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Aim: The Belgium’s strategy against COVID-19 was partly based on mass screening. Here, we reported the results observed in a Belgian mass screening center. Materials & methods: Between October 2020 and February 2021, 32,089 samples were collected analyzed with reverse-transcription PCR (Thermo Fisher Scientific kits and apparatus). Patients were categorized according to their contagiousness (extrapolated from the cycle threshold [Ct] values and the recommendation of Sciensano). Results: We observed association between Ct values and age, with higher Ct observed in extreme age groups (75 years). Conclusion: The analysis of the evolution of the contagiousness of these patients tested twice within a 7-day period showed the relevancy of the recommendation edited by Sciensano.

Targeted therapy in lung cancer requires the assessment of multiple oncogenic driver alterations, including fusion genes. This retrospective study evaluated the Idylla GeneFusion prototype, an automated and ease-of-use (

The aim of this study was to identify early clinical and laboratory predictive factors of a severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).A retrospective study was conducted on adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in our hospital. Diagnosis was based on a positive real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal samples. The cohort was divided into two groups, i.e. a favorable evolution (FE) group and an unfavorable evolution (UFE) group, including intensive care unit (ICU) and deceased patients.Results: A total of 198 patients were enrolled in the study, with 138 FE (70%) and 60 UFE (30%). Older age, male gender, comorbidities and dyspnea at admission constituted significantly worse prognosis factors. Among laboratory features, lymphocyte and platelet counts as well as corrected glomerular filtration rate were significantly lower in UFE patients, while neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, inflammation biomarkers, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glycemia and D-dimer were significantly higher. Procalcitonin and LDH appeared as the most accurate variables according to receiver operating characteristic curves.This Belgian study revealed clinical and laboratory features able to predict high risk of ICU requirement, or even death, at admission time. These results provide a potential tool for patient's triage in a context of pandemic.

Preeclampsia which affects approximatively 2% of pregnancies is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia is nowadays increasingly understood. It implies multiple actors and biomarkers appear to be playing a major role. New uses of those biomarkers for risk stratification and diagnosis of predisposed preeclamptic patients followed by obstetricians is an hot topic. The combined approach of biomarkers, medical history and obstetrical ultrasounds enables risk estimation in the first quarter and later on. A better understanding of this risk would enable better monitoring of obstetrical patients and reduce the occurrence of adverse complications for them and for the fetal well-being.