Effect of Statins and Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors on IL-6 Levels in COVID-19 Patients.

Severe clinical course and mortality from COVID-19 are mostly associated with increased concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10. Findings from clinical trials suggest that both statins and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASI) might have the potential to reduce unfavorable outcomes in patients with COVID-19. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of statins and RAASI on the cytokine concentrations in COVID-19 patients.

Microbiological Effects of Sodium Hypochlorite/-Amino Acids and Cross-linked Hyaluronic Acid Adjunctive to Non-surgical Periodontal Treatment.

Purpose: To investigate the microbiological outcomes obtained with either subgingival debridement (SD) in conjunction with a gel containing sodium hypochlorite and amino acids followed by subsequent application of a cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel (xHyA) gel, or with SD alone.

Materials And Methods: Forty-eight patients diagnosed with stages II-III (grades A/B) generalised periodontitis were randomly treated with either SD (control) or SD plus adjunctive sodium hypochlorite/amino acids and xHyA gel (test). Subgingival plaque samples were collected from the deepest site per quadrant in each patient at baseline and after 3 and 6 months.

CTX-M-producing strains: resistance to temocillin, fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and biofilm formation.

ESBL-producing and bacterial biofilms-forming are associated with antimicrobial treatment failure. This study aimed to investigate the phenotypic resistance mechanisms of CTX-M against old antibiotics - cell wall synthesis inhibitors temocillin, nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin. Susceptibility to old antibiotics testing was performed using disk diffusion method, biofilm formation was evaluated spectrophotometrically, and PCR was used for the determination of CTX-M type.

Saliva Testing is a Robust Non-Invasive Method for SARS-CoV-2 RNA Detection.

Purpose: The precise diagnostic testing is of high importance in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. While nasopharyngeal (NP) swab testing is currently the gold standard, the SARS-CoV-2 virus could be also detected in some other body fluids. In this study, we aimed to compare the SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection results, obtained using saliva samples and NP swab samples, collected from infected patients and healthy volunteers.

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Healthcare Workers of Kaunas Hospitals during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

: Serologic testing is a useful additional method for the diagnosis of COVID-19. It is also used for population-based seroepidemiological studies. The objective of the study was to determine SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in healthcare workers of Kaunas hospitals and to compare two methods for specific SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing.

Current antimicrobial susceptibility testing for beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in clinical settings.

The worldwide prevalence of beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (BL-E) is increasing. Bacterial infections involving ESBLs can be more difficult to treat because of antibiotic resistance, as there are fewer effective antibiotics left to be used. Moreover, treatment failure is often observed.