The American journal of the medical sciences
-
Serum markers, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimer, are currently used by clinicians and orthopedic surgeons in diagnosing and managing joint infections (JI), although conflicting results exist on their performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate their performance in assessing healing or unhealing of patients with JI or with prosthetic joint infection (PJI). ⋯ Using a cut off value of 25 mm/h for ESR, 0.5 mg/L for CRP, and 700 ng/ml for D-dimer, it might be possible to discriminate healed from unhealed patients (PPV and NPV: ESR 65.5% and 68.8%, CRP 71.9% and 79.3%, D-dimer 76.9% and 81.8%). The combined use of these three inflammatory markers might be useful in the management of joint infections.
-
Letter Case Reports
An unusual case of diverticulitis protruding into sigmoid colon.
-
Letter Case Reports
A rare case of fibroma of tendon sheath in the cervico shoulder muscle space.
-
Editorial Historical Article
The History of Medicine on Postage Stamps: The Discovery of Insulin.