Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in physiological vasculogenesis and vascular permeability and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. Our present study was undertaken to identify associations between three functional VEGF gene polymorphisms, linked with altered VEGF gene responsiveness, and pre-eclampsia. The study involved 42 pre-eclamptic and 73 healthy control women who were genotyped for the -2578C/A, -634G/C and 936C/T polymorphisms of the VEGF gene. No significant association between genotypic or allelic frequencies in women with pre-eclampsia relative to controls was found. A statistically significant difference was found for allelic frequencies of the 936C/T polymorphism between women with severe pre-eclampsia and controls (odds ratio: 2.70; 95% confidence interval: 1.09-6.63; P = 0.019). VEGF gene polymorphisms studied are unlikely to be major predisposing factors for pre-eclampsia. The presence of the 936T allele probably has a considerable effect on disease modification.

IntroductionRheumatoid arthritis (RA), a polyarticular disease of autoimmune nature [1], and osteoarthritis (OA) a noninflammatory degenerative disease of the articular cartilage [2], have in common an increased tendency for new blood vessel formation [3][4][5]. This phenomenon, however, may not necessarily proceed in a similar manner in the two conditions. Neoangiogenesis is important in the development of new cartilage and mineralization in OA [6], whereas the same process contributes to synovitis, pannus formation and articular cartilage destruction in RA [7]. In a previous study [8], we showed increased levels of expression of the angiogenic factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF; also known as thymidine phosphorylase) and, as a consequence, an increased APAAP = alkaline phosphatase/antialkaline phosphatase; CI = confidence interval; HIF = hypoxia inducible factor; KDR = kinase insert domain protein receptor; mAb = monoclonal antibody; MVD = microvessel density; OA = osteoarthritis; PD-ECGF = platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor; RA = rheumatoid arthritis; TBS = tris-buffered saline; VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor.

Corona Virus Disease (CoVID-19) is an emerging public health problem rapidly spread globally. New treatment options for patients with severe symptoms and ways of reducing transmission in the community are taken into consideration. A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Infectious Diseases of Alexandroupolis (Greece) including 16 patients with CoVID-19. They were classified into two groups, A and B. Group A received lopinavir/ritonavir as a third agent in the antiviral regimen, while group B did not. Lymphocytes were more significantly increased in patients of group A. Ferritin serum levels were also decreased significantly in these patients. Number of days needed for a first negative result of Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was lower for Group A. The present study suggests that lopinavir/ ritonavir may reduce the viral carriage in a shorter period of time compared with other antiviral regimens. Further studies are needed in order to evaluate the effectiveness of lopinavir/ritonavir in the treatment of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Hospitalised patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia (n = 172) Patients who died due toCOVID-19 pneumonia (n = 31) Age, years (mean, SD) 61.1 ± 15.8 69.2 ± 13.8 Gender Male (n, %) 98 (57 %) 18 (58 %) Comorbidities (n, %) Hypertension 66 (38.4 %) 24 (77.4 %) Diabetes mellitus 36 (20.9 %) 22 (71 %) Coronary artery disease 18 (10.5 %) 11 (35.5 %) Dyslipidaemia 36 (20.9 %) 16 (51.6 %) Heart failure 21 (12.2 %) 5 (16.1 %) Chronic kidney disease 11 (6.4 %) 3 (9.7 %) 205This document was downloaded for personal use only. Unauthorized distribution is strictly prohibited.