scholarly journals The Combined Use of Cytokine Serum Values with Laboratory Parameters Improves Mortality Prediction of COVID-19 Patients: The Interleukin-15-to-Albumin Ratio

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 2159
Author(s):  
Salma A. Rizo-Téllez ◽  
Lucia A. Méndez-García ◽  
Ana C. Rivera-Rugeles ◽  
Marcela Miranda-García ◽  
Aarón N. Manjarrez-Reyna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mortality Prediction ◽  
Predictive Capacity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Albumin Ratio ◽  
Laboratory Parameters ◽  
Interleukin 15 ◽  
Student’S T

Laboratory parameters display limited accuracy in predicting mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, as with serum albumin. Emerging evidence suggests that cytokine serum values may enhance the predictive capacity of albumin, especially interleukin (IL)-15. We thus investigated whether the use of the IL-15-to-albumin ratio enables improving mortality prediction at hospital admission in a large group of COVID-19 patients. In this prospective cross-sectional study, we enrolled and followed up three hundred and seventy-eight patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis until hospital discharge or death. Two hundred and fifty-five patients survived, whereas one hundred and twenty-three died. Student’s T-test revealed that non-survivors had a significant two-fold increase in the IL-15-to-albumin ratio compared to survivors (167.3 ± 63.8 versus 74.2 ± 28.5), a difference that was more evident than that found for IL-15 or albumin separately. Likewise, mortality prediction considerably improved when using the IL-15-to-albumin ratio with a cut-off point > 105.4, exhibiting an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.841 (95% Confidence Interval, 0.725–0.922, p < 0.001). As we outlined here, this is the first study showing that combining IL-15 serum values with albumin improves mortality prediction in COVID-19 patients.

scholarly journals Diagnostic Precision of Anthropometric Variables for the Detection of Hypertension in Children and Adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 4415
Author(s):  
Manuel Vaquero-Álvarez ◽  
Rafael Molina-Luque ◽  
Francisco Javier Fonseca-Pozo ◽  
Guillermo Molina-Recio ◽  
José López-Miranda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Fat Percentage ◽  
Predictive Capacity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Diagnostic Capacity ◽  
Waist To Height Ratio ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Hypertension In Children

Introduction: High blood pressure (HBP) is a health problem the prevalence of which has increased in young populations. Overweight and obesity in early ages have been directly related to its development. Due to the impact of HBP, it is necessary to provide tools that facilitate its early diagnosis, with useful anthropometric variables being those that assess obesity. The objective of this paper was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of anthropometric variables to detect HBP. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 265 students aged 6–16. The diagnosis of HBP was made following the criteria proposed by the Spanish Association of Pediatrics. Through different statistical methods, the association between anthropometric variables of general obesity with HBP was analyzed. Results: Waist circumference (WC) showed the best diagnostic capacity (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.729), with a sensitivity and specificity of 72.2% and 76%, respectively, for a cut-off point of 73.5 cm. In the adjusted multivariate analysis, an association was found between HBP and anthropometric variables: WC (odds ratio (OR) = 10.7), body mass index (OR = 7.5), waist-to-height ratio (OR = 5.5) and body fat percentage (OR = 5.3) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The anthropometric variables studied showed a moderate predictive capacity for HBP, highlighting WC, which showed the strongest association with HBP in the infant and child population.

Laboratory Parameters and Complication Risk Factors in Mexican COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Omar Ramos-Peñafiel ◽  
Erika Areli Rosas-Gonzalez ◽  
Cristina Elizabeth Madera-Maldonado ◽  
Monica Patricia Bejarano-Rosales ◽  
Rafael García Rascón ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Laboratory Parameters ◽  
Complication Risk

scholarly journals MicroRNAs-1299, -126-3p and -30e-3p as Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers for Prediabetes

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 949
Author(s):  
Cecil J. Weale ◽  
Don M. Matshazi ◽  
Saarah F. G. Davids ◽  
Shanel Raghubeer ◽  
Rajiv T. Erasmus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Receiver Operating Characteristic ◽  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Predictive Ability ◽  
Roc Curves ◽  
Tolerance Test ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Oral Glucose ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Receiver Operating

This cross-sectional study investigated the association of miR-1299, -126-3p and -30e-3p with and their diagnostic capability for dysglycaemia in 1273 (men, n = 345) South Africans, aged >20 years. Glycaemic status was assessed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Whole blood microRNA (miRNA) expressions were assessed using TaqMan-based reverse transcription quantitative-PCR (RT-qPCR). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves assessed the ability of each miRNA to discriminate dysglycaemia, while multivariable logistic regression analyses linked expression with dysglycaemia. In all, 207 (16.2%) and 94 (7.4%) participants had prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), respectively. All three miRNAs were significantly highly expressed in individuals with prediabetes compared to normotolerant patients, p < 0.001. miR-30e-3p and miR-126-3p were also significantly more expressed in T2DM versus normotolerant patients, p < 0.001. In multivariable logistic regressions, the three miRNAs were consistently and continuously associated with prediabetes, while only miR-126-3p was associated with T2DM. The ROC analysis indicated all three miRNAs had a significant overall predictive ability to diagnose prediabetes, diabetes and the combination of both (dysglycaemia), with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) being significantly higher for miR-126-3p in prediabetes. For prediabetes diagnosis, miR-126-3p (AUC = 0.760) outperformed HbA1c (AUC = 0.695), p = 0.042. These results suggest that miR-1299, -126-3p and -30e-3p are associated with prediabetes, and measuring miR-126-3p could potentially contribute to diabetes risk screening strategies.

scholarly journals Health-Related Quality of Life of Persons with Direct, Indirect and No Migration Background in Germany: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3665
Author(s):  
Thomas Grochtdreis ◽  
Hans-Helmut König ◽  
Judith Dams
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Migration Background ◽  
German Population ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Student’S T

Global migration towards and within Europe remains high, shaping the structure of populations. Approximately 24% of the total German population had a migration background in 2017. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between migration background and health-related quality of life (HrQoL) in Germany. The analyses were based on 2014 and 2016 data of the German Socio-Economic Panel. Differences in sociodemographic characteristics between migrant and non-migrant samples were equal by employment of the entropy balancing weights. HrQoL was measured using the physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary scores of the SF-12v2. Associations between PCS and MCS scores and migration background were examined using Student’s t-test. The mean PCS and MCS scores of persons with migration background (n = 8533) were 51.5 and 50.9, respectively. Persons with direct migration background had a lower PCS score (−0.55, p < 0.001) and a higher MCS score (+1.08, p < 0.001) than persons without migration background. Persons with direct migration background differed with respect to both physical and mental HrQoL from persons without migration background in the German population. Differences in HrQoL for persons with indirect migration background had p = 0.305 and p = 0.072, respectively. Causalities behind the association between direct migration background and HrQoL are to be determined.

scholarly journals Cognition, functionality and symptoms in patients under home palliative care

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 922-927
Author(s):  
Maria Aparecida Scottini ◽  
Rachel Duarte Moritz ◽  
José Eduardo de Siqueira
Keyword(s):  
Home Care ◽  
Severe Pain ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Palliative Home Care ◽  
Student’S T ◽  
State Examination

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the degree of cognition, functionality, presence of symptoms and medications prescribed for patients under palliative home care. METHOD: Descriptive, cross-sectional study where 55 patients under palliative home care were interviewed. Cognition was evaluated using the Mini-Mental state examination (MM), with patients being separated into two groups: with preserved cognitive ability (MM>24), or altered (MM <24). The functionality was verified by the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) and the patients were divided into two groups: PPS≤50 and PPS≥60. The symptoms presence was evaluated by ESAS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System) being considered as mild (ESAS 1-3), moderate (ESAS 4-6) or severe (ESAS 7-10) symptoms. Medications prescribed to control the symptoms were registered. Statistical analysis used Student's t test (p <0.05). RESULTS: Most of the 55 patients were women (63.6%), 70.9% of these had MM> 24, 83.6% had PPS <50 and 78.2% presented chronic non-neoplastic degenerative disease. There was a significant relationship between PPS≤50 and MM≤24. Symptoms were present in 98% of patients. Asthenia was more frequently reported and was not treated in 67% of the cases. Severe pain was present in 27.3%: 46% without medication and 13% with medication, if necessary. Most patients with severe dyspnea used oxygen. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the analysed patients had their cognition preserved, presented low functionality and 98% reported the presence of symptoms. Severe pain was present in almost 1/3 of the patients without effective treatment. Re-evaluate palliative home care is suggested to optimize patient's quality of life.

scholarly journals Qualidade de vida de estudantes de graduação

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Lemes de Aquino ◽  
Douglas Ataniel Alves Xavier ◽  
Meirielen Danubia Marra ◽  
Nubia Fernandes Fernandes Teixeira ◽  
Lorena Silva Vargas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Academic Life ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Calidad De Vida ◽  
Student’S T ◽  
The University

RESUMO Objetivos: avaliar a qualidade de vida de acadêmicos regularmente ativos em uma universidade; verificar se existe associação entre qualidade de vida e sintomas depressivos. Método: trata-se de estudo quantitativo, tipo transversal, aplicar-se-ão três questionários estruturados, autoaplicáveis para mensurar o nível da qualidade de vida e índice de depressão entre acadêmicos. Far-se-á a análise estatística descritiva, empregar-se-á o teste Liliefors e usar-se-ão o teste t de Student. Apresentar-se-ão os resultados em forma de figuras. Resultados esperados: realizar-se-á a correlação entre a qualidade de vida dos estudantes dos cursos de graduação da universidade e a incidência de fatores depressivos com o início da vida acadêmica. Descritores: Depressão; Vida Acadêmica; Qualidade de Vida; Universidade; Estudantes; Educação Superior.ABSTRACT Objectives: to evaluate the quality of life of academically active students in a university; to verify if there is an association between quality of life and depressive symptoms. Method: this is a quantitative cross-sectional study. Three structured, self-administered questionnaires will be applied to measure the level of quality of life and depression index among academics. The descriptive statistical analysis will be done, the Liliefors test will be used and the Student's t-test will be used. The results will be presented in the form of figures. Expected results: the correlation between the quality of life of undergraduate students of the university and the incidence of depressive factors with the beginning of academic life will be realized. Descriptors: Depression; Academic life; Quality of Life; Universities; Students; Education, Higher.RESUMEN Objetivos: evaluar la calidad de vida de los académicos regularmente activos en una universidad; comprobar si existe asociación entre calidad de vida y síntomas depresivos. Método: se trata de estudio cuantitativo, tipo transversal, se aplicarán tres cuestionarios estructurados, autoaplicables para medir el nivel de la calidad de vida e índice de depresión entre académicos. Se hará el análisis estadístico descriptivo, se empleará la prueba Liliefors y se utilizarán la prueba t de Student. Se presentarán los resultados en forma de figuras. Resultados esperados: se realizará la correlación entre la calidad de vida de los estudiantes de los cursos de grado de la universidad y la incidencia de factores depresivos con el inicio de la vida académica. Descriptores: Depresión; Vida académica; Calidad de Vida; Universidades; Estudiantes; Educación Superior.

scholarly journals The nasal index in brazilian human skeletons

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. e18337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larissa Chaves Cardoso Fernandes ◽  
Marcus Vitor Diniz de Carvalho ◽  
Eduardo Daruge Júnior ◽  
Luiz Francesquini Júnior ◽  
Patrícia Moreira Rabello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Race ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Brazilian Population ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
Human Skulls ◽  
Student’S T ◽  
Digital Caliper ◽  
Student’S T Test

Aim: To investigate the percentage of correctness (PC) of the Nasal Index (NI) in human skeletons for determination of sex, ancestry and estimation of age in the Brazilian population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 173 human skulls belonging to the Piracicaba Dental School. 93 skeletons were males and 80 females; 34 were aged up to 39 years, 56 between 40 and 59 years, and 83 60 years or older; 96 were from white individuals, 49 were from mixed-race and 28 from black individuals. High-precision digital caliper was used to measure nasal height (NH=ANS-nasion) and the maximum nasal width (NW) values, which were applied into the formula NI=NW/NHx100. The data were submitted to discriminant analysis and Student’s t test with equal variances, Mann-Whitney, F (ANOVA), Tukey and Kruskal Wallis, 5% significance level. Results: Dominant nasal type in the Brazilian population was the mesorine. Males showed nasal height and width values greater than those of females, with statistically significant differences in all measurements (p≤0.021) and PC of 76.6%. Similar nasal measurements were found regardless of age (p>0.05), with PC of 41.7%. Ancestral analysis revealed that black individuals have greater nasal width (26.35) and nasal index (53.67) than white ones (24.60 and 49.25), while mixed-race individuals showed intermediate values (25.36 and 52.13) (p<0.05). Nevertheless, these measurements presented an estimated PC of 54.3%. Conclusion: The Nasal Index can be better used for sex determination than for estimation of age and ancestry in the Brazilian population, as the latter showed intermediate and low percentage of correctness, respectively.

scholarly journals Patients with pheochromocytoma exhibit low aldosterone renin ratio

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoko Yamada ◽  
Hidenori Fukuoka ◽  
Yusei Hosokawa ◽  
Yukiko Odake ◽  
Kenichi Yoshida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Adrenal Adenoma ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Plasma Renin ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Adrenal Tumors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Plasma Aldosterone Concentration ◽  
Sensitive Marker

Abstract Background Plasma renin activity (PRA) is generally increased in patients with pheochromocytoma (PCC) due to low circulating plasma volume and activation of β-1 adrenergic receptor signaling. However, there has been no study on the aldosterone renin ratio (ARR) in patients with PCC. To elucidate the issue, this study aimed to determine the PRA, plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), and ARR in patients with PCC and compare them with those in patients with subclinical Cushing’s syndrome (SCS) and non-functioning adrenal adenoma (NFA). Methods In this retrospective single-center, cross-sectional study, 67 consecutive patients with adrenal tumors (PCC (n =18), SCS (n =18), and NFA (n =31)) diagnosed at Kobe University Hospital between 2008 and 2014 were enrolled. Results PRA was significantly higher in patients with PCC than in those with SCS and NFA (2.1 (1.3~2.8) vs. 0.7 (0.5~1.8) and 0.9 (0.6~1.4) ng/mL/h; p =0.018 and p =0.025). Although PACs were comparable among the three groups, ARR was significantly lower in patients with PCC than in those with SCS and NFA (70.5 (45.5~79.5) vs. 156.0 (92.9~194.5) and 114.9 (90.1~153.4); p =0.001 and p <0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that, in differentiating PCC from NFA, PRA >1.55 ng/mL/h showed a sensitivity of 70.0% and specificity of 80.6%. Interestingly, ARR <95.4 showed a sensitivity of 83.3% and specificity of 86.7%, which were higher than those in PRA. Conclusions ARR decreased in patients with PCC, which was a more sensitive marker than PRA. Further study is necessary to understand the usefulness of this convenient marker in the detection of PCC.

scholarly journals Tuberculosis Status and Coinfection of Pulmonary Fungal Infections in Patients Referred to Reference Laboratory of Health Centers Ghaemshahr City during 2007-2017

1970 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Jabbari Amiri ◽  
Rora Siami ◽  
Azad Khaledi
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Centers ◽  
Sputum Smear ◽  
P Value ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pulmonary Fungal Infections ◽  
Student’S T

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary tuberculosis is one of the most important health concerns. Pulmonary fungal infections have clinical and radiological characteristics similar to tuberculosis which may be easily misdiagnosed as tuberculosis. This study aimed to evaluate tuberculosis (TB) status and coinfection of TB with pulmonary fungal infections in patients referred to reference laboratory of health centers Ghaemshahr city during 2007-2017.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted during eleven years, between 2007 2017, on 3577 patients with suspected TB referred to health centers of Ghaemshahr City. For isolation, sputum smear preparation and Ziehl-Neelson staining in companying with microscopy direct observation and KOH 10% + white Calcofluor staining was used. The culture of fungi was performed on Sabouraud Dextrose agar, Czapek and chrome agar media. Then, data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16) through Student's t-test, Fisher test, and Odds Ratio. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.RESULTS: Of 3577 patients, 10731 smears were prepared, 3.6% (n=130) of patients were identified as smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis, 86.4% (n=3090) were smear negative and 10% (n=357) drug-resistant TB. The mean age of patients was 48±1.8 years. With increasing age, the prevalence of TB has increased which was statistically significant (P value <0.05). Prevalence of tuberculosis in the age group over than 57 years in males and females had an ascending trend. Amongst the positive tuberculosis patients, 16/130 cases (12.3%) had the coinfection of TB with fungi microorganisms.CONCLUSION: Our findings showed the coinfection of fungi agents in patients with tuberculosis that should be considered. 

scholarly journals Correlation between Duration of Oral Contraceptives and Hypercoagulability in Bangladeshi Women

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (Number 1) ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
Samsunnahar ◽  
Q S Akhter ◽  
N Akhter ◽  
K Sultana ◽  
Md. Atiquzzaman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Contraceptives ◽  
Oral Contraceptive Pill ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Prolonged Duration ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Student’S T

This study was done to assess the hypercoagulability and the risk of thromboembolism in women taking oral contraceptive pill for prolonged period of time. This cross sectional study was done in the department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from Jan 2012 to Dec 2012. Ninety female subjects with the age range from 25-45 years, were taken as a study population. Among them, 60 women taking oral contraceptives for prolonged period of time ( > 1 years) were included for the study group and age matched 30 women of OCP nonusers were taken as a control. Study subjects were divided into two groups according to their duration of oral pill use: group BI ( 1 to 5 years users) were 30 women and group B2 ( >5 to 10 years users) were 30 women. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were estimated in all groups. Statistical analysis was done by unpaired Student's ? t' test and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient test. In this study, the mean (*SD) PT levels in group B1 & B2 were shortened than that of group A which were statistically highly significant (P < 0.001). Within the study groups, PT levels were positively correlated (r=+0.027) with the group B1 and negatively correlated (r= -0.163) with the group B2. But both the relationships were statistically non significant. The mean (+SD) AM' level in group B1 was shortened than that of group A but the result was not statistically significant. The mean (*SD) AM' level in group B2 was shortened than that of group A but the result was statistically highly significant (P<0.001). Within the study groups, APPT levels were negatively correlated with the group B1 (r= -0.268) and also group B2 (r= -0.122). But both the relationships were statistically non significant. My present study revealed that prolonged duration of OCP use ( at least for 5 years) increases the risk of hypercoagulable state and thromboembolism in women.

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