A continuous need for blood products, specifically for those who require frequent transfusions, such as individuals with sickle cell disease, warrants the need for targeted interventions to increase blood donations from underrepresented populations. One population in particular, African Americans, only account for 1% of blood donors in the United States. Literature indicates numerous reasons why this population is underrepresented amongst donors, including fear, lack of knowledge about the blood donation, and specific to this population, lack of trust in the medical community. This study involves the development, implementation, and assessment of a targeted educational approach, incorporating the Theory of Planned Behavior and various teaching methods, to motivate African Americans non-donors to attempt to donate blood. Participants attended a 1-hour educational session where they completed two surveys, one before the session and one directly after. A third survey was completed 2 months after the session. Of the 155 individuals enrolled in the study, 142 subjects were included in the data analysis. Sixteen percent of the study participants presented to donate as a result of attending the educational session. This resulted in a statistically significantly higher proportion of African Americans presenting to donate than the current proportion in Virginia. Analysis of results from the first two surveys indicated that subjective norm and attitude were significant predictors of one’s intent to donate blood, while perceived behavioral control was not a factor. The educational session increased survey scores related to intent to donate in comparison to scores obtained prior to the session. While this study resulted in a significant proportion of new donors, there is still a need for interventions that will focus specifically on changing attitudes toward blood donation and a need for methods to motivate African Americans to educate individuals in the community on the importance of becoming blood donors.

This study investigated the relationship between stress and pain crisis incidence in pediatric Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA). It was hypothesized that SCA children were exposed to higher levels of stress than healthy children. It was also hypothesized that a significant positive correlation existed between level of stress and pain crisis incidence both within and between years. The sample consisted of 20 Black elementary school children with SCA. There were 12 female and 8 male children. The period of investigation included the calendar years 1983 and 1984. Pain crisis incidence was determined through parent interviews and verified by a review of medical records.

This study investigated the incidence of peripheral hearing loss in sickle cell anemia and the possibility of central auditory nervous system involvement. Nine Black subjects with sickle cell disease and nine with normal hemoglobin were administered an auditory test battery. There appeared to be no correlation between number of crisis episodes, duration of symptoms, severity of symptoms, and audiologic manifestations. Acoustic reflex testing suggested the possibility of "aired neural function in the sickle cell group. Whether impaired function was due to peripheral VIIIth nerve or to central brain stem involvement could not be determined. Results of the central auditory test battery suggested the possibility of impaired or reduced central auditory function in subjects with sickle cell anemia.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood cell disorder that affects about 100,000 people in the US and results in high cost of medical care exceeding $1.1 billion annually. Sickle cell patients suffer from unpredictable, painful vaso-occlusive crises. Portable, costeffective approaches for diagnosis and monitoring sickle blood activities are important for a better management of the disease and reducing the medical cost. In this research, a mobile application controlled, impedance-based flow cytometer is developed for the diagnosis of sickle cell disease. Calibration of the portable device is performed using a component of known impedance value. The preliminary test results are then compared to those obtained by a commercial benchtop impedance analyzer for further validation. With the developed portable flow cytometer, experiments are performed on two sickle cell samples and a healthy cell sample. The acquired results are subsequently analyzed with MATLAB scripts to extract single-cell level impedance information as well as statistics of different cell conditions. Significant differences in cell impedance signals are observed between sickle cells and normal cells, as well as between sickle cells under hypoxia and normoxia conditions. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1974.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1974.

Orientador: Fernando Ferreira Costa / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-13T14:17:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Bezerra_MarcosAndreCavalcanti_D.pdf: 919225 bytes, checksum: 5524005c5d425fe7e16e9c36cfd7275b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: O estado inflamatório crônico que ocorre na doença falciforme (DF) é decorrente de diversos fatores que se interligam e se retroalimentam, formando um ciclo inflamatório permanente. Estudos prévios sobre as propriedades adesivas e funcionais das células são restritos à forma homozigota do gene da HbS (SS). No entanto, trabalhos que avaliem essas características celulares, que possam contribuir para o esclarecimento da heterogeneidade clínica em outros grupos de DF e talassemia intermediária (TI), são escassos na literatura. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade adesiva de células vermelhas, neutrófilos e plaquetas, quimiotaxia dos neutrófilos, os níveis plasmáticos das citocinas inflamatórias e o stress oxidativo na DF e ß-TI. Dessa maneira foram selecionados pacientes com DF: SS (n=20), SC (n=20), 3 grupos com S/ß talassemia - S/ß-IVS-I-6 (T->C) (n=17), S/ß-IVS-I-5 (G->C) (n=16), S/ß-Códon39 (C??T) (n=12) - e TI homozigotos para a mutação IVS-I-6 (T->C) (n=20), acompanhados na Fundação HEMOPE. As técnicas utilizadas no desenvolvimento desse estudo foram: ensaio de quimiotaxia (ChemoTx) para avaliação da capacidade migratória dos neutrófilos, adesão estática para determinação da adesão basal das células, citometria de fluxo para avaliar a produção de ROS e a expressão de moléculas de adesão, e ELISA para determinar a atividade da superóxido dismutase (SOD) e a dosagem das citocinas. Para avaliação de nossos resultados, todos os grupos de pacientes foram comparados ao grupo controle AA: a adesão de neutrófilos e plaquetas mostrou-se significativamente aumentada em todos dos grupos de DF; somente os grupos SS e SC apresentaram capacidade quimiotática significativamente aumentada, assim como a adesão de células vermelhas e a expressão das moléculas de adesão CD36 e CD49d. Os níveis plasmáticos das citocinas IL1-ß, IL-6, IL-8 e TNF-a mostraram-se significativamente aumentados no grupo SS, e nos demais grupos de DF apresentaram uma distribuição heterogênea. Observamos um aumento significativo na produção de ROS em células vermelhas, mononucleares e neutrófilos de todos os grupos de DF, exceto para os grupos S/ß nas células vermelhas. Além disso, a atividade plasmática da SOD mostrou-se reduzida nos grupos SS, SC e S/ß-Cd39. A adesão dos neutrófilos, células vermelhas e plaquetas foi significativamente maior nos pacientes com TI, assim como a expressão das moléculas CD36 e CD49d nas células vermelhas e a capacidade quimiotática dos neutrófilos. Nesses pacientes, a produção de ROS e os níveis plasmáticos das citocinas foram significativamente aumentados, enquanto que a atividade enzimática da SOD foi significativamente reduzida. Apesar da doença SC possuir uma clínica mais branda, nossos dados sugerem que neutrófilos, glóbulos vermelhos e plaquetas desses pacientes possuem características adesivas e quimiotáticas semelhantes às encontradas nas células de pacientes com AF. Além disso, nossos resultados sugerem que quanto maiores os níveis de HbA na S/ß talassemia, menor a adesão de neutrófilos, células vermelhas e plaquetas, podendo explicar as diferenças clínicas encontradas nesses pacientes em função do genótipo. É possível que o aumento da aderência, da capacidade quimiotática, da produção de ROS, das citocinas e diminuição do mecanismo antioxidante, observados neste estudo, contribuam nas complicações clínicas encontradas na ß-TI, tais como hipertensão pulmonar e úlceras de perna. Estudos adicionais podem contribuir para o entendimento das diferenças na apresentação clínica desses pacientes. / Abstract: The chronic inflammatory state that occurs in sickle cell disease (SCD) is due to several factors that are interlinked and feeds back to a permanent inflammatory cycle. Previous studies about the adhesive properties and functional cells are restricted to the homozygous form of the HbS gene (SS). However, studies that assess the cellular characteristics that may contribute to the clarification of clinical heterogeneity in other groups of SCD and thalassemia intermedia (TI), are scarce in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adhesive properties of red blood cells (RBC), platelets and neutrophils (NS), NS chemotaxis, inflammatory cytokine plasma levels and oxidative stress in SCD and ß-TI patients. Thus, we selected patients with different SCD genotypes: SS (n=20), SC (n=20), three groups of HbS/ß thalassemia - HbS/ß39 (C->T) (n=12), HbS/IVSI- 5 (G->C) (n=16), and HbS/IVS-I-6 (T->C) (n=17) - and patients with homozygous thalassemia intermedia IVS-I-6 (T->C) - followed regularly at the Fundação HEMOPE - Brazil. The techniques used in the development of this study were: chemotaxis assay (ChemoTx) to evaluate the migratory ability of neutrophils, basal adhesion was compared using static adhesion assays, flow cytometry to assess the production of ROS and expression of adhesion molecules, and ELISA to determine the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and cytokine plasma levels. For evaluation of our results, all groups of patients were compared with the AA control group: the neutrophil and platelet adhesions were significantly increased in all groups of SCD, only the SS and SC groups showed significant increase in the chemotactic ability, as well as the RBC adhesion and the expression of adhesion molecules CD36 and CD49d. All the SCD groups investigated showed an increase in IL-6 plasma levels. IL1-ß levels were significantly higher in the S/ß-IVS-I-5 (G??C), S/ß-Cd39 and SS groups. Plasma levels of IL-8 were increased only in the SS and SC groups, however TNF-a levels were significantly higher in SS and the three groups with HbS-ß thalassemia. NS and mononuclear cell ROS production was significantly increased in all SCD groups, however red blood ROS production was higher only in the SS and SC groups. Moreover, the SOD plasma activity was shown to be reduced in groups SS, SC and S/ß-Cd39. The NS, RBC and platelets adhesion was significantly higher in TI patients, as well as the expression of molecules CD36 and CD49d in RBC and chemotactic ability of NS. In these patients, the ROS production and cytokines plasma levels were significantly increased, while SOD plasma activity was significantly reduced. Although SC disease has a milder clinical manifestations, our data suggest that NS, RBC and platelets of these patients have chemotactic and adhesive characteristics similar to those found in cells of patients with SS. Moreover, our results suggest that the higher levels of HbA in S/ß thalassemia reduce the NS, RBC and platelets adhesion and may explain the clinical differences found in these patients, according to genotype. It is possible that the increase in the cell adherence, chemotactic capacity, ROS production, of cytokines levels and the reduction in antioxidant mechanism, observed in this study, contribute to several clinical complications of ß-TI, such as pulmonary hypertension and leg ulcers. Further studies may contribute to our understanding of the differences in the clinical presentation of these patients. / Doutorado / Medicina Experimental / Doutor em Fisiopatologia Medica

The purpose of this study is to survey self-reported health symptoms and knowledge of Sickle Cell Trait in young adults with an African heritage. The aim is to expand a comprehensive assessment system to measure factors associated with carrying the Sickle Cell Trait. Historically being a Sickle Cell Trait carrier was thought to be asymptomatic. However, current research has suggested this may not be true. While young adults may have greater knowledge of Sickle Cell Disease, little is known about their awareness of Sickle Cell Trait. Furthermore, no research on these topics have been conducted in young adults with African heritage (Latino/Hispanic, Caribbean, Multi-Racial, etc.). Measures of Sickle Cell Trait Carrier Awareness, Sickle Cell Trait Knowledge, and Physical Health Symptoms are presented from 54 young adults with African Heritage. The Hispanic and Multi-Racial participants reported lower awareness of their Sickle Cell Trait Carrier status compared to the African American participants. Hispanic and Multi-Racial participants reported lower Sickle Cell Trait Knowledge compared to the African American participants. All subjects demonstrated lower levels of Sickle Cell Trait Knowledge than would be expected given the potential health consequences.

This study helps to fill a remaining knowledge gap surrounding the mechanisms and pathways that contribute to cardiomyopathies in SCD. A better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms could lead to more accurate therapeutic targets to improve quality of life as well as life expectancy. In this study I recapitulate cardiac dysfunction in vitro by exposing engineered mouse cardiac tissues to ANG II or the sickled microenvironment. Experimental results include gene expression profiles and oxidative stress generation. Gene expression profiles in the ANG II treated tissues indicated a pathological state with upregulation in biomarkers for inflammation, cell adhesion, wall stress and ECM related genes. Further research is being conducted using insights gained from this study which will lead to a broader understanding of the biological processes involved and potentially identify novel therapeutic targets that may ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that affects 100,000 Americans and millions more worldwide. Although the sickle mutation affects one protein, which is only expressed in a single cell type, it has profound detrimental effects on nearly every organ system in the body. Young children with sickle cell disease have an 11\% chance of suffering a major stroke event by the age of 16, and a 35\% chance of developing ÒsilentÓ strokes that often result in significant learning and mental disabilities. Clinical investigations suggest that stroke development in people with sickle cell disease results from luminal narrowing of the carotid and cerebral arteries due to excess matrix deposition and fragmentation of the elastic lamina; however, the underlying cellular mechanisms that initiate arterial remodeling in sickle cell disease remain relatively unknown. Cathepsins K and V are members of the cysteine family of proteases and represent two of the most potent elastases yet identified in humans. Furthermore, the role of Cathepsins has been well established in other cardiovascular remodeling diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Due to the compelling histological similarities between vasculopathy in sickle cell disease and atherosclerosis, we tested the hypothesis that the unique inflammatory milieu, in conjunction with the biomechanical vascular environment of sickle cell disease upregulates cathepsin K and V activity in large artery endothelial cells, ultimately leading to arterial remodeling and stroke. Currently, there are few therapeutic options for the prevention of stroke in sickle cell disease; those that do exist carry significant health risks and side effects. Together, this body of work has generated a more mechanistic understanding of how the sickle milieu stimulates the endothelium to initiate arterial remodeling, which has enabled us to identify important pathways (JNK, NF$\kappa$B) downstream of inflammatory and biomechanical stimuli and validate new therapeutic targets within the JNK pathway to establish preclinical proof of efficacy for the prevention of arterial remodeling in sickle cell disease.