Clinical Spectrum and CSF Findings in Patients with West-Nile Virus Infection, a Retrospective Cohort Review.

West Nile Virus (WNV) infection is a world-wide zoonotic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. The infection is usually self-limiting; however, elderly patients or those with comorbidities are predisposed to developing severe, and sometimes fatal complications of the infection. Recently, the incidence of WNV infection in Europe had seen a sharp increase, as compared to previous years. We are currently reporting on the clinical presentation and laboratory findings in 23 cases of WNV infection, of which one resulted in a fatal outcome. The clinical picture was predominantly that of meningitis/meningoencephalitis of varying severity. One patient suffered a fatal outcome, and a rare manifestation of chorioretinal lesions and iridocyclitis was also reported as a result of WNV infection. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis predominantly showed lymphocytic pleocytosis, and total protein levels were increased in all but three of the patients. Levels of total protein in CSF samples were found to show a positive correlation with age. Given the ever-increasing incidence of WNV infection in Europe, a high index of clinical suspicion should always accompany cases of meningitis, especially during the summer period, as a similar epidemic pattern is predicted to recur.

Antiviral and anti-inflammatory therapies in COVID-19 / Antivirális és gyulladásellenes kezelési lehetoségek COVID-19-ben.

Összefoglaló. Az új típusú koronavírus-fertozés (COVID-19) nagy terhet ró az egészségügyi ellátórendszerre és a társadalomra. A betegségnek három nagy szakasza van, melyek alapvetoen meghatározzák a kezelést. Az I-IIA fázisban az antivirális, míg a IIB-III. fázisban a gyulladásgátló kezelés áll elotérben, melyhez intenzív terápiás, szupportív kezelés csatlakozik. A jelen ajánlás kizárólag a gyógyszeres kezelésre vonatkozik, és a rendelkezésre álló bizonyítékok alapján foglalja össze a terápiás lehetoségeket. Emellett egy javasolt kezelési algoritmust is tartalmaz. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(17): 643-651. Summary. The novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) places a heavy burden on the health care system and our society. There are three major stages in the disease that fundamentally determine treatment approaches. Phases I-IIA require primarily antiviral treatment. In phases IIB-III, anti-inflammatory treatment is needed accompanied by intensive and supportive care. This recommendation applies only to pharmacotherapy and summarizes the therapeutic options based on the available evidence. It also includes a proposed treatment algorithm. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(17): 643-651.

A dramatic rise in serum ACE2 activity in a critically ill COVID-19 patient.

Endothelial cells express surface angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the main receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that promotes the infection of endothelial cells showing activation and damage. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) subjects showed a critical imbalance in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system with the upregulated expression of ACE2. Recently, intravenous recombinant ACE2 was reported as an effective therapy in severe COVID-19 by blocking the viral entry to target cells. Here, we present a case of a critically ill COVID-19 patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome where circulating ACE2 was first measured to monitor disease prognosis. ACE2 activity increased about 40-fold over the normal range and showed a distinct time course as compared to 2-3-fold higher levels of endothelium biomarkers. Although the level of soluble E-selectin followed the clinical status of our patient similar to ferritin and IL-6 levels, the dramatic rise in serum ACE2 activity may act as an endogenous nonspecific protective mechanism against SARS-CoV-2 infection that preceded the recovery of our patient.

Novel coronavirus epidemic in the Hungarian population, a cross-sectional nationwide survey to support the exit policy in Hungary.

After months of restrictive containment efforts to fight the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic, European countries are planning to reopen. To support the process, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among the Hungarian population to estimate the prevalence of infectious cases and prior SARS-CoV-2 exposure. A representative sample (n = 17,787) for the Hungarian population of 14 years or older living in private households (n = 8,283,810) was selected. The study was performed within 16 days after 50 days of restrictions, when the number of confirmed cases was stable low. Naso- and oropharyngeal smears and blood samples were collected for PCR and antibody testing. The testing was accompanied by a questionnaire about symptoms, comorbidities, and contacts. Design-based prevalence estimates were calculated. In total, 10,474 individuals (67.7% taken into account a sample frame error of 2315) of the selected sample participated in the survey. Of the tested individuals, 3 had positive PCR and 69 had positive serological test. Population estimate of the number of SARS-CoV-2 infection and seropositivity were 2421 and 56,439, respectively, thus active infection rate (2.9/10,000) and the prevalence of prior SARS-CoV-2 exposure (68/10,000) was low. Self-reported loss of smell or taste and body aches were significantly more frequent among those with SARS-CoV-2. In this representative, cross-sectional survey of the Hungarian population with a high participation rate, the overall active infection rate was low in sync with the prevalence of prior SARS-CoV-2 exposure. We demonstrated a potential success of containment efforts, supporting an exit strategy. NCT04370067, 30.04.2020.

Efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of IC43 recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine in mechanically ventilated intensive care patients-a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are a serious threat in intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of this confirmatory, randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 2/3 study was to assess the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of IC43 recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine in non-surgical ICU patients. METHODS: Eight hundred patients aged 18 to 80 years admitted to the ICU with expected need for mechanical ventilation for ≥ 48 h were randomized 1:1 to either IC43 100 µg or saline placebo, given in two vaccinations 7 days apart. The primary efficacy endpoint was all-cause mortality in patients 28 days after the first vaccination. Immunogenicity and safety were also evaluated. FINDINGS: All-cause mortality rates at day 28 were 29.2% vs 27.7% in the IC43 and placebo groups, respectively (P = .67). Overall survival (Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, P = .46) and proportion of patients with ≥ one confirmed P. aeruginosa invasive infection or respiratory tract infection also did not differ significantly between both groups. The geometric mean fold increase in OprF/I titers was 1.5 after the first vaccination, 20 at day 28, after the second vaccination, and 2.9 at day 180. Significantly more patients in the placebo group (96.5%) had ≥ one adverse event (AE) versus the IC43 100 µg group (93.1%) (P = .04). The most frequently reported severe AEs in the IC43 and placebo groups were respiratory failure (6.9% vs 5.7%, respectively), septic shock (4.1% vs 6.5%), cardiac arrest (4.3% vs 5.7%), multiorgan failure (4.6% vs 5.5%), and sepsis (4.6% vs 4.2%). No related serious AEs were reported in the IC43 group. INTERPRETATION: The IC43 100 µg vaccine was well tolerated in this large population of medically ill, mechanically ventilated patients. The vaccine achieved high immunogenicity but provided no clinical benefit over placebo in terms of overall mortality. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01563263). Registration was sent to ClinicalTrials.gov on March 14, 2012, but posted by ClinicalTrials.gov on March 26, 2012. The first subject was included in the trial on March 22, 2012.

Rapid decline of viral RNA in chronic hepatitis C patients treated once daily with IDX320: a novel macrocyclic HCV protease inhibitor.

BACKGROUND: The addition of direct-acting antivirals to pegylated interferon-α plus ribavirin for the treatment of chronic HCV infection can result in an increased sustained viral response rate and may permit reduction in treatment duration. IDX320 is a potent non-covalent macrocyclic inhibitor of the HCV NS3/4A protease. METHODS: This was a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled single- and multiple-dose study to assess the safety, tolerability, antiviral activity and pharmacokinetics of IDX320 in healthy volunteers (HV) and patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection. HV (n=48) received single or multiple ascending doses of IDX320. Two HCV-infected patients received a single dose of 200 mg IDX320. Dosages for other HCV-infected patients were as follows: placebo, 50, 100, 200 or 400 mg of IDX320 orally once daily for 3 days (n=30) or placebo/200 mg of IDX320 twice-daily for 3 days (n=8). RESULTS: In total, 48 HV and 40 HCV-infected patients were enrolled and all completed the study. There were no serious adverse events. The majority of adverse events were of mild or moderate intensity. Pharmacokinetics supported a once-daily dosing regimen. A rapid decline in plasma HCV RNA was observed in all patients. In the multiple-dose study, mean HCV RNA reductions were 2.6, 3.1, 3.1, 3.3 and 3.8 log(10) IU/ml after 3 days in the IDX320 50, 100, 200, 400 mg once-daily and 200 mg twice-daily treatment groups, respectively. This compared to a mean HCV RNA reduction of 0.04 log(10) in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Once-daily IDX320 dosing demonstrated potent dose-dependent antiviral activity in treatment-naive HCV genotype-1-infected patients.

[Postoperative surveillance of wound infection after cesarean section at Kenézy Hospital, Debrecen, Hungary]. / A császármetszés posztoperatív sebfertozés surveillance tapasztalatai a debreceni Kenézy Kórházban.

UNLABELLED: Wound infection is a typical, partly preventable complication of cesarean sections. We started extended recording of cesarean section data in October, 2008 as part of our general wound infection surveillance program. AIM: To describe the circumstances and outcomes of the sections and analyze associations between them. METHODS: We analyzed 523 cases over the period October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009. Variables were assessed using descriptive statistics. Associations between explanatory factors and wound infection were evaluated using logistic regression. RESULTS: Infections (overall rate: 3.6%) were more frequent in younger subjects, those with anemia, subcutaneous hematoma, in pregnancies with meconium stained or purulent amniotic fluid, and decreased to about a third after infection control was tightened. CONCLUSIONS: by being a proxy variable of factors with which wound infection is associated, age is a clinically valuable predictive variable. Good infection control practice is effective in preventing wound infections. The results are consistent with appropriate prescription practices of prophylactic antibiotic use, and with prophylactic measures being effective.