• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.4905-4908
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• 2015

Background: Platelets are blood elements thought to play a role in the immune system and therefore tumor development and metastasis. Platelet activation parameters such as mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and plateletcrit (PCT) can be easily evaluated with the whole blood count and have been studied as markers of systemic inflammatory responses in various cancer types. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the correlation between endometrial pathologies and MPV, PDW and PCT. Materials and Methods: A total of 194 patients who presented to our clinic with abnormal vaginal bleeding were included in our study. The patients were divided into 3 groups (endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial cancer, control) according to their pathology results. The groups were compared for MPV, PDW, and PCT values obtained from the blood samples taken on endometrial biopsy day. Results: The endometrial cancer patients were the oldest group (p=0.04). There was no significant difference between the three groups in terms of white blood cell count (WBC), platelet count (PC), and hemoglobin (Hb) level. The highest MPV (p<0.001), PDW (p=0.002), and PCT (p<0.001) levels were in the endometrial cancer group, and the lowest levels were in the control group. Conclusions: The easy evaluation of platelet parameters in patients who are suspected of having endometrial pathology is a significant advantage. We found MPV, PDW, and PCT to be correlated with the severity of endometrial pathology with the highest values in endometrial cancer. Studies to be conducted together with different laboratory parameters will further help evaluate the diagnosis and severity of endometrial cancer and precursor lesions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5933-5937
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• 2015

Background: We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of baseline neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts along with the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in local and advanced gastric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, a total of 103 patients with gastric cancer were included. For all, patient characteristics and overall survival (OS) times were evaluated. Data from a complete blood count test including neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, white blood cell (WBC) and platelet (Plt) count, hemoglobin level (Hb) were recorded, and the NLR and PLR were obtained for every patient prior to pathological diagnosis before any treatment was applied. Results: Of the patients, 53 had local disease, underwent surgery and were administered adjuvant chemoradiotherapy where indicated. The remaining 50 had advanced disease and only received chemotherapy. OS time was $71.6{\pm}6$ months in local gastric cancer patients group and $15{\pm}2$ months in the advanced gastric cancer group. Univariate analysis demonstrated that only high platelet count (p=0.013) was associated with better OS in the local gastric cancer patients. In contrast, both low NLR (p=0.029) and low PLR (p=0.012) were associated with better OS in advanced gastric cancer patients. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that NLR and PLR had no effect on prognosis in patients with local gastric cancer who underwent surgery and received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. In advanced gastric cancer patients, both NLR and PLR had significant effects on prognosis, so they may find application as easily measured prognostic factors for such patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2061-2067
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• 2014

Background: It has been demonstrated that neutrophil:lymphocyte (NLR) and platelet:lymphocyte (PLR) ratios are associated with prognosis in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pretreatment white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, platelet, basophil and eosinophil counts, LDH level, NLR and PLR are associated with prognosis in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed files of 50 patients who were managed with a diagnosis of MPM between 2005 and 2010. Demographic and clinical characteristics, treatments, response to treatment and prognostic factors were evaluated, along with relationships between pretreatment blood parameters and prognosis. Results: Overall, 38 men and 12 women were included to the study. Mean age was $61.5{\pm}9.4$ years (range: 39-83 years). There was advanced disease in 86% (n=43) and the histological type was epithelial mesothelioma in the majority (82%). Of the cases, 17 (34%) received radiotherapy, while 42 cases underwent first- and second-line chemotherapy, with cisplatin plus pemetrexed as the most commonly used regimen. In the assessment after therapy, it was found that there was complete response in 4 cases (8%), partial response in 10 cases (20%), stable disease in 17 cases (34%) and progression in 19 cases (38%). Median follow-up was 10 months (range: 10 day-30 months). Median overall survival was found to be 20.7 months while median progression-free survival as 10 months. In univariate and multivariate analyses, it was found that factors significantly affecting overall survival included stage (p=0.030), response to treatment (p=0.026) and monocyte count (p=0.004), while factors affecting disease-free survival included NLR (p=0.018), response to treatment (p=0.001), and PLR score (p=0.003). Conclusions: Overall and disease-free survival was found to be better in cases with a WBC count<8.000, platelet count<300,000, and low NLR and PLR scores in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.123-127
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• 2011

Purpose: Kawasaki disease (KD) is the main cause of acquired heart disease in children. In addition to cardiovascular involvement, many complications have been recognized in KD. However, respiratory complications have been rarely reported. We investigated the differences in clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, radiography findings, and echocardiography findings of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and other types of pneumonia in KD patients. Methods: Among 358 patients with KD, 54 developed concurrent pneumonia. Among the 54 patients, 12 (22.2%) with high titers of anti-M. pneumoniae antibody (AMA) (>1:640) were grouped in the M. pneumoniae group and 42 were included in the control group. Serum AMA was measured in each patient. Clinical laboratory findings and total duration of fever were analyzed. Results: The duration of fever, serum hemoglobin, white blood cell count, platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, albumin level, and the incidence of coronary arterial lesions showed no statistical difference in the 2 groups. Neutrophil count was significantly higher in the M. pneumoniae group than in the control group. Among various radiography findings observed in pneumonia, consolidation and pleural effusion were more frequent in the M. pneumoniae group than in the control group. On the other hand, parahilar peribronchial opacification, diffuse interstitial lesion, and normal findings prevailed in the control group. Conclusion: KD patients can have concurrent infections, especially pulmonary symptoms. The cause of KD is likely to be associated with M. pneumoniae infection. Thus, immediate treatment of M. pneumoniae infection in KD patients is very important.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2020

Background: Fever is a common cause of pediatric consultation in the emergency department. However, identifying the source of infection in many febrile infants is challenging because of insufficient presentation of signs and symptoms. Meningitis is a critical cause of fever in infants, and its diagnosis is confirmed invasively by lumbar puncture. This study aimed to evaluate potential laboratory markers for meningitis in febrile infants. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed infants aged <3 months who visited the emergency department of our hospital between May 2012 and May 2017 because of fever of unknown etiology. Clinical information and laboratory data were evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed. Results: In total, 145 febrile infants aged <3 months who underwent lumbar punctures were evaluated retrospectively. The mean C-reactive protein (CRP) level was significantly higher in the meningitis group than in the non-meningitis group, whereas the mean white blood cell count or absolute neutrophil count (ANC) did not significantly differ between groups. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for CRP was 0.779 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.701-0.858). The AUC for the leukocyte count was 0.455 (95% CI, 0.360-0.550) and that for ANC was 0.453 (95% CI, 0.359-0.547). The CRP cut-off value of 10 mg/L was optimal for identifying possible meningitis. Conclusion: CRP has an intrinsic predictive value for meningitis in febrile infants aged <3 months. Despite its invasiveness, a lumbar puncture may be recommended to diagnose meningitis in young, febrile infants with a CRP level >10 mg/L.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.748-756
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• 2019

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of using a tunnel ventilation system within the dairy barn environment upon the productivity of dairy cows during the winter season. Methods: The study was performed at the University Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University. Twenty-one Holstein dairy cows (5 heifers and 16 multiparous) were enclosed in a stall barn. Unventilated (UV) and tunnel-ventilated (TV) was operated by turns every other week, and a number of key parameters were measured in the barn, including tunnel ventilation output, temperature, relative humidity, gas concentrations (oxygen [$O_2$], carbon dioxide [$CO_2$], and ammonia [$NH_3$]). Also, skin and rectal temperature, respiratory rate, blood gas concentrations, and bacterial count were measured from nipple attachments on ten cows. The amount of fodder left uneaten, and general components and somatic cell count of the milk were measured. Results: As for our dairy barn environment, air temperature dropped significantly with the passage of time with TV. Humidity was significantly higher with TV at 0600 h compared to UV, while $CO_2$ and $NH_3$ concentrations with UV were significantly higher than with TV at 0000 h and 0600 h. Skin temperature was significantly lower with TV compared to UV at 0000 h and 0600 h. Respiratory rate was also significantly lower at 0600 h with TV than with UV. Bacterial count for the nipple attachments was significantly lower with TV than with UV at 0600 h. The amount of leftover fodder was significantly less with TV in comparison with UV. Conclusion: Our results suggest that a TV system in the winter barn results in environmental improvements, such as reductions in unfavorable gas concentrations and bacterial growth. Consequently, it is expected that barns utilizing a TV system will be beneficial for both animal health and production.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.109-113
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• 1985

It was well known that B. pertussis cells possess protective antigen, histamine sensitizing factor, heatstable and labile toxin, hemagglutinin, agglutinogen and the others. Previous reports involving above antigenic properties of B. pertussis have been carried out for several years. However, leucocyte promoting property was not yet investigated. In this report, the results of studies on the leucocytosis, particulary the lymphocytosis, produced in mice by injecting pertussis vaccine were presented. Especially leucocyte promoting property and histamine sensitizing property of B. pertussis vaccine treated at various temperatures were compared. The relationship between the leucocyte promoting property and histamine sensitizing property was investigated. Results were as follows. 1. Although leucocytosis was significantly rised in both 0.5ml injection and 0.1ml injection of pertussis vaccine than in control, at the higher dose (0.5ml injection) an elevation in white cell count was more significant. The leucocyte responce to pertussis vaccine was greater following 0.5 ml injection than following 0.1ml injection. 2. Lymphocytosis was significantly rised in both 0.5ml injection and 0.1ml injection of pertussis vaccine than in control. At higher dose (0.5ml injection), an elevation in lymphocyte count was more significant. 3. Order of elevation in differential leucocyte counts was lymphocyte, polymorphonuclear leucocyte and monocyte. 4. The leucocyte response to pertussis vaccine was 2 fold greater following intravenous injection than following subcutaneous injection. 5. Decrease leucocyte promoting activity and histamine sensitizing activity resulted from exposure to temperature above $56^{\circ}C$. Histamine sensitizing activity of pertussis vaccine treated at various temperatures paralleled leucocyte promoting activity.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was performed in order to investigate the effect of Panax notoginseng(SCG) on phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced hemolytic anemia in rats. Materials and Methods : Rats were divided equally into 3 groups (Normal, Control, SCG). Anemic model rats (Control, SCG) were induced by the treatment of PHZ (40mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 3 days. Red blood cell, hemoglobin, reticulocyte count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were determined on days 0, 4, 7 and 10. Body weight was investigated on days 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and weight of spleen was measured on day 10. Results : In the SCG group, significantly higher levels of RBC was found on day 4 and higher concentration of Hb on days 4, 7 and 10. Furthermore, reticulocyte count was dramatically lower on day 10 compared to the control group. Conclusions : These results suggest that SCG may be beneficial in the treatment of hemolytic anemia.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2775-2780
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• 2012

In recent years there has been a substantial increase in the use of functional foods for disease control. Fruits and vegetables produce phytochemicals such as flavonoids and antioxidants which can lower oxidative stress and reduce the risk of chronic ailments like cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant capacity and the possible protective effects of Amaranthus paniculatus leaves on the antioxidant defense system in Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma (EAC)-treated mice. Oral administration of the leaf extract at different doses caused a significant decrease in tumor volume, viable cell count and tumor weight and elevated the life span of EAC bearing mice. It also showed an improved antioxidant potential as evidenced by a significant increase in the cellular antioxidant defense system such as catalase, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione and also significantly reduced the levels of TBARS. The levels of RBC, hemoglobin and lymphocyte count were altered in EAC bearing mice and were reverted back to near normal levels after the treatment with the leaf extracts. Their adequate content of total phenolics and flavonoids, DPPH scavenging activity which further suggests that the extracts exert a significant protection against oxidative stress conditions.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2009

This study was carried out to assess the antilisterial potential of ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of a marine isolate of Aspergillus sp. The in vitro antilisterial efficacy of ethyl acetate extract was examined using disc diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination, cell viable count and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) methods against the employed strains of Listeria monocytogenus. The ethyl acetate extract ($300{\mu}g\;disc^{-1}$) exhibited a promising antilisterial effect as diameters of inhibition zones against L. monocytogenes ATCC 19111, 19116, 19118, 19166 and 15313, which were found in the range of 11-17 mm along with their MIC values ranging from 125 to $1000{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$ respectively. Also the EtOAc extract had strong detrimental effect on the viable count of the tested L. monocytogens ATCC 19166. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopic (SEM) study demonstrated potential detrimental effect of ethyl acetate extract on the morphology of L. monocytogenes ATCC 19116 at the used MIC concentration. These findings strongly support the role of ethyl acetate extract of a marine isolate of Aspergillus sp. as an antiliterial potential.