Platelet parameters such as Mean platelet volume (MPV) and Platelet distribution width (PDW) are indicators of platelet activation. In cases with Rheumatoid arthritis inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and Erythrocyte sedimentation Rate are affected .Studies have pointed out the occurrence of changes in platelet counts in acute stages of Rheumatoid arthritis, the cause being platel...

Spongiform encephalopathies have been reported to be transmitted by blood transfusion even prior to the clinical onset. Experimental AA-amyloidosis shows similarities with prion disease and amyloid-containing organ-extracts can prime a recipient for the disease. In this systemic form of amyloidosis N-terminal fragments of the acute-phase reactant apolipoprotein serum amyloid A are the main amyl...

BACKGROUND Prospective evaluation of the value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in monitoring disease activity and treatment response in patients with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF). METHODS This study included 57 patients with idiopathic RPF receiving tamoxifen monotherapy with at least 8 months follow-up. Clinical, laboratory and radiolo...

Myeloid differentiation factor-2 (MD-2) is a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein usually coexpressed with and binding to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), conferring LPS responsiveness of immune cells. MD-2 is also found as a soluble protein. Soluble MD-2 (sMD-2) levels are markedly elevated in plasma from patients with severe infections, and in other fluids from inflamed tissues. We show that ...

The deposition of yttria-doped zirconia has been experimented systematically in various types of porous ceramic substrates by a modified chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process operating in an opposing reactant geometry using water vapor and corresponding metal chloride vapors as reactants. The effects of substrate pore dimension and structure, bulk-phase reactant concentration, reactant diffus...

OBJECTIVE Multiple rib fractures (RFs) and pulmonary contusions (PCs), with resulting systemic lung inflammation, are the most common injuries caused by blunt chest trauma (BCT) in motor vehicle accidents. This study examined levels of the inflammation marker interleukin (IL)-6 and those of the acute-phase reactant surfactant protein (SP)-D in patients with BCT. DESIGN Prospective, cross-sect...

PURPOSE To evaluate the utility of plasma concentrations of lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) as an indicator of disease activity in Behçet's disease and to investigate its role in thrombotic complications of this disease. METHODS 30 patients (19 male, 11 female) with Behçet's disease (8 active, 22 inactive) were enrolled in the study group and 30 healthy individuals (16 male, 14 female) in the control...

objective(s) sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder characterized by chronic haemolytic anaemia. haemoglobin s containing red blood cells may be susceptible to oxidative stress due to imbalance between production of reactive oxygen species and the countering effect of the various antioxidants present in the body. materials and methods we evaluated some antioxidant enzymes which include gluta...