Red Cell Alloimmunization in Repeatedly Transfused Sudanese Patients with leukemia in Northern Sudan.

BACKGROUND: Leukemia frequently causes anemia; thus patients need products containing normal blood or RBCs for treatment. Anti-red blood cell alloantibody formation is still a critical challenge in transfusion. OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to investigate RBC alloantibodies in Sudanese leukemia patients who receive multiple blood transfusions at the cancer center in Dongola and Maroyee, Northern Sudan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At the Northern State oncology center in Dongola and Maroyee, Sudan, an across-sectional descriptive study design was used. In this study, 100 leukemic patients who had received blood transfusions three times or more were enrolled. From each participant, Peripheral blood was drawn in amounts of 3 ml in EDTA vacutainer tubes for ABO blood group and Rh factor testing and 3 ml in non-additive containers for antibody screening and Alloantibody identification. All individuals' ABO blood groups and Rh factors were determined using the slide method. Indirect Coombs test apply to detect alloantibodies by Polly Specific antihuman globulin reagents using tube method techniques. Alloantibody identification was performed by DiaMed-ID microtyping system. RESULTS: Incidence of alloimmunization was 11%, with 11 alloantibodies found in 11 patients. The most common alloantibody was kell (36.4%), followed by Lea (27.2%; 3/11), then P (18.2%; 2/11) and M (18.2%; 2/11). CONCLUSION: Anti kell antibody was the most prevalent alloantibody among leukemic patients with multiple transfusions.

Biochemical Reactions and Their Biological Contributions in Honey.

Honey is known for its content of biomolecules, such as enzymes. The enzymes of honey originate from bees, plant nectars, secretions or excretions of plant-sucking insects, or from microorganisms such as yeasts. Honey can be characterized by enzyme-catalyzed and non-enzymatic reactions. Notable examples of enzyme-catalyzed reactions are the production of hydrogen peroxide through glucose oxidase activity and the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen by catalase enzymes. Production of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from glucose or fructose is an example of non-enzymatic reactions in honey.

Risk Factors of Inpatients Mortality of Visceral Leishmaniasis, Khartoum State, Sudan.

BACKGROUND: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the common infections in Sudan and can be associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the risk factors associated with mortality and morbidity with VL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional hospital-based study that recruited 150 patients with VL from two centers in Khartoum. Secondary data were extracted from the patient records, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 24.0. RESULTS: The study included 2.5% of infants, 39.4% children, and 58% of adults. Male represents 77.3% of the cohort, and total mortality was 16%. Among the death reported 12.5% in infants, 16.7% were children, and 70.8% were in adults. Laboratory parameters significantly associated with mortality in univariate analysis were low white cell count, low platelets, high creatinine, and high liver enzymes. While risk factors such as infant, male, acquired infection from Eastern Sudan or White Nile, weight loss, morbid diseases, and concomitant bacterial infections were also associated with significant mortality in univariate analysis. Importantly, logistic regression analysis revealed significant association with infant (P = 0.02), concomitant bacterial infections (P = 0.003), comorbid disease (P = 0.001), low total blood cell count (P = 0.018), low platelets (P = 0.013), and high aspartate transaminase/alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Health education and awareness are needed in terms of prevention and control, especially with high mortality seen in the infant. Treatment of underlying co-morbid diseases and bacterial infections are important to enhance survival. Patients with Leishmania are vulnerable; therefore, regular routine blood tests are an essential part of management to manage complications such as renal, hepatic failure, or severe anemia.