The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has infected millions of individuals around the globe. Forecasting the Covid-19 severity is essential and various biomarkers could be used to evaluate it. The current study was therefore aimed to evaluate the serum pro-calcitonin (PCT) level as a biomarkers for bacterial co-infection and disease severity in Covid-19 patients. A total of 430 Covid-19 positive individuals were examined in which 332 (77.2%) were male individuals while 98 (22.8%) were female individuals. Among the examined samples, 281 were classified as moderate (PCT value 0.07±0.06 ng/mL), 95 were severe (PCT value 0.5±0.4 ng/mL), and 54 were classified as critical (PCT value >1 ng/mL) individuals. The increase in total serum level of PCT was observed with the severity of disease (p<0.05). The statistical analysis represented no association of PCT value with gender ( p value = 0.9650) while revealed a significant association ( p value < 0.001) with of the age and PCT value in Covid-19 patients. It can be concluded that the serial PCT measurement could determine the prognosis of disease and presence of bacterial co-infection in Covid-19 patients. Further exploration of the topic is needed to evaluate the effect of different therapies on PCT level and to prescribe specific treatment options for coinfection.

Drought is one of the natural hazards with potentially significant impacts on society, economy, and other natural resources over the globe. However, the understanding of drought characteristics and its persistence can significantly help to reduce the potential impacts of drought. Moreover, the knowledge about the spatiotemporal pattern of seasonal drought frequency and drought persistence is important for water resource management, agricultural development, energy consumption, and crop yields. Therefore, the present study is employed to examine the seasonal drought frequency and drought persistence in the region. In this regard, the standardized precipitation index (SPI) at the three-month time scale was used to determine meteorological drought. Furthermore, the logistic regression model is used to calculate the odds and probability of drought persistence from one season to the next for the selected stations by identifying the spatial pattern of seasonal drought frequency and persistence. The potential of the current analysis is validated on six selected stations of the northern area of Pakistan. The outcomes related to the current analysis provide the basis for taking more considerations on early warning systems and help to make the valuable decision for water resource management and agriculture sectors in Pakistan.

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Background: Essential thrombocythemia (ET) and Polycythemia vera (PV) are clonal diseases, present at diverse ends in the spectrum of MPD’s. Recently, there has been an increased interest in the association of leukocytosis, thrombocytosis and the presence of JAK2V617F mutation with the risk of thrombosis in patients with ET. Although, leukocytosis and the presence of JAK2V617F mutation has been proposed as prognostic indicators for thrombosis, the correlation of thrombocytosis with thrombotic risk remains unclear. In the current study, we examined the association of the predictors of thrombosis – leucocytosis, thrombocytosis and JAK2V617F mutation, in patients with both ET and PV in a community hospital cohort. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients with ET and PV receiving treatment at the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center at Fairview Hospital between January 2001 and December 2007. Data on risk factors (leucocytosis, thrombocytosis and JAK2V617F mutation status) at diagnosis were collected. Pearson Chi-square test was used to analyze the association between the above-mentioned variables and thrombosis (both arterial and venous). In addition to analyzing the entire cohort, separate subgroup analyses were also performed on the individual groups (patients with PV and those with ET). All analyses were performed using SAS software (Cary, NC). Results: One-hundred and eight patients were identified. The median age was 67 years (range 28–89), and 57 patients (53%) were female. WBC counts and platelet counts were found to be positively associated with the presence of thrombosis (p&lt;0.001). The proportion of patients with thrombosis for the group with leukocyte count &gt;=10,000 were significantly higher than that for the group with WBC counts &lt;10,000 (76.9% vs. 18.6%, p&lt;0.001). The proportion of patients with thrombosis for the group with platelet count &gt;=400,000 were significantly higher than that for the group with platelet counts &lt;400,000(60.0% vs. 35.7%, p=0.027). There was also a significant association between the presence of JAK2V617F mutation and thrombosis (p&lt;0.001). [Table 1]. Table 1: Association of risk factors and thrombotic events among patients with MPD. THROMBOSIS Yes No RISK FACTORS Level Total N (%) N (%) P value Leukocyte Count . . . . . &lt;0.001 &lt;10,000/mm3 43 8 18.6 35 81.4 &gt;=10,000/mm3 65 50 76.9 15 23.1 Platelet Count . . . . . 0.027 &lt;400,000/ml 28 10 35.7 18 64.3 &gt;=400,000/ml 80 48 60 32 40 JAK2V617F mutation . . . . . &lt;0.001 NEG 34 5 14.7 29 85.3 POS 44 38 86.4 6 13.6 Not Performed 30 15 50 15 50 Among the cohort with ET (N=59) leucocytosis was significantly associated with thrombosis. The proportion of patients with thrombosis for the group with WBC counts &gt;=10,000 were significantly higher than that for the group with counts &lt;10,000 (81.8% vs. 11.5%, p&lt;0.001). Also, the presence of the JAK2V617F mutation was significantly associated with thrombosis (87% vs.11.8%, p=&lt;001). Among the cohort with PV (N=49), leucocytosis was significantly associated with the presence of thrombosis. The proportion of patients with thrombosis for the group with WBC counts &gt;=10,000 were significantly higher than that for the group with a count &lt;10,000 (71.9% vs. 29.4%, p&lt;0.004). Significant association (p&lt;0.001) was observed between the presence of JAK2V617F mutation and thrombosis (85.7% vs. 17.7, p=&lt;001). Conclusion: Leucocytosis, thrombocytosis and the presence of JAK2V617F mutation are significant risk factors for thrombotic events among patients with MPD. Additionally, while in both subgroups (patients with PV and ET) leucocytosis and the presence of the JAK2V617F mutation were significant risk factors for thrombosis, thrombocytosis was not found to be significantly associated with presence of thrombosis. Even though the results of this retrospective analysis deserve to be confirmed by prospective studies, it strengthens the view that in the treatment of MPD’s (specifically ET), panmyelosuppression would be more efficacious than targeting platelets alone as a modality of therapy for MPD.

Drought is a complex phenomenon that occurs due to insufficient precipitation. It does not have immediate effects, but sustained drought can affect the hydrological, agriculture, economic sectors of the country. Therefore, there is a need for efficient methods and techniques that properly determine drought and its effects. Considering the significance and importance of drought monitoring methodologies, a new drought assessment procedure is proposed in the current study, known as the Maximum Spatio-Temporal Two-Stage Standardized Weighted Index (MSTTSSWI). The proposed MSTTSSWI is based on the weighting scheme, known as the Spatio-Temporal Two-Stage Standardized Weighting Scheme (STTSSWS). The potential of the weighting scheme is based on the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), and the steady-state probabilities. Further, the STTSSWS computes spatiotemporal weights in two stages for various drought categories and stations. In the first stage of the STTSSWS, the SPI, SPEI, and the steady-state probabilities are calculated for each station at a 1-month time scale to assign weights for varying drought categories. However, in the second stage, these weights are further propagated based on spatiotemporal characteristics to obtain new weights for the various drought categories in the selected region. The STTSSWS is applied to the six meteorological stations of the Northern area, Pakistan. Moreover, the spatiotemporal weights obtained from STTSSWS are used to calculate MSTTSSWI for regional drought characterization. The MSTTSSWI may accurately provide regional spatiotemporal characteristics for the drought in the selected region and motivates researchers and policymakers to use the more comprehensive and accurate spatiotemporal characterization of drought in the selected region.