High Serum Ferritin Levels among Blood Transfused Thalassemic Patients Admitted to the Department of Paediatrics in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Raised serum ferritin levels often indicate iron overload, but they are not specific as the levels are elevated in inflammatory disorders, liver diseases, alcohol excess, or malignancy. If regular transfusions are required for the patient with thalassemia, this doubles the rate of iron accumulation leading to earlier massive iron overload and iron-related damage. The aim of this study aimed to find out the prevalence of high serum ferritin levels among blood-transfused thalassemic patients admitted to the Department of Paediatrics in a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care centre from 1 March 2022 to 31 December 2022. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 078/79-017/HG). Children who were confirmed by haemoglobin electrophoresis on regular blood transfusion were included in the study. Those who did not gave consent were excluded from the study. Convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate and 90% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Out of 53 cases, the prevalence of high serum ferritin level was seen in 46 (88.79%) (80.30-97.28, 95% Confidence Interval). Among 46, 34 (73.91%) had serum ferritin levels of more than 1000 to 2500 ng/ml whereas 12 (26.09%) had more than 25000 ng/ml. Conclusions: The prevalence of high serum ferritin levels among blood transfused thalassemic patients admitted to the Department of Paediatrics in a tertiary care centre was found to be higher than in other studies done in similar settings. Keywords: blood transfusion; ferritin; thalassemia.

Experimental testing of solar-based air heater roughed with discrete V-down rib and staggered element.

A rough rectangular channel of solar-based air heater (SBAH) is made and tested. The work consists of an effort to perceive the proportion of heat discharge and frictional behavior of air passing over a roughened rectangular channel. The absorber surface of SBAH is roughed with discrete V-down rib and staggered element roughness having different values of relative rib pitch (P/e) that ranged from 6 to 14. Fixed parameters such as relative gap size (g/e), relative staggered element pitch (P'/P), numeral of gaps (Ng), relative staggered element size (r/g), and relative rib height (e/D) are considered 4, 0.4, 3,1, and 0.0433, respectively, all throughout the study. The flow Reynolds number (Re) changes from 4000 to 14,000; consequently the Nusselt number (Nu) and friction factor (f) reach up to 2.16 and 2.73 times, respectively, with respect to plane surface. The optimum rise in terms of thermal-hydraulic performance (THP) is gained analogous to a P/e of 10. The correlation for heat transfer function, R(e+), and roughness function, G(e+), is given to anticipate the performance of roughness.