During the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus patients with compromised immune systems may be particularly vulnerable. Aside from known causes of immunocompromised states one cause which may have not received due attention is consumption of adulterated recreational drugs. Levamisole-adulterated cocaine poses a particular concern given that documented risk of agranulocytosis and severe neutropenia that may put those exposed at risk of bacterial superinfections and other complications as well as potentially increasing exposure. While oustanding questions remain these risks may warrant inclusion into patient counseling activities by clinicians.Despite strict measures taken by many countries, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to be an issue of global concern. Currently, there are no clinically proven pharmacotherapies for coronavirus disease 2019, despite promising initial results obtained from drugs such as azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine. Therefore, the repurposing of clinically approved drugs for use against SARS-CoV-2 has become a viable strategy. Here, we searched for drugs that target SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease (3CLpro) and viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) by in silico screening of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved drug library. Well-tolerated and widely used drugs were selected for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to evaluate drug-protein interactions and their persistence under physiological conditions. Tetracycline, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, dutasteride, nelfinavir, and paliperidone formed stable interactions with 3CLpro based on MD simulation results. Similar analysis with RdRp showed that eltrombopag, tipranavir, ergotamine, and conivaptan bound to the enzyme with high binding free energies. Docking results suggest that ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, bromocriptine, dutasteride, conivaptan, paliperidone, and tipranavir can bind to both enzymes with high affinity. As these drugs are well tolerated, cost-effective, and widely used, our study suggests that they could potentially to be used in clinical trials for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
  This study designed a pilot elective course to augment geriatric education in undergraduate and medical students, and secondarily to investigate an alternative individual cognitive stimulation therapy (iCST) platform.
 
  Student participants (SPs) were recruited over five semesters to create and deliver iCST sessions to geriatric participants (GPs) for 10weeks. Likert scale survey items and open-ended questions were used to evaluate the success of the SPs. Pre- and post-Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) exam and Quality of Life in Alzheimer's disease (QOL-AD) scores were obtained and a paired t-test determined whether the novel iCST model significantly improved GPs' cognition and/or quality of life.
 
  Thirty SPs and 10 GPs successfully completed the pilot course and iCST intervention. Ninety-three percent of all SPs rated the course positively and 100% felt the course was relevant to their future careers. The iCST model also yielded positive results, including a 3.8-point increase in quality of life for the GP, as measured by the QOL-AD (
  =.01). SLUMS scores increased by 1.3-points, although failing to reach statistical significance (
  =.25).
 
  This pilot has shown success in exposing students to geriatric-specific education and introducing an alternative iCST platform.
 This pilot has shown success in exposing students to geriatric-specific education and introducing an alternative iCST platform.Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a form of respiratory failure in human. The number of deaths caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection inducing this severe pneumonia (ARDS) is relatively high. In fact, COVID-19 might get worsen in ARDS and provoke respiratory failure. A better understood of ARDS key features and the pathophysiological injuries of the pulmonary parenchyma are linked to lessons learned from previous severe diseases associated previous coronaviruses outbreaks (especially SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV) and more the ongoing SARS-CoV-2. The ARDS mechanism includes a diffuse alveolar damage associated disruption of alveolar capillary membrane, pulmonary edema, damaged endothelium and increased permeability. A diffuse inflammation, with acute onset, on the lung tissue accompanied by release of biochemical signal and inflammatory mediators (TNFα, IL-1 and IL-6) leading to hypoxemia, low PaO2/FiO2 ratio and the chest radiological expression of bilateral infiltrates in ARDS. The ongoing outbreak could lead to a better understood of ARDS pathophysiology and prognostic. An overview is also highlighted about the seven coronaviruses proved to infect human especially those having ability to cause severe disease SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we focused on the major pathological mechanisms leading to the ARDS development as a result of viral infection, severe COVID-19 worsening. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.Aim To evaluate the impact of a nanostructured surface created on β-titanium alloy, Ti-36Nb-6Ta, on the growth and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. Materials & methods The nanotubes, with average diameters 18, 36 and 46 nm, were prepared by anodic oxidation. Morphology, hydrophilicity and mechanical properties of the nanotube layers were characterized. The biocompatibility and osteogenic potential of the nanostructured surfaces were established using various in vitro assays, scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. Results The nanotubes lowered elastic modulus close to that of bone, positively influenced cell adhesion, improved ALP activity, synthesis of type I collagen and osteocalcin expression, but diminished early cell proliferation.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/pf-07104091.html  Conclusion Nanostructured Ti-36Nb-6Ta with nanotube diameters 36 nm was the most promising material for bone implantation.With growing attention to adjudication of campus sexual assault cases, more is known regarding students' views of sexual assault, but little the literature focuses on how students perceive "justice" in terms of assigning sanctions or guilt/responsibility for such cases. The present study focused on understanding whether college students' preformed attitudes and beliefs were associated with the severity of sanctions they applied across a range of sexual assault cases as well as their assignments of guilt and responsibility to the parties involved. To determine students' attitudes and beliefs mediating effects on sanction choices, five scales (i.e., rape myth acceptance, downplaying the severity of rape, sexism, just world beliefs, and right-wing authoritarianism) were adapted and used for this project. College students (n = 846) responded to one of four versions of a randomly distributed survey each containing eight vignettes varied to represent levels of 14 factors employed because of their relevance to campus sexual assault cases.