The Predictive Value of Cell Blood Count Parameters to Diagnose Pulmonary Embolism in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Case Control Study

Introduction: Acute pulmonary embolism (aPE) is frequently associated with coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19) with an incidence of more than 16%. Among the new promising biomarkers of aPE, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) showed correlations with aPE prognosis. The aim of this study was to conduct an exploratory analysis to check the possible role of cell blood count (CBC) parameters as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of aPE in COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: A case control study was conducted. Two populations were compared: (i) patients hospitalised from 31 January 2020 to 30 June 2021 with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and aPE confirmed at angio computed tomography (aCT) or pulmonary scintigraphy (COVID-19 aPE group); (ii) patients hospitalised from 31 January 2017 to 30 June 2021 without SARS-CoV-2 infection whose suspicion of aPE was excluded by aCT or pulmonary scintigraphy (no-aPE group). Results: Overall, 184 patients were included in the study, 83 in COVID-19 aPE group and 101 in no-aPE group. At the univariate analysis, COVID-19 patients with aPE had higher NLR, PLR, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts than patients without aPE (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in mean platelet volume and platelet counts. No difference in mortality rate was detected. At the multivariate analysis, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were both associated with diagnostic of aPE while no CBC parameters were associated with mortality at day#7. Conclusions: Neutrophiland lymphocyte counts could be predictors of the early detection of aPE in COVID-19 patients. The value of CBC indices as biomarkers of aPE in daily clinical practice needs to be investigated in further studies.

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The Role of Toxoplasma gondii Infection Among Multiple Sclerosis Patient Compared to Ordinary People in South of Iran: A Case-Control Study

Modern Care Journal ◽

10.5812/modernc.105090 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Mahsa Rahnama ◽

Qasem Asgari ◽

Peiman Petramfar ◽

Davod Tasa ◽

Vahid Hemati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Control Group ◽

Ordinary People ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Control Study

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a common parasitic disease, which leads to serious disease symptoms in immunocompromised hosts and infants. Recent epidemiologic surveys showed that microbial agents may be associated with some cases of multiple sclerosis (MS). Objectives: This case-control study aimed to examine the role of Toxoplasma gondii in MS by evaluating sero-frequency of anti-T. gondii IgG (ATXAb) antibody between patients with MS and ordinary people in Shiraz Province, south of Iran during 2016 - 2018. Methods: Serum samples obtained from MS patients (n = 130), and a group of age and gender-matched controls (n = 130) with the same socioeconomic status with the patients’ group were collected to evaluate the prevalence of T. gondii IgG antibodies (ATXAb). Moreover, the presence of the ATXAb antibody of the patients and controls was determined by the ELISA test. SPSS 20 software was used to perform the statistical analysis (SPSS, inc., Chicago, USA). Results: Out of 130 (35.4%) cases with MS and 130 (13.8%) controls, 46 and 18 subjects were seropositive for ATXAb, respectively. Based on the chi-square test, a significant difference was observed in terms of the positivity rates of ATXAb between the MS patient group and the control group (P = 0.001). The mean ± standard deviation ATXAb levels in controls and MS patients were found to be 61 ± 34 and 114 ± 47 IU/mL, respectively. Also, there were statistically significant differences between the levels of these two groups (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Given the relationship between toxoplasmosis and MS, it is possible that the prevalence of MS decreases by increasing hygiene and preventing toxoplasmosis.

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ACE Gene I/D Polymorphism and Acute Pulmonary Embolism in COVID19 Pneumonia: A Potential Predisposing Role

Frontiers in Medicine ◽

10.3389/fmed.2020.631148 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

Author(s):

Cecilia Calabrese ◽

Anna Annunziata ◽

Antonietta Coppola ◽

Pia Clara Pafundi ◽

Salvatore Guarino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Pulmonary Angiography ◽

Thromboembolic Complications ◽

Computed Tomographic ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography ◽

Control Study ◽

Present Pilot Study

Most recent studies have stressed a high risk of thromboembolism in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in those with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Counterbalance between angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) and ACE2 activities in COVID-19 disease may be crucially involved in the thrombo-inflammatory process. Currently, no study has investigated ACE I/D polymorphism involvement in COVID-19 disease complicated by pulmonary embolism, hence the aim of the present pilot study. This is a retrospective, single-center observational case-control study, conducted at the Sub-Intensive Care Unit of A.O.R.N. Ospedali dei Colli, Cotugno Hospital, Naples (Italy). We included 68 subjects with severe/critical COVID-19 pneumonia. COVID-19 patients were divided according to occurrence of PE (PE+, n = 25) or absence of thromboembolic complications (PE−, n = 43). Assessment of ACE I/D polymorphisms showed a statistically significant difference between PE+ and PE− patients (p = 0.029). Particularly, prevalence of D/D homozygous polymorphism was significantly higher in PE+ COVID-19 patients than in PE− (72 vs. 46.5%; p = 0.048), while heterozygote I/D polymorphism was significantly lower expressed in PE+ patients than in PE− (16 vs. 48.8%; p = 0.009). Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography showed predominantly mono/bilateral sub-segmental embolisms. In conclusion, our findings let us hypothesize a genetic susceptibility to thromboembolism in COVID-19 disease. ACE D/D polymorphism might represent a genetic risk factor, although studies on larger populations are needed.

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The association between TNP2 gene polymorphisms and Iranian infertile men with varicocele: A case-control study

International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine ◽

10.18502/ijrm.v17i8.4821 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad Mehdi Heidari ◽

Amirhossein Danafar ◽

Fahime Moezzi ◽

Mehri Khatami ◽

Ali Reza Talebi

Keyword(s):

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Recessive Model ◽

Dominant Model ◽

Sperm Dna Damage ◽

Sperm Dna ◽

Significant Difference ◽

High Conservation ◽

Control Study

Background: Numerous researches have provided great evidence that revealed the relationship between varicocele and sperm DNA damage. Objective: Because of the crucial role of nuclear transition proteins (TPs) in sperm DNA condensation and integrity, this case-control study was designed to study TNP2 gene nucleotide variations in Iranian patients with varicocele. Materials and Methods: PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing were used to search for mutations in exons 1 & 2 of the TNP2 gene in 156 infertile patients with varicocele and 150 fertile men. Results: The results of sequencing showed three variants at positions c.301C > T (p.R101C), c.391C > T (p.R131 W), and g.IVS1-26G >C (rs8043625) of TNP2 gene. It was found that varicocele risk in men who have the CC genotype of g.IVS1-26G >C SNP is higher than those who don’t have these genotypes (according to Co-dominant model, Dominant model, Recessive model, and Over-dominant model). The haplotype-based analysis showed that (C/C/T) and (C/T/T) haplotypes were a risk factor of in patients with varicocele compared to controls (OR = 3.278, p = 0.000 and OR= 9.304, p = 0.038, respectively). Conclusion: Because of the significant difference in the genotype and allele frequencies of g.IVS1-26G >C SNP in the intronic region of TNP2 in patients with varicocele compared with controls and also because of the high conservation of this SNP position during evolution, this SNP may be involved in some important processes associated with the expression of this gene like mRNA splicing, but the exact mechanism is not clear.

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Neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio for the prediction of histological chorioamnionitis in cases of preterm premature rupture of membranes: a case-control study

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-021-04101-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Greta Balciuniene ◽

Greta Kvederaite-Budre ◽

Violeta Gulbiniene ◽

Irena Dumalakiene ◽

Rita Viliene ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

P Value ◽

Premature Rupture Of Membranes ◽

Premature Rupture ◽

Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio ◽

Lymphocyte Ratio ◽

Preterm Premature Rupture ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Control Study

Abstract Background The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is easily calculated blood test parameter, which can be used as marker to predict many inflammatory disorders. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the NLR in maternal blood with the white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration for the prediction of histological chorioamnionitis. Methods This was a case-control study of 137 woman with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) at a gestational age between 22+ 0 and 34+ 6 weeks. Blood samples, collected less than 48 h before delivery and at least 48 h after the administration of corticosteroids, were selected for the analysis. The NLR was calculated by dividing the number of neutrophils by the number of lymphocytes. Chorioamnionitis was diagnosed by the histopathological evaluation of placental membranes and chorionic plate. Results Patients with diagnosed histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) had significantly higher levels of WBC, CRP and NLR (p-value < 0.001). Levels of WBC, CRP and NLR predicted HCA with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.81, 0.81 and 0.89, respectively. NLR had statistically significantly higher AUC than WBC, but no significant difference was found between AUCs of NLR and CRP. The cut-off level of NLR was found to be 5,97, which had a sensitivity of 77 % and a specificity of 95 %. Conclusion NLR has a good predictive value for HCA and could be used as an additional diagnostic marker for predicting histological chorioamnionitis in cases with preterm premature rupture of membranes before 34 weeks of gestation.

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Dermatoglyphics in infants with isolated, non-familial cleft lip palate- a case control study from Southern India

International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics ◽

10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20172671 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 1389

Author(s):

Lia Sarah Anish ◽

Sowmya S. G. ◽

Rathika Shenoy ◽

Vikram Shetty

Keyword(s):

Cleft Lip ◽

Genetic Factors ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

P Value ◽

Study Group ◽

Right Hand ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Control Study

Background: The role of genetic factors may be established by study of dermatoglyphics, therefore, any genetic abnormality during the formation of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) in the early trimester maybe reflected by altered dermatoglyphics. Aim: This study aims to assess altered dermatoglyphics in children with isolated, non-familial CL/P to understand the role of genetic factors in clefting.Methods: Case control study in a cranio-facial centre comprising of 40 infants (6-9 months) with CL/P and age and gender matched controls. Finger printing was done using black duplicating ink. A p-value of 0.05 was considered significant.Results: Majority (57.5%) had left sided clefting. Ulnar loops were the predominant digital pattern in the study group but there was no statistical difference with the controls, when all the finger patterns were considered together. There was significant difference in digital patterns in between the left thumb (p=0.033), ring (p=0.048) and little fingers (p=0.029) in the two groups. Comparison between the right and left hands within the study group showed significant difference in digital patterns in the thumb (p=0.047) and little finger (p<0.001). The study group also had a wider atd angle with significance (right hand p=0.038, left p=0.003) and a lower a-b ridge count with significance (right hand p= 0.045, left p=0.012).Conclusions: There was a definite dermatoglyphic difference specifically in the left hand, which was also the major side of clefting, within subjects as well as between subjects and controls.

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Risk factors associated with subacromial pain in young athletes: A case control study

Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation ◽

10.3233/bmr-191683 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Zoran Z. Sarcevic ◽

Andreja P. Tepavcevic

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Sternoclavicular Joint ◽

Pectoralis Major ◽

Young Athletes ◽

Serratus Anterior ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Lower Trapezius ◽

Control Study

BACKGROUND: Subacromial pain (SAP) is a common complaint of young athletes, independently of the sport engaged. The prevalence of SAP in some sports is up to 50%. OBJECTIVE: The study was aimed to investigate some new factors possibly associated to subacromial pain in young athletes. The factors considered were the grade of tightness of the clavicular portion of the pectoralis major, dysfunction of the sternoclavicular joint, and serratus anterior and lower trapezius strength. METHODS: This case-control study included 82 young athletes 9–15 years, 41 with the symptoms of SAP and 41 controls. All participants self-reported whether they had subacromial pain. In addition, Hawkins–Kennedy Test was performed to all the participants to evaluate the subacromial pressure. Main outcome measures were the grade of tightness of the clavicular portion of the pectoralis major, dysfunction of the sternoclavicular joint, and serratus anterior and lower trapezius strength. The grade of tightness of the clavicular portion of the pectoralis major and the dysfunction of the sternoclavicular joint were measured with an inclinometer. Serratus anterior and lower trapezius strength were measured by a handheld dynamometer with external belt-fixation. The data were analyzed using t-test for independent samples, Mann-Whitney U test, contingency coefficients and a stepwise binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Significant statistical difference was observed in the grade of tightness of the clavicular portion of the pectoralis major and in the variable representing the physiological functioning of the sternoclavicular joint, between the cases and the controls. There was no significant difference in serratus anterior and lower trapezius strength between the cases and the controls. Logistic regression analysis showed that the variable representing the physiological functioning of the sternoclavicular joint and the grade of shortening of the clavicular portion of the pectoralis major were good predictors for presence of SAP. CONCLUSIONS: A strong association was determined between subacromial pain in young athletes, clavicular portion of pectoralis major tightness and the dysfunction of the sternoclavicular joint.

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Risk factors for suicidal tendency in people with epilepsy in China: a case–control study

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-81870-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mintao Lin ◽

Jiani Chen ◽

Sisi Li ◽

Yingjie Qin ◽

Xuruan Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Low Income ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Case Control ◽

Conditional Inference ◽

Suicidal Tendency ◽

Patients With Epilepsy ◽

Nested Case Control ◽

Control Study

AbstractPeople with epilepsy (PWE) have an increased suicide prevalence. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for suicidal tendency among PWE in West China. A nested case–control study was designed in a cohort of patients with epilepsy (n = 2087). In total, 28 variates were calculated. In the univariate analysis, unemployment, low income, seizure frequency, seizure-free time, infectious or structural etiology, levetiracetam or phenobarbital use, anxiety, depression, and stigma were associated with suicidal tendency. A multivariate analysis indicated that unemployment (odds ratio [OR] 5.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.13–15.48), levetiracetam use (OR 2.80, 95%CI 1.11–7.05), depression (C-NDDI-E score ≥ 13; OR 3.21, 95%CI 1.26–8.21), and stigma (SSCI score ≥ 16; OR 6.67, 95%CI 1.80–24.69) were independently associated with suicidal tendency. Conditional inference tree analysis indicated that SSCI and C-NDDI-E scores could effectively identify patients with suicidal tendency. Thus, this study suggests that unemployment, levetiracetam use, depression, and stigma are independent risk factors for suicidal tendency in PWE in China.

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