Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say • Hacker News Board

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#11

Post by njsubedi » Mon, Oct 07, 2019, 2:51 PM UTC

>Platelets can be stored for four days if shaken to prevent solidification, while red blood cells can be kept for 20 days at low temperatures.

I didn't know that the shelf life of blood is that short. Does this mean it is possible that some portion of blood collected from "blood donation programs" goes waste? Because, in our country (Nepal), dozens of such programs are conducted by the Red Cross all around the country.

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#12

Post by derefr » Mon, Oct 07, 2019, 2:51 PM UTC

solidasparagus wrote: post #9

givinguflac wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Once in full production, potentially. But currently it's only been tested on rabbits. This could change the face of medicine if successful.

> This could change the face of medicine if successful. Why? Is blood shortage a serious problem in medicine?

An “unlimited blood budget” might obviate hemodialysis in favour of just doing a “blood change”, which—depending on how you do it—may protect the liver and kidneys from things we can’t manage to pull out in a single hemodialysis pass.

It might also change the face of surgery. You know the phrase “he’s bleeding out!” Well, who cares? We have blood pressure to spare, now. We could go through a couple gallons during the surgery and it’d be fine. Just hook them up to the tank. Take your time clamping/microsuturing/cauterizing instead of rushing and making mistakes.

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#13

Post by hanniabu » Mon, Oct 07, 2019, 2:52 PM UTC

If I'm not mistaken, it sounds like this is to be used only in emergency situations almost as if it's some type of "filler" that can help keep your blood pressure up of you've lost an extreme amount of blood. It sounds like it may provide more benefits than that, but I say "filler" because it doesn't sound like you can replace all the blood in your body with this artificial blood.

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#14

Post by ropiwqefjnpoa » Mon, Oct 07, 2019, 2:53 PM UTC

On page#2 under "Preparation of HbVs and H12-(ADP)-liposomes" am I reading it correctly that this "artificial" blood is still derived from blood?

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#15

Post by bryanculver » Mon, Oct 07, 2019, 2:54 PM UTC

hanniabu wrote: post #13

If I'm not mistaken, it sounds like this is to be used only in emergency situations almost as if it's some type of "filler" that can help keep your blood pressure up of you've lost an extreme amount of blood. It sounds like it may provide more benefits than that, but I say "filler" because it doesn't sound like you can replace all the blood in your body with this artificial blood.

So although there might be “waste”, emergency preparedness shouldn’t be forgotten about. It’s safer and better to have blood available when it’s needed than to be begging for it.

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#16

Post by njsubedi » Mon, Oct 07, 2019, 2:55 PM UTC

chrisco255 wrote: post #6

Does anyone know if this has the same "rejuvenating effects" that young blood has on older patients?

Probably not. The "rejuvenating effects" come from the body of young donors, so I don't think the artificial blood contains most of the components that human blood contains.

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#17

Post by taneq » Mon, Oct 07, 2019, 2:55 PM UTC

vithalreddy wrote: post #5

one more step towards a greater future.

One where vampires come out of hiding? :P

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#18

Post by Mizza » Mon, Oct 07, 2019, 2:58 PM UTC

Extremely freaking cool.

Any idea how this stuff is manufactured? Can it be produced cheaply enough to potentially replace the entire blood donation system?

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#19

Post by rscho » Mon, Oct 07, 2019, 2:58 PM UTC

derefr wrote: post #12

solidasparagus wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This could change the face of medicine if successful. Why? Is blood shortage a serious problem in medicine?

An “unlimited blood budget” might obviate hemodialysis in favour of just doing a “blood change”, which—depending on how you do it—may protect the liver and kidneys from things we can’t manage to pull out in a single hemodialysis pass. It might also change the face of surgery. You know the phrase “he’s bleeding out!” Well, who cares? We have blood pressure to spare, now. We could go through a couple gallons during the…

Uuuh no. Real blood unfortunately does more than transport oxygen. So "hook them up to the tank" isn't a solution, and isn't a problem only in a surgeon's mind.

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#20

Post by njsubedi » Mon, Oct 07, 2019, 3:00 PM UTC

solidasparagus wrote: post #9

givinguflac wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Once in full production, potentially. But currently it's only been tested on rabbits. This could change the face of medicine if successful.

> This could change the face of medicine if successful. Why? Is blood shortage a serious problem in medicine?

In under-developed countries like Nepal, yes. Every year women from rural villages lose their lives because of excessive bleeding. No nearby health facility has a blood type segmentation facility; let alone a blood bank. If the government could provide the artificial blood to such rural villages, we could expect to reduce the maternal mortality rate of Nepal to a great extent.