Clinical presentation, microbiological aetiology and disease course in patients with flu-like illness: a post hoc analysis of randomised controlled trial data.

BACKGROUND: There is little evidence about the relationship between aetiology, illness severity, and clinical course of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in primary care. Understanding these associations would aid in the development of effective management strategies for these infections. AIM: To investigate whether clinical presentation and illness course differ between RTIs where a viral pathogen was detected and those where a potential bacterial pathogen was found. DESIGN AND SETTING: Post hoc analysis of data from a pragmatic randomised trial on the effects of oseltamivir in patients with flu-like illness in primary care (n = 3266) in 15 European countries. METHOD: Patient characteristics and their signs and symptoms of disease were registered at baseline. Nasopharyngeal (adults) or nasal and pharyngeal (children) swabs were taken for polymerase chain reaction analysis. Patients were followed up until 28 days after inclusion. Regression models and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to analyse the relationship between aetiology, clinical presentation at baseline, and course of disease including complications. RESULTS: Except for a less prominent congested nose (odds ratio [OR] 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.35 to 0.86) and acute cough (OR 0.42, 95% CI = 0.27 to 0.65) in patients with flu-like illness in whom a possible bacterial pathogen was isolated, there were no clear clinical differences in presentations between those with a possible bacterial aetiology compared with those with a viral aetiology. Also, course of disease and complications were not related to aetiology. CONCLUSION: Given current available microbiological tests and antimicrobial treatments, and outside pandemics such as COVID-19, microbiological testing in primary care patients with flu-like illness seems to have limited value. A wait-and-see policy in most of these patients with flu-like illness seems the best option.

Clinical prediction of laboratory-confirmed influenza in adults with influenza-like illness in primary care. A randomized controlled trial secondary analysis in 15 European countries.

BACKGROUND: Clinical findings do not accurately predict laboratory diagnosis of influenza. Early identification of influenza is considered useful for proper management decisions in primary care. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the diagnostic value of the presence and the severity of symptoms for the diagnosis of laboratory-confirmed influenza infection among adults presenting with influenza-like illness (ILI) in primary care. METHODS: Secondary analysis of patients with ILI who participated in a clinical trial from 2015 to 2018 in 15 European countries. Patients rated signs and symptoms as absent, minor, moderate, or major problem. A nasopharyngeal swab was taken for microbiological identification of influenza and other microorganisms. Models were generated considering (i) the presence of individual symptoms and (ii) the severity rating of symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 2,639 patients aged 18 or older were included in the analysis. The mean age was 41.8 ± 14.7 years, and 1,099 were men (42.1%). Influenza was microbiologically confirmed in 1,337 patients (51.1%). The area under the curve (AUC) of the model for the presence of any of seven symptoms for detecting influenza was 0.66 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65-0.68), whereas the AUC of the symptom severity model, which included eight variables-cough, fever, muscle aches, sweating and/or chills, moderate to severe overall disease, age, abdominal pain, and sore throat-was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.69-0.72). CONCLUSION: Clinical prediction of microbiologically confirmed influenza in adults with ILI is slightly more accurate when based on patient reported symptom severity than when based on the presence or absence of symptoms.

Influenza is usually diagnosed clinically. However, the accuracy of a diagnosis of influenza based on clinical features is limited because symptoms overlap considerably with those caused by other microorganisms. This study examined whether identification of the severity rather than the presence of key signs and symptoms could aid in the diagnosis of influenza, thereby helping clinicians to determine when antiviral agent use is appropriate. The authors used the database of a previous randomized clinical trial on the effectiveness of an antiviral carried out in primary care centers in 15 countries in Europe during three epidemic periods from 2015/2016 to 2017/2018. Participants with influenza symptoms were included and they were asked about the presence and severity of different symptoms during the baseline visit with their doctors and a nasopharyngeal swab was taken for microbiological analysis. Overall, only 51% of the patients aged 18 or older had a confirmed influenza infection. Clinical findings are not particularly useful for confirming or excluding the diagnosis of influenza. However, the results of our study recommend considering how intense the different symptoms are, since key symptoms rated as moderate or severe are slightly better for predicting flu rather than the presence or absence of these symptoms.

Oseltamivir plus usual care versus usual care for influenza-like illness in primary care: an open-label, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Antivirals are infrequently prescribed in European primary care for influenza-like illness, mostly because of perceived ineffectiveness in real world primary care and because individuals who will especially benefit have not been identified in independent trials. We aimed to determine whether adding antiviral treatment to usual primary care for patients with influenza-like illness reduces time to recovery overall and in key subgroups. METHODS: We did an open-label, pragmatic, adaptive, randomised controlled trial of adding oseltamivir to usual care in patients aged 1 year and older presenting with influenza-like illness in primary care. The primary endpoint was time to recovery, defined as return to usual activities, with fever, headache, and muscle ache minor or absent. The trial was designed and powered to assess oseltamivir benefit overall and in 36 prespecified subgroups defined by age, comorbidity, previous symptom duration, and symptom severity, using a Bayesian piece-wise exponential primary analysis model. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN Registry, number ISRCTN 27908921. FINDINGS: Between Jan 15, 2016, and April 12, 2018, we recruited 3266 participants in 15 European countries during three seasonal influenza seasons, allocated 1629 to usual care plus oseltamivir and 1637 to usual care, and ascertained the primary outcome in 1533 (94%) and 1526 (93%). 1590 (52%) of 3059 participants had PCR-confirmed influenza infection. Time to recovery was shorter in participants randomly assigned to oseltamivir (hazard ratio 1·29, 95% Bayesian credible interval [BCrI] 1·20-1·39) overall and in 30 of the 36 prespecified subgroups, with estimated hazard ratios ranging from 1·13 to 1·72. The estimated absolute mean benefit from oseltamivir was 1·02 days (95% [BCrI] 0·74-1·31) overall, and in the prespecified subgroups, ranged from 0·70 (95% BCrI 0·30-1·20) in patients younger than 12 years, with less severe symptoms, no comorbidities, and shorter previous illness duration to 3·20 (95% BCrI 1·00-5·50) in patients aged 65 years or older who had more severe illness, comorbidities, and longer previous illness duration. Regarding harms, an increased burden of vomiting or nausea was observed in the oseltamivir group. INTERPRETATION: Primary care patients with influenza-like illness treated with oseltamivir recovered one day sooner on average than those managed by usual care alone. Older, sicker patients with comorbidities and longer previous symptom duration recovered 2-3 days sooner. FUNDING: European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme.

Triterpenes from the Mushroom Hypholoma lateritium: Isolation, Structure Determination and Investigation in Bdelloid Rotifer Assays.

Twelve compounds (1⁻12) were isolated from the methanol extract of brick cap mushroom (Hypholoma lateritium (Schaeff.) P. Kumm.). The structures of the compounds were elucidated using extensive spectroscopic analyses, including NMR and MS measurements. Lanosta-7,9(11)-diene-12ß,21α-epoxy-2α,3ß,24ß,25-tetraol (1) and 8-hydroxy-13-oxo-9E,11E-octa-decadienoic acid (2) were identified as new natural products, together with ten known compounds, from which 3ß-hydroxyergosta-7,22-diene (4), demethylincisterol A2 (5), cerevisterol (6), 3ß-O-glucopyranosyl-5,8-epidioxyergosta-6,22-diene (7), fasciculol E (9), and uridine (12) were identified in this species for the first time. The isolated triterpenes (1, 3⁻11) were investigated for their toxicity in vivo using bdelloid rotifer assays. Most of the examined steroids in general showed low toxicity, although the effects of the compounds varied in a wider range from the non-toxic lanosta-7,9(11)-diene-12ß,21α-epoxy-2α,3ß,24ß,25-tetraol (1) to the significantly toxic cerevisterol (6), with substantial dependence in some cases on the presence of nutrient in the experimental environment.

Isolation and Structure Determination of Antiproliferative Secondary Metabolites from the Potato Earthball Mushroom, Scleroderma bovista (Agaricomycetes).

Mycochemical examination of a methanol extract of Scleroderma bovista Fr. (Agaricomycetes) led to the isolation of 7 compounds, which were, to our knowledge, identified for the first time in this species. The chemical structures of these compounds were determined through extensive spectroscopic methods (nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry). The fungal metabolites were identified as steroids based on ergostane (compounds 1-4) and lanostane (compounds 6 and 7) skeletons, whereas compound 5 was a ceramide derivative. We evaluated the antiproliferative activity of compounds 4-7 against human cancer cell lines (HeLa, A2780, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-7) using the MTT assay. The lanostane-type derivatives (compounds 6 and 7) and ergosterol peroxide 3-glucoside (compound 4) exerted significant antiproliferative property on 1 or more human cancer cell lines.

Bioactivity-Guided Isolation of Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Metabolites from the Mushroom Tapinella atrotomentosa.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the chloroform extract of Tapinella atrotomentosa led to the isolation of four secondary metabolites 1⁻4. Two of the compounds are lactones­osmundalactone (1) and 5-hydroxy-hex-2-en-4-olide (2)­while 3 and 4 were identified as terphenyl quinones, spiromentins C and B, respectively. The structures of the compounds were established on the basis of NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis. The isolated fungal metabolites were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against several Gram-positive and negative bacteria. In addition, their synergistic effect with cefuroxime against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was also evaluated. Compounds 1⁻3 proved to possess significant antibacterial activity against multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii and extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli. The investigation of the antioxidant effect of the isolated compounds in DPPH and ORAC assays revealed that spiromentins C (3) and B (4) have remarkable antioxidant activity.

Baicalin is a substrate of OATP2B1 and OATP1B3.

The use and significance of baicalin, the main bioactive component found in Radix Scutellaria, have been on the rise due to its interesting pharmacological properties. Baicalin, a low passive permeability compound, is directly absorbed from the upper intestine and its hepatic elimination is dominant. However, interaction but no transport studies have implicated organic anion­transporting polypeptides in its cellular uptake. By using mammalian cells stably expressing the uptake transporters of interest, we are showing that baicalin is a potent substrate of Organic anion­transporting polypeptide 2B1 (OATP2B1) and less potent substrate of OATP1B3. OATP2B1 and OATP1B3 transport baicalin and may play a role in the hepatic uptake of baicalin formed in the intestine.

Investigation of Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Xanthine Oxidase--Inhibitory Activities of Phellinus (Agaricomycetes) Mushroom Species Native to Central Europe.

Ten representative Central European phellinoid Hymenochaetaceae species (Phellinus sensu lato) were selected to examine their potential pharmacological activity. In this study 40 organic (n-hexane, chloroform, 50% methanol) and aqueous extracts with different polarities were analyzed for their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and xanthine oxidase (XO)--inhibitory properties. Fomitiporia robusta, Fuscoporia torulosa, Phellopilus nigrolimitatus, and Porodaedalea chrysoloma showed moderate antibacterial activity; Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300, and Moraxella catarrhalis ATCC 43617 were the strains most susceptible to the examined fungal species. The in vitro antioxidant and XO assays demonstrated that most of the selected species possess remarkable antioxidant and XO-inhibitory activities. The water extracts in general proved to be more active antioxidants than organic extracts. In the case of F. torulosa, Ph. Nigrolimitatus, and P. chrysoloma, the results of DPPH tests correlate well with those obtained by oxygen radical absorbance capacity tests; these mushrooms presented high antioxidant activities in both assays. Future studies involving phellinoid Hymenochaetaceae species are planned, which may furnish novel results in terms of the species' pharmacological activity and the specific compounds responsible for the observed activity.

Effect of sustained low efficient dialysis versus continuous renal replacement therapy on renal recovery after acute kidney injury in the intensive care unit: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Critically ill adults with acute kidney injury (AKI) experience considerable morbidity and mortality. Controversy remains regarding the optimal renal replacement intervention for these patients. Our systematic review aimed to determine the effect(s) of sustained low-efficiency dialysis (SLED) compared with continuous renal replacement (CRRT) therapy on relevant patient outcomes. A systematic search of Medline, Embase, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library was conducted. Identified citations were screened independently in duplicate for relevance, and the methodological quality of included studies was evaluated. Data were extracted on study, patient and intervention characteristics and relevant clinical outcomes. Results were pooled using inverse variance fixed and random effects meta-analysis. A total of 1564 patients from 18 studies were included. Meta-analysis results indicated no statistically significant difference in our primary outcome, overall proportion of renal recovery (risk ratio (RR) 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63-1.20, I2 = 66%). No significant difference was observed for the secondary outcome of time to renal recovery (mean difference 1.33, 95% CI 0.23-2.88, I2 = 0%). Statistically, SLED was marginally favoured over CRRT for the secondary outcome of mortality (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.02-1.43, I2 = 47%); however, this diminished when sensitivity analysis of only randomized controlled trials was conducted (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.00-1.57, I2 = 0%). There appears to be no clear for advantage continuous renal replacement in the hemodynamically unstable patient. Currently, both modalities are safe and effective means of treating AKI in the critically ill adult.

Gymnopeptides A and B, Cyclic Octadecapeptides from the Mushroom Gymnopus fusipes.

Mycochemical study of the mushroom Gymnopus fusipes led to the discovery of two new cyclopeptides. The two compounds, named as gymnopeptides A and B, are unprecedented highly N-methylated cyclic octadecapeptides. Detailed spectroscopic studies, Marfey's analysis, and a preliminary molecular modeling study suggested that both are natural cyclic ß hairpins. The isolated compounds exhibited striking antiproliferative activity on several human cancer cell lines, with nanomolar IC50 values.

Multiple ABC Transporters Efflux Baicalin.

Baicalein, the aglycone formed by hydrolysis of baicalin in the intestine, is well absorbed by passive diffusion but subjected to extensive intestinal glucuronidation. Efflux of baicalin, the low passive permeability glucuronide of baicalein from enterocytes, likely depends on a carrier-mediated transport. The present study was designed to explore potential drug-herb interaction by investigating the inhibitory effect of baicalin on the transport of reporter substrates by transporters and to identify the transporters responsible for the efflux of baicalin from enterocytes and hepatocytes. The interaction of baicalin with specific ABC transporters was studied using membranes from cells overexpressing human BCRP, MDR1, MRP2, MRP3 and MRP4. Baicalin was tested for its potential to inhibit vesicular transport by these transporters. The transport of baicalin by the selected transporters was also investigated. Transport by BCRP, MRP3 and MRP4 was inhibited by baicalin with an IC50 of 3.41 ± 1.83 µM, 14.01 ± 2.51 µM and 14.39 ± 5.69 µM respectively. Inhibition of MDR1 (IC50 = 94.84 ± 31.10 µM) and MRP2 (IC50 = 210.13 ± 110.49 µM) was less potent. MRP2 and BCRP are the apical transporters of baicalin that may mediate luminal efflux in enterocytes and biliary efflux in hepatocytes. The basolateral efflux of baicalin is likely mediated by MRP3 and MRP4 both in enterocytes and hepatocytes. Via inhibition of transport by ABC transporters, baicalin could interfere with the absorption and disposition of drugs.

Unexpected retention behavior of baicalin: Hydrophilic interaction like properties of a reversed-phase column.

The original aim of this study was to develop a method for the determination of baicalin from membrane vesicles. The unconventional chromatographic separation ("inverse gradient elution" on a reversed phase column) was due to a lucky chance, which is detailed and discussed in this study. The validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method is proved to be sensitive, rapid and selective. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Zorbax SB-C8 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, i.d.; 5 µm) with 0.1% formic acid in water and methanol by linear gradient elution. Quantification of baicalin was determined by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using electrospray ionization (ESI). The calibration curve was linear (r = 0.9987) over the concentration range from 1 to 1000 nM. The coefficient of variation and relative error of baicalin for intra- and inter-assay at three quality control (QC) levels were 2.0-10.2% and -6.1 to 6.7%, respectively. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for baicalin was 1 nM (0.446 ng/ml), without preconcentration of the sample. This method was subsequently applied to vesicular transport assays of baicalin in membrane vesicles successfully. The developed method can open up new area of research in the chromatographic separation of flavonoids and their glucuronides.

Antiproliferative Activity of Some Higher Mushrooms from Hungary against Human Cancer Cell Lines.

In the present work, aqueous and organic extracts of 16 Basidiomycetes mushrooms and 1 Ascomycetes mushroom were investigated in vitro for their antiproliferative activity against HeLa (cervix epithelial adenocarcinoma), A431 (skin epidermoid carcinoma), A2780 (ovarian carcinoma), and MCF7 (breast epithelial adenocarcinoma) cells, using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. A total of 68 n-hexane, chloroform, 50% methanol, and water extracts of selected species were screened for their potential cell growth inhibitory activity. Our experiments revealed that 7 of 17 species demonstrated notable antiproliferative activity (at least 50% inhibition of cell proliferation) against one or more cell lines. Kuehneromyces mutabilis, Lactarius quietus, and Lentinellus cochleatus, which exerted the highest activity on cancer cells, are considered valuable species in the perspective of further mycochemical studies.

[Importance of drug interactions with smoking in modern drug research]. / Dohányzás-gyógyszer interakciók jelentosége a korszeru gyógyszerkutatásban.

Drug interaction is a process during which a drug's fate in the body or its pharmacological properties are altered by an influencing factor. The extent of the drug interaction's effect can vary. The interaction could result from the modulation by another drug, food, alcohol, caffeine, narcotics, a drug influencing absorption or smoking. Moreover, transporter interactions with smoking could also have a major impact on many drug's efficacy. Clinically relevant drug interactions with smoking were classified in terms of their effect: pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and transporter interactions. Policyclic aromatic carbohydrates, found in cigarette smoke, have enzyme inducing properties. The interaction affects mainly the hepatic isoenzyme CYP1A2. Interactions caused by smoking have an effect on all drugs being substrates of and therefore metabolised by CYP1A2. Pharmacokinetic alteration can also occur during the absorption, distribution and elimination process. The pharmacodynamic interactions are mainly caused by the effects of nicotine, a cigarette smoke component. Through interactions, smoking could also modify the activity of transporter proteins, altering this way the ADME properties of many drugs. Since smoking is one of the deadliest artefact in the history of human civilisation, identifying drug interactions with smoking is the physician's and pharmacist's major responsibility and task. Moreover, it is necessary to identify the patient's smoking habits during a medical treatment. This review aims to investigate the main types of drug interactions (PK/PD), identify factors influencing the activity of CYP enzymes and transporters, and also summarize the mechanisms of the most important drug interactions with smoking and their clinically relevant consequences (Table II-VI.). Drugs, with effects somehow altered by smoking-interactions, have been studied.

Concurrent hypermethylation of DNMT1, MGMT and EGFR genes in progression of gliomas.

BACKGROUND: Gliomas are the most common neoplasm of the brain. High-grade gliomas often resist treatment even with aggressive surgical resection and adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy. Despite the combined treatment, they frequently recur with the same or higher-grade histology. Genetic instability is commonly associated with inactivation of the normal DNA repair function and tumour suppressor genes as well as activation of oncogenes resulting from alterations of promoter hypermethylation, but the molecular mechanisms of the histological and clinical progression of gliomas are still poorly understood. METHODS: This study involved longitudinal analysis samples of primary and recurrent gliomas to determine whether the progression of low- and high-grade gliomas is associated with the promoter methylation of the DNMT1, MGMT and EGFR genes by PCR-based restriction enzyme assay. Epigenetic inactivation of these three important glioma-associated genes was analyzed in paired biopsy samples from 18 patients with tumour recurrence. RESULTS: The methylation analysis of the CpG sites in the DNA methyltransferase (DNMT1) promoter revealed a total of 6 hypermethylations (6/18), the methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter revealed a total of 10 hypermethylations (10/18) and the epithelial grow factor receptor (EGFR) promoter revealed a total of 12 (12/18) hypermethylations respectively in recurrent gliomas. The results demonstrated that DNMT1 promoter hypermethylation does not occur in low-grade gliomas, it was mainly observed in secondary glioblastomas. Additionally, the MGMT and EGFR promoter was hypermethylated in both low-and high-grade GLs and their corresponding histological transformed GLs. CONCLUSION: This study has provided further evidence that the histological transformation and progression of gliomas may be associated with the inactivation of the EGFR and MGMT genes. It seems that EGFR and MGMT promoter hypermethylations are early events in the clonal evolution of gliomas and this gene inactivation has proved to be stable even in tumour recurrence. However, the DNMT hypermethylation is a late part of glioma progression. VIRTUAL SLIDES: The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1935054011612460.

[The relationship between burnout and religious belief among nuns serving as nurses]. / Apolónôvérek kiégének összefüggése a vallásos hittel.

In this paper the findings of a study designed to assess whether nuns serving as nurses and having definite religious persuasions feel the same degree of burnout in their service of helping patients as non-religious nurses are presented. For this purpose two questionnaires were used, namely the Post-Critical Belief Scale and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Subjects of the study had been working as a nurse for at least 5 years and 188 such subjects were enrolled. The causative factors behind burnout were studied. Only women were included in the study. Statistical analysis has surprisingly shown that the extent of burnout did not increase in direct proportion with the years spent at work and burnout as a dependent variable could be explained by age only to a minimal extent. After this, the influence of another factor, i.e. religious belief, on burnout was studied. However, religious belief cannot be described and quantified with a single numerical value; therefore, three aspects were measured. These aspects included the self-rated degree of religious belief, attendance at religious services and the "Post-Critical Belief Scale". The values based on these aspects showed a linear relationship and were indirectly proportional with burnout. Consequently, religious belief can be regarded as a protective factor against burnout in the present sample. In addition, the extent of burnout was found to be the lowest in the community of nuns living in a religious order, it was higher among nurses working at religious institutions and it was the highest among nurses working at state hospitals. Thus, religious belief has a decisive role in avoiding a burnout.