The dilution evaluation as a corrective measure for interference in the white blood cell scattergram in Beckman Coulter DxH 900.

Background: The Beckman Coulter DxH 900 is a haematological analyser capable of counting and sizing blood cells, and obtaining a complete blood cell count (CBC). This analyses different parameters of red blood cells (RBC), platelets and white blood cells/leukocytes. Some automated CBC counters present limitations due to specimen characteristics, abnormal cells or both factors.

A Rare Cause of Low Back Pain: A Challenging Diagnosis.

One of the rarest causes of low back pain is septic arthritis of a lumbar facet joint. We report the case of a 92-year-old diabetic woman with a history of four days of back pain, dysuria, and fever. Due to a sudden worsening of lumbar pain, she went to the emergency department.

Serratia marcescens Endocarditis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Serratia marcescens is a rarely implicated agent in endocarditis. We describe a case of a patient that underwent aortic and mitral valve replacement for Streptococcus agalactiae endocarditis. Four months later, he was readmitted with an ischemic stroke and fever.

A Rare Presentation of Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common tumour in women. Only 5-15% of breast cancer patients have distant metastases at diagnosis. Here we describe the case of a previously healthy 43-year-old woman with nausea, postprandial epigastric pain, and constipation as the first clinical presentation of breast cancer.

Recurrent Gastrointestinal Bleeding from Dieulafoy's Lesions in a Patient with Type 1 von Willebrand Disease: A Rare Association.

Von Willebrand disease (vWD) is the most prevalent hereditary bleeding disorder, affecting 0.6-1.3% of the population.

Vitamin D Deficiency in a Portuguese Cohort of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Prevalence and Relation to Disease Activity.

Background And Aims: Vitamin D deficiency is more common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients than in the general population. However, there are conflicting data about predictive factors of vitamin D deficiency and its potential association with disease activity. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and predictive factors of vitamin D deficiency and to evaluate a possible association with disease activity.

Successful treatment of severe perianal Crohn's disease with infliximab in an HIV-positive patient.

We present the case of a woman infected with the HIV type 1, controlled with highly active antiretroviral therapy. In the meantime, she developed a severe perianal disease, with complex fistulae and chronic anal fissures. After developing a severe chronic diarrhea, a total ileocolonoscopy with biopsies was performed, showing multiple ileal and segmental colonic erosions.

Outcomes of Single-Operator Cholangioscopy-Guided Lithotripsy in Patients with Difficult Biliary and Pancreatic Stones.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is the preferred strategy for the management of biliary and pancreatic duct stones. However, difficult stones occur, and electrohydraulic (EHL) and laser lithotripsy (LL) have emerged as treatment modalities for ductal clearance. Recently, single-operator cholangioscopy was introduced, permitting the routine use of these techniques.

A Rare Cause of Abdominal Pain in a Patient with Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis.

Introduction: Walled-off necrosis (WON) is a potentially lethal late complication of acute pancreatitis (AP) and occurs in less than 10% of AP cases. It can be located in or outside the pancreas. When infected, the mortality rate increases and can reach 100% if the collection is not drained.

A Complex Case of Cholestasis in a Patient with ABCB4 and ABCB11 Mutations.

The low-phospholipid-associated cholelithiasis (LPAC) syndrome is a form of symptomatic cholelithiasis occurring in young adults, characterized by recurrence of symptoms after cholecystectomy and presence of hepatolithiasis. The case refers to a healthy 39-year-old Caucasian male who presented with abdominal pain and jaundice. His blood tests showed conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and elevated liver enzymes (total bilirubin 6.

Endometriosis: A Rare Cause of Large Bowel Obstruction.

Large bowel obstruction can result in significant morbidity and mortality, especially in cases of acute complete obstruction. There are many possible causes, the most common in adults being colorectal cancer. Endometriosis is a benign disease, and the most affected extragenital location is the bowel, especially the rectosigmoid junction.

Acute Hepatitis in the DRESS Syndrome.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a severe, idiosyncratic reaction characterized by diffuse maculopapular rash, facial edema, lymphadenopathy, fever, eosinophilia and/or other leukocyte abnormalities, and involvement of internal organs as liver, kidney, heart and lung. Diagnosing this entity is specifically complicated due to the multiplicity of organs involved. DRESS syndrome must be recognized promptly and the causative drug withdrawn in order to improve patient outcomes.

Actinomycosis Causing Recurrent Perianal Fistulae.

Actinomycosis is a rare but easily curable infection that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of perianal fistulizing disease. We present the case of a 26-year-old woman with complex perianal fistulae, including trans-sphincteric and suprasphincteric fistulous tracts and a rectovaginal fistula, requiring multiple abscess drainages, seton placement, and antibiotic courses, with little improvement. After extensive investigation, .