The impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on COVID-19 epidemic growth in the 37 OECD member states

We estimated the impact of a comprehensive set of non-pharmeceutical interventions on the COVID-19 epidemic growth rate across the 37 member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and between October and December 2020. For this task, we conducted a data-driven, longitudinal analysis using a multilevel modelling approach with both maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimation. We found that during the early phase of the epidemic: implementing restrictions on gatherings of more than 100 people, between 11 and 100 people, and 10 people or less was associated with a respective average reduction of 2.58%, 2.78% and 2.81% in the daily growth rate in weekly confirmed cases; requiring closing for some sectors or for all but essential workplaces with an average reduction of 1.51% and 1.78%; requiring closing of some school levels or all school levels with an average reduction of 1.12% or 1.65%; recommending mask wearing with an average reduction of 0.45%, requiring mask wearing country-wide in specific public spaces or in specific geographical areas within the country with an average reduction of 0.44%, requiring mask-wearing country-wide in all public places or all public places where social distancing is not possible with an average reduction of 0.96%; and number of tests per thousand population with an average reduction of 0.02% per unit increase. Between October and December 2020 work closing requirements and testing policy were significant predictors of the epidemic growth rate. These findings provide evidence to support policy decision-making regarding which NPIs to implement to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

     

Concomitant blockade of P2X-receptors and ecto-nucleotidases by P2-receptor antagonists: functional consequences in rat vas deferens

In order to assess the consequences of a concomitant blockade of P2X-receptors and ecto-nucleotidases, effects of 13 P2-receptor antagonists were investigated on contractions of the rat vas deferens elicited by α,β-methylene ATP (α,β-MeATP) and ATP and on the removal of ATP from the incubation medium by vas deferens tissue. Increasing concentrations of all antagonists reduced and finally abolished contractions elicited by α,β-MeATP (3 μM), with IC₅₀-values ranging from 1.1 to 100 μM. Pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2’,4’-disulphonate (PPADS), 6-azophenyl-4-amino-5-hydroxy-naphthalene-1,3-disulphonate (NH02), 4,4’-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2’-disulphonate (DIDS) and uniblue A also progressively reduced and finally abolished contractions elicited by ATP (1 mM). 8,8’-[Carbonylbis(imino-3,1-phenylenecarbonyl-imino)]-bis-(1,3,5-naphthalenetrisulphonate) (NF023), sura- min, pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2’,5’-disulphonate (iso-PPADS), trypan blue and reactive blue 19, in contrast, caused only partial blockade, by 34–43% maximally; reactive blue 2 and reactive red 2 had no effect; and 6,6’-(1,1’-biphenyl-4,4’-diylbisazo)-bis-4-amino-5-hydroxy-naphtha-lene-1,3-disulphonate (NH01) and Evans blue even enhan- ced the response to ATP. For antagonists causing full or partial inhibition, the IC₅₀-values against ATP were close to those against α,β-MeATP. All antagonists attenuated the removal of ATP, with IC_25%-values ranging from 0.8 μM to >320 μM. The results confirm the frequent combination, in one antagonist molecule, of P2-receptor blockade and blockade of ecto-nucleotidases. This dual action underlies the effect of such compounds on contractions of the vas deferens elicited by ATP which, for certain substances (e.g., suramin, reactive blue 2), can be explained by a simple model in which the antagonist simultaneously blocks the degradation of ATP and a single contraction-mediating receptor (P2X₁). Several observations, however, do not conform with this model, and the existence of multiple contraction-mediating receptors for ATP or multiple, pharmacologically distinct ecto-nucleotidases has to be considered. Received: 23 October 1998 / Accepted: 11 January 1999     

A role for serum cytokines and cell adhesion molecules in the non-invasive diagnosis of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality. Consequently, new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are being investigated including the serum levels of cytokines and other molecules, although the results are often inconclusive. Thus, the present study aimed to determine whether serum level of cytokines, cell adhesion molecules or matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), alone or in combination, may contribute to the non-invasive diagnosis of CRC. The serum levels of nine cytokines [ILs; IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, IL-22 and IL-33, and interferon (IFN)-γ], two cell adhesion molecules (intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and P-selectin) and an MMP-7 were measured by ELISA in 33 patients with CRC and 35 healthy controls. Combined capacity of all molecules to detect the presence of CRC was assessed by logistic regression. Molecules and molecule combinations were tested for all stages and tumor grades. A significant increase was identified for IL-8 in patients compared with healthy controls; IL-10 was found to be significantly decreased. The biomarker potential of each significantly modified molecule was tested: IL-8 had a sensitivity of 0.865, a specificity of 0.600 and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.777; for IL-10, sensitivity was 0.65, specificity was 0.69, with an AUC of 0.689. Logistic regression determined the best discriminative potential between patients and control groups for the combination IL-4 + IL-6 + IL-8 + IFN-γ, with 0.97 sensitivity and 0.58 specificity. For the early stages of CRC, the combination IL-6 + IL-8 + IL-22 showed good performance. It was concluded that increased IL-8 had potential as single biomarker in CRC. Cytokine combinations are superior to single cytokine analysis in showing the presence of CRC.     

Eating Habits in Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia from North-Eastern Romania

(1) Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic autosomal dominant disorder characterized by elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) that develops deposits of lipids in the arterial wall. Since it is underdiagnosed and undertreated, the disease has a high risk of premature cardiovascular disease and death. Patients are not always aware of the changes they should make in their diet. Thus, our study aimed to evaluate through a food frequency questionnaire their eating habits. (2) Methods: We included 70 patients with FH and 20 subjects in a control group that were evaluated through a physical examination and blood tests. They also completed a food frequency questionnaire. (3) Results: Throughout our study, we observed several aspects: regardless of age, patients with FH had higher carbohydrate intakes compared to the control group; from the same group, a positive correlation was observed between salami intake and the levels of glucose and glycated hemoglobin. Moreover, the sour cream preference was associated with higher liver function tests. In the control group, we observed a higher intake of pasta and fast food and fewer fruit portions. (4) Conclusions: As far as we know, this is the first study from Romania that evaluated the eating habits of patients diagnosed with FH. Our study reveals that, although patients with FH avoid junk food, they still have a high intake of carbohydrates when compared to the control group. Further research is needed in order to get a comprehensive nutritional evaluation of these patients.     

Antibacterial activity of aminals and hemiaminals of pyrazole and imidazole

Antibacterial activity of 1,1′-methylenedipyrazole (AM1), 1-hydroxymethylpyrazole (SAM1), 1,1′-methylenediimidazole (AM2), and 1-hydroxymethylimidazole (SAM2) has been tested against reference and clinical strains by both difusimetric and broth dilution methods. Overall, the minimal inhibitory concentrations of tested compounds ranged from 180 to 270?μg/ml, while the minimal bactericidal concentrations were between 360 and 720?μg/ml. Comparative assessment with phenol and formaldehyde shows that AM1, AM2, SAM1, and SAM2 have moderate to good antibacterial activity.     

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction：An uncommon condition with heterogeneous etiology and unpredictable outcome

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction （IPO） either acute or chronic is a condition including features of intestinal ileus in absence of mechanical obstruction. Our paper presents such a rare case of idiopathic IPO in a 53-year-old male patient with recurrent episodes of pseudo-obstruction, which were successfully resolved by anticholinesterase agents, motilin agonists or colonic decompression. However, the patient finally underwent total colectomy. Huge colonic dilatation was identified intraoperatorily, while histology showed a neuropathic variant of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Etiologic mechanisms and current therapeutic methods are reviewed in this paper, which concludes that IPO is a condition in which conservative treatment usually fails. Total colectomy with ileoanal pouch may be the only solution in these situations.