Objectives: Only a few studies have attempted to detect differences in microbiologic profiles of patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) and aggressive periodontitis (AgP). The aim of this analysis was to assess if clinical diagnosis or other subject factors showed association with the presence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis in ...

A hypercoagulable state has been documented in patients with β-thalassemia. It could result in thromboembolic events in several organs including brain involvement, which deserves particular attention. We summarized the prevalence of cerebral involvement in patients with β-thalassemia worldwide. We conducted an electronic search on PUBMED (MEDLINE), SCOPUS, and Google Scholar ...

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by constellation of clinical and biochemical features that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a neurotransmitter and enhances the development of obesity and other aspects of MetS. We determined the association between NPY Leu7Pro polymorphism and features of MetS in ...

BACKGROUND:: Refractory celiac disease (RCD) is a preneoplastic condition as many patients develop an enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma, a mature T-cell receptor α-β lymphoma arising in the gut with an ominous outcome. Recently, research focused on a population of intraepithelial intestinal lymphocytes expressing the same lymphoma T-cell receptor variable region (V)γ, ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Transfusion patterns are not well characterized in non-dialysis (ND) chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This study describes the proportion of patients transfused, units of blood transfused and trigger-hemoglobin (Hb) levels for transfusions in severe anemic, ND-CKD patients in routine practice. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of electronic medical ...

Abstract Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is one of the common causative agents of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), and is associated with several outbreaks with neurological complications including encephalitis. This study investigated the polymorphisms of interferon gamma (IFN-γ)+874 T/A and interleukin 10 (IL-10)-1082 G/A in 65 Chinese patients with EV71 ...

OBJECTIVE: We used caudal epidurography to compare the spread of contrast medium when the needle was inserted toward the affected side in patients with unilateral radiculopathy undergoing caudal steroid injection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 24 patients with unilateral radiculopathy. A block needle was positioned toward the affected side in ...

Objectives:  To investigate whether Helicobacter spp. infection and the cagA of H. pylori are associated with hepatobiliary pathology, specifically biliary inflammation, cell proliferation and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Methods:  Helicobacter species including H. pylori, H. bilis and H. hepaticus were detected in the specimens using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Biliary inflammation of the liver and ...

Objectives To learn how nasal batten grafts affect patients' assessment of their nasal airway patency and to determine the extent to which patients believe batten grafts altered their appearance. Methods A prospective survey study of 18 patients in a tertiary veterans hospital who had nasal airway obstruction (NAO) due to ...

: Hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable death in trauma patients, of which 3% require massive transfusion (MT). MT predictive models such as the Assessment of Blood Consumption (ABC), Trauma-Associated Severe Hemorrhage (TASH), and McLaughlin scores have been developed, but only included patients requiring blood transfusion during their hospital ...

Background:  Bleeding is the leading cause of death for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Blood component transfusion to correct coagulopathy is the keystone in reducing bleeding. The benefit of fresh frozen plasma transfusion is unproven. Using laboratory profiles to predict bleeding is important guidance for determination of transfusion policies ...

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) comprise a heterogenous group of clonal hematopoietic disorders in which the immune-mediated pathogenetic mechanisms are under investigation. Overrepresentation of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR2 and its serologic split HLA-DR15 has been associated with low-risk MDS in certain ethnic groups and has been proposed as a predictive factor for ...

Lenalidomide (LEN) has been shown to yield red blood cell (RBC) transfusion independence in about 25% of lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) without del(5q), but its efficacy in patients clearly refractory to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) is not known. We report on 31 consecutive lower-risk non-del(5q) MDS patients with anaemia refractory ...

Despite a high remission rate, a significant number of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) relapse. Thus, the evaluation of minimal residual disease (MRD) in AML is an important strategy to better identify high risk patients. Most sensitive methodology to detect MRD is molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) but its ...

We evaluated the clinical responses to hydroxyurea (HU), adverse effects, and β-globin gene variants in a large series of β-thalassemic patients over a 13-year period in Iran. The patients (n = 232) were divided into two groups: transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia patients 2 years of age and older (n = 126; Group 1), and β-thalassemia intermedia (βTI) ...

OBJECTIVES: To investigate matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) mRNA as a prognostic marker in stroke. DESIGN AND METHODS: MMP9 mRNA concentrations in 126 stroke patients were analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The normalized MMP9 mRNA concentration was almost 3 times higher in non-survival patients compared to survival patients ...

Background and objectivesTo better define the clinical-pathologic spectrum and prognosis of monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease (MIDD), this study reports the largest series.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsCharacteristics of 64 MIDD patients who were seen at Mayo Clinic are provided.ResultsOf 64 patients with MIDD, 51 had light chain deposition disease, 7 had ...

This retrospective study included 10 eyes of 9 patients diagnosed as microsporidial keratitis. All of them were known to contract this disease after taking baths in the hot springs. The disease was diagnosed based on detecting microsporidia in corneal scrapings using Gram stain and the modified Kinyoun's acid-fast stain. The ...

PURPOSE: Described is a novel real-time multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay suitable for intraoperative detection of micrometastasis (MM) in sentinel nodes (SNs) dissected from patients with clinical N0 (cN0) gastric carcinoma. METHODS: One hundred three patients with gastric cancer, who were preoperatively diagnosed with cN0 and clinical T1 ...

IgD monoclonal gammopathies are uncommon. They are seen rarely as a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and are present in 1% to 2% of patients with multiple myeloma. In light chain amyloidosis, IgD monoclonal proteins are found in approximately 1% of patients. When an IgD monoclonal protein is found, amyloidosis ...

OBJECTIVES:: Although association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and cardiovascular diseases was reported by many studies, the relation between ACE I/D polymorphism and coronary collateral circulation (CCC) has not been studied yet. The aim of the present study was to investigate a possible relationship between ACE I/D polymorphism ...

The symptoms associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) reflect the location of pathologic brain lesions. These symptoms include visual deficits, cognitive impairment, and motor weakness; in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), presenting signs can also include gait disturbance, dysarthria, dysphasia, and ocular palsy. Recently, PML has been observed in ...

Coagulopathic bleeding is a leading cause of in-hospital death after injury. A recently proposed transfusion strategy calls for early and aggressive frozen plasma transfusion to bleeding trauma patients, thus addressing trauma-associated coagulopathy (TAC) by transfusing clotting factors (CFs). This strategy may dramatically improve survival of bleeding trauma patients. However, other ...

BACKGROUND: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Severe GVHD carries significant morbidity and mortality and remains one of the leading causes of treatment failure. Unfortunately, intestinal GVHD may present with a variety of non-specific symptoms and diagnosis based on clinical presentation is often inaccurate; ...

Although several reports suggest that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with shortened telomere length, the clinical relevance of this has not yet been fully elucidated. This study was conducted to clarify the correlation of telomere length with clinical characteristics and ApoE phenotypes in 74 AD patients. Telomere length was determined ...

There is an increase in the number of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) reported as developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) while on intensive immunosuppressive therapy. A 39-year-old HIV-negative woman with a 10-year history of SLE presented with progressive left-side weakness while on maintenance therapy with oral prednisone and mycophenolate ...

Neuropilins are expressed in tumors vasculature and cells. Their expression is thought to be correlated with tumor angiogenesis and progression. In this study, we analyzed NRP-1 expression level in 40 acute leukemia patients [20 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 20 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)] and 10 healthy controls using Real-Time ...

CYP19 encodes aromatase, a key enzyme essential for estrogen biosynthesis. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2470152 in CYP19 is associated with serum estradiol (E2) level and the E2/T (estradiol/testosterone) ratio. A case‑control study including 661 individuals [364 polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients and 297 controls] was conducted to assess the association ...

In patients with acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, standard practice is to transfuse packed red blood cells, often to an arbitrary level of hemoglobin or hematocrit (typically 10 g/dL and 30%, respectively) before endoscopy. Therefore, we aimed to determine first whether performing endoscopy in patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and a ...

OBJECTIVE:: The management of patients with sickle-cell disease and cardiac arrest presents special challenges. Mild therapeutic hypothermia may improve survival and neurologic outcome after cardiac arrest, however, it may also precipitate sickling in patients with sickle-cell disease. Rigorous exchange transfusion may enable mild therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest in patients ...

The aim of this study was to determine human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 subtypes frequency in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and related spondyloartropathy (SpA) patients. Therefore, we investigated the differences in HLA-B27 subtypes between HLA-B27-positive patients and controls. Sixty six patients were included in this study (51 AS and 15 SpA). Thirty-five ...

It is well established that patients with a unilateral posterior crossbite exhibit reverse-sequencing chewing patterns when chewing on the affected side. The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of reverse-sequencing chewing cycles in patients with anterior versus posterior unilateral crossbite during chewing soft and hard boluses. Eighty-six ...

BACKGROUND: Ezatiostat is a glutathione analog prodrug glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (GSTP1-1) inhibitor. This study evaluated 2 extended dose schedules of oral ezatiostat in 89 heavily pretreated patients with low to intermediate-1 risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). METHODS: Patients were randomized by 1 stratification factor-baseline cytopenia (anemia only vs anemia with additional ...

This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in the pediatric daycare unit, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia to determine the prevalence of craniofacial deformities (CFD) and the association between these deformities and different clinical presentations among thalassemia patients. Patients were classified as either craniofacial deformity positive (CFD+) or craniofacial deformity negative (CFD-) ...

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on the frequency of RBC alloimmunization and autoimmunization in transfusion-dependant Tunisian β thalassaemia patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the clinical and transfusion records of 130 patients (57 females and 73 males; mean age 119months; range 12-11months) with β thalassaemia major and who had regular ...

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most disseminated tick-borne disease in the Northern hemisphere, and infestation with ticks is one of the essential factors influencing transmission of the disease to humans. This work intends to compare the occurrence of borrelia circulating in indigenous ticks and in patients suffering from neurological diseases. ...

Background: Oral graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a significant complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) and there is no consistent information about its characteristics in patients after reduced-intensity conditioning regimen FLU/MEL (fludarabine 120 mg/m2 and melphalan 140mg/m2).<br /> Material/Methods: This was a single-centre prospective observational study of patients after allogeneic ...

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the magnitude of red cell alloimmunization in regularly transfused patients with thalassemia major and analyse factors responsible for development of antibodies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted on 116 thalassemics receiving regular transfusions. All the patients underwent antibody screening. Patients with positive ...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of spermatic aneuploidies in men with severe teratozoospermia and to determine an eventual relation between aneuploidies and a specific morphology of spermatozoa. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) using a probe cocktail containing the alpha satellite for the centromeric region of ...

Ascites can pose a difficult diagnostic problem and in some patients, despite extensive work-up, diagnostic laparoscopy or laparotomy is required. We evaluated the usefulness of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) of peritoneal nodules in 12 patients with undiagnosed ascites (9 men, 3 women; mean [SD] age 47.5 [11.8] years). On ...

The effect of blood component ratios on the survival of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) has not been studied. A database of patients transfused in the first 24 hours after admission for injury from 22 Level I trauma centers over an 18-month period was queried to find patients who ...

Background:  Children with β-thalassemia major (β-TM) have multiple risk factors for developing cognitive impairment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate cognitive function in patients with β-TM. Methods:  Twenty children with β-TM were enrolled into the study and were compared with a control group consisting of 21 healthy ...

We report a case of a patient affected by compound heterozygosis for two PK-LR gene mutations: p.R486W (c.1456C>T) and p.M403I (c.1209G>A). Our patient suffered from an initial moderate hemolytic anemia which subsequently evolved into a severe form after mitral prosthetic valve replacement for valve regurgitation. Thereafter, the clinical features evolved ...

BACKGROUND: Nonoperative management (NOM) has become the standard treatment of blunt hepatic injury (BHI) for stable patients. Contrast extravasation (CE) on computed tomography (CT) scan had been reported as a sign that is associated with NOM failure. The goal of this study was to further investigate the risk factors of ...

BACKGROUND:: Acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery is a major health issue. Two important risk factors for AKI are preoperative anemia and perioperative erythrocyte transfusion, and elucidating their relationship may help in devising preventive strategies. METHODS:: In this cohort study of 12,388 adults who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary ...

Free light chains (FLC) are the most commonly detected paraproteins in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We examined the types of FLC abnormalities and prognostic utility of the FLC assay compared to standard prognostic biomarkers in a prospective cohort of 339 newly diagnosed CLL patients. Three types of FLC abnormalities were ...

Presence of subclinical rejection (SCR) with IF/TA in protocol biopsies of renal allografts has been shown to be an independent predictor factor of graft loss. Also, intragraft Foxp3+ T(reg) cells in patients with SCR has been suggested to differentiate harmful from potentially protective infiltrates. Nonetheless, whether presence of Foxp3 T(reg) ...

BACKGROUND: Thalassemia is considered the most common hemoglobinopathy in Egypt and is one of its major health problems. Lifelong red blood cell (RBC) transfusion remains the main treatment for severe forms; however, RBC alloimmunization results as a complication of regular transfusions due to repeated exposure to foreign antigens. The objective ...

Intermediate-length polyglutamine (polyQ) expansions in the ataxin-2 (ATXN2) gene have recently been identified as a risk factor for sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS). Our study aims to analyze cytosine, adenine, guanine (CAG)n expansions in the ATXN2 gene among Chinese patients with SALS. All patients diagnosed with adult-onset sporadic amyotrophic lateral ...

Packed red blood cell (PRC) transfusion with iron chelation is the mainstay of treatment for β-thalassemia major. This prospective interventional trial serves as a follow up to our similar earlier study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of hydroxyurea (HU) in minimizing PRC transfusions in patients with β-thalassemia major. One ...