BACKGROUND Biologic agents are currently the strongest immunosuppressive drugs able to induce remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One of the objectives of the medical scientific community now is how to maintain remission or low disease activity (LDA). The aim of this trial is to evaluate the contribution of low-dose sequential kinetic activation (SKA) IL-4, IL-10, and anti-IL-1 antibodies (...

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of various mutations in beta (beta) thalassaemia and its association with haematological parameters. METHODS A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of Haematology, Armed Forced Institute of Pathology (AFIP) from February 2009 to January 2010. A total of 515 carriers having beta thalassaemia mutations characterized by Multipl...

INTRODUCTION Recently, it has been suggested an association between red cell distribution width (RDW) and Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI), but its use is not yet performed in daily clinical practice. OBJECTIVES To determine whether RDW can be used as a marker of Crohn's disease (CD) activity. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study including patients with CD, observed consecutively i...

The Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila L.) is one of the most commonly found tree species in arid areas of northeast Asia. To understand the morphological and physiological characteristics of Siberian elms in arid regions, we analyzed leaves from seven study sites (five arid or semi-arid and two mesic) in China, Mongolia and the Republic of Korea, which covered a wide range of average annual precipitat...

BACKGROUND The β-thalassemia syndrome is a genetically inherited commonly encountered hematological disorder in the state of Orissa. It causes high degree of morbidity, mortality and fetal wastage in the poor vulnerable people. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES There is an equal probability (50% chance) in every singleton pregnancy that a carrier parent of β-thalassemia major would either bear normal or ca...

BACKGROUND few studies have prospectively evaluated long-term predictors of mortality in nonagenarians. OBJECTIVE to determine predictors of death in a nonagenarian cohort after 5 years of follow-up. DESIGN a prospective community-based study. SETTING a community-based study. SUBJECTS one hundred and eighty-six nonagenarians both living in the community and institutionalised. METHODS ...

BACKGROUND Demographic changes have led to an increase in the number of elderly frail persons and, consequently, systematic geriatric assessment is more important than ever. Frailty Indexes (FI) may be particularly useful to discriminate between various degrees of frailty but are not routinely assessed due, at least in part, to the large number of deficits assessed (from 30 to 70). Therefore, w...

The marrow iron reserves, automated red cell indices, serum iron, and total iron binding capacity of 69 geriatric patients were recorded. A fall in the mean red cell volume (MCV) to between 71 and 82 fl failed to distinguish between iron deficiency and the 'anaemia of chronic disorders'. However, there was no reserve of marrow iron in the eight patients with an MCV of 70 fl or less.

OBJECTIVE To study the correlation between third-trimester serum ferritin concentration and hemoglobin and red cell indices to select the best hematologic characteristic to identify women who need iron therapy. METHODS In a prospective study, blood was drawn from pregnant women with hemoglobin above 10 g/dL, and thalassemia trait excluded at booking, at 28-30 weeks' gestation to study the cor...

BACKGROUND In breastfed infants, iron deficiency at <6 mo of life, although uncommon, is observed in industrialized countries. Iron supplementation starting at an early age may prevent iron deficiency. OBJECTIVE The study assessed the effect of early iron supplementation of breastfed infants and tested the hypothesis that iron supplementation enhances iron status. Potential adverse effects (t...