INTRODUCTION Azathioprine has variable efficacy in inflammatory bowel disease. Previous studies suggested that either neutropenia, an increase in the mean corpuscular volume, the assessment of thiopurine methyl-transferase activity or erythrocyte 6-thioguanine values might predict the treatment response. However, due to the conflicting results of the preceding studies there are yet no establish...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the presenting study was to determine how frequently external ventricular drainage (EVD) device should be changed in children with ventriculopertienal shunt (VPS) infection during prolonged intravenous antimicrobial therapy. METHODS In this retrospective study, 25 children with VPS infection were evaluated between January 2012 and December 2013. In these children VPS ...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive pulmonary disease characterized by systemic inflammation. The aim of this study was to correlate the parameters of systemic inflammation, C-reactive protein (CPR) and total leukocyte count, with clinical indicators of the disease. Our study included 157 COPD patients, both outpatients and those hospitalized at the Knez Selo Departmen...

Aim The present study aimed to investigate the relation between FACED and BSI scores, which were developed to measure the severity of bronchiectasis, and systemic inflammation in patients with stable bronchiectasis. Methods FACED and BSI scores of 117 patients with stable bronchiectasis were calculated. The correlations between mean scores and CRP levels, leukocyte count, and neutrophil/lymph...

Diagnosis of essential thrombocythemia (ET) has been updated in the last World Health Organization (WHO) classification. We developed a prognostic model to predict survival at diagnosis, named IPSET (International Prognostic Score for ET), studying patients with WHO-defined ET. Age 60 years or older, leukocyte count ≥ 11 × 10(9)/L, and prior thrombosis significantly affected survival, by multiv...

To the Editor: hypocellular marrow. Detailed information on the mode of death, disease status at death, and principal and contributory causes of death was extracted from a prospective database to ensure the In a study of considerable practical relevance, Offner et al have exclusion of patients dying of infections or hemorrhage secondary shown that from 15 days after autologous or allogeneic bon...

OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency and severity of leucopenia during antiviral treatment in patients with hepatitis C and the effectiveness of G-CSF (Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor) in its management. STUDY DESIGN An observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Shafi Clinic, Rawalpindi, from July 2005 to July 2007. METHODOLOGY Patients with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) pos...

Many risk factors for atherosclerosis have been proposed to identify high risk individuals. We conducted a retrospective study to determine the risk factors for development of carotid stenosis (CS) in Koreans. Database of 2,805 subjects who underwent a check up of carotid artery for health examination were analyzed. Stenosis (%) of common carotid artery or proximal internal carotid artery was e...

BACKGROUND Since delayed diagnosis and treatment of bacterial meningitis worsens patient prognosis, clinicians have a low threshold to perform a lumbar puncture or to start empiric antibiotic treatment in patients suspected of having meningitis. OBJECTIVE To develop a decision rule, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) indices and clinical characteristics, to determine whether empiric antibiot...

PURPOSE To investigate the prognostic value of leukocyte and neutrophil count as biomarkers in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) undergoing exclusive chemoradiation. RESULTS A total of 126 patients were identified. Respectively, 33% and 35% displayed baseline leukocytosis and neutrophilia. Estimated 3-year OS and PFS from chemoradiation completion were 31...