Background We aimed to investigate the association between red cell index (RCI) and the severity of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and compare predictive value of RCI, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for the severity of COPD. Methods A total of 207 participants were recruited (100 COPD patients and 107 healthy controls). COPD patients were divided into two groups according to the optimal cut-off value of RCI determined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Pearson’s correlation test, logistic regression analysis and other tests were performed. Results Compared with low RCI group, the forced expiration volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) and FEV 1 in percent of the predicted value (FEV 1 %) in high RCI group were lower ( p = 0.016, p = 0.001). There was a negative correlation between RCI and FEV 1 % ( r = −0.302, p = 0.004), while no correlation between FEV 1 % and NLR as well as PLR were found. RCI showed higher predictive value than NLR and PLR for predicting Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease classification (GOLD), with a cut-off value of 1.75 and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.729 ( p = 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis proved that RCI was an independent factor for lung function in COPD patients (odds ratio [OR] = 4.27, 95% CI: 1.57–11.63, p = 0.004). Conclusion RCI is a novel biomarker that can better assess pulmonary function and severity of COPD than NLR and PLR. Higher RCI is related to deterioration of pulmonary function.

Ferroptosis is a new type of cell death caused by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. In recent years, it has been found that ferroptosis can promote the progression of atherosclerosis (AS). Macrophages have been proven to play multiple roles in the occurrence and development of AS. Iron is a necessary mineral that participates in different functions of macrophages under physiological conditions. But iron overload and ferroptosis in macrophages may promote the progression of AS. Herein, we summarize the role of iron overload and ferroptosis in macrophages in AS from the perspective of iron metabolism, and iron overload and ferroptosis are significant contributors to AS development.

This study aimed to explore the relation between lymphocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (LHR) and pulmonary function of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients compared with neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). Patients and Methods: In total, 154 participants (n = 77 with COPD and n = 77 without COPD) were recruited. LHR, NLR, PLR, lung function and other data were collected and compared. Pearson's correlation test and the receiver operating characteristics curves were used to compare the utility of LHR, NLR and PLR. Besides, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: COPD patients with poorer lung function had a lower LHR level (P < 0.001). In low LHR group, more patients underwent greater airflow limitation than the other group (P = 0.006). LHR positively correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second in percent of the predicted value (FEV 1 %) (r = 0.333, P = 0.003). At a cutoff value of 2.08, the sensitivity and specificity of LHR in predicting FEV 1 % < 50 were 93.2% and 55.6%, respectively, with an AUC of 0.770 (P = 0.001) better than NLR and PLR. Based on logistic regression analyses, it was proved that LHR was associated with decreased risk of FEV 1 <50% predicted in COPD patients (odds ratio = 0.198, 95% CI: 0.048-0.811, P = 0.024). Conclusion: In contrast with NLR and PLR, LHR has higher accuracy for predicting pulmonary function in COPD; lower LHR level is independently associated with poorer pulmonary function.

Objective We aimed to clarify the cognitive function of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and different nutritional status. Methods Among 95 patients with COPD in this retrospective study, we administered the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We recorded patients’ clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and laboratory measurements. According to NRS 2002 scores, patients were divided into two groups: no nutritional risk with NRS 2002 < 3 ( n = 54) and nutritional risk, with NRS 2002 ≥ 3 ( n = 41). Results We found a negative correlation between NRS 2002 and MMSE scores in participants with COPD ( r = −0.313). Patients with nutritional risk were more likely to be cognitively impaired than those with no nutritional risk. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that malnutrition was an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment, after adjusting for confounders (odds ratio [OR] = 4.120, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.072–15.837). We found a similar association between NRS 2002 and MMSE scores at 90-day follow-up using a Pearson’s correlation test ( r = −0.493) and logistic regression analysis (OR = 7.333, 95% CI: 1.114–48.264). Conclusions Patients with COPD at nutritional risk are more likely to have cognitive impairment.