scholarly journals Long-term SARS-CoV-2 RNA Shedding and its Temporal Association to IgG Seropositivity

Author(s):  
Vineet Agarwal ◽  
AJ Venkatakrishnan ◽  
Arjun Puranik ◽  
Christian Kirkup ◽  
Agustin Lopez-Marquez ◽  
...  

Analysis of 851 COVID-19 patients with a SARS-CoV-2-positive PCR at follow-up shows 99 patients remained SARS-CoV-2-positive after four weeks from initial diagnosis. Surprisingly, a majority of these long-term viral RNA shedders were not hospitalized (61 of 99), with variable PCR Crossing point values over the month post diagnosis. For the 851-patient cohort, the mean lower bound of viral RNA shedding was 17.3 days (SD: 7.8), and the mean upper bound of viral RNA shedding from 668 patients transitioning to confirmed PCR-negative status was 22.7 days (SD: 11.8). Among 104 patients with an IgG test result, 90 patients were seropositive to date, with mean upper bound of time to seropositivity from initial diagnosis being 37.8 days (95%CI: 34.3-41.3). Juxtaposing IgG/PCR tests revealed that 14 of 90 patients are non-hospitalized and seropositive yet shed viral RNA. This study emphasizes the need for monitoring viral loads and neutralizing antibody titers in long-term shedders.

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vineet Agarwal ◽  
A. J. Venkatakrishnan ◽  
Arjun Puranik ◽  
Christian Kirkup ◽  
Agustin Lopez-Marquez ◽  
...  

AbstractLongitudinal characterization of SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing from COVID-19 patient’s nasopharynx and its juxtaposition with blood-based IgG-seroconversion diagnostic assays is critical to understanding SARS-CoV-2 infection durations. Here, we retrospectively analyze 851 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients with at least two positive PCR tests and find that 99 of these patients remain SARS-CoV-2-positive after 4 weeks from their initial diagnosis date. For the 851-patient cohort, the mean lower bound of viral RNA shedding was 17.3 days (SD: 7.8), and the mean upper bound of viral RNA shedding from 668 patients transitioning to confirmed PCR-negative status was 22.7 days (SD: 11.8). Among 104 patients with an IgG test result, 90 patients were seropositive to date, with mean upper bound of time to seropositivity from initial diagnosis being 37.8 days (95% CI: 34.3–41.3). Our findings from juxtaposing IgG and PCR tests thus reveal that some SARS-CoV-2-positive patients are non-hospitalized and seropositive, yet actively shed viral RNA (14 of 90 patients). This study emphasizes the need for monitoring viral loads and neutralizing antibody titers in long-term non-hospitalized shedders as a means of characterizing the SARS-CoV-2 infection lifecycle.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chanukya GV ◽  
Aparna Srikantam

In COVID 19 pandemic, first line of defense is effective vaccination program. Because of multiple platforms available for vaccine production we tested relative immunogenicity of two vaccines available in India, Covaxin and Covishield We performed quantitative analysis of neutralizing antibodies to SARS Cov2 spike (receptor binding domain ) protein, from sera of 53 subjects who completed vaccines schedules. There was significantly higher immunogenic response with Covishield as compared to Covaxin and are independent of age. Studies on a large scale with long term follow up are needed to further advance the knowledge in this domain.


2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Koerber ◽  
Alina Priller ◽  
Sarah Yazici ◽  
Tanja Bauer ◽  
Cho-Chin Cheng ◽  
...  

AbstractAnti-viral immunity continuously declines over time after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we characterize the dynamics of anti-viral immunity during long-term follow-up and after BNT162b2 mRNA-vaccination in convalescents after asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Virus-specific and virus-neutralizing antibody titers rapidly declined in convalescents over 9 months after infection, whereas virus-specific cytokine-producing polyfunctional T cells persisted, among which IL-2-producing T cells correlated with virus-neutralizing antibody titers. Among convalescents, 5% of individuals failed to mount long-lasting immunity after infection and showed a delayed response to vaccination compared to 1% of naïve vaccinees, but successfully responded to prime/boost vaccination. During the follow-up period, 8% of convalescents showed a selective increase in virus-neutralizing antibody titers without accompanying increased frequencies of circulating SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells. The same convalescents, however, responded to vaccination with simultaneous increase in antibody and T cell immunity revealing the strength of mRNA-vaccination to increase virus-specific immunity in convalescents.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 549-557
Author(s):  
Malia McAvoy ◽  
Heather J. McCrea ◽  
Vamsidhar Chavakula ◽  
Hoon Choi ◽  
Wenya Linda Bi ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEFew studies describe long-term functional outcomes of pediatric patients who have undergone lumbar microdiscectomy (LMD) because of the rarity of pediatric disc herniation and the short follow-up periods. The authors analyzed risk factors, clinical presentation, complications, and functional outcomes of a single-institution series of LMD patients over a 19-year period.METHODSA retrospective case series was conducted of pediatric LMD patients at a large pediatric academic hospital from 1998 to 2017. The authors examined premorbid risk factors, clinical presentation, physical examination findings, type and duration of conservative management, indications for surgical intervention, complications, and postoperative outcomes.RESULTSOver the 19-year study period, 199 patients underwent LMD at the authors’ institution. The mean age at presentation was 16.0 years (range 12–18 years), and 55.8% were female. Of these patients, 70.9% participated in competitive sports, and among those who did not play sports, 65.0% had a body mass index greater than 25 kg/m2. Prior to surgery, conservative management had failed in 98.0% of the patients. Only 3 patients (1.5%) presented with cauda equina syndrome requiring emergent microdiscectomy. Complications included 4 cases of postoperative CSF leak (2.0%), 1 case of a noted intraoperative CSF leak, and 3 cases of wound infection (1.5%). At the first postoperative follow-up appointment, minimal or no pain was reported by 93.3% of patients. The mean time to return to sports was 9.8 weeks. During a mean follow-up duration of 8.2 years, 72.9% of patients did not present again after routine postoperative appointments. The total risk of reoperation was a rate of 7.5% (3.5% of patients underwent reoperation for the same level; 4.5% underwent adjacent-level decompression, and one patient [0.5%] ultimately underwent a fusion).CONCLUSIONSMicrodiscectomy is a safe and effective treatment for long-term relief of pain and return to daily activities among pediatric patients with symptomatic lumbar disc disease in whom conservative management has failed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
pp. 830-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Franzini ◽  
Giuseppe Messina ◽  
Vincenzo Levi ◽  
Antonio D’Ammando ◽  
Roberto Cordella ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVECentral poststroke neuropathic pain is a debilitating syndrome that is often resistant to medical therapies. Surgical measures include motor cortex stimulation and deep brain stimulation (DBS), which have been used to relieve pain. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the safety and long-term efficacy of DBS of the posterior limb of the internal capsule for relieving central poststroke neuropathic pain and associated spasticity affecting the lower limb.METHODSClinical and surgical data were retrospectively collected and analyzed in all patients who had undergone DBS of the posterior limb of the internal capsule to address central poststroke neuropathic pain refractory to conservative measures. In addition, long-term pain intensity and level of satisfaction gained from stimulation were assessed. Pain was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS). Information on gait improvement was obtained from medical records, neurological examination, and interview.RESULTSFour patients have undergone the procedure since 2001. No mortality or morbidity related to the surgery was recorded. In three patients, stimulation of the posterior limb of the internal capsule resulted in long-term pain relief; in a fourth patient, the procedure failed to produce any long-lasting positive effect. Two patients obtained a reduction in spasticity and improved motor capability. Before surgery, the mean VAS score was 9 (range 8–10). In the immediate postoperative period and within 1 week after the DBS system had been turned on, the mean VAS score was significantly lower at a mean of 3 (range 0–6). After a mean follow-up of 5.88 years, the mean VAS score was still reduced at 5.5 (range 3–8). The mean percentage of long-term pain reduction was 38.13%.CONCLUSIONSThis series suggests that stimulation of the posterior limb of the internal capsule is safe and effective in treating patients with chronic neuropathic pain affecting the lower limb. The procedure may be a more targeted treatment method than motor cortex stimulation or other neuromodulation techniques in the subset of patients whose pain and spasticity are referred to the lower limbs.


1996 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 369-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Henry ◽  
Max Amor ◽  
Rafael Beyar ◽  
Isabelle Henry ◽  
Jean-Marc Porte ◽  
...  

Purpose: To evaluate a new self-expanding nitinol coil stent in stenotic or occluded peripheral arteries. Methods: Seventy-three symptomatic patients (58 men; mean age 67 years) were treated with nitinol stents for lesions in the iliac artery (9 stenoses); superficial femoral artery (SFA) (39 stenoses, 6 occlusions); popliteal artery and tibioperoneal trunk (9 stenoses, 7 occlusions); and 3 bypass grafts. Mean diameter stenosis was 84.4% ± 9.9% (range 75% to 100%), and mean lesion length was 45 ± 23 mm (range 20 to 120 mm). Results: Eighty-eight 40-mm-long stents with diameters between 5 and 8 mm were implanted percutaneously for suboptimal dilation (n = 45); dissection (n = 21); and restenosis (n = 7). All stents but one were implanted successfully; the malpositioned stent was removed, and another stent was successfully deployed. There were 3 (4.1%) failures due to thrombosis at 24 hours. During the mean 16-month follow-up (range to 44 months), 4 restenoses (3 femoral, 1 popliteal) have occurred; 2 were treated with repeat dilation and 2 underwent bypass. Primary and secondary patency rates at 18 months were 87% and 90%, respectively, for all lesions (iliac: 100% for both; femoral: 85% and 88%; popliteal: 87% and 100%). Conclusions: This new nitinol stent seems to be safe and effective with favorable long-term results, even in distal SFA lesions and popliteal arteries. Its flexibility and resistance to external compression allow its placement in tortuous arteries and near joints.


Author(s):  
Quinten G. H. Rikken ◽  
Jari Dahmen ◽  
Sjoerd A. S. Stufkens ◽  
Gino M. M. J. Kerkhoffs

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation (BMS) for the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) at long-term follow-up. Methods A literature search was conducted from the earliest record until March 2021 to identify studies published using the PubMed, EMBASE (Ovid), and Cochrane Library databases. Clinical studies reporting on arthroscopic BMS for OLTs at a minimum of 8-year follow-up were included. The review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Two authors independently conducted the article selection and conducted the quality assessment using the Methodological index for Non-randomized Studies (MINORS). The primary outcome was defined as clinical outcomes consisting of pain scores and patient-reported outcome measures. Secondary outcomes concerned the return to sport rate, reoperation rate, complication rate, and the rate of progression of degenerative changes within the tibiotalar joint as a measure of ankle osteoarthritis. Associated 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated based on the primary and secondary outcome measures. Results Six studies with a total of 323 ankles (310 patients) were included at a mean pooled follow-up of 13.0 (9.5–13.9) years. The mean MINORS score of the included studies was 7.7 out of 16 points (range 6–9), indicating a low to moderate quality. The mean postoperative pooled American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 83.8 (95% CI 83.6–84.1). 78% (95% CI 69.5–86.8) participated in sports (at any level) at final follow-up. Return to preinjury level of sports was not reported. Reoperations were performed in 6.9% (95% CI 4.1–9.7) of ankles and complications related to the BMS procedure were observed in 2% (95% CI 0.4–3.0) of ankles. Progression of degenerative changes was observed in 28% (95% CI 22.3–33.2) of ankles. Conclusion Long-term clinical outcomes following arthroscopic BMS can be considered satisfactory even though one in three patients show progression of degenerative changes from a radiological perspective. These findings indicate that OLTs treated with BMS may be at risk of progressing towards end-stage ankle osteoarthritis over time in light of the incremental cartilage damage cascade. The findings of this study can aid clinicians and patients with the shared decision-making process when considering the long-term outcomes of BMS. Level of evidence Level IV.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
Yong Bok Seo ◽  
You Suk Suh ◽  
Ji In Ryu ◽  
Hwanhee Jang ◽  
Hanseul Oh ◽  
...  

The unprecedented and rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2) has motivated the need for a rapidly producible and scalable vaccine. Here, we developed a synthetic soluble SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) DNA-based vaccine candidate, GX-19. In mice, immunization with GX-19 elicited not only S-specific systemic and pulmonary antibody responses but also Th1-biased T cell responses in a dose-dependent manner. GX-19-vaccinated nonhuman primates seroconverted rapidly and exhibited a detectable neutralizing antibody response as well as multifunctional CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses. Notably, when the immunized nonhuman primates were challenged at 10 weeks after the last vaccination with GX-19, they had reduced viral loads in contrast to non-vaccinated primates as a control. These findings indicate that GX-19 vaccination provides a durable protective immune response and also support further development of GX-19 as a vaccine candidate for SARS-CoV-2.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 681.1-681
Author(s):  
L. Garzanova ◽  
L. P. Ananyeva ◽  
O. Koneva ◽  
O. Desinova ◽  
O. Ovsyannikova ◽  
...  

Background:Rituximab (RTX) is a new option in the treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc) [1]. There is not enough data on changes in the level of autoantibodies and their clinical significance during RTM therapy. There are only a few reports on the higher efficiency of RTX in patients (pts) with SSc positive for anti-topoisomerase-1 antibodies (a-Topo-1), therefore the study of this issue might be interested.Objectives:To compare clinical parameters and B-lymphocytes (B-lymph) level in SSc pts depending on the presence or absence of a-Topo-1 during RTX therapy with prospective long-term follow-up.Methods:This study included 88 pts with SSc. The mean follow-up period was 26,3±10,7 months. The mean age was 47years (17-71), female-73 pts (83%), the diffuse cutaneous subset of the disease had 50 pts (57%). Symptoms of the interstitial lung disease (ILD) were observed in 70 pts (80%). The mean disease duration was 5,9±4,8 years. The cumulative mean dose of RTX was 2,9±1,1 grams. All patients received prednisone at a dose of 11,7±4,4 mg, immunosuppressants received 42% of them. There were 63 pts positive for a-Topo-1 and 25 pts - negative. The pts of the compared groups did not differ in the main demographic and clinical parameters, excepting lung involvement. In a-Topo-1 positive group 55 (87%) pts had ILD and only 15 (60%) – in a-Topo-1-negative group (p=0,02). The results at baseline and at the end of the follow up are presented in the form of mean values and changes in parameters (delta).Results:Considering the entire cohort, an improvement of almost all outcome parameters was found. When a-Topo-1 positive and a-Topo-1-negative pts were analyzed separately, we observed a significantly higher decrease in the activity score, depletion of B-lymph, an increase in forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in a-Topo-1 positive group of pts (table 1).Table 1.Changes of the main outcome parameters depending on the presence of a-Topo-1 on RTX therapy.Parametersa-Topo-1positive ptsa-Topo-1negative ptsPDelta Activity score (EScSG-AI)1,790,90,001Delta Rodnan skin score (mRSS)4,95,2NSDelta B-lymphocytes (absolute count)0,2120,1930,001Delta FVC*, %8,646,460,001Delta DLCO**, %2,860,0320,001*FVC - forced vital capacity % predicted, **DLCO - diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide % predictedThe a-Тopo-1 level decreased from 174,2±50,1 to 148,1±66,1 units/ml (p=0,0009). In this group, a-Тopo-1 became negative in 5 pts (7,9%). The disappearance of a-Topo-1 positivity was accompanied by a more pronounced decrease in mRSS (delta mRSS=7,4) and a higher depletion of B-lymph. There was a higher cumulative dose of RTX (4±1,4grams) in this 5 pts compared with the pts who sustained a-Topo-1 positivity. There was a moderate negative statistically significant correlation between the a-Topo-1 and the total dose of RTX (r=-0,298, p=0,017). A moderate negative statistically significant correlation was found between the a-Topo-1 and FVC (r=-0,322, p=0,009).Conclusion:In our study, the a-Topo-1 level significantly decreased during RTX therapy in Russian pts. The decrease in a-Topo-1 titers correlated with the total dose of RTX and was accompanied by a decrease in mRSS, disease activity index and an increase in FVC and DLCO. A higher efficacy of RTX in the a-Topo-1 positive group with prevalence of ILD was revealed, therefore a-Topo-1 positivity could be considered as a predictor of a better response to RTX therapy.References:[1]Jordan S, et al. Effects and safety of rituximab in systemic sclerosis: an analysis from the European Scleroderma Trial and Research (EUSTAR) group. Ann Rheum Dis.2015;74:1188–94.Doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204522.[2]Ebata S, Yoshizaki A, et.al. Rituximab therapy is more effective than cyclophosphamide therapy for Japanese patients with anti-topoisomerase I-positive systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease. J Dermatol.2019.Nov;46(11):1006-1013.doi:10.1111/1346-8138.15079.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


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