Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Levels Research Articles

A Comprehensive Analysis of Renal and Endothelium Dysfunction Markers Fourteen Years after Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome Contraction

While the pathology of acute hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) has been widely researched, details on the chronic HFRS sequelae remain mainly unexplored. In this study, we analyzed the clinical and laboratory characteristics of 30 convalescent HFRS patients 14 years after the disease contraction, mainly emphasizing several endothelial dysfunction parameters. Convalescent HFRS patients exhibited significantly higher serum levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, von Willebrand factor, uric acid, C-reactive protein and immunoglobulin A when compared to healthy individuals. Furthermore, 24 h urine analyses revealed significantly lower sodium and potassium urine levels, as well as significantly higher proteinuria, microalbumin levels and β2-microglobulin levels when compared to healthy individuals. First morning urine analysis revealed significantly higher levels of hematuria in convalescent HFRS patients. None of the additional analyzed endothelium dysfunction markers were significantly different in post-HFRS patients and healthy individuals, including serum and urine P-selectin, E-selectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). However, binary logistic regression revealed a weak association of serum sVCAM-1 and urine VEGF levels with HFRS contraction. Generally, our findings suggest mild chronic inflammation and renal dysfunction levels in convalescent HFRS patients 14 years after the disease contraction.

Association of using enteral nutrition containing probiotics and dietary inflammatory index with inflammatory factors serum levels and gastrointestinal complications in infected patients with COVID-19

Purpose This paper aims to examine the association between the dietary inflammatory index, the consumption of Enteral Nutrition Supplemented with probiotics with certain serum inflammation markers and gastrointestinal complications among individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach This cross-sectional investigation involved 100 COVID-19 patients who were admitted to intensive care units in hospitals. These patients were administered two different types of Enteral Nutrition, so the dietary inflammatory index (DII), gastrointestinal complications and some serum inflammation markers have been compared between two groups. Findings The mean DII scores in all patients were significantly pro-inflammatory (probiotic formula 2.81 ± 0.01 vs usual formula group 2.93 ± 0.14 p = 0.19). The probiotic formula consumption had an inverse association with High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein concentration (coef = −3.19, 95% CI −1.25, −5.14 p = 0.001) and lead to a reduction of 2.14 mm/h in the serum level of Erythrocyte sedimentation rate compared to normal formula. The incidence of diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting in probiotic formula patients was respectively 94%, 14% and 86% less than in usual formula patients (p = 0.05). Originality/value In this cross-sectional study for the first time, the authors found that probiotic formula consumption was inversely associated with serum inflammation markers and gastrointestinal complications incidence. The high DII leads to more gastrointestinal complications incidence and inflammation markers. More studies are needed to prove this relationship.

Assessment of visual and blood-related parameters among children with sickle cell anaemia at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano, Nigeria.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a prevalent genetic disease worldwide and particularly in Nigeria. Retinopathy is a known complication of SCD, underscoring the need to assess visual parameters in children. This study aimed to evaluate the visual acuity (VA), color vision (CV), packed cell volume (PCV), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of Sickle cell anemic (SCA) patients attending the Sickle cell counseling unit of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital (MMSH) in Kano. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study consisting of 60 participants, including 30 SCA patients and 30 healthy controls without systemic or ocular diseases, aged between 8 and 14 years. Visual acuity, CV, PCV, and ESR were assessed using Snellen Chart, Ishihara chart, Hematocrit test, and Westergren Method respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Both SCA patients and controls demonstrated limited knowledge about VA, CV, and ESR tests, and a significant percentage had never undergone these tests. SCA patients exhibited mild to moderate visual impairment (VI) in both eyes, while controls had no VI. Abnormally low PCV and ESR values were observed in all SCA patients, whereas controls had normal values. Gender differences were observed in ESR levels, with females showing higher levels. Significant differences were found between controls and SCA patients in terms of VA, ESR, and PCV values. There was a general lack of awareness regarding the importance of VA and CV tests in the community. Visual impairment and abnormal PCV and ESR values were exclusive to the SCA patients, indicating their association with the disease.

Immunological alterations in patients with current and lifetime suicide ideation and attempts: Examining the relationship with depressive symptoms

BackgroundSuicidal ideation and attempt (SI/SA) have been associated with dysregulation of the immune response and inflammation. However, few studies have explored how innate and acquired cellular immunity impact on the peripheral immune response. Our study addresses this gap by examining the composition of peripheral immune cells and humoral markers among individuals with current SI/SA, individuals with a history of SI/SA, and healthy controls (HC). Additionally, we aim to explore whether depressive symptoms settle the relationship between inflammation and SI/SA. MethodsThis is a multicenter case-control study that included 105 participants. Clinical and demographic characterists together with hemogram parameters, soluble pro and anti-inflamatory factors, and specific innate and adaptive immune cell populations were compared among patients with current SI/SA (n = 21), a history of lifetime SI/SA (n = 42), and HC (n = 42). ResultsPatients with both current and lifetime SI/SA had a significant increase in the absolute count of monocytes and in the monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR). Additionally, patients with current and lifetime SI/SA showed a significant increase in high-sensitivity C- reactive protein (hs-CRP), and patients with lifetime SI/SA also showed higher levels of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR). The cellular inflammatory status of patients with SI/SA was characterized by altered proportions of monocytes with higher levels of nonclassical and intermediate monocytes. No differences were observed in the number of lymphocytes and the proportion of CD4 and CD8 between patients and HC, but we found differences in markers of exhaustion of CD4 lymphocytes, with increased levels of Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) in Current SI/SA and Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3) in Current SI/SA and Lifetime SI/SA compared to HC. The plasmainflammatory status was marked by higher levels of soluble Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) in patients with lifetime SI/SA compared to HC. Finally, the multinomial analysis indicates that inflammation and depressive symptoms are independently associated with SI/SA. ConclusionThis study highlights the association of immunological alterations with SI/SA. Furthremore, SI/SA is independently influenced by depressive symptoms and inflammation. This may have important therapeutic implications, as in these patients, it may be necessary to treat the inflammatory process beyond treating the depressive symptoms.

E039 Multiple myeloma and neurological complications: prevalence and risk factors

Abstract Background/Aims Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant haematological disorder with a highly variable clinical presentation. Few studies have explored the neurological complications (CN) associated with MM. The objectives of this study were to describe the neurological manifestations observed in MM and to determine predictive factors for neurological complications. Methods We collected data from 126 cases of symptomatic multiple myeloma patients followed in our department over a 30-year period (1993 - 2023). We gathered sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory data. Neurological complications were diagnosed based on clinical findings and magnetic resonance imaging data. Results Our study included 126 patients with an average age of 65.23 ± 11.63 years [36-92], and a male-to-female sex ratio of 3.8. Bone pain was present in 92.1% (116 cases) with an average duration of 4 months. The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels were 99.08 mm at H1 [3-190] and 27.74 [0-196], respectively. Hemoglobin levels were less than 10g/dl in 51.2% of cases, with an average of 9.902 ± 2.22 g/dl [5-13.9]. Calcium levels exceeded 2.75 mmol/l in 20% of cases, with an average of 2.49 ± 0.33 mmol/l. The mean creatinine level was 88.28 ± 77.9 μmol/l [36-587], with levels above 177 μmol/l observed in 15 cases (10.4%). The Durie and Salmon prognostic classification categorized our patients as follows: Stage IA (3.2%), Stage IIA (4%), Stage IIB (0.8%), Stage IIIA (72.2%), and Stage IIIB (18.3%). Neurological complications were present in 22.2% of patients (n = 28). Sixteen patients (12.7%) had spinal cord compression, with nine having dorsal involvement, six having conus medullaris involvement, and one having cervical involvement. Radicular pain affected 14 patients, with eight experiencing sciatalgia and four having cruralgia. Two patients (1.8%) had carpal tunnel syndrome. No cerebral involvement was observed in our series. In our study, only creatinine levels were significantly lower in patients who developed neurological complications (64.35 vs. 95.19, p = 0.004). However, the occurrence of neurological complications was independent of age (p = 0.696), duration of evolution (p = 0.669), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p = 0.541), C-reactive protein (p = 0.963), hemoglobin (p = 0.076), or calcium levels (p = 0.274). No association was found between neurological complications and gender (p = 0.849) or prognostic stage (p = 0.119) Conclusion Neurological manifestations in MM are diverse and often underestimated. The diagnosis of MM should be considered in the presence of spinal or radicular compression, especially when the laboratory findings suggest it. Disclosure M. Dhifallah: None. I. Fenniche: None. A. Feki: None. S. Ben Djemaa: None. M. Kallel: None. H. Fourat: None. R. Akrout: None. S. Baklouti: None.

Association of gene polymorphisms and the decreased expression of long non-coding RNA LOC553103 with rheumatoid arthritis.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in many key bioprocesses, including the occurrence and development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to analyze the association of genetic variants of long non-coding RNA LOC553103 and its peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) expression with RA. We enrolled 457 RA patients and 551 healthy controls and conducted a case-control study to analyze the relationship between LOC553103 gene rs272879 and the susceptibility of RA by TaqMan single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping. Among them, we sampled 92 cases and 92 controls, respectively, to detect the PBMC level of LOC553103 using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction technology. We explored the association between LOC553103 rs272879 and its PBMC expression levels in 71 RA patients. Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, and Spearman correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis and P-value <.05 was considered statistically significant. The genotype frequency of LOC553103 rs272879 CC was increased, and CG was decreased in RA patients compared to the control group (χ2 = 6.772, P = .034). The LOC553103 expression level in PBMC of RA patients was downregulated compared to healthy control (Z = -4.497, P < .001). Moreover, negative correlations were observed between the PBMC level of LOC553103 and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (rs = -0.262, P = .018), white blood cell count (rs = -0.382, P = .004), platelet (rs = -0.293, P = .030), and disease activity score in 28 joints (rs = -0.271, P = .016) in RA patients. This study provides the first evidence supporting an association between LOC553103 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility of RA and a relationship of PBMC level of LOC553103 with clinical manifestations and laboratory indicators of RA patients.

Impact of elevated body mass index (BMI) on cognitive functioning and inflammation in persons with post-COVID-19 condition: a secondary analysis.

Individuals who have recovered from the acute stage of SARS-CoV-2 infection may be at risk of developing post-COVID-19 condition (PCC), characterised by a spectrum of persisting, non-specific, and functionally impairing symptoms across multiple organ systems. Obesity has been implicated as a risk factor for PCC, mediated by chronic systemic inflammation. The foregoing has also been separately reported to mediate cognitive dysfunction in PCC. This is a post-hoc analysis of a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating vortioxetine treatment for cognitive impairments in persons with PCC who received vortioxetine or placebo for eight weeks. This analysis comprises baseline data, examining the impact of BMI on cognitive functioning measured by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and Trails Making Tests (TMT)-A/B, as well as inflammation, via serum c-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Complete data from 70 participants were statistically analysed and adjusted for age and sex. BMI was negatively correlated with performance on the DSST (β = -0.003, p = 0.047), TMT-A (β = -0.006, p = 0.025), and TMT-B (β = -0.006, p = 0.002). BMI was positively correlated with serum CRP (unstandardized β = 0.193, standardized β = 0.612, p < 0.001) and ESR (β = 0.039, p < 0.001) levels. We observed a significant negative correlation between BMI and cognitive functioning, and a significant positive correlation between BMI and inflammation in persons with PCC, suggesting a bidirectional interplay between BMI, PCC, and cognitive function; individuals with an elevated BMI may be at a greater risk of developing PCC and/or presenting with greater cognitive deficits mediated by chronic systemic inflammation.

MARKERS OF COMPLICATIONS AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC GASTRIC BYPASS IN PATIENTS WITH OBESITY

Introduction. Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective methods of treating morbid obesity, which allows for a long-lasting result. Along with the increase in the number of operative methods of obesity treatment, the relevance of issues related to postoperative complications is increasing. In recent years, the issue of using special checklists after surgery has been actively investigated. This will help optimize the process of monitoring patients' condition in the postoperative period.&#x0D; The aim of the study: to develop a check-list model to prevent the detection of complications after laparoscopic gastric bypass in obese patients.&#x0D; Materials and methods. On the basis of the developed checklist, a study of the condition of obese patients, who underwent laparoscopic gastric bypass during 2019-2023, was conducted on the basis of the Department of General Surgery No. 2 of the Bogomolets National Medical University. The checklist included the following criteria: the level of pain on the VAS scale, the level of nausea, eating, mobility, whether there is a desire to be discharged home, abdominal muscle tension, pain in the calf muscles, heart rate, oxygen saturation in the blood, the number drainage discharge within 24 hours, temperature, systolic blood pressure, central venous pressure, laboratory diagnosis, decrease in hemoglobin concentration, leukocyte level after surgery, C-reactive protein level after surgery, blood procalcitonin level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate level, the presence of a shift in the leukocyte formula to the left. The presence of complications was assessed, the parameters of the checklist were analyzed using univariate logistic regression and ROC analysis for early detection of complications and determination of the chance of complications in the future.&#x0D; Results. Complications occurred in 18/218 (8.2%). The most frequent complication was bleeding in 6/18 (33.3%). Reoperation was performed in 12 cases of 12/18 (66.6%), endoscopic treatment was performed in 1 case, and conservative methods were used in 5 cases. According to the checklist, 31.81% had a positive predictive value (PPV) and 99.56% had a negative predictive value (NPV). The optimal cut-off point of the total score of the checklist was 6. Patients with a positive prognosis of the checklist have a higher chance of developing complications of VSH – 4.5 (95% CI 1.8-9.72), p &lt;0.001.&#x0D; Conclusions. The complication rate was 18/218 (8.2%). According to the checklist, heart rate, systolic blood pressure and mobility are very good predictors of postoperative complications. The checklist is the best option for determining the readiness of patients to be discharged from the hospital due to a high prognostic negative result. Due to the low prognostic positive result, the evaluated checklist needs additional modification and optimization taking into account the results already obtained.

Serum PYCARD may become a new diagnostic marker for rheumatoid arthritis patients

BackgroundThe objective of this investigation is to analyze the levels and clinical relevance of serum PYCARD (Pyrin and CARD domain-containing protein, commonly known as ASC—apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase activation and recruitment domain), interleukin-38 (IL-38), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in individuals afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsOur study comprised 88 individuals diagnosed with RA who sought medical attention at the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University during the period spanning November 2021 to June 2023, constituting the test group. Additionally, a control group of 88 individuals who underwent health assessments at the same hospital during the aforementioned timeframe was included for comparative purposes. The study involved the assessment of IL-38, IL-6, PYCARD, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels in both groups. The research aimed to explore the correlations and diagnostic efficacy of these markers, employing pertinent statistical analyses for comprehensive evaluation.ResultsThe test group had higher expression levels of PYCARD, IL-6, and IL-38 than the control group (P < 0.05). Based on the correlation analysis, there was a strong relationship between PYCARD and IL-38 (P < 0.01). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.97, 0.96, and 0.96 when using combinations of PYCARD and anti-CCP, IL-38 and anti-CCP, and IL-6 and anti-CCP for predicting RA, respectively. Importantly, all three of these pairs demonstrated superior AUC values compared to PYCARD, IL-38, IL-6, ESR, or anti-CCP used as standalone diagnostic indicators.ConclusionPYCARD, IL-6, and IL-38 exhibit promising potential as novel diagnostic markers and may constitute valuable tools for supporting the diagnosis of RA.

Role of endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase-1 gene polymorphism (rs13167972) in occurrence susceptibility of ankylosing spondylitis in a sample of Iraqi male patients.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic and systemic seronegative inflammatory spondyloarthropathy, an autoimmune disease that has been associated with impaired Endoplasmic Reticulum Aminopeptidase (ERAP)-1 activity, which is involved in priming antigenic peptides. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association of 3-UTR of ERAP1 gene polymorphism (rs13167972) with the AS occurrence susceptibility in a sample of Iraqi male patients. The AS patients were diagnosed clinically and by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other clinical and laboratory criteria like symptoms, increased C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The blood grouping and Body Mass Index (BMI) were also investigated to be associated with AS occurrence. The genotyping of the 3-UTR region of the ERAP1 gene (rs13167972) was done by Sanger sequencing. The results revealed that the AS occurred significantly in the age group of 20-35years (p = 0.013). The BMI shows that the AS patients were overweighted males (p = 0.013) and the most predominant blood group in AS patients was O- (p = 0.002). The ESR and serum level of CRP were significantly raised in AS patient sera (< 0.001). The results of the receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis (ROC) revealed that the CRP (AUC: 0.995, cut-off: 2.48mg/L, had 95% %sensitivity, 100% specificity, p < 0.001) is more discriminative than BMI (AUC: 0.300, cut-off: 46.91kg, had 0% sensitivity, 100% specificity, p = 0.001), and ESR (AUC: 0.808, cut-off: 7.50mm/hr, had 60% sensitivity, 88% specificity, p < 0.001) in distinguishing between AS patients and control group. The genotyping of the 3-UTR region of ERAP1 gene (rs13167972) result shows that the AG and GG genotypes are significantly occurring in AS patients (70%, OR: 2.33, 95%CI: 1.02-5.36, p = 0.04). The G allele is significantly occurring in AS patients (47%, OR: 2.07, 95CI%: 1.15-3.71, p = 0.01). The AS occurred in young overweight males with blood group O-. The AG and GG genotypes are risk factors for AS development while the G allele is a risk factor that increases the chances for disease incidence.

Comparison of efficacy of acupuncture-related therapies in treating Acute Gouty Arthritis: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Backgroundand purpose: Acupuncture and moxibustion, as a complementary and alternative therapy, has been widely used in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis (AGA). However, there are various forms of acupuncture and moxibustion, and the curative effect of different forms is different. This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of different acupuncture therapies in treating AGA by network meta-analysis. MethodsComputer searches of English databases (including PubMed, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, Embase) and Chinese databases (including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, Wanfang Database and China Biomedical Literature Database) were conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture therapies in treating AGA. We set the search time from the database establishment to May 2022. Data analysis was performed using Stata14.2 software. ResultsThirty-two RCTs involving 2434 patients with AGA were screened out. The results showed that in terms of the improvement of pain visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, the top ones were acupoint application (100%), electroacupuncture + Western medicine (73.5%) and acupuncture + Western medicine (69.2%); In terms of total effective rate, acupoint application (85.2%), acupuncture (75.2%) and acupuncture + Western medicine (63%) ranked the top; In terms of reducing serum uric acid (SUA) levels, the top ones were acupoint application (95%), acupuncture + Western medicine (87.5%) and acupuncture (66.2%); In terms of the reduction of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), acupuncture (95%), acupoint application (84.7%), and electroacupuncture + Western medicine (52.8%) were the most prominent. ConclusionThe existing evidence shows that acupoint application has more advantages in improving the total effective rate, improving pain and reduce SUA levels, and acupuncture has an advantage in reducing ESR levels and adverse events. However, due to the low qualities of the original studies, the quality of this evidence is poor. Therefore, it is recommended that more scientific research be performed to confirm the efficacy of acupuncture.

The impact of inflammatory biomarkers on amputation rates in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) are a major complication of diabetes, often leading to amputation. Understanding the relationship between haematological inflammatory markers and the incidence of amputation in DFU patients with infectious complications is crucial for improving management and outcomes. This retrospective study, conducted from May 2020 to October 2022, involved 109 patients with DFUs, categorised into amputation (AM) and non-amputation (NAM) groups. Patients were evaluated for various factors, including demographic data, DFU duration, and blood parameters such as haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), haemoglobin (Hb), albumin (ALB), white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR). Statistical analyses were performed using independent sample t-tests, Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression. The univariate analysis showed no significant difference in BMI, DM duration or DFU duration between groups. However, significant differences were noted in PCT, Hb, ESR, ALB, HbA1c and WBC levels, and in inflammatory ratios (NLR, PLR and LMR). Multivariate logistic regression identified CRP, NLR and PLR as independent risk factors for amputation. The study highlights CRP, PLR and NLR as key independent risk factors for amputation in patients with DFUs. These easily obtainable markers from routine blood tests can effectively aid in predicting the risk of osteomyelitis and amputation, enhancing clinical decision making and patient care strategies.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in heartworm naturally infected dogs "with or without" Leishmania infantum seropositivity: an observational prospective study.

Canine heartworm disease by Dirofilaria immitis and canine leishmaniosis by Leishmania infantum (CanL) are both vector-borne diseases with frequently overlapping endemicity and able to trigger the acute phase response, being characterized by variations in acute phase proteins (APP). Recently, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), an indicator of inflammation, has gained attention in veterinary medicine, proving useful in several conditions that include CanL active forms in dogs. This study aims to evaluate ESR in heartworm-infected dogs, compare levels with heartworm-infected and L. infantum seropositive dogs as well as clinically healthy dogs, and assess correlations with other laboratory parameters. From October 2022 to January 2023, a prospective observational study was conducted enrolling heartworm-infected (Dirofilaria group) and heartworm-infected L. infantum seropositive (Dirofilaria/Leishmania group) animals subgrouped according to the CanL clinical form (Dirofilaria/Leishmania active and non-active groups). A group of clinically healthy dogs (control group) was also included. For each dog enrolled physical examination and laboratory tests (complete blood count, biochemical panel including APP, serum protein electrophoresis) were performed. Dirofilaria and Dirofilaria/Leishmania groups presented a significantly higher ESR level compared to healthy dogs. Dirofilaria/Leishmania active group had the highest ESR level among the groups considered. Dirofilaria/Leishmania non-active group had an ESR similar to the Dirofilaria group, but significantly higher and lower compared to the control and the Dirofilaria/Leishmania active group, respectively. A significant positive correlation between ESR and C-Reactive Protein has been found in all groups except for the Dirofilaria/Leishmania non-active group. In Dirofilaria/Leishmania active group a strong positive correlation between ESR and gamma globulins percentage as well as a strong negative correlation between ESR and albumin, albumin/globulins ratio were found. Overall, the ESR was confirmed to be an inflammation marker as well as a helpful disease index, being notably increased in heartworm-infected dogs affected by an active form of CanL.

Role of serum calprotectin in identifying familial Mediterranean fever attacks.

The aim of the study was to evaluate serum calprotectin (CLP) levels in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients and to investigate the utility of CLP in distinguishing patients with attack from patients without attack. FMF patients, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and healthy controls were included. Serum calprotectin levels were quantified utilizing the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to identify the cut-off value of serum CLP level to differentiate FMF patients with attack from those without. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors. Significant differences were observed among the three groups concerning white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum CLP levels (p = 0.003, p = 0.004, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.002, respectively). Higher ESR, CRP, and serum CLP levels were observed in FMF patients with attacks than those without (all, p < 0.001). Serum CLP was significantly higher in RA patients than in FMF patients in remission (p < 0.001). ROC analysis identified a threshold CLP concentration in FMF with an attack to be 47.1pg/mL (83.3% sensitivity, 60.6% specificity, AUC = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.63-0.85, p < 0.001). In univariate logistic regression analysis, CLP (β = 1.045, 95% CI = 1.017-1.073, p = 0.001) was predictive of FMF patients experiencing an attack. Serum CLP proves to be as productive as ESR in illustrating inflammation and demonstrating the existence of attacks in FMF patients.

Erythema nodosum in children

Erythema nodosum, which is often associated with infectious diseases, is one of the rare skin manifestations in the practice of pediatricians and pediatric infectious disease specialists. Purpose. The purpose was to study the clinical and laboratory manifestations of erythema nodosum in children. Material and methods. The study included 17 children with erythema nodosum aged 2 to 17 years who were hospitalized at the City Children’s Hospital No. 1 of Kazan. Results. In 6 (35 %) children, elevated values of antistreptolysin-O were detected, in 5 (29 %) — high titers of antibodies to Salmonella, in 2 (12 %) cases — IgM to Chlamidia pneumonia, in 2 (12 %) other children — IgM to capsid antigen of EBV, in one case (6 %) — IgM to Mycoplasma pneumonia. Increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level was observed in 15 (88 %) and 12 (70 %) children, respectively. In 12 (70 %) of 17 children, increased level of soluble fibrin-monomer complex was detected in the blood. Conclusion. Erythema nodosum in children in most cases is associated with streptococcal infection and salmonellosis. The immune-inflammatory process in erythema nodosum is accompanied with an increase in the level of soluble fibrin-monomer complex in the blood.

Factors associated to mortality in children with critical COVID-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in a resource-poor setting

SARS-CoV-2 infection in children is usually asymptomatic/mild. However, some patients may develop critical forms. We aimed to describe characteristics and evaluate the factors associated to in-hospital mortality of patients with critical COVID-19/MIS-C in the Amazonian region. This multicenter prospective cohort included critically ill children (1 mo–18 years old), with confirmed COVID-19/MIS-C admitted to 3 tertiary Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) in the Brazilian Amazon, between April/2020 and May/2023. The main outcome was in-hospital mortality and were evaluated using a multivariable Cox proportional regression. We adjusted the model for pediatric risk of mortality score version IV (PRISMIV) score and age/comorbidity. 266 patients were assessed with 187 in the severe COVID-19 group, 79 included in the MIS-C group. In the severe COVID-19 group 108 (57.8%) were male, median age was 23 months, 95 (50.8%) were up to 2 years of age. Forty-two (22.5%) patients in this group died during follow-up in a median time of 11 days (IQR, 2–28). In the MIS-C group, 56 (70.9%) were male, median age was 23 months and median follow-up was 162 days (range, 3–202). Death occurred in 17 (21.5%) patients with a median death time of 7 (IQR, 4–13) days. The mortality was associated with higher levels of Vasoactive Inotropic-Score (VIS), presence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), higher levels of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, (ESR) and thrombocytopenia. Critically ill patients with severe COVID-19 and MIS-C from the Brazilian Amazon showed a high mortality rate, within 12 days of hospitalization.

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation in burn patients: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial

BackgroundBurn injuries are important medical problems that, aside from skin damage, cause a systemic response including inflammation, oxidative stress, endocrine disorders, immune response, and hypermetabolic and catabolic responses which affect all the organs in the body. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on inflammation, oxidative stress, and clinical outcomes in burn patients.MethodsIn a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, 60 burn patients were randomly assigned to receive 100 mg CoQ10 three times a day (total 300 mg/day) or a placebo for 10 days. Inflammatory markers including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), oxidative stress markers including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, white blood cells (WBC), and body temperature were assessed as primary outcomes and albumin, prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), international normalized ratio (INR), other hematological parameters, blood pressure, O2 saturation, ICU duration, and 28-mortality rate were assessed as secondary outcomes.ResultsFifty-two participants completed the trial. CRP and ESR levels were not significantly different between CoQ10 and placebo groups at the end of the study (P = 0.550 and P = 0.306, respectively). No significant differences between groups were observed for TAC (P = 0.865), MDA (P = 0.692), and SOD activity (P = 0.633) as well. Administration of CoQ10 resulted in a significant increase in albumin levels compared to placebo (P = 0.031). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in other measured outcomes (P > 0.05).ConclusionResults showed that in patients with burn injury, CoQ10 administration had no effect on inflammatory markers and oxidative stress, although serum albumin levels were improved after supplementation. Further studies with albumin as the primary outcome are needed to confirm this finding.

The relationship between disease activity with pan-immune-inflammatory value and systemic immune-inflammation index in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease. Immune system cells have an important role in RA. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between disease activity, systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) levels in RA patients. We planned to investigate whether these 2 measurements have an advantage over each other. About 67 patients diagnosed with RA and 49 healthy controls included in this study. RA was diagnosed based on 2010 ACR classification criteria. In this cross-sectional study, peripheral blood tests, C-reactive protein (CRP), hemogram, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels were noted after the physical examination of all participants. PIV was calculated with the formula: (neutrophil count × platelet count × monocyte count) / lymphocyte count. SII was calculated as follows: (neutrophil count × monocytes count) / lymphocyte count. The disease activity score 28 (DAS28) were noted in patients with RA. CRP values of active RA group were significantly higher than remission RA and control groups (P < .001), control and remission RA groups were similar (P = .86). PIV and SII are significantly higher in active RA than remission RA and control (P < .001, P < .001) higher in remission RA than control (P < .001, P < .001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis in predicting remission compared to the control group, CRP was not significant, PIV and SII was significant and PIV has higher sensitivity and sensitivity, a PIV value of > 217.31 have sensitivity 75.0% and specificity 85.7%. CRP, PIV, and SII are statistically significant in predicting active RA compared to the remission RA and control group. Our findings show that PIV, and SII are easy, inexpensive and reliable markers predicting remission in RA patients. CRP was not significant compared to remission RA and control group, PIV and SII was significant and PIV has higher sensitivity and specificity than SII in the remission group in RA. Patients with high disease activity, PIV, SII, and CRP levels were effective in showing disease activity compared to RA remission group and healthy controls.

Effects of Spirulina supplementation in patients with ulcerative colitis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial

AimWe conducted a randomized placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of Spirulina (SP) supplementation on disease activity, health-related quality of life, antioxidant status, and serum pentraxin 3 (PTX-3) levels in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).MethodsEighty patients with UC were randomly assigned to consume either 1 g/day (two 500 mg capsules/day) of SP (n = 40) or control (n = 40) for 8 weeks. Dietary intakes, physical activity, disease activity, health-related quality of life, antioxidant status, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and serum PTX-3 levels were assessed and compared between groups at baseline and post-intervention.ResultsSeventy-three patients (91.3%) completed the trial. We observed increases in serum total antioxidant capacity levels in the SP supplementation group compared to the control group after 8 weeks of intervention (p ≤ 0.001). A within-group comparison indicated a trend towards a higher health-related quality of life score after 8 weeks of taking two different supplements, SP (p < 0.001) and PL (p = 0.012), respectively. However, there were no significant changes in participant’s disease activity score in response to SP administration (p > 0.05). Similarly, changes in ESR and PTX-3 levels were comparable between groups post-intervention (p > 0.05).ConclusionsSP improved antioxidant capacity status and health-related quality of life in patients with UC. Our findings suggest that SP supplementation may be effective as an adjuvant treatment for managing patients with UC. Larger trials with longer interventions periods are required to confirm our findings.

Therapeutic effectiveness of oral homeopathic remedy in management of knee osteoarthritis via attenuation of oxidative and inflammatory pathway

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common prevalent condition that affects joints and causes erosion of the cartilage. Many conventional medications show evidence of short-term effectiveness. However, they are associated with numerous adverse effects. Objective As homeopathy is a complementary modality, thus this study aimed to explore the therapeutic effectiveness of homeopathic remedies in management of knee OA that proved efficiency in management of knee OA without health hazards. Patients and methods Thirty cases (25 females, five males) were complaining of bilateral grade 2 or 3 knee OA were included in the study. Each patient was taken as her/his control. One milliliter of a diluted complex of four homeopathic remedies (Arnica Montana, Ledum Palustre, Rhus Tox, and Ruta Graveolens) was taken orally by each patient for 6 weeks in ascending potency. Results All clinical parameters showed significant improvement after the end of therapy. Visual analog scale, number of tender points, tenderness score (TS), angle of knee flexion, heel to hip distance Western Ontario and McMaster universities osteoarthritis index score and Lequesne index (P≤0.05). In addition, there was significant improvement in laboratory markers as significant increase in serum enkephalin and interleukin-4 and decreasing in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P≤0.05). Conclusion The study showed efficiency of four homeopathic remedies in decreasing pain, tenderness, improving knee flexion and quality of life supported with improvement in serum levels of encephalin, interleukin-4 and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in grade 2 or 3 OA patients.