Ceruloplasmin and Alpha-1-Acid Glycoprotein, but not C-Reactive Protein, Correlate With Serum Ferritin During Various Postpartum/Lactation Periods in Congolese Females.

Serum ferritin usually correlates positively with acute phase proteins (APPs), but limited information is available on this association during various postpartum/lactation periods. The objective of this study was to assess the association between serum ferritin and APPs in Congolese females during different postpartum/lactation periods. Serum ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), ceruloplasmin (Cp), and transferrin saturation (TS) were measured during various postpartum/lactation periods (0.

In Vitro Lymphocyte Functions in Undernourished Children With Sickle Cell Anemia.

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) often suffer from growth deficits and impaired immunity. However, the association between mild to moderate malnutrition and in vitro lymphocyte function has not been well studied. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of undernutrition on lymphocyte functions in children with SCD.

Fever and Leg Pain: Consider ALL the Diagnoses.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer diagnosed in the United States. The disease causes a decrease in hematopoiesis, so children often present with symptoms related to anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia. Symptoms for this malignancy may have significant overlap with other conditions such as osteomyelitis.

Prolonged Activated Clotting Time Immediately Prior to Open Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Prekallikrein deficiency is an extremely rare disorder in which functional prekallikrein in the plasma is reduced or absent.

Case Report: We present the case of a 15-year-old male with prolonged activated clotting time incidentally noted preoperatively prior to repair of an atrial septal defect. The patient was subsequently found to have prekallikrein (Fletcher factor) deficiency.

Hydroxyurea and Zileuton Differentially Modulate Cell Proliferation and Interleukin-2 Secretion by Murine Spleen Cells: Possible Implication on the Immune Function and Risk of Pain Crisis in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.

Background: Hydroxyurea (HU) reduces major complications associated with sickle cell disease in part because of the induction of fetal hemoglobin. However, because of its antiproliferative property, its long-term use may impair immunity. Zileuton, a derivative of HU, also induces fetal hemoglobin and has antiinflammatory properties, a feature that can reduce the risk of sickling.

Full recovery from Baylisascaris procyonis eosinophilic meningitis.

Infection by Baylisascaris procyonis is an uncommon but devastating cause of eosinophilic meningitis. We report the first case-patient, to our knowledge, who recovered from B. procyonis eosinophilic meningitis without any recognizable neurologic deficits.

Advanced glycation end-products in sickle cell anaemia.

Tissue accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) has been implicated in the oxidant-induced vascular pathology of diabetes and other diseases. Because homozygous sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is a state of oxidative stress, we tested the hypothesis that circulating AGE levels are elevated in SCA. Blood was obtained from age- and race-matched children classified as either non-sickle cell controls, SCA without vaso-occlusive crisis (SCA - VOC), or SCA with vaso-occlusive crisis (SCA + VOC).