Scientific Journal of

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  Abstract

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 Background and Objectives

 The distribution of main blood groups vary according to racial, ethnic and geographical differences. Due to their importance in qualitative and quantitative management of safe blood supplies in different geographical regions, due to the relation between a specific blood group with the prevalence of a typical disease, and further due to their significance in kidney transplantation procedure, we decided to analyze the frequency of ABO and Rh(D) blood types among 1,300,000 Iranian blood donors in different provinces of Iran in the year 2001 and compared the results with a similar study that was conducted in 1982.

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 Materials and Methods

 Clotted blood samples were obtained from donors. Then, the samples were tested for A, B, O and Rh (D) blood groups using anti-A, anti-B and anti-D reagents. The ABO blood group was determined by comparing the results of forward typing with that of reverse typing. The final results were collected from 28 different provinces throughout Iran and were then analyzed by Excel program.

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 Results

 Our findings are shown in a discending order of frequency: O blood group was detected in 37.62% of population A blood group in 30.25% B blood group in 24.36% and AB blood group in 7.77%. The frequency of O and B blood groups has increased 1.3% in comparison to the results obtained in 1982 whereas the frequency of A blood group has decreased by 2%. In some provinces such as Azarbayejan-Gharby, Isfahan, Ilam, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiyary, Khuzistan, Fars, Kordestan, Kohkiloyeh-BoyerAhmad, Mazandaran, Hormozgan and Yazd, the blood group frequencies have shown more alteration.

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 Conclusions

 This change in frequency is due to several factors including the modification of provincial borders, migration to other cities during the Iran-Iraq war, as well as the tendency to move to larger, industrialized cities.

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 Key words: RBC blood group, ABO system, Rh system, Frequency, Iran

 

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Abstract Background and Objectives Serologic methodes used in HPA–typing are limited due to restricted access to specific anti-sera and decreased platelet count in thrombocytopenic patients. Therefore, several DNA-based HPA-genotyping techniques were used to determine the genotype of HPAs. Since nothing is known about the HPA gene frequency in Iran, this study was performed to determine its frequency in some Iranian blood donors. Materials and Methods DNA was extracted from a 3-ml whole blood sample prepared from donations of 100 Iranian blood donors collected in EDTA-coated blood tubes. Human platelet (PLT) alloantigens (HPA)-1/2/3/4/5 and HPA-15 typing were performed by the Polymerase Chain Reaction – Sequence Specific Primer technique ( PCR-SSP), and HPA-1a phenotyping was performed by ELISA method for 40 % of samples. Results The frequencies of HPA genes were: HPA-1a 98% , HPA-1b 2% , HPA-2a 54% , HPA-2b 46% , HPA-3a 48% , HPA-3b 52% , HPA-4a 100% , HPA-5a 99% , HPA-5b 1% , HPA-15a 47% , and HPA-15b 53%. HPA-4b was not found . The frequencies of HPA phenotypes were determined to be: HPA1a/1a 96% , HPA1a/1b 4% , HPA2a/2a 8% , HPA2a/2b 92% , HPA3a/3a 19% , HPA3a/3b 59% , HPA3b/3b 22%, HPA4a/4a 100% , HPA5a/5a 98% , HPA5b/5b 2% , HPA15a/15a 14% , HPA15a/15b 67% , and HPA15b/15b 19%. 40 HPA-1a phenotyping by ELISA showed 26 positive (OD > 0.5 ), 4 negative (OD < 0.3 ), and 10 indeterminate samples (0.3 < OD < 0.5) . Conclusions No HPA-1b/b homozygous genotype similar to other Asian studies was found. Since HPA-1,-2,-5 frequencies in the population under study differ from the European Caucasian race, it seems that antibody production in our population might be different from other Caucasians. According to HPA frequencies, it seems that HPA-2b, HPA-5b and HPA-15b may induce posttransfusion purpura and platelet refractoriness which need further investigation. Key words: Platelet antigens, Gene frequency, PCR, Iran

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  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Distribution of ABO blood groups and Rh in different parts of the world and across races is different. To ensure adequate and safe blood, it is imperative to have information about the frequency of blood groups in each region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of blood groups in the population of donors in Golestan province performed during 2006-2010.

  

 Materials and Methods

 In this descriptive study, the study population included blood donors who referred to the Golestan Blood Transfusion Center during 2006-2010. In this study, the blood groups of each donor were determined by two methods, cell type and back type for ABO blood groups and cell method for determining Rh groups by using anti-serum A, B and D and cell suspension A and B. Data were analyzed by using Minitab statistical software.

 

 Results

 The results showed that the frequencies of donors with blood groups O, A, B and AB in the population were 36.72%, 30.02%, 25.28%, and 8.02%, respectively. Frequency rates of Rh positive was 89.86% and Rh negative 10.14%.

  

 Conclusions

 The most frequent blood groups in order were A, B, AB and O during 2006-2010 and there were no significant changes in distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups.

  

 

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  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Based on the previous researches performed in Iran and worldwide, there is a significant number of subjects carrying alpha-thalassemia gene defect. Therefore, we aimed to assess its frequency amongst a random population selected from premarriage couples who entered the national prevention program of β -thalassemia major at Tehran.

 

 Materials and Methods

 Blood samples were collected from 625 randomly selected individuals following obtaining written informed consent through eight cooperating primary health care centers (PHC) in Tehran. Primarily, CBC testing was performed. Subsequently, blood samples underwent DNA extraction and gene-specific amplification using ARMS PCR and Multiplex Gap PCR followed by DNA sequencing of negative samples to identify potentially missed alpha-globin gene mutations.

 

 Results

 According to CBC results, 147 individuals were considered normal 479 remaining blood samples underwent molecular assessment which revealed that 95 samples possessed a minimum of one deletional mutation in the alpha-globin genes, resulting in a frequency of 19.83% in the tested population (CI 95% 11.81-27.85). Furthermore, 50 samples with normal hematological indices (MCH>27, MCV>80) were tested for triplication mutation and revealed to be negative.

 

 Conclusions

 It has previously been established that Multiplex Gap PCR is capable of detecting 65% of alpha globin gene defects in blood samples with abnormally low hematological indices (MCH<27, MCV<80). Hence, using bio-informatic techniques with generalization of our results to the entire population of Tehran showed the true frequency of alpha-globin gene defect to be actually 29.90% (CI 95% 22.40-37.40) at the population level .

 

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  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 The distribution of HLA alleles varies among different ethnic populations. Obtaining HLA data for different ethnic groups will be helpful to determine donor recruitment goals and strategies in unrelated stem cell registries.

  

 Materials and Methods

 Based on the data available from the Iranian Stem Cell Donor Registry, the frequency rates of HLA-A, B, DRB1 alleles evaluated by PCR-SSP method were reported 1513 individuals living in Tehran city with six different ethnicities (Fars, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Gilak, and Mazani) were the participants.

  

 Results

 Out of 1513 participants, Fars and Azeri ethnic groups had the highest number with 63.12% and 20.02%, respectively. Twenty one HLA-A, thirty-one HLA-B, and thirteen HLA-DRB1 alleles were observed. Data analysis among different ethnicities showed no significant differences between Fars and Azeries except for HLA-DRB1*33 frequency (p< 0.005). Significant differences between Fars and Kurds were seen in HLA-A*03/11 and HLA-B*08/51 frequencies. There were significant differences between Fars and Gilaks in HLA-A*03/26, HLA-B*38/52 frequencies (p< 0.05).

  

 Conclusions

 The number of reported alleles in this study was similar to previous ones. There is not much alleles diversity, despite a few differences, across the different ethnic groups.

 

 Key words: HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA DRB1, Allele Frequency, Iran

 

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  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Von Willebrand Disease is an autosomal inherited coagulation disorder that is caused by quantitative or functional defects in vWF. ‎ In 2007, R2185Q ‎ was described as a vWD type 1 mutation in the Canadian population. Recent studies conducted on healthy people showed that ‎ the R2185Q variant can be present in normal individuals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of vWF gene R2185Q variant ‎ .

  

 Materials and Methods

 In this descriptive study, 297 Iranian healthy individuals were evaluated. The subjects were interviewed for bleeding history and other relative symptoms. DNA was extracted by salting out methods from 5 ml of blood samples. Using PCR-RFLP, the samples were genotyped and the results were confirmed by sequencing.

  

 Results

 The study was performed on healthy individuals from both sex and different Iranian ethnic groups. Two individuals without any bleeding history were found to carry this allele in a heterozygote manner. The allele frequency was calculated 0.33% which was below 1% and thereby could not be considered as a polymorphism.

 

 Conclusions

 vWF gene contains various mutation and polymorphisms which are population specific. To understand the Iranian pattern, more studies should be done to reveal this characteristic.

  

 

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  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 HLA system plays a key role in the cancer cells’escape from the immune surveillance. AML is a cancer of the myeloid lines of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow. Several studies worldwide have investigated the association of AML with alleles of HLA. This study was performed to assess the association between alleles of HLA-A, -B,-DRB1 with AML patients in Kerman province of Iran.

 

 Materials and Methods

 In the present case control study, alleles of HLA-A, -B, -DRB1 were molecularly typed using PCR-SSP technique in 33 AML patients and 270 healthy individuals unrelated with patients in province of Kerman, Iran. Finally, the data analysis was performed using c ² and SPSS 19.

  

 Results

 In this study, allelic frequency rates of HLA-A*11 in patient and control groups were 28.8% (19 cases) and 17% (92 cases), respectively it indicates a significantly positive association between the presence of this allele and AML illness (p = 0.02, OR = 1.97 and CI (95%) = 1.10-3.51).

 

 Conclusions

 The presence of HLA-A* 11 in AML patients may be a predisposing factor for this disease to develop.

  

  

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Abstract

Background and Objectives

Alloimmunization is one of the side effects of regular blood transfusion in thalassemic patients. We studied the frequency of Kell antigen in donor blood bags used in Adult Thalassemia Clinic in Tehran.

Materials and Methods

Our aim was to screen Kell antigen on the blood bags which came for use in Adult Thalassemia Clinic. First, we recorded the bag number with which we could access the characteristics of the blood donors such as sex, age, number of donation, and so on. Then, for Kell study, we used anti Kell kit on each cord detached from the blood bags. The results were collected and analysed by SPSS18.

Results

In our one year cross sectional study, we checked Kell antigen for 11557 blood bags 98.7% were for male and 1.3% for female. The minimum age of our donors was 17 years old and maximium 65. Out of the total number of blood donors, 19.6 % were first time, 27.4% had the history of prior donation, and 52.9% were repeated donors. In our kell study for K or  KEL1 antigen, we had 96.2% Kell negative bags and 3.8% were Kell positive.

Conclusions

We had the rate of less than 4% positivity of Kell antigen on our donors showing more than 96% Kell negativity. However, for the reduction of the risk of alloimmunization in chronically transfused patients, it is better to check all bags for Kell antigen and prevent the use of Kell positive bags.

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Abstract

Background and Objectives

The improvement of the quality of health care services, the enhancement of the safety in services, the establishment of patient satisfaction, and hemovigilance are some of the main factors which illustrate the necessity of using new technologies in health care services. RFID is a type of wireless technology which can help to increase the quality of services provided in hospitals. The purpose of this study is to identify waste in the blood use in hospitals, apply tracking tools to improve the use of blood products, and reduce the loss of blood.

Materials and Methods

The research is based on the real and tangible need in the hospital environments and it is an applicable research. To find the impact of RFID system on the improvement of service quality and the reduction of the blood wastage, it was put to a simulation test that was favored over the real test for the reasons of cost effectiveness. In this study, after reviewing the current situation and identifying the causes of blood wastage, “Discrete Event” simulation and Enterprise Dynamic (ED) software were used to simulate the proposed model and improvement scenario (using RFID).

Results

Simulation results show that the average total loss of blood products, after implementation of RFID (over six months), has experienced a decrease rate of about 75%.

Conclusions

RFID system can affect the inventory management, and make real-time tracking and recording of information possible thereby ensuring more accuracy in blood transfusion attempts.

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Abstract
Background and Objectives
Blood safety is one of the most important challenges at blood centers worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the trend of confidential unit-exclusion and the efficacy of the CUE procedure on the improvement of blood safety at Blood Cenetr of Kohgiluyeh and Buyerahmad province.
 
Materials and Methods
In the present descriptive study, the rate of CUE was compared among first-time, repeated and regular donors of Kohgilouyeh and Boyerahmad province from 2006 to 2014. Data were extracted from blood donor database. Then, blood donors were classified into two groups: CUE and non CUE. SPSS 16 & Chi-square statistical test was used for data analysis.
 
Results
In this retrospective study, the use of CUE practice in the studied years was on the upward trend. The minimum number of confidential unit-exclusion was related to first three years (310), and the highest number was related to the last three years (805) (p < 0.0001).
The frequency of hepatitis B and C was significantly higher in the CUE  group than non-CUE group (p < 0.0001).  None of the donors in this group were positive for HIV Ab.
 
Conclusions 
Although the use of CUE has led to the loss of a number of donors, it is effective in promoting blood safety in this province. Then, this practice can be used to improve blood safety in Iran because of its suitable status in the Middle East in the field of blood transfusion and effective cultural efforts made for the promotion of blood donation.