BACKGROUND: This study investigated clinical and laboratory characteristics of human bocavirus type 1 (HBoV1)-plastic bronchiolitis (PB), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP)-associated plastic bronchitis (PB) and MP-NPB in children, highlighting inflammation, coagulation, and bronchoscopic needs.
METHODS: Data on preschool children with PB during HBoV1 or MP infection were collected, comparing MP-PB to severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.
RESULTS: Compared with the MP-PB group, the HBoV1-PB group, with younger children, had significantly milder clinical symptoms but higher WBC counts (p = .028). The MP-PB group exhibited notably elevated Fibrinogen (p = .045) and d-dimer levels (p < .001). When contrasting the MP-PB with the MP-NPB group, children in MP-PB group still had higher levels of d-dimer and increased inflammatory indicators such as C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, lactate dehydrogenase, and interleukin-6, which were significantly elevated compared with the MP-NPB group. MP-PB showed a higher prevalence of plastic bronchial casts in lower lobes (p = .016) and a dominance of neutrophils in BALF cytology. Additionally, children in the MP-PB group tended to undergo a greater number of bronchoscopies.
CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies key differences in plastic bronchitis in children due to HBoV1 and MP, highlighting HBoV1\'s milder inflammation in younger kids and MP\'s link to severe inflammatory and coagulation responses, guiding clinical diagnosis and treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between C-reactive protein and albumin ratios (CAR) and all-cause and cardiovascular disease(CVD)-specific mortality in individuals with coronary heart disease(CHD).
METHODS: The data from 1895 patients were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 1999-2010. We used weighted COX regression analyses to explore the association between CAR, all-cause, and CVD-specific mortality. Restricted cubic spline(RCS) regression models and threshold effects analysis were used to analyze nonlinear relationships. Subgroup analyses were also performed to explore these relationships further.
RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 115.78 months, 61.48% of deaths occurred, and 21.85% were due to CVD. After adjusting for potential confounders, each 1-unit increase in CAR was associated with a 65% increase in all-cause mortality and a 67% increase in CVD-specific mortality. The RCS model revealed a non-linear association between CAR and the risk of all-cause mortality and CVD-specific mortality in CHD patients (all non-linear P < 0.001). Threshold effects analysis identified inflection points in regression models of all-cause mortality (0.04, P < 0.001) and CVD-specific mortality (0.05, P = 0.0024). The interaction tests found sex, smoking and diabetes influenced the association between CAR and all-cause mortality and sex, smoking and HF influenced its association with CVD-specific mortality (all P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: There was a nonlinear association between CAR and all-cause mortality and CVD mortality in patients with CHD, with a higher hazard ratio before the inflection point. Sex, smoking, diabetes, and HF might have an effect on the associations between CAR and death risks.

Developing the portable CRP detection technologies that are suitable for point-of-care (POC) and primary care management is of utmost importance, and advancing the electrochemical immunosensors hold promise for POC implementation. Nevertheless, non-specific adsorption of numerous interfering proteins in complex biological media contaminates immunosensors, thereby restricting the reliability in detection efficacy. In this study, a three-dimensional flower-leaf shape amyloid bovine serum albumin/gold nanoparticles/polyaniline (AL-BSA/AuNPs/PANI) coating on the surface of the electrode was developed, which demonstrated strong anti-adsorption properties against bovine serum albumin, plasma, and cells. The immunosensor exhibited a good linear relationship to CRP response, featuring a detection limit of 0.09 μg/mL, consistent with clinical reference range. In addition, the CRP immunosensor demonstrated excellent specificity in other inflammation-related proteins and commendable anti-interference performance for CRP detection in plasma and whole blood tests. Importantly, by combining the development of a USB flash disk-type portable electrochemical workstation with a reagent-free mode, the developed CRP electrochemical immunosensor delivered ideal results in clinical samples. The anti-fouling performance, sensitivity and specificity of the immunosensor, as well as its flexible test modes in clinical samples, provide important scientific basis for developing POC detection technologies of vital biomarkers in complex biological media.

BACKGROUND: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) are the commonly used biomarkers for insulin resistance and systemic inflammation, respectively. We aimed to investigate the combined association of TyG and hsCRP with the major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS).
METHODS: A total of 9421 patients with CCS were included in this study. The primary endpoint was defined as a composite of MACE covering all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and revascularization.
RESULTS: During the 2-year follow-up period, 660 (7.0%) cases of MACE were recorded. Participants were divided equally into three groups according to TyG levels. Compared with the TyG T1 group, the risk of MACE was significantly higher in the TyG T3 group. It is noteworthy that among patients in the highest tertile of TyG, hsCRP >3 mg/L was significantly associated with an increased risk of MACE, whereas the results were not significant in the medium to low TyG groups. When patients were divided into six groups according to hsCRP and TyG, the Cox regression analysis showed that patients in the TyG T3 and hsCRP >3 mg/L group had a significantly higher risk of MACE than those in the TyG T1 and hsCRP ≤3 mg/L group. However, no significant interaction was found between TyG and hsCRP on the risk of MACE.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the concurrent assessment of TyG and hsCRP may be valuable in identifying high-risk populations and guiding management strategies among CCS patients.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is characterized by a chronic low-grade inflammatory condition. Two emerging inflammatory biomarkers, the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), have gained attention. However, the relationships between obesity and SII/SRI remain unclear.
METHODS: In this study, we analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2018 among adults. SII-SIRI/SII/SIRI were categorized into three groups based on tertiles. The association between obesity and SII-SIRI/SII/SIRI was assessed by multivariable logistic regression models. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) plots were used to examine the nonlinear association between obesity and SII/SIRI. Finally, potential independent associations between obesity and SII/SIRI were further explored using subgroup analyses.
RESULTS: The study included 20,011 adults, of whom 7,890 (39.32%) were obesity. In model 1, participants in the high (Q3) level of SII-SIRI had a significantly association with obesity than those in the low (Q1) level group. The high level of SII and SIRI were positively associated with obesity as compared to low levels. Model 2 revealed a positive association between obesity and high levels of SII-SIRI/SII/SIRI. Model 3 demonstrated a similar trend. RCS curves revealed a nonlinear association linking obesity to SII/SIRI. Subgroup analysis showed an interaction between SII/SIRI and age.
CONCLUSIONS: Our research suggested that obesity was positively associated with SII-SIRI/SII/SIRI in U.S. adults. SII/SIRI may represent a cost-effective and direct approach to assessing obesity.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death worldwide, with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CHD) accounting for the majority of events. Evidence demonstrates that inflammation plays a vital role in the development of CHD. The association between C-reactive protein (CRP), a representative inflammatory biomarker, and atherosclerosis (AS), CHD, and inflammation has attracted attention. Therefore, we conducted an extensive search on PubMed using the aforementioned terms as search criteria and identified a total of 1246 articles published from January 2000 to April 2024. Both review and research-based articles consistently indicate CRP as a risk enhancer for CVD, contributing to the refinement of risk stratification and early identification of apparently healthy at-risk populations. Additionally, CRP reflects disease progression and predicts the prognosis of recurrent cardiovascular events. Anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategies targeting CRP also provide new treatment options for patients. This review focuses on the link between CRP and CHD, highlighting how CRP is involved in the pathological progression of AS and its potential value for clinical applications.

UNASSIGNED: Cervical necrotizing fasciitis (CNF) is a life-threatening bacterial infection with a diagnostic challenge. Currently, there is insufficient evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of inflammatory indicators in CNF.
UNASSIGNED: This study aims to identify key inflammatory indicators and assess their diagnostic accuracy for CNF.
UNASSIGNED: A diagnostic case-control study was conducted at a tertiary healthcare facility from January 2020 to December 2023. Laboratory data from patients with CNF and non-CNF at admission were evaluated. Key inflammatory indicators were identified through consistent outcomes from multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves analyses. The diagnostic accuracy of these indicators, with the results of combined tests, were calculated.
UNASSIGNED: CNF was confirmed in 21 of the 67 patients investigated. C-reactive protein (CRP) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were identified as key inflammatory indicators, with sensitivities of 0.905 and 0.810, and specificities of 0.870 and 0.913, respectively, at CRP threshold of 165.0 mg/L and NLR of 15.8. Combining CRP and NLR in parallel and serial tests increased sensitivity to 0.952 and specificity to 1.0, respectively.
UNASSIGNED: CRP and NLR have been verified as key inflammatory indicators with satisfactory diagnostic abilities for CNF diagnosis, providing a strong foundation for future studies.

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a complex disease characterized by gastrointestinal inflammation and is one of the most common gastrointestinal emergencies in neonates. Mild to moderate cases of NEC require medical treatment, whereas severe cases necessitate surgical intervention. However, evidence for surgical indications is limited and largely dependent on the surgeon\'s experience, leading to variability in outcomes. The primary aim of this study is to identify the risk factors for surgical intervention in neonatal NEC, which will aid in predicting the optimal timing for surgical intervention.
METHODS: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for case-control studies exploring risk factors for NEC requiring surgical intervention. The search was completed on June 16, 2024, and data analysis was performed using R Studio 4.3.2.
RESULTS: 18 studies were included, comprising 1,104 cases in the surgery group and 1,686 in the medical treatment group. The meta-analysis indicated that high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels [OR = 1.42, 95% CI (1.01, 1.99)], lower gestational age [OR = 0.52, 95% CI (0.3, 0.91)], sepsis [OR = 2.94, 95% CI (1.87, 4.60)], coagulation disorder [OR = 3.45, 95% CI (1.81, 6.58)], lack of enteral feeding [OR = 3.18, 95% CI (1.37, 7.35)], and hyponatremia [OR = 1.22, 95% CI (1.07, 1.39)] are significant risk factors for surgical treatment in neonatal NEC.
CONCLUSIONS: High CRP levels, coagulation disorders, sepsis, lower gestational age, lack of enteral feeding, and hyponatremia are significant risk factors for surgical intervention in neonatal NEC. These findings have potential clinical significance for predicting surgical risk.

BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have identified specific circulating inflammatory markers associated with the risk of mortality, they have often overlooked the broader impact of a comprehensive inflammatory response on health outcomes. This study aims to assess the association between circulating systemic inflammation and age-related hospitalization and premature death, as well as explore the potential mediating effects of various dietary patterns on these associations.
METHODS: A total of 448,574 participants enrolled in the UK Biobank study were included. Circulating C-reactive protein(CRP), white blood cell count(WBC), platelet count(Plt), and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR) were measured, which were used to establish a weighted systemic inflammatory index of inflammation index(INFLA-Score). Dietary intake information was documented through 24-hour dietary recalls, and dietary pattern scores including Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension(DASH), Mediterranean(MED), and Healthy Eating Index-2020(HEI-2020) were calculated. Cox proportional hazards regression models were performed to assess the associations between INFLA-Score and age-related disease hospitalization, cause-specific and all-cause premature death.
RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 12.65 years, 23,784 premature deaths were documented. After adjusting for multiple covariates, higher levels of CRP, WBC, NLR, and INFLA-Score were significantly associated with increased risks of age-related disease hospitalization(HRCRP=1.19; 95%:1.17-1.21; HRWBC=1.17; 95%:1.15-1.19; HRNLR=1.18; 95%:1.16-1.20; HRINFLA-Score=1.19; 95%:1.17-1.21) and premature death(HRCRP=1.68; 95%:1.61-1.75; HRWBC=1.23; 95%:1.18-1.27; HRNLR=1.45; 95%:1.40-1.50; HRINFLA-Score=1.58; 95%:1.52-1.64). Compared to the lowest INFLA-Score group, the highest INFLA-Score group was associated with increased values of whole-body and organ-specific biological age, and had a shortened life expectancy of 2.96 (95% CI 2.53-3.41) and 4.14 (95% CI 3.75-4.56) years at the age of 60 years in women and men, respectively. Additionally, we observed no significant association of the INFLA-Score with aging-related hospitalization and premature death among participants who were more adhering to the Mediterranean (MED) dietary pattern(HRAging-related hospitalization=1.07; 95%:0.99-1.16;HRPremature death=1.19; 95%:0.96-1.47).
CONCLUSIONS: A higher INFLA-Score was correlated with an increased risk of age-related hospitalization and premature death. Nevertheless, adherence to a Mediterranean (MED) diet may mitigate these associations.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among individuals with diabetes.
METHODS: A total of 1,555 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were enrolled in this cross-sectional study after excluding individuals without diabetes and those who lacked data on Hs-CRP, diabetes and CVD. All participants were divided into four groups based on quartiles of Hs-CRP: Q1 (≤ 1.20 mg/L), Q2 (1.20-2.86 mg/L), Q3 (2.86-6.40 mg/L), and Q4 (> 6.40 mg/L). Logistic regression analysis, subgroup analysis and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis were used to evaluate the correlation between Hs-CRP and the prevalence of CVD in individuals with diabetes.
RESULTS: In univariate logistic regression analysis, a higher level of Hs-CRP was associated with a higher prevalence of CVD (P < 0.05). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusting for confounders, the correlation between Hs-CRP and the prevalence of CVD remained significant (Q3 vs. Q1, OR: 1.505, 95% CI: 1.056-2.147, P = 0.024; Q4 vs. Q1, OR: 1.711, 95% CI: 1.171-2.499, P = 0.006; log10(Hs-CRP), OR: 1.504, 95% CI: 1.168-1.935, P = 0.002). Further subgroup analysis showed that a higher Hs-CRP was independently associated with a higher prevalence of CVD in the < 60 years, male, non-hypertension and non-hypercholesterolemia subgroups (P < 0.05). Additionally, RCS analysis revealed a linear positive correlation between Hs-CRP and CVD prevalence (P for nonlinearity = 0.244).
CONCLUSIONS: A higher level of Hs-CRP was closely related to a higher prevalence of CVD in people with diabetes.