Biomarkers in medicine最新文献

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the association between the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and prognosis trajectories in ischemic stroke(IS).

Methods: Patients from two tertiary hospitals in Suzhou were included in this study. SII was calculated as neutrophils×platelets/lymphocytes, and patients were categorized into quartiles based on SII values. Latent class growth modeling (LCGM) was employed to describe the trajectories of modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at different time points.Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between SII quartiles and prognosis trajectories at multiple time points (14 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months)and prognostic trajectories.

Results: Patients in the highest quartile (Q4) of SII had a significantly higher risk of adverse outcomes compared to those in the lowest quartile (Q1). A three-group model was identified as the optimal trajectory model for stroke prognosis. SII was associated with 4.06-fold increased odds (95% CI: 1.64-10.08) of unfavorable prognosis trajectories. Per standard deviation increase in the logarithmic SII, the odds of unfavorable prognosis trajectories were 1.64 (95% CI: 1.18-2.29).

Conclusions: Baseline SII is significantly associated with unfavorable outcome trajectories across multiple time points in IS. These findings highlight the potential value of SII as a predictive biomarker for sequential prognosis in stroke patients.

Aims and background: Gastric cancer is a significant health challenge globally, necessitating the identification of novel biomarkers for improved diagnosis. Our study aimed to address this gap by investigating the diagnostic potential a set of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in gastric cancer patients compared to healthy controls.

Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control analysis involving 256 participants, including 128 gastric cancer patients and 128 healthy individuals. Alongside the measurement of serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19.9), the plasma expression profiling of eight lnc-RNAs was performed in the selected samples.

Results: Our findings revealed significant alterations in CEA and CA19.9 levels in gastric cancer patients compared to controls (p < 0.05). Moreover, upregulated expression of lncRNAs, including HOTIP, BANCR, ZFAS1, TINCR, GC1, and AFAP1-AS1, were all observed in gastric cancer patients (p < 0.05). Excluding lncUGC1 and FAM49B-AS, ROC curve analysis demonstrated the diagnostic potential of lncRNAs in gastric cancer detection, with notable specificity and sensitivity.

Conclusion: Our study disclosed the diagnostic utility of plasma HOTIP, BANCR, ZFAS1, TINCR, GC1, and AFAP1-AS1 lncRNAs as appropriate diagnostic biomarkers for gastric cancer. The identification of dysregulated lncRNAs offers promising avenues for noninvasive diagnostic assessment in gastric cancer.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the association between the Red cell distribution width-to-albumin ratio (RAR) and in-hospital mortality in patients experiencing Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD) with concurrent Respiratory Failure (RF).

Methods: This retrospective study included 594 patients diagnosed with AECOPD and RF at the first affiliated hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, China, between January 2021 and September 2023. The primary outcome measure was in-hospital mortality rate. The participants were categorized into three groups according to RAR tertiles: T1 (2.535-3.871), N = 198; T2 (3.88-4.547), N = 196; and T3 (4.56-11.031), N = 200. Logistic regression and subgroup analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between RAR and AECOPD and RF prognosis in patients.

Results: The average age of the participants was 72.1 ± 9.7 years, with 52.2% men (n = 310). The mean RAR was 4.3 ± 1.0%/g/dL. After adjusting for covariates, the odds ratio for in-hospital mortality per unit increase in RAR was 1.74 [95% Confidence Interval: 1.19-2.55], p = 0.004. A linear relationship was observed between RAR and in-hospital mortality among patients with AECOPD and RF.

Conclusion: RAR is an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality in patients with AECOPD complicated by RF. Elevated RAR levels were associated with increased in-hospital mortality in our patient cohort.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a primary contributor to cancer-associated mortality, necessitates enhanced early detection. This study evaluated machine learning models that merge methylated SEPTIN9 (SEPT9) and secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2) within circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) to detect HCC.

Methods: A cohort of 165 healthy volunteers, 24 precancerous patients of HCC and 112 HCC patients were divided into training and validation sets. Methylated SEPT9 and SFRP2 (mSEPT9/mSFRP2) were detected using real-time PCR. Based on those methylation biomarkers and/or conventional biomarkers (CEA, AFP, CA125, and CA19-9), six machine learning algorithms, including Random Forest (RF), were employed to establish models for the training set. Models were evaluated for area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity, and subsequently validated in the validation set.

Results: The RF model outperformed other models. In training, it achieved an AUC of 0.834 (95% CI: 0.745-0.923), exhibiting 69.3% sensitivity and 80.6% specificity for the methylation-specific signature group (mSS group: mSEPT9/mSFRP2). In validation, the RF model for the mSS group showed an AUC of 0.865 (95% CI: 0.811-0.946), with 85.4% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity.

Conclusions: The RF-based model integrating mSEPT9/mSFRP2 in cfDNA can be a promising approach for HCC diagnosis.

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of Shock Index (SI), Modified Shock Index (MSI), and Age Shock Index (Age SI) in predicting blood transfusion need, surgical intervention, hospital outcomes, and injury severity in blunt trauma patients.

Methods: This retrospective study included 267 adult patients admitted with blunt trauma to the emergency department of a tertiary university hospital between 1 December 2018, and 1 December 2019. Patients with isolated hand/foot trauma, isolated traumatic brain injury, isolated spinal injuries, or minor trauma (AIS ≤2) were excluded. SI, MSI, and Age SI were calculated and analyzed.

Results: SI (p < 0.001), Age SI (p = 0.001), and MSI (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with blood transfusion and mortality. SI > 0.933 and MSI > 1.159 showed good predictive accuracy for blood transfusion; Age SI > 30.945 showed moderate accuracy. For mortality, SI > 1.015, MSI > 1.333, and Age SI > 67.065 demonstrated good predictive power (all p < 0.001). SI and MSI correlated moderately with injury severity (p < 0.001), with SI > 0.905 and MSI > 1.181 indicating significant predictive value.

Conclusion: SI, MSI, and Age SI can predict early blood transfusion and mortality in blunt trauma patients. SI and MSI appear more reliable than Age SI, particularly in predicting transfusion need and injury severity.

Aim: Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between oxidized low-density lipoprotein(ox-LDL), lectin-like ox-LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), endothelin 1(ET-1), and asprosin levels with cardiovascular risk.

Method: The study is a case-control study. 177 patients (87 HT/90 controls) were included in the study. Biochemical parameters and blood pressure were measured. Cardiovascular risk was calculated using the European Society of Cardiology Cardiovascular Diseases (ESC CVD) risk calculator. Asprosin, oxLDL, LOX1R, ET1 and iNOS levels were measured using Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) kits in blood samples obtained after a minimum 8-hour fasting period. In statistical analyses, p < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Age was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group(p < .001). Following adjustment for confounding variables, including age, sex, BMI and smoking status, ANCOVA analysis revealed that ET-1 [F(1,177) = 4.002, p = .047, ηp² = 0.133] and oxLDL [F(1,177) = 17.221, p < .001, ηp² = 0.262] levels were elevated in the control group relative to the HT group. The correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between age and cardiovascular risk (p < .001). Furthermore, a negative correlation was identified between cardiovascular risk and ET1 (p < .05), iNOS (p < .001), asprosin (p < .05) and oxLDL ;(p < .001).

Conclusion: ET1 and ox-LDL were lower in the HT group treated with antihypertensive therapy compared to the control group. Moreover, asprosin was found to be low in patients with high cardiovascular risk.

Aim: The diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of childhood diseases rely on accurately establishing reference intervals (RIs). The aim of this study was to determine the RIs of albumin (ALB), total protein (TP), and prealbumin (PA) in children in Nanning, China, according to age, gender, and ethnicity.

Methods: A total of 4001 apparently healthy children aged 0 ~ 18 years from the Nanning area were included. The levels of serum ALB, TP, and PA were measured by an Architect C16000 automatic chemical analyzer. Non-parametric methods were used to determine the 2.5th and 97.5th percentile RIs.

Results: Serum TP and PA levels increased with age (p < 0.001), whereas serum ALB level had no correlation with age (p > 0.05). Gender and ethnicity statistical differences were presented in serum ALB and PA except serum TP. Serum levels of ALB and PA in males were higher than those in females (p < 0.001). Serum ALB and PA showed lower concentrations in Zhuang children as compared to Han children (p < 0.05). All verification groups passed the verification of the RIs.

Conclusions: Age-, gender- and ethnicity-appropriate RIs for serum ALB, TP, and PA will provide a more accurate evaluation of pediatric-related diseases.

Background: Endogenous circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been implicated in the progression of cancer. This study aims to identify and evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the newly found circALG8 and circCAMTA1 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Differentially expressed circRNAs were identified through plasma circRNA sequencing, followed by validation in NSCLC tissues and plasma samples using RT-qPCR. The stability of circALG8 and circCAMTA1 was determined by RNase R and actinomycin D assays. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was employed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of these circRNAs in comparison to traditional tumor biomarkers.

Results: Both circALG8 and circCAMTA1 are significantly downregulated in tumor tissues and plasma from NSCLC patients, correlating closely with TNM staging. The two circRNAs are structurally stable circular RNA molecules, demonstrating considerable stability in plasma of NSCLC patients. The combined plasma circALG8 and circCAMTA1 hold the potential to serve as a diagnostic panel for early-stage NSCLC (AUC: 0.8987, p < 0.0001). Importantly, the combination of the plasma circRNA panel enhances the diagnostic efficacy of traditional tumor biomarkers (AUC: 0.9236, p < 0.0001) in early diagnosis of NSCLC.

Conclusion: Plasma-derived circALG8 and circCAMTA1 May function as a diagnostic panel, thereby improving the diagnostic accuracy for early-stage NSCLC.

Aim: This study assessed electro-impedimetric detection (EIS-MARTI) of anti-mycolate antibodies (AMAb) in TB patients before, during, and after treatment, compared to sputum culture (MGIT) as the gold standard.

Methods: A prospective pilot study enrolled 15 confirmed TB patients and 73 healthy controls at a Pretoria hospital (2016-2017). A prospective monitoring study followed 25 confirmed TB patients over 6 months of treatment at a Pretoria clinic (2019-2020) to evaluate biomarker behavior. Outcomes were analyzed using descriptive statistics, wherein diagnostic accuracy and predictive values were assessed by ROC curve analysis.

Results: EIS-MARTI detected 14/15 true TB-positive cases independent of HIV co-infection and 68/73 true TB-negatives in the pilot study. In the monitoring study, EIS-MARTI correlated with culture in 7/8 cases at treatment end, but not during the first 2 months.

Conclusion: AMAbs arise independently of HIV co-infection in active TB, recede during treatment, and are rapidly detected by a hand-held EIS-MARTI device. While suitability for treatment monitoring remains uncertain, EIS-MARTI shows promise for rapid, accurate TB diagnosis and confirming cure.

Background: Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a cerebrovascular disease leading to mental decline. Appropriate biomarkers must be identified to facilitate the diagnosis of VCI. Therefore, we investigated changes in miR-140-5p and cystatin-C (Cys-C) expression in the serum of patients with VCI.

Methods: The miR-140-5p or Cys-C serum expression levels were determined using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or immunoturbidimetry. MMP-9 and IL-6 expression were detected in both groups. Correlations between serum-exhaled miR-140-5p or Cys-C and IL-6 or MMP-9 were analyzed using Pearson's method. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of miR-140-5p, Cys-C, and miR-140-5p combined with Cys-C for diagnosing VCI.

Results: miR-140-5p and Cys-C serum levels were significantly upregulated in patients with VCI, and the increase was more pronounced in patients with vascular dementia (VaD). In addition, miR-140-5p and Cys-C positively correlated with increased IL-6 and MMP-9 expression. The ROC analysis showed that the combination of miR-140-5p and Cys-C demonstrated the AUC was 100.0% (sensitivity: 100%; specificity, 98.3%).

Conclusion: The upregulation of miR-140-5p and Cys-C indicates that miR-140-5p and Cys-C may be related VCI development. The combined diagnosis of miR-140-5p has potential diagnostic value for diagnosis and screening of VCI.