Use of patient data in calculation of reference intervals for complete blood count parameters; how reliable?

Calculation of reference intervals (RI) for each quantitative test for the population served is mandatory in clinical care. Standard method of calculation of RI is costly and tedious. Literature show success in using patient data in calculating RI for some tests but, those related to complete blood count (CBC) are sparse.

Screening for beta-thalassemia trait; applicability of red cell indices and parameters - A study in Sri Lanka.

Objective: Red cell indices and parameters are used to screen beta-thalassemia trait (BTT). Different red cell indices and formulae used to discriminate BTT in different populations show inconsistent results.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed to assess reliability of 11 red cell indices, parameters and formulae in differentiating BTT from non-BTT in a cohort of individuals referred for confirmation of BTT.

Frequently Relapsing Anterior Nodular Scleritis as the Initial Presentation of a Lethal Systemic Infection: Disseminated Tuberculosis with HIV Coinfection.

Background: Scleritis is a painful inflammatory ocular disease often associated with an underlying systemic illness mostly having an autoimmune aetiology. Tuberculosis usually presents as pulmonary infection, and the ocular presentation is considered to be rare. .

Non-invasive assessment of microcirculation by sidestream dark field imaging as a marker of coronary artery disease in diabetes.

Purpose: In diabetes, generalised microvascular disease and coronary artery disease (CAD) are likely to occur in parallel. We used a sidestream dark field (SDF) handheld imaging device to determine the relation between the labial microcirculation parameters and CAD in asymptomatic patients with diabetes.

Methods: SDF imaging was validated for assessment of labial capillary density and tortuosity.

Peritubular endothelium: the Achilles heel of the kidney?

The development of renal ischemia has been postulated to be a main cause of the progressive nature of kidney diseases. In recent years, it has become clear that inappropriate and sustained activation of the endothelium could mediate this phenomenon. Endothelial activation will result in leucostasis and can compromise peritubular flow.