effect of ultrasound exposure on erythrocytes sedimentation rate

In the present work, the effect of continuous wave [CW] ultrasound with different frequencies and different intensities on erythrocytes sedimentation rate [ESR] have been studied in vitro. Ultrasound exposure to erythrocytes suspended in saline leads to a change in the sedimentation rate of the cells relative to control. It was found that the change in ESR is a function of ultrasonic intensity and frequency as well as the sonification time. This behavior may be attributed to some changes in the cells due to the nonthermal [mechanical] mechanisms of interaction between ultrasonic waves and the suspended cells

predictive value of interleukin-6, ESR, C-R protein and somatosensory evoked potentials in acute ischemic stroke

The aim of this study was to correlate the plasma levels of interleukin-6 [IL-6], erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] and C- reactive protein [CRP] and the somatosensory evoked potentials [SEPs] in acute ischemic stroke with stroke severity and functional outcome at 3 months. Plasma levels of IL-6, ESR and CRP and the SEPs were determined in 30 ischemic stroke patients during the first week of stroke onset and compared with 15 matched apparently healthy control subjects. The levels of inflammatory markers and the SEPs were correlated with the infarct volume, stroke severity using Canadian Stroke Scale [CSS], and functional outcome at 3 months using modified Rankin Score [mRS], Plasma levels of IL-6, ESR and CRP were significantly higher in stroke patients than healthy controls [p< 0.001], more higher in severe stroke, larger size infarctions and correlated significantly with the functional outcome at 3 months. Also, there was significant positive correlation of N20 and P25 latency and significant negative correlation of N20 amplitude with functional outcome at 3 months. The plasma levels of IL-6, ESR and CRP and the SEPs are good predictors to the functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Comparative assessment of inflammation in the knee joint of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

In this study the thermographic index [TI] of the knee joint was compared with the other parameters of joint inflammation of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis [JRA]. Twenty patients with JRA were included in the study [70% females and 30% males]. The mean age of our patients was 9.9 + 2.5 years. Ten healthy children matching our cases as regard :sex, age and weight served as a control group. All the patients were subjected to clinical assessment [oint score], laboratory investigations [ESR, CRP. HB%], synovial fluid analysis [TLC and glucose] and TI measurement. A significant correlation was observed between the joint score, ESR, HB% and TLC of the synovial fluid. Insignificant correlations were reported between the joint score and CRP, and between the TLC, CRP and HB%. The glucose level in the synovial fluid insignificantly correlated with all the other clinical and laboratory variables. The TI was found to be significantly correlated with the joint score, ESR, HB% and TLC of the synovial fluid while, it was found to be insignificantly correlated with the CRP and the glucose level of the synovial fluid. It is concluded that the TI is a good index for the assessment of joint activity in JRA with an equivalent efficacy to the other clinical and laboratory parameters of joint inflammation