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Background: Variable control measures for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infections were adopted among different hospitals and areas. We investigated the burden and patient characteristics of healthcare-associated VRE infections in 2018-2019 and 2020, when multiple preventive measures for COVID-19 were taken., Methods: During the COVID-19 pandemic, mask waring and hand hygiene were enforced in the study hospital. The incidence densities of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), including overall HAIs, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) HAIs, VRE HAIs, and VRE healthcare-associated bloodstream infections (HABSIs), consumption of broad-spectrum antibiotics and hygiene products, demographic characteristics and medical conditions of affected patients, were compared before and after the pandemic., Results: The incidence density of both VRE HAIs and VRE HABSIs did not change statistically significantly, however, the highest in 2020 than that in 2018 and 2019. This was in spite of universal mask waring and increased consumption of 75% alcohol in 2020 and consistent implementation of an antibiotic stewardship program in three observed years. The increased prescriptions of broad-spectrum cephalosporins might partially explain the increase of VRE infection., Conclusion: Increased mask wearing and hand hygiene may not result in the decline in the development of VRE HAIs in the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, and continued monitoring of the dynamics of HAIs remains indispensable., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There was no conflicts of interest in the current study., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread faster due to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, which carry an increased risk of infecting patients with comorbidities, such as breast cancer. However, there are still few reports on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the progression of breast cancer, as well as the factors and mechanisms involved. In the present study, we investigated the impact of SARS-CoV-2 proteins on breast cancer cells (BCC). The results suggested that SARS-CoV-2 M protein induced the mobility, proliferation, stemness and in vivo metastasis of a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line, MDA-MB-231, which are involved in the upregulation of NFκB and STAT3 pathways. In addition, compared to MDA-MB-231 cells, the hormone-dependent breast cancer cell line MCF-7 showed a less response to M protein, with the protein showing no effects of promoting proliferation, stemness, and in vivo metastasis. Of note, coculture with M protein-treated MDA-MB-231 cells significantly induced the migration, proliferation, and stemness of MCF-7 cells, which are involved in the upregulation of genes related to EMT and inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 infection might promote the ability of aggressive BCC to induce the malignant phenotypes of the other non-aggressive BCC. Taken together, these findings suggested an increased risk of poor outcomes in TNBC patients with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which required a long-term follow-up. In addition, the inhibition of NFκB and STAT3 signaling pathways is considered as a promising candidate for the treatment of worsen clinical outcomes in TNBC patients with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokine storm is recognized as one of the factors contributing to organ failures and mortality in patients with COVID-19. Due to chronic inflammation, COVID-19 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) or renal disease (RD) have more severe symptoms and higher mortality. However, the factors that contribute to severe outcomes of COVID-19 patients with DM and RD have received little attention. In an effort to investigate potential treatments for COVID-19, recent research has focused on the immunomodulation functions of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In this study, the correlation between DM and RD and the severity of COVID-19 was examined by a combined approach with a meta-analysis and experimental research. The results of a systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that the odd of mortality in patients with both DM and RD was increased in comparison to those with a single comorbidity. In addition, in the experimental research, the data showed that high glucose and uremic toxins contributed to the induction of cytokine storm in human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cells (Calu-3 cells) in response to SARS-CoV Peptide Pools. Of note, the incorporation of Wharton's jelly MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (WJ-EVs) into SARS-CoV peptide-induced Calu-3 resulted in a significant decrease in nuclear NF-κB p65 and the downregulation of the cytokine storm under high concentrations of glucose and uremic toxins. This clearly suggests the potential for WJ-EVs to reduce cytokine storm reactions in patients with both chronic inflammation diseases and viral infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]