scholarly journals Transitory Fetal Skin Edema in a Pregnant Patient with a Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Alicia Martínez-Varea ◽  
Julia Desco-Blay ◽  
Sagrario Monfort ◽  
María Hueso-Villanueva ◽  
Alfredo Perales-Marín ◽  
...  

Background. Vertical transmission of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still controversial. Additionally, the consequences of the infection during pregnancy in the offspring also are unknown. Case. A transitory fetal skin edema and polyhydramnios have been demonstrated by ultrasound in a pregnant patient with COVID-19 after a negative RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. The fetal findings presented a spontaneous resolution in utero, and abnormal findings were not found in the newborn. Conclusion. Women who have undergone SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy should receive a subsequent appropriate follow-up in order to clarify the fetal consequences of the novel coronavirus, if any.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Luise Schulte ◽  
José Diego Brito-Sousa ◽  
Marcus Vinicius Guimarães Lacerda ◽  
Luciana Ansaneli Naves ◽  
Eliana Teles de Gois ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Since the novel coronavirus disease outbreak, over 179.7 million people have been infected by SARS-CoV-2 worldwide, including the population living in dengue-endemic regions, particularly Latin America and Southeast Asia, raising concern about the impact of possible co-infections. Methods Thirteen SARS-CoV-2/DENV co-infection cases reported in Midwestern Brazil between April and September of 2020 are described. Information was gathered from hospital medical records regarding the most relevant clinical and laboratory findings, diagnostic process, therapeutic interventions, together with clinician-assessed outcomes and follow-up. Results Of the 13 cases, seven patients presented Acute Undifferentiated Febrile Syndrome and six had pre-existing co-morbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension and hypopituitarism. Two patients were pregnant. The most common symptoms and clinical signs reported at first evaluation were myalgia, fever and dyspnea. In six cases, the initial diagnosis was dengue fever, which delayed the diagnosis of concomitant infections. The most frequently applied therapeutic interventions were antibiotics and analgesics. In total, four patients were hospitalized. None of them were transferred to the intensive care unit or died. Clinical improvement was verified in all patients after a maximum of 21 days. Conclusions The cases reported here highlight the challenges in differential diagnosis and the importance of considering concomitant infections, especially to improve clinical management and possible prevention measures. Failure to consider a SARS-CoV-2/DENV co-infection may impact both individual and community levels, especially in endemic areas.


Open Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 749-753
Author(s):  
Wenyuan Li ◽  
Beibei Huang ◽  
Qiang Shen ◽  
Shouwei Jiang ◽  
Kun Jin ◽  
...  

Abstract In recent months, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a major public health crisis with takeover more than 1 million lives worldwide. The long-lasting existence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has not yet been reported. Herein, we report a case of SARS-CoV-2 infection with intermittent viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive for >4 months after clinical rehabilitation. A 35-year-old male was diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia with fever but without other specific symptoms. The treatment with lopinavir-ritonavir, oxygen inhalation, and other symptomatic supportive treatment facilitated recovery, and the patient was discharged. However, his viral PCR test was continually positive in oropharyngeal swabs for >4 months after that. At the end of June 2020, he was still under quarantine and observation. The contribution of current antivirus therapy might be limited. The prognosis of COVID-19 patients might be irrelevant to the virus status. Thus, further investigation to evaluate the contagiousness of convalescent patients and the mechanism underlying the persistent existence of SARS-CoV-2 after recovery is essential. A new strategy of disease control, especially extending the follow-up period for recovered COVID-19 patients, is necessary to adapt to the current situation of pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Mondeja ◽  
Odalys Valdes ◽  
Sonia Resik ◽  
Ananayla Vizcaino ◽  
Emilio Acosta ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent of COVID-19. This virus has become one of the most dangerous in recent times with a very high rate of transmission. At present, several publications show the typical crown-shape of the novel coronavirus grown in cell cultures. However, an integral ultramicroscopy study done directly from clinical specimens has not been published. Methods Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 12 Cuban individuals, six asymptomatic and RT-PCR negative (negative control) and six others from a COVID-19 symptomatic and RT-PCR positive for SARS CoV-2. Samples were treated with an aldehyde solution and processed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal microscopy (CM) and, atomic force microscopy. Improvement and segmentation of coronavirus images were performed by a novel mathematical image enhancement algorithm. Results The images of the negative control sample showed the characteristic healthy microvilli morphology at the apical region of the nasal epithelial cells. As expected, they do not display virus-like structures. The images of the positive sample showed characteristic coronavirus-like particles and evident destruction of microvilli. In some regions, virions budding through the cell membrane were observed. Microvilli destruction could explain the anosmia reported by some patients. Virus-particles emerging from the cell-surface with a variable size ranging from 80 to 400 nm were observed by SEM. Viral antigen was identified in the apical cells zone by CM. Conclusions The integral microscopy study showed that SARS-CoV-2 has a similar image to SARS-CoV. The application of several high-resolution microscopy techniques to nasopharyngeal samples awaits future use.


F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 584
Author(s):  
Decsa Medika Hertanto ◽  
Henry Sutanto ◽  
Soebagijo Adi

Hypercoagulation is a hallmark of both the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It increases the risk for vascular thrombosis, including peripheral artery diseases. Among others, acute limb ischemia (ALI) is one of most common complications that requires immediate and prompt treatments to reduce morbidity and mortality. However, the complex interplay between COVID-19, T2DM and its complications (e.g., diabetic nephropathy), and ALI creates a great challenge in the management of the disease. Here, we present a case of a 59-year-old diabetic female with progressive pain in her left leg in the last five years, which was significantly intensified following COVID-19 diagnosis. Bluish coloration, numbness and functional impairments were observed during examinations with no palpable pulsation on left posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis arteries. The patient also had diabetic nephropathy (stage III), hypoalbuminemia, anemia and a urinary tract infection that complicated the management of the disease. Due to the excruciating pain and the worsening of the limb conditions, right leg revascularization and left leg amputation were performed at day 14 after admission. Following the surgeries, no more pain was observed and patient was discharged for further follow-up at the outpatient clinic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Dena Lyras

As we begin 2020, Microbiology is dominating the news with the emergence and rapid dissemination of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The impact of COVID-19 on public health, with significant financial, logistical and social repercussions, has quickly become apparent. As microbiologists we have an important role to play during this time because we can use our knowledge, expertise and experience to educate the community around us, and to reduce the panic that results from fear and misinformation. It is also critical that we ensure that racial groups are not stigmatised because of an infectious disease. A co-ordinated global effort is required to tackle this new infectious threat, and we are an important local part of this effort. It is also important to develop strategies that can be deployed when the next threat emerges, as it surely will.


2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (46) ◽  
pp. 15438-15453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha J. Mascuch ◽  
Sara Fakhretaha-Aval ◽  
Jessica C. Bowman ◽  
Minh Thu H. Ma ◽  
Gwendell Thomas ◽  
...  

Widespread testing for the presence of the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals remains vital for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic prior to the advent of an effective treatment. Challenges in testing can be traced to an initial shortage of supplies, expertise, and/or instrumentation necessary to detect the virus by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR), the most robust, sensitive, and specific assay currently available. Here we show that academic biochemistry and molecular biology laboratories equipped with appropriate expertise and infrastructure can replicate commercially available SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test kits and backfill pipeline shortages. The Georgia Tech COVID-19 Test Kit Support Group, composed of faculty, staff, and trainees across the biotechnology quad at Georgia Institute of Technology, synthesized multiplexed primers and probes and formulated a master mix composed of enzymes and proteins produced in-house. Our in-house kit compares favorably with a commercial product used for diagnostic testing. We also developed an environmental testing protocol to readily monitor surfaces for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Our blueprint should be readily reproducible by research teams at other institutions, and our protocols may be modified and adapted to enable SARS-CoV-2 detection in more resource-limited settings.


Heart ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 106 (20) ◽  
pp. 1549-1554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoy Nalin Shah ◽  
Dominik Schlosshan ◽  
Hannah Zelie Ruth McConkey ◽  
Mamta Heena Buch ◽  
Andrew John Marshall ◽  
...  

The established processes for ensuring safe outpatient surveillance of patients with known heart valve disease (HVD), echocardiography for patients referred with new murmurs and timely delivery of surgical or transcatheter treatment for patients with severe disease have all been significantly impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic. This has created a large backlog of work and upstaging of disease with consequent increases in risk and cost of treatment and potential for worse long-term outcomes. As countries emerge from lockdown but with COVID-19 endemic in society, precautions remain that restrict ‘normal’ practice. In this article, we propose a methodology for restructuring services for patients with HVD and provide recommendations pertaining to frequency of follow-up and use of echocardiography at present. It will be almost impossible to practice exactly as we did prior to the pandemic; thus, it is essential to prioritise patients with the greatest clinical need, such as those with symptomatic severe HVD. Local procedural waiting times will need to be considered, in addition to usual clinical characteristics in determining whether patients requiring intervention would be better suited having surgical or transcatheter treatment. We present guidance on the identification of stable patients with HVD that could have follow-up deferred safely and suggest certain patients that could be discharged from follow-up if waiting lists are triaged with appropriate clinical input. Finally, we propose that novel models of working enforced by the pandemic—such as increased use of virtual clinics—should be further developed and evaluated.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 26-33
Author(s):  
Joanna Płużańska ◽  
Kinga Jaguszewska ◽  
Jolanta Binikowska ◽  
Adam Oleś ◽  
Maciej Łukaszewski ◽  
...  

Abstract We present an extraordinary case of congenital enlargement of the right atrium diagnosed at 31 weeks of gestation. This case emphasizes the fact that timing of the detection of this particular cardiac malformation is of capital importance to tract the optimal treatment strategy in order to monitor further progression (in this case accompanying thrombosis) and prevent complications.


Pneumologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-114
Author(s):  
William Suriady ◽  
Andika Chandra Putra ◽  
Wiwien Heru Wiyono ◽  
Mohammad Fahmi Alatas ◽  
Bettia Bermawi ◽  
...  

Abstract The novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a public health emergency of international concern. The first confirmed COVID-19 case in Indonesia was announced on 2 March 2020, and later on, 11,192 confirmed cases were reported as of 3 May. The World Health Organization has stated that performing a real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) specific for SARS-CoV-2 on specimens from the upper and the lower respiratory tracts, especially nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs, is the standard diagnostic procedure for COVID-19. In Indonesia, we also use other diagnostic tests, such as rapid antibody tests specific for SARS-CoV-2. Herein, we report an atypical case of COVID-19 and describe the diagnostic process, the clinical course, with progression to severe pneumonia on Week 3 of illness and the case management. We also try to highlight the possibility of false-negative RT-PCR tests.


Author(s):  
Chiara Vassallo ◽  
Francesca Pupo ◽  
Luca Marri ◽  
Chiara Schiavi ◽  
Francesca Giusti ◽  
...  

Since the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has declared pandemic, the possibility of recurrence of the disease after recovery has become a debated issue. We report a case of an 84-yearsold male patient who was admitted to our hospital for dyspnea and fever. Lab and clinical workout showed that he had COVID-19. After a full recovery of symptoms and a double negative nasopharyngeal swab of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR assay, he was dismissed from the hospital. One month later, he developed again dyspnea and fever with lung involvement. Surprisingly, nasopharyngeal swab of SARS-CoV-2 was positive. Since he denied contacts with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, he probably experienced a reactivation of a persistent infection. The failed eradication of the virus could depend on both virus’ escape mechanisms and dysfunctional immune response. Further studies are needed to confirm the hypothesis of viral reactivation and to identify signs of an incomplete clearance.


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