Background: Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) SARS-CoV-2 assay remains the common test used to detect the coronavirus infection worldwide. Complete blood count (CBC) is a rapid and cost-effectiv...Background: Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) SARS-CoV-2 assay remains the common test used to detect the coronavirus infection worldwide. Complete blood count (CBC) is a rapid and cost-effective test compared to RT-PCR, thus, it would be worthy to find a hematological indicator for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Objectives: This study aims to assess the efficacy of CBC indices as an initial diagnostic test for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection, which might be helpful during the outbreak of the disease. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, hospital based and case control study was carried out at Gezira isolation center for COVID-19, Gezira State, Sudan in the period from January to May 2021. A total of 178 COVID-19 patients with positive RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 assay result and another 178 volunteers of apparently healthy people were included in this study. CBC as well as D-dimer and C-reactive protein (CRP) were recorded from patient’s file and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) were calculated. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. Results: Neutrophil percentage, total white blood cells (TWBCs) and platelet (PLT) were higher in the COVID-19 patients compared to their control, whereas, lymphocyte and monocyte showed lower percentages among the COVID-19 patients. Although the differences that observed in the means of PLT, neutrophils and monocytes between the case and control group were significant, all these mean values of both groups were lying within the normal range. On the other hand, there was a highly significant elevation in NLR and PLR and quite good increasing in LMR level among COVID-19 patients compared to their control. The results of receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed that the area under the curve of NLR, PLR and LMR were 0.948 (P. value = 0.00, 95% CI: 0.925 - 0.972), 0.925 (P. value = 0.00, 95% CI: 0.896 - 0.954) and 0.643 (P. value =展开更多
Geological mapping as well as chemical analysis for marble deposit in the Muro-Obugu-Panda area of Toto Local Government, Nasarawa State, Nigeria, was carried out. The objectives of the study are to first map out the ...Geological mapping as well as chemical analysis for marble deposit in the Muro-Obugu-Panda area of Toto Local Government, Nasarawa State, Nigeria, was carried out. The objectives of the study are to first map out the extent of the deposit and then evaluate its chemical characteristics. The geology of the area forms part of the Upper Proterozoic low-grade (green schist facies) schist belts of Central Nigeria, and consists of schists, banded iron, quartzite, and marble. Geological mapping revealed that the marble deposit stretches in a NE-SW direction, from Muro in the north to Kolo in the south, covering about 28 km2. This deposit consists mainly of silicified gray and white varieties of marble. The mapping also identified three (3) exploration targets A—Panda, B—Obugu, and C— Soka. Chemical analysis of eight (8) selected samples shows that CaO content varies from 3.72 to 53.12 wt%. Other impurities are Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, MgO and SiO<sub>2</sub>. Plot of Na<sub>2</sub>O + K<sub>2</sub>O vs. SiO<sub>2</sub> shows a positive correlation while that of CaO and MgO exhibits a well defined negative correlation with SiO2 and this reflects the introduction of chert during the deposition of the parent limestone of the marble body. The variation plot of CaO vs. MgO shows an inverse relationship. This is reflected in the inverse relationship in the proportion of calcite to dolomite in the marble. All these results correlate with those found in the adjacent area by previous workers and this indicates the same extension of marble in these areas. The Muro marble can be used economically as raw materials for a variety of products such as fillers, glass, papers, lime, pesticide and sewage treatment, decorative construction, monuments, paint making and most of all very suitable for cement production.展开更多
文摘Background: Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) SARS-CoV-2 assay remains the common test used to detect the coronavirus infection worldwide. Complete blood count (CBC) is a rapid and cost-effective test compared to RT-PCR, thus, it would be worthy to find a hematological indicator for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Objectives: This study aims to assess the efficacy of CBC indices as an initial diagnostic test for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection, which might be helpful during the outbreak of the disease. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, hospital based and case control study was carried out at Gezira isolation center for COVID-19, Gezira State, Sudan in the period from January to May 2021. A total of 178 COVID-19 patients with positive RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 assay result and another 178 volunteers of apparently healthy people were included in this study. CBC as well as D-dimer and C-reactive protein (CRP) were recorded from patient’s file and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) were calculated. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. Results: Neutrophil percentage, total white blood cells (TWBCs) and platelet (PLT) were higher in the COVID-19 patients compared to their control, whereas, lymphocyte and monocyte showed lower percentages among the COVID-19 patients. Although the differences that observed in the means of PLT, neutrophils and monocytes between the case and control group were significant, all these mean values of both groups were lying within the normal range. On the other hand, there was a highly significant elevation in NLR and PLR and quite good increasing in LMR level among COVID-19 patients compared to their control. The results of receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed that the area under the curve of NLR, PLR and LMR were 0.948 (P. value = 0.00, 95% CI: 0.925 - 0.972), 0.925 (P. value = 0.00, 95% CI: 0.896 - 0.954) and 0.643 (P. value =
文摘Geological mapping as well as chemical analysis for marble deposit in the Muro-Obugu-Panda area of Toto Local Government, Nasarawa State, Nigeria, was carried out. The objectives of the study are to first map out the extent of the deposit and then evaluate its chemical characteristics. The geology of the area forms part of the Upper Proterozoic low-grade (green schist facies) schist belts of Central Nigeria, and consists of schists, banded iron, quartzite, and marble. Geological mapping revealed that the marble deposit stretches in a NE-SW direction, from Muro in the north to Kolo in the south, covering about 28 km2. This deposit consists mainly of silicified gray and white varieties of marble. The mapping also identified three (3) exploration targets A—Panda, B—Obugu, and C— Soka. Chemical analysis of eight (8) selected samples shows that CaO content varies from 3.72 to 53.12 wt%. Other impurities are Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, MgO and SiO<sub>2</sub>. Plot of Na<sub>2</sub>O + K<sub>2</sub>O vs. SiO<sub>2</sub> shows a positive correlation while that of CaO and MgO exhibits a well defined negative correlation with SiO2 and this reflects the introduction of chert during the deposition of the parent limestone of the marble body. The variation plot of CaO vs. MgO shows an inverse relationship. This is reflected in the inverse relationship in the proportion of calcite to dolomite in the marble. All these results correlate with those found in the adjacent area by previous workers and this indicates the same extension of marble in these areas. The Muro marble can be used economically as raw materials for a variety of products such as fillers, glass, papers, lime, pesticide and sewage treatment, decorative construction, monuments, paint making and most of all very suitable for cement production.
