The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences in complete blood count parameters (CBC) and inflammation-related biomarkers, MPV/PC, PLR, NLR, LWR, LMR, NMR, and LCR, among patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and patients with colorectal adenomas. The study included 155 patients who were divided into two groups according to histopathological analysis – 74 adenomas patients and 81 CRC patients. A routine examination of CBC was conducted on Sysmex XN1000 whereas CRP was measured on Alinity ci-series. Statistical analysis was performed by ROC curve analysis using MedCalc Statistical Software. In CRC patients, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, and MCHC were lower, while RDW was higher ( p < 0.001), compared to patients with adenomas. Total leukocyte count ( p = 0 .006), absolute neutrophils ( p = 0.005), and absolute monocytes ( p = 0.007) were lower while relative eosinophils ( p = 0.001) and relative basophils ( p = 0.001) were higher in CRC patients. Platelet count ( p < 0.001) was significantly higher and MPV ( p = 0.003) was significantly lower in CRC patients. Furthermore, MPV/PC ( p < 0.001) was significantly lower and PLR ( p < 0.001) was significantly higher in CRC. Moreover, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed poor diagnostic accuracy, for all tested parameters (AUC was 0.7 or less). PC, MPV, MPV/PC, and PLR were significantly different between study groups, but ROC analysis revealed poor diagnostic accuracy. Lower hemo globin levels in CRC patients are possibly due to more frequent and excessive bleeding. Higher levels of basophils and eosinophils in CRC patients are indicators of inflammatory reaction, which is linked to CRC.

Specific markers for colorectal cancer (CRC), preceded by colorectal adenoma (pre-CRC), are lacking. This study aimed to investigate whether microRNAs (miR-19a-3p, miR-92a-3p, miR-193a-3p, and miR-210-3p) from tissues and exosomes are potential CRC biomarkers and compare them to existing biomarkers, namely carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9. MiRNA was isolated in the samples of 52 CRC and 76 pre-CRC patients. Expression levels were analyzed by RT-qPCR. When comparing pre-CRC and CRC tissue expression levels, only miR-193a-3p showed statistically significant result (p < 0.0001). When comparing the tissues and exosomes of CRC samples, a statistically significant difference was found for miR-193a-3p (p < 0.0001), miR-19a-3p (p < 0.0001), miR-92a-3p (p = 0.0212), and miR-210-3p (p < 0.0001). A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the ROC curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of CEA, CA 19-9, and miRNAs. CEA and CA 19-9 had good diagnostic values (AUCs of 0.798 and 0.668). The diagnostic value only of miR-193a-3p was highlighted (AUC = 0.725). The final logistic regression model, in which we put a combination of CEA concentration and the miR-193a-3p expression level in tissues, showed that using these two markers can distinguish CRC and pre-CRC in 71.3% of cases (AUC = 0.823). MiR-193a-3p from tissues could be a potential CRC biomarker.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a complex pregnancy disorder that may cause adverse outcomes for mother and baby. Combining risk factors with clinical, laboratory, and ultrasonographic data can help identify women at risk. This study investigated the relationship between maternal risk factors, soluble fms-like tyro-sine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PlGF), their ratio, and pregnancy outcomes, involving 68 women with PE risk factors and 21 controls. There were no significant differences in the frequency of adverse outcomes (PE, foetal death, and infants with abnormal birth weight), sFlt-1, PlGF, the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, or birth weight centiles between the PE-risk and control groups. The most frequently recorded high-risk factor was gestational diabetes mellitus, whereas moderate risk was a pre-pregnancy body mass index of over 30 kg m ^–2 . The most prominent difference was observed in the subgroups with gestational hypertension and first-time pregnant women as risk factors, with significantly higher sFlt-1/PlGF ratios compared to the control group. Combining multiple risk factors increased the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio compared to both the control group and the group with only one risk factor. The study documented PE risk factors and outcomes at a Croatian hospital where angiogenic markers are not routinely used in screening. Findings highlighted the importance of integrating PE screening into standard practice.

Background: Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, such as gestational hypertension (GH), pose significant risks to maternal and fetal health, affecting a substantial proportion of pregnancies worldwide. Despite their prevalence, the dynamics of various biomarkers across the peripartum period remain poorly understood, limiting comprehensive insight into their pathophysiology. This study aimed to evaluate changes in neuroendocrine, angiogenic, and inflammatory biomarkers before and after delivery in women with GH and to compare these profiles with those of normotensive controls. Methods: This prospective study included women with singleton vaginal deliveries, assigned to GH and control groups (n = 20 per group). Clinical data were collected, and blood samples (pre- and 2 hours post-delivery) were analyzed for chromogranin A (CgA), catestatin (CST), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PlGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Peripartum changes were evaluated using rank-based repeated-measures analysis. Results: CgA concentrations decreased significantly after delivery in both groups (pTime < 0.001), with comparable peripartum kinetics (pGroup×Time = 0.718; median difference [MD]: 2.3 ng/mL; 95% confidence interval [CI]: –5.4 to 7.8). PlGF concentrations were significantly lower in the GH group (pGroup = 0.002) and declined after birth (pTime < 0.001), with a clinically meaningful trend toward a greater decline in the GH group (MD: 78 pg/mL; 95% CI: 30 to 220). IL-6 increased 10-fold after delivery (pTime < 0.001), with a comparable shift between groups (pGroup×Time = 0.456; MD: 6.9 pg/mL; 95% CI: –9.1 to 21.2). CRP concentrations increased after delivery (pTime < 0.001), with no difference in peripartum kinetics between groups (pGroup×Time = 0.257). Pre-delivery CgA and sFlt-1 were strongly correlated in the control group (rs = 0.636, p = 0.003). Sex-stratified analyses revealed significantly lower IL-6 concentrations in female fetuses within the control group (1.9 vs. 3.6 pg/mL; p = 0.037), and significantly lower PlGF concentrations in female fetuses within the GH group (73 vs. 153 pg/mL; p = 0.039). Conclusions: Our results align with established patterns for angiogenic and inflammatory markers, but these novel neuroendocrine findings require validation in larger groups. Incorporating neuroendocrine regulation into models of GH is a key area for future study. Study Registration: The study has been registered on https://zenodo.org/ (registration number: zenodo. 18958924; registration link: https://zenodo.org/records/18958924).

Introduction: The diagnostic and prognostic significance of immature neutrophils has been extensively documented. To ensure rapid response to our clinicians we aimed to verify the reliability of the quantitative measurement of immature granulocytes (IG) on a Sysmex XN-1000 hematology analyzer (HA). Methods: The verification protocol included the precision study performed on both patient and commercial quality control (QC) samples (repeatability and total precision) and the comparison with the reference manual method (light microscopy) according to CLSI H20-A2:2007 guidelines. Two blood smears were prepared and stained using the May Grünwald Giemsa (MGG) technique. Two experienced medical laboratory scientists differentiated all duplicate stained slides. The method imprecision was expressed as a coefficient of variation in percentages (CV %) and compared to the manufacturer’s performance criteria (25.0 % or 0.12 x 109/L IG for repeatability; 30 % for total precision). An average bias between the automated method and the manual method was calculated using the Bland-Altman plot and compared to the manufacturer’s acceptance criteria (±1.5 % IG). According to the manufacturer, a correlation coefficient between methods should be >0.80. Additionally, a rank correlation between methods was performed. Statistical analysis was performed in MedCalc® v23.1.1 statistical software (MedCalc Software Ltd, Ostend, Belgium) Results: The repeatability on both patient and QC samples was within the acceptance criteria, ranging from 8.7 % for high IG concentrations to 18.3 % for low IG concentrations. Total imprecision for all concentration levels was within the acceptance criteria (<6 %). One hundred patients were included in the comparison study. IG values ranged from 0.7 to a maximum of 23.3 x 109/L. Bland-Altman plot revealed a satisfactory positive absolute bias of 1.2 % IG (95 % CI: 0.9 – 1.5, P<0.0001). Rank correlation revealed a satisfactory correlation coefficient of 0.90 (95 % CI: 0.86 – 0.93, P<0.0001). Conclusions: The hematology analyzer Sysmex XN-1000 meets all the manufacturer’s specifications regarding quantitative IG measurements. The method has been verified and is suitable for daily routine work within the six-part differential blood count, thus significantly improving turnaround time in severe cases where every second to diagnosis count.

Complete molecular mechanisms that underlie inflammatory responses in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are still unknown but seem to be associated with chronic exposure to noxious particles or gases, particularly cigarette smoke, and genetic susceptibility. The aim of this study was to explore gene expressions of HSP70 as well as TLR2 and TLR4 (the main receptors for extracellular Hsp70), and association of their polymorphisms with risk of COPD. 137 patients with stable COPD and 95 controls were included in the study. Real-time polymerase chain-reaction was used for the determination of HSP70, TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA expressions as well as for genotyping for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of HSP70 (rs1008438, rs6457452), TLR2 (rs1898830, rs3804099, rs13150331) and TLR4 (rs2737190, rs10759932, rs7846989) genes. Levels of HSP70 (P<0.001) and TLR2 (P=0.002) mRNA expression were increased in COPD patients compared to healthy subjects and were also increased at each disease stage regarding the airway obstruction (GOLD 2-4 with P<0.001, P=0.019, respectively) as well as in each group based on symptoms severity assessed by CAT and history of exacerbations (GOLD A-D with P<0.001, P=0.009, respectively) compared to controls. TLR4 gene expression was similar in controls and COPD patients. After smoking adjustments, A/C genotype of SNP rs1008438 of HSP70 gene showed to be associated with a decreased risk of COPD in Croatian population in overdominant model with OR (95% CI) of 0.52 (0.28-0.96) (P=0.036). Enhanced gene expression of HSP70 and TLR2 might be involved in immune response in stable COPD, while HSP70 rs1008438 variation might play important role in the genetic susceptibility to COPD.