Prognostic value of neutrophil and lymphocyte counts and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio for predicting death in patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system and can cause changes in other systems. Early identification of patients with a higher potential for complications is critical to provide the best possible treatment to reduce the disease's lethality. This study aimed to analyze the behavior of hematologic biomarkers in predicting mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

New laboratory perspectives for evaluation of vivax malaria infected patients: a useful tool for infection monitoring.

In recent years, the number of cases with severe Plasmodium vivax malaria has shown an increasing trend. It is, therefore, important to identify routine laboratory markers that best characterize the acute disease phase and can serve as a tool for clinical follow-up of patients. In a cohort study, we followed 87 patients with acute P.

Diagnostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with leprosy reactions.

Introduction: Leprosy reactions, classified as type 1 and type 2 reactions, are acute clinical conditions of exacerbation of localized or systemic inflammatory response inpatients with leprosy. No laboratory biomarker is available to predict the emergence of these reactions. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an accurate biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of various inflammatory and neoplastic diseases.

Aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI): A potential marker for diagnosis in patients at risk of severe malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax.

Acute infection with Plasmodium vivax, classically associated with benign disease, has been presenting as serious and even fatal disease in recent years. Severe disease is mainly due to biochemical and hematological alterations during the acute phase of infection. In the present cross-sectional study, the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) was evaluated as a method for identifying patients at risk of severe vivax malaria.

Decreased uric acid levels in the acute phase of Plasmodium vivax malaria.

Introduction: Uric acid is one of the compounds associated with the inflammatory process in malaria. It acts as an indicator of cellular damage by activating the immune response and inflammatory process.

Methods: We measured serum concentrations of uric acid in 60 symptomatic patients before and after treatment for malarial infections caused by Plasmodium vivax.

Anatomic evaluation of the incisive canal with cone beam computed tomography and its relevance to surgical procedures in the mental region: a retrospective study in a Brazilian population.

Background And Objective: To evaluate the prevalence, location, length, diameter, and distances related to the incisive canal (IC) and the need for cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) as a complementary exam prior to surgery in the mental region.

Materials And Methods: One hundred CBCT images from patients of both genders aged 27 to 73 years were evaluated. At every 3 mm, the diameter (DIAM) of the right and left ICs and their location, their distance to base of the jaw (BIC), the buccal (BAIC) and lingual (LAIC) aspects, and their length were measured.

Changes in serum lipid profile in the acute and convalescent Plasmodium vivax malaria: A cohort study.

Although serum lipids are known to be altered in Plasmodium falciparum-induced malaria, little is known about such changes due to Plasmodium vivax infection. This cohort study assessed serum concentrations of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in 164 patients in the acute phase of malaria caused by P. vivax and characterized these changes in the convalescent phase after treatment with chloroquine and primaquine.

Environmental variables and levels of exhaled carbon monoxide and carboxyhemoglobin in elderly people taking exercise.

This article aims to analyze levels of exhaled carbon monoxide, carboxyhemoglobinand cardiopulmonary variables in old people practicing exercise in external environments, and correlate them with climate and pollution factors. Temporal ecological study with118 active elderly people in the city of Cuiabá, in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Data were obtained on use of medication, smoking, anthropometric measurements, spirometry, peak flow, oxygen saturation, heart rate, exhaled carbon monoxide, carboxyhemoglobin, climate, number of farm fires and pollution.

Factors associated with recurrent Plasmodium vivax malaria in Porto Velho, Rondônia State, Brazil, 2009.

This open retrospective cohort study aimed to describe the incidence of recurrent Plasmodium vivax malaria and associated factors in Porto Velho, Rondônia State, Brazil, in 2009. Data were collected from the National Information System for Malaria Epidemiological Surveillance. There were 23,365 reported P.

Assumed white blood cell count of 8,000 cells/μL overestimates malaria parasite density in the Brazilian Amazon.

Quantification of parasite density is an important component in the diagnosis of malaria infection. The accuracy of this estimation varies according to the method used. The aim of this study was to assess the agreement between the parasite density values obtained with the assumed value of 8,000 cells/μL and the automated WBC count.

Submicroscopic malaria parasite carriage: how reproducible are polymerase chain reaction-based methods?

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods for the diagnosis of malaria infection are expected to accurately identify submicroscopic parasite carriers. Although a significant number of PCR protocols have been described, few studies have addressed the performance of PCR amplification in cases of field samples with submicroscopic malaria infection. Here, the reproducibility of two well-established PCR protocols (nested-PCR and real-time PCR for the Plasmodium 18 small subunit rRNA gene) were evaluated in a panel of 34 blood field samples from individuals that are potential reservoirs of malaria infection, but were negative for malaria by optical microscopy.

In vitro antimalarial activity of tigecycline against Plasmodium falciparum culture-adapted reference strains and clinical isolates from the Brazilian Amazon.

Introduction: We evaluated the in vitro antimalarial activity of tigecycline as an alternative drug for the treatment of severe malaria.

Methods: A chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum reference strain, a chloroquine-resistant reference strain, and three clinical isolates were tested for in vitro susceptibility to tigecycline. A histidine-rich protein in vitro assay was used to evaluate antimalarial activity.

Sensitivity of nested-PCR for plasmodium detection in pooled whole blood samples and its usefulness to blood donor screening in endemic areas.

Transfusion-transmitted malaria is a severe disease with high fatality rate. Most Brazilian blood banks in the Amazon region perform malaria screening using microscopic examination (thick smears). Since low parasite concentrations are expected in asymptomatic blood donors a high sensitivity test should be used for donor screening.

Low sensitivity of malaria rapid diagnostic tests stored at room temperature in the Brazilian Amazon Region.

Introduction: In remote areas of the Amazon Region, diagnosis of malaria by microscopy is practically impossible. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of two rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) targeting different malaria antigens stored at room temperature in the Brazilian Amazon Region.

Methodology: Performance of the OptiMal Pf/Pan test and ICT-Now Pf/Pan test was analyzed retrospectively in 1,627 and 1,602 blood samples, respectively.