The Antiviral Properties of Cyclosporine. Focus on Coronavirus, Hepatitis C Virus, Influenza Virus, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infections.

This review updates current knowledge regarding the risk of viral infections, including COVID-19, in patients treated with cyclosporine. We also shortly refer to bacterial infections and parasitic infestations in patients treated with cyclosporin. Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressive drug, which is widely used in medicine, including in the treatment of autoimmune skin diseases in dermatology, rheumatology, ophthalmology and nephrology, and in organ transplantation. A usual concern associated with immunosuppressive treatment is the potential risk of infections. Interestingly, several data indicate a relatively low risk of infections, especially viral infections, in patients receiving cyclosporine. It was shown that cyclosporine exerts an inhibitory effect on the replication of some viruses, or may have a potentially beneficial effect on the disease course in infections. These include hepatitis C, influenza virus, rotavirus, human immunodeficiency virus and coronavirus infections. Available data indicate that cyclosporine may have a beneficial effect on COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus SARS-COV2.

The Importance of Allelopathic Picocyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. on the Abundance, Biomass Formation, and Structure of Phytoplankton Assemblages in Three Freshwater Lakes.

The contribution of picocyanobacteria to summer phytoplankton blooms, accompanied by an ecological crisis, is a new phenomenon in Europe. This issue requires careful investigation. We studied allelopathic activity of freshwater picocyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. on phytoplankton assemblages from three freshwater lakes. In this study, the allelopathic activity of the Synechococcus sp. on the total abundance, biomass, as well as structure of the phytoplankton assemblages were investigated. Our results indicated that addition of exudates obtained from Synechococcus sp. affected the number of cells and biomass of the phytoplankton communities; the degree of inhibition or stimulation was different for each species, causing a change in the phytoplankton abundance and dominance during the experiment. We observed that some group of organisms (especially cyanobacteria from the genus Aphanothece, Limnothrix, Microcystis, and Synechococcus) showed tolerance for allelopathic compounds produced and released by Synechococcus sp. It is also worth noting that in some samples, Bacillariophyceae (e.g., Amphora pediculus, Navicula pygmaea, and Nitzschia paleacea) were completely eliminated in the experimental treatments, while present in the controls. This work demonstrated that the allelopathic activity exhibited by the Synechococcus sp. is probably one of the major competitive strategies affecting some of the coexisting phytoplankton species in freshwater ecosystems. To our best knowledge this is the first report of the allelopathic activity of Synechococcus sp. in the freshwater reservoirs, and one of the few published works showing allelopathic properties of freshwater picocyanobacteria on coexisting phytoplankton species.

Comparison of Complications and In-Hospital Mortality in Female Patients with Takotsubo Syndrome and ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a clinical condition that mimics acute myocardial infarction (MI). More than 90% patients are women, mainly postmenopausal. Research suggests that up to 5% of women evaluated for a MI actually have TTS and that diagnose may be underestimated. Patients with TTS are generally able to fully recover within a period of days to weeks. However, serious, potentially fatal, complications may occur. METHODS: In 117 consecutive female patients hospitalized with TTS and 117 consecutive female patients with ST-segment elevation MI, we collected data regarding cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities, and complications. We compared all in-hospital complications in both groups and analyzed factors influencing the composite endpoint which was cardiogenic shock and death from any cause. RESULTS: In our study patients with TTS had a lower incidence of serious complications compared to the ST-segment elevation MI group. Moreover, in-hospital mortality was also lower in the TTS group. The factors which influenced cardiogenic shock and death from any cause were: heart rate at admission, diastolic blood pressure at admission, C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration at admission, chest pain at admission, ST-segment depression in the electrocardiography at admission, and ejection fraction at admission. Moreover, patients with exacerbation of chronic disease as the cause of TTS also reached the composite endpoint more often. CONCLUSIONS: Female patients with TTS had more favorable in-hospital prognoses than patients with ST-segment elevation MI. However, serious complications occurred. The factors which influenced the composite endpoint came from readily available data-within the first hour after admission to the hospital.

Simple markers can distinguish Takotsubo cardiomyopathy from ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is a clinical condition mimicking acute myocardial infarction. A specific biomarker for TTC screening is required, but until now, no single biomarker has been established for the early diagnosis of TTC and differentiation from ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In our study we focused on the simple markers that are available in every hospital. METHODS: In 66 consecutive patients (pts) who were hospitalized with TTC and 66 pts with STEMI, cardiac biomarkers, such as NT-proBNP, TnI, CK and CKMB mass were determined during 12h from admission and compared with demographic, clinical and echocardiographic findings. RESULTS: The concentration of NTproBNP was greater in pts with TTC than STEMI (4702pg/ml vs 2138pg/ml). The concentration of TnI and CKMB mass was greater in the STEMI group than in the TTC group (TnI: 2.1ng/ml and CK MB mass: 9.5ng/ml in pts with TTC vs TnI: 19ng/ml and CK MB mass: 73.3ng/ml in pts with STEMI). The NTproBNP/TnI ratio and NTproBNP/CKMB mass ratio were, respectively, 2235.2 and 678.2 in pts with TTC and 81.6 and 27.5 in pts with STEMI (p<0.001). Moreover, the NTproBNP/EF ratio was also statistically significant (110.4 in TTC group and 39.4 in STEMI group). CONCLUSIONS: NTproBNP/TnI, NTproBNP/CKMB mass and NTproBNP/EF ratios can distinguish TTC from STEMI at an early stadium. The most accurate marker is the NTproBNP/TnI ratio.

[Influence of physical effort on the activity of the endothelium concerning patients with chronic cardiac insufficiency]. / Wplyw wysilku fizycznego na czynnosc sródblonka u pacjentów z przewlekla niewydolnoscia serca.

Chronic heart failure is a slowly progressive cardiodepressant process. Systematic physical activity can be an effective tool of preventing and curing cardiac insufficiency. Great significance in the connection between regular physical effort and its cardioprotective effect has the vascular endothelium, secreted pro-inflammatory factors, cytokines and markers ofoxidative stress. Miokins--belonging to the group of cytokines, secretes from muscle fibres under the influence of physical effort plays a substantial role in the improvement of metabolism of skeletal muscles, mobilizing energy resource, and in the growth of muscle mass and angiogenesis. Compensating complex mechanisms including functional and structural changes lead to the processs of reconstruction and increment of cardiac muscle mass, acceleration of the heart rhythm and centralization of blood circulation. The beneficial influence of physical effort on the improvement in the exercise tolerance and quality of life results from influence at autonomous system, neurohormone mechanisms and the muscle metabolism.