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Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) caused by feline coronavirus (FCoV) is a common dis-ease in cats, fatal if untreated, and no effective treatment is currently legally available. The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and toxicity of the multi-component drug Xraphconn® in vitro and as oral treatment in cats with spontaneous FIP by examining survival rate, development of clinical and laboratory parameters, viral loads, anti-FCoV antibodies, and adverse effects. Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance identified GS-441524 as an active component of Xraphconn®. Eighteen cats with FIP were prospectively followed up while being treated orally for 84 days. Values of key parameters on each examination day were compared to values before treatment initiation using linear mixed-effect models. Xraphconn® displayed high virucidal activity in cell culture. All cats recovered with dramatic improvement of clinical and laboratory parameters and massive reduction in viral loads within the first few days of treatment without serious adverse effects. Oral treatment with Xraphconn® containing GS-441524 was highly effective for FIP without causing serious adverse effects. This drug is an excellent option for the oral treatment of FIP and should be trialed as potential effective treatment option for other severe coronavirus-associated diseases across species.

Reduced bone geometry was explained only in part by reduced height. Bone disease in children with IBD seems to be secondary to muscle wasting, which is already present at diagnosis. With longer disease duration, bone adapts to the lower muscle CSA. Serum albumin concentration is a good marker for muscle wasting and abnormal bone development.

Background and Aims: Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) induces remission in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). We investigated the short-term impact of EEN on bone quality and muscle mass in children with CD. Methods: Ten newly diagnosed CD patients (7 male, 10.6-17.7 years of age) were assessed by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) at the forearm before starting an 8-weeks treatment with EEN, and after 12 and 52 weeks. No steroids or biologicals were applied. Trabecular and cortical bone mineral density, total bone, and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) were measured by pQCT and expressed as age- and sex-specific z-scores; size-dependent CSAs were corrected for low height for age. Wilcoxon rank sum test was applied. Results: Remission at week 12 was achieved in 8 patients; 2 still had mild disease. Initially low trabecular density z-scores improved (+0.3; p = 0.006) at week 12; simultaneously, the increased cortical density z-scores normalized (-0.4; p = 0.027). The low z-score for muscle CSA corrected for height (median -2.5, range -3.49 to -0.97) increased within 12 weeks (+1.0; p = 0.002) with no further improvement thereafter. Conclusions: The results indicate disturbed bone remodeling and severely impaired muscle mass in newly diagnosed CD children. Bone metabolism and muscle mass improved within 3 months after starting EEN with no further normalization thereafter.

BackgroundMalaria has been shown to change blood counts. Recently, a few studies have investigated the alteration of the peripheral blood monocyte-to-lymphocyte count ratio (MLCR) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte count ratio (NLCR) during infection with Plasmodium falciparum. Based on these findings this study investigates the predictive values of blood count alterations during malaria across different sub-populations.MethodsCases and controls admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine from January 2000 through December 2010 were included in this comparative analysis. Blood count values and other variables at admission controlled for age, gender and immune status were statistically investigated.ResultsThe study population comprised 210 malaria patients, infected with P. falciparum (68%), Plasmodium vivax (21%), Plasmodium ovale (7%) and Plasmodium malariae (4%), and 210 controls. A positive correlation of parasite density with NLCR and neutrophil counts, and a negative correlation of parasite density with thrombocyte, leucocyte and lymphocyte counts were found. An interaction with semi-immunity was observed; ratios were significantly different in semi-immune compared to non-immune patients (P <0.001).The MLCR discriminated best between malaria cases and controls (AUC = 0.691; AUC = 0.741 in non-immune travellers), whereas the NLCR better predicted severe malaria, especially in semi-immune patients (AUC = 0.788).ConclusionMalaria causes typical but non-specific alterations of the differential blood count. The predictive value of the ratios was fair but limited. However, these changes were less pronounced in patients with semi-immunity. The ratios might constitute easily applicable surrogate biomarkers for immunity.