This text is a review of molecular immunohematology (MI). It draws from analyses and case studies around the world and details many techniques used in many labs. It is aimed at anyone interested in how MI is changing blood bank and transfusion medicine.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a family of clonal haematopoietic stem cells disorders characterized by dysplasia, ineffective hematopoiesis and susceptibility to transformation to Acute Myeloblastic Leukaemia (AML) that are shown to be strikingly refractory to current therapeutic modalities. The first chapter of this book provides a detailed review of the risk factors, treatment options and prognosis of MDS. Chapter two studies the inflammatory and autoimmune nature of MDS. Chapter three discusses the pathogenesis of 5q-syndrome. Chapter four examines the genetic mutations identified in MDS and their significance. Chapter five reviews different prognostic factors and stratifications of risk in Argentinean patients with MDS. Chapter six discusses epigenetics and epigenetic therapy. Chapter seven introduces mild oral chemotherapy treatments for elderly patients with a higher-risk myelodyspastic syndrome. Chapter eight discusses lenalidomide treatment in lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes. Chapter nine analyzes the old and new-integrating prognostic models and mutational advances with epigenetic and cellular therapies for MDS. The last chapter studies the entropy evaluation of bone marrow biopsies in MDS.

In Banning Queer Blood, Jeffrey Bennett frames blood donation as a performance of civic identity closely linked to the meaning of citizenship. However, with the advent of AIDS came the notion of blood donation as a potentially dangerous process. Bennett argues that the Food and Drug Administration, by employing images that specifically depict gay men as contagious, has categorized gay men as a menace to the nation. The FDA's ban on blood donation by gay men remains in effect and serves to propagate the social misconceptions about gay men that circulate within both the straight and gay communities today. Bennett explores the role of scientific research cited by these banned-blood policies and its disquieting relationship to government agencies, including the FDA. Bennett draws parallels between the FDA's position on homosexuality and the historical precedents of discrimination by government agencies against racial minorities. The author concludes by describing the resistance posed by queer donors, who either lie in order to donate blood or protest discrimination at donation sites, and by calling for these prejudiced policies to be abolished.

Developed specifically for student nurses and based on the author's over thirty years of teaching experience, Interpreting Arterial Blood Gases the Easy Way teaches students a step-by-step method for interpreting blood gases and helps them learn how to apply the interpretations. The booklet is divided into two parts. Part I teaches students to differentiate between acidic and alkaline states, identify respiratory or metabolic changes in blood gases, and recognize compensated, partially compensated, and uncompensated states. In Part II students apply what they have learned in order to recognize signs and symptoms of abnormal blood gases, identify appropriate interventions, and understand the meaning and significance of specific oxygenation levels. Clear and well-organized, the material features quizzes for self-evaluation, critical thinking questions, and tips that may assist with the National Council Licensure Examination. Knowledge of basic physiology and acid-base balance is recommended before using the booklet, but the information is also reviewed. Interpreting Arterial Blood Gases the Easy Way is an excellent choice for nursing programs. It can also be used in training respiratory therapists and emergency medical technicians.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder caused by an abnormality of hemoglobin. The disease is characterized by a chronic hemolytic anemia. The search for affordable and accessible medicines mainly from plants and having various modes of actions for managing SCD is a priority in Africa where the disease is endemic. The first chapter in this book reviews children with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). The authors also present their research that shows that clinically, children with SCD behave differently regarding their genetics. The second chapter gives an overview of the current progress in research in calcium handling in red blood cells of sickle cell disease patients, followed by an outlook into the potential use of blockers of the cation channels for therapy of SCD patients. The third chapter reviews and validates the pharmacological relevance of "Gardenia ternifolia" and sustains the use of this herbal medicine in the management of SCD in traditional medical systems. The fourth chapter reviews the search and the development of antisickling herbal drugs in Africa, where Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an endemic. The last chapter reviews SCD and its impact on sexual functioning as well as relationship dynamics. Conclusions support the importance of social support and its far-reaching impact into the coping mechanisms of patients with chronic illness as well as quality of life.

Coagulopathy (also called clotting disorder and bleeding disorder) is a condition in which the blood's ability to clot (coagulate) is impaired. Acquired hemophilia is a rare disorder characterized by spontaneous bleeding in a patient with no previous personal or family hemorrhagic history. The first chapter explores the challenges associated with this disease, its unfamiliarity often causing a delay in diagnosis and therapeutic approaches. The second chapter focuses on lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) in children, describing the epidemiology, etiology and clinical management. The third chapter reviews the pathogenesis, risk factors and treatment strategies of coagulopathy in patients with craniocerebral injury. The next article examines Vitamin B12 with its four cobalamin vitamers, which often play a role in coagulation. The next chapter starts with a description of the methodology of viscoelastic hemostatic assay, followed by a review of literature on the utilization of thrombelastography (TEG) or rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). Finally, the role of TEG and ROTEM to monitor or guide prophylaxis/treatment of thromboembolic events and the limitations of using them to detect hypercoagulability and identify patients with increased risks for thromboembolic complications are discussed. The final chapter of this book focuses on the use of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in patients who are not actively bleeding, critically questions these assumptions in the context of pre-procedural administration of FFP, and also examines why carrying out high quality trails in this area has been so problematic.

Behcet's disease is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease of unknown etiology involving multiple organs. Along with blindness, other bodily functions are greatly affected by this disease; conditions of the vascular, intestinal and central nervous systems are usually life threatening and require aggressive therapy. Recently, significant progress has been made in several areas of this disease. The introduction of biological agents (such as anti-TNF) have had a positive impact on the effectiveness of treatments. However, there are still a number of unmet needs in various fields of this disease. Despite this, there remains a number of unaddressed issues concerning the treatments of this disease. Several genes have been shown to be associated with this disease, in addition to HLA-B51. Abnormalities in several subsets of T helper cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Behcet's disease. Recent advances in the field of innate immunity have shed light on the new aspects of Behcet's disease; that is, this disease has both autoimmunity and autoinflammatory aspects. On the other hand, there are still controversies as to the diagnosis and treatment of recalcitrant manifestations of the disease. This publication highlights the most recent understanding of Behcet's disease and raises several unanswered questions in both basic to clinical treatment of this ailment. The contents of this book are primarily based on the most up-to-date results of research programs sponsored by the Japanese government as well as findings from Korean researchers. In particular, novel classification for neurological involvement (which has been discovered in Japan) led to the establishment of diagnostic criteria and treatment recommendation. Thus, this publication brings forth useful information for a variety of specialists who are involved in the management of this intractable disease.

Fanconi Anemia (FA), a rare genetic disease featuring excess cancer risk and chromosomal instability, has received growing interest after the discovery that one of the defective genes in FA is associated with high-impact diseases such as familial breast cancer and ovary cancers. A well-documented relationship has accumulated in several decades and up to recently, studies have linked FA with a redox imbalance (oxidative stress, OS) in FA cells. The toxicity mechanisms of crosslinking agents (mitomycin C and diepoxybutane) in FA cells, along with the roles of OS-related aldehydes and glutathione in FA and in other diseases, are critically discussed. Also discussed is the proinflammatory state in FA phenotype. Additionally, recent studies have discovered an impairment in the structure and function of mitochondria in FA cell lines, while mitochondrial dysfunction in FA patients has so far been an unexplored field warranting ad hoc investigations. This book provides the readers with up-to-date information and perspectives on Fanconi anemia and oxidative stress that may prompt further elucidation of this intriguing disease, along with working hypotheses in clinical research and patients' management.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a subtype of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) with varying clinical presentations, ranging from indolent disease to highly aggressive symptoms. MCL represents approximately 3-10% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and has increased in incidence over the past several decades. The majority of patients respond to initial therapy, but remission duration is typically short. This book discusses the clinical characteristics of mantle cell lymphoma, as well as its prevalence and examines several treatment options available.

This book discusses different aspects of neutropenia including drug-induced neutropenia, which is quite common, and neutropenia in chemotherapy-treated patients. The authors offer an all-encompassing approach to the pathobiology and treatment of neutropenic disorders. This book reviews current information concerning neutropenia. There have been significant advances in medicine; however, bacterial infections continue to contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in patients with neutropenia particularly cancer patients who develop chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. In this setting, it is important to understand pathophysiology of neutropenia and have a logical approach in diagnosis and treatment of neutropenia. Gathering all this information in one book will be of immense benefit for healthcare workers including physicians, pharmacists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses and this in turn will help them improve the care of their patients. It will also be of benefit for pharmacists as a source of clinical and pharmacological knowledge. For researchers undertaking research in the field of hemato-oncology or pharmacology, this will be a useful starting point for reviewing the literature. The editors have tried to allow information in book chapters to show different aspects and various view points on related issues.

Decreased platelet counts can be due to a number of disease processes causing decreased platelet production, increased platelet destruction, or can be medication-induced. Health care providers have to differentiate inherited thrombocytopenias, primary immune thrombocytopenias (ITP), secondary immune thrombocytopenias, myelodysplastic syndromes with thrombocytopenia, bone marrow failure syndromes and non-immune thrombocytopenias. ITP is the most common cause of isolated thrombocytopenia. This book focuses on discussing ITP in adults; new treatment for ITP; thrombocytopenia during pregnancy; the different diagnosis of thrombocytopenia; heparin-induced thrombocytopenia; and thrombocytopenia in dengue.

Anaemia is defined as the decrease in haemoglobin from normal values either by loss of red blood cells or deficit in production or both. Haemoglobin is the major transporter of oxygen. The variation in haemoglobin is therefore a factor in determining the cardiac output. This book begins by discussing the effects anaemia has on heart diseases. The book then continues to discuss the influence of iron deficiency anaemia and recovery on oxidative/antioxidant status; influence of iron deficiency anaemia on bone metabolism; sickle cell anaemia; anaemia in myelodysplastic syndromes; transfusion in chronic anaemia; the prevalence, risk factors and management with a focus on chronic kidney disease; strategy for treating anaemia in chronic kidney disease patients from the standpoint of iron utility; and parasitic anaemia.