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- Nilsson Sojka, Birgitta, et al.
(author)
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The blood donation experience : self-reported motives and obstacles for donating blood
- 2008
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In: Vox Sanguinis. - Oxon : Blackwell Publishing. - 0042-9007 .- 1423-0410. ; 94:1, s. 56-63
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate motives for donating blood as well as difficulties and obstacles associated with blood donation as perceived by the donors themselves.Materials and Methods Six hundred consecutive blood donors (i.e. all blood donors with a history of at least one previous whole blood donation attending, during nine working days, the Blood Centre of Umea University Hospital) received a self-administered questionnaire that contained questions aimed at elucidating motives for donating blood (general motives for donating blood, specific motives for the first donation and motives for continuing to be an active blood donor). Questions concerning difficulties and obstacles that had to be overcome in order to continue being a blood donor were also included in the questionnaire.Results Altogether 531 whole blood donors filled in the questionnaire (88.5%; 322 men and 209 women). No statistically significant differences were found between male and female blood donors concerning general reasons and motives related to donating blood. The most frequently reported reasons for giving blood the first time were 'influence from a friend' (47.2% of donors) and 'request via media' (23.5% of donors). Among general reasons/motives with highest ranking of importance, the most commonly reported motive for donating blood were 'general altruism' (40.3%), 'social responsibility/obligation' (19.7%) and 'influence from friends' (17.9%). General altruism' and 'social responsibility/obligation' were also the most frequent reasons for continuing to donate blood (68.4 and 16.0%, respectively). The most commonly reported obstacle to becoming a regular blood donor was 'laziness' (19.1%) followed by 'fear of needles' (10.5%).Conclusions Altruism was the most common general motive for donating blood and also for continuing to be an active blood donor. Yet, for the first blood donation, direct 'influence from friends/relatives', 'media appeal' and other types of recruitment were more commonly reported as reasons or motives for donating blood than altruism. The findings support the notion that different strategies should be used/adopted to get people to donate blood the first time (e.g. recruitment through other blood donors using, for example, the 'bring a friend along' method) and to retain these subjects as active blood donors (e.g. by information and by strengthening their sense of being a blood donor or their self-efficacy etc.).
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- Nilsson Sojka, Birgitta, 1953-, et al.
(author)
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The blood-donation experience : perceived physical, psychological and social impact of blood donation on the donor.
- 2003
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In: Vox Sanguinis. - 0042-9007 .- 1423-0410. ; 84:2, s. 120-8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the impact and effects of blood donation on blood donors as perceived and reported by donors themselves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 600 consecutive whole-blood donors (who had a history of at least one previous donation) consisting of an open-ended question asking whether the blood donation had any impact on the donor. The answers to this question were considered as descriptions of effects perceived by the donors to be evoked by whole-blood donation. RESULTS: In all, 528 subjects completed the questionnaire (88%; 319 males and 209 females) and answered the question about the effects of blood donation. Altogether, 54% (287 out of 528) of the blood donors reported one or several effects. Exclusively positive effects were described by 29% (151) of blood donors, while exclusively negative effects and mixed effects (i.e. concomitant positive and negative effects in the same subject) were described by 19% (103) and 6% (33), respectively, while no effect was reported by 46% (241) of the donors. A majority of the effects commenced within 1 h of blood donation. The positive effects lasted significantly longer (often for weeks, P < 0.0001) than negative effects (min/h/days). Among positive effects a feeling of satisfaction, of being more alert, and feeling generally better than before the blood donation predominated for both female and male donors. Among negative effects, vertigo/dizziness was reported more frequently by female donors (P < 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the negative effects were less likely to occur with increasing age (P < 0.001) and that they were more likely to occur in female donors (P < 0.001) in comparison to male donors, irrespective of age. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of effects elicited by blood donation on blood donors were positive (i.e. feelings of satisfaction, greater alertness, increased wellbeing, etc.). The positive effects did not differ from the negative regarding time of onset, yet their duration was reported to be significantly longer. There was no association between frequency of occurrence of positive effects and the number of blood donations, indicating that there is no 'addictive' relationship between donors and blood donations. The findings in this study of high frequency of occurrence of positive long-lasting effects elicited in blood donors by blood donation may be of great importance for the recruitment of new blood donors as it may make blood donation less frightening and perhaps even attractive.
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- Sojka, Peter, et al.
(author)
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Adverse effects in blood donors after wholeblood donation : you find what you look for!
- 2004
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In: Transfusion. - Umea Univ, Univ Umea Hosp, Dept Community Med & Rehabil, SE-90185 Umea, Sweden. Umea Univ, Univ Umea Hosp, Dept Lab Med, Ctr Blood, SE-90185 Umea, Sweden. : Wiley. - 0041-1132 .- 1537-2995. ; 44:1, s. 135-136
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)
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- Storry, Jill, et al.
(author)
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Homozygosity for a null allele of SMIM1 defines the Vel-negative blood group phenotype
- 2013
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In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 45:5, s. 537-U109
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Vel antigen is present on red blood cells (RBCs) from all humans except rare Vel-negative individuals who can form antibodies to Vel in response to transfusion or pregnancy. These antibodies may cause severe hemolytic reactions in blood recipients. We combined SNP profiling and transcriptional network modeling to link the Vel-negative phenotype to SMIM1, located in a 97-kb haplotype block on chromosome 1p36. This gene encodes a previously undiscovered, evolutionarily conserved transmembrane protein expressed on RBCs. Notably, 35 of 35 Vel-negative individuals were homozygous for a frameshift deletion of 17 bp in exon 3. Functional studies using antibodies raised against SMIM1 peptides confirmed a null phenotype in RBC membranes, and SMIM1 overexpression induced Vel expression. Genotype screening estimated that similar to 1 of 17 Swedish blood donors is a heterozygous deletion carrier and similar to 1 of 1,200 is a homozygous deletion knockout and enabled identification of Vel-negative donors. Our results establish SMIM1 as a new erythroid gene and Vel as a new blood group system.
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- Berglin, Eva, et al.
(author)
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Predictors of radiological progression and changes in hand bone density in early rheumatoid arthritis
- 2003
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In: Rheumatology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1462-0324 .- 1462-0332 .- 1460-2172. ; 42:2, s. 268-275
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors for radiological and functional outcome and bone loss in the hands in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during the first 2 yr of disease and to study the relationship between these variables.METHODS: An inception cohort of consecutively recruited patients was examined at baseline and after 12 and 24 months using X-rays of hands and feet, clinical [28-joint count, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), global visual analogue scale (VAS), grip strength] and laboratory (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, markers of bone formation and resorption) measurements and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements of the hands.RESULTS: Joint destruction increased significantly during the study, with the Larsen score at baseline as the strongest predictor. Radiological progression and bone loss over 24 months were significantly retarded in patients responding to therapy. The effects of the shared epitope and initial high inflammatory activity on radiological progression were overridden by the therapeutic response. Radiological progression correlated significantly with bone loss. Global VAS, Larsen score and HAQ at inclusion significantly predicted change in HAQ over time.CONCLUSIONS: Radiological progression and bone loss were retarded by early therapeutic response. Bone loss was related to radiological progression.
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- Sjöberg Wester, Elisabet, et al.
(author)
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Genetic basis of the K phenotype in the Swedish population.
- 2005
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In: Transfusion. - : Wiley. - 1537-2995 .- 0041-1132. ; 45:4, s. 545-549
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Abstract in Undetermined BACKGROUND: The absence of all Kell blood group antigens (K0 phenotype) is very rare. K0 persons, however, can produce clinically significant anti-Ku (K5) after transfusion and/or pregnancy and require K0 blood for transfusion. Ten alleles giving rise to the K0 phenotype have been reported: different populations were studied although none from Scandinavia. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Three K0 samples were identified by blood banks in Sweden (Uppsala,Umeå, and Linköping) during a 20-year period. Kell antigen typing was performed with standard serologic techniques by the respective blood banks and K 0 status was confirmed by the International Blood GroupReference Laboratory in Bristol, England. Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing of the KEL coding region (exons 1-19) was performed on genomic DNA. RESULTS:The Uppsala K0 was homozygous for a 1540C>T substitution in exon 13, leading to an immediate stop codon. The Umeå K0 was homozygous for 1023delG in exon 8 that results in a frameshift and a premature stop codon in exon 9. In the Linköping K0, a previously reported mutation g>a at +1 of intron 3 was found. CONCLUSION: Two novel and one previously reported null alleles at the KEL locus are described. The identified nonsense mutations abolish expression of the Kell glycoprotein and are thus responsible for the K0 phenotype in these Swedish families.
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