This study is key to clarifying the epidemiological situation in this highly vulnerable population in Latin America. It highlights the importance of mass testing beyond the symptomatic population to prevent the spread of COVID-19. To describe the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and deaths from opportunistic infections in Guatemala. A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with HIV at a referral clinic (Clinica Familiar Luis Angel García, CFLAG), as well as the disruption of services at a diagnostic laboratory hub (DLH) which provides diagnosis for opportunistic infections to a network of 13 HIV healthcare facilities. Comparative analysis was undertaken using the months March-August from two different time periods (i) pre-COVID-19 (2017-2019); and (ii) during the COVID-19 period (2020). During the COVID-19 period, 7360 HIV tests were performed at Clinica Familiar Luis Angel García, compared with an average of 16,218 tests in the pre-COVID-19 period; a reduction of 54.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 53.8-55.4%],Deaths from opportunistic infections at 90 days were 10.7% higher in 2020 compared with 2019 (27.3% vs 16.6%; P = 0.05). Clinical samples sent to the DLH for diagnosis of opportunistic infections decreased by 43.7% in 2020 (95% CI 41.0-46.2%). The COVID-19 pandemic is having a substantial impact on HIV care in Guatemala. Diagnostic services for HIV have been severely affected and deaths from opportunistic infections have increased. The lessons learnt must guide the introduction of strategies to reduce the impact of the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic is having a substantial impact on HIV care in Guatemala. Diagnostic services for HIV have been severely affected and deaths from opportunistic infections have increased. The lessons learnt must guide the introduction of strategies to reduce the impact of the pandemic. Obesity is a risk factor for surgical site infections (SSI). Based on retrospective comparisons and pharmacology, many orthopedic centers have adopted weight- or body mass index (BMI)-related antibiotic prophylaxis. Double-dose prophylaxis was introduced in March 2017 for patients weighting >80 kg. The period April 2014 to March 2017 ('before') was compared to the period March 2017 to June 2019 ('after') regarding the impact on deep SSIs. A total of 9318 surgeries 'before' were compared to 7455 interventions 'after' the introduction of double-dose prophylaxis. Baseline demographic characteristics (age, sex, BMI, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and duration of surgery) were similar. In the period 'after', 3088 cases (3088/16 773; 18%) received double-dose prophylaxis. Overall, 82 deep SSIs were observed (0.5%). The pathogens were resistant to the standard cefuroxime prophylaxis in 30 cases (30/82; 37%). Excluding these prophylaxis-resistant cases and all of the five hematogenous SSIs, the remaining 47 SSIs (57%) could have been prevented by the preceding prophylaxis. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/crcd2.html Double-dosing of parenteral cefuroxime from 1.5 g to 3.0 g in obese patients did not reduce deep SSIs (hazard ratio 0.7, 95% confidence interval 0.3-1.6). In the direct group comparison among obese patients >80 kg, the double-dose prophylaxis equally failed to alter the SSI risk (3088/16 726 non-infections vs 8/47 SSI despite double-dose prophylaxis; Chi-square test, P = 0.78). In this single-center before-and-after study with almost 17 000 orthopedic surgeries in adult patients, systemic doubling of the perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in obese patients clinically failed to reduce the overall deep SSI risk. In this single-center before-and-after study with almost 17 000 orthopedic surgeries in adult patients, systemic doubling of the perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in obese patients clinically failed to reduce the overall deep SSI risk. People with epilepsy are at heightened risk of sudden death compared to the general population. The leading cause of epilepsy-related premature mortality is a sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). The mechanism of SUDEP remains largely unresolved and the lack of preclinical models to study the potential mechanism underlying SUDEP is a problem. By combining electroencephalographic (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements within a well described LQT1 dog model, we investigated the effect of the proconvulsive compound pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), and its link to the induction of Torsades de Pointes (TdP). Pre-treatment with the potent and selective I blocker JNJ 282 induced a pronounced QT (QTc) prolongation in anaesthetized dogs (Long QT syndrome type 1 or LQT1 group) compared to dogs that were not treated (control group). Subsequent PTZ administration induced spiking on the EEG signal and seizures in both groups, but only R-on-T, salvo and TdP were observed in dogs of the LQT1 group. Our results show that a proconvulsive drug can trigger TdP-like cardiac arrhythmias, in conditions of compromised repolarization in the heart (I blockade). In man, TdP arrythmia's can often lead to ventricular fibrillation (VF) and sudden death. This observation suggests that long QT-intervals (genetic or drug induced) could potentially be one of the risk factors for SUDEP in epileptic patients. Our results show that a proconvulsive drug can trigger TdP-like cardiac arrhythmias, in conditions of compromised repolarization in the heart (Iks blockade). In man, TdP arrythmia's can often lead to ventricular fibrillation (VF) and sudden death. This observation suggests that long QT-intervals (genetic or drug induced) could potentially be one of the risk factors for SUDEP in epileptic patients.In the past years, translational approaches have led to early-stage clinical trials assessing safety and efficacy of tolerance-inducing cell-based treatments in patients. This review aims to determine if tolerance-inducing cell-based therapies, including dendritic cells, regulatory T cells and mesenchymal stem cells, are safe in adult patients who underwent organ transplantation or in those with autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus type 1, Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Immunological and clinical outcomes were reviewed, to provide evidence for proof-of-concept and efficacy. To summarize the current knowledge, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. A total of 8906 records were reviewed by 2 independent assessors and 48 records were included in the final quantitative analysis. The overall frequency of serious adverse events was low 0.018 (95% CI 0.006-0.051). Immunological outcomes could not be assessed quantitatively because of heterogeneity in outcome assessments and description as well as lack of individual data.