Evaluation of omental inflammatory response with P-/E-selectin levels and histopathologic findings in experimental model

Comparative transcriptomic analyzes of human lung epithelial cells infected with wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and its variant with a 12-bp missing in the E gene

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus that caused a global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To elucidate the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 replication and immunogenicity, we performed a comparative transcriptome profile of mRNA and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in human lung epithelial cells infected with the SARS-CoV-2 wild-type strain (8X) and the variant with a 12-bp deletion in the E gene (F8). In total, 3,966 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 110 differentially expressed lncRNA (DE-lncRNA) candidates were identified. Of these, 94 DEGs and 32 DE-lncRNAs were found between samples infected with F8 and 8X. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyzes revealed that pathways such as the TNF signaling pathway and viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor were involved. Furthermore, we constructed a lncRNA-protein-coding gene co-expression interaction network. The KEGG analysis of the co-expressed genes showed that these differentially expressed lncRNAs were enriched in pathways related to the immune response, which might explain the different replication and immunogenicity properties of the 8X and F8 strains. These results provide a useful resource for studying the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Counteraction of perforated cecum lesions in rats: Effects of pentadecapeptide BPC 157, L-NAME and L-arginine

AIM

To study the counteraction of perforated cecum lesion using BPC 157 and nitric oxide (NO) system agents.

METHODS

Alongside with the agents' application (after 1 min, medication (/kg, 10 mL/2 min bath/rat) includes: BPC 157 (10 μg), L-NAME (5 mg), L-arginine (100mg) alone or combined, and saline baths (controls)) on the rat perforate cecum injury, we continuously assessed the gross reappearance of the vessels (USB microcamera) quickly propagating toward the defect at the cecum surface, defect contraction, bleeding attenuation, MDA- and NO-levels in cecum tissue at 15 min, and severity of cecum lesions and adhesions at 1 and 7 d.

RESULTS

Post-injury, during/after a saline bath, the number of vessels was significantly reduced, the defect was slightly narrowed, bleeding was significant and MDA-levels increased and NO-levels decreased. BPC 157 bath: the vessel presentation was markedly increased, the defect was noticeably narrowed, the bleeding time was shortened and MDA- and NO-levels remained normal. L-NAME: reduced vessel presentation but not more than the control, did not change defect and shortened bleeding. L-arginine: exhibited less vessel reduction, did not change the defect and prolonged bleeding. In combination, mutual counteraction occurred (L-NAME + L-arginine) or the presentation was similar to that of BPC 157 rats (BPC 157 + L-NAME; BPC 157 + L-arginine; BPC 157 + L-NAME + L-arginine), except the defect did not change. Thereby at day 1 and 7, saline, L-NAME, L-arginine and L-NAME + L-arginine failed (defect was still open and large adhesions present).

CONCLUSION

The therapeutic effect was achieved with BPC 157 alone or in combination with L-NAME and L-arginine as it was able to consolidate the stimulating and inhibiting effects of the NO-system towards more effective healing recruiting vessels.

Left ventricular assist pump pocket infection: conservative treatment strategy for destination therapy candidates

BACKGROUND

Heart failure is a major cause of mortality and morbidity, particularly among patients with advanced disease and no access to cardiac transplantation. LVAD implantation is not only a bridge-to-transplantation option for patients awaiting a heart donor, but is often used as bridge-to-destination therapy in patients unsuited for transplantation for various reasons. LVAD infection is considered the second-most common cause of death in patients who survive the initial 6 months on LVAD support. Few reports describe the indications for chronic suppressing antibiotic therapy, device exchange, methods for exchanging infected devices, post-exchange antimicrobial management status, and the outcomes of such patients.

CASE PRESENTATION

This is the case of a 74-year-old male patient with numerous comorbidities who received urgent surgical management for severe heart failure with a HeartMate II. Six months later he developed an LVAD pump infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis, which was diagnosed with leucocyte scintigraphy. The patient received an omental graft over the LVAD and a chronic suppressive antibiotic regime. A marked leukocyte scintigraphy showed the infection's regression 6 months after the initiation of antibiotic treatment.

DISCUSSION

We concisely reviewed the driveline infections and the main aspects of the LVAD pump infection. We reviewed options for conservative and nonconservative management and showed that conservative management of the LVAD pump infection is possible.

CONCLUSIONS

There are no defined recommendations for the management of LVAD pump infection. This case is among the few in the literature showing that conservative treatment of an LVAD pump infection is possible.

Antioxidant Effects of Probiotics in Experimentally Induced Peritonitis

AIM

An experimental study was performed to evaluate the protective effects of probiotics on gut mucosa in peritonitis through antioxidant mechanisms.

METHODS

Thirty-two male Wistar albino rats were divided equally into four groups. The rats in Group 1 (control group) underwent laparotomy only. In group 2 (peritonitis group), peritonitis was induced in the rats by the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model. In group 3, the rats were treated with probiotics for five days after CLP-induced peritonitis. The last group of rats (group 4) were fed probiotics for five days before the CLP procedure and five days after the surgery. On the fifth day after surgery, all rats were killed, and tissue samples from the terminal ileum were obtained to evaluate the activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH). Histopathologic examinations were also performed to evaluate the grade of intestinal injury.

RESULTS

Myeloperoxidase and MDA activities were increased, GSH concentrations were decreased in group 2, compared with group 1. Intestinal MPO activities in group 4 were decreased compared with group 1 and group 2, indicating a reduction in oxidant activity. Malondialdehyde decreased in group 3 and decreased even more in group 4, compared with the peritonitis group (group 2). Glutathione concentrations were increased in group 4 compared with group 2 and group 3 (p < 0.05). The Chiu scores of the probiotics groups, groups 3 and 4, were lower than those in group 2, indicating reduced mucosal damage in the probiotically fed groups.

CONCLUSION

Probiotics have protective effects in peritonitis, which may be related to antioxidant mechanisms. This antioxidant effect of probiotics might occur when pre-conditioning with probiotics before peritonitis because there is sufficient time to prepare the tissues for oxidative damage.