Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Structure and Function of Platelets

Structure and Function of Platelets

The cell fragments known as platelets are disc-shaped, with an average diameter of about 3 μm and a thickness of roughly 1 μm. They play a crucial role in the body's vascular clotting system, which also involves plasma proteins, blood cells, and blood vessel tissues.
Platelets are continually replenished, circulating in the bloodstream for 9-12 days before being removed by phagocytes, primarily in the spleen. A microliter of circulating blood contains between 150,000 and 450,000...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Assessing mathematics anxiety with the AMAS: Measurement invariance across four countries.

PloS one·2026

Same author

Clipless robotic LIMA harvesting: monitoring performance and safety through CUSUM and RA-CUSUM analyses.

Journal of robotic surgery·2026

Same author

Considering Pain in Newborn Circumcision.

JAMA pediatrics·2025

Same author

More Than Just Anxiety: Math Attitudes as Key Driver of University Choice.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2025

Same author

Chromosomal Deletion Involving ANKRD26 Leads to Expression of a Fusion Protein Responsible for ANKRD26-Related Thrombocytopenia.

International journal of molecular sciences·2025

Same author

Acute otomastoiditis in children: a scoping review on diagnosis and antibiotic regimens.

European journal of pediatrics·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 15, 2025

A Plate-based Cytotoxicity Assay for the Assessment of Rat Placental Natural Killer Cell Cytolytic Function

A Plate-based Cytotoxicity Assay for the Assessment of Rat Placental Natural Killer Cell Cytolytic Function

Published on: June 2, 2019

Values of PCT in neonates.

Giuseppina Mancino¹, Simone Ajello¹, Flavio Storelli¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

Minerva Pediatrics

|January 4, 2023

Summary

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a reliable infection marker in newborns. Elevated PCT levels in infants indicate a higher likelihood of infection, distinguishing them from non-infective cases.

More Related Videos

Comprehensive Analysis of Procoagulant Platelets Exhibiting Features of Necrosis, Apoptosis and Platelet Activation

Comprehensive Analysis of Procoagulant Platelets Exhibiting Features of Necrosis, Apoptosis and Platelet Activation

Published on: May 23, 2025

Procoagulant Platelet Characterization by Measuring Phosphatidylserine Exposure and Microvesicle Release from Human Purified Platelets

Procoagulant Platelet Characterization by Measuring Phosphatidylserine Exposure and Microvesicle Release from Human Purified Platelets

Published on: November 29, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 15, 2025

A Plate-based Cytotoxicity Assay for the Assessment of Rat Placental Natural Killer Cell Cytolytic Function

A Plate-based Cytotoxicity Assay for the Assessment of Rat Placental Natural Killer Cell Cytolytic Function

Published on: June 2, 2019

Comprehensive Analysis of Procoagulant Platelets Exhibiting Features of Necrosis, Apoptosis and Platelet Activation

Comprehensive Analysis of Procoagulant Platelets Exhibiting Features of Necrosis, Apoptosis and Platelet Activation

Published on: May 23, 2025

Procoagulant Platelet Characterization by Measuring Phosphatidylserine Exposure and Microvesicle Release from Human Purified Platelets

Procoagulant Platelet Characterization by Measuring Phosphatidylserine Exposure and Microvesicle Release from Human Purified Platelets

Published on: November 29, 2024

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Neonatal Medicine
Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a calcitonin precursor produced in thyroid C cells.
Microbial toxins and inflammatory mediators can trigger PCT release.
PCT serves as a crucial biomarker for infection diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze Procalcitonin (PCT) values in newborns at risk for infection.
To establish reference PCT levels for neonatal infection assessment.
To evaluate the reliability of PCT as an infection index in neonates.

Main Methods:

Retrospective analysis of 1356 PCT values from 224 at-risk newborns in 2019.
Selected PCT values obtained within 24 hours of blood culture sampling.
Compared PCT levels between newborns with positive and negative blood cultures.

Main Results:

Newborns with positive blood cultures showed significantly higher PCT levels (17.061 ng/mL) than those with negative cultures (4.6 ng/mL).
No significant difference in PCT was observed between preterm and term infants with negative blood cultures.
Established distinct PCT values for non-infective neonates.

Conclusions:

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a reliable indicator of infection in newborns.
Neonatal PCT reference ranges differ from those in older children and adults.
This study provides valuable PCT data for diagnosing infections in neonates.