Anticoagulation risk assessment for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism: A clinical review.

Non-valvular atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism anticoagulation risk assessment tools have been increasingly utilized to guide implementation and duration of anticoagulant therapy. Anticoagulation significantly reduces stroke and recurrent venous thromboembolism risk, but comes at the cost of increased risk of major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding. The decision for anticoagulation in high-risk patients is complicated by the fact that many risk factors associated with increased thromboembolic risk are simultaneously associated with increased bleeding risk.

Cerebrospinal fluid TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 in children with bacterial meningitis.

Objective: We evaluated the levels of cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 in bacterial meningitis in children.

Methods: The study included children up to 14 years of age admitted to a pediatric ward with fever, headache, vomiting, and seizures. The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was based on clinical features: physical examination, blood and cerebrospinal fluid cytochemical findings, Gram stain, and bacterial culture.

Serum procalcitonin in septic meningitis.

Objective: To evaluate the role of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in diagnosis of septic meningitis in children and its efficacy in differential diagnosis.

Methods: The study included 40 children of septic meningitis admitted in pediatric ward with fever, headache, vomiting and seizure, up to 14 y of age. The diagnosis of septic meningitis was based on clinical features; physical examination, blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytochemical findings, gram's stain and bacterial culture.