scholarly journals Citizen science initiative points at childhood BCG vaccination as a risk factor for COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose de la Fuente ◽  
Octavio Armas ◽  
Luis Sanchez-Rodriguez ◽  
Christian Gortazar ◽  
Alexander Lukashev
Keyword(s):  
Innate Immunity ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Conclusive Evidence ◽  
Inflammatory Reactions ◽  
Bcg Vaccination ◽  
Reasonable Explanation ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
First Time ◽  
Science Initiative

Current results do not provide conclusive evidence on the effect of BCG vaccination on COVID-19 alone or in combination with other factors. To address this limitation, in this study we used a citizen science initiative on the COVID-19 pandemic to collect data worldwide during October 2-30, 2020 (1,233 individuals) in a structured way for analyzing factors and characteristics of affected individuals in relation to BCG vaccination. For the first time, the results of our study suggested that vaccination with BCG may increase the risk for COVID-19 at certain age, particularly in individuals vaccinated at childhood. A reasonable explanation for this effect is the activation of certain innate immunity mechanisms associated with inflammatory reactions, which should be considered when analyzing the risks associated with this global pandemic. These factors should be considered when analyzing the risks associated with this global pandemic.

scholarly journals Citizen science initiative points at childhood BCG vaccination as a risk factor for COVID‐19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José de la Fuente ◽  
Octavio Armas ◽  
Luis Sánchez‐Rodríguez ◽  
Christian Gortázar ◽  
Alexander N. Lukashev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Bcg Vaccination ◽  
Science Initiative

scholarly journals The clinical value of ficolin-3 gene polymorphism in rheumatic heart disease. An Egyptian adolescents study

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maher H. Gomaa ◽  
Emad Gamil Khidr ◽  
Ahmed Elshafei ◽  
Hala S. Hamza ◽  
Aya M. Fattouh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Innate Immunity ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Gene Polymorphism ◽  
Rheumatic Heart Disease ◽  
Streptococcus Pyogenes ◽  
Gene Polymorphisms ◽  
Clinical Value ◽  
Homozygous Genotype ◽  
First Time ◽  
Rheumatic Heart

Abstract Objective Ficolin-3 is one of the innate immunity molecules that was thought to play a pivotal role in Streptococcus pyogenes autoimmunity and its complications; rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). We aimed to disclose if there is an association between ficolin-3 (FCN3) gene polymorphisms (rs4494157 and rs10794501) and RF with or without RHD for the first time in Egyptian adolescents. Results Serum ficolin-3 level was significantly elevated in patients suffering from RF with and without RHD in comparison with control. Regarding FCN3 gene (rs4494157) polymorphism, a significant correlation was found between the A allele and the susceptibility to RF with or without RHD (OR = 2.93, P = 0.0002 and OR = 2.23, P = 0.008 respectively). Besides, AA homozygous genotype showed a significant association with RHD risk (OR = 3.47, P = 0.026). Patients carrying the A allele (CA + AA) had significantly higher serum ficolin-3 than those carrying the CC genotype (P ˂ 0.0001). While the frequency of (rs10794501) polymorphism revealed no significant differences between the controls and RF patients with or without RHD (OR = 1.43, P = 0.261 and OR = 1.48, P = 0.208 respectively).

THE ANGLO-NORMAN ABBEY CHURCH OF ST ALBANS AND THE AISLELESS NAVE OF ITS CRUCIFORM PREDECESSOR: THE MATERIAL EVIDENCE

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Jill A Franklin
Keyword(s):  
Conclusive Evidence ◽  
Diagnostic Feature ◽  
Anglo Saxon ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Cruciform Structure ◽  
Anglo Norman ◽  
First Time ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Material Evidence ◽  
Solid Walls

Within the Romanesque abbey church at St Albans (Hertfordshire), the vestiges of an earlier structure have been identified for the first time. A hitherto unrecorded feature in the transept, noted by the author in 2017, indicates that, at some stage, the nave lacked its existing arcade piers and instead had solid walls. The implications of this are considerable, calling for a thorough reassessment of the building’s history. For now, it is important to record the primary evidence, so as to make it available for further research. This article aims to provide a concise account of the evidence and a summary of what it might mean. According to the thirteenth-century chronicler, Matthew Paris, the existing church was begun in 1077 and completed in 1088. New evidence indicates, however, that the Romanesque building, with its aisled nave and presbytery, was preceded by a cruciform structure without aisles. The inference is that the existing building contains the fabric of this unaisled predecessor. The obvious conclusion – that it therefore represents the lost Anglo-Saxon abbey church – does not follow without question; as yet, excavation has yielded no conclusive evidence of an earlier church on the site. The critical diagnostic feature presented here for the first time adds substance to the view that the remodelling of unaisled buildings was not uncommon in the post-Conquest period, including large as well as minor churches, as identified long ago at York Minster and, more recently, at Worksop Priory.

scholarly journals Coronavirus Infection and BCG Vaccination: Facts and Possibilities

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 18-24
Author(s):  
B. V. Karalnik ◽  
B. I. Alimbekova ◽  
L. T. Eralieva
Keyword(s):  
Innate Immunity ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Optimal Timing ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Bcg Vaccination ◽  
Outbreak Period ◽  
Vaccine Prophylaxis ◽  
Scientific Facts

Relevance. The relevance of protection against SARS-Cov-19 by means of BCG vaccination is important not only with respect to coronavirus infections. That issue should be considered in light of overall biological and immunological pillars (innate immunity system).Aims. To consider the role of the lipid components and certain vaccines in stimulation of the innate immunity system, in particular, in induction of the heterogenous immune response and protection against various pathogens, including Covid-19, based on analysis of known scientific facts.Conclusions. The relevant database has been analyzed (51 scientific publications), including studies with application of various methods from immunological tests (in vitro and in vivo) to epidemiological trials. The analysis revealed the meaningful potential of heterogenous protection against various infections by means of BCG immunization, and according to some data, measles vaccine capacity. Simultaneously on the basis of performed analysis, the following issues that so far remained unclear have been identified: what is the duration of heterogenous protection; what is the optimal timing for BCG administration as related to the outbreak period of dangerous infection for the sake of decrease of its harm. The analyzed materials of that review substantiate the rationale for further continuation of the scientific studies and possibility for application of already accumulated data in order to protect, primarily the risk groups, against dangerous infections, especially in the timeframe when no relevant vaccines are available. Besides, the conducted review serves as the leverage for expected development of the new preventive medicine dimension – the systemic vaccine prophylaxis.

scholarly journals Aeromedical evacuation of a COVID-19 patient from a zonal hospital: A case report

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 51-54
Author(s):  
S Patnaik ◽  
LK Dash ◽  
G Rajaram ◽  
C Chattophadhayay
Keyword(s):  
Armed Forces ◽  
Aeromedical Evacuation ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
Tertiary Healthcare ◽  
Airborne Rescue ◽  
Spread Of Infection ◽  
Saving Measure ◽  
First Time

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the whole world including many healthcare workers. In this era of ongoing global pandemic, the patient surge for aeromedical evacuation is going to increase. Case Details: A 54-year, male healthcare worker with no known co-morbidities, presented with complains of fever, myalgia, and sore throat at a zonal hospital of Indian Air Force in the northeast part of India. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 related bilateral extensive pneumonia. Despite of standard treatment, his condition deteriorated. An aeromedical evacuation of the patient was carried out to a tertiary healthcare centre at Delhi which involved 4-h of flying time. The Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation (ARPIT) isolation pod was used to minimize the risk of contamination. Discussion: This was the first time that a COVID-19 patient was air evacuated in an isolation pod in Indian Armed Forces to the best of our knowledge. Based on our experience, we recommend that air evacuation of such a patient may be resorted to only as a life saving measure. The use of an isolation pod remains an unsettled issue; whereas, it gives absolute containment to spread of infection, it poses unique challenges in terms of handling the patient in case of an in-flight emergency. Certain modifications in the isolation pod have been recommended.

scholarly journals Two new alien slugs, Krynickillus melanocephalus Kaleniczenko, 1851 and Tandonia kusceri (H. Wagner, 1931), are already widespread in Hungary

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ágnes Turóci ◽  
Zoltán Fehér ◽  
Virág Krízsik ◽  
Barna Páll-Gergely
Keyword(s):  
Social Networking ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Social Networking Service ◽  
First Time

Two slug species (Krynickillus melanocephalus Kaleniczenko, 1851 and Tandonia kusceri (H. Wagner, 1931)) are reported from Hungary for the first time. Identification was supported by anatomical examination in both, and molecular data in the latter species. A citizen science survey applying a Realtime Social Networking Service (RSNS) method using Facebook posts revealed that both species are already widespread in Hungary, i.e. Krynickillus melanocephalus is reported from 14 and Tandonia kusceri from 25 sites. So far, we received no reports on any damage caused by these two slug species. Nevertheless, we treat them as potential horticultural pests requiring further attention.

The Possibility of New Work in the COVID Era

2021 ◽  
Vol 187 ◽  
pp. 69-73
Author(s):  
Coleen Shirin MacPherson
Keyword(s):  
Summer Season ◽  
New Work ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
First Time

This article is written within the middle of the COVID-19 global pandemic and brings to light how SummerWorks Festival re-imagined their programming into a summer season for the first time in light of the national lockdown. Theatre artist, Coleen MacPherson, explores three key areas of innovation that emerged from this moment: the digital playground, the need for ephemerality and the possible futures of performance.

How fishing cats Prionailurus viverrinus Bennett, 1833 fish: describing a felid’s strategy to hunt aquatic prey

Mammalia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Divyajyoti Ganguly ◽  
Tiasa Adhya
Keyword(s):  
Camera Trap ◽  
Shallow Waters ◽  
Active Mode ◽  
Video Clips ◽  
Participatory Science ◽  
Hunting Success ◽  
To Come ◽  
First Time ◽  
Hunting Strategy ◽  
Science Initiative

Abstract The fishing cat’s persistence in a ‘semi-aquatic niche’ suggests the evolution of a successful hunting strategy. We describe it for the first time by analysing 197 camera-trap video-clips, collected from a participatory-science initiative, within an ethogram framework. The cats spent ∼52% of the time sitting and waiting for prey (fishes) to come nearer and took limited attempts to hunt (3.89%) in deeper waters (in which the upper portions of the cat’s body were submerged), where its hunting success was found to be 42.86%. In shallow waters, it adopted a predominantly active mode of hunting (∼96%) to flush out prey.

A First-Time Leader in the Time of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. 409-422
Author(s):  
Joshua Mims
Keyword(s):  
Historically Black ◽  
White Male ◽  
Academic Program ◽  
Black College ◽  
First Year ◽  
Historically Black College ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The World ◽  
First Time

In this case study, a faculty member at a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) shares their story of working as a white male in an all-Black college from first hire, to leaving, to returning in order to lead their former academic program. During their first year of leadership the author faced personal tragedy, professional promotion, strained relationships with colleagues, and finally, a global pandemic that changed the world. For those interested in the experiences of a first-time leader, this is a unique case study.

scholarly journals Skin Manifestations Associated with COVID-19: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

Dermatology ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Genovese ◽  
Chiara Moltrasio ◽  
Emilio Berti ◽  
Angelo Valerio Marzano
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Cutaneous Manifestations ◽  
Skin Manifestations ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Morbilliform Rash ◽  
First Time ◽  
Polymorphic Nature

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is an ongoing global pandemic caused by the “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2” (SARS-CoV-2), which was isolated for the first time in Wuhan (China) in December 2019. Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, dyspnea and hypogeusia/hyposmia. Among extrapulmonary signs associated with COVID-19, dermatological manifestations have been increasingly reported in the last few months. <b><i>Summary:</i></b> The polymorphic nature of COVID-19-associated cutaneous manifestations led our group to propose a classification, which distinguishes the following six main clinical patterns: (i) urticarial rash, (ii) confluent erythematous/maculopapular/morbilliform rash, (iii) papulovesicular exanthem, (iv) chilblain-like acral pattern, (v) livedo reticularis/racemosa-like pattern, (vi) purpuric “vasculitic” pattern. This review summarizes the current knowledge on COVID-19-associated cutaneous manifestations, focusing on clinical features and therapeutic management of each category and attempting to give an overview of the hypothesized pathophysiological mechanisms of these conditions.

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