Clinical Characteristics and Microorganisms Isolated in Community-Acquired Pneumonia in the COVID-19 Period.

Introduction: Community-acquired pneumonia is a leading cause of mortality and hospital admissions. The aetiology remains unknown in 30-65% of the cases. Molecular tests are available for multiple pathogen detection and are under research to improve the causal diagnosis. Methods: We carried out a prospective study to describe the clinical characteristics and aetiology of community-acquired pneumonia during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess the diagnostic effectivity of the microbiological tests, including a molecular test of respiratory pathogens (FilmArray™ bioMérieux). Results: From the 1st of February 2021 until the 31st of March 2022, 225 patients were included. Failure in microorganism identification occurred in approximately 70% of patients. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common isolate. There were 5 cases of viral pneumonia. The tested FilmArray exhibited a low positivity rate of 7% and mainly aided in the diagnosis of viral coinfections. Conclusions: Despite our extensive diagnostic protocol, there is still a low rate of microorganism identification. We have observed a reduction in influenza and other viral pneumoniae during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having a high NEWS2 score on arrival at the emergency department, an active oncohematological disease or chronic neurological conditions and a positive microbiological test result were related to worse outcomes. Further research is needed to determine the role of molecular tests in the microbiological diagnosis of pneumonia.

Vaccines against monkeypox.

The monkeypox virus is a virus that has 90% genomic homology with the human (smallpox), but it is naturally transmitted between different wild animal reservoirs and is considered a zoonosis. Throughout the 20th century, different vaccines based on the vaccinia poxvirus were developed and used for vaccination against smallpox. After the eradication of smallpox, these vaccines were no longer used. Current vaccines against monkeypox virus are classified by the WHO as replicative (ACAM2000), minimally replicative (LC16m8) and non-replicative (MVA-BN), the latter being the one currently used. The 2022 extra-African monkeypox virus epidemic has highlighted the lack of vaccines with proven efficacy and low reactogenicity. It is considered that the use of this vaccine in the current outbreak may play a role in the prevention or attenuation of the disease as pre-exposure prophylaxis in close contacts of confirmed cases.

El virus de la viruela de los monos es un virus que presenta un 90% de homología genómica con el humano (smallpox), pero se trasmite de forma natural entre diferentes reservorios animales salvajes y es considerado una zoonosis. A lo largo del siglo XX se desarrollaron diferentes vacunas basadas en el poxvirus vaccinia que fueron utilizadas para la vacunación frente a la viruela humana. Tras la erradicación de la viruela humana estas vacunas dejaron de utilizarse. Las vacunas actuales frente a la viruela de los monos se clasifican por la OMS como replicativas (ACAM2000), mínimamente replicativas (LC16m8) y no replicativas (MVA-BN), siendo esta última la utilizada en la actualidad. La epidemia extraafricana de viruela de los monos de 2022 ha puesto en evidencia la falta de vacunas de eficacia demostrada y de baja reactogenicidad. Se considera que la utilización de esta vacuna en el brote actual puede desempeñar un papel en la prevención o atenuación de la enfermedad como profilaxis preexposición en contactos estrechos de casos confirmados.

Vacunas frente a la viruela del mono (monkeypox) / Vaccines against monkeypox

El virus de la viruela de los monos es un virus que presenta un 90% de homología genómica con el humano (smallpox), pero se trasmite de forma natural entre diferentes reservorios animales salvajes y es considerado una zoonosis. A lo largo del siglo XX se desarrollaron diferentes vacunas basadas en el poxvirus vaccinia que fueron utilizadas para la vacunación frente a la viruela humana. Tras la erradicación de la viruela humana estas vacunas dejaron de utilizarse. Las vacunas actuales frente a la viruela de los monos se clasifican por la OMS como replicativas (ACAM2000), mínimamente replicativas (LC16m8) y no replicativas (MVA-BN), siendo esta última la utilizada en la actualidad. La epidemia extraafricana de viruela de los monos de 2022ha puesto en evidencia la falta de vacunas de eficacia demostrada y de baja reactogenicidad. Se considera que la utilización de esta vacuna en el brote actual puede desempeñar un papel en la prevención o atenuación de la enfermedad como profilaxis preexposición en contactos estrechos de casos confirmados. (AU)

The monkeypox virus is a virus that has 90% genomic homology with the human (smallpox), but it is naturally transmitted between different wild animal reservoirs and is considered a zoonosis. Throughout the 20th century, different vaccines based on the vaccinia poxvirus were developed and used for vaccination against smallpox. After the eradication of smallpox, these vaccines were no longer used. Current vaccines against monkeypox virus are classified by the WHO as replicative (ACAM2000), minimally replicative (LC16m8) and non-replicative (MVA-BN), the latter being the one currently used. The 2022 extra-African monkeypox virus epidemic has highlighted the lack of vaccines with proven efficacy and low reactogenicity. It is considered that the use of this vaccine in the current outbreak may play a role in the prevention or attenuation of the disease as pre-exposure prophylaxis in close contacts of confirmed cases. (AU)

[Vaccines against monkeypox]. / Vacunas frente a la viruela del mono (monkeypox).

The monkeypox virus is a virus that has 90% genomic homology with the human (smallpox), but it is naturally transmitted between different wild animal reservoirs and is considered a zoonosis. Throughout the 20th century, different vaccines based on the vaccinia poxvirus were developed and used for vaccination against smallpox. After the eradication of smallpox, these vaccines were no longer used. Current vaccines against monkeypox virus are classified by the WHO as replicative (ACAM2000), minimally replicative (LC16m8) and non-replicative (MVA-BN), the latter being the one currently used. The 2022 extra-African monkeypox virus epidemic has highlighted the lack of vaccines with proven efficacy and low reactogenicity. It is considered that the use of this vaccine in the current outbreak may play a role in the prevention or attenuation of the disease as pre-exposure prophylaxis in close contacts of confirmed cases.

EDP-938, un nuevo antiviral con actividad inhibidora frente a la nucleoproteína del virus respiratorio sincitial / EDP-938, a new antiviral with inhibitory activity against the nucleoprotein of the respiratory syncytial virus

La ausencia de una vacuna eficaz frente al virus respiratorio sincitial (VRS) ha determinado el desarrollo de diversos fármacos con capacidad para inhibir o bloquear su actividad replicadora. Los de primera generación, denominados inhibidores de la fusión, se fijan a la proteína F de la superficie viral y evitan la unión y entrada del virus en la célula. Sin embargo su baja eficacia ha determinado el inicio de los estudios con los compuestos de segunda generación capaces de unirse o bloquear la nucleoproteína (N); la mayoría de estos compuestos son análogos de las 1,4-benzodiacepinas. El EDP-938 ha mostrado una elevada eficacia frente al VRS. Los primeros ensayos realizados en humanos han mostrado que este antiviral se absorbe de forma rápida tras su administración oral y presenta una vida media de entre 11-18 horas La administración durante siete días de múltiples dosis orales de hasta 600 mg/día o 300 mg/2 veces al día, no presentaban apenas efectos adversos significativos y disminuía significativamente la carga viral a nivel del tracto respiratorio inferior. (AU)

The absence of an effective vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has led to the development of various drugs with the ability to inhibit or block its replicative activity. The first generation, called fusion inhibitors, bind to the protein on the viral surface and prevent the virus from binding and entering the cell. However, its low efficacy has determined the start of studies with second-generation compounds capable of binding or blocking the nucleoprotein (N); most of these compounds are analogs of 1,4-benzodiazepines. EDP-938 has shown high efficacy against RSV. The first trials in humans have shown that this antiviral is rapidly absorbed after oral administration and has a half-life of between 11-18 hours Administration for seven days of multiple oral doses of up to 600 mg/day or 300 mg/day/twice a day, there were hardly any significant adverse effects and the viral load in the lower respiratory tract decreased significantly. (AU)

Nirmatrelvir más ritonavir (Paxlovid) una potente combinación inhibidora de la proteasa 3CLpro del SARS-CoV-2 / Nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid) a potent SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro protease inhibitor combination

Todos los coronavirus, incluido el SARS-CoV-2, codificandos proteasas necesarias para el procesado de las poliproteínaspp1a y pp1ab. La proteasa principal 3CL (quimiotripsina-like) dalugar a la formación de las proteínas nsp11/16. La proteasa 3CLse ha constituido como una de las posibles dianas terapéuticaspara el desarrollo de fármacos antivirales frente al SARS-CoV-2debido a su secuencia y estructura altamente conservada entretodos los coronavirus. Durante la pandemia del SARS-CoV-1 seidentificó un derivado hidroximetilcetona (PF-00835231) conuna intensa actividad inhibidora frente a la proteasa 3CL. Lasmodificaciones químicas posteriores dieron lugar al derivadoPF-07321332 (nirmatrelvir) que ha mostrado una elevada eficacia antiviral frente al SARS-CoV-2. Los datos de la compañíaindican que es capaz de reducir un 89% el riesgo de hospitalización y fallecimiento de los pacientes infectados con apenasefectos adversos. Su eficacia mejora si se administra por vía oralen las primeras 24-48 horas y la duración del tratamiento se haestablecido entre 3-5 días. La forma comercial lleva asociadael antiviral ritonavir que ha mostrado enlentecer el metabolismo de nirmatrelvir, alargando su vida media. Este antiviral seríaeficaz frente a las actuales y futuras variantes virales, ya quela 3CL no se modifica en ellas. La FDA aprobó este antiviral ennoviembre de 2021 y la EMA está en fase de evaluación final. (AU)

All coronavirus, including SARS-CoV-2, encode two proteases needed for the processing of PP1A and PP1AB polyproteins. The main protease 3CL (chemotripsine-like) gives rise tothe formation of NSP11/16 proteins. The 3CL protease has beenconstituted as one of the possible therapeutic targets for thedevelopment of antiviral drugs against SARS-COV-2 due to itshighly conserved sequence and structure among all coronaviruses. During the SARS-COV-1 pandemic, a hydroxymethyl ketone derivative (PF-00835231) was identified with an intenseinhibitory activity against the 3CL protease. Subsequent chemical modifications gave rise to derivative PF-07321332 (nirmatrelvir) which has shown a high antiviral efficacy againstSARS-COV-2. The company’s data indicate that it is capable ofreducing 89% the risk of hospitalization and death of patientsinfected with hardly adverse effects. Its effectiveness improvesif it is administered orally in the first 24-48 hours and the duration of treatment has been established between 3-5 days. Thecommercial form has been associated with the antiviral ritonavir that has shown the metabolism of nirmatrelvir, lengtheningits average life. This antiviral would be effective against currentand future viral variants, since 3CL is not modified in them. TheFDA approved this antiviral in November 2021 and EMA is inthe final evaluation phase. (AU)

Obtaining the sGAG distribution profile in articular cartilage color images.

The articular cartilage tissue is an essential component of joints as it reduces the friction between the two bones. Its load-bearing properties depend mostly on proteoglycan distribution, which can be analyzed through the study of the presence of sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG). Currently, sGAG distribution in articular cartilage is not completely known; it is calculated by means of laboratory tests that imply the inherent inaccuracy of a manual procedure. This paper presents an easy-to-use desktop software application for obtaining the sGAG distribution profile in tissue. This app uses color images of stained cartilage tissues taken under a microscope, so researchers at the Trinity Centre for Bioengineering (Dublin, Ireland) can understand the qualitative distribution of sGAG with depth in the studied tissues.

Neural networks applied to discriminate botanical origin of honeys.

The aim of this work is develop a tool based on neural networks to predict the botanical origin of honeys using physical and chemical parameters. The managed database consists of 49 honey samples of 2 different classes: monofloral (almond, holm oak, sweet chestnut, eucalyptus, orange, rosemary, lavender, strawberry trees, thyme, heather, sunflower) and multifloral. The moisture content, electrical conductivity, water activity, ashes content, pH, free acidity, colorimetric coordinates in CIELAB space (L(∗), a(∗), b(∗)) and total phenols content of the honey samples were evaluated. Those properties were considered as input variables of the predictive model. The neural network is optimised through several tests with different numbers of neurons in the hidden layer and also with different input variables. The reduced error rates (5%) allow us to conclude that the botanical origin of honey can be reliably and quickly known from the colorimetric information and the electrical conductivity of honey.