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Serum C-reactive Protein Levels (serum + c-reactive_protein_level)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	83%

Selected Abstracts

Adaptation of the Human Skin by Chronic Solar-simulating UV Irradiation Prevents Ultraviolet-B Irradiation-induced Rise in Serum C-Reactive Protein Levels,

PHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2005
Jarmo K. Laihia
ABSTRACT Exposure of the skin to UV radiation induces local inflammation. We hypothesized that inflammation induced by erythemal UV-B irradiation could elevate levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and that suberythemal repeating doses of solar-simulating UV radiation (SSR) would produce photoadaptation to such inflammation. Separation-free high-sensitivity assays of CRP show an increase by 42% (P= 0.046) in CRP concentrations in healthy human subjects 24 h after a 3 minimal erythemal dose (MED) dose of UV-B delivered onto a 100 cm2 skin area. Preceding daily suberythemal doses of whole-body SSR for 10 or 30 consecutive days completely prevented the CRP increase. UV-B-induced skin erythema was partially attenuated by 30 preceding days of SSR only (P= 0.00066). After 10 daily SSR doses, the mean baseline CRP concentrations (0.24 ± 0.21 mg/L) declined by 35% (P= 0.018). Using high-sensitivity analysis of serum CRP as the endpoint marker for cutaneous inflammation, we show that acute exposure of even a relatively small skin area to erythemal UV-B induces skin inflammation detectable also at the systemic level and that photoadaptation by preceding repeating suberythemal doses of SSR reduces signs of inflammation. Our data complement the view given by previous studies in that local photoadaptation also has systemic manifestations. [source]

Hypercholesterolemia Association with Aortic Stenosis of Various Etiologies

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 2 2009
Murat Bülent Rabu
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of hypercholesterolemia in development of aortic valve calcification in different etiologies. Methods: The study included 988 patients with rheumatic, congenital, or degenerative aortic stenosis, who underwent aortic valve replacement at Ko,uyolu Heart and Research Hospital between 1985 and 2005. Effects of hypercholesterolemia and high low-density lipoprotein level on calcific aortic stenosis or massive aortic valve calcification were analyzed for each etiologic group. Results: Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the high serum cholesterol level (>200 mg/dL) was related to massive aortic valve calcification in all patients (p = 0.003). Hypercholesterolemia was linked to calcific aortic stenosis and massive calcification in patients with degenerative etiology (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively) and it was related to massive calcification in patients with congenital bicuspid aorta (p = 0.02). Other independent risk factors for calcific aortic stenosis and massive calcification in the degenerative group were high low-density lipoprotein level (>130 mg/dL; p = 0.03 and p = 0.05, respectively) and high serum C-reactive protein level (p = 0.04 and p = 0.05, respectively). Conclusions: Hypercholesterolemia is related to increased risk of aortic valve calcification in patients with degenerative and congenital etiology. Preventive treatment of hypercholesterolemia could play an important role to decrease or inhibit development of aortic valve calcification. [source]

Randomized controlled trial of acute normovolaemic haemodilution in aortic aneurysm repair

BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 4 2001
L. Wolowczyk
Background: Previous studies have suggested that acute normovolaemic haemodilution (ANH) reduces the need for heterologous blood transfusion in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery and may thus improve postoperative outcome by reducing the systemic inflammatory response. Controlled studies are lacking. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of ANH on the systemic inflammatory response, clinical outcome and use of bank blood after AAA repair. Methods: Patients undergoing elective AAA repair were randomized to ANH (n = 16) or control (n = 18) groups. Intraoperative cell salvage and heterologous blood were used in both groups according to predetermined transfusion triggers. Inflammatory markers in serum and urine were measured to assess the acute-phase response. Clinical outcome was determined using mortality, morbidity and the incidence of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Results: There was no difference between the ANH and control group in serial measurements of median (range) white cell count (maximum at 2 days after operation: 11·9 (7·7,21·4) versus 10·3 (7·8,20·6) × 109 l,1; P = 0·25), serum C-reactive protein level (maximum at 3 days: 150 (1,274) versus 169 (7,238) mg ml,1; P = 0·76), interleukin 6 level (maximum at 6 h: 142 (32,793) versus 105 (29,509) pg ml,1; P = 0·89), total antioxidant capacity (lowest at 1 h: 0·83 (0·67,1·22) versus 0·83 (0·68,1·23) mmol l,1; P = 0·45) or urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (maximum at 30 min after clamp release: 41 (2,923) versus 124 (4,376) mg ml,1; P = 0·10). SIRS was observed in ten of 16 patients having ANH and in 11 of 18 control patients (P = 0·99). There was no significant difference in mortality and morbidity between the groups. Similarly, there was no difference in median (range) blood loss (ANH 1800 (400,12 000) ml versus control 1600 (500,7500) ml; P = 0·55), use of cell salvage (600 (0,4740) versus 520 (0,2420) ml; P = 0·60) or heterologous blood transfusion (2 (0,32) versus 2 (0,9) units; P = 0·68). Conclusion: In the setting of a randomized controlled trial ANH added no additional benefit, when used in combination with cell salvage, in reducing the requirements for heterologous blood transfusion, and made no impact on systemic inflammatory response and clinical outcome after AAA repair. © 2001 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd [source]

Infectious discitis in adults: 9 years experience from Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES, Issue 2 2008
Riyadh A. SAKENI
Abstract Aim:, The objective of this study was to analyse the presentation, aetiology, diagnosis, management, and outcome of infectious discitis. Methods:, A screening prospective case-finding study was carried out at Al-Yarmouk teaching hospital in Baghdad, Iraq from 1997 to 2006. Fifty adult patients (12 men and 38 women) were diagnosed with infectious discitis from different referral sources. The diagnosis was based on laboratory biochemical tests, isolation of micro-organisms from blood and needle aspiration tissue, and radiological investigations including magnetic resonance images (MRI). Results:, Of the 50 cases, 32 (64%) patients presenting within 4 weeks, 94% had pelvic and abdominal surgical interventions, 70% presented with severe neck pain and 36% had neurological deficits. Marked elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and high serum C-reactive protein levels were observed in all patients. Positive blood, percutaneous disc aspiration and surgical exploration samples for Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus viridans, E. coli, Pseudomonas aureginosa and Candida albicans were found. Radiological images showed that disc involvement did not exceed more than one intervertebrate disc with two adjacent vertebrae. The clinical outcome was full recovery (86%), residual neurological deficits (10%) and death (4%). Conclusions:, Infectious discitis in adults should be suspected in every case presenting with severe neck or back pain, followed by pelvic or abdominal surgical interventions. Therefore, MRI techniques should be performed on every case and an early empirical antibiotic therapy is advised. [source]

Pneumonia Versus Aspiration Pneumonitis in Nursing Home Residents: Prospective Application of a Clinical Algorithm

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 5 2005
Joseph M. Mylotte MD
Objectives: To prospectively evaluate a clinical algorithm for the diagnosis of pneumonitis and pneumonia in nursing home residents. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Inpatient geriatrics unit. Participants: Nursing home residents admitted to the hospital with suspected pneumonia. Measurements: Identification of pneumonitis and pneumonia using the algorithm; medical record review and abstraction of clinical data; hospital outcome and length of stay. Results: One hundred seventy episodes of suspected pneumonia were screened with the algorithm and classified into four groups: 25% pneumonia, 28% aspiration pneumonitis of 24 hours or less duration, 12% aspiration pneumonitis of more than 24 hours' duration, and 35% an aspiration event without pneumonitis. Presenting symptoms and signs, laboratory tests, severity of illness measures, or serum C-reactive protein levels did not distinguish between the four groups. Those with an aspiration event without pneumonitis tended to be treated less often with antibiotic therapy after admission (P=.004) and after discharge (P=.01). Of those who survived, there was no significant difference in mean hospital length of stay between the four groups. There was no significant difference in the percentage of case fatality between the four groups, but those with aspiration pneumonitis of 24 hours or less duration and with an aspiration event without pneumonitis had a lower mortality than the other two groups. Conclusion: Distribution of episodes of suspected pneumonia by clinical category as determined using the algorithm was similar to that of the derivation study, as were case fatality rates in each category. These findings suggest that the algorithm may be useful for making the distinction between pneumonitis and pneumonia in nursing home residents; further studies are warranted. [source]

The effects of prior beta-blocker therapy on serum C-reactive protein levels after percutaneous coronary intervention

CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 5 2005
Ilyas Atar M.D.
Abstract Background: There are no studies in the literature related to the effect of beta blockers (BB) on changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Hypothesis: We designed a prospective randomized study to investigate the impact of BB therapy on CRP in patients who underwent elective PCI. Methods: In all, 300 patients with coronary artery disease were included. Patients were randomized to either a metoprolol or to a control group before PCI. Blood samples for CRP levels were obtained before BB treatment, and at the 6th, 24th, and 36th h after PCI. Results: Of 300 patients, 150 received metoprolol 100 mg/day (mean age, 59.0 ±10.2 years;106 men, 44 women), and 150 received no BB (mean age, 59.8±9.8years;114 men, 36 women) and served as the control group. Baseline clinical characteristics of both groups were similar. Basal CRP levels between the two groups were similar. Of the patients included in the study, 40.8% in the BB group and 39.6% in the control group had elevated basal CRP levels. The CRP levels increased above baseline values in 85% of patients in the BB group and in 89.3% of patients in the control group (p > 0.05) during follow-up. The CRP levels in patients in the BB group at the 6th, 24th, and 36th h were lower than those in the control group; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Prior BB therapy seems to have no effect on CRP levels after PCI. [source]