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Background: Biomarkers that predict the outcome of stroke are critical for treatment, considering them to be a valuable adjunct to routine clinical examination and imaging data. Methods: Thirty-one patients admitted with stroke along with 30 controls were included in the study. Patients were divided into ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke groups based on radiological findings. The study group was evaluated within 48 h of symptom onset for clinical stroke severity (Scandinavian Stroke Scale [SSS] and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale). Functional status before the stroke (modified Rankin Scale [mRS]) and at discharge was evaluated. The association of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and serum ferritin concentrations with stroke severity and functional outcomes at discharge in acute ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke patients. Results: The median NT-proBNP, hsCRP and ferritin serum concentrations were significantly high for cases when compared to controls (P < 0.05). However, serum concentrations of NT-proBNP, hsCRP and ferritin were not significantly different when ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke patients were compared. HsCRP showed a negative correlation with SSS score on admission and showed a positive correlation with mRS at discharge. In multivariate adjusted regression models, hsCRP remained associated with worse functional outcomes at discharge. Conclusions: In acute stroke patients, elevated concentration of hsCRP is associated with greater clinical stroke severity and worse functional outcomes at discharge. Hence, it can be used along with computed tomography scan/magnetic resonance imaging for assessment of stroke severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 was a worldwide public health emergency which affected millions of people including frontline healthcare workers too. We evaluated the clinical features and biochemical investigations in COVID-19 affected healthcare workers (HCW) admitted to NIMS Intensive care unit (ICU) including survivors and non-survivors to identify risk factors for mortality. We did a retrospective study of 78 HCW with RTPCR confirmed COVID-19 infection admitted in ICU between July and November, 2020. Subjects were grouped into survivors and non-survivors. Clinical features and biochemical investigations were compared. Survival analysis was performed to analyze the risk factors of mortality. Out of the 78 patients admitted to ICU, the majority were males (64%). Non-survivor patients were older with a median age of 64 years. There were significantly higher proportion of females (59%) in non-survivors. COVID-19 non-survivors had significantly more incidence of cardiovascular disease and also higher blood levels of AST, CPK, CRP, D-dimer, IL-6, LDH, urea, NTproBNP and procalcitonin. Hazard's ratios showed that the mortality risk was significantly higher and survival was significantly lower in patients more than 60 years in age, females and those having IL-6 >40.06 pg/mL, LDH >461U/L, NTproBNP >1188 pg/mL, procalcitonin >0.5 pg/mL, urea >67 mg/dL, creatinine >1.3 mg/dL, D-dimer >573 ng/mL, ferritin >1488 ng/mL, andCPK >191U/L. Our study identified that the mortality risk was significantly higher and survival was significantly lower in patients older age group, females and those having higher IL-6, LDH, NTproBNP, procalcitonin, urea, creatinine, D-dimer, ferritin and CPK. Determination of specific clinical and biochemical features as above would help in better understanding of the pathophysiology, prognosis and appropriate intervention for potential outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives Endothelial soluble lectin-type oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (sLOX-1) recognizes oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triggers downstream signaling leading to atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the utility of sLOX-1 as a biomarker for detecting acute myocardial infarction (MI) and stable angina (SA) and to develop a diagnostic algorithm for distinguishing coronary vasospasm from coronary plaque rupture. Methods We enrolled 62 patients who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography (CAG) and 30 healthy controls (21 men and nine women) and measured sLOX-1, troponin I, and cardiac myosin-binding protein C (c-MyBPC) using commercial kits. Results Patients with MI exhibited higher sLOX-1 levels (301.55 ± 196.16 pg/ml) than patients with stable angina (220.76 ± 103.65 pg/ml) and healthy controls (121.14 ± 77.10, F: 10.55, p<0.001). Although higher troponin I levels were detected in MI patients (263.00 ± 493.00 vs. 3.19 ± 2.15 ng/ml, p=0.0019), no significant elevation was observed in SA patients (1.91 ± 0.79 ng/ml). Plasma sLOX-1 levels showed a positive association with age (r=0.37, p=0.003), but not with gender (r=0.04, p=0.75). Troponin I showed no association with age (r=0.12, p=0.36) or gender (r=0.06, p=0.62). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves revealed that among the three biomarkers, troponin-I showed a higher area under the curve (AUC) (AUC: 0.941), followed by sLOX-1 (AUC: 0.888), while c-MyBPC showed no clinical utility in the detection of MI (AUC: 0.666). Conclusions A marked elevation of sLOX-1 can detect MI and differentiate the presence or absence of plaque rupture, along with diagnosing stable angina., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Narsini et al.)