International Blood Research & Reviews

Anaemia is a blood disorder which is a direct result of decreased hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and or red blood cell numbers (RBC) which culminates to loss of physiological potentials. It is a major public health problem in developing countries orchestrated by an imbalance between erythrocyte loss relative to production which occurs as a result of ineffective or deficient erythropoisis, nutritional deficiency, inflammation or genetic hemoglobin (Hb) disorder and or excessive loss of erythrocytes due to hemolysis, blood loss or both. An estimated 30-80% preschool age children at the age 1 year suffer from anaemia. Anaemia imposes deleterious consequences such as stunted physical and cognitive development, impaired language coordination and motor skill equivalent to a 5-10 points deficit in intelligent quotient (IQ). Anaemia in pregnancy translates to decreased productivity through energy loss and consequent lack of working capacity and consequent declination in household food security and income. Long before now, many plants had been used successfully to address anaemia locally, one of which is Jatropha tanjorensis dubbed “Hospital too far” a name it acquired as a result of its unverified perceived exceptional anti-anaemic property. Therefore, this review aims at evaluating the veracity of the impression on Jatropha tanjorensis as an exceptional anti-anaemic plant using data derived from studies on anti-anaemic plants.

Background: The effects of 800 mg% aqueous extract of T. catappa on membrane stability of human erythrocytes of HbSS genotype were investigated using in vitro studies.

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the membrane stabilizing potential of aqueous extract of T. catappa on sickle cell erythrocytes.

Study Design: Laboratory Experimental Design was used in this study.

Place and Duration: Department of Biochemistry, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. The study was carried out between November, 2010 and May, 2011.

Materials and Methods: Spectrophotometric method was employed in determining the osmotic fragility index of HbSS erythrocytes. The mean corpuscular fragility (MCF) of the control was 0.422 ± 0.80 g/100 ml, whereas that of the test sample was 0.36 ± 0.014 g/100 ml. The percentage stabilization for the HbSS erythrocytes, which was calculated using the MCF values, was 14.28%. The MCF values of the control and the test showed significant difference (p < 0.05).

Results: The result showed that aqueous extract of T. catappa exhibited an increasing capacity to stabilize HbSS erythrocytes membrane.

Conclusion: The present study showed that aqueous extract of T. catappa L. exhibited membrane stability potential on sickle cell erythrocytes.

T cell’s journey begins from the bone marrow and ends in the peripheral tissues by either fighting the infections or residing in the secondary lymphoid organs as memory T cell. Thymus plays most important role in transforming a docile T cell precursor into a warrior. T cell is one of the most important cells in health and disease. Various diseases originate from qualitative or quantitative defects in T cells leading to various inherited and acquired diseases. This simple and short review is focused on the basic understanding and clinical hematologist’s perspective of T cells.

Documenting an object seen in a light microscope is a challenge, especially in limited setting area, for an example when doing field trip for environmental sampling. Taking photographs directly using smartphone, or so called microscopic photography, is not easy. Here we proposed a simple, fast and reliable method of taking photograph with small sized cello tape assisted smartphone on light microscope. We named this procedure “the Urip Susiantoro approach”, methods can be practiced in limited resources setting.

Lymphatic filariasis is a vector borne infection classified under the WHO category of Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD). It is a major public health concern globally. This study describes this vector-borne infection in a young pregnant lady, a known case of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) on chemotherapy. Such an association is hitherto unreported.