Objectives: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) are increased in inflammation-associated diseases. However, a clinical evaluation of these markers in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has never been reported. In this study we analyzed the NLR and RDW in patients with AS, exploring their value in evaluating inflammation in AS. Methods: Accordi...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS It is not clear whether Crohn's disease patients in clinical remission (Crohn's disease activity index<150) display normal concentrations of inflammation sensitive biomarkers. Our goal in this work was to explore the intensity of the microinflammatory response in a group of Crohn's disease patients in clinical remission. METHODS High sensitivity C-reactive protein, quantit...

The theory of the coagulation of particles in laminar shear flow was applied in a study of the aggregation of red blood cells. The theory predicts that in a system of initially dispersed particles the total particle concentration would decay (because of aggregation) logarithmically with time with the decay rate, depending on the adhesiveness of the particles. The applicability of this theory wa...

In order to assess the relationships of erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) and various acute phase reactants in diagnosing and following the remissions and exacerbations of various chronic diseases, multiple tests were performed on patients for whom an ESR was ordered. The Wintrobe and Westergren ESR, plasma and serum viscosity, hemoglobin, blood cell indices, fibrinogen, serum protein elect...

BACKGROUND The validation of sample stability through pneumatic tube system (PTS) is essential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of PTS transportation on laboratory results. METHODS Paired EDTA and SST blood samples were collected from 56 randomly selected patients. Laboratory parameters were compared between PTS group and hand-delivered group. RESULTS No statistical ...

INTRODUCTION CD4+ T cells express K(2P)5.1 (TWIK-related acid-sensitive potassium channel 2 (TASK2); KCNK5), a member of the two-pore domain potassium channel family, which has been shown to influence T cell effector functions. Recently, it was shown that K(2P)5.1 is upregulated upon (autoimmune) T cell stimulation. The aim of this study was to correlate expression levels of K(2P)5.1 on T cells...

In 1940 T'ang and Wang (1) measured the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the plasma viscosity in 176 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and 56 cases of tuberculosis of other organs. These writers concluded from their data that the plasma viscosity determination may be a more sensitive test for activity of tuberculosis than the sedimentation rate. Independently, in 1942, Whittington (2) in a stud...

The properties of blood and the relative ease of access to which it can be retrieved make it an ideal source to gauge different aspects of homeostasis within an individual, form an accurate diagnosis, and formulate an appropriate treatment regime. Tests used to determine blood parameters such as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, bleeding and clotting time...

patients tested were hypothyroid. The table shows the time of onset of the hypothyroidism; in five patients it developed during follow up, after six months to 10 years. There was no significant difference in mean age, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, haemoglobin concentration, or platelet count between the hypothyroid and euthyroid patients. As expected, there were proportionately more women tha...

Serum C reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured on 469 occasions in 149 patients with ankylosing spondylitis who had also been investigated for faecal carriage of klebsiella/enterobacter species on the same occasions. Raised values of CRP and ESR correlated with each other (P less than 0.001) as well as with clinically assessed active disease episodes (P le...