Background: Numerous tools, including inflammatory biomarkers and lung injury severity scores, have been evaluated as predictors of disease progression and the requirement for intensive therapy in COVID-19 patients. This study aims to verify the predictive role of inflammatory biomarkers [monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic inflammatory index (SII), Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI), Aggregate Index of Systemic Inflammation (AISI), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] and the total system score (TSS) in the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods: The present study was designed as an observational, analytical, retrospective cohort study and included all patients over 18 years of age with a diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia, confirmed through real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and radiological chest CT findings admitted to County Emergency Clinical Hospital of Targu-Mureș, Romania, and Modular Intensive Care Unit of UMFST “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, Romania between January 2021 and December 2021. Results: Non-Survivors patients were associated with higher age (p = 0.01), higher incidence of cardiac disease [atrial fibrillation (AF) p = 0.0008; chronic heart failure (CHF) p = 0.01], chronic kidney disease (CKD; p = 0.02), unvaccinated status (p = 0.001), and higher pulmonary parenchyma involvement (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed a high baseline value for MLR, NLR, SII, SIRI, AISI, IL-6, and TSS independent predictor of adverse outcomes for all recruited patients. Moreover, the presence of AF, CHF, CKD, and dyslipidemia were independent predictors of mortality. Furthermore, AF and dyslipidemia were independent predictors of IMV need. Conclusions: According to our findings, higher MLR, NLR, SII, SIRI, AISI, IL-6, and TSS values at admission strongly predict IMV requirement and mortality. Moreover, patients above 70 with AF, dyslipidemia, and unvaccinated status highly predicted IMV need and fatality. Likewise, CHF and CKD were independent predictors of increased mortality.

Background: Numerous tools, including inflammatory biomarkers and lung injury severity scores, have been evaluated as predictors of thromboembolic events and the requirement for intensive therapy in COVID-19 patients. This study aims to verify the predictive role of inflammatory biomarkers [monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic inflammatory index (SII), Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI), and Aggregate Index of Systemic Inflammation (AISI)] and the CT Severity Score in acute limb ischemia (ALI) risk, intensive unit care (ICU) admission, and mortality in COVID-19 patients.; Methods: The present study was designed as an observational, analytical, retrospective cohort study and included all patients older than 18 years of age with a diagnosis of COVID-19 infection, confirmed through real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and admitted to the County Emergency Clinical Hospital of Targu-Mureș, Romania, and Modular Intensive Care Unit of UMFST “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, Romania between January 2020 and December 2021. Results: Non-Survivors and “ALI” patients were associated with higher incidence of cardiovascular disease [atrial fibrillation (AF) p = 0.0006 and p = 0.0001; peripheral arterial disease (PAD) p = 0.006 and p < 0.0001], and higher pulmonary parenchyma involvement (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed a high baseline value for MLR, NLR, PLR, SII, SIRI, AISI, and the CT Severity Score independent predictor of adverse outcomes for all recruited patients (all p < 0.0001). Moreover, the presence of AF and PAD was an independent predictor of ALI risk and mortality. Conclusions: According to our findings, higher MLR, NLR, PLR, SII, SIRI, AISI, and CT Severity Score values at admission strongly predict ALI risk, ICU admission, and mortality. Moreover, patients with AF and PAD had highly predicted ALI risk and mortality but no ICU admission.

Acute pulmonary embolism is a cardiovascular emergency with a significant morbidity and mortality. In the last decade, attempts have been made to find prognostic markers for pulmonary embolism. We conducted a systematic review of the literature for studies that assess the relationship between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and disease progression in patients with pulmonary embolism. We included a total of seven studies published between 2016 and 2021, reporting on a total of 4,272 patients. The mean NLR observed in these studies was 5.93, with values ranging from 5.12 to 7.3. Elevated NLR was significantly associated with an increased rate of mortality in all studies. Furthermore, the collected data revealed a 2-to-15 times higher mortality rate in the group with NLR values higher than the mean. Due to its accessibility and the simplicity with which it can be calculated, as well as the outcomes revealed in this review, we strongly emphasize that NLR should be used more in medical practice.

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Introduction: Enchondromas are benign tumors originating in the cartilaginous tissue of the hyaline gristle, rarely located in the chest wall. They sometimes undergo a sarcomatous transformation, becoming secondary chondrosarcomas. Case presentation: We present the case of a 53-year-old patient who, following a chest computed tomography scan performed after a thoracic trauma, was diagnosed with an osteolytic tumor at the chondrocostal junction of rib 4. Surgery was performed, with partial straight resection of ribs 3–5. Histopathological examination of the resection piece identified the existence of a chest wall chondrosarcoma on the background of malignant degeneration of an enchondromatosis lesion. The postoperative evolution was favorable, and the patient was discharged on the eighth postoperative day. Conclusion: In patients with even asymptomatic chest wall enchondromas, periodic clinical evaluation of these lesions is required, given their risk of malignant degeneration.