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Blood is the epicentre of much biomedical research, from fighting disease to creating artificial substitutes for this vital fluid. This Outlook discusses topics including a gene-editing treatment for sickle-cell disease and keeping the blood supply safe from pathogens such as Zika virus.
When threats emerge to the blood supply, public-health officials must make difficult decisions to reduce the risk of infections being transmitted by transfusions.
Bloodstain pattern analysis is used by forensic scientists to help reconstruct violent crimes. Efforts are underway to root the often subjective practice in science.
These preclinical studies outline a CRISPR-based methodology for correcting β-globin gene mutations in haematopoietic stem cells to advance the development of next-generation therapies for β-haemoglobinopathies.
The authors reprogram in vitro endothelial cells from adult mice into engraftable haematopoietic stem cells that display single-cell and multilineage properties, are capable of long-term self-renewal and can reconstitute T cell adaptive immune function.
Genomic analysis of lung-tumour evolution has been used to create personalized blood tests that enable successful clinical monitoring for early signs of cancer relapse — a promising step on the road to precision medicine. See Article p.446
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a medical emergency that can be caused by infectious or non-infectious conditions. The mechanisms underlying DIC — highlighted in this PrimeView — are an imbalance in the factors that control haemostasis.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation can be caused by various infectious and non-infectious insults, such as sepsis and trauma, respectively. It is characterized by the widespread activation of coagulation and, depending on the underlying condition, can manifest as bleeding and/or thrombosis.
Owing to a lack of objective diagnostic tools, the diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and related conditions, such as postconcussive syndrome and chronic traumatic encephalopathy must be made on clinical grounds. Here, Zetterberg and Blennow review the most recent developments in search for biomarkers for mild TBI and related conditions.