Prognostic Value of C-Reactive Protein to Lymphocyte Ratio (CLR) in Emergency Department Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection

(1) Introduction: According to recent studies, the ratio of C-reactive-protein to lymphocyte is more sensitive and specific than other biomarkers associated to systemic inflammatory processes. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of CLR on COVID-19 severity and mortality at emergency department (ED) admission. (2) Methods: Between 1 March and 30 April 2020, we carried out a multicenter and retrospective study in six major hospitals of northeast France. The cohort was composed of patients hospitalized for a confirmed diagnosis of moderate to severe COVID-19. (3) Results: A total of 1,035 patients were included in this study. Factors associated with infection severity were the CLR (OR: 1.001, CI 95%: (1.000–1.002), p = 0.012), and the lymphocyte level (OR: 1.951, CI 95%: (1.024–3.717), p = 0.042). In multivariate analysis, the only biochemical factor significantly associated with mortality was lymphocyte rate (OR: 2.308, CI 95%: (1.286–4.141), p = 0.005). The best threshold of CLR to predict the severity of infection was 78.3 (sensitivity 79%; specificity 47%), and to predict mortality, was 159.5 (sensitivity 48%; specificity 70%). (4) Conclusion: The CLR at admission to the ED could be a helpful prognostic biomarker in the early screening and prediction of the severity and mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Early Variation of NLR to Predict In-Hospital Mortality and Severity in ED Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection

(1) Introduction: The neutrophil-to lymphocyte ratio is valued as a predictive marker in several inflammatory diseases. For example, an increasing NLR is a risk factor of mortality in sepsis. It also appears to be helpful in other settings such as cancer. The aim of our work was to study the prognostic value of NLR for disease severity and mortality in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 upon their admission to the Emergency Department (ED) and its early variation (ΔNLR) in the first 24 h of management (H-24). (2) Methods: Between 1 March and 30 April 2020, we conducted a multicenter and retrospective cohort study of patients with moderate or severe coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), who were all hospitalized after presenting to the ED. (3) Results: A total of 1035 patients were included in our study. Factors associated with infection severity were C-reactive protein level (OR: 1.007, CI 95%: [1.005–1.010], p < 0.001), NLR at H-24 (OR: 1.117, CI 95%: [1.060–1.176], p < 0.001), and ΔNLR (OR: 1.877, CI 95%: [1.160–3.036], p: 0.01). The best threshold of ΔNLR to predict the severity of infection was 0.222 (sensitivity 56.1%, specificity 68.3%). In multivariate analysis, the only biochemical factor significantly associated with mortality was again ΔNLR (OR: 2.142, CI 95%: ([1.132–4.056], p: 0.019). The best threshold of ΔNLR to predict mortality was 0.411 (sensitivity 53.3%; specificity 67.3%). (4) Conclusion: The NLR and its early variation (ΔNLR) could help physicians predict both severity and mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, hence contributing to optimized patient management (accurate triage and treatment).

Synergy in Efficacy of Artemisia sieversiana Crude Extract and Metarhizium anisopliae on Resistant Oedaleus asiaticus

In order to explore the synergistic control effect of crude extracts of Artemisia sieversiana and Metarhizium anisopliae on Oedaleus asiaticus, we used different doses of M. anisopliae and crude extracts of A. sieversiana singly and in combination, to determine their toxicities to fourth instar O. asiaticus. The results showed that the combination of 10% crude extract of A. sieversiana with 107 and 108 spores/g M. anisopliae concentrations and the combination of 20% crude extract of A. sieversiana with 107 and 108 spores/g M. anisopliae concentrations had significant effects on the mortality, body weight gain, body length gain, growth rate, and overall performance of O. asiaticus than those of the crude extract of A. sieversiana and M. anisopliae alone. Among them, the 20% A. sieversiana crude extract mixed with 108 spores/g M. anisopliae and 10% A. sieversiana crude extract combined with 107 spores/g M. anisopliae, had the best control efficacy. In order to clarify the biochemical mechanism underlying the immune responses of O. asiaticus to the pesticide treatments, we monitored the activities of four enzymes: superoxidase dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). The results showed that the activities of three enzymes (SOD, CAT, and PPO) were significantly increased from the treatment with the combination of M. anisopliae mixed with crude extract of A. sieversiana. Interestingly, compared to the crude extract, the combination treatment did not significantly induce the expression of POD enzyme activity, which may be a biochemical factor for increasing the control effect of the combination treatment. Our results showed that the combination treatment had synergistic and antagonistic effects on host mortality, growth, development, and enzyme activities in O. asiaticus.

Biogenic dissolution of quartz in laterite bauxites (by results of electron-microscopic study)

For the first time carried out a systematic study under an electron microscope forms of a complete weathering of quartz in lateritic bauxites on khondalite and alluvial deposits of India. Demonstrated the appearance of dissolving individuals composing the quartz crystals, and their permanent connection with the abundant biomineral films, turned into a druses crystals of gibbsite - Al(OH)3. The solubility of quartz is due to its unique piezoelectric properties, abnormal expansion in inversion, the characteristics of the climate and the intense impact of the biochemical factor (organic residues, bacteria, biofilms, etc.)

Can Nonfibrotic Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Be Effectively Identified by Supersonic Shear Imaging?

Supersonic shear imaging (SSI) is a relatively new technique to measure the elasticity of target tissues based on the shear wave propagation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of SSI in discriminating nonfibrotic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from the less severe nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), NASH with fibrosis, and the normal liver, as well as the relationship between various NAFLD pathologic or biochemical findings and SSI liver elasticity. Rabbits with NAFLD of different degrees were subjected to SSI for liver elasticity measurement. Plasma was collected for biochemical examinations, and liver tissues were harvested for pathologic assessment. Results showed that liver elasticity of rabbits with nonfibrotic NASH was significantly different from that of rabbits with simple steatosis, borderline, NASH with fibrosis, and normal liver (P<0.05) and the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of SSI for predicting nonfibrotic NASH and NASH with fibrosis were 0.997 and 0.967, respectively, and the optimal cutoff values were 10.17 kPa and 12.82 kPa, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that only fibrosis and inflammation were the independent factors affecting liver elasticity of NAFLD (P≤0.001), while inflammation, steatosis, and ballooning degeneration were all independently related to liver elasticity in rabbits without fibrosis (P<0.01). In addition, alanine aminotransferase was the only biochemical factor independently related to liver elasticity (P≤0.001). Our results indicate that SSI can effectively identify nonfibrotic NASH in rabbits based on the difference in liver elasticity and the difference is related to the various pathologic changes, including fibrosis, inflammation, steatosis, and ballooning degeneration.

Plasma Changes of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide and Substance P in Patients with Dialysis Headache

Little is known of mechanism of dialysis headache (DH). As suggested for migraine, a role for neuropeptides has been investigated. Twenty-four patients under haemodialysis were studied. Twelve of them suffered from DH. The remaining patients were headache free. Blood samples for radioimmunoassay of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) were collected from the arteriovenous fistula before and after dialysis treatment. Basal plasma concentrations of CGRP were found to be higher in headache patients. Dialysis significantly decreased CGRP concentrations in both groups. No difference in basal plasma concentrations of SP was observed between groups. At the end of the treatment plasma SP concentrations were reduced in headache-free patients but increased in headache patients. Elevated plasma concentrations of CGRP in patients with DH could represent a biochemical factor contributing to susceptibility to headache. Because of the disputable role of SP in migraine, the significance of the increase of the peptide in plasma during DH remains to be elucidated.