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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 12, 2023)
July 12, 2023 Page 5 Donors Needed to Prevent Blood Shortage Red Cross, Warner Bros. Discovery partnering to encourage blood donations The American Red Cross continues to see a concerning trend – blood donations are being sent to hospitals faster than they are coming in. The Red Cross has collected about 50,000 fewer blood donations than needed over the last two months. Donors are asked to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now to avoid a looming blood shortage. To help head off a more serious situation, the Red Cross is team- ing up with Warner Bros. Dis- covery for the 35th anniversary of Shark Week and the theatrical release of Meg 2: The Trench. Two Red Cross Donors. Photo courtesy of redcross.org The public is encouraged to cel- ebrate a summer of sharks and help shore up the national blood supply by giving in July. In thanks for helping, the Red Cross is offering several incen- tives to donors who come out to give blood or platelets in the coming weeks. Additionally, in response to the great need for blood, those who hurry in to help by coming to give July 1-16 will receive a limited-time bonus $15 gift card by email to a merchant of their choice. • July 1-11: All who come to give will get an exclu- sive Red Cross dry bag, while supplies last. • July 12-Aug 12: Those who come to give will be auto- matically entered for a chance to win a three-night New York getaway for two with a private shark dive adventure at Long Island Aquarium. • July 17-31: Presenting donors will receive an offi- cially licensed Shark Week T-shirt, while supplies last. Donors will also be automat- ically entered for a chance to win a three-night New York getaway for two with a private shark dive adventure at Long Island Aquarium. By scheduling and keeping appointments in July, donors can help provide for those in imme- diate need of lifesaving care. To schedule an appointment to do- nate, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit Red- CrossBlood.org or call 1-800- RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). THC Use Linked to Fetal Development Changes Researchers Warn of Potential Impacts on Brain Development and Long-term Health By Nicole Rideout Oregon Health & Science University researchers showed that consuming THC while preg- nant could potentially affect de- velopment of the fetus and lead to life-long health impacts for offspring. The preclinical study was published today in the jour- nal Clinical Epigenetics. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the main psychoac- tive ingredient in cannabis, a sub- stance growing in popularity and availability in the United States. The prevalence of cannabis use in pregnancy is also rapidly increas- ing, especially during the first tri- mester — a time when the fetus is most vulnerable to environmental exposures — to mitigate common symptoms like morning sickness. However, the potential effects of prenatal cannabis use on fetal de- velopment remain inconclusive, in part due to a lack of safety data. This study aimed to identify the potential long-term health impacts of THC use during pregnancy. In a non-human primate model, OHSU researchers found that ex- posing a pregnant subject to THC altered the placental and fetal epig- enome —including the chemical OHSU researchers in a preclinical study confirm consuming THC while pregnant could potentially affect the development of the fetus and lead to life-long health impacts for offspring. (Getty Images) modifications to DNA responsible for gene regulation and expres- sion, that is telling genes what, where and when to do something. Researchers also found that that these changes to gene regulation and expression are consistent with those seen with many common neurobehavioral conditions, in- cluding autism spectrum disorder. “Cannabis is one of the most commonly used drugs and is wide- ly available across the country, so there is a common perception that its completely safe to use,” said the study’s lead author Lyndsey Sho- rey-Kendrick, Ph.D., a computa- tional biologist in the Division of Neurosciences at OHSU’s Oregon National Primate Research Cen- ter, or ONPRC. “The reality is that cannabis still carries many health risks for certain populations, in- cluding those who are pregnant. If we’re able to better understand the impacts, we can more effectively communicate the risks to patients and support safer habits during the vulnerable prenatal period.” In a model using nonhuman primates, researchers adminis- tered THC in a daily edible and compared its effects to a group receiving a placebo. Specifically, researchers evaluated the epigen- etic changes in several key areas that indicate healthy prenatal de- velopment: the placenta — the disc of tissue that connects the umbilical cord and uterus — and fetal lung, brain and heart. When looking at these areas, analyses showed that THC ex- posure altered the epigenome, meaning a process in which the information encoded in a gene is turned into a function or observ- able trait. Genes — the segments which make up DNA — are all specifically coded to contribute to different functions of the body and brain, so any impact on epi- genetic processes due to drug ex- posure is concerning, especially during a critical developmental window such as pregnancy. Researchers found that sig- nificant changes involved genes associated with common neuro- behavioral disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These conditions are linked to adverse health out- comes in childhood and adoles- cence, including poorer memory and verbal reasoning skills, and increased hyperactivity, impul- sivity and inattention. The research team, which includes Eliot Spindel, M.D., Ph.D., Elinor Sullivan, Ph.D., Owen McCarty, Ph.D., and Jason Hedges, M.D., Ph.D., hopes find- ings from this study will add to the limited existing literature on THC use during pregnancy, and help guide patient counseling and public health polices focused on cannabis in the future. “It’s not common practice for providers to discuss cannabis use with patients who are preg- nant or trying to conceive,” said the study’s corresponding au- thor, Jamie Lo, M.D., M.C.R., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology (maternal-fe- tal medicine), OHSU School of Medicine, and Division of Re- productive and Developmental Sciences at the ONPRC. “I hope our work can help open up a broader dialogue about the risks of cannabis use in the precon- ception and prenatal period, so we can improve children’s health in the long run.”
