Background Chronic alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorder have a tremendous impact on the patient's psychological and physiological health. There is evidence that chronic alcohol consumption influences SARS‐CoV2 infection risk, but so far, the molecular mechanism underlying such an effect is unknown. Methods We generated the expression data of SARS‐CoV2 infection‐relevant genes (Ace2, Tmprss2, and Mas) in different organs in rat models of chronic alcohol exposure and alcohol dependence. Ace2 and Tmprss2 represent the virus entry point, whereas Mas activates the anti‐inflammatory response once the cells are infected. Results Across three different chronic alcohol test conditions, we found a consistent upregulation of Ace2 gene expression in the lung, which has been shown to be the most affected organ in COVID‐19 patients. Other organs such as liver, ileum, kidney, heart, and brain also showed upregulation of Ace2 and Mas gene expression but less consistently across the different animal models, while Tmprss2 expression was unaffected in all conditions. Conclusions We conclude that alcohol‐induced upregulation of Ace2 gene expression can lead to an elevated stochastic probability of virus entry into cells and may thus confer a molecular risk for SARS‐CoV2 infection.

In patients with acute severe hepatic failure the synthesis of clotting factors and inhibitors is considerably diminished. The decrease of clotting factors may be enhanced by liberation of thromboplastic substances from liver cell debris, leading to thrombus formation in the sinusoids and to further cell damage. At the low levels of clotting factors and inhibitors signs of disseminated intravascular coagulation as well as hyperfibrinolysis have been demonstrated. Treatment with heparin to prevent coagulation is insufficient at low levels of antithrombin III (AT III). Therefore, Vogel und Fritsche 1979 suggested the substitution of AT III in these cases.We now report about 3 patients who were admitted to the clinic together with severe signs of liver damage after oral uptake of CCl4 On the day of admission several clotting factors plasminogen and alpha2-antiplasmin were significantly diminished; AT III levels between 25-45% of the norm were found. (Diss. Eckhardt-Klaßnitz). Therefore we started treatment with AT III concentrate from Behringwerke (1000-2000 I.U. daily for 3 to 14 days) and fresh frozen plasma (total volume of 2 1 within the first 3 days).AT III was simultaneously determined by clotting test, a chromogenic substrate test, and immunologically. Hemodialysis was necessary in 2 patients. Unter treatment with AT III and fresh frozen plasma no bleeding tendency occured Though two of the patients showed severe intoxication on admission all could be dismissed with only slight histological signs of liver alterations. Treatment with AT III concentrates, therefore, seems of value in patients with acute yellow liver dystrophy.

The development of hybrid rockets offers excellent opportunities for the practical education of students at universities due to the high safety and relatively low complexity of the rocket propulsion system. During the German educational program Studentische Experimental-Raketen (STERN), students of the Technische Universität Braunschweig obtain the possibility to design and launch a sounding rocket with a hybrid engine. The design of the engine HYDRA 4X (HYbridDemonstrations-RaketenAntrieb) is presented, and the results of the first engine tests are discussed. The results for measured regression rates are compared to the results from the literature. Furthermore, the impact of the lightweight casing material carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) on the hybrid engine mass and flight apogee altitude is examined for rockets with different total impulse classes (10 to 50 kNs). It is shown that the benefit of a lightweight casing material on engine mass decreases with an increasing total impulse. However, a higher gain on apogee altitude, especially for bigger rockets with a comparable high total impulse, is shown.

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