematíes decurrentes de administración de sangre por dispositivos de infusión intravenosa. Fue realizada revisión integrativa de la literatura. Se utilizaron artículos en lengua inglesa, española y portuguesa, sin delimitación de fecha, indexados en cuatro bases de datos. Fueron seleccionadas 12 (100,0%) producciones científicas, siendo que en siete (58,3%) fueron analizadas bombas de infusión, en dos (16,7%) la manipulación de eritrocitos, en dos (16,7%) la hemolisis con combinaciones de dispositivos y en una (8,3%) catéter intravenoso. Los resultados de cuatro (33,3%) de estos estudios evidenciaron ocurrencia de hemolisis. Los estudios apuntaron que puede ocurrir hemolisis durante la pasaje del componente por bombas de infusión y catéteres (AU).