European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jun 2022
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyAprotinin treatment against SARS-CoV-2: a randomized phase III study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a pan-protease inhibitor for moderate COVID-19.
SARS-CoV-2 virus requires host proteases to cleave its spike protein to bind to its ACE2 target through a two-step furin-mediated entry mechanism. Aprotinin is a broad-spectrum protease inhibitor that has been employed as antiviral drug for other human respiratory viruses. Also, it has important anti-inflammatory properties for inhibiting the innate immunity contact system. ⋯ Inhaled aprotinin may improve standard treatment and clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, resulting in a shorter treatment time and hospitalization compared with the placebo group. The administration of aprotinin was safe.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jun 2022
Breast Cancer and Incident Cardiovascular Events. A Systematic Analysis at the Nationwide Level.
Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and the treatments are frequently cardiotoxic. Whether BC is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events is a matter of debate. We evaluated the associations among BC and incident cardiovascular events in a contemporary population. ⋯ In a large and contemporary analysis of female patients seen in French hospitals, women with history of breast cancer had a higher risk of all-cause mortality, new-onset heart failure and major bleeding compared to a matched cohort of women without breast cancer. In contrast, they have a reduced risk of cardiovascular mortality, MI and stroke.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jun 2022
Increased serum diamine oxidase activity in non-allergic patients with migraine.
Histamine has shown a possible role in the etiopathogenesis of migraine. It has been reported an association between some polymorphisms in the diamine oxidase (DAO) gene and migraine, especially in women. Two studies addressing DAO activity in migraine patients showed conflicting results. We investigated the possible relationship of serum DAO activity and histamine levels and 3 polymorphisms in the DAO gene with the risk for migraine. ⋯ Serum DAO activity was increased in patients with migraine, especially in females, while serum histamine levels were normal. None of the studied polymorphisms was associated with the risk for migraine.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jun 2022
Coronary circulatory function with increasing obesity: A complex U-turn.
The aim of this investigation was to explore and characterize alterations in coronary circulatory function in function of increasing body weight with medically controlled cardiovascular risk factors and, thus, "metabolically" unhealthy obesity. ⋯ The U-turn of hyperaemic MBF from obesity to morbid obesity is likely to reflect contrasting effects of abdominal versus subcutaneous adipose tissue on coronary circulatory function indicative of two different disease entities, but needing further investigations.
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There are no widely accepted, quantitative definitions for the end of a pandemic such as COVID-19. The end of the pandemic due to a new virus and the transition to endemicity may be defined based on a high proportion of the global population having some immunity from natural infection or vaccination. Other considerations include diminished death toll, diminished pressure on health systems, reduced actual and perceived personal risk, removal of restrictive measures and diminished public attention. ⋯ The gargantuan attention in news media, social media and even scientific circles should be tempered. Public health officials need to declare the end of the pandemic. Mid- and long-term consequences of epidemic waves and of adopted measures on health, society, economy, civilization and democracy may perpetuate a pandemic legacy long after the pandemic itself has ended.