Association Between Serum C-Reactive Protein Levels and Influenza A Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nahed Almeesawi, Siham Ali, Sara Hwisa, Ghadah Alneli — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a nonspecific inflammatory biomarker that may be elevated during respiratory infections. However, its association with influenza A infection requires further investigation. This study aimed to assess the association between serum CRP levels and influenza A infection among patients presenting with acute respiratory symptoms. A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2025 and February 2026 among 62 patients presenting with acute respiratory symptoms in Sabratha, Libya. Participants were classified as influenza-positive (n = 22) or influenza-negative (n = 40) according to their influenza test results. Serum CRP levels were measured using an immunoturbidimetric assay. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 21.0, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Influenza positivity was significantly associated with cold symptoms (p = 0.001) and fatigue (p = 0.002). CRP levels were significantly higher among influenza-positive patients (p = 0.001), and a significant positive correlation was observed between CRP levels and influenza status (r = 0.664, p < 0.001). Age was not significantly associated with influenza status (p = 0.149). Elevated CRP levels were significantly associated with influenza A positivity among patients presenting with acute respiratory symptoms. CRP may serve as an adjunctive inflammatory biomarker; however, further studies are needed to establish its diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility

Patient Positioning Techniques for Improved Radiographic Image Quality in Dentistry: An Evaluation of Intraoral and Panoramic Radiography

Mohamed Abour — Fri, 06 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000

High-quality dental radiographs are essential for accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and prognostic assessment. Technical errors in patient positioning represent the leading cause of non-diagnostic image quality, leading to unnecessary ionizing radiation exposure through repeat exposures. To perform an empirical statistical evaluation of the impact of various patient positioning techniques and error conditions on image quality across intraoral (paralleling, bitewing, bisecting-angle) and extraoral panoramic radiographic modalities. A comprehensive dataset of 234 patient observations (N = 234 valid image quality scores evaluated on a continuous 1.0–5.0 scale) was analyzed. Parametric (t-test, One-Way ANOVA, Tukey HSD) and non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis H) were conducted. Confounding demographic effects (age, sex) were evaluated using Pearson correlation and independent t-tests. Intraoral techniques achieved significantly superior image quality scores (3.62 ± 0.40) compared to panoramic radiography (2.60 ± 0.33; t = 20.92, p < 0.0001). Within intraoral radiography, the paralleling technique yielded the highest diagnostic score (3.99 ± 0.13), significantly outperforming bitewing (3.47 ± 0.15) and bisecting-angle techniques (3.03 ± 0.11; F = 484.19, p < 0.0001). Among panoramic positioning conditions, head rotation caused the most severe degradation in diagnostic quality (1.99 ± 0.10; F = 247.48, p < 0.0001). Patient age (r = 0.0376, p = 0.5667) and sex (t = -0.1676, p = 0.8671) demonstrated no statistically significant association with quality scores. The intraoral paralleling technique remains the gold standard for dimensional fidelity and clarity. In panoramic imaging, preventing head rotation is critical for preserving diagnostic value. Implementation of standardized alignment protocols and AI-assisted quality assurance is strongly recommended.

Libyan Medical Journal

Association Between Serum C-Reactive Protein Levels and Influenza A Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study

Patient Positioning Techniques for Improved Radiographic Image Quality in Dentistry: An Evaluation of Intraoral and Panoramic Radiography