Treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia with low-dose radiotherapy plus standard of care versus standard of care alone in frail patients : The SEOR-GICOR IPACOVID comparative cohort trial

PURPOSE

To assess the efficacy of lung low-dose radiotherapy (LD-RT) in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ambispective study with two cohorts to compare treatment with standard of care (SoC) plus a single dose of 0.5 Gy to the whole thorax (experimental prospective cohort) with SoC alone (control retrospective cohort) for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia not candidates for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) for mechanical ventilation.

RESULTS

Fifty patients treated with LD-RT were compared with 50 matched controls. Mean age was 85 years in both groups. An increase in arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (PAFI) in the experimental LD-RT-treated group compared to the control group could not be found at 48 h after LD-RT, which was the primary endpoint of the study. However, PAFI values significantly improved after 1 month (473 vs. 302 mm Hg; p < 0.0001). Pulse oxymetric saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen (SAFI) values were also significantly higher in LD-RT-treated patients than in control patients at 1 week (405 vs. 334 mm Hg; p = 0.0157) and 1 month after LD-RT (462 vs. 326 mm Hg; p < 0.0001). All other timepoint measurements of the respiratory parameters were similar across groups. Patients in the experimental group were discharged from the hospital significantly earlier (23 vs. 31 days; p = 0.047). Fifteen and 26 patients died due to COVID-19 pneumonia in the experimental and control cohorts, respectively (30% vs. 48%; p = 0.1). LD-RT was associated with a decreased odds ratio (OR) for 1‑month COVID-19 mortality (OR = 0.302 [0.106-0.859]; p = 0.025) when adjusted for potentially confounding factors. Overall survival was significantly prolonged in the LD-RT group compared to the control group (log-rank p = 0.027). No adverse events related to radiation treatment were observed.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of frail patients with COVID-19 pneumonia with SoC plus single-dose LD-RT of 0.5 Gy improved respiratory parameters, reduced the period of hospitalization, decreased the rate of 1‑month mortality, and prolonged actuarial overall survival compared to SoC alone.

Succession of carrion fauna in the arid region of San Juan Province, Argentina and its forensic relevance

The succession of carrion fauna and the decomposition stages were studied in the arid environment of San Juan Province, Argentina (31°32'34.7″ S; 68°34'39.4″ W). Two pig carcasses (Sus scrofa) were placed in wire mesh cages, 100 m apart from each other. Each carcass was surrounded by pitfall traps, and a modified Malaise trap was placed above. Daily samplings were carried out to collect the insects present in the carcasses and the traps, and body and environmental temperature were measured. The main colonizer species was Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) and its larvae were dominant over other Diptera. The first adult blowflies emerged at 8.9 days. The time to reach the remains stage was 8 days shorter than for other South American sites. We recorded the early arrival of adult Dermestes maculates De Geer and Dermestes ater De Geer 2 days after the beginning of the assay, and larvae of these species were recorded 4 days after. We determined a 1.5-day error in the postmortem interval estimation using the temperatures measured in the assay and those recorded by the nearest meteorological station.

Asynchronic steroid activity of Leydig and Sertoli cells related to spermatogenic and testosterone cycle in Phymaturus antofagastensis

The severe environments where Phymaturus lizards inhabit in the Andes highlands and in Patagonia, Argentina, impose restrictions on their reproduction, offering a framework for the development of life history strategies to overcome hard weather conditions. Among them, prolonged female cycles, asynchrony between sexes in receptivity, and sperm storage in males, were described. Asynchrony in the reproductive timing between males and females is a consequence of different energy requirements for gametogenesis, and often imply the existence of cellular mechanisms to enhance fertilization, such as the asynchronic steroid synthesis between testicular compartments, allowing gametogenesis independently of mating. In the present study ultrastructural and hormone assays were combined for the first time in liolaemids. Specifically, morphological features of steroid activity in Leydig and Sertoli cells, and serum testosterone concentrations have been studied in the lizard Phymaturus antofagastensis. Leydig and Sertoli cells presented morphological features characteristic of steroid synthesis during the spermatogenesis, and evident asynchronic steroid production between testicular compartments. Active Sertoli cells and inactive Leydig cells were observed in spring and autumn, while in mid-summer their steroid activity was synchronic in coincidence with maximal abundance of spermatozoa in epididymis. Serum testosterone concentration was at its maximum in mid-summer (126-230 ng ml(-1)), and minimum in late spring (4-24 ng ml(-1)) and early autumn (2-17 ng ml(-1)). In view of these results, P. antofagastensis males show an original approach to adjust their reproductive activity to physiological and environmental constraints at high latitudes and altitudes in the Andean highlands of Argentina.

Electrochemical incineration of vinasse in filter-press-type FM01-LC reactor using 3D BDD electrode

This work shows results obtained in the electrochemical incineration of a synthetic vinasse with initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 75.096 g L(-1) in aqueous media (which resembles vinasse industrial wastewater). Electrolyses in a filter-press-type FM01-LC electrochemical reactor equipped with a three-dimensional (3D) boron doped diamond electrode (BDD) were performed at Reynolds values between 22 <or= Re <or= 109, and a fixed current density of 10 mA cm(-2). The electrochemical incineration achieved up to 97% in vinasse mineralization with current efficiencies that surpass unity and energy consumption of 168 KW-h m(-3), at Re =109. The mineralization of vinasse indicates that such degradation occurs via hydroxyl radicals formed by the oxidation of water on the BDD surface. Experimental data revealed that hydrodynamic conditions slightly influence the vinasse degradation rate and current efficiency, indicating that the oxidation involves a complex pathway.

Estrogen receptors alpha and beta and progesterone receptors in normal bovine ovarian follicles and cystic ovarian disease

The purpose of this study was to determine by immunohistochemistry the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in ovarian follicular structures from cows with cystic ovarian disease (COD) and to compare these with normal ovarian structures. Secondary, tertiary, atretic, and cystic follicles were evaluated. The follicular cysts of animals with COD presented a significantly higher expression of estrogen receptor alpha in all follicular layers than secondary, tertiary, and atretic follicles in both groups (P < .05). The intensity of estrogen receptor beta in the granulosa cell layer was stronger in tertiary than in secondary and atretic follicles in normal animals (P < .05) and in growing and cystic follicles in animals with COD (P < .05). Theca cells were scarcely stained in the 2 groups. Growing follicles and cysts from COD animals were less stained than tertiary follicles from normal animals (P < .05). Differences did not exist between the 2 groups with regard to the progesterone receptor. Ovaries of animals with COD exhibited altered estrogen receptors expression compared with that in normal animals.