Humoral immunity to the Severe Adult Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus (CoV)‐2 is not fully understood yet but is a crucial factor of immune protection. The possibility of antibody cross‐reactivity between SARS‐CoV‐2 and other human coronaviruses (HCoVs) would have important implications for immune protection but also for the development of specific diagnostic ELISA tests. Using peptide microarrays, n = 24 patient samples and n = 12 control samples were screened for antibodies against the entire SARS‐CoV‐2 proteome as well as the Spike (S), Nucleocapsid (N), VME1 (V), R1ab, and Protein 3a (AP3A) of the HCoV strains SARS, MERS, OC43, and 229E. While widespread cross‐reactivity was revealed across several immunodominant regions of S and N, IgG binding to several SARS‐CoV‐2‐derived peptides provided statistically significant discrimination between COVID‐19 patients and controls. Selected target peptides may serve as capture antigens for future, highly COVID‐19‐specific diagnostic antibody tests.

Melatonin receptors mediate improvements of survival after polymicrobial sepsis in rats and mice; this effect appears to be independent from major alterations of cytokine release.

The Anaconda™ system is used to deliver inhalational sedation in the intensive care unit in mainland Europe. The new Mirus™ system also uses a reflector like the Anaconda; however, it also identifies end-tidal concentrations from the gas flow, injects anaesthetics during early inspiration, controls anaesthetic concentrations automatically, and can be used with desflurane, which is not possible using the Anaconda. We tested the Mirus with desflurane in the laboratory. Compared with an external gas monitor, the bias (two standard deviations) of the end-tidal concentration was 0.11 (0.29)% volume. In addition, automatic control was reasonable and maximum concentration delivered was 10.2%, which was deemed to be sufficient for clinical use. Efficiency was > 80% and was also deemed to be acceptable, but only when delivering a low concentration of desflurane (≤ 1.8%). By modifying the reflector, we improved efficiency up to a concentration of 3.6%. The Mirus appears to be a promising new device for long-term sedation with desflurane on the intensive care unit, but efficiency must be improved before routine clinical use becomes affordable.

Pneumatic tube systems (PTS) present a convenient way for blood sample transport in medical facilities. Associated preanalytical interference in various tests is largely unknown. Implementing point-of-care coagulation management at our institution, we investigated multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA) and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) after PTS transportation. Whole blood samples from patients undergoing general or trauma surgery were analysed by MEA after collection (baseline, '0 × PTS') and sent on a predefined PTS track (n = 12). MEA was repeated after samples travelled the track 4 ('4 × PTS'), 8 ('8 × PTS') and 12 times ('12 × PTS') and compared with stationary controls analysed at the same time. Samples for ROTEM (n = 6) were analysed after collection and travelling the track 12 times. An acceleration detector recorded g-forces on the PTS track. At '0 × PTS' no significant differences in MEA results were detected. Values were significantly lower for transported samples compared with controls ('4 × PTS' to '12 × PTS', p < 0.001). Furthermore, MEA results of PTS samples were significantly decreased for '4 × PTS' to '12 × PTS' compared to baseline (p < 0.001). Except for the clotting time in EXTEM PTS transport did not significantly alter results for investigated ROTEM parameters, compared with baseline and stationary controls. Acceleration detector readout revealed alternating g-forces between -6.3 and +5.9 during transport. PTS transport caused invalid results in MEA while only one ROTEM parameter was found to be affected in this study. Variable acceleration during transport provides a potential reason for platelet activation. The authors recommend sample transport by hand or the device to be placed patient-side when MEA is performed.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections cause typical dermal and mucosal lesions in children and adults. Also complications to the peripheral and central nervous system, pneumonia or hepatitis are well known. However, dissemination to viscera in adults is rare and predominantly observed in immunocompromised patients. Here we describe the case of a 70-year-old male admitted with macrohematuria and signs of acute infection and finally deceasing in a septic shock with multi organ failure 17 days after admission to intensive care unit. No bacterial or fungal infection could be detected during his stay, but only two days before death the patient showed signs of rectal, orolabial and genital herpes infection. The presence of HSV-1 was detected in swabs taken from the lesions, oropharyngeal fluid as well as in plasma. Post-mortem polymerase chain reaction analyses confirmed a disseminated infection with HSV-1 involving various organs and tissues but excluding the central nervous system. Autopsy revealed a predominantly retroperitoneal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma as the suspected origin of immunosuppression underlying herpes simplex dissemination.