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We used the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score to gauge the severity of sepsis. It was based on 12 physiological and laboratory measurements taken in the first 24 hours in the intensive care unit. The severity of sepsis correlates with the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) and the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10. The mean platelet volume to platelet count (MPV/PC) ratio acts as a marker of inflammation in sepsis. The aim of this study is to prove the correlation between pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and markers of inflammation with APACHE II scores in septic patients. A cross-sectional analytical observational study involving 35 sepsis patients was conducted. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of IL-17 and IL-10, and a hematology analyzer was used to determine the MPV/PC ratio. The Pearson and Spearman correlation tests were used to analyze the data. The mean level of IL-17 was 432.51 ± 355.92 pg/ml, IL-10 was 3.09 ± 1.04 pg/ml, and the MPV/PC ratio was 4.90 ± 2.89. The study found significant correlations between IL-17 levels, IL-10 levels, MPV/PC ratio, and the APACHE II score (r = 0.721, p = 0.00), (r = 0.430, p = 0.01), and (r = 0.408, p = 0.01), respectively. There was a strong positive correlation between IL-17 levels and APACHE II scores, and a moderate positive correlation between IL-10 levels, MPV/PC ratio, and APACHE II scores.

Background: Previous research showed that the majority of the variation in providers’ practice patterns is unexplained by patient, physician, and primary care practice characteristics. This study assessed physicians’ personal behavioral characteristics as explanatory components of medical practice variation (MPV). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, primary care physicians from Clalit Health Services in southern Israel were interviewed using validated surveys assessing risk-taking, tolerance for ambiguity, stress due to uncertainty, fear of malpractice, and empathy. We analyzed how much these traits explained MPV compared to patient, physician demographic, occupational, and practice characteristics using generalized linear mixed models and Nakagawa’s R2. Results: Of the 160 physicians approached, 146 (91.3%) participated. The median practicing time was 22 years; 48% were male, with a median age of 49. The median number of patients per practice was 1135. Overall, 40.4% of MPV was explained, mostly by patient characteristics (18.9%), practice characteristics (10.2%), and physician demographics (8.3%). Physician behavioral traits explained only 2.3%. Conclusions: Personal behavior characteristics explain a minority of MPV, leaving 60% of the MPV unexplained. This suggests either limitations in survey assessments or that these traits are not key drivers of MPV.

The aim of the work was to develop a highly effective catalyst for the conversion of furfural into furfuryl alcohol through catalytic transfer hydrogenation, which is an important process for converting biomass-derived compounds into valuable chemicals. A highly mesoporous silica was modified with various zirconium and aluminium precursors to obtain Lewis acid centres. The materials were characterised by nitrogen adsorption, FTIR spectroscopy, pyridine adsorption, thermogravimetry, SEM and XRD. The catalytic properties of the materials versus acid site concentration, alcohol type, zirconium content and reaction time were investigated in a batch reactor. The zirconium propoxide-modified materials appeared to be the most active and selective catalysts in the reaction studied. They showed complete furfural conversion with ca. 99% selectivity of furfuryl alcohol, which was attributed to the predominantly Lewis acidic character of these catalysts. High productivity, 15.2 molFA/molZr·h, was obtained for the most active catalyst. Good catalytic stability was confirmed in repeated cycles. The oxide form of zirconium and aluminium species resulted in the mixed Lewis and Brönsted acidity, which encouraged further transformation of furfuryl alcohol into butyl furfuryl ether, angelica lactone and butyl levulinate. The elaborated catalyst offers a promising approach for converting renewable resources into industrially relevant chemicals.

Currently, there is a great interest in the development of sustainable and green technologies for production of biofuels and chemicals. In this sense, much attention is being paid to lignocellulosic biomass as feedstock, as alternative to fossil-based resources, inasmuch as its fractions can be transformed into value-added chemicals. Two important platform molecules derived from lignocellulosic sugars are furfural and levulinic acid, which can be transformed into a large spectrum of chemicals, by hydrogenation, oxidation, or condensation, with applications as solvents, agrochemicals, fragrances, pharmaceuticals, among others. However, in many cases, noble metal-based catalysts, scarce and expensive, are used. Therefore, an important effort is performed to search the most abundant, readily available, and cheap transition-metal-based catalysts. Among these, copper-based catalysts have been proposed, and the present review deals with the hydrogenation of furfural and levulinic acid, with Cu-based catalysts, into several relevant chemicals: furfuryl alcohol, 2-methylfuran, and cyclopentanone from FUR, and γ-valerolactone and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran from LA. Special emphasis has been placed on catalytic processes used (gas- and liquid-phase, catalytic transfer hydrogenation), under heterogeneous catalysis. Moreover, the effect of addition of other metal to Cu-based catalysts has been considered, as well as the issue related to catalyst stability in reusing studies.

On 23rd July 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized the ongoing monkeypox outbreak as a public medical crisis. Monkeypox virus (MPV), the etiological agent of monkeypox, is a zoonotic, linear, double-stranded DNA virus. In 1970, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported the first case of MPV infection. Human-to-human transmission can happen through sexual contact, inhaled droplets, or skin-to-skin contact. Once inoculated, the viruses multiply rapidly and spread into the bloodstream to cause viremia, which then affect multiple organs, including the skin, gastrointestinal tract, genitals, lungs, and liver. By September 9, 2022, more than 57,000 cases had been reported in 103 locations, especially in Europe and the United States. Infected patients are characterized by physical symptoms such as red rash, fatigue, backache, muscle aches, headache, and fever. A variety of medical strategies are available for orthopoxviruses, including monkeypox. Monkeypox prevention following the smallpox vaccine has shown up to 85% efficacy, and several antiviral drugs, such as Cidofovir and Brincidofovir, may slow the viral spread. In this article, we review the origin, pathophysiology, global epidemiology, clinical manifestation, and possible treatments of MPV to prevent the propagation of the virus and provide cues to generate specific drugs.

Background: Sepsis is the leading cause of death in children worldwide. Early recognition and treatment are essential for preventing progression to lethal outcomes. CRP and Complete Blood Count (CBC) are the initial preferred tests to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections. Specific early diagnostic markers are still missing. Aim: To investigate diagnostic value of Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) and Platelet–MPV ratio (PLT/MPV) to distinguish sepsis/bacteremia and viral infection. Methods: We conducted a retrospective data analysis of case records of 115 children from 1 month to 5 years of age. All cases were divided into two groups—sepsis/bacteremia (n = 68) and viral (n = 47) patients, and further subdivided according to the time of arrival into early or late (≤12 or 12–48 h post the onset of fever, respectively). Analysis of CBC and CRP results was performed. NLR and PLT/MPV were calculated. Results: Sepsis/bacteremia group demonstrated higher absolute platelets count (370.15 ± 134.65 × 109/L versus 288.91 ± 107.14 × 109/L; p = 0.001), NLR (2.69 ± 2.03 versus 1.83 ± 1.70; p = 0.006), and PLT/MPV (41.42 ± 15.86 versus 33.45 ± 17.97; p = 0.001). PLT/MPV was increased in early arrival sepsis/bacteremia infants (42.70 ± 8.57 versus 31.01 ± 8.21; p = 0.008). NLR and MPV were significantly lower in infants (≤12 months) with viral infection on late arrival (1.16 ± 1.06 versus 1.90 ± 1.25, p = 0.025 for NLR and 8.94 ± 0.95fl versus 9.44 ± 0.85fl, p = 0.046 for MPV). Conclusion: Together with standard blood biomarkers, such as CRP, neutrophils, or platelets count, PLT/MPV is a promising biomarker for clinical practice to help discriminate between viral disease or sepsis/bacteremia in all children, especially in early onset of symptoms. NLR and MPV could support exclusion of sepsis/bacteremia in late arrival cases.

Background: COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC) is a complex condition, with high rates of thrombosis, high levels of inflammation markers and hypercoagulation (increased levels of fibrinogen and D-Dimer), as well as extensive microthrombosis in the lungs and other organs of the deceased. It resembles, without being identical, other coagulation disorders such as sepsis-DIC (SIC/DIC), hemophagocyte syndrome (HPS) and thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Platelets (PLTs), key regulators of thrombosis, inflammation and immunity, are considered an important risk mediator in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Platelet index MPV/PLT ratio is reported in the literature as more specific in the prognosis of platelet-related systemic thrombogenicity. Studies of MPV/PLT ratio with regards to the severity of COVID-19 disease are limited, and there are no references regarding this ratio to the outcome of COVID-19 disease at specific time points of hospitalization. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship of COVID-19 mortality with the red cell distribution width–coefficient of variation (RDW-CV), platelets and MPV/PLT ratio parameters. Methods: Values of these parameters in 511 COVID-19 hospitalized patients were recorded (a) on admission, (b) as mean values of the 1st and 2nd week of hospitalization, (c) over the total duration of hospitalization, (d) as nadir and zenith values, and (e) at discharge. Results: As for mortality (survivors vs. deceased), statistical analysis with ROC curves showed that regarding the values of the parameters on admission, only the RDW-CV baseline was of prognostic value. Platelet parameters, absolute number and MPV/PLT ratio had predictive potential for the disease outcome only as 2nd week values. On the contrary, with regards to disease severity (mild/moderate versus severe/critical), only the MPV/PLT ratio on admission can be used for prognosis, and to a moderate degree. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, only the RDW-CV mean hospitalization value (RDW-CV mean) was an independent and prognostic variable for mortality. Regarding disease severity, the MPV/PLT ratio on admission and RDW-CV mean were independent and prognostic variables. Conclusions: RDW-CV, platelets and MPV/PLT ratio hematological parameters could be of predictive value for mortality and severity in COVID-19 disease, depending on the hospitalization timeline.

Background There were limited data investigating platelet indices in predicting peritoneal dialysis (PD) outcomes on comorbidities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between platelet indices and new-onset comorbidity and all-cause mortality in PD patients. Methods A single-center, retrospective observational cohort study was conducted in incident PD patients from 28 December 2011 to 24 January 2018, and followed up until 31 December 2022. Time to the first new-onset cardiovascular disease (CVD) and time to the first new-onset infection event after PD were identified as the primary outcomes. All-cause mortality was identified as the secondary endpoint. The correlation between platelet indices and comorbidities and all-cause mortality were assessed by Cox model. Data of liver disease status was not collected and analyzed. Survival curves were performed by Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank tests. Results A total of 250 incident PD patients with a median follow-up of 6.79 (inter-quarter range 4.05, 8.89) years was included. A total of 81 and 139 patients experienced the first new-onset CVD and infection event respectively during the follow-up period. High mean platelet volume (MPV) was independently associated with high risk of time to the first new-onset CVD (HR 1.895, 95% CI 1.174–3.058, p  = 0.009) and all-cause mortality (HR 1.710, 95% CI 1.155–2.531, p  = 0.007). Patients with low mean platelet volume to platelet count ratio (MPV/PC) were prone to occur the new-onset infection events (log rank 5.693, p  = 0.017). Low MPV/PC (HR 0.652, 95% CI 0.459–0.924, p  = 0.016) was significantly associated with the time to the first new-onset infection event on PD. Conclusions Platelet indices were associated with the new-onset CVD, infectious comorbidities and all-cause mortality on PD. Low MPV/PC was associated with time to the first new-onset infection event in PD patients. Moreover, high MPV was associated with new-onset CVD and all-cause mortality in the incident PD patients.

Background Rituximab, high‐dose methotrexate (HD‐MTX), procarbazine and vincristine (R‐MPV), has significantly prolonged the survival of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), but predictive factors for response to R‐MPV have not yet been investigated. Herein, we investigated the correlation of MYD88 L265P and CD79B Y196 mutations, which are the most frequently found molecular alterations in PCNSL, with prognosis of patients with PCNSL treated with R‐MPV. Methods We investigated the long‐term clinical course and status of MYD88 and CD79B genes in 85 patients with PCNSL treated with R‐MPV or HD‐MTX treatment, and the correlation of these genetic mutations with prognosis. Results R‐MPV achieved an excellent tumor control rate (61.6% and 69.9% of 5‐year progression‐free and overall survival rates, respectively). While MYD88 L265P mutation had no significant effect on survival, patients with CD79B Y196 mutations exhibited prolonged survival (p < 0.05). However, the association of CD79B Y196 mutation with a better prognosis was not observed in the HD‐MTX cohort, which indicated that CD79B Y196 mutation was a predictive marker for a favorable response to R‐MPV. Furthermore, we established an all‐in‐one rapid genotyping system for these genetic mutations. Conclusions In conclusion, CD79B Y196 mutation is a potent predictive marker for favorable response to R‐MPV in PCNSL. The rapid identification of MYD88 L265P and CD79B Y196 mutations can be helpful not only for the accurate molecular diagnosis of PCNSL but also for the prediction of response to R‐MPV. CD79B Y196 mutation was a predictive marker for a favorable response to R‐MPV. We also established an all‐in‐one rapid genotyping system for this genetic mutation.

Orthopoxvirus is one of the most notorious genus amongst the Poxviridae family. Monkeypox (MP) is a zoonotic disease that has been spreading throughout Africa. The spread is global, and incidence rates are increasing daily. The spread of the virus is rapid due to human-to-human and animals-to-human transmission. World Health Organization (WHO) has declared monkeypox virus (MPV) as a global health emergency. Since treatment options are limited, it is essential to know the modes of transmission and symptoms to stop disease spread. The information from host–virus interactions revealed significantly expressed genes that are important for the progression of the MP infection. In this review, we highlighted the MP virus structure, transmission modes, and available therapeutic options. Furthermore, this review provides insights for the scientific community to extend their research work in this field.