We report a case of probable consecutive i.v. administration of metallic mercury.

ObjectivesThe SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is characterized by substantial changes in the antigenic structure of the Spike (S) protein. Therefore, antibodies induced by primary Omicron infection lack neutralizing activity against earlier variants. In this study, we analyzed whether these antigenic changes impact the sensitivity of commercial anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays. MethodsSera from 37 unvaccinated, convalescent individuals after primary Omicron infection were tested with a panel of 20 commercial anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays. As controls, we used samples from 43 individuals after primary infection with the SARS-CoV-2 ancestral wildtype strain. In addition, variant-specific live-virus neutralization assays were used as a reference for the presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in the samples. Results Notably, in Omicron convalescents, there was a statistically significant reduction in the sensitivity of all antibody assays containing S or its receptor-binding-domain (RBD) as antigens. Furthermore, antibody levels quantified by these assays displayed a weaker correlation with Omicron-specific neutralizing antibody titers than with those against the wildtype. In contrast, the sensitivity of nucleocapsid-protein-specific immunoassays was similar in wildtype and Omicron-infected subjects. ConclusionsIn summary, the antigenic changes in the Omicron S lead to reduced detection rates in commercial S- and RBD-specific antibody assays, impairing their diagnostic performance.

Schweitsguth et J .-A. Lepesant pour les fructueuses discussions sur les thèmes évo qués dans cet article. Note Au moment où cet article était soumis, une revue discutant des interactions entre récepteurs hormonaux nucléaires chez la drosophile est parue [24]. Dans cette revue , G. Richards (LGME, Strasbourg, France) propose que la fo rmation d'hétérodimères entre divers récepteurs serait un moyen de moduler dans le temps la cascade régulatrice de réponse à l'hormone. H. Thomas et al. ont tout récemment publié des résultats sur la fo r mation d'hétérodimères impliquant les protéines Ultraspiracle et EcR qui corro borent ceux discutés ici et complètent le tableau par la démonstration de la fo rma tion d'un hétérodimère entre la protéine EcR et le récepteur de mammifère RXR [25].

No abstract

Therapy and the handling of dyspnea in the last period of one's life is described and discussed from a case report. A patient with lung cancer and a distinct chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is presented. His coping with increasing dyspnea and the therapeutic strategies are described. Problems with the side effects of therapy and coping strategies are dealt with, too.