Publications by authors named "Margaret McAndrew"

Background Biliary dyskinesia is a functional gallbladder disorder in which there is an absence of a structural or mechanical cause for biliary pain. A cholecystokinin-hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (CCK-HIDA) scan is typically performed during workup, and cholecystectomy is the accepted treatment for low ejection fraction (EF) (less than 33%, as defined by the literature). However, few studies have examined the role of cholecystectomy in hyperkinetic gallbladder (EF ≥80%).

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Article Synopsis
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of having contingency plans for blood shortages, particularly for platelets; this study explored the impact of splitting platelet donations to increase supply.
  • Research involved modeling the effects of splitting apheresis double donations into smaller units and assessing the quality of these units by measuring key markers during storage.
  • Results showed that splitting donations increased inventory by 23% and maintained acceptable quality levels in terms of pH and other markers, suggesting that this method could be an effective strategy for managing platelet shortages.
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Background: Familial pseudohyperkalemia (FP) is characterized by an increased rate of potassium leakage in refrigerated red cells and is associated with the minor allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism rs148211042 (R723Q) in the ABCB6 gene. The study aims were to obtain the minor allele frequencies of ABCB6 variants and to measure supernatant potassium accumulation, and other red cell storage parameters, in red cell concentrates (RCC) from carriers of variant rs148211042 under standard blood bank conditions.

Study Design: Whole blood units were collected from 6 FP individuals and 11 controls and processed into RCC in additive solution.

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A nano metal-organic-framework (nanoMOF) was employed as a first-of-its kind drug delivery vehicle (DDV) for the photo-controlled release of therapeutics with simultaneous breakdown of the carrier into small molecules.

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