COVID-19 vaccines and decreased transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

A massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign is underway worldwide. Epidemiological data from studies indicate excellent efficacy and safety profile for COVID-19 vaccines. However, there are few data from studies on the effect of decreasing the probability of infection of vaccinated subjects compared to unvaccinated subjects. In this short communication, we describe some evidence on this important and current topic providing useful personal reflections.

Pharmacological approach for the reduction of inflammatory and prothrombotic hyperactive state in COVID-19 positive patients by acting on complement cascade.

The novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is the viral pathogen responsible for the ongoing global pandemic, COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019). To date, the data recorded indicate 1.62 Mln deaths and 72.8 Mln people infected (WHO situation report Dec 2020). On December 27, the first anti-COVID-19 vaccinations started in Europe. There are no direct antivirals against SARS-CoV-2. Understanding the pathophysiological and inflammatory/immunological processes of SARS-CoV-2 infection is essential to identify new drug therapies. In the most severe COVID-19 cases, an unregulated immunological/inflammatory system results in organ injury that can be fatal to the host in some cases. Pharmacologic approaches to normalize the unregulated inflammatory/immunologic response is an important therapeutic solution. Evidence associates a non-regulation of the "complement system" as one of the causes of generalized inflammation causing multi-organ dysfunction. Serum levels of a complement cascade mediator, factor "C5a", have been found in high concentrations in the blood of COVID-19 patients with severe disease. In this article we discuss the correlation between complement system and COVID-19 infection and pharmacological solutions directed to regulate.

Human papillomavirus infection of the esophagus. A clinicopathologic study with demonstration of papillomavirus antigen by the immunoperoxidase technique.

Papillomaviruses are known to be oncogenic in animals. In humans they are associated with benign squamous tumors (verruca, condylomata acuminata, and papillomas) in a variety of body sites. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the esophagus, however, has not previously been documented. Recent reports of condylomatous changes in esophageal epithelium adjacent to esophageal carcinoma and the sporadic descriptions of esophageal papillomas in the literature for many years, lend credence to the assumption that HPV may affect the squamous mucous membrane of the esophagus. In the current study 75 cases, including 2 papillomas and 73 focal epithelial hyperplasia of the esophagus, were examined for histologic evidence of HPV infection as characterized by the presence of koilocytosis, giant and multinucleated cells, dyskeratosis, hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, papillomatosis, and anisonucleosis. Thirteen of the cases--the 2 papillomas and 11 of the focal epithelial hyperplasias--contained distinctive histologic evidence of HPV infection. The presence of HPV antigens was demonstrated by immunoperoxidase (IMPO) in the 4 of the 13 cases (31%). In the remaining cases the IMPO was equivocal in two and negative in seven.