Assessment of Omitting MacConkey Agar as a Primary Inoculating Medium for MALDI-TOF MS-Based Bacterial Identification from Urine, Blood, and Respiratory Samples.

Objective: MacConkey agar (MAC) is commonly used as a primary medium for conventional bacterial identification in clinical microbiology laboratories. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has revolutionized microbial identification and is considered a reliable identification tool. While conventional identification methods rely on colony characteristics, MALDI-TOF MS requires a pure isolate on a solid medium.

Prospective research of human parechovirus and cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid of young children less than one year with sepsis-like illness: Comparison with enterovirus.

Background: Human parechovirus (PeV) and enterovirus are important pathogens that cause viral infection and aseptic meningitis in young children. We aimed to investigate the rate of HPeV and enterovirus detection, and to characterize cytokine profiles in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of young infants with sepsis-like illness or meningitis/encephalitis.

Study Design: This was a prospective cohort study.

Characteristics of Bilirubin According to the Results of the Direct Antiglobulin Test and Its Impact in Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn.

Background: Hyperbilirubinemia, which is a sign of hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), can irreversibly damage the central nervous system.

Objectives: To determine the etiology of HDN in affected patients and characterize the changing pattern of bilirubin using direct antiglobulin testing (DAT).

Methods: We collected clinical data from newborns who underwent perinatal DAT and from their mothers, between August 2008 and July 2017.

Comparison of Cerebrospinal Fluid Cytokine Levels in Children of Enteroviral Meningitis With Versus Without Pleocytosis.

In viral meningitis, proinflammatory cytokines were detected at higher levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and might play an important role in the inflammatory process. Our goal was to compare the cytokine profiles in the CSF of children of enteroviral meningitis (EVM) with versus without CSF pleocytosis. In total, 158 patients were enrolled in this prospective cohort study and were classified as EVM (group-A, n = 101), nonenteroviral aseptic meningitis (group-B, n = 27), and control (group-C, n = 30) groups.

Increasing use of therapeutic apheresis as a liver-saving modality.

Introduction: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is used for temporary support of liver function in patients presenting with early graft dysfunction after liver transplantation (LT) or liver surgery. We analyzed the effect of therapeutic apheresis on patients with liver disease.

Methods: Between January 2011 and August 2016, 93 apheresis procedures were performed for 26 patients at our institution.