Better understanding of c-reactive protein and leukocytes in psychiatric inpatients with affective disorders:A biopsychosocial approach

BACKGROUND Affective disorders(AD)have been linked to inflammatory processes,although the underlying mechanisms of this relationship are still not fully elucidated.It is hypothesized that demographic,somatic,lifestyle,and personality variables predict inflammatory parameters in AD.AIM To identify biopsychosocial factors contributing to inflammation in AD measured with two parameters,C-reactive protein(CRP)and leukocytes.METHODS This observational study investigated 186 hospital inpatients diagnosed with AD using demographic parameters,serum inflammatory markers,somatic variables,psychological questionnaires,and lifestyle parameters.Hierarchical regression analyses were used to predict inflammatory markers from demographic,somatic,lifestyle,and personality variables.RESULTS Analyses showed that 33.8%of the variance of CRP was explained by body mass index and other somatic medication(e.g.anti-diabetics),age and education,and age of affective disorder diagnosis.For leukocytes,20.1%of the variance was explained by smoking,diet,metabolic syndrome(MetS),and anti-inflammatory medication(e.g.non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).Other psychiatric or behavioural variables did not reach significance.CONCLUSION Metabolic components seem important,with mounting evidence for a metabolic affective disorder subtype.Lifestyle modifications and psychoeducation should be employed to prevent or treat MetS in AD.

C-reactive protein to albumin ratio predict responses to programmed cell death-1 inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

BACKGROUND Over the years,programmed cell death-1(PD-1)inhibitors have been routinely used for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)treatment and yielded improved survival outcomes.Nonetheless,significant heterogeneity surrounds the outcomes of most studies.Therefore,it is critical to search for biomarkers that predict the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors in patients with HCC.AIM To investigate the role of the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio(CAR)in evaluating the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors for HCC.METHODS The clinical data of 160 patients with HCC treated with PD-1 inhibitors from January 2018 to November 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University were retrospectively analyzed.RESULTS The optimal cut-off value for CAR based on progression-free survival(PFS)was determined to be 1.20 using x-tile software.Cox proportional risk model was used to determine the factors affecting prognosis.Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status[hazard ratio(HR)=1.754,95%confidence interval(95%CI)=1.045-2.944,P=0.033],CAR(HR=2.118,95%CI=1.057-4.243,P=0.034)and tumor number(HR=2.932,95%CI=1.246-6.897,P=0.014)were independent prognostic factors for overall survival.CAR(HR=2.730,95%CI=1.502-4.961,P=0.001),tumor number(HR=1.584,95%CI=1.003-2.500,P=0.048)and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(HR=1.120,95%CI=1.022-1.228,P=0.015)were independent prognostic factors for PFS.Two nomograms were constructed based on independent prognostic factors.The C-index index and calibration plots confirmed that the nomogram is a reliable risk prediction tool.The ROC curve and decision curve analysis confirmed that the nomogram has a good predictive effect as well as a net clinical benefit.CONCLUSION Overall,we reveal that the CAR is a potential predictor of short-and long-term prognosis in patients with HCC treated with PD-1 inhibitors.If further verified,CAR-based nomogram may increase the number of markers that predict individualized prognosis.

Salivary C-reactive protein and mean platelet volume as possible diagnostic markers for late-onset neonatal pneumonia

BACKGROUND Neonatal sepsis,a formidable threat to newborns,is a leading cause of neonatal mortality,with late-onset sepsis manifesting after 72 hours post-birth being particularly concerning.Pneumonia,a prevalent sepsis presentation,poses a significant risk,especially during the neonatal phase when lung defenses are compromised.Accurate diagnosis of pneumonia is imperative for timely and effective interventions.Saliva,a minimally invasive diagnostic medium,holds great promise for evaluating infections,especially in infants.AIM To investigate the potential of serum C-reactive protein(CRP),salivary CRP(sCRP),and mean platelet volume(MPV)as diagnostic markers for late-onset neonatal pneumonia(LONP).METHODS Eighty full-term neonates were systematically examined,considering anthropometric measurements,clinical manifestations,radiology findings,and essential biomarkers,including serum CRP,sCRP,and MPV.RESULTS The study reveals noteworthy distinctions in serum CRP levels,MPV,and the serum CRP/MPV ratio between neonates with LONP and healthy controls.MPV exhibited a robust discriminatory ability[area under the curve(AUC)=0.87]with high sensitivity and specificity at a cutoff value of>8.8.Correlations between serum CRP,sCRP,and MPV were also identified.Notably,sCRP demonstrated excellent predictive value for serum CRP levels(AUC=0.89),underscoring its potential as a diagnostic tool.CONCLUSION This study underscores the diagnostic promise of salivary and serum biomarkers,specifically MPV and CRP,in identifying and predicting LONP among neonates.These findings advocate for further research to validate their clinical utility in larger neonatal cohorts.

C-reactive Protein/Albumin Ratio as a Prognostic Indicator in Posttraumatic Shock and Outcome of Multiple Trauma Patients

Objective C-reactive protein(CRP)/albumin ratio(CAR)is a new inflammation-based index for predicting the prognosis of various diseases.The CAR determined on admission may help to predict the prognostic value of multiple trauma patients.Methods A total of 264 adult patients with severe multiple trauma were included for the present retrospective study,together with the collection of relevant clinical and laboratory data.CAR,CRP,albumin,shock index and ISS were incorporated into the prognostic model,and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn.Then,the shock index for patients with different levels of CAR was analyzed.Finally,univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors for the 28-day mortality of multiple trauma patients.Results A total of 36 patients had poor survival outcomes,and the mortality rate reached 13.6%.Furthermore,after analyzing the shock index for patients with different levels of CAR,it was revealed that the shock index was significantly higher when CAR was≥4,when compared to CAR<2 and 2≤CAR<4,in multiple trauma patients.The multivariate logistic analysis helped to identify the independent association between the variables CAR(P=0.029)and shock index(P=0.019),and the 28-day mortality of multiple trauma patients.Conclusion CAR is higher in patients with severe multiple trauma.Furthermore,CAR serves as a risk factor for independently predicting the 28-day mortality of multiple trauma patients.The shock index was significantly higher when CAR was≥4 in multiple trauma patients.

Association of C-reactive protein and complement factor H gene polymorphisms with risk of lupus nephritis in Chinese population

BACKGROUND Complement overactivation is a major driver of lupus nephritis(LN).Impaired interactions of C-reactive protein(CRP)with complement factor H(CFH)have been shown as a pathogenic mechanism that contributes to the overactivation of complement in LN.However,genetic variations of neither CRP nor CFH show consistent influences on the risk of LN.AIM To examine whether genetic variations of CRP and CFH in combination can improve the risk stratification in Chinese population.METHODS We genotyped six CRP single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)(rs1205,rs3093062,rs2794521,rs1800947,rs3093077,and rs1130864)and three CFH SNPs(rs482934,rs1061170,and rs1061147)in 270 LN patients and 303 healthy subjects.RESULTS No linkage was found among CRP and CFH SNPs,indicating lack of genetic interactions between the two genes.Moreover,CRP and CFH SNPs,neither individually nor in combination,are associated with the risk or clinical manifestations of LN.Given the unambiguous pathogenic roles of the two genes.CONCLUSION These findings suggest that the biological effects of most genetic variations of CRP and CFH on their expressions or activities are not sufficient to influence the disease course of LN.

Relationship of High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein with Cardiovascular, Diabetic, and Hepatic Biomarkers

Biomarkers are early predictors of various disorders, circulating level of C-reactive protein is a sensitive biomarker of systemic inflammation and may also be associated with the development of diabetic, hepatic, and cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the association between circulating levels of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and various biomarkers for hepatic, diabetic, and cardiovascular health. The retrospective analysis included 438 individuals who were tested for these panels simultaneously at Vibrant America Clinical Laboratory. The study population included free-living individuals without any preexisting clinical conditions. Among the cardiovascular markers, a positive correlation and significant association was found between high levels of hs-CRP and serum levels of triglycerides (r = 0.0964, p −0.1423, p −0.1216, p < 0.0105) with circulating levels of hs-CRP. Among all the diabetic markers, glucose (r = 0.1547, p < 0.0011) and glycated serum protein (r = 0.1725, p < 0.0003) were positively correlated with circulating hs-CRP. In the hepatic panel, AST, a transaminase that plays a vital role in amino acid metabolism, was found to have a strong positive correlation with hs-CRP (r = 0.2139, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, the results clearly show the association of hs-CRP with diabetic, hepatic, and cardiovascular risk factors indicating its central value as a key marker for several lifestyle-associated disorders.

Association between Metabolic Syndrome Components and Serum High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein or Interleukin-6 Levels among Congolese Adults

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components have been linked to elevated serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor alpha. The aim of our study was to address the association between MetS components with serum hs-CRP and IL-6 levels among Congolese adults. A total of 357 participants (aged 30 - 87 years) were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometrics were collected and fasting blood sampled for assessment of fasting blood glycaemia (FBG), lipids and inflammatory parameters using commercially available assays. NCEP-ATPIII criteria were used to define MetS. The Median (IQR) hs-CRP and IL-6 levels were higher in participants with MetS than in those without ([7 (4, 14) versus 6 (4, 8)] mg/L;p = 0.092 and [23.8 (20.9, 27.6) versus 22.3 (19.5, 25.0)] pg/mL;p = 0.002). hs-CRP and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in females with MetS than in those without, but not in males. Among participants, only TG was correlated with hs-CRP (r = 0.149, p = 0.007), and a significant correlation was observed between TG (r = 0.116, p = 0.037), FBG (r = 0.208, p = 0.000), HDL-C (r = −0.119, p = 0.034) and SBP (r = 0.143, p = 0.010) and IL-6. In males, hs-CRP levels were positively correlated with TG (0.316;p = 0.000), negatively with HDL-C (r = −0.290, p = 0.0022), without such correlations in females. In Ames, IL-6 levels were positively correlated with FBG (r = 0.202;p = 0.035), and negatively with HDL-C (r = −0.249, p = 0.009). Significant correlations between IL-6 levels and FBG (r = 0.214;p = 0.000) or SBP (r = 0.227, p = 0.000) were observed in females. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify the relationship between MetS components and hs-CRP or IL-6. Values of area under receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves suggest potential use of serum hs-CRP (AUC = 0.675) and IL-6 (AUC = 0.656) as diagnostic biomarkers of MetS. Combination of hs-CRP and IL-6 improved diagnosis accuracy, yielding a 0.698 ROC curve area. MetS components are associated with hs-CRP and IL-6 levels among adults Congolese. Combining the two biomarkers hs-CRP and IL-6 improves Mets diagnostic accuracy compared to hs-CRP or IL-6 alone.

Value of N-Terminal Pro B-Type Natriuretic Peptide,High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein,and Homocysteine Levels in Predicting Cardiovascular Events in Chronic Heart Failure Patients After Discharge

Objective:To investigate the value of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP),high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),and homocysteine(Hcy)levels in predicting cardiovascular events(CV)in patients with chronic heart failure(CHF).Methods:A total of 63 patients with CHF admitted to our hospital between June 2019 and July 2021 were selected.Their NT-proBNP,hs-CRP,and Hcy levels were detected at discharge,and a 12-month follow-up was done after their discharge to collect clinical data.The collected data were inclusive of data from 21 CHF patients with cardiovascular disease and 42 CHF patients without cardiovascular disease.The effect of NT-proBNP,hs-CRP,and Hcy levels on the occurrence of CV was analyzed.Results:The levels of NT-proBNP,hs-CRP,and Hcy in the group with cardiovascular disease were significantly higher than those in the group without cardiovascular disease(P<0.05);the levels of serum NT-proBNP,hs-CRP,and Hcy at discharge had certain value in predicting short-term CV in CHF patients(P<0.05).Conclusion:NT-proBNP,hs-CRP,and Hcy levels can be used to predict CV in CHF patients,thus having clinical application value.

Assessment of C-Reactive Protein/Serum Albumin Ratio in Relation to Acute Presentation and Early Outcome of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the leading cardiovascular (CV) cause of mortality. C reactive protein (CRP) has linked with long-term risk of recurrent cardiovascular events or death. Albumin, in contrast to CRP known as a negative acute-phase protein. Thus a newly introduced marker assessed relation of CRP to albumin ratio (CAR), which may provide better results than the use of either marker alone. The aim of the study is to assess the association of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) with in-hospital short-term major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Patients & Methods: A multi-centers prospective cohort study was conducted at coronary intensive care units (CICU) in Baghdad during the period from March to October 2021 that included a total of 132 patients who were diagnosed as a case of ACS. They were assessed for major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) like cardiogenic shock, arrhythmias, post-MI angina, and acute heart failure while inside the ward, in addition to need for early interventional therapeutic approach in relation to (CAR) immediately at time of admission to hospital. Results: High values of CAR, whether using hs-CRP or CRP, were identified as an independent predictor for in-hospital MACEs (P value Conclusion: The CAR was independently correlated with in-hospital short-term MACEs and can be used for risk stratification in patients with ACS.

Correlation between C-reactive Protein and Morphology of Aortic Intramural Hematoma on CT Angiography

Objectives To investigate the morphologic characteristics of intramural hematoma(IMH)on CT angiography(CTA),and evaluate the possible correlation of serum C-reactive protein(CRP)with morphologic characteristics of IMH.Material and Methods Forty-two patients who were initially diagnosed as IMH by aortic CTA and also had serum CRP examination on the same day of CTA were enrolled in this retrospective study,including 30 males and 12 females,with the mean age of 61±14 years old.The volumetric CT data were retrospectively processed and analyzed on post-processing workstation.Based on the thickness of IMH and the length-area curve,the crosssectional area of true lumen and total vessel were measured,the hematoma-vessel ratio(HVR)was calculated.Imaging characteristics were compared between patients who had pathological elevated CRP(>0.8 mg/dl)and those did not.Spearman correlation analyses of CRP level and morphological characteristics of IMH were performed,and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic validity of CRP.Results Of all 42 IMH patients,the mean serum CRP was 3.94±4.71 mg/dl,and the mean HVR was 46.7%±14.2%.HVR in patients with elevated CRP was significantly higher than those with normal CRP(49.7%±15.0%vs.40.7%±10.5%,P=0.030).HVR was mildly correlated with CRP in all patients(r=0.48,P<0.001).CRP levels differed neither between patients with Stanford type A and B(P=0.207),nor between patients with and without intimal disruption(P=0.230).To discriminate HVR>47%(the mean value),the area under curve(AUC)were 0.700(95%CI:0.535-0.865)for CRP at a cutoff point of 3.55 mg/dl,with a sensitivity of 54.5%and a specificity of 90.0%.Conclusion CRP was mildly correlated with the severity of cross-sectional hematoma area of IMH,but not with Stanford types and the presence of intimal disruption.

The effects of smoking on blood lipids, C-reactive protein, and homocysteine in young patients with ischemic stroke

Objective:To investigate clinical significance of the effects of smoking on blood lipids, C-reactive protein,and homocysteine in young ischemic stroke patients.Methods:The clinical data of 423 young stroke patients in the department of neurology at Taihe Hospital in Shiyan City, China were retrospectively analyzed, including age,gender,drinking history,family history,and atrial fibrillation history. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they smoked,and the blood lipids, C-reactive protein, and homocysteine were compared between groups.Results:The proportion of smokers was 41.83%.The levels of total cholesterol,triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and homocysteine were higher in patients who smoked than in those who did not(P < 0.05). High density lipoprotein (HDL) was lower in the smoking group (P < 0.05). C-reactive protein test results were divided into groups according to whether the levels exceeded the normal range or not, and no correlation was found between C-reactive protein levels and smoking(P>0.05). Conclusion:Total cholesterol, TG, LDL, HDL, and homocysteine were significantly different between stroke patients who smoked and those who did not. We therefore suggest that smoking cessation take place as soon as possible and that it be avoided entirely in order to reduce the incidence of atherosclerosis and stroke.

Prognostic value of C-reactive protein levels within 6 hours after the onset of acute anterior myocardial infarction with primary PCI

Background Increased levels of inflammatory markers have been documented in various settings of coronary artery disease. The vulnerability of coronary lesions in acute myocardial infarction(AMI) at the time of onset may be related to serum levels of C reactive protein(CRP) on admission, before CRP levels are affected by myocardial damage.Objective This study assessed the predictive value of CRP levels within six hours after the onset of acute anterior myocardial infarction with primary percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods The plasma CRP of 76 patients with first acute anterior myocardial infarction was measured within 6 hours after onset. They were divided into 2 groups: group 1( n =20) with elevated CRP( ≥0.3mg/dl ) on admission within 6 hours after onset and group 2( n =56) with normal CRP( <0.3mg/dl ) within 6 hours after onset. All patients were treated by primary PCI. The primary combined end points, including death due to cardiac causes, re MI related to the infarction artery(RIA) and repeat intervention of the RIA, and the restenosis rate were assessed in relation to CRP levels within 6 hours after onset. Left ventricular end diastolic volume index(EDVI),end systolic volume index(ESVI),and ejection fraction(EF) on admission and 6 month after the onset were assessed by left ventriculography. Changes in EDVI(ΔEDVI),ESVI(ΔESVI), and EF(ΔEF) were obtained by subtracting respective on admission values from corresponding 6 month follow up values. Results There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups. The primary combined end points were significantly more frequent in group 1(20%) than those in group 2( 1.79% , P <0.01 ).In addition, restenosis rates were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2(41.18% vs 16.07%, P<0.05). Group 1 showed greater increases in left ventricular volume and less improvement in EF compared with group 2(ΔEDVI 6.31 ±2.17 vs 3.29 ±9.46ml/m 2 , ΔESVI 5.92 ±2.31 vs 3.86 ±1.08ml/m 2 , ΔEF 1.92 ±0.47 vs 4.79 ±1.73% , P <0.05 , respectively).Conclusions CRP levels within 6 hours after the onset of AMI might predict adverse outcome after primary PCI and progressive ventricular remodeling within 6 month of AMI.

Predictive value of C-reactive protein/albumin ratio in acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND:Serum C-reactive protein(CRP) increases and albumin decreases in patients with inflammation and infection.However,their role in patients with acute pancreatitis is not clear.The present study was to investigate the predictive significance of the CRP/albumin ratio for the prognosis and mortality in acute pancreatitis patients.METHODS:This study was performed retrospectively with 192 acute pancreatitis patients between January 2002 and June 2015.Ranson scores,Atlanta classification and CRP/albumin ratios of the patients were calculated.RESULTS:The CRP/albumin ratio was higher in deceased patients compared to survivors.The CRP/albumin ratio was positively correlated with Ranson score and Atlanta classification in particular and with important prognostic markers such as hospitalization time,CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.In addition to the CRP/albumin ratio,necrotizing pancreatitis type,moderately severe and severe Atlanta classification,and total Ranson score were independent risk factors of mortality.It was found that an increase of 1 unit in the CRP/albumin ratio resulted in an increase of 1.52 times in mortality risk.A prediction value about CRP/albumin ratio >16.28 was found to be a significant marker in predicting mortality with 92.1% sensitivity and 58.0% specificity.It was seen that Ranson and Atlanta classification were higher in patients with CRP/albumin ratio >16.28 compared with those with CRP/albumin ratio ≤16.28.Patients with CRP/albumin ratio >16.28 had a 19.3 times higher chance of death.CONCLUSION:The CRP/albumin ratio is a novel but promising,easy-to-measure,repeatable,non-invasive inflammationbased prognostic score in acute pancreatitis.

Adjusting CA19-9 values to predict malignancy in obstructive jaundice:Influence of bilirubin and C-reactive protein

AIM:To find a possible relationship between inflammation and CA19-9 tumor marker by analyzing data from patients with benign jaundice(BJ) and malignant jaundice(MJ).METHODS:All patients admitted for obstructive jaundice,in the period 2005-2009,were prospectively enrolled in the study,obtaining a total of 102 patients.On admission,all patients underwent complete standard blood test examinations including C-reactive protein(CRP),bilirubin,CA19-9.Patients were considered eligible for the study when they presented obstructive jaundice confirmed by instrumental examinations and increased serum bilirubin levels(total bilirubin > 2.0 mg/dL).The standard cut-off level for CA19-9 was 32 U/mL,whereas for CRP this was 1.5 mg/L.The CA19-9 level was adjusted by dividing it by the value of serum bilirubin or by the CRP value.The patients were divided into 2 groups,MJ and BJ,and after the adjustment a comparison between the 2 groups of patients was performed.Sensitivity,specificity and positive predictive values were calculated before and after the adjustment.RESULTS:Of the 102 patients,51 were affected by BJ and 51 by MJ.Pathologic CA19-9 levels were found in 71.7% of the patients.In the group of 51 BJ patients there were 29(56.9%) males and 22(43.1%) females with a median age of 66 years(range 24-96 years),whereas in the MJ group there were 24(47%) males and 27(53%) females,with a mean age of 70 years(range 30-92 years).Pathologic CA19-9 serum level was found in 82.3% of MJ.CRP levels were pathologic in 66.6% of the patients with BJ and in 49% with MJ.Bilirubin and CA19-9 average levels were significantly higher in MJ compared with BJ(P = 0.000 and P = 0.02),while the CRP level was significantly higher in BJ(P = 0.000).Considering a CA19-9 cut-off level of 32 U/mL,82.3% in the MJ group and 54.9% in the BJ group were positive for CA19-9(P = 0.002).A CA19-9 cut-off of 100 U/mL increases the difference between the two groups:35.3% in BJ and 68.6% in MJ(P = 0.0007).Adjusting the CA19-9 value by dividing it by serum bilirubin level meant that 21.5% in the BJ and 49% in the MJ group remained with a positive CA19-9 value(P = 0.003),while adjusting the CA19-9 value by dividing it by serum CRP value meant that 31.4% in the BJ group and 76.5% in the MJ group still had a positive CA19-9 value(P = 0.000004).Sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive values of CA19-9 > 32 U/mL were 82.3%,45% and 59.1%;when the cutoff was CA19-9 > 100 U/mL they were,respectively,68.6%,64.7% and 66%.When the CA19-9 value was adjusted by dividing it by the bilirubin or CRP values,these became 49%,78.4%,69.4% and 76.5%,68.6%,70.9%,respectively.CONCLUSION:The present study proposes CRP as a new and useful correction factor to improve the diag-nostic value of the CA19-9 tumor marker in patients with cholestatic jaundice.

C-reactive protein,procalcitonin,interleukin-6,vascular endothelial growth factor and oxidative metabolites in diagnosis of infection and staging in patients with gastric cancer

AIM:The current study was to determine the serum/pLasma levels of VEGF,IL-6,malondialdehyde (MDA),nitric oxide (NO),PCT and CRP in gastric carcinoma and correlation with the stages of the disease and accompanying infection. METHODS:We examined the levels of serum VEGF,IL-6, PCT,CRP and plasma MDA,NO in 42 preoperative gastric cancer patients and 23 healthy subjects.There were infection anamneses that had no definite origin in 19 cancer patients. RESULTS:The VEGF levels (mean±SD; pg/mL) were 478.05±178.29 and 473.85±131.24 in gastric cancer patients with and without infection,respectively,and these values were not significantly different (P>0.05).The levels of VEGF, CRP,PCT,It-6,MDA and NO in cancer patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls and the levels of CRP,PCT,It-6,MDA and NO were statistically increased in infection group when compared with non- infection group (P<0.001). CONCLUSION:Although serum VEGF concentrations were increased in gastric cancer,this increase might not be related to infection.CRP,PCT,IL-6,MDA and NO have obvious drawbacks in the diagnosis of infections in cancer patients. These markers may not help to identify infections in the primary evaluation of cancer patients and hence to avoid unnecessary antibiotic treatments as well as hospitalization. According to the results of this study,IL-6,MDA,NO and especially VEGF can be used as useful parameters to diagnose and grade gastric cancer.

Clinical signif icance of C-reactive protein values in antibiotic treatment for pyogenic liver abscess

AIM:To investigate the clinical signifi cance of C-reactive protein (CRP) values in determining the endpoint of antibiotic treatment for liver abscess after drainage. METHODS: The endpoints of antibiotic treatment in 46 patients with pyogenic liver abscess after complete percutaneous drainage were assessed by performing a retrospective study. After complete percutaneous drainage, normal CRP values were considered as the endpoint in 18 patients (experimental group), and normal body temperature for at least 2 wk were considered as the endpoints in the other 28 patients (control group). RESULTS:The duration of antibiotic treatment after complete percutaneous drainage was 15.83 ± 6.45 d and 24.25 ± 8.18 d for the experimental and the control groups, respectively (P=0.001), being significantly shorter in the experimental group than in the control group. The recurrence rate was 0% for both groups.However, we could not obtain the follow-up data about 3 patients in the control group. CONCLUSION: CRP values can be considered as an independent factor to determine the duration of the antibiotic treatment for pyogenic liver abscess after complete percutaneous drainage.

Significance of preoperative C-reactive protein as a parameter of the perioperative course and long-term prognosis in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus

AIM： C-reactive protein （CRP） is an acute-phase reactant and a known indicator of the malignant potential of the tumour. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of preoperative CRP as a parameter of the perioperative course and long-term prognosis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma and aclenocarcinoma of the oesophagus. METHODS： Serum CRP was determined preoperatively in 291 of 371 patients undergoing oesophagectomy for cancer from December 1989 to March 2004. Median patient age was 59 （28-79） year, 82.5% of patients were males. Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 151 （51.9%） and aclenocarcinoma in 122 patients. Transhiatal oesophagectomy was clone in 151 （51.9%） patients and 134 （46.0%） patients underwent the abclominothoracic procedure. RESULTS： In 127 （43.6%） patients the preoperative serum CRP concentration was within the normal range （〈 5 mg/clL）, elevated CRP levels were measured in 164 （56.4%） patients. Tumour extension （P 〈 0.0005） and the number of lymph nodes affected by metastatic spread （P = 0.015） were significantly increased in the group with elevated CRP levels. Among the perioperative parameters both the number of blood transfusions （P = 0.006） and the general complication rate （P = 0.002） were higher in patients with elevated preoperative CRP levels. The long-term survival rate of 13.6 （0-109.8） mo was poorer in the group with elevated CRP levels compared to 18.9 （0-155.4） mo in the group with normal CRP levels （log-rank test： P = 0.107）. Multivariateanalysis with backward variables selection identified preoperative CRP as an independent prognostic factor of the long-term prognosis in patients with oesophageal carcinoma, with a hazard ratio of 1.182 （95% confidence interval： 1.030-1.356）. CONCLUSION： The preoperative serum CRP-level is an easily determined independent prognostic marker in patients with squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus.

Elevated Homocysteine and C-reactive Protein Levels Independently Predict Worsening Prognosis after Stroke in Chinese Patients

Increased plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease.However, the predictive value of tHcy in combination with hsCRP in patients with stroke is not known.To determine the relationship between tHcy and hsCRP, we enrolled 291 patients with first-onset stroke (196 ischemic and 95 hemorrhagic).Plasma tHcy and hsCRP levels were measured and subsequent vascular events and deaths were determined over a 5-year period.Using the arbitrary cutoff for tHcy (【18 μmol/L and ≥18 μmol/L) and hsCRP (【1 mg/L, 1-3 mg/L and 】3 mg/L), the patients were divided into 6 groups.Survival analysis showed that the probability of death or new vascular events during a 5-year follow-up increased according to tHcy and hsCRP levels (P【0.01).The relative risk (RR) of death or new vascular events was 4.67 (95% CI, 1.96 to 11.14, P=0.001) in patients with high tHcy (≥18 μmol/L) and hsCRP (】3 mg/L) compared with those with low tHcy (【18 μmol/L) and hsCRP (【1 mg/L).The increased tHcy level (≥18 μmol/L) combined with increased hsCRP level (】3 mg/L) was still significantly associated with the risk of death or new vascular events (RR, 4.10, 95% CI, 1.61 to 10.45, P=0.003) even when adjusted for other risk factors at inclusion.The combination of increased tHcy and hsCRP levels had a stronger predictive value than increased hsCRP alone or increased tHcy level alone.Further studies are required to evaluate the potential decrease in risks associated with lowering both Hcy and hsCRP levels in patients that present with both increased tHcy and hsCRP.

Associations of big endothelin-1 and C-reactive protein in atrial fibrillation

Background Atrial fibrillation （AF） is associated with inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. However, the association between inflammation （as indexed by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, hs-CRP） and endothelial function [as indexed by big endothelin-1 （ET-1）] in AF patients remains unclear. Methods We enrolled 128 patients with lone AF, among which 83 had paroxysmal AF, and 45 had persistent AF. Eighty-two age- and gender-matched controls of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia without AF history were evaluated. Plasma hs-CRP, big ET-1 levels and other clinical characteristics were compared among the groups. Results Patients with persistent AF had higher hs-CRP concentrations than those with paroxysmal AF （P 〈 0.05）, both groups had higher hs-CRP level than controls （P 〈 0.05）. Patients with persistent AF had higher big ET-1 level than those with paroxysmal AF, although the difference did not reach the statistical significance （P 〉 0.05）, and both groups had higher big ET-1 levels than controls （P 〈 0.05）. Multiple regression analyses revealed hs-CRP as an inde- pendent determinant of AF （P 〈 0.001）. Further adjusted for big ET-1, both big ET-1 and hs-CRP were independent predictors for AF （P 〈 0.001）, but the odds ratio for hs-CRP in predicting AF attenuated from 8.043 to 3.241. There was a positive relation between hs-CRP level and big ET-1 level in paroxysmal AF patients （r = 0.563, P 〈 0.05）, however, the relationship in persistent AF patients was poor （r = 0.094, P 〈 0.05）. Conclusions Both plasma hs-CRP and big ET-1 levels are elevated in lone AF patients, and are associated with AF. In paroxysmal lone AF patients, there were significant positive correlations between plasma hs-CRP level and big ET- 1 level.

The Role of High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein, Interleukin-6 and Cystatin C in Ischemic Stroke Complicating Atrial Fibrillation

This study examined the role of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cystatin C in ischemic stroke complicating atrial fibrillation (AF) and the relationship of systemic inflammation with this disease in order to identify AF patients who are at high risk of stroke and need optimal anticoagulant therapy.A total of 103 AF patients, simple (n=75) or complicated by ischemic stroke (n=28), and 112 control subjects were recruited.IL-6 level was detected by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Cystatin C and hsCRP levels were measured by means of a particle-enhanced immunonephelometric assay.The results showed that the AF patients had higher levels of hsCRP (P=0.004), IL-6 (P=0.000), and cystatin C (P=0.000) than control subjects.Plasma hsCRP level was increased in the AF patients with ischemic stroke as compared to the patients with simple AF (P=0.036).The AF patients who had the level of hsCRP exceeding 3.83 mg/L were at a higher risk than those with hsCRP level lower than 3.83 mg/L (P=0.030).After adjusting for other factors, cystatin C remained positively associated with IL-6 (r=0.613) and hsCRP (r=0.488).It was concluded that hsCRP is positively correlated with ischemic stroke complicating AF and may be a risk factor independent of other risk factors for AF.Elevated cystatin C level is also indicative of the increased risk of AF.