Severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection and albumin levels recorded at the first emergency department evaluation: a multicentre retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum albumin levels in the ED and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study conducted from 15 March 2020 to 5 April 2020 at the EDs of three different hospitals in Italy. Data from 296 patients suffering from COVID-19 consecutively evaluated at EDs at which serum albumin levels were routinely measured on patients' arrival in the ED were analysed. Albumin levels were measured, and whether these levels were associated with the presence of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection or 30-day survival was determined. Generalised estimating equation models were used to assess the relationship between albumin and study outcomes, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression was used to plot the adjusted dose-effect relationship for possible clinical confounding factors. RESULTS: The mean albumin level recorded on entry was lower in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection than in those whose infections were not severe (3.5 g/dL (SD 0.3) vs 4 g/dL (SD 0.5)) and in patients who had died at 30 days post-ED arrival compared with those who were alive at this time point (3.3 g/dL (SD 0.3) vs 3.8 g/dL (SD 0.4)). Albumin <3.5 g/dL was an independent risk factor for both severe infection and death at 30 days, with adjusted odd ratios of 2.924 (1.509-5.664) and 2.615 (1.131-6.051), respectively. RCS analysis indicated that there was an adjusted dose-response association between the albumin values recorded on ED and the risk of severe infection and death. CONCLUSION: Albumin levels measured on presentation to the ED may identify patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection in whom inflammatory processes are occurring and serve as a potentially useful marker of disease severity and prognosis.

Cytokine production in peripheral blood cells of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer: elevated Th2/Th9 cytokine production before and reduced Th2 cytokine production after radioactive iodine therapy.

Cytokines play a key role in the regulation of cells of the immune system and also have been implicated in the pathogenesis of malignant diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate cytokine profiles in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) before and 7 days after radioactive iodine (131-I) therapy. Cytokine levels were determined in supernatants obtained from phytohemagglutinin-stimulated whole blood cultures of 13 patients with DTC and 13 control subjects. The concentrations of selected cytokines: Th1-interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin 2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α); Th2-interleukin 4 (IL-4), interleukin 5 (IL-5), interleukin 13 (IL-13) and interleukin 10 (IL-10); Th9-interleukin-9 (IL-9); and Th17-interleukin 17 (IL-17A) were measured using multiplex cytokine detection systems for Human Th1/Th2/Th9/Th17/Th22. We have shown that peripheral blood cells of DTC patients produce significantly higher concentrations of Th2/Th9 cytokines (IL-5, IL-13 and IL-9) than control subjects. The 131-I therapy led to reduced secretion of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13). Despite this, the calculated cytokine ratios (Th1/Th2) in DTC patients before and 7 days after 131-I therapy were not different from those in healthy subjects. DTC patients have significantly higher concentrations of Th2/Th9 cytokines (IL-5, IL-13 and IL-9) than control subjects. There is no influence of hypothyroidism or stage of disease on cytokine production in DTC patients before 131-I therapy. The radioactive 131-I therapy leads to reduced secretion of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13). Additional studies are needed to determine the significance of these findings.

Comparison of Presepsin, Procalcitonin, Interleukin-8 and C-Reactive Protein in Predicting Bacteraemia in Febrile Neutropenic Adult Patients with Haematological Malignancies.

Bacterial infections represent life-threatening complications in patients with febrile neutropenia (FN). Diagnostic biomarkers of infections may help to differentiate bacteraemia from non-bacteraemia FN. We aimed to evaluate the utility of procalcitonin (PCT), presepsin (PS), C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) as biomarkers of bacteraemia in adult FN patients with haematological malignancies. Concentrations of PCT, PS, CRP and IL-8 were prospectively measured in 36 FN episodes experienced by 28 oncohaematological patients. 11 out of 36 episodes were classified as bacteraemia. PCT was the best biomarker to predict bacteraemia with the area under the curve (AUC) ROC of 0,9; specificity 100% and positive predictive value 100%, while the most sensitive was IL-8 (90,9%) with AUC ROC of 0,88 and negative predictive value 95,2%. All patients with PCT concentrations above 1,6 µg/l had bacteraemia. Patients with IL-8 concentrations superior to 170 pg/ml had a 40 times higher risk for bacteraemia than the ones with lower levels. Patients with PS concentrations superior to 410 pg/ml had 24 times higher risk for bacteraemia than the patients with lower levels. PCT has higher accuracy than CRP, IL-8 and PS in predicting bacteraemia in adult hematologic patients with FN.

Eosinophil Cationic Protein in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Treated with Radioactive Iodine 131.

Published data indicate the involvement of eosinophil granulocytes and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in tumor defense. The aim of this study was to analyze serum ECP concentrations in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) before, 3 days and 7 days after radioactive iodine (131-I) therapy. Association of ECP concentrations with histological type of tumor, stage of disease and/or levels of selected T-helper 2 (Th2) cytokines was examined. The study population included 17 DTC patients and 10 control subjects. ECP was measured by fluoroimmunoassay (FIA). Th2 (cytokines interleukin 4 (IL-4), interleukin 5 (IL-5), and interleukin 13 (IL-13)) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). We found that ECP values in DTC patients before radioactive iodine therapy were approximately two-fold higher than in the controls, but the difference was statistically significant only if the patients with DTC and associated Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) were included. There was no correlation between the serum concentrations of IL-5 and ECP. Radioactive iodine therapy led to a decrease in serum ECP level which did not follow the decline in serum protein levels. Additional studies are needed to determine the significance of these findings.

Blood cells in thyroid cancer patients: a possible influence of apoptosis.

The side effects of radioactive iodine (131-I) treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients include reduction of peripheral blood cell counts. The aim of this study was to analyze some potential changes in blood cell counts of DTC patients after 131-I therapy, especially CD3-positive, CD19-positive, and CD56-positive peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), as well as the possible role of apoptosis in selected lymphocyte populations. The study group included 24 thyroid cancer patients and 24 control subjects. Peripheral blood samples from patients and controls were analyzed using 5-color flow cytometry. Apoptotic cells were detected using an Annexin V-FITC/7-AAD kit. There was a statistically significant decrease of all blood cells after the 131-I therapy. The CD19+ B lymphocyte population was the most affected (5.82 ± 3.21% before therapy vs. 3.93 ± 2.60% after therapy, p = 0.008). This decrease was correlated with the degree of apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes (Spearman's r = 0.563, p =0.013). We concluded that 131-I therapy of DTC patients led to a decrease of all peripheral blood cells, especially CD19+ B lymphocytes. This directly correlated with apoptosis of PBLs, indicating that radiation damage to B cells leads to subsequent elimination by apoptosis.

Influence of iodide excess and interferon-gamma on human primary thyroid cell proliferation, thyroglobulin secretion, and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and human leukocyte antigen-DR expression.

BACKGROUND: The effect of iodide on thyroid cell proliferation and function in vivo or in cultured thyroid cells has been previously reported and is still controversial. The aim of this study was to clarify these conflicting results by examining if prolonged high iodide exposition with or without interferon (IFN)-gamma has an effect on human primary thyroid cell proliferation, thyroglobulin (Tg) production, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR expression. METHODS: Primary human thyroid cells were used. Cells were cultured in Coon's modified Ham's F-12 medium supplemented with 5% fetal calf serum in monolayer conditions to induce proliferation and were aggregated for molecular expression and Tg production analysis. HLA-DR and ICAM-1 expression were measured by flow cytometry and Tg by immunometric assay. RESULTS: Potassium iodide (KI) was more potent in arresting primary human thyroid cell proliferation as compared to sodium iodide and the effect was mediated by its action at G0/G1 and G2/M phases of the cell cycle. There were no signs of apoptosis or necrosis. An excess of KI alone did not change the expression of HLA-DR and Tg production, but gradually increased ICAM-1. Low-dose IFN-gamma and excess KI in combination transiently inhibited HLA-DR expression, while ICAM-1 was expressed at a higher level than with IFN-gamma alone. Tg production was moderately increased with low-dose IFN-gamma. However, a combination of high-dose KI with low-dose IFN-gamma significantly decreased Tg secretion, compared with IFN-gamma alone. CONCLUSIONS: Augmented ICAM-1 in the presence of iodide excess and low-dose IFN-gamma could induce secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and lymphocytic infiltration in the thyroid gland. Decreased Tg production in the presence of KI excess and IFN-gamma could explain the development of hypothyroidism after adding iodide in a diet of subjects that already have lymphocytic infiltration and/or mild inflammation in the thyroid gland.

Inhibitory effects of selected antiepileptics on spontaneous motility of isolated human oviducts.

OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous motility of the human oviduct is an important factor in the regulation of fertility that can be influenced by a variety of substances. In this study we examined the effects of several antiepileptic drugs on spontaneous contractions of isolated human oviducts. METHODS: The isolated ampullar and isthmic segments of Fallopian tubes, taken from 34 patients with extensive uterine fibroids, were exposed to carbamazepine, lamotrigine, valproic acid, phenobarbital, diazepam and lorazepam. RESULTS: Carbamazepine and lamotrigine produced concentration-dependent inhibition of spontaneous contractions of both ampullar and isthmic isolated preparations, while the other investigated substances did not exhibit any effect. The effective concentrations of carbamazepine and lamotrigine fall within the range of their therapeutic serum concentrations. CONCLUSION: When choosing antiepileptics for women of reproductive age, the effects of the drug on motility of the Fallopian tubes should also be considered.