Ageusia and anosmia,a common sign of COVID-19? A case series from four countries

Journal of NeuroVirology - Over the course of the pandemic due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), multiple new clinical manifestations, as the consequence of the...     

Dolutegravir plus rilpivirine as dual regimen in virologically suppressed HIV-1 infected patients in a clinical setting

Objectives: There are scarce data on the combination of dolutegravir (DTG) plus rilpivirine (RPV) in the real world, including patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection, toxicity or previous failure, or at risk for severe drug–drug interactions (DDIs).

Methods: Prospective cohort study of virologically suppressed HIV-1 infected patients, without resistance to DTG or RPV, switched to this dual regimen because of toxicity or risk of DDIs (NCT02491242).

Results: Overall, 102 patients (mean age 54 years, 28% women) were included. Fifty-seven were coinfected with HCV (fibrosis grade 4 in 27 cases, 1 liver transplantation). Seven patients had chronic kidney disease (1 renal transplantation). At week 48, only 1 virologic failure occurred (<1%), and 6 patients (6%) left the regimen (3 with central nervous system adverse events, 1 each due to pregnancy, metformin interaction, and lost to follow up). Thus, the overall treatment success rates were 93% (95% CI, 88%–98%; ITT-e, snapshot analysis) and 96% (95% CI, 92%–99%; per protocol analysis). The CD4/CD8 ratio increased slightly (median, +0.03). Triglycerides levels improved significantly (?18.8%, p?<?0.01). The creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate decreased by a mean of ?8.4?ml/min/1.73 m², but tubular renal parameters improved. A paired dual X-ray absorptiometry scan showed a mild improvement in spine (mean, +1.15%; ?0.57 to +3.3%) and in femoral neck bone mineral density (mean, +0.4%; ?3.3% to +2.57%).

Conclusions: In the clinical setting, switching to the combination of DTG plus rilpivirine in virologically suppressed HIV-1 patients is effective and safe, and improves lipid, renal and bone evolution.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02491242.     

Ethical Concerns of Congresses and Joint Winter Meetings of the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery

The pharmaceutical industry contributes to the development of new drugs, provides funding for research and collaborates in continuing medical education. Although this relationship with medical practice is beneficial and desirable, commercial interests could potentially eclipse patient benefits and compromise professional integrity. Congresses and meetings of the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) agglutinate different spheres of knowledge, including aspects such as bioethics, management and communication, always centered on patient and their well-being. SEPAR congresses and meetings should provide sufficient economic benefits to be reinvested in research and other purposes which are reflected in SEPAR statutes in order to ensure the solvency, sustainability and economic independence of the Society. SEPAR has developed strict regulations governing the sponsorship and accreditation of training activities while striving for a balance between the interests of the industry and its own necessary independence, which results from the constant concern for maintaining good medical practice and complying with ethical aspects. This regulation is useful from an organizational and logistical standpoint, and it is necessary to prevent or resolve any possible conflicts of interest. Scientific societies should regulate common practices that could potentially result in conflicts of interest.     

Melatonin normalizes clinical and biochemical parameters of mild inflammation in diet‐induced metabolic syndrome in rats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of melatonin to affect mild inflammation in the metabolic syndrome (MS) induced by a high‐fat diet in rats. Adult Wistar male rats were divided into four groups (n = 16/group): (i) control diet (3% fat); (ii) high‐fat (35%) diet; (iii) high‐fat diet + melatonin; and (iv) melatonin. Rats had free access to high‐fat or control chow and one of the following drinking solutions for 10 wk: (a) tap water; (b) 25 μg/mL of melatonin. Plasma interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interferon (IFN)‐γ, and C‐reactive protein (CRP) were measured at two time intervals, that is, the middle of daylight period and the middle of the scotophase. In addition, a number of somatic and metabolic components employed clinically to monitor the MS were measured. Melatonin decreased the augmented circulating levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, and CRP seen in obese rats and restored the depressed levels of IL‐4 and IL‐10. Rats fed with the high‐fat diet showed significantly higher body weights and augmented systolic blood pressure from the third and fourth week onwards, respectively, melatonin effectively preventing these changes. In high‐fat‐fed rats, circulating low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride concentration augmented significantly, melatonin being effective to counteract these changes. Melatonin‐treated rats showed a decreased insulin resistance, the highest values of plasma high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, and the lowest values of plasma uric acid. The results indicate that melatonin is able to normalize the altered biochemical pro‐inflammatory profile seen in rats fed with a high‐fat diet.