Journal of Scientific Investigations

Blood Bank Donor Selection and Screening as a Significant Challenge to Donor Recruitment Officers

Christine Marie Alburo — 2023-12-15

Donor selection and screening are critical components of various medical practices, including blood donation. Challenges include a limited donor pool, inadequate resources and infrastructure, and ethical concerns. Strategies to address these problems include the use of living donors, the expansion of the donor pool through education and awareness campaigns, the provision of adequate resources and infrastructure, the development of standardized protocols and regulations, the use of innovative technologies and research methodologies, the development of ethical guidelines and standards, and the provision of informed consent and counseling.

Laboratory Assessment and Advancements in Hemostasis Testing During The Pandemic

Glenlyd Helmut Romanillos — 2023-12-15

Hemostasis is the physiological process by which blood flow is halted at the injury site to prevent excessive bleeding. Laboratory assessment of hemostasis refers to a series of tests that are performed to evaluate various components of this process, including platelet function, coagulation factors, and fibrinolysis. Overall, laboratory assessment of hemostasis is important for diagnosing and managing bleeding and clotting disorders. These tests can help identify the disorder's underlying cause and guide appropriate treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted some innovations and updates to the laboratory assessment of hemostasis, particularly concerning managing patients with COVID-19 who may be at increased risk of thrombosis.

Antihypertensive Effect of Raphanus sativus (Radish) Taproot Ethanol Extract on Albino Mus musculus with Induced Hypertension

Teresita Chiu — 2023-12-15

This study aims to determine the antihypertensive effect of Raphanus sativus (radish) taproot ethanol extract on albino Mus musculus (mouse) with induced hypertension. Antihypertensive effect was defined as a decrease of 3% and 4% in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), respectively. A randomized controlled trial experimental procedure was conducted with a total of 36 albino mice as subjects, with 12 mice in each treatment group (experimental, positive control, and negative control groups). The Non-invasive Blood Pressure Recorder Series 5800 and Lab Chart ver. 8 software were used to measure and record blood pressure. The baseline blood pressure was recorded in the first week. Hypertension was induced using fructose-NaCl solution as drinking water ad libitum for 7 days, with blood pressure recordings performed thereafter. The powdered plant material underwent soxhlation to extract the Raphanus sativus (radish) taproot ethanol extract. Treatment was administered for 7 days via oral gavage, with blood pressure recordings performed thereafter. Post-treatment SBP and DBP of the positive control group were within the normotensive range (Pre-treatment SBP: 202.20±14.71 mmHg, DBP: 154.48±24.47 mmHg; post-treatment SBP: 137.16±7.82 mmHg, DBP: 93.69±18.96 mmHg) while those in the experimental group were above the normotensive range (Pre-treatment SBP: 200.80±13.95 mmHg, DBP: 159.52±22.68 mmHg; post-treatment SBP: 172.79±11.91 mmHg, DBP: 127.28±11.00 mmHg) but there was a significant decrease in their SBP and DBP. Lastly, the negative control showed no decrease in SBP and DBP (Pre-treatment SBP: 206.47±19.66 mmHg, DBP: 162.75±22.23 mmHg; post-treatment SBP: 214.69±18.36 mmHg, DBP: 160.06±30.44 mmHg). Raphanus sativus taproot ethanol extract had a potential antihypertensive effect since there was at least a 3% decrease in systolic blood pressure and at least a 4% decrease in the diastolic blood pressure in the albino mice with induced hypertension. Further exploration and testing of the antihypertensive effect could be done in future studies through increasing the duration of treatment and performance of toxicity testing. Extract purification technique is also recommended to have a greater yield of the active component of the extract and the use of genetically hypertensive mice for a more homogenous baseline value.

In Vitro Thrombolytic Activity of the Ethanolic Fruit Pulp Extract of Cresentia cujete (Calabash) on Human Whole Blood

Cherish Songco — 2023-12-15

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a prominent cause for mortality worldwide. These conditions often increase the risk of blood clot formation (thrombosis) and may result in death. Due to the financial difficulties of people from lower income countries such as the Philippines, patients have difficulty in complying with the expensive medications prescribed to be taken and opt for alternative remedies from among locally available resources. This study aims to identify the in vitro thrombolytic activity of the ethanolic fruit pulp extract of Crescentia cujete (calabash) on human whole blood. The Streptokinase solution (positive control) showed a mean absorbance of 1.22±0.790. However, the two concentrations of the Crescentia cujete ethanolic fruit pulp extract, namely, 35 mg/mL and 17.5 mg/mL, showed a mean absorbance of 0.980±0.752 and 0.787±0.818, respectively. The normal saline solution (negative control) showed a mean absorbance of 0.716±0.885. The results of one-way repeated measures ANOVA showed that the absorbance of hemoglobin released from clotted blood was significantly different among the treatment and control groups with F (2.149, 40.825) = 20.541, p < .05, n² = 51.9%. Analysis of the results show that the 35 mg/mL ethanolic fruit pulp extract of Crescentia cujete has thrombolytic activity on human whole blood.

The Antiseptic Potential of the Formulated Liquid Soap from the Methanolic Extract of Sepioteuthis lessoniana Ink against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923

Kenrie Durangparang — 2023-12-15

The majority of hospital-related infections worldwide are related to skin contact. In this study, the antiseptic potential of liquid soap from the methanolic extract of Sepioteuthis lessoniana ink against Staphylococcus aureus was determined. A non-randomized, controlled trial was done with positive control of Safeguard Liquid Hand Soap. The different concentrations (0.5% v/v, 1% v/v, and 5% v/v) of Sepioteuthis lessoniana ink extract soap were tested for their inhibitory activity. The Durham Tube Test was utilized to determine the antiseptic effect of the various concentrations, the minimum time for antiseptic effect to occur, and the corresponding efficacy of the commercial disinfecting agent. The study showed that all three experimental groups and the positive group inhibited the growth of the bacteria in as short as 5 minutes from contact with the bacteria. Safeguard Liquid Hand Soap which contains the active ingredient 0.5% chloroxylenol and the lowest formulation of 0.5% v/v concentration of Sepioteuthis lessoniana ink extract liquid soap exhibited similar results during the experiment. Therefore, formulated soap from the ink extract of Sepioteuthis lessoniana demonstrated antiseptic properties that are comparable to that of Safeguard Liquid Hand Soap.

Antipyretic Activity of Clitoria ternatea Var. Pleniflora (Butterfly Pea) Blue Flower Extract on Yeast Induced Fever on Albino Mus Musculus (Mice)

Lynette Gerra — 2023-12-15

Fever is the elevation of body temperature ≥ 38ºC. Overdose with over-the-counter drugs used to treat fever, such as paracetamol, can cause side effects like thrombocytopenia and liver failure. This study demonstrates the antipyretic activity of Clitoria ternatea var. pleniflora (Butterfly Pea) blue flower ethanolic extract on yeast-induced fever on albino mice. Blue flowers of Clitoria ternatea var. pleniflora were collected and extracted using soxhlation. Thirty-two albino mice were used and divided into four treatment groups: a positive control group treated with paracetamol (120mg/5mL) and three experimental groups treated with varying concentrations of the blue flower extract (200 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg). The rectal temperatures were recorded at 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after administration of the different concentrations of the blue flower extract. The antipyretic activity of the blue flower ethanolic extract was determined by comparing the rectal temperatures of the mice in the experimental groups to the rectal temperatures of the mice in the positive control group at each time interval. Result of one-way ANOVA showed that the mean post-treatment rectal temperatures of the albino mice treated with paracetamol, 400 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg of blue flower ethanolic extracts were not significantly different after 30 minutes (F = 0.009, p = 0.999), 1 hour (F = 0.812, p = 0.498), 2 hours (F = 0.237, p = 0.870), 3 hours (F = 0.920, p = 0.444), and 4 hours (F= 1.409, p= 0.261), hence, Clitoria ternatea var. pleniflora blue flower ethanolic extract exhibited antipyretic activity.

In Vitro Anticoagulant Activity of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) Leaf Extract on Human Whole Blood Using Prothrombin Time and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time

Dave Linconada — 2023-12-15

This study aims to determine the in vitro anticoagulant activity of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) crude leaf extract on human whole blood. Prothrombin Time (PT) and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) were used to assess the anticoagulant activity of human blood exposed to Heparin, Normal Saline Solution (NSS), and Ginger crude leaf extract. Results showed that blood treated with Heparin had the most prolonged mean PT and aPTT, 67.66±4.68 and 108.59±6.80 seconds, respectively, followed by blood treated with Ginger crude leaf extract, 24.91±4.68 and 58.43±8.50 seconds, respectively. The mean PT and aPTT clotting time of blood treated with NSS were within the normal range, 13.82±0.66 and 33.32±1.42 seconds, respectively. One-way ANOVA showed that the mean PT and aPTT were significantly affected by the type of treatment group, F (1.356, 18.977) = 721.861, p < 0.5, η² = 98.1% and F(1.391, 19.474) = 510.060, p < .05,η² = 97.3%. Bonferroni post-hoc tests showed that the PT and aPTT had significant differences between treatment pairs. With these results, we concluded that the 250 mg/mL of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) crude leaf extract has anti-coagulant activity on human blood.