Very few studies investigating COVID-19 in cancer patients have included cancer patients as controls. We aimed to identify factors associated with the risk of testing positive for SARS CoV2 infection in a cohort of cancer patients. We analyzed data from all cancer patients swabbed for COVID-19 between 1st March and 31st July 2020 at Guy’s Cancer Centre. We conducted logistic regression analyses to identify which factors were associated with a positive COVID-19 test. Results: Of the 2152 patients tested for COVID-19, 190 (9%) tested positive. Male sex, black ethnicity, and hematological cancer type were positively associated with risk of COVID-19 (OR = 1.85, 95%CI:1.37–2.51; OR = 1.93, 95%CI:1.31–2.84; OR = 2.29, 95%CI:1.45–3.62, respectively) as compared to females, white ethnicity, or solid cancer type, respectively. Male, Asian ethnicity, and hematological cancer type were associated with an increased risk of severe COVID-19 (OR = 3.12, 95%CI:1.58–6.14; OR = 2.97, 95%CI:1.00–8.93; OR = 2.43, 95%CI:1.00–5.90, respectively). This study is one of the first to compare the risk of COVID-19 incidence and severity in cancer patients when including cancer patients as controls. Results from this study have echoed those of previous reports, that patients who are male, of black or Asian ethnicity, or with a hematological malignancy are at an increased risk of COVID-19.
The objective of this work was to determine the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of Aloysia polystachya (Griseb.) Moldenke (Verbenaceae) in experimental models of acute pain and inflammation in mice. Methods of pain induced by caudal pressure (Randall-Selitto), chemical stimulation (acetic acid or the writhing test), and thermal stimulation (hot plate) were used to study analgesic effects. Additionally, edema of the paw induced by injection of 1% carrageenan was used to evaluate the anti-edema activity of A. polystachya. Oral doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg of crude extract of A. polystachya (CEAp) significantly reduced the sensibility to painful stimuli induced by the application of pressure in the tail comparable with an analgesic effect (p < 0.05) in a non-dose dependent manner. Additionally, the number of abdominal contortions was significantly reduced in comparison with the control group and with similar strength to the group treated with Indomethacin 10.0 mg/kg. Similarly, in the model of pain induced by thermal stimulation, it was observed that the groups treated with CEAp presented statistically significant analgesic activity in comparison with the control group and with a similar intensity to the group treated with morphine 6.0 mg/kg. Finally, a statistically significant reduction of edema induced by 1% carrageenan was observed with oral administration of 100 mg/kg of CEAp in comparison to the positive control of edema in a manner similar to the group treated with Indomethacin 10 mg/kg. Based on these results, it was concluded that the CEAp possesses the capacity to increase pain threshold in three pre-clinical models of pain induced (mechanical pressure, chemically and thermally) in mice, compatible with an analgesic effect. Also, CEAp demonstrated antiedematous capacity in carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice, concordant with anti-inflammatory effect using the plethysmography method. These pharmacological effects are potentially due to the presence of verbascoside in CEAp. Additionally, these experimental results are correlated with the popular use of CEAp and present a variety of opportunities for pharmaceutical research such as the development of innovative phytopharmaceuticals.
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