Preferential macrophage infiltration into OM fat is a general phenomenon exaggerated by central obesity, potentially linking central adiposity with increased risk of diabetes and coronary heart disease.

The feet of diabetic men had decreased populations of Staphylococcus species, increased populations of S. aureus, and increased bacterial diversity, compared with the feet of controls. These ecologic changes may affect the risk for wound infections.

Twenty-two compounds belonging to several classes of polyamine analogs have been examined for their ability to inhibit the growth of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in vitro and in vivo . Four lead compounds from the thiourea sub-series and one compound from the urea-based analogs were found to be potent inhibitors of both chloroquine-resistant (Dd2) and chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) strains of Plasmodium with IC 50 values ranging from 150 to 460 nM. In addition, the compound RHW, N 1, N 7-bis (3-(cyclohexylmethylamino) propyl) heptane-1,7-diamine tetrabromide was found to inhibit Dd2 with an IC 50 of 200 nM. When RHW was administered to P. yoelii -infected mice at 35 mg/kg for 4 days, it significantly reduced parasitemia. RHW was also assayed in combination with the ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor difluoromethylornithine, and the two drugs were found not to have synergistic antimalarial activity. Furthermore, these inhibitors led to decreased cellular spermidine and spermine levels in P. falciparum , suggesting that they exert their antimalarial activities by inhibition of spermidine synthase.

No abstract

Purpose. RECOVERY, ACTT-1, and ACTT-2 trials have demonstrated that utilization of dexamethasone, remdesivir, or a combination of remdesivir with baricitinib leads to mortality benefit and faster time to recovery, respectively. However, no studies have investigated the benefit of triple therapy of dexamethasone, remdesivir, and baricitinib. We investigate the benefits of triple therapy compared to dual therapy of dexamethasone with remdesivir in patients with severe COVID-19 on HFNC. Materials and Methods. A retrospective data analysis was performed on patients with severe COVID-19 requiring HFNC and evaluated for hospital discharge status, requirement of mechanical ventilation, length of stay, and days on HFNC. Results. Among 191 patients with severe COVID-19, 81 patients received dexamethasone, remdesivir, and baricitinib. Patients receiving triple therapy had a significant survival benefit (HR 0.52; P = 0.042 ). Treatment with triple therapy vs. dual therapy also trended towards less requirement of mechanical ventilation (OR 0.66; P = 0.26 ). There was no significant change in length of stay (mean 13.74 vs. 13.31; P = 0.74 ) or days on HFNC (mean 8.95 vs. 7.28 days, P = 0.16 ). Conclusions. The use of dexamethasone, remdesivir, and baricitinib in patients with severe COVID-19 requiring HFNC was associated with a significant survival benefit in comparison to dual therapy of dexamethasone with remdesivir.

Chikungunya virus is an emerging infectious disease that has started circulating throughout the Americas and Caribbean. It can lead to persistent arthralgia lasting months to years. Treatment has been symptomatic with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. This case report describes a trial of colchicine for chikungunya arthralgia in 1 patient.

Background and aimsSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can exacerbate hyperglycemia and can cause life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). The objective of this study is to compare the characteristics of diabetic COVID-19 patients with and without DKA and to determine the predictors of mortality in the setting of COVID-19 and DKA. MethodsThis is a retrospective single-center cohort study including patients admitted to our hospital with COVID-19 and DM from March 2020 to June 2020. Patients with DKA were filtered as per the diagnostic criteria set by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Patients with hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) were excluded. A retrospective analysis was performed, which included those who developed DKA and those with neither DKA nor HHS. The primary outcome measurement was mortality rate and predictors of mortality for DKA. ResultsOut of 301 patients with COVID-19 and DM, 30 (10%) had DKA and five (1.7%) had HHS. Mortality was significantly higher in the DKA group compared to the non-DKA/HHS group (36.6% vs 19.5%; OR: 2.38; p=0.03). After adjusting for parameters used for multivariate logistic model for mortality, DKA was no longer associated with mortality (OR: 2.08, p=0.35). The independent predictors for mortality were age, platelet count, serum creatinine, C-reactive protein, hypoxic respiratory failure, need for intubation, and need for vasopressors. ConclusionOur study demonstrates higher mortality rate in diabetic COVID-19 patients with DKA. Though direct and independent statistical association of mortality with DKA could not be proven in our multivariate logistic model, physicians must be vigilant in risk-stratifying and managing these patients in a timely manner.

Abstract. Title ofthe paper: Comparison of blood cholesterol traits in pigs, rabbits and mice Concentrations of total cholesterol as well as high density lipoproteins cholesterol and low density lipoproteins + very low density lipoproteins cholesterol were determined in the blood plasma of 434 pigs, 132 rabbits and 1096 mice. respectively. In all three species blood cholesterol concentration was dependent from species and sex. The lowest concentration was found in rabbits. In pigs the level of cholesterol decreased with increasing body weight. It could be shown that genetic influences like long term selection for different goals in mice varied the concentration of the different cholesterol traits and the correlations between them.