The role of tocilizumab therapy in critically ill patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Context: Tocilizumab (TCZ), an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist, has been approved for use in rheumatoid arthritis and cytokine storm syndrome (CSS) associated with chimeric antigen receptor T cells treatment. Although TCZ is currently utilized in the treatment of critically ill coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) patients, data on survival impact is minimal.

Objectives: To assess the mortality rate of patients presenting with COVID-19 who received TCZ for suspected CSS.

Characteristics and comparative clinical outcomes of prisoner versus non-prisoner populations hospitalized with COVID-19.

Prisons in the United States have become a hotbed for spreading COVID-19 among incarcerated individuals. COVID-19 cases among prisoners are on the rise, with more than 143,000 confirmed cases to date. However, there is paucity of data addressing clinical outcomes and mortality in prisoners hospitalized with COVID-19.

Diagnosing odontogenic sinusitis of endodontic origin: A multidisciplinary literature review.

Purpose: Endodontic disease is one of the most common causes of bacterial odontogenic sinusitis (ODS). Diagnosing ODS of endodontic origin involves otolaryngologists confirming sinusitis, and dental specialists confirming endodontic sources. The purpose of this study was to conduct a multidisciplinary literature review to highlight clinical and microbiological features of ODS, and the most optimal diagnostic modalities to confirm endodontic disease.

Comparison of bacterial maxillary sinus cultures between odontogenic sinusitis and chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background: Bacterial odontogenic sinusitis (ODS) is distinct from other forms of rhinosinusitis. Diagnosing ODS can be challenging because of nonspecific clinical presentations and underrepresentation in the literature. The purpose of this study was to compare maxillary sinus bacterial cultures between patients with ODS and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), to determine whether certain bacteria are associated with ODS.

Rapid Reorganization of an Academic Infectious Diseases Program During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in Detroit: A Novel Unit-based Group Rounding Model.

The surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations at our 877-bed quaternary care hospital in Detroit led to an emergent demand for Infectious Diseases (ID) consultations. The traditional 1-on-1 consultation model was untenable. Therefore, we rapidly restructured our ID division to provide effective consultative services.

Early Short-Course Corticosteroids in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19.

Background: There is no proven antiviral or immunomodulatory therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The disease progression associated with the proinflammatory host response prompted us to examine the role of early corticosteroid therapy in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a single pretest, single posttest quasi-experiment in a multicenter health system in Michigan from 12 March to 27 March 2020.

Acute Pulmonary Embolism and COVID-19.

Risk factors for pulmonary embolism in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 include obesity, an elevated d-dimer value, elevated C-reactive protein level, and a rising d-dimer value over time.

Cardiac Tamponade Secondary to COVID-19.

A 67-year-old woman presented with upper respiratory symptoms and was diagnosed with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). She was found to have a large hemorrhagic pericardial effusion with echocardiographic signs of tamponade and mild left ventricular impairment. Clinical course was complicated by development of takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Elucidation of cGMP-dependent induction of mitochondrial biogenesis through PKG and p38 MAPK in the kidney.

Previous studies have shown that cGMP increases mitochondrial biogenesis (MB). Our laboratory has determined that formoterol and LY344864, agonists of the β-adrenergic receptor and 5-HT receptor, respectively, signal MB in a soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC)-dependent manner. However, the pathway between cGMP and MB produced by these pharmacological agents in renal proximal tubule cells (RPTCs) and the kidney has not been determined.

Mitochondrial energetics in the kidney.

The kidney requires a large number of mitochondria to remove waste from the blood and regulate fluid and electrolyte balance. Mitochondria provide the energy to drive these important functions and can adapt to different metabolic conditions through a number of signalling pathways (for example, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways) that activate the transcriptional co-activator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ co-activator 1α (PGC1α), and by balancing mitochondrial dynamics and energetics to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis. Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to a decrease in ATP production, alterations in cellular functions and structure, and the loss of renal function.

Structural and Molecular Determinants of Membrane Binding by the HIV-1 Matrix Protein.

Assembly of HIV-1 particles is initiated by the trafficking of viral Gag polyproteins from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane, where they co-localize and bud to form immature particles. Membrane targeting is mediated by the N-terminally myristoylated matrix (MA) domain of Gag and is dependent on the plasma membrane marker phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2]. Recent studies revealed that PI(4,5)P2 molecules containing truncated acyl chains [tr-PI(4,5)P2] are capable of binding MA in an "extended lipid" conformation and promoting myristoyl exposure.

Key differences in B cell activation patterns and immune correlates among treated HIV-infected patients versus healthy controls following influenza vaccination.

Background: There is increasing recognition of the role of B cell dysfunction in HIV pathogenesis, but little is known about how these perturbations may influence responses to vaccinations.

Methods: Healthy controls (n=16) and antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated aviremic HIV-infected subjects (n=26) receiving standard-of-care annual influenza vaccinations were enrolled in the present study. Total bacterial 16S rDNA levels were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reactions in plasma.

Dual-acting stapled peptides target both HIV-1 entry and assembly.

Background: Previously, we reported the conversion of the 12-mer linear and cell-impermeable peptide CAI to a cell-penetrating peptide NYAD-1 by using an i,i + 4 hydrocarbon stapling technique and confirmed its binding to the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the HIV-1 capsid (CA) protein with an improved affinity (K(d) ~ 1 μM) compared to CAI (K(d) ~ 15 μM). NYAD-1 disrupts the formation of both immature- and mature-like virus particles in in vitro and cell-based assembly assays. In addition, it displays potent anti-HIV-1 activity in cell culture against a range of laboratory-adapted and primary HIV-1 isolates.

Using the revised diagnostic criteria for frontotemporal dementia in India: evidence of an advanced and florid disease.

Background: The International Consortium (FTDC) that revised the diagnostic criteria for behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) did not have an Asian representation. Whether the revised criteria are equally useful in the early detection of Asian bvFTD patients therefore remains largely unexplored. Earlier studies have indicated differences in clinical manifestations in Indian and other Asian bvFTD patients when compared to western groups.

Environmental dependency behaviours in frontotemporal dementia: have we been underrating them?

Environmental dependency (ED) behaviours, such as imitation behaviour (IB) and incidental utilization behaviour (UB), are considered pathognomonic of a frontal lesion and can play a unique role in diagnosing behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). However, with only few focused observations of ED behaviour reported in earlier studies, their roles in the diagnosis of bvFTD have so far remained supportive. In this observational study, conducted in the cognitive clinic of a tertiary-care hospital, we explored the hypotheses that a focused and systematic search could uncover more ED behaviours in patients with bvFTD, and that the presence of ED behaviours such as incidental UB and IB should allow us to cleanly differentiate bvFTD from AD.

Cytomegalovirus infection as a cause of cytopenia after chemotherapy for hematological malignancies.

Objective: Unlike hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, there is very little information on cytomegalovirus (CMV) related cytopenias occurring in patients having acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) receiving standard dose chemotherapy (SDCT). We studied the role of CMV infection in cytopenias after SDCT for childhood ALL or NHL.

Design: Retrospective study.

Our experience with pectoralis major flap for management of sternal dehiscence: A review of 25 cases.

Objective: To report our experience of the pectoralis major flap as the treatment modality for post coronary artery bypass sternal wound dehiscence.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of 25 open heart surgery cases, performed between January 2006 and December 2010 at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Pune, was carried out. Unilateral or bilateral pectoralis major muscle flap by the double breasting technique using rectus extension was used in the management of these patients.

Vaginitis due to Candida krusei: epidemiology, clinical aspects, and therapy.

Twelve women with vaginal Candida krusei infection were evaluated. In vitro antifungal susceptibility testing and molecular typing were performed. Patients infected with C.