Objective: Despite the recent use of computed tomography scan and diagnostic laparoscopy, acute appendicitis is still highly misdiagnosed. Timely diagnosis of acute appendicitis is more crucial in children and elderly patients because of vague symptoms and rapid progression to perforation in these age groups, which may result in high rates of morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to find the diagnostic values of procalcitonin and interleukin 6 (IL-6) for diagnosing acute appendicitis in our center. Material and Methods: Patients who were suspected of acute appendicitis and referred to the emergency department of a tertiary care urban hospital in 2016 were enrolled in the study. A 5 mL blood sample was obtained from each patient before appendectomy and was examined for procalcitonin and IL-6. Then the resected specimen of the appendix was studied by a pathologist, and a definite diagnosis was made. Results: Eighty patients including 53 (66.3%) men who underwent appendectomy were enrolled in the study. The diagnosis of acute appendicitis was histopathologically confirmed in 60 (75%) patients including 18, 20, and 22 patients with inflammatory, suppurative, and gangrenous/perforated appendicitis, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of procalcitonin versus IL-6 for diagnosing acute appendicitis were 65% and 80% vs. 76% and 55%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of concurrent procalcitonin and IL-6 for diagnosing acute appendicitis were 95% and 55%, respectively. Conclusion: Our study suggests that parallel measurement of procalcitonin and IL-6 decreases unnecessary negative appendectomies.

Bacterial pathogens and drug resistance are different in hospitals of each country. In this study we determined bacterial path- ogens and drug sensitivity in the neonatal ward and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Ekbatan hospital in Hamedan. This cross-sectional descriptive study was done on 1150 hospitalized neonates in neonatal and NICU wards of Ekbatan hospital of the Hamadan university of medical sciences from September 2004 to September 2006. Blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), urine, stool, eye excretion, synovial fluid, umbilical secretion and ascitic fluid were evaluated. Positive cultures were evaluated for antibiotic resistance with disk diffusion test methed. All of the data in questionnaires was analyzed with SPSS 13. Cultures including blood, urine, CSF , stool, eye excretion, synovial fluid, umbilical secretion and ascitic fluid was done in 417 neonates (833 cultures). These cultures were including: urine, 323 cases (38.8%) blood 293 cases (35.2%), CSF 180 cases (21.6%) , stool 17 cases (2%), eye secretion 16 cases (1.9%) and other secretions (synovial, umbilical, etc) 4 cases (0.5%). The cultures were positive in 105 cases (25.2%). 60 male neonates (57.1%) and 45 female neonates (42.9%) were culture positive. The most common microorganisms were E coli 66.7% (70 cases), Klebsiella 10.5% (11 cases). Drug resistance was high in these microorganisms. The most common microorganisms were Ecoli and klebsiella. Drug resistance was high in the isolated microorganisms

Mean platelet count after phototherapy was higher than that before treatment. The study had propounded that mean platelet count increased with extended mean phototherapy time. This study had propounded this hypothesis that phototherapy in full term icteric newborns leads to increased platelet count. It may be due to accelerated platelet turnover in peripheral microvasculature with adequate platelet reserve.

Laparoscopic in situ pyeloplasty is a safe and effective approach that can help simplify laparoscopic pyeloplasty, especially at teaching centers where surgeons with variable levels of experience perform laparoscopic procedures.

Background:Activation and expansion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been proposed as a strategy to treat autoimmunity. When administered in low doses, IL-2 expands and activates Tregs leading to clinical response in several autoimmune diseases. However, the narrow therapeutic window of IL-2 results in loss of selectivity for Tregs and concurrent activation of conventional T cells (Tconv) and NK cells, limiting its clinical utility. This loss of selectivity may negate the clinical benefit of Treg activation and lead to dose-limiting side effects. PT101 is a novel engineered variant of IL-2 fused to an Fc protein backbone which in preclinical studies selectively activates Tregs without expanding Tconv or NK cells. PT101 is in clinical development for the treatment of patients with autoimmune diseases.Objectives:To assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of PT101 after a single dose in healthy human volunteers.Methods:We conducted a randomized, double-blind, single-ascending dose trial of PT101 or placebo (3:1 allocation). Five dose levels from 1 mg to 10 mg were administered by subcutaneous injection. Adverse events, physical examination findings, and clinical laboratory results were assessed for 29 days. Serum PT101 levels and antidrug antibody were assessed. Changes in mononuclear cell populations were measured in peripheral blood by flow cytometry.Results:56 subjects were administered PT101 or placebo. All subjects completed the study. There were no deaths, serious adverse events, dose limiting toxicities, or clinically significant changes in vital sign, ECG, or laboratory results. All adverse events were Grade 1 or 2 and self-limited. Injection site reactions were the most common adverse event. Transient increases in eosinophil counts were observed in some subjects, consistent with the known class effect of IL-2. Peak levels of PT101 occurred 11.0 to 14.6 hours after administration, and declined with a mean half-life of 20.4 to 28.3 hours, demonstrating linear exposure through the dose range. No anti-drug antibodies were induced. PT101 caused dose-related expansion of Tregs that plateaued at doses between 3.5 and 10 mg. Mean maximum expansion above baseline was 3.6-fold for total Tregs and 72.5-fold for the CD25bright subset of Tregs. Maximal expansion was observed by Day 8-10 with a return toward baseline by Day 29. Over 80% of subjects achieved a 2-fold or greater expansion of total Tregs (Table 1). No significant expansion of Tconv or NK cells was observed at any dose level.Table 1.Percent Total Treg RespondersFold Change Total TregsPlacebo(n=14)1 mg(n=6)3.5 mg(n=12)5 mg(n=12)7.5 mg(n=6)10 mg(n=6)≥ 2X7%33%83%83%100%100%≥ 3X0%0%58%75%33%50%≥ 4X0%0%24%42%33%17%Conclusion:PT101 was safe and well tolerated after a single dose in healthy volunteers. Marked expansion of both total Treg and CD25bright Treg cells was observed. High selectivity for Tregs was observed with no significant expansion of pro-inflammatory Tconv and NK cells even at the highest dose studied. These results support the therapeutic potential of PT101 in planned multiple dose studies in systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, and other autoimmune diseases.References:[1]Klatzmann, D., Abbas, A. The promise of low-dose interleukin-2 therapy for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Nat Rev Immunol 15, 283–294 (2015)Acknowledgements:Pandion Therapeutics acknowledges the participants and research staff who contributed to this clinical trialDisclosure of Interests:John S Sundy Shareholder of: Pandion Therapeutics, Employee of: Pandion Therapeutics, Kevin L. Otipoby Shareholder of: Pandion Therapeutics, Employee of: Pandion Therapeutics, Nathan Higginson-Scott Shareholder of: Pandion Therapeutics, Employee of: Pandion Therapeutics, Jyothsna Visweswaraiah Shareholder of: Pandion Therapeutics, Employee of: Pandion Therapeutics, Erik Sampson Shareholder of: Pandion Therapeutics, Employee of: Pandion Therapeutics, Katalin Kis-Toth Shareholder of: Pandion Therapeutics, Employee of: Pandion Therapeutics, Adrianne Monsef Shareholder of: Pandion Therapeutics, Employee of: Pandion Therapeutics, Parika Petaipimol Shareholder of: Pandion Therapeutics, Employee of: Pandion Therapeutics, David Essayan Consultant of: Pandion Therapeutics, Mary Ellen Cosenza Consultant of: Pandion Therapeutics, Rahul Kakkar Shareholder of: Pandion Therapeutics, Employee of: Pandion Therapeutics, Jo Viney Shareholder of: Pandion Therapeutics, Employee of: Pandion Therapeutics