Association between chronic pain medications and the severity and mortality of COVID-19 : Study protocol for a case-population study

In patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, common drugs may exacerbate symptoms and negatively impact outcomes. However, the role of chronic medications on COVID-19 effects remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that certain chronic pain medications would influence outcomes in patients with COVID-19.The main aim is to assess the effect of these medications on the course of the disease in COVID-19 patients. Secondary aims are to compare disease severity and outcomes in patients with COVID-19 receiving chronic treatment with analgesics or other medications versus untreated patients and to determine prevalence of chronic pain medications in specific subgroups of hospitalized patients for COVID-19.Multicenter case-population study in 15 care centers for patients ≥18years of age diagnosed and hospitalized with COVID-19. Controls will include patients treated at participating centers for chronic pain during the six-month period prior to March 15th, 2020. Each case will be age- and sex-matched to 10 controls. Patients will be grouped according to disease severity criteria. The primary outcome measures in patients admitted for COVID-19 will be:1.statistical association between chronic pain medication and disease severity;2.association between chronic pain treatment and survival.Secondary outcome measures include:1.prevalence of chronic pain medications in patients with COVID-19 by age and sex;2.prevalence of chronic pain medications in patients with COVID-19 vs controls.Patients and controls will be paired by age, sex, and geographic residence. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals will be calculated to determine the association between each drug and clinical status. Univariate and multivariate analyses will be performed.This is a study protocol. Data is actually being gathered and results are yet not achieved. There is no numerical data presented, so the conclusions cannot be considered solid at this point.Pain medications are likely to influence severity of COVID-19 and patient survival. Identifying those medications that are most closely associated with severe COVID-19 will provide clinicians with valuable data to guide treatment and reduce mortality rates and the long-term sequelae of the disease

Whole genome sequence of Mycobacterium kansasii isolates of the genotype 1 from Brazilian patients with pulmonary disease demonstrates considerable heterogeneity.

Mycobacterium kansasii is an opportunistic pathogen and one of the most commonly encountered species in individuals with lung disease. We here report the complete genome sequence of 12 clinical isolates of M. kansasii from patients with pulmonary disease in Brazil

Testiradan toimintavarmuuden parantaminen

Työntarkoituksena oli parantaa katsastusaseman, sään vaihteluille alttiina olevan, testiradan toimintavarmuutta ja lisätä mittatarkkuutta, sekä toistomahdollisuutta muuttuvista keliolosuhteista huolimatta. Testiradan korjauksen kohteena olevat osat olivat heilahduksenvaimentimien testauslaite ja jarrudynamometri. Työssä käsiteltiin kyseisten mittalaitteiden toimintaperiaatteita, sekä niiden käytöstä aiheutuvaa kulumista. Varsinainen työ oli näiden mittalaitteiden kulumisesta aiheutuneiden mahdollisten mittaustarkkuuteen vaikuttavien tekijöiden poistaminen tai ainakin mittatarkkuuden heikkenemisen minimointi. Lisäksi tavoitteena oli parantaa laitteiden huollettavuutta, sekä pidentää niiden käyttöikää. Parannusten jälkeiseen laitteiston toimivuuteen oltiin tyytyväisiä. Joitain kulumisen mukanaan tuomia mahdollisia puutteita tai uusia parannuskohteita ei korjauksen jälkeen pystytty arvioimaan lyhyestä seurantajaksosta johtuen.The aim of the work was to improve inspection station`s reliability of the test track. It is exposed to variable weather conditions and sometimes in harsh Finnish winter, reliability of measuring and testing brakes and shock absorbers is at stakes. Main goal is to minimize this risk of measuring errors and make testing repeatability higher. Parts of the test track that were repaired were brake dynamometer and shock absorber tester. During this work, basic principles of how these instruments work are explained. Also the most common problems caused by wearing are presented and showed how they can be repaired. Or at least minimize the defect of the wear. Reliability and maintainability should be increased by these repairing’s. After repairs, functionality of the gadgets increased and reliability should come to higher level. Despite lack of time, during following period of surveying the most of the units of measure were just like they should have been after the repairs

Whole genome sequence of Mycobacterium kansasii isolates of the genotype 1 from Brazilian patients with pulmonary disease demonstrates considerable heterogeneity

<div><p>Mycobacterium kansasii is an opportunistic pathogen and one of the most commonly encountered species in individuals with lung disease. We here report the complete genome sequence of 12 clinical isolates of M. kansasii from patients with pulmonary disease in Brazil.</p></div