Patient Perceptions of their COVID-19 Inpatient Hospital Experience: a Survey Exploring Inequities in Healthcare Delivery.

Background: Compared with White patients, Black and Latinx patients have higher infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates from COVID-19; yet, little is known about their perspective before, during, and after a COVID-19 hospitalization. The objective of this study conducted in White, Black, and Latinx patients was to assess perceptions of their COVID-19-related hospitalization from onset of symptoms through the post-discharge period to identify disparities in their perceived care.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study using an online survey from May 19 to June 23, 2021, was conducted by The Harris Poll in 200 White, 200 Black, and 201 Latinx patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in the US.

Efficacy and safety of Treamid in the rehabilitation of patients after COVID-19 pneumonia: a phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Many patients who recovered from COVID are still suffering from pulmonary dysfunction that can be persistent even for months after infection. Therefore, treatment to prevent irreversible impairment of lung function is needed. Treamid (bisamide derivative of dicarboxylic acid, BDDA) was shown to have anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects in animal models of pulmonary fibrosis.

Relative Role of Akt, ERK and CREB in Alcohol-Induced Microglia P2X4R Receptor Expression.

Aims: Previously we have demonstrated altered microglia P2X4R expression in response to alcohol and pharmacological blockade with a selective P2X4R antagonist can reverse the action, suggesting that P2X4R play a role in mediating alcohol-induced effects on microglia. In the present study, we investigated the underlying signaling mediators, which may play a role in modulating P2X4R expression in microglia cells in response to alcohol.

Methods: Embryonic stem cell-derived microglia (ESdM) cells were used to investigate the potential mechanisms involved in the regulation of P2X4R in response to alcohol.

Impaired Subset Progression and Polyfunctionality of T Cells in Mice Exposed to Methamphetamine during Chronic LCMV Infection.

Methamphetamine (METH) is a widely used psychostimulant that severely impacts the host's innate and adaptive immune systems and has profound immunological implications. T cells play a critical role in orchestrating immune responses. We have shown recently how chronic exposure to METH affects T cell activation using a murine model of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection.

Methamphetamine alters microglial immune function through P2X7R signaling.

Background: Purinoceptors have emerged as mediators of chronic inflammation and neurodegenerative processes. The ionotropic purinoceptor P2X7 (P2X7R) is known to modulate proinflammatory signaling and integrate neuronal-glial circuits. Evidence of P2X7R involvement in neurodegeneration, chronic pain, and chronic inflammation suggests that purinergic signaling plays a major role in microglial activation during neuroinflammation.

Methamphetamine mediates immune dysregulation in a murine model of chronic viral infection.

Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive psychostimulant that not only affects the brain and cognitive functions but also greatly impacts the host immune system, rendering the body susceptible to infections and exacerbating the severity of disease. Although there is gathering evidence about METH abuse and increased incidence of HIV and other viral infections, not much is known about the effects on the immune system in a chronic viral infection setting. We have used the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) chronic mouse model of viral infection in a chronic METH environment and demonstrate that METH significantly increases CD3 marker on splenocytes and programmed death-1 (PD-1) expression on T cells, a cell surface signaling molecule known to inhibit T cell function and cause exhaustion in a lymphoid organ.

P2X4 receptor regulates alcohol-induced responses in microglia.

Mounting evidence indicates that alcohol-induced neuropathology may result from multicellular responses in which microglia cells play a prominent role. Purinergic receptor signaling plays a key role in regulating microglial function and, more importantly, mediates alcohol-induced effects. Our findings demonstrate that alcohol increases expression of P2X4 receptor (P2X4R), which alters the function of microglia, including calcium mobilization, migration and phagocytosis.

Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3β promotes tight junction stability in brain endothelial cells by half-life extension of occludin and claudin-5.

Neuroinflammatory conditions often involve dysfunction of the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). Therefore, identifying molecular targets that can maintain barrier fidelity is of clinical importance. We have previously reported on the anti-inflammatory effects that glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) inhibition has on primary human brain endothelial cells.

Comparison of respiratory virus detection rates for infants and toddlers by use of flocked swabs, saline aspirates, and saline aspirates mixed in universal transport medium for room temperature storage and shipping.

A nylon flocked swab/universal transport medium collection method developed for bacterial sexually transmitted infections was adapted to detect respiratory viruses in infants and toddlers. This method significantly outperformed the traditional use of nasal aspirates in terms of PCR-based virus detection (P = 0.016), and the samples were easier for clinicians to evaluate, store, and transport.

Plasmapheresis and peritoneal dialysis in the management of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.

Six patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis were given plasmapheresis and peritoneal dialysis by manual technique. At the start of treatment the patients were in renal failure and all but two were practically anuric. Renal biopsy revealed glomerular sclerosis in 4 cases.

Effect of hyperosmolar peritoneal dialysis fluid on the elimination of small- and medium-molecular substances.

The efficiency of peritoneal dialysis by the use of hyperosmolar dialyzing fluid (680 mOsm/1) was studied in 7 patients with chronic renal failure. The results were referred to the control values obtained in the first and in the terminal periods. In the course of treatment by means of the solution of high osmolarity the clearance of small- and medium-molecular substances increased.

Effect of haemo- and peritoneal dialysis on the cell-mediated immune response in chronic uraemia.

Lymphocytopenia, decreased spontaneous rosette formation, and a decreased T lymphocyte count have been found in patients with non-uraemic glomerulonephritis (71 cases) and in different stages of uraemia (68 cases). In chronic glomerulonephritis and in the early stage of uraemia, cell-mediated hypersensitivity (lymphocyte migration inhibition) to glomerular basement membrane (GBM) characteristic of glomerulonephritis could be demonstrated. Hypersensitivity disappeared in the terminal stage of uraemia indicating endogenous immunosuppression.

Blood coagulation and hereditary nephritis.

Nineteen patients with hereditary nephritis - members of six families - were studied for haemostasis on 11 occasions by the use of four capillary tests, 14 different blood coagulation tests and two different platelet function tests. Systemic capillaropathy was demonstrable in 8 out of 15 cases of the non-uraemic, and in all the 5 cases of the uraemic group. No completely normal blood coagulation was found in any of the cases and the coagulation disorders were never of exclusively haemorrhagic pattern.

Blood coagulation abnormalities in the Schönlein-Henoch syndrome in adults.

23 adult patients with Schönlein-Henoch's syndrome were observed between 1965 and 1976. Nephropathy was noted in 18, gastrointestinal bleedings in 13, thrombosis of legs in 4, cases. Haemostasis was studied in the successive phases of the process on 185 occasions altogether.

Hereditary nephritis and the heart.

Eleven cases of hereditary nephritis were studied for cardiac abnormalities by means of ECG and BCG. With the exception of two cases no significant abnormalities were demonstrable, which indicates that this genetically transmitted process generally leaves the heart unaffected. It is thus to be expected that intermittent haemodialysis, as far as the heart is concerned, will be well tolerated by these patients.

Blood coagulation defect in Masugi nephritis.

The platelet count and the coagulation pattern have been studied on the basic of nine laboratory tests in Masugi nephritis of the delayed type. Platelet consumption was found to constitute the initial manifestation of Masugi nephritis. The prenephritic stage and the manifestation of nephritis were invariably associated with hypercoagulability, as reflected by a loss of the spontaneous fibrinolytic activity of plasma, together with an elevation of the fibrinogen level and an increase in maximal thrombus elasticity.

Haemorrhagic pericarditis and cardiac tamponade during chronic haemodialysis.

Three cases of uraemic haemorrhagic pericarditis observed during haemodialysis treatment are described. The condition is explained with uraemic toxicosis, cyclic heparinaemia resulting from dialysis, deficient thrombocyte function, and decreased capillary resistance. The clinical appearance of haemorrhagic pericarditis was not typical in any of the cases.

Care of the patient in autoimmune renal disease. Assessment of clinical and immunological activity.

174 patients suffering from various autoimmune and renal diseases have been followed up for periods of one to four years. Repeated assessment of clinical and immunological activity is indispensable for therapy, prognosis and rehabilitation. Determination of microscopic haematuria by the Addis count proved to be the best indication of clinical activity.

Changes in the electrocardiogram, vectorcardiogram and ballistocardiogram after hemodialysis in chronic uremia.

In 12 cases with uremia, the electrical activity and form and amplitude of Bcg (displacement) were investigated before and after hemodialysis. The uremia was secondary to chronic glomerulonephritis (9 cases), familial nephritis (1 case), polycystic kidney disease (1 case) and chronic pyelonephritis (1 case). During the study digitalis was not given to the patients.