Cutaneous manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection: a clinical update.

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a global pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 virus). A consistent number of case reports and clinical series have been already published describing a complex spectrum of skin manifestations associated with the SARS-CoV-2 infection. We carried out a review of the English-language literature up to 20 May 2020, reporting original cases or case series of the cutaneous manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. The following databases were consulted: PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar and ResearchGate. The search of papers was conducted by using the key term 'COVID-19' or 'SARS-CoV-2' or 'coronavirus' combined with each of the following: 'skin', 'cutaneous', 'dermatologic' or 'dermatology', 'manifestation', 'lesions', or 'rash'. The patterns of dermatological manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection could be classified into four categories: exanthema (varicella-like, papulo-vesicular and morbilliform rash), vascular (chilblain-like, purpuric/petechial and livedoid lesions), urticarial and acro-papular eruption. Lastly, other skin manifestations to be considered are the cutaneous adverse reactions to the drugs prescribed for the treatment of COVID-19. Whether SARS-CoV-2 infection can directly cause a worsening of chronic inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis remains to be determined. Dermatology's outlook in the COVID-19 pandemic is multidimensional.

Molecular analysis of vanA enterococci isolated from humans and animals in northeastern Italy.

A total of 53 vancomycin-resistant vanA-positive enterococci isolates from poultry farms (17 Enterococcus faecium; 8 Enterococcus durans) and from different hospitals (23 E. faecium; 5 Enterococcus faecalis) in northeastern Italy were compared on the basis of their antibiotic susceptibilities, their SmaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns, and the organization of their Tn1546-related elements. Ampicillin resistance was similar in both groups of isolates (52 and 60.7%, respectively), whereas human strains were more resistant to high-level gentamicin and streptomycin. A total of 52% of animal strains and 60% of human strains were resistant to tetracycline, and 56% and 46.4% to quinupristin/dalfopristin, respectively. In E. faecium and E. durans animal isolates, nine and six distinct PFGE patterns, respectively, were found: in two instances indistinguishable isolates were found from different farms. In E. faecium and E. faecalis human isolates, nine and six distinct PFGE patterns, respectively, were found; among E. faecium strains, 12 were identical or closely related and were isolates from the same hospital. Elements mediating vanA-glycopeptide resistance were characterized by PCR with primers that amplified 10 overlapping fragments of Tn1546. A total of 84.6% of animal strains and 64.2% of human strains contained elements indistinguishable from the prototype Tn1546. In addition, nine different types were identified, but none was common to animal and human strains.

The inhibition of trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin proteolytic activity by aluminum(III).

In Alzheimer's disease, among different hypotheses, amyloid is thought to be formed from a disequilibrium between proteases and protease inhibitors with a consequent production of self-aggregating fragments that are deposited in brain tissues. In this paper we present evidences that aluminum(III) can be a candidate for playing a dismetabolic role in inhibiting the proteolytic activity of the serine proteases trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin, and the inhibitory reaction can be reversible in the presence of EDTA. The relevance of the physicochemical properties of the metal coordination sphere in this inhibitory effect is also discussed.

[Parathion poisoning]. / Intoxicación por parathion.

This study shows our clinical and therapeutical experience in 48 cases of infant COFA intoxication admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of "Emilio Civit Children Hospital", Mendoza, Argentina in a periode of seven years. They were investigated to determine the presence of Parathion in blood and gastric washing with the sodium hydroxide qualitative method, and also cholinesterase was detected in blood with a colorimetric method (the monotest cholinesterase). Age range from one to ten years with predominance from 3 to 4 years; 27 were males and 21 females. In almost all the cases (90%) the toxic ingressed through several ways, and from 10 to 30 minutes appeared the characteristic signs: miosis and bronchorrhea. Clinically in 30 cases the intoxication was considered dangerous and mild in the others. The data obtained by laboratory techniques were diagnostic only in half of the cases. Atropine's sulphate was done to all cases until their recuperation, in doses from 2.5 mg to 20 mg. The evolution was highly satisfactory, only two died and two remained with seizures. Always had thanklessness and carelessness with the child from living together adults, who playing handle and waste the toxic. In two occasions the intoxication was familiar by contaminated food.

[Sclerema (clinical review apropos of 20 cases)]. / Esclerema (ravisión lcínica a propósito de 20 casos)

Twenty cases of children with Sclerema observed at a Pediatric Service during five years are presented. Their clinical and laboratory traits are integrated in a dermatosis appearing after various and usually serious complications. In the children observed the most frequent finding was represented by sepsis, some of them with disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, diarrhoea with dehydration. The therapy applied, fundamentally was based on parenteral solutions, antibiotics and corticoids, was directed by those diseases and not by the presence of sclerema, which however appeared influenced by the supply of the latterly mentioned medicaments. Microscopic disturbances are discussed too, and a reference is made to the incriminabea pathogenic mechanisms.