Serum from COVID-19 patients early in the pandemic shows limited evidence of cross-neutralization against variants of concern.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) results in a variety of clinical symptoms ranging from no or mild to severe disease. Currently, there are multiple postulated mechanisms that may push a moderate to severe disease into a critical state. Human serum contains abundant evidence of the immune status following infection.

Serum from COVID-19 patients early in the pandemic shows limited evidence of cross-neutralization against variants of concern.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) results in a variety of clinical symptoms ranging from no or mild to severe disease. Currently, there are multiple postulated mechanisms that may push a moderate to severe disease into a critical state. Human serum contains abundant evidence of the immune status following infection.

Excessive Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 and Hyperactivation of Endothelial Cells Occurred in COVID-19 Patients and Were Associated With the Severity of COVID-19.

Background: Systemic vascular injury occurs in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown.

Methods: To clarify the role of inflammatory factors in COVID-19 vascular injury, we used a multiplex immunoassay to profile 65 inflammatory cytokines/chemokines/growth factors in plasma samples from 24 hospitalized (severe/critical) COVID-19 patients, 14 mild/moderate cases, and 13 healthy controls (HCs).

Results: COVID-19 patients had significantly higher plasma levels of 20 analytes than HCs.

Excessive matrix metalloproteinase-1 and hyperactivation of endothelial cells occurred in COVID-19 patients and were associated with the severity of COVID-19.

COVID-19 starts as a respiratory disease that can progress to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and multi-organ failure. Growing evidence suggests that COVID-19 is a systemic illness that primarily injures the vascular endothelium, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. SARS-CoV-2 infection is believed to trigger a cytokine storm that plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of endothelialitis and vascular injury, eventually leading to respiratory and multi-organ failure in COVID-19 patients.

Seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies among healthcare workers with differing levels of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient exposure.

Healthcare employees were tested for antibodies against severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Among 734 employees, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 1.6%.

Low Serum Pancreatic Amylase and Lipase Values Are Simple and Useful Predictors to Diagnose Chronic Pancreatitis.

Background/aims: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic role of low serum amylase and lipase values in the detection of chronic pancreatitis.

Methods: Patients underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and were diagnosed with non-calcific chronic pancreatitis (NCCP; n=99) and calcific chronic pancreatitis (CCP; n=112). Patient serum amylase and lipase values were compared with those of healthy controls (H; n=170).

Concomitant lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma and plasma cell myeloma, a diagnostic challenge.

Background: Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma and plasma cell myeloma are two B cell lymphoproliferative neoplasms derived from mature B-lymphocytes in different differentiation stages. The coexistence of these two tumors in the same patient is exceedingly rare and can be difficult to diagnose.

Case Presentation: A 76-year-old male presented with a pathologic fracture after a fall.

Can We Detect Chronic Pancreatitis With Low Serum Pancreatic Enzyme Levels?

Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate whether serum pancreatic enzyme levels could be used to aid screening for chronic pancreatitis (CP).

Methods: 170 healthy volunteers were screened and prospectively enrolled in the control group. 150 patients who were diagnosed with calcific CP were enrolled in the patient group by retrospective review.

Vitamin D as Supplemental Therapy for Pneumocystis Pneumonia.

The combination of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and primaquine (PMQ) has been shown to be effective for therapy of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). Since a high concentration of ATRA has significant adverse effects, the possibility that vitamin D can be used to replace ATRA for PCP therapy was investigated. C57BL/6 mice were immunosuppressed by depleting CD4(+) cells and infected with Pneumocystis murina 1 week after initiation of immunosuppression.

Case report: serial percutaneous cholangioscopy with laser ablation for the management of locally recurrent biliary intraductal papillary mucinous tumor.

We present a case of serial cholangioscopic laser fulguration of a biliary recurrence of pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous tumor in a 76-year-old man. Through established percutaneous biliary drain tracts, the aseptic use of a standard 6.9 F ureteroscope and holmium laser fiber facilitated visual ablation within the biliary tree.

Pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome associated with an autochthonous case of dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Dengue fever is a major public health problem worldwide. Dengue hemorrhagic fever, a much rarer form of the disease, occurs when a person previously infected with dengue is re-infected with a different viral serotype. In recent years the infection rates of dengue and both clinical syndromes have increased along the United States-Mexico border.