BMC Infectious Diseases最新文献

{"title":"A nationwide joint spatial modelling of simultaneous epidemics of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika in Colombia.","authors":"Laís Picinini Freitas, Mabel Carabali, Alexandra M Schmidt, Jorge Emilio Salazar Flórez, Brayan Ávila Monsalve, César García-Balaguera, Berta N Restrepo, Gloria I Jaramillo-Ramirez, Kate Zinszer","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-10782-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12879-025-10782-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chikungunya, and Zika emerged in the 2010s in the Americas, causing simultaneous epidemics with dengue. However, little is known of these Aedes-borne diseases (ABDs) joint patterns and contributors at the population-level.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We applied a novel Poisson-multinomial spatial model to the registered cases of dengue (n = 291,820), chikungunya (n = 75,913), and Zika (n = 72,031) by municipality in Colombia, 2014-2016. This model estimates the relative risk of total ABDs cases and associated factors, and, simultaneously, the odds of presence and contributors of each disease using dengue as a baseline category. This approach allows us to identify combined characteristics of ABDs, since they are transmitted by the same mosquitoes, while also identifying differences between them.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found an increased ABDs risk in valleys and south of the Andes, the Caribbean coast, and borders, with temperature as the main contributor (Relative Risk 2.32, 95% Credible Interval, CrI, 2.05-2.64). Generally, dengue presence was the most probable among the ABDs, although that of Zika was greater on Caribbean islands. Chikungunya and Zika were more likely present than dengue in municipalities with less vegetation (Odds Ratio, OR, 0.75, 95%CrI 0.65-0.86, and 0.85, 95%CrI 0.74-0.99, respectively). Chikungunya tended to be present in more socially vulnerable areas than dengue (OR 1.20, 95%CrI 0.99-1.44) and Zika (OR 1.19, 95%CrI 0.95-1.48).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Important differences between the ABDs were identified and can help guide local and context-specific interventions, such as those aimed at preventing cases importation in border and tourism locations and reducing chikungunya burden in socially vulnerable regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"406"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11934603/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143708272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Candidate target genes in sepsis diagnosis and therapy: identifying hub genes with a spotlight on KLRB1.","authors":"Wang Chen, Chen Haoran, Ding Jinqiu, Tang Xinyi, Yu Dian, Xie Yongpeng, Li Xiaomin","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-10818-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12879-025-10818-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sepsis, which causes systemic inflammation and organ failure, is one of the leading causes of death in the intensive care unit (ICU) and an urgent social health problem. However, the pathogenesis and molecular mechanism of sepsis are unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to identify candidate Hub genes during sepsis progression and the candidate target genes for sepsis diagnosis and treatment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>GSE54514, GSE57065, GSE69528, GSE95233, and GSE131761 datasets were downloaded from public databases, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between healthy and septic patients in each dataset were screened at adjusted P-value < 0.05 and| log2FC| ≥ 0.58. Subsequently, the obtained DEGs in each dataset were intersected to obtain the Hub genes. In addition, the DEGs between patients with better and poor prognoses in datasets GSE54514 and GSE95233 were analyzed after 28 days. The differential expression of Hub genes in septic patients with good and poor prognoses was detected at adjusted P-value < 0.05 and| log2FC| ≥ 0.58. Finally, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to verify the bioinformatics results.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In datasets GSE54514, GSE57065, GSE69528, GSE95233 and GSE131761, RNASE2, RNASE3, CTSG, SLPI, TNFAIP6, PGLYRP1 and BLOC1S1 were up-regulated in septic patients, and RPL10A and KLRB1 were down-regulated compared to healthy controls. qRT-PCR confirmed the expression trend of the hub genes except CTSG (which was not differentially expressed). Compared to septic patients with good prognoses, the differential expression of RNASE3 was higher in patients with poor prognoses. Furthermore, qRT-PCR revealed that KLRB1 was the only differentially expressed hub gene with down-regulated expression in sepsis patients with poor prognosis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The candidate Hub genes closely related to sepsis include KLRB1, RNASE2, RNASE3, CTSG, SLPI, TNFAIP6, PGLYRP1, BLOC1S1, and RPL10A. KLRB1 is the most relevant candidate hub gene among these hub genes in the molecular underpinnings of sepsis, which could be targeted for sepsis detection and treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"409"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11938612/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143708274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Graph theory analysis reveals functional brain network alterations in HIV-associated asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment in virally suppressed homosexual males.","authors":"Xire Aili, Shuai Han, Juming Ma, Jiaojiao Liu, Wei Wang, Chuanke Hou, Xingyuan Jiang, Haixia Luo, Fan Xu, Ruili Li, Hongjun Li","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-10780-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12879-025-10780-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the global and nodal functional network alterations, abnormal connections of brain regions, and potential imaging biomarkers in virally suppressed people living with HIV (PLH) with asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment (ANI) using graph theory analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study included 64 men with ANI (mean age 32.45 years) and 64 healthy controls (HC) (mean age 31.31 years). The functional network was established through the graph theory method and Automated Anatomic Labeling (AAL) 90 atlas, which provides a cerebrum parcellation framework. Moreover, hub regions were identified based on betweenness centrality (Bc). Functional connectivity (FC) differences were investigated between the two groups, these connections were located in the resting-state network (RSN). Neuropsychological (NP) tests were performed, and relationships between graph theory measures, clinical data, and NP tests were analyzed. Multiple comparisons were used to correct for false-positive findings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>On the global level, small-worldness, global efficiency (Eg), and local efficiency (Eloc) were significantly decreased in ANI subjects. On a nodal level, brain regions in the frontal and subcortical regions showed significantly decreased nodal measures, while regions in the parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes showed increased nodal measures. Increased FCs were found between brain regions in the visual, frontoparietal, and somatomotor networks. Hub regions overlapped highly between the two groups. Age was negatively correlated with graph theory measures.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings demonstrate the global and nodal alterations in the functional network of virally suppressed homosexual males in the ANI stage. Frontal and subcortical brain regions may be important for finding the imaging biomarkers for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"408"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11938670/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143708236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing combined by medical thoracoscopy surgery among infectious pleural effusion patients.","authors":"Nannan Gao, Saran Feng, Xiaoxiao Yu, Jing Zhao, Yunyan Wan, Zhouhong Yao, Dezhi Li","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-10806-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12879-025-10806-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a novel method for identifying pathogens in infectious diseases. This study aimed to explored the application value of mNGS in diagnosing pulmonary infections with pleural effusion, confirmed by medical thoracoscopy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively reviewed 25 patients with pulmonary infections and pleural effusion between July 2020 and December 2021. All patients had their diagnosis confirmed by medical thoracoscopy to obtain tissue samples for both traditional testing and mNGS. Samples included pleural effusion, successive sputum, and tissue obtained through medical thoracoscopy. We wanted to assess how effective mNGS was in accurately diagnosing these infections.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study found that the positive predictive value of mNGS (76% (19/25)) was significantly higher than that of traditional testing (32% (8/25)). The most commonly identified pathogens were Mycobacterium tuberculosis (n = 5), followed by Fusobacterium nucleatum (n = 4), Torque teno virus (n = 4), Streptococcus intermedius (n = 3), Peptostreptococcus stomatis (n = 2), Porphyromonas endodontalis (n = 2), and Campylobacter rectus (n = 2). The percentage of mNGS-positive cases was significantly higher than that from traditional testing for bacteria, but the superiority of mNGS for tuberculosis detection was insignificant. Ten cases were identified with mixed infections by mNGS, while no mixed infections were found by traditional testing.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our study showed that using mNGS in combination with biopsy samples obtained through medical thoracoscopy resulted in higher positive rates compared to traditional tests and provided more evidence of pathogens for patients with infectious pleural effusion.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"407"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11938611/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143708234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early biomarkers in hospitalized patients as predictors of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection: a one-year cohort study.","authors":"Chithira V Nair, Malavika Krishnakumar, Georg Gutjahr, Kiran G Kulirankal, Merlin Moni, Dipu T Sathyapalan","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-10619-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12879-025-10619-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) represent a significant challenge in patient care, with symptoms persisting beyond three month's post-recovery. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of PASC at one year post-COVID-19 and identify predictive biomarkers and comorbidities for effective risk stratification.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cohort of 120 adult patients, including 50 intensive care and 70 non-intensive care patients, was followed up at two weeks, six weeks, and one-year post-discharge using structured questionnaires. The study integrated comorbidities and laboratory biomarkers to forecast the risk for PASC.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The median age of participants was 56 years, with 40% having moderate to severe comorbidities. A year post-recovery, 32.8% exhibited post COVID-19 conditions. The most common symptoms were constitutional (16%), respiratory (8.4%), and neuropsychiatric (2.5%). Bayesian network analysis indicated significant correlations between constitutional symptoms, rehospitalisation, and biomarkers including C-reactive protein, lactate-dehydrogenase, ferritin, and albumin.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights the prolonged impact of PASC, one-year post infection. It highlights the role of specific biomarkers such as C-reactive protein, lactate-dehydrogenase, ferritin, and albumin in tailoring individual patient care by advancing understanding in post-COVID-19 symptoms prediction. Our findings support the need for further research to refine these insights, which are pivotal for the ongoing care of patients in the aftermath of COVID-19.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"398"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11931858/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143699459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of clinical characteristics of 213 clinically diagnosed pediatric patients with paragonimiasis from Yunnan, China.","authors":"Yi Huang, Xiaotao Yang, Ying Zhu, Houxi Bai, Feng Jiao, Haifeng Jin, Houyu Chen, Yan Guo, Penghao Cui, Yanchun Wang, Yonghan Luo","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-10776-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12879-025-10776-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristics of clinically diagnosed paragonimiasis in children in Yunnan Province to enhance awareness, reduce misdiagnosis and missed diagnoses, and provide guidance for the clinical management of the disease.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Clinical data from 213 pediatric patients clinically diagnosed with paragonimiasis between 2014 and April 2024 were collected and retrospectively analyzed, focusing on clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, imaging changes, and treatment approaches.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 213 cases, the majority were male (157 cases, 73.7%), with Han ethnicity being the most prevalent (161 cases, 75.6%), and the average age was 7.2 years. The majority of cases originated from Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province (159/213, 74.6%), particularly from Zhenxiong County (90/159, 56.6%), Yiliang County (31/159, 19.5%), and Daguan County (24/159, 15.1%). A clear epidemiological exposure history was present in 177 cases (83.1%), including the consumption of raw water, crayfish, and stream crabs. The most common clinical subtypes were complex (115 cases, 54.0%) and thoracic-pulmonary (83 cases, 39.0%). The three most prevalent clinical manifestations included cough (98 cases, 48.0%), fever (75 cases, 35.2%), and abdominal pain (63 cases, 29.6%). Elevated eosinophil levels were noted in 195 cases (91.5%). Compared to the thoracic-pulmonary subtype, the complex subtype exhibited higher proportions of Han ethnicity, Zhaotong origin, White cell count, hemoglobin levels, and length of hospitalization. All children received oral praziquantel treatment, averaging 2.6 treatment courses, with 121 cases (56.8%) also receiving glucocorticoid therapy, and 45 cases (21.1%) undergoing surgical intervention. Except for five thoracic-pulmonary subtype patients who sought surgery at external facilities, all other patients were discharged after clinical improvement. Follow-up indicated that 143 cases (67.1%) attended regular check-ups, with no residual complications.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The clinical manifestations of clinically diagnosed paragonimiasis are diverse. In addition to immunological examinations and elevated eosinophil counts, an epidemiological history (including residence in endemic areas and consumption of raw water or crayfish) is crucial for diagnosis. After treatment primarily with praziquantel, the prognosis for the majority of patients is favorable.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial number: </strong>Not applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"397"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11931776/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143699317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of monocyte distribution width in predicting critical illness in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: a retrospective cohort study.","authors":"Chia-Hung Lai, Chun-Hung Chen, Yen-Wei Chiu, Fen-Wei Huang, Shih-Yun Wu, Hong-Mo Shih, Po-Ren Hsueh","doi":"10.1186/s12879-024-10391-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12879-024-10391-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Identifying patients at a risk of severe COVID-19 is crucial for prompt intervention and mortality risk mitigation. The monocyte distribution width (MDW) is an effective accurate predictor of sepsis in emergency settings, facilitating timely patient management. However, few reliable laboratory parameters are available for predicting the severity and prognosis of COVID-19. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate whether MDW can accurately predict the severity and progression of COVID-19 pneumonia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective cohort study included patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who had been admitted to our hospital between January 1, 2022, and September 31, 2022. The primary outcome was the development of critical illness, which was assessed in terms of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, need for mechanical ventilation (MV), or mortality. The secondary outcomes were durations of ICU stay, MV, and hospital stay. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to estimate the risks of critical illness and mortality.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Data from 878 patients with COVID-19 were analyzed. Of these, 258 (29.4%) developed critical illness. The high-MDW group (MDW > 22) showed a higher rate of critical illness (155/452, 34.29%) compared to the low-MDW group (103/426, 24.18%). Mortality was also higher in the high-MDW group (95/452, 21.02%) than in the low-MDW group (37/426, 8.69%). Patients with MDW > 22 exhibited a significantly higher risk of developing critical illness (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-2.04) and mortality (aOR: 2.46; 95% CI: 1.63-3.74) compared to those with MDW ≤ 22.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings suggest that an elevated MDW value at presentation may serve as a promising predictor of severe outcomes in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. This underscores the need for further research to validate the utility of MDW in predicting critical illness among patients with viral pneumonia.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"400"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11934797/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143699469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Severe skin complications of varicella in previously healthy children in Iran: emerging concern.","authors":"Hamed Tabasizadeh, Shima Mahmoudi, Mahmoud Khodabandeh, Hamid Eshaghi, Mohammad Reza Abdolsalehi, Maedeh Gooran, Hani Rostami Rad, Reihaneh Hosseinpour Sadeghi, Setareh Mamishi","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-10794-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12879-025-10794-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Varicella, commonly known as chickenpox, is typically considered a mild childhood illness but can lead to severe complications necessitating hospitalization. In Iran, the varicella-zoster vaccine is not currently included in the routine immunization schedule. This case series study aimed to characterize severe skin complications of varicella in children admitted to an Iranian referral hospital.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This case series study reviewed 17 pediatric cases hospitalized for severe skin complications of varicella and demographics data, clinical presentation, and the outcomes were collected.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between December 2023 and March 2024, a total of 98 cases diagnosed with varicella were screened in our hospital, of which 17 cases (17.3%) presented with severe skin complications. Among 17 cases analyzed, 82.3% were males (n = 14) with a mean age of 6.9 ± 3.9 years. Severe skin complications of varicella manifested across diverse anatomical sites, with the chest and neck emerging as the most frequently affected areas. Cellulitis was a consistent finding across all cases, while abscess formation was noted in six instances. Particularly noteworthy was a case of necrotizing fasciitis localized to the thigh and leg region, underscoring the potential severity of varicella-related complications. Furthermore, we documented an instance of preseptal cellulitis linked to varicella zoster virus infection. Treatment involved local wound care, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and surgical intervention in six cases. Bacterial cultures identified Group A β-hemolytic Streptococcus in 35.3% of cases.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study highlights the spectrum of severe varicella-related skin complications and underscores the importance of prompt recognition and management to prevent morbidity and optimize outcomes. Further research and analysis of varicella epidemiology in Iran are essential to evaluate the benefits and feasibility of integrating the varicella-zoster vaccine into the national immunization program.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"402"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11934440/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143699474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of the diagnostic significance of pentraxin-3 in conjunction with procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) for neonatal sepsis.","authors":"Yan Jin, Shuang Guo, Yanfeng Xiao, Chunyan Yin","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-10821-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12879-025-10821-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to compare serum levels of pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) in neonates with sepsis against those without sepsis and to assess the diagnostic value of PTX-3 in relation to conventional inflammatory markers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between June and December 2020, a total of 109 neonates aged 1 to 21 days, with birth weights ranging from 1795 g to 4200 g, and who met the diagnostic criteria outlined in the \"Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neonatal Sepsis\" (2019) were examined in this prospective study, including 35 with sepsis, 36 with localized infections, and 38 without any infections. Neonates with congenital malformations, intrauterine viral infections, prior antibiotic treatment or without parental consent were excluded from the study. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for routine blood parameters, liver and kidney function metrics, levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), lactic acid, and PTX-3.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The incidence of premature rupture of membranes was significantly lower in the sepsis and localized infection groups compared to the non-infected group (22.86%, 11.11%, and 2.63%; P < 0.05). White blood cell (WBC) counts were significantly elevated in both the sepsis and localized infection groups when compared to the non-infected group (P < 0.05). Notable differences were also found in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and calcium (Ca) levels (P < 0.05). Serum levels of CRP, PCT, and PTX-3 were significantly higher in the sepsis group (P < 0.05). Additionally, PTX-3 levels demonstrated a strong correlation with both CRP and PCT (P < 0.01). PTX-3, PCT, and platelet distribution width (PDW) emerged as independent risk factors for neonatal infection, while WBC, platelet count (PLT), CRP, PTX-3, PDW, and pH were identified as independent risk factors for sepsis (P < 0.05). The combination of PTX-3, CRP, PCT, and WBC exhibited the highest diagnostic efficiency for neonatal infection (AUC = 0.954, sensitivity 97.4%, specificity 83.1%; P < 0.01). For sepsis, the combined markers also demonstrated the best diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.855, sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 80.0%; P < 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PTX-3 shows promise as a biomarker for neonatal sepsis, and when combined with WBC, CRP, and PCT, it significantly enhances both diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial number: </strong>Not applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"401"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11934617/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143699318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modulation of RAAS receptors and miRNAs in COVID-19: implications for disease severity, immune response, and potential therapeutic targets.","authors":"Thais Freitas Barreto Fernandes, Jose Henrique Pilotto, Priscila Alves Cezar, Fernanda Heloise Côrtes, Mariza G Morgado, Carmem Beatriz W Giacoia-Gripp, Nathalia Beatriz Ramos De Sá, Andressa Da Silva Cazote, Agatha Freixinho Neves, Marcel De Souza Borges Quintana, Maria Pia Diniz Ribeiro, Sandra Wagner Cardoso, Valdiléa G Veloso, Beatriz Grinsztejn, Dalziza Victalina De Almeida","doi":"10.1186/s12879-025-10803-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12879-025-10803-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interacts with ACE2, a key receptor within the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which plays a critical role in maintaining vascular homeostasis, regulating blood pressure, and modulating inflammation. An observational study analyzed the gene expression profiles of RAAS receptors and associated miRNAs in 88 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and 20 healthy controls, comparing the acute and post-acute phases to assess their impact on disease severity and recovery. Our findings revealed an association between reduced MAS1 expression in both advanced age (P = 0.03) and the need for oxygen supplementation (P = 0.04). Additionally, reduced ACE expression was associated with worse mortality outcomes (P = 0.01). Notably, ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression was significantly decreased (P < 0.0001) in individuals requiring oxygen supplementation and in those with diabetes mellitus during both the acute and post-COVID-19 phases, further highlighting the impact of these conditions on RAAS. The miRNA analysis revealed significant downregulation of miR-200c (P = 0.005), miR-let-7 (P = 0.01), and miR-122 (P = 0.03) in acute-phase COVID-19 patients. This dysregulation contributes to the inflammatory response and highlights the interaction between viral entry and immune regulation. These results underscore the significance of the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MAS1 axis in inflammation regulation and suggest that targeting this pathway may have therapeutic potential. Our study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of COVID-19 pathogenesis and identifies the modulation of RAAS receptors and miRNAs as promising biomarkers for disease severity and potential therapeutic interventions. CLINICAL TRIAL: Not applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":8981,"journal":{"name":"BMC Infectious Diseases","volume":"25 1","pages":"399"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11934810/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143699471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}