Antibody titers and rapid antigen testing in elderly patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia vs. staff of ICU and "Covid-19" wards.

Aim: The majority of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are older individuals. Age and the comorbidities typically associated with it usually go hand in hand with a less favorable course of the disease. We were interested in the antibody response in this particular patient group as well as in the results of rapid antigen testing. Methods: In 30 elderly patients (>75 years), antibody titers (IgA and IgG) against COVID-19 were measured, and rapid antigen testing was determined about 3 weeks after the onset of symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The results were compared with those of a "high-risk" group consisting of "Covid-19" ward regular staff, as well as with "low-risk" staff consisting of members of the intensive care unit (ICU). The antibody titer against SARS-CoV-2 was determined by ELISA (EUROIMMUN™, PerkinElmer, Inc. Company); for rapid antigen testing, we used the SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen test (Roche®). Results: Our investigations demonstrate a robust antibody response in the majority of elderly, comorbid patients about three weeks after the onset of infection. At this timepoint, most of the results of rapid antigen testing were negative. Furthermore, in the group of employees of our clinic ("Covid-19" ward vs. the ICU staff), the prevalence of antibodies was very low and antigen testing was negative in the whole ICU group. Conclusion: Although frequently comorbid, elderly patients are capable of significantly increasing antibodies against COVID-19 about 3 weeks after the onset of infection. Since the viral load can be assumed to have been low at that point, rapid antigen testing was negative in most cases. In the test group of employees of our clinic ("Covid-19" ward vs. the ICU staff), the data demonstrate that - given adequate protective measures - the risk of infection is not higher in a "Covid-19" ward compared to other wards.

Hydroxychloroquine is no miracle cure for covid-19 infection -imaging and clinical course in an elderly female.

The risk for an unfavourable course of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia rises with age and comorbidities. We report the case of an elderly female where the sum of such factors - together with massive findings in the computed tomography of the lung - led us to a therapy with hydroxychloroquine as a compassionate use. The unfavourable outcome demonstrates that - despite the enthusiasm of some authors - hydroxychloroquine is no miracle drug. The worldwide SOLIDARITY trial will help clinicians to assess the potential of the repurposed antimalarial drugs better.

Course of a SARS-COV-2 pneumonia in a middle-aged male patient.

The SARS-CoV-2 infection has recently been declared a pandemic by the WHO. Most fatalities occur in elderly people with comorbidities. However, SARS-CoV-2 pneumonias do also occur in younger patients with no comorbidities or risk factors at all. We report here on one of the "early" cases that occurred in Germany. A 57-year-old man was infected and developed pneumonia after a skiing vacation in Northern Italy. Other members of the travel group also fell ill, but only showed flu-like symptoms. Only a few if any infections originated from the affected person; at this point in time the infection situation in the region could still be grasped. Under supportive measures, the disease developed positively despite impressive radiological findings. The positive course is likely also due to the age of the person affected and the lack of any risk factors. The case does also exemplify that a good health condition does not necessarily protect from acquiring a moderately severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Plant influence on nitrification.

Modern agriculture has promoted the development of high-nitrification systems that are susceptible to major losses of nitrogen through leaching of nitrate and gaseous emissions of nitrogen oxide (NO and N2O), contributing to global warming and depletion of the ozone layer. Leakage of nitrogen from agricultural systems forces increased use of nitrogen fertilizers and causes water pollution and elevated costs of food production. Possible strategies for prevention of these processes involve various agricultural management approaches and use of synthetic inhibitors. Growing plants capable of producing nitrification suppressors could become a potentially superior method of controlling nitrification in the soil. There is a need to investigate the phenomenon of biological nitrification inhibition in arable crop species.