• COVID-19
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COVID-19 vaccination and infection are speculated to increase the activity of immune-mediated diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The aim of this study was to evaluate a short-term risk of relapse after COVID-19 vaccination and COVID-19 infection in patients with these demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system and to determine disease exacerbation risk factors.Data in this retrospective, observational cohort study was collected via the Czech nationwide registry ReMuS from March 1, 2020, to October 30, 2021. We compared the proportion of patients with at least one clinical relapse in the 90 days following vaccination or infection to the 90-day intervals during the year before. For the evaluation of the risk factors of relapse, a comparison between groups with and without relapses after COVID-19 vaccination or infection was made.We identified 1661 vaccinated (90.11% BNT162b2) patients with MS without a history of COVID-19 and 495 unvaccinated patients with MS who experienced COVID-19. A mild increase in the proportion of patients with at least one clinical relapse (-360 to -270 days: 4.46%; -270 to -180: 4.27%; -180 to -90: 3.85%; -90 to 0: 3.79% vs. 0 to +90 days: 5.30%) after vaccination in patients with MS was observed, as well as a rise in the proportion of patients with at least one clinical relapse after COVID-19. Lower age was associated with MS relapse after vaccination or infection. Although there were only 17 vaccinated and eight post-COVID-19 patients with NMOSD, the results were broadly consistent with those of patients with MS.There is a mild increase in the relapse incidence after the COVID-19 vaccination. The risks, however, need to be balanced against the risks of COVID-19 itself, also leading to the rise in relapse rate and particularly to morbidity and mortality.

U vrijeme kad se epidemije zaraznih bolesti događaju sve češće i šire brže i dalje nego ikad, javlja se i veća potreba za održivim proizvodnim pristupom koji bi osigurao pripravu lako i brzo dostupnih terapijskih imunoglobulina što nas je potaknulo na razvoj nove strategije pročišćavanja IgG-a koja je zamišljena kao jednostavna, praktična i pristupačna, a što smo planirali postići redukcijom broja procesnih koraka. Dizajnirali smo je na laboratorijskoj skali s ciljem da ponudimo brzo dostupnu opciju liječenja koja bi popunila prazninu od izbijanja nove zarazne bolesti do razvoja drugih specifičnih terapeutika ili cjepiva. S obzirom na trenutni, još uvijek aktualni pandemijski status COVID-a 19, demonstrirali smo je na anti-SARS-CoV-2 konvalescentnoj plazmi. Iako naša platforma uključuje samo frakcionaciju posredstvom kaprilne kiseline za taloženje ne-imunoglobulinskih proteina, dijafiltraciju za uklanjanje precipitirajućeg agensa i anionsku izmjenu u flow- through modu za fino pročišćavanje, daje kvalitetni IgG produkt bez ikakvih nečistoća i agregata, visokog prinosa, očuvanog neutralizacijskog potencijala i nenarušene distribucije potklasa.

This article aimed to study the return spillover effect of oil and gold on the elasticity of financial markets in a group of countries in the Middle East. The results showed a heterogeneous impact of oil and gold returns on the stock market's elasticity. In contrast, oil returns significantly affected elasticity in most oil-exporting countries. Additionally, the elasticity of financial markets in oil-importing countries showed a slight impact on the movement of oil returns. The impact of oil and gold returns also varied among short, medium, and long-term periods; gold returns were greater for Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. The impact of oil was more in Qatar, Bahrain, and Egypt, whereas the effect of gold and oil was equal in Turkey. Last, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the elasticity of financial markets was significant.

This study aimed at exploring the gender-specific changes in physical activity level (PAL) and associated factors amid the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing, among adolescents. Sixty-three healthy adolescents (14-18 years) were assessed at the baseline (before social distancing imposition) for PAL (BL-PAL) and fitness variables; and next at the follow-up (2 months following social distancing commencement) for PAL (FU-PAL). A significant PAL decline was evidenced for the entire sample (P < .001) that was notably affected by PAL shifts among boys (P < .001) rather than girls (P = .07). Consistently, fitness variables (explosive strength, flexibility, and aerobic endurance) were positively correlated with BL-PAL and FU-PAL for boys and girls, where clearest associations were observed between baseline strength and aerobic endurance with PAL. With remarkable PAL declines among adolescents in challenging situations, like the COVID-19 pandemic, physical literacy is essential to preserve PAL.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a sudden uptake of telemedicine in rheumatology. We analyzed the recent published literature on telemedicine for the diagnosis and management of inflammatory, non-inflammatory and/or autoimmune rheumatic diseases.We performed a registered systematic search (CRD42020202063) for interventional or observational studies published between August 2015 and January 2022. We included studies of telemedicine that reported outcomes (e.g., satisfaction, disease activity, quality of life) in ten or more people with rheumatic disease. Reviewers screened manuscripts, extracted data, and assessed bias.Of the 2,988 potentially eligible studies, 36 reports were included: 27 observational studies, 7 randomized clinical trials, and 2 controlled clinical trials. Studies focused on general rheumatology (n = 18), rheumatoid arthritis (n = 9), gout (n = 3), osteoarthritis (n = 2), unspecified inflammatory arthritis (n = 1), osteoporosis (n = 2), and systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 1). Patient satisfaction with telemedicine was the most common reported outcome (n = 23) with majority of studies demonstrating high levels of satisfaction. Among interventional studies, the effect of telemedicine on the primary outcomes varied, with most finding that telemedicine was as good as usual / in-person care for disease activity control, patient satisfaction, total societal costs, and other patient reported outcomes. Effectiveness and feasibility were high across studies, though most demonstrated a high risk of bias. Meta-analysis was not feasible given the heterogeneity of interventions and outcome instruments utilized.Although the number of studies to date is low, telemedicine may be an effective mode to deliver care for people with rheumatic diseases. Most studies demonstrated limitations due to study design and risk of bias. Randomized clinical studies are needed to determine best uses of telemedicine for the diagnosis and management of rheumatic conditions.

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Uncontrolled overproduction of inflammatory mediators is predominantly observed in patients with severe COVID-19. The excessive immune response gives rise to multiple organ dysfunction. Implementing extracorporeal therapies may be useful in omitting inflammatory mediators and supporting different organ systems. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of hemoperfusion in combination with standard therapy in critically ill COVID-19 patients. <b><i>Method:</i></b> We conducted a single-center, matched control retrospective study on patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients were treated with hemoperfusion in combination with standard therapy (hemoperfusion group) or standard treatment (matched group). Hemoperfusion or hemoperfusion and continuous renal replacement therapies were initiated in the hemoperfusion group. The patients in the matched group were matched one by one with the hemoperfusion group for age, sex, oxygen saturation (SPO2) at the admission, and the frequency of using invasive mechanical ventilation during hospitalization. Two types of hemoperfusion cartridges used in this study were Jafron^© (HA330) and CytoSorb® 300. <b><i>Result:</i></b> A total of 128 COVID-19-confirmed patients were enrolled in this study; 73 patients were allotted to the matched group and 55 patients received hemoperfusion. The median SPO2 at the admission day in the control and hemoperfusion groups was 80% and 75%, respectively (<i>p</i> value = 0.113). The mortality rate was significantly lower in the hemoperfusion group compared to the matched group (67.3% vs. 89%; <i>p</i> value = 0.002). The median length of ICU stay was statistically different in studied groups (median, 12 days for hemoperfusion group vs. 8 days for the matched group; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). The median final SPO2 was statistically higher in the hemoperfusion group than in the matched group, and the median PaCO2 was lower. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Among critically ill COVID-19 patients, based on our study, the use of hemoperfusion may reduce the mortality rate and improve SPO2 and PaCO2.