: Recently, several studies about mean platelet volume (MPV) changes in various pathological conditions were published. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the measurement in these studies. The study was performed using the data of 181 studies containing a healthy control groups within 1181 studies about MPV indexed PubMed database since 2012. A total of 81 studies were included retrospectively. The distributions of sex, age, and platelet counts were not reported in 16, 12, and 28 studies, respectively. Type of anticoagulant was not noted in 60 studies. The technology used was not specified in 36 studies. The MPV values measured with Sysmex were significantly higher than measured with Beckman Coulter, Abbott CELL-DYN, and Siemens ADVIA. The MPV measurements varied up to 17.8% by the instruments. The measurement times between 15 min and 2 h was significantly different from the measurement times less than 15 min and more than 2 h. The MPV measurement times from venipuncture were not indicated in 86 studies (47.5%). Maximum deviations in MPV measurements by the MPV measurement times and plus the instruments used varied up to 17.8 and 27.7%, respectively. Both the MPV measurement times and instruments used were not stated in 29 studies (16.0%). Only 47 prospective studies (26.0%) enlightened about the type of anticoagulant, instruments used for MPV measurement, MPV measurement time, platelet counts, and MPV values. As a result, the measurements were not standardized sufficiently in published studies about MPV. It may be explained that the differences between the results of studies made the same pathological conditions.

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) has often been regarded as the adult spectrum of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA). The present study aims to compare the clinical and laboratory features, the disease course and the response to treatment in patients having AOSD with those having sJIA. Retrospective review of all available data that were filled out by adult and paediatric rheumatologists from six centers using a standard data extraction form was performed. A total of 95 patients with AOSD and 25 patients with sJIA were recruited for the study. The frequency of fever, rash, myalgia, weight loss and sore throat was higher in patients with AOSD. The pattern of joint involvement differed slightly. Laboratory findings were similar in both groups, except that liver dysfunction and neutrophilia were more common among adults. A multiphasic pattern dominated the childhood cases, whereas the most frequent course was a chronic one in adults. Corticosteroids and methotrexate were the most commonly employed therapy; however, chloroquine was another popular therapy in the adult group. We showed a difference in the rate of clinical and laboratory features between patients with AOSD and those with sJIA. AOSD and sJIA may still be the same disease, and children may simply be reacting differently as the result of the first encounter of the putative antigens with the immune system.

Serum ferritin levels may be a useful marker of disease activity in SLE patients.

Abnormalities of hematological system are very common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of the study is to evaluate hematological findings in patients with SLE at the time of referral and their relationship with disease activity and organ involvement. The study was carried consecutive 115 patients, including 20 males and 85 females. Most of the cases had anemia at the time of presentation due to various etiologies. Anemia of chronic disease was seen in 46% and it was the most common encountered picture. The rate of hemolytic anemia was 28%, and Coombs' positivity rate was 22% among our patients. Leukopenia ( < 4.0 x 10(9)/l), neutropenia ( < 1.8 x 10(9)/l), and lymphopenia ( < 1.5 x 10(9)/l) rates were 57, 20, and 82%, respectively. Thrombocytopenia was seen in 40% for < 150 x 10(9)/l, 26% for < 100 x 10(9)/l, and 8% for < 50 x 10(9)/l. Of our patients, 10% had antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) at the time of diagnosis. Increased fibrinogen levels were observed in 35% without relating to disease activity. The rates of C3 and C4 hypocomplementemia were 86 and 64%, respectively, and both are closely correlated with the disease activity. Moreover, C3 hypocomplementemia was more prominent in cases with renal or serosal involvement. Leukopenia and hyperfibrinogenemia were more common in patients with skin/mucosal involvements. C3 hypocomplementemia, APS and elevated IgG levels were more common in our patients with renal involvement. SLE should be kept in mind while evaluating patients with mentioned hematological findings, especially in those with accompanying organ involvements.

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus is closely related to pancreas cancer. In this study we aimed to investigate the effect of hyperglycemia on tumor and inflammation markers, as well as pancreatic exocrine functions.MethodsA total of 98 consecutive diabetic patients with poor glycemic control, and 50 healthy controls were included in the study. We measured hsCRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), CA19-9, CEA, amylase and lipase in addition to routine biochemistry tests, before and after euglycemia was achieved.ResultsFasting blood glucose, HbA1c, CA19-9, CEA, hsCRP, ESR, triglycerides, AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, total cholesterol and LDL-C levels decreased significantly with the regulation of glycemic control. Amylase and lipase levels increased with the regulation of glycemic control. After glycemic control, CA19-9 and CEA levels were still higher, whereas amylase and lipase levels were still lower in the diabetic group compared with the control group. Basal HbA1c showed significant correlation with CA19-9, CEA, amylase and lipase.ConclusionsWe propose to repeat observations of tumor markers after hyperglycemia is resolved, in order to avoid unnecessary invasive tests. Our data also suggest that pancreatic exocrine function was improved with lowering blood glucose in a short period of time.