Test-1 analyzer and conventional Westergren method for erythrocyte sedimentation rate: A comparative study between two laboratories.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of the length of sedimentation reaction in blood (LSRB), also called erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), is a widely used hematology test. This study intends to compare ESR levels measured by Test-1 method and International Council for Standardization in Hematology's (ICSH) reference method, and analyzes the effect of hematocrit (Hct) on ESR results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 755 patients from 2 hospitals were included in the study, and samples with EDTA were studied by Test-1 method for ESR measurement and total blood count, whereas citrated samples were studied with reference Westergren method. Then, 2 methods were compared. Distribution of ESR results according to the ESR(≤20, >20 mm/h) and Hct(≥35%, <35%) levels and hospital type was analyzed. ESR levels with Hct levels<35% were corrected with Fabry's formula. RESULTS: The mean and SD values for the Test-1 method, reference Westergren method, and corrected ESR measurement were 21.30 ± 18.39, 28.59 ± 25.82, and 24.92 ± 20.58 mm/h, respectively. Within the whole group, the correlation coefficient (r) was .77 (.7-.80) with a significance level P < .001. Passing-Bablok regression analysis of the methods resulted in a regression equation y = 1.00 (95% Cl: 0.43-1.88) + 0.75 (95% Cl: 0.70-0.78)x while the significance of linearity was acceptable (P < .01). All subgroup linear regression analyses revealed that the correlation was acceptable, except ESR > 20 mm/h group, Hct < 35% group, and corrected ESR group (significance level were P > .10). CONCLUSION: The study showed that the role of the hospital and the capacity of testing are important in choosing the instrument for measuring ESR. Furthermore, the patient profile, especially malignancy possibility and Hct level, may be important for instrument selection.

Effect of Phototherapy on Neutrophil VCS Parameters and White Blood Cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of phototherapy (PT) on WBC parameters and neutrophil volume, conductivity and scatter (VCS) parameters. STUDY DESIGN: Comparative cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Keçiören Training and Research Hospital, Turkey, from October 2016 and January 2017. METHODOLOGY: Term newborns who had received PT for indirect hyperbilirubinemia were inducted. Total serum bilirubin, neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil, monocyte, lymphocyte counts, and neutrophil VCS parameters before and after PT were compared. RESULTS: The mean age of the neonates at admission was 6.05 ±3.7 days. The mean gestational age at the time of birth was 37.44 ±2.09 weeks. The mean duration of PT was 46.37 ±17.00 hours. PT was associated with a significant increase in eosinophil (p=0.039) and basophil counts (p=0.034), a significant decrease in leucocyte (p=0.036) and neutrophil counts (p=0.031). There was no significant change in monocyte (p=0.79) and lymphocyte counts (p=0.93). There was a significant decrease in neutrophil volume values and a significant increase in neutrophil scatter values after PT. There was no effect of PT on neutrophil conductivity values. CONCLUSION: PT affects some WBC components and neutrophil volume and scatter parameters. There is a need for further prospective clinical researches on this topic before starting to use neutrophil VCS parameters in the diagnosis of sepsis.

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and celiac disease: a cross-sectional study and a brief review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Whether Helicobacter pylori triggers celiac disease (CD) or protects against CD is currently the subject of research. In the literature, there are epidemiologic studies that have reported conflicting results regarding the association between H. pylori and CD. AIM: To compare the prevalence of CD autoantibody positivity and the levels of CD autoantibodies between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was prospectively designed and included 240 dyspeptic patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with gastric and duodenal biopsies. The patients were divided into two groups according to presence of H. pylori infection. The serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) A, tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA; IgA and IgG classes), and anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA; IgA and IgG classes) were measured for all participants by a blinded biochemistry expert. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the serum levels of CD autoantibodies or IgA between the two groups. There were also no significant differences in the percentages of subjects with positive CD serologies or subjects with IgA deficiencies between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Helicobacter pylori remains one of the bacterial species that is most likely to trigger autoimmunity. However, studies have failed to reveal a relationship between H. pylori and CD; thus, additional basic work on the immunological aspects of the microbial-host interactions and longitudinal studies enrolling patients at very early stages of the disease may help us to address this issue.