Lymphopenia in the COVID-19 Patient: More than a Predictor of Poor Prognosis?

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (01) ◽  
pp. 96-103
Author(s):  
Julián Rondón-Carvajal ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Models ◽  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
Absolute Lymphocyte Count ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Laboratory Findings ◽  
Disease Biomarker ◽  
The World ◽  
Review Current

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the infectious agent SARS-CoV-2, has claimed the life of thousands of people around the world following its rapid expansion from Wuhan, China, in early January 2020. Since then, multiple groups worldwide have attempted to describe predictive models for adverse clinical outcomes in patients affected by this disease. Within laboratory findings, the first Chinese cohorts described an inverse relationship between the absolute lymphocyte count and disease severity, and about 80% of severe patients exhibited lymphopenia. However, there are discrepancies regarding the predictive value of this clinical manifestation, as well as in the pathophysiological mechanisms involved. Here, we review current evidence regarding lymphopenia in patients with COVID-19, and the potential utility of this hematological finding as a disease biomarker.

The Problem of Alternative Monotheisms: Another Serious Challenge to Theism

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-51
Author(s):  
Raphael Lataster
Keyword(s):  
Infinite Number ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
God Concept ◽  
Classical Theism ◽  
The World ◽  
Divine Transcendence ◽  
Hiddenness Of God

Theistic and analytic philosophers of religion typically privilege classical theism by ignoring or underestimating the great threat of alternative monotheisms.[1] In this article we discuss numerous god-models, such as those involving weak, stupid, evil, morally indifferent, and non-revelatory gods. We find that theistic philosophers have not successfully eliminated these and other possibilities, or argued for their relative improbability. In fact, based on current evidence – especially concerning the hiddenness of God and the gratuitous evils in the world – many of these hypotheses appear to be more probable than theism. Also considering the – arguably infinite – number of alternative monotheisms, the inescapable conclusion is that theism is a very improbable god-concept, even when it is assumed that one and only one transcendent god exists.[1] I take ‘theism’ to mean ‘classical theism’, which is but one of many possible monotheisms. Avoiding much of the discussion around classical theism, I wish to focus on the challenges in arguing for theism over monotheistic alternatives. I consider theism and alternative monotheisms as entailing the notion of divine transcendence.

scholarly journals Climate drivers of plague epidemiology in British India, 1898–1949

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1928) ◽  
pp. 20200538
Author(s):  
Warren S. D. Tennant ◽  
Mike J. Tildesley ◽  
Simon E. F. Spencer ◽  
Matt J. Keeling
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Models ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
British India ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
The World ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis infection, continues to threaten low- and middle-income countries throughout the world. The complex interactions between rodents and fleas with their respective environments challenge our understanding of human plague epidemiology. Historical long-term datasets of reported plague cases offer a unique opportunity to elucidate the effects of climate on plague outbreaks in detail. Here, we analyse monthly plague deaths and climate data from 25 provinces in British India from 1898 to 1949 to generate insights into the influence of temperature, rainfall and humidity on the occurrence, severity and timing of plague outbreaks. We find that moderate relative humidity levels of between 60% and 80% were strongly associated with outbreaks. Using wavelet analysis, we determine that the nationwide spread of plague was driven by changes in humidity, where, on average, a one-month delay in the onset of rising humidity translated into a one-month delay in the timing of plague outbreaks. This work can inform modern spatio-temporal predictive models for the disease and aid in the development of early-warning strategies for the deployment of prophylactic treatments and other control measures.

scholarly journals Key-Gaskell syndrome in Brazil: first case report

2014 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 1046-1050
Author(s):  
B.B.J. Torres ◽  
G.C. Martins ◽  
P.E. Ferian ◽  
B.C. Martins ◽  
M.A. Rachid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Neuronal Degeneration ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Definitive Treatment ◽  
Autonomic Ganglia ◽  
Nervous Systems ◽  
First Case ◽  
The World

Feline dysautonomia is a devastating disease characterized by neuronal degeneration in autonomic ganglia that results in clinical signs related to dysfunction of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The cause is unknown and this disease has a poor prognosis and no definitive treatment. Most reports have been described in few countries around the world, but the prevalence may be underestimated in countries like Brazil. This study describes the progression and clinicopathological changes of dysautonomia in a 17-month-old female Brazilian shorthair cat.

scholarly journals SARS-COV-2 transmission among family members

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-148
Author(s):  
Gordana Todorović ◽  
Aleksandar Joldžić ◽  
Slađana Anđelić ◽  
Darko Nedeljković
Keyword(s):  
Case Reports ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Laboratory Findings ◽  
Indirect Contact ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
The World ◽  
High Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate ◽  
Loss Of Appetite

Introduction/Objective Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) is a new respiratory disease -COVID-19. A virus from the Coronaviridae family, highly contagious and virulent took over the world in a very short time causing the 2019/2020 pandemic. We are presenting the case of COVID-19 transmission among family members, patients of various ages, sex, clinical presentation and findings, who have been infected in different ways. Case reports Three patients are described, all with different coronavirus-specific symptomatology. Symptoms ranged from fatigue and loss of appetite with no other, more prominent symptoms in the youngest patient, to fever, high temperature, diarrhoea, muscle ache and chest pain during inspiration in the oldest patient. The third patient's dominant symptoms were dry, non-productive cough, lack of oxygen, shortness of breath and perspiration on exertion, headache and normal temperature, with radiographically confirmed bilateral pneumonia. Laboratory findings (leukopenia, lymphocytopenia with elevated C-reactive protein levels, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate and lactate dehydrogenase levels) were consistent with a viral infection, highly suspicious of SARS-COV-2, which was confirmed with a real-time RT-PCR test in all three patients. After being hospitalized in the Clinical Hospital Center "Zemun" Department of Pulmonology and treated with symptomatic, antiviral and antibiotic therapy, the disease regressed and the RT-PCR tests became negative. Conclusion SARS-COV-2 is a very aggressive and potent cause of the coronavirus disease. The presented cases confirm the possibility of quick transmission within a family through direct and indirect contact, as well as the diversity of symptoms, laboratory and clinical findings. Our clinical examples are similar in symptomatology and available results to cases from other parts of the world hit with the pandemic.

scholarly journals Absolute lymphocyte count proliferation kinetics after CAR T-cell infusion impact response and relapse

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 2128-2136
Author(s):  
Sophia Faude ◽  
Jane Wei ◽  
Kavitha Muralidharan ◽  
Xiaoming Xu ◽  
Gerald Wertheim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Lymphocyte Count ◽  
Absolute Lymphocyte Count ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Proliferation Kinetics ◽  
Car T Cells ◽  
Car T Cell ◽  
Car T

Abstract CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells show characteristic proliferation kinetics after infusion that correlate with response. Clearance of circulating disease, B-cell aplasia (BCA), and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) are used to observe CAR T-cell function, given the lack of commercial CAR T-cell measurement assays. We investigated the utility of common hematology laboratory parameters in 166 patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) who were treated with CAR T-cell therapy targeting CD19. CAR T-cell infusion was followed by disappearance of circulating blasts in 86% of patients at a median of 6 days. After a lag phase, there was a rapid expansion in absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in the second week that coincided with the appearance of atypical lymphocytes. The expansion phase was followed by a contraction phase with a concomitant decrease in atypical lymphocytes. In vitro CAR T-cell studies showed similar kinetics and morphological changes. Peak ALC and overall expansion was greater in sustained responders compared with that in nonresponders. Patients with early loss of BCA and those with eventual CD19+ minimal residual disease/relapse showed lower overall lymphocyte expansion compared with the controls. Pleomorphic lymphocytosis was noted in the cerebrospinal fluid at post-CAR time points. We conclude that lymphocyte counts and differential can also be used to evaluate CAR T-cell expansion after infusion, along with BCA and CRS. This is the first report to characterize the morphology of CAR T cells and determine the utility of lymphocyte kinetics.

scholarly journals Dengue–COVID-19 coinfection: the first reported case in the Philippines

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-39
Author(s):  
Angyap Lyn Saipen ◽  
Bernard Demot ◽  
Lowella De Leon
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Laboratory Findings ◽  
Early Symptom ◽  
The World

The rainy season in the Philippines is from June to October; this is when the number of dengue cases typically increases. In 2020 during this time, the world was facing the threat of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and dengue viral infections have similar presentations and laboratory findings, including fever and thrombocytopenia, and there have been reports of coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 and arthropod-borne virus. Here, we report a case of SARS-CoV-2–dengue virus coinfection in the Philippines in a female aged 62 years, whose early symptom was fever and who was positive for SARS-CoV-2 and positive for dengue. Early recognition of such coinfection is important so that proper measures can be taken in the management of the patient.

Current debates in urban theory from a scale perspective: Introducing a scenes approach

Urban Studies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 1487-1497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cary Wu ◽  
Rima Wilkes ◽  
Daniel Silver ◽  
Terry Nichols Clark
Keyword(s):  
Urban Studies ◽  
Urban Theory ◽  
Urban Scenes ◽  
The World ◽  
Geographical Scale ◽  
The City ◽  
Review Current ◽  
Hierarchical Scale

Cities, all over the world, have become more diverse than ever. This poses great challenges to urban studies and theorising. In this article, we review current debates in urban theory through Howitt’s (1998) three-facet conceptualisation of geographical scale and find that urban theorists have high levels of disagreement on the areal (scale as size), the hierarchical (scale as level) as well as the dialectical (scale as relation) aspects of the city. We show that, if urban theorists are to find a common approach to the city, we should contemplate: 1) what cities to study; 2) from which geographical level(s); and 3) how the city relates to other entities. We illustrate how the theory of urban scenes could potentially be used to address these debates in urban theory.

Nanotherapeutic macrophage-based immunotherapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis of lung cancer

Nanoscale ◽  
2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yonghui Wang ◽  
Binfan Chen ◽  
Zhidi He ◽  
Bin Tu ◽  
Pengfei Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Peritoneal Carcinomatosis ◽  
High Mortality ◽  
Distant Metastasis ◽  
Cancer Mortality ◽  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Abdominal Metastasis ◽  
The World

Lung cancer is the top cause of cancer mortality in the world. Distant metastasis leads to high mortality. Abdominal metastasis of lung cancer is characterized by a very poor prognosis...

CORONOVIRUS INFECTION COVID-19. MASKS (literature review)

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-32
Author(s):  
Semen Kireev ◽  
I. Popov ◽  
A. Ban'kovskiy ◽  
E. Litvinenko ◽  
E. Surova
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
International Committee ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vulnerable Communities ◽  
Regional Director ◽  
The World ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The City

At the end of 2019, an outbreak of a new coronavirus infection occurred in the People's Re-public of China with an epicenter in the city of Wuhan (Hubei province). On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization has assigned the official name of the infection caused by the new coronavirus - COVID-19 ("Coronavirus disease2019"). On February 11, 2020, the International Committee on Virus Taxonomy gave the official name to the infectious agent - SARS-CoV-2.Since the end of January 2020, cases of COVID-19 have begun to be registered in many coun-tries of the world, mainly associated with travel to the PRC. At the end of February 2020, the epidemiological situation with COVID-19 in South Korea, Iran and Italy sharply worsened, which subsequently led to a significant increase in the number of cases in other countries of the world associated with travel to these countries, incl. and in Russia. The World Health Organiza-tion announced the COVID-19 pandemic on 11 March 2020, and the pandemic's challenge to the world will remain so as long as people are not immune to it.The Regional Director of the World Health Organization Takeshi Kasai, on the basis of an epidemiological analysis, reports that the spread of coronavirus infection COVID-19 in July-August 2020 occurred mainly among people under 50 years old, and they often did not even know about it, because they had mild or no symptoms. In the future, these people then infect older people who are more difficult to tolerate COVID-19. And we need to redouble our efforts to prevent the spread of the virus in vulnerable communities.

The Political Economy of Land and Urban Development

2018 ◽  
pp. 343-359
Author(s):  
Kudzanai Bvochora ◽  
Bernard Kusena
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Natural Increase ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
The Political ◽  
Social Infrastructure ◽  
The World ◽  
Urban Settlements ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Many urban areas which have sprouted around the world owe their economic and social origins in growth points and market centers. Situated about 15 kilometers south-east of Harare, Epworth became one of Zimbabwe's largest peri-urban settlements due to the combined effect of demographic, political, and socioeconomic factors, among others. This chapter interrogates the various forces behind this unprecedented population growth. It demonstrates the relationship between Epworth's ballooning population and the various pull and push factors of urbanization. For example, immigration contributed immensely to this rise, although natural increase in births also contributed fairly significantly. This chapter examines the impact of population dynamics and other variables that were linked to the rapid expansion of Epworth on the overall development processes, arguing that economic and social infrastructure became conditioned by such dynamics.

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