Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Knowing the severity of COVID-19 is important during a pandemic. Measurement of Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) levels is a simple, quick, and widely available laboratory test in most health facilities. Lactate dehydrogenase levels change significantly in patients with tissue damage including COVID-19 disease. The purpose of this study was to analyze the LDH levels as a marker of the severity of COVID-19. The research method used was a cross-sectional approach using primary data from 70 suspected COVID-19 patients from June to July 2021 at Labuang Baji Hospital, Hasanuddin University Hospital, and Makassar City Hospital. Samples were grouped into mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19. The LDH levels at the time of hospital admission were measured using an Architect device. Chi-Square, Kruskal-Wallis, and ROC curve statistical tests were used to obtain the LDH value with a significant value of p<0.05. The sample consisted of 24 mild COVID-19, 23 moderate COVID-19, and 23 severe COVID-19. The LDH levels in mild COVID-19 were 101.00 U/L (74.00-156.00 U/L) significantly different from moderate COVID-19 was 143.00 U/L (126.00-253.00 U/L) and COVID-19 were 291.00 U/L (177.00-655.00 U/L) (p<0.001) and had a very strong positive correlation (r=0.914). The ROC curve showed that LDH had a sensitivity of 91.3%, specificity of 94.7% with the cut-off >250.5 U/L, NPV of 96.4%, PPV of 87.5%, and accuracy of 91.3%. LDH levels increase along with the increasing severity of COVID-19 caused by tissue damage due to increased inflammatory response. LDH can be used as a marker of COVID-19 severity.

Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is an acute infection with high morbidity and mortality, especially among toddlers and elders in Indonesia. Culture is the gold standard for infectious diseases, which requires a long time. Therefore, a rapid, inexpensive, easy-to-use marker such as NLR is needed. To analyze the relationship of NLR and culture results with the clinical severity of CAP. A retrospective study with a cross-sectional design was performed using secondary data from CAP patients at Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital from January 1st, 2018 to July 31st, 2021. The study conducted on 113 samples showed no significant differences between NLR and clinical severity of CAP (p-value of 0.071). However, the mean value of NLR in severe CAP was higher (6±4.74) than in moderate CAP (2.58±1.8) with no significant correlation (p-value 0.071). There was a significant difference in culture on the clinical severity of CAP (p-value 0.005). A positive correlation was found between culture and clinical severity of CAP (p-value 0.004) with weak correlation strength (r=0.266). NLR is an early detection marker of infection. Stimulation of growth hormone causes an increase in neutrophil count, apoptosis acceleration, and lymphocyte redistribution; therefore, increased neutrophils are common in severe clinical conditions. The insignificant relationship between NLR and clinical severity might be caused by the therapeutic intervention given. The ATS/IDSA guidelines stated that culture results were positive in 4-15%. The mean NLR value in severe CAP was slightly higher than that of moderate CAP, but no significant difference was found. There was a weak correlation between culture results and the clinical severity of CAP patients.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic has increased the burden of tuberculosis (TB) among young adults, especially in populations where the prevalence of TB infection is high like Indonesia. TB is the most common opportunistic infection on HIV patients(50%) in developing countries. CD4 also known as T helper lymphocytes are coordinators of body`s immune response, and it has beendeclining in HIV infection and be worsened by TB infection. CD4 count are standard laboratory marker of disease progression to followupandprognosisantiretroviraltherapyinHIVinfection.AimstoseethevalueofCD4countofHIV-TBco-infectedpatientsbeforeandafterantituberculosistogetherwithantiretroviraltherapy.AlongitudinalstudywasconductedbycollectingsecondarydatafromthemedicalrecordandtheresultsofClinicalPathologyLaboratoryofHIV-TBco-infectedpatientsatWahidinSudirohusodoHospitalperiodJuly2007–August2008.DatawereanalyzedbyWilcoxonSignedRankTestandMannWhitneyTestwitha=0.05.Totalsamples(n)were20patients(14patientswithcontinoustherapyand6uncontinoustherapy).WefounddifferentmeansbetweenCD4countbeforeandafterTherapy.CD4countbeforetherapywas71.15±81.04andaftertherapywas114.95±109.71(p=0.089)withWilcoxonSignedRankTest.Theanalyzedwerecontinuedbydividedsamplesincontinousgroupcomparedwithuncontinousgrouptherapy.TheresultshowedtheCD4alterationincontinousgroupwas853.8%anduncontinousgroupwas-56.6%wherep=0.000(MannWhitneytest).CD4counthasincreasedsignificantlyinHIV-TBco-infectedpatients8.5foldfromCD4baselinewithcontinoustherapyandtheuncontinous one has decreased 0.5 fold from CD4 baseline.

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer on plasma cells which are system of immune cells in bone marrow that produce antibodies. A47 years old man precented with an excruciatingly painfull bone lytic lesion acompanied with compressive fracture in his Thorakal XIIand first Lumbar vertebral body since a week ago. A complete blood count on admission showed anemia normocytic normocrom withhemoglobin content of 5.3 mg/dL. The blood smear revealed clumping of red blood cells to bound "Rouleaux formations". Serum proteinelectrophoresis showed specific evidence of a M-spike. Bence-Jones proteinuria was positive and serum kreatinin arised 2.44 mg/dL.The bone marrow aspiration contained 45% plasma cells, many of which exhibited the morphology of flaming cells with an eccentricnucleus and violaceous cytoplasm. Plasma cells varied in size and shape and included flaming cells and myeloma cells. The patient wasdiagnosed as having flaming cells in multiple myeloma stage IIIB.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a dangerous infectious infection and a global health problem. Conversion rate is the percentage of acid-resistant bacilli positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients who have converted to negatives smears since initial therapy. Besides, the conversion failure cases indicate the risk of TB transmission can still occur, which means the failure of TB treatment. This study aims to analyze the results of the conversion of smear microscopic (+) to smear microscopic (-) from pulmonary TB patients in Labuang Baji Hospital Makassar since conducting anti-tuberculosis drug therapy (DOTS). Method: The research design of the longitudinal approach is retrospective among 85 respondents. The study was conducted in January 2017-2018 at the Labuang Baji Hospital in Makassar. Samples were all Tuberculosis patients based on Microscopic smear and Fast Molecular Test results. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17 for Windows.Result: The change of conversion time in the first month is 14 (16.5%), the second month is 36 (42.4%), the highest conversion results occurred in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth months, namely 73 (85.9%) on average 0.25 with P-value <0.005, as expected by an Indonesian Government program that the result of microscopic smear conversion in pulmonary TB patients is expected to reach a minimum of <80%. Patients with microscopic smear-positive results to Fast Molecular Test with high bacterial load risk failure conversion. Conclusion: conversion results at Labuang Baji Regional Public Hospital in Makassar based microscopic smear showed promising results as expected by the national target of 85,9%. A positive correlation between a microscopic smear and a Fast Molecular Test results in the success of the conversion.  Latar belakang: Tuberkulosis (TB) merupakan infeksi menular yang berbahaya dan  menjadi masalah kesehatan global. Angka konversi adalah persentase pasien TB paru BTA positif yang mengalami konversi menjadi BTA negatif sejak terapi awal. Sedangkan kasus gagal konversi menunjukkan risiko penularan TB masih dapat terjadi,yang menunjukan adanya ketidakberhasilan pengobatan TB. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis hasil konversi pemeriksaan BTA (+) menjadi BTA (-) penderita TB paru di RSUD Labuang Baji Makassar sejak terapi obat anti tuberkulosis (OAT).Metode: Desain penelitian pendekatan longitudinal bersifat retrospektif terhadap 85 responden. Penelitian dilakukan periode Januari 2017 – Januari 2108 di  RSUD Labuang Baji Makassar ,Sampel adalah semua pasien TB berdasarkan hasil BTA  mikroskopik dan TCM. Data dianalisis dengan SPSS versi 17 untuk Windows.Hasil: Perubahan lama konversi bulan pertama 14 (16,5%),bulan kedua 36 (42,4%), Hasil  konversi tertinggi terjadi dibulan ketiga, keempat, kelima, dan keenam  yaitu 73 (85.9%)  rerata 0,25 dengan P value < 0.005, sesuai yang diharapkan program pemerintah Indonesia bahwa hasil konversi BTA pada pasien TB paru diharapkan mencapai minimal <80%.  Pasien dengan hasil pemeriksaan BTA mikroskopik BTA positif terhadap TCM dengan bacterial load high memiliki resiko gagal konversi.Simpulan: Hasil konversi BTA di RSUD labuang baji Makassar menunjukan hasil yang baik sesuai yang diharapkan target nasional yaitu 85,9%. Terdapat korelasi mengenai derajat positifitas hasil TCM dan BTA mikroskopik  terhadap keberhasilan konversi pasien TB paru.