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One of the most important tasks in the Emergency Department (ED) is to promptly identify the patients who will benefit from hospital admission. Machine Learning (ML) techniques show promise as diagnostic aids in healthcare.

Emergency ambulance use is deemed necessary for the transport of acutely ill patients to hospital emergency departments (ED). However, some patients are discharged as they present low acuity or chronic problems and should receive primary healthcare services, while the most severely ill are admitted. In the present study, we examined the descriptive epidemiology of ambulance transports for emergencies in the ED by utilizing the data of the information systems of a public tertiary general hospital in Greece. More than half of the patients transferred to the ED by an ambulance were finally admitted to the hospital (52.25%), whereas only one-third (33.74%) of those transferred by other means. A statistically significant association was detected between ambulance use and hospital admission. Age was also statistically significantly higher in the ambulance group. Higher mean values of creatinine, CRP, LDH, urea, white-blood-cell count, and neutrophils were detected in the ambulance group, in contrast to hemoglobin and lymphocyte count which were higher in the non-ambulance group.

Introduction Bronchiectasis is a disorder resulting mainly from bronchial inflammation caused by recurrent or chronic infections. It is characterized by permanently dilated airways due to bronchial wall destruction. Exacerbations have a key role in bronchiectasis as they are associated with a negative impact on patient prognosis. Exacerbations are generally infectious events caused mostly by bacterial microorganisms. Infective or inflammatory agents cause neutrophil recruitment into the airways, which leads to proteolytic enzymes such as neutrophil elastase and matrix metalloproteinases release, resulting in airway matrix destruction. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is used as a biomarker of inflammation. It is calculated by dividing the number of neutrophils by the number of lymphocytes. Our aim is to evaluate Neutrophils to Lymphocyte Ratio in patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation and its correlation to microbiological data. Methods  The study involved patients with a diagnosis of bronchiectasis based on high-resolution computerised tomography (HRCT) of the chest who fulfilled the criteria of bronchiectasis exacerbation. Complete blood counts with differential counts, which included total white blood cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes, were obtained. NLR and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured in patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation and in healthy controls. NLR was calculated as the ratio of the neutrophils to lymphocytes. The mean NLR values in patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation were compared to mean NLR values in healthy controls. The NLR values were compared to CRP levels in patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation. Sputum cultures were performed in all patients. The mean NLR values in patients with positive sputum cultures were compared with mean NLR values in patients with negative sputum cultures, and mean NLR values in patients with isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa in sputum cultures were compared to mean NLR values in patients with other infectious agents isolated. Results The study population consisted of 80 patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation - 54 males and 26 females - with a mean age of 77.3±8.4 years, and 64 healthy controls - 36 males and 28 females - with a mean age of 62.9±15.3 years. The mean CRP levels in patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation were 75.03±73.87 mg/l. The mean NLR value in patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation was 9.2±7.8 and the mean NLR value of controls was 3.1±2.9 (p<0.001). The NLR values in patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation had no linear correlation with CRP values in these patients (r=0.002, p=0.992). Fifty-two patients had positive sputum cultures and 28 patients had negative sputum cultures. The mean NLR value in patients with positive sputum cultures was 10.5±9.1, and in patients with negative sputum cultures, it was 6.7±3.6 (p<0.012). The mean NLR value in patients with P.aeruginosa was 10.1±9.5, and in patients with other microorganisms isolated, it was 10.8±8.9 (p=0.784). Conclusions Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio values are statistically greater in patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation compared to healthy controls. There is no linear correlation between NLR and CRP in these patients. NLR values are statistically greater in patients with positive sputum cultures compared to those with negative sputum cultures. Therefore, NLR can be used for predicting positive cultures in patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2020, Georgakopoulou et al.)

Introduction Immature platelet fraction (IPF) is a parameter of an automated hematologic analyzer and is related to platelet size and cytoplasmic RNA content. It reflects thrombopoiesis and is often used as the marker of platelet activity. IPF has been evaluated mostly in hematologic disorders and has also been evaluated in patients with gestational hypertension, sepsis, autoimmune diseases and in hospitalised patients with neutrophilia. Platelets, asides from the maintenance of hemostasis, release inflammatory mediators that can modify leukocyte and endothelial responses to various inflammatory stimuli. Lower respiratory tract infections are the leading cause of death from infections worldwide. The role of platelets in lower respiratory tract infections has been reported in many studies. IPF, which is related to platelet activation, has not been evaluated in patients with lower respiratory tract infections. Methods The study involved patients who fulfilled the criteria of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and aspiration pneumonia (AP). In addition, age and sex-matched healthy controls were involved. Whole blood samples were collected from healthy controls and from the patients on admission. The mean IPF% and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured in patients with CAP, in patients with AP and in healthy controls. The mean IPF% values in patients with infection were compared to mean IPF% values in healthy controls. The mean IPF% values were compared to mean CRP levels in patients with infection. Additionally, the mean IPF% values in patients that died in the first 14 days were compared to the mean IPF% values in patients that were alive. The statistical analysis of data was performed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, Version 13.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL).  Results The study population consisted of 45 patients (27 patients with CAP and 18 patients with AP), 27 males and 18 females, with a mean age of 72.11 ± 16.4 years and 39 healthy controls, 22 males and 17 females with a mean age of 64.2 ± 14.8 years. The mean CRP levels in patients with infection were 155.2±119.1 mg/dl. The mean IPF% value of patients with infection was 2.76 ± 2.27 and the mean IPF% value of controls was 1.72 ± 0.77 (p < 0.006). The IPF% value in patients with CAP was 2.55 ± 2.02 and in patients with AP 3.07 ± 2.64 (p = 0.595). The mean IPF% value in patients with infection had no linear correlation with CRP value in these patients (r = 0.076, p = 0.62). The mean IPF% value in all patients that died in the first 14 days was 3.75 ± 2.44 and the mean IPF% value in all patients alive was 2.35 ± 2.11 (p = 0.06). The mean IPF% value in patients with CAP who died in the first 14 days of hospitalisation was 5.54 ± 3.17 and in patients with CAP who were alive was 1.87 ± 0.72 (p = 0.06). The mean IPF% value in patients with AP who died was 2.63 ± 0.85 and in patients with AP who were alive was 3.41 ± 3.51 (p = 0.554). Conclusions Mean IPF% value is greater in patients with lower respiratory tract infections, including CAP and AP, compared to healthy controls. There is no linear correlation between IPF values and CRP values in patients with lower respiratory tract infections. In addition, there is a difference in mean IPF% value between patients who died in the first 14 days of hospitalisation compared to those who were alive, but not statistically significant., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2020, Georgakopoulou et al.)

Introduction Pneumonia severity index (PSI) is a prognostic index used for estimating the possibility of death due to community-acquired pneumonia. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, essential for calcium and phosphate homeostasis. Vitamin D also has antimicrobial properties and according to recent studies, its deficiency may be correlated to an increased frequency of respiratory infections. The serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is the best vitamin D status index reflecting vitamin D produced in the skin and offered from food and dietary supplements. Methods The study involved patients, who fulfilled the criteria of community-acquired pneumonia. The exclusion criteria were: patients <18 years old, severely immunocompromised patients, patients with tuberculosis, patients with malabsorption disorders, nursing home residents, patients with a history of malignancy, chronic renal or liver disease, patients with congestive health failure or cerebrovascular disease, and patients receiving vitamin D as a supplement. The following parameters, recorded on admission, were evaluated: age, sex, co-morbidity, residence in a nursing home, duration of symptoms, clinical symptoms, confusion, blood gas analysis, chest radiograph (pleural effusion), and laboratory parameters. The patients were classified in risk classes according to the PSI. Blood samples were collected within the first 48 hours of hospitalization. The serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were determined by electrochemiluminescence binding assay in Roche Cobas 601 immunoassay analyzer and mean serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in each risk class were calculated. For statistical analysis, the statistical program SPSS for Windows version 17.0 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) was used. Results A total of 46 patients, 28 males and 18 females, with a mean age of 71.5±17.57 years, hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia, were included. Sixteen patients (35%) had a severe deficiency, with 25(OH)D levels <10 ng/ml, 17 patients (37%) had moderate deficiency with 25(OH)D levels between 10-20 ng/ml, and 13 patients (28%) had insufficiency with 25(OH)D levels between 20-29 ng/ml. According to the PSI, four (8.7%) patients with a mean age of 53.75±15.43 years were classified as risk class I, 10 (21.7%) patients with a mean age of 54.7±14.82 years as class II, 10 (21.7%) patients with a mean age of 68.41±3.96 years as class III, 17 (37%) patients with a mean age of 84.82±9.73 years as class IV, and five (10.9%) patients with a mean age of 80.2±9.41 years as class V. The mean levels of 25(OH)D were 19.11±11.24 ng/ml in class I, 16.81±8.94 ng/ml in class II, 16.65±9.18 ng/ml in class III, 14.76±10.22 ng/ml in class IV, and 7.49±4.41 ng/ml in class V. There was a positive correlation between low levels of 25(OH)D and the pneumonia severity and statistically significant difference between the mean levels of 25(OH)D in class V (7.49±4.41 ng/ml) compared to overall mean levels in classes I, II, III and IV (16.15±9.49 ng/ml), with p<0.05. Conclusions According to our results, there was a positive association between low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and community-acquired pneumonia severity assessed by PSI. The determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin-D status, mostly in patients >60 years old, may prevent severe community-acquired pneumonia., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2020, Georgakopoulou et al.)

Background/aim: Chronic obstractive pulmonary disease (COPD) in men has been associated with testosterone deficiency, known as the late-onset hypogonadism. Prostate cancer becomes more prevalent when testosterone values decline in males. We sought to determine endocrinological derangements that may affect PSA values in male patients with COPD., Materials and Methods: A total of 69 male patients with COPD and 82 healthy volunteers were divided into subgroups according to: their age: (i) ≤60 years and (ii) >60 years; or disease severity: (i) FEV1<50% and (ii) FEV1≥50% predicted., Results: There was a significant reduction in total and free testosterone in patients with COPD. Patients with COPD aged >60 years had significantly lower free PSA compared to the control group., Conclusion: Alterations of the male hormonal status in COPD are related with older age (>60 years) and poorer lung function (FEV1<50% predicted). This may have implications for the use of the PSA-based screening tests in the elderly male population with COPD.