Severity of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant compared with the previous lineages: A systematic review

The Omicron variant was first detected in October 2021, which evolved from the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and was found to possess many mutations. Immune evasion was one of the notable consequences of these mutations. Despite Omicron exhibiting increased transmissibility, the rates of hospitalizations and deaths among patients infected with this variant were substantially lower when compared to other strains. However, concluding that the Omicron variant is less severe than other variants of SARS-CoV-2 requires consideration of multiple factors, including the vaccination status of infected patients as well as any previous infections with other variants. This review compiled data about any reported indicators of severity in Omicron-infected patients, including studies comparing Omicron with other variants while adjusting for confounders. A comprehensive search was conducted using different databases to target any studies about Omicron. In total, 62 studies met our inclusion criteria and were included in this study. Many studies reported a significantly reduced risk of hospitalization, ICU admission, need for oxygenation/ventilation, and death in Omicron-infected patients compared to patients infected with other variants, such as Delta. Some studies, however, reported comparable severity in Omicron infected patients as to other variants emphasizing a substantial risk for severe illness. Furthermore, the COVID-19 vaccines were less effective against Omicron relative to previous lineages, except after receiving the booster dose. One study recommended vaccination during pregnancy, which may help prevent future cases of severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in neonates and young infants due to the transfer of humoral response from the mother.     

Impacto en residencias de la atención centrada en las personas (ACP) sobre la calidad de vida,el bienestar y la capacidad de salir adelante. Estudio transversal

IntroductionThe aging of the population has led to the introduction of qualitative and quantitative changes in healthcare resources, among which are the introduction of models of person-centred care (PCC), although there is a lack of information on their impact. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of a PCC model on the quality of life, well-being and thriving, in people living in nursing homesMethodsCross-sectional study. Population: all persons who lived indefinitely in the two participating centres that gave their consent. Impact of PCC vs. traditional model was assessed in terms of quality of life, well-being and thriving. Effect size was estimated with Cohen d adjusted for health problems, Charlson index, and presence of depression.ResultsOverall participation was 78% (59/77 persons from the conventional centre and 66/88 from the PCC). The people of the PCC centre had better well-being (d = 0.378) and thriving (d = 0.566). No differences were found in quality of life.ConclusionThe PCC model can have a positive impact on well-being and thriving in persons living in nursing homes.     

First report of the dog louse fly Hippobosca longipennis in Romania

Hippobosca longipennis (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), the dog fly or dog louse fly, is an obligate blood‐feeding ectoparasite of wild and domestic carnivores in Africa and the Middle East. Outside its typically known geographic range, H. longipennis has been reported occasionally on mainly domestic dogs in Asia and southern Europe, and infrequently in other areas (central Europe and the U.S.A.). This paper presents the first report of H. longipennis in Romania and the second record of Lipoptena fortisetosa (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), a potentially invasive species. Hippobosca longipennis was found on domestic dogs in two regions of the country (northern Romania in Maramures and southwestern Romania in Dobrogea) and on two road‐killed wildcats in Maramures. Lipoptena fortisetosa was found on domestic dogs in Maramures. In both species identification was based on morphology and confirmed by barcoding of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. It is not clear for how long H. longipennis has been present in central Europe, nor if it was introduced (via the movement of domestic dogs or import of exotic carnivores) or present historically (Holocene remnants). This paper discusses the possible origins of H. longipennis in central Europe as its current distribution in the area is sparse and patchy.     

Cold-induced genetic instability in micropropagated Pistacia lentiscus L. plantlets

Genetic stability of plants during in vitro propagation and conservation is one of the important aspects of plant biotechnology. In the present study, micropropagated P. lentiscus L. shoot cultures, which are cultivated for the mastic resin, have been cold stored up to 12 months at 4 °C in the dark for different durations (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 months) and genetic alterations in cold storage conditions were evaluated. Growth parameters such as proliferation rate, shoot numbers per explant, shoot lengths and shoot forming capacity were also calculated. Since the highest proliferation rate (100 %) was obtained in 6?month-stored shoot cultures without any severe influence of cold stress on proliferation ability, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphism (IRAP) marker systems were used to determine genetic stability in the plantlets after this storage period. Totally, 702 scorable bands were produced by 10 AFLP primer pairs. Genetic similarity value of the non-stored (control) plant and cold-stored clones ranged from 0.66 to 0.84 with a mean of 0.74. In the case of IRAP, 159 bands were produced by 8 IRAP primers. Genetic similarity value of the non-stored plant and cold-stored clones varied from 0.65 to 0.83 and the average genetic similarity value was determined as 0.72. The genetic similarity indices revealed that genetic variability was similar in both techniques. Our results showed that tissue culture and especially cold storage of P. lentiscus L. may result transposons activation, thus could cause genetic instability.     

Spirometra mansonoides: effects of plerocercoid infection on glycogen deposition in rats

The effects of infection with plerocercoids of Spirometra mansonoides on tissue glycogen deposition of rats was determined. Hypophysectomized rats infected for two days had higher liver glycogen concentrations than controls and this effect was greatest after one week. Elevated liver glycogen associated with plerocercoid infection was observed in fed animals both at the beginning and at the end of the light period as well as after an overnight fast. Glycogen phosphorylase (1,4 alpha D glucan: orthophosphate alpha glucosyltransferase EC 2.4.1.1.) was inhibited but glucose-6-phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.9) was unaffected in the livers of infected hypophysectomized rats. While this effect is similar to actions of both growth hormone and insulin, plerocercoid infection had no influence on glycogen of cardiac or skeletal muscle at any time. Plerocercoid infection had no effect on the glycogen concentration of any tissue of intact rats.     

Lycopene protects against cyclosporine A-induced testicular toxicity in rats

Cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced direct failures in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and Sertoli cell phagocytic function have been considered for testicular toxicity so far. It has clearly been reported that oxidative stress leads to damage in sperm functions and structure of the testis. Therefore, this study was conducted to demonstrate whether CsA causes testicular and spermatozoal toxicity associated with the oxidative stress, and to investigate the possible protective effect of lycopene against CsA-induced damages in all reproductive organs and sperm characteristics in male rats. While the daily administration of CsA at the dose 15 mg/kg for 21 days significantly decreased the seminal vesicles weight, epididymal sperm concentration, motility, testicular tissue glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT), diameter of seminiferous tubules and germinal cell thickness, it increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level and abnormal sperm rates along with degeneration, necrosis, desquamative germ cells in testicular tissue. However, the CsA along with simultaneous administration of lycopene at the dose of 10mg/kg markedly ameliorated the CsA-induced all the negative changes observed in the testicular tissue, sperm parameters and oxidant/antioxidant balance. In conclusion, CsA-induced oxidative stress leads to the structural and functional damages in the testicular tissue and sperm quality of rats and, lycopene has a potential protective effect on these damages.     

Decrease of aflatoxin B1 in yoghurt and acidified milks

Fermentation of yoghurt and acidified milks containing aflatoxin B₁ (AB₁) were studied. AB₁ added to milk before fermentation at concentrations of 600, 1000 and 1400 g/kg was reduced in yoghurts (pH 4.0) by 97, 91 and 90%, respectively. Coagulation time was approximately the same as in the controls. Streptococci had longer chains than those in the controls. The main decrease of AB₁ occurred during the milk fermentation. A decrease of AB₁ (conc. 1000 g/kg) in milks acidified with citric, lactic and acetic acids (pH 4.0) was 90, 84 and 73%, respectively.     

Contribution of inorganic cations and organic compounds to osmotic adjustment in root cultures of two <Emphasis Type="Italic">Centaurium</Emphasis> species differing in tolerance to salt stress

The effect of reduced availability of sugars on growth and essential metabolic processes in roots, resulting from decreased photosynthesis under salinity, was excluded by establishing a non-photosynthetic model-system in this study: root cultures of Centaurium maritimum (L.) Fritch and Centaurium spicatum (L.) Fritch. The contribution of inorganic cations and organic compounds (e.g. carbohydrates and amino acids) to the osmotic adjustment (OA) in roots during short-term exposure to various salt concentrations (0, 50, 100 or 200 mM NaCl) was emphasized. Observed morphological and histological changes in roots were species specific, and were dependent on salinity level. Although C. spicatum appears to be more tolerant to salt stress, both species employed similar strategies in response to elevated salinity to different extents, and displayed effective OA mechanisms. Under low and moderate salinity, inorganic cations were the major contributors to OA in roots of both species, followed by soluble sugars, while the relative contribution of proline (Pro) and free amino acids was insignificant. Osmotic adjustment under severe stress appears to be mediated by increased accumulation of organic compounds. The analysis of the intraspecies variability in salt response of C. spicatum and C. maritimum roots enabled the identification of some organic compounds which could be used as potential biochemical markers in screening for salt tolerance, including Pro in C. spicatum, and trehalose and polyols in C. maritimum.     

Cathepsin-L influences the expression of extracellular matrix in lymphoid organs and plays a role in the regulation of thymic output and of peripheral T cell number

Nackt mice, which are deficient in cathepsin-L (CTSL), show an early impairment during positive selection in the context of class II MHC molecules and as a consequence, the percentage and absolute number of CD4(+) thymocytes are significantly decreased. In this study, we show that lymph nodes from nackt mice are hypertrophied, showing normal absolute numbers of CD4(+) T cells and marked increases in the number of CD8(+) T lymphocytes. Basal proliferative levels are increased in the CD4(+) but not in the CD8(+) population. Lymph node T cells show increases in the expression of alpha(5), alpha(6), and beta(1) integrin chains. These alterations correlate with increases in the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) components in lymph nodes. Interestingly, laminin, fibronectin, and collagen I and IV are markedly decreased in nackt thymus which shows an augmented output of CD8(+) cells. These results demonstrate that a mutation in the Ctsl gene influences the levels of ECM components in lymphoid organs, the thymic output, and the number of T cells in the periphery. They further raise the possibility that, by regulating the level of expression of ECM components in lymphoid organs, CTSL is able to broadly affect the immune system.