Hematological changes in SARS-COV-2 positive patients

Abstract Introduction The novel SARS-CoV-2 infection has been spreading around the world since January 2020 causing the Corona Virus Disease 2019. Leukopenia, lymphopenia and hypercoagulability with elevated D- Dimers have been described in COVID-19 patients to date. This study aimed to clarify if some blood parameters can be used as biomarkers to facilitate diagnosis and establish prognosis. Methods: We selected patients who had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and had had a hemogram performed between the March 15 and April 15, 2020. Socio-demographic and analytical data were obtained from 274 patients at admission in two Portuguese public hospitals. We then analyzed the hemogram parameters at admission in the intensive care and collected data on patient survival during the SARS-CoV-2 disease follow-up. The data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results: Patients requiring the intensive care unit (ICU) present an increase in leukocytes and neutrophils (+3.1 × 109/L and +6.4 × 109/L, respectively), a lymphocyte decrease and a platelet rise (-1.6 × 109/L and +60.8 × 109/L, respectively). The erythrocytes, hemoglobin and median globular volume tend to decrease (-0.5 × 1012, - 1.2 g/dL; -3 fL, respectively). The lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) at admission was significantly higher (+58.1 U/L). The age, sex, platelets, lymphocyte count neutrophil counts, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, erythrocytes and cell hemoglobin concentration mean (CHCM) are independently associated with mortality (odds ratio (OR) = 0.046, p < 0.001; OR = 0.2364, p= 0.045; OR = 9.106, p= 0.001; OR = 0.194, p= 0.033; OR = 0.062, p= 0.003; OR = 0.098, p= 0.002; OR = 9.021, p < 0.001; OR = 7.016, p= 0.007, respectively). Conclusion The hematological data at admission in the health care system can predict the mortality of the SARS-CoV-2 infection and we recommend its use in the clinical decisions and patient prognosis evaluation.

A Study of Hypomagnesemia in Patients Admitted in Medical ICU and Its Correlation with Final Outcome

Introduction: Magnesium is the second most common intracellular cation found in the body that is required as cofactor in numerous enzymatic reactions, smooth functioning of cardiac and neurological systems. Magnesium deficiency is often overlooked in critically ill patients and is linked with risk of electrolyte imbalance, difficulty weaning off ventilator, sudden cardiac deaths and poorer outcome. Objective- To assess prevalence of magnesium deficiency in critically ill patients admitted to Medical ICU and its association with requirement & duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay, APACHE-II & mortality. Methods- Prospective descriptive study was conducted on 69 critically ill patients admitted in medical ICU. After taking informed consent serum magnesium level of patients were collected and entered in spreadsheet and final analysis was done with help of Open EPI and SPSS software. Results-It was concluded that patients having hypomagnesemia were at increased risk of electrolyte abnormalities, longer ventilatory support, longer hospital and ultimately poorer outcome stay as compared to patients with normal magnesium levels. Conclusion- Magnesium remains an important but often side-lined cation in critically ill patients. However, Hypomagnesemia is a repeated finding seen in critically ill patients and is significantly associated with a higher mortality rate and frequent need for mechanical ventilation.

A preliminary discussion about the teaching of medical students in ICU / 中华医学教育探索杂志

After summing up the experience of recent years' clinic teaching, ICU department in Fangcun Branch of Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of TCM comes to a conclusion that, the clinical teaching of ICU should pay attention to and ensure effective implementation of beginning educationg. And following the PDCA method (Plan, Do, Check & Act) will make the work orderly, normative and controllable and meanwhile raise the students' observing and analysis ability as well as their operation and doctor-patient communication ability. In this way we can mostly enhance the effect of teaching.

Methods and Consideration on Clinical Teaching in ICU / 中华医学教育探索杂志

The clinical teaching of ICU is a new challenge.According to the problem encountered in the practice we should improve and better the teaching methods such as asking students to pay more attention to the combination of substructural subjects and critical medicine and having a clinical macrocosm thinking,good responsibility,and the "intensive" concept during their work so that student can learn more initiatively and get more as well.