ABSTRACT
Timely detection of rare blood groups can be lifesaving, as individuals with these groups can only receive blood products from donors within the same group. The Bombay blood group is characterized by the absence of A, B, and H antigens on the surface of RBCs and can be easily missed in routine blood grouping if only forward grouping is performed. In reverse grouping, it is necessary to test the patient's serum with pooled O cells to differentiate between the O and Bombay blood groups. Further workup is conducted by testing the patient's red cells with anti-H lectin (antisera), where the absence of an agglutination reaction suggests the Bombay phenotype. In blood group O testing, the patient's blood serum mixed with pooled O cells yields no agglutination reaction in reverse typing, whereas testing RBCs with anti-H lectin results in a strong agglutination reaction, as H-antigen is present at its highest concentration in these individuals. Correct diagnosis of such rare blood types can save patients' lives as well as prevent the consequences of a wrong blood transfusion. Here we present two cases that were diagnosed as having the Bombay phenotype on blood group testing in our blood bank. Both were initially misdiagnosed as blood group O by an outside laboratory. Correct diagnosis of rare blood groups in blood banks is imperative, as a misdiagnosis can result in fatal outcomes.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: The novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) that emerged in China, is a highly transmittable and pathogenic viral infection caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2); the disease has been declared by the World Health Organization as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The unavailability of approved therapeutic agents or vaccines is of great concern. This study performed molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) analysis of some compounds isolated from Neocarya macrophylla (Sabine) Prance ex F. White (Chrysobalanaceae) against three targets of SARS-CoV-2 proteins (3C-like protease, spike protein, and papain-like protease). Materials and Methods: Phytoconstituents isolated from N. macrophylla were screened against key targets of SARS-CoV-2 using Auto Dock Vina, while the ADMET analysis was performed using swiss ADME and pkCSM ADMET descriptors algorithm protocols. Results: The in silico computational studies revealed that the compounds (catechin, catechin-3-rhamnoside, quercetin, and epicatechin) isolated from N. macrophylla can effectively bind with high affinity and lower energy values to the three target proteins of SARS-CoV-2. ADMET analysis was used to predict important pharmacokinetic properties of the compounds, such as aqueous solubility, blood-brain barrier, plasma protein binding, CYP2D6 binding, intestinal absorption, and hepatotoxicity. Conclusion: The findings of this study have shown that N. macrophylla contains potential leads for SARS-CoV-2 inhibition and thus, should be studied further for development as therapeutic agents against COVID-19.
