BackgroundThe long term complications of diabetes can be fatal. They are also renowned for being an economic burden. Previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between inflammatory markers and complications of diabetes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between leukocyte counts and these complications.MethodsThe study included 184 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The study was carried out in Iran during 2007 and 2008. Data collected on the subjects were as follows: age, gender, weight, height, blood pressure, smoking history, lipid profile including low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol, triglycerides, and leukocyte count, albuminuria, and retinopathy. Furthermore, information on cardiac history for 100 patients was collected. The subjects were split into two groups according to their leukocyte levels: low (≤7000/mm3) and high (>7000/mm3); and then analyzed by Student’s t-test or Mann–Whitney U-test as appropriate.ResultsThe average leukocyte count in these patients was 7594 ± 1965/mm3. Leukocyte count was significantly different in patients with and without retinopathy and albuminuria (P < 0.0001). According to this analysis, a leukocyte count of 6750/mm3 with a sensitivity of 80.2% and a specificity of 56.4%, and a count of 7550/mm3 with a sensitivity of 63.2% and a specificity of 74.6% indicated at least one diabetes complication.ConclusionAn elevated leukocyte count even within the normal range was associated with chronic complications in type 2 diabetes.

Sesame food allergy (SFA); especially anaphylaxis, is a life-threatening condition. The accurate diagnosis of SFA is done by skin prick test (SPT), skin prick to prick (SPP) or specific IgE (sIgE) and is confirmed by oral food challenge (OFC). Since there are few studies evaluating and comparing the utility of these methods for diagnosis of sesame anaphylaxis in adult patients, we aimed to compare OFC with diagnostic tests, including SPT, SPP, and sesames IgE; using ImmunoCAP considering the sensitivity and specificity issues in patients with sesame anaphylaxis. Twenty patients with sesame anaphylaxis were diagnosed based on OFC. Then SPT, SPP, and sIgE were evaluated. Sixteen patients had positive OFC; while 4 patients had negative results. Out of 16 OFC+ patients, 7 patients were SPT+, 15 patients were SPP+, and 2 patients had detectable sIgE. A positive SPT indicated 44% sensitivity and 50% specificity. A positive SPP showed 87.5% sensitivity and 75% specificity. A positive ImmunoCAP test demonstrated 12.5% sensitivity and 75% specificity. The AUC of SPP was significant for the diagnosis of sesame anaphylaxis (p=0.038). In conclusion, when the OFC is not possible, the SPP test with natural sesame seed may be applicable in patients with a convincing history instead of the artificial or commercial extracts of sesame used for SPT. Positive SPP is a good alternative diagnostic method for patients with sesame anaphylaxis. Also, the poor sensitivity of SPT and sIgE may indicate the poor discriminative capability of these tests.

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in sesame allergy. 3 Although double-blind placebo oral food challenge (OFC) is the gold standard test for sesame allergy diagnosis, 1 on the basis of our previous study, other diagnostic methods such as prick test (SPT), skin prick to prick (SPP), specific IgE (sIgE), and finally, SPP may be suggested for diagnosis of those patients who cannot perform OFC. 4 Owing to the lack of a confirmed protocol and the increased sesame consumption in recent years, the true rate of sesame allergy may be higher in Iran. 5,6 Clinical manifestations range from S esame allergy is the most common allergy to seeds and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. 1 It has been recently estimated that sesame allergy affects 0.23% of US children and adults. A smaller, population-based study performed more than a decade ago introduced sesame as a food allergen, influencing about 0.1% of US children and adults. It shows the prevalence of sesame allergy is increasing. 2 Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening systemic, rapid onset reaction that its management is a clinical emergency, especially