Investigating the role of CRP levels in the blood of major burned patients in predicting bacterium and treatment results. The plasma CRP levels of 54 patients (18 female, 36 males), average age (20.44 ± 2.17) with burns between 20 and 90 (47.27±2.21) TBSA (total body surface area), full thickness burns between 1 and 75 (15.58±2.3) TBSA were determined for 4-7 days (CRP1) and 10-14 days (CRP2) after thermal trauma by CRP test kit (Human Co-Germany). Result: CRP1 concentration of patients with sepsis were much higher than without sepsis (p<0.05). Decreased level of CRP was observed in patient who had good response to therapy. The mortality rate increased in case of high CRP levels. Results suggested that there was risk of infection in patients with high plasma CRP levels. CRP measurement appeared to be the most useful method to monitor patient’s response to therapy
Burns ; Inflammation ; Blood

Platelets are key participants in many pathophysiological processes, play a broad role in tissue regeneration and repair, and interact closely with tumor cells. Platelets have active and passive migration in the human body, and they play different biological meanings, including antimicrobial host defense, inflammation, autoimmune response, tumor growth and metastasis, etc. Therefore, in-depth understanding of the structure and function of platelets, and targeted platelets as biomarkers have become particularly important in the field of modern medical research and treatment. This review provides an overview of platelet physiology, focusing on the biological characteristics of platelet polarity movement and its significance in diseases.
Blood Platelets ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Inflammation

Humans ; Inflammation ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; blood ; chemistry

Biomarkers ; blood ; Cell-Derived Microparticles ; metabolism ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; Humans ; Inflammation ; blood

BACKGROUND: Platelet activation is an important process of atherothrombosis. However, there are few studies demonstrating the serial changes of platelet activation and the influences of the kinds of therapeutic strategies in atherosclerotic ischemic stroke from acute onset to the subacute phase. METHODS: We serially measured the expressions of CD63 on platelets in patients with atherosclerotic ischemic stroke (n=29) and compared them with normal subjects (n=52) and analyzed the effects to reduce the platelet activation according to the therapeutic strategies. RESULTS: The platelet CD63 expression (p<0.001) in atherosclerotic ischemic stroke significantly increased at 24 hours of ischemic stroke onset compared to normal subjects and their increment continually remained until 90 days after the ischemic events. Among the 29 patients, 12 patients treated with clopidogrel and aspirin showed significant decreases of the platelet CD63 expression (p=0.01) at 7 days compared to that at 24 hours. However, the reducing effect of this combination regimen disappeared after 90 days. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the hyperexpression of CD63 on platelets in atherosclerotic ischemic stroke is not easily suppressed by regular anti-platelet medications.
Aspirin ; Blood Platelets* ; Brain Ischemia ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Platelet Activation* ; Stroke*

Polyarteritis nodosa is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis that affects mainly small and medium-sized arteries that involve multiple organs. In addition to the systemic involvement of classical vasculitis, localized vasculitis involves blood vessels within a confined vascular distribution or single organ without clinical evidence of generalized inflammation. Localized vasculitis of the gastrointestinal tract is a rare entity. In particular, a limited involvement of the small bowel is an unusual manifestation of polyarteritis nodosa. In this report, we describe a case of biopsy-proven polyarteritis nodosa presenting as small bowel bleeding without other systemic manifestations.
Arteries ; Blood Vessels ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Inflammation ; Polyarteritis Nodosa ; Vasculitis

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells and cellular elements play a role. Chronic inflammation is associated with airway hyper-responsiveness, which leads to various airway symptoms. Approaches to asthma treatment have been changing because our knowledge about the pathogenesis and treatment of asthma is continually evolving. Until recently, the stepwise approach to the treatment of asthma was based on a patient's asthma severity. However, new international guidelines have recommended that treatment should be adjusted in a continuous cycle driven by the patient's asthma-control status. If asthma is not controlled on the current treatment regimen, treatment should be stepped up until control is achieved. When control is maintained for at least 3 months, treatment can be stepped down. Ongoing monitoring is essential to maintain control and to establish the lowest step and dose of treatment to minimize cost and maximize safety. However, the stepwise approach and recommended treatments are meant to assist, not replace, the clinical decision making necessary to determine the most appropriate treatment to meet the individual patient's needs and circumstances. This article is a review of the stepwise approach to the treatment of asthma recommended by the Global Initiative for Asthma 2009 and Expert Panel Report 3 of National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 2007.
Asthma ; Decision Making ; Inflammation ; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U.S.)

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis is characterized by necrotizing, neutrophilic inflammation of small dermal blood vessels usually presenting as palpable purpuric lesions. Different clinical forms such as urticarial wheals, nodules, bullaes, ulcers and pustules have been less commonly encountered. Annular lesions have been rarely reported in the clinical spectrum of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Herein we present a case of purpuric eruptions with unusual centrifugal evolution, creating polycyclic patches on both lower extremities. Histopathologic examination revealed compatible features of leukocytoclastic vasculitis.
Blood Vessels ; Inflammation ; Lower Extremity ; Neutrophils ; Ulcer ; Vasculitis*

OBJECTIVE: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has emerged recently as an important regulator of inflammatory and immune responses. This work was undertaken to evaluate serum levels of MIF and in vitro MIF production by whole blood cells in patients with Behcet's disease and investigate the relationship between serum levels of MIF and clinical manifestations. METHODS: Sixty-five patients with Behcet's disease and forty-eight healthy controls were studied to evaluate serum levels of MIF. Six patients with Behcet's disease and Five healthy controls were studied for evaluating the production of MIF by whole blood cells. Serum and culture supernatant levels of MIF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The production of MIF by whole blood cells was investigated by culturing peripheral blood cells in the absence or presence of Concanavalin A (Con A). RESULTS: Serum levels of MIF were higher in patients with Behcet's disease than in healthy controls. Serum levels of MIF were changed in each patient with Behcet's disease according to clinical disease activity (higher at active state). The MIF production by Con A-stimulated peripheral blood cell culture was higher in patients with Behcet's disease than in healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Circulating levels of MIF are higher in patients with Behcet's disease than in healthy controls and the levels of MIF may be associated with clinical disease activity. MIF may play an important role as a mediator of inflammation in Behcet's disease and provide opportunity for the development of anti-MIF strategy for the treatment of patients with Behcet's disease.
Blood Cells ; Concanavalin A ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Macrophages*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in the development of plaque rupture. METHODS: One hundred and ten patients enrolled in this study. All patients underwent coronary angiography. It included 85 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and 25 controls. The angiographic morphology of plaques was analyzed. According to the morphologic types of plaque, CHD patients were divided into Type I (smooth borders) group (n=31), Type II (irregular lesions) group (n=35), and Type III (long lesions) group (n=19). All patients were measured of MDA-LDL, hs-CRP, creatine kinase (CK), and MB isoenzyme of CK (CK-MB) in the plasma. RESULTS: Plasma MDA-LDL and hs-CRP in the Type II group were significantly higher than those in the control group, Type I group, and Type III group (P<0.01). The plasma levels of MDA-LDL were not correlated to LDL and HDL in patients in Type II group (P>0.05). The plasma levels of MDA-LDL and hs-CRP had a significant positive correlation in patients in Type II group (r=0.630, P<0.01). CONCLUSION Oxidative stress and inflammation may cause plaque rupture in CHD patients. The oxidative stress is likely to either induce or intensify the inflammatory action, and may co-affect with inflammation factors to cause or accelerate plaque rupture.
Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammation Mediators ; blood ; Oxidative Stress