scholarly journals COVID-19 Severity and Neonatal BCG Vaccination among Young Population in Taiwan

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4303
Author(s):  
Wei-Ju Su ◽  
Chia-Hsuin Chang ◽  
Jiun-Ling Wang ◽  
Shu-Fong Chen ◽  
Chin-Hui Yang
Keyword(s):  
Severe Disease ◽  
Clinical Syndrome ◽  
Vaccination Status ◽  
World Health ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Young Population ◽  
Individual Patient Level ◽  
Bcg Vaccination ◽  
Mild Disease ◽  
Moderate Disease

Background: Data have not been reported to explore the relation between COVID-19 severity and BCG vaccination status at the individual patient level. Methods: Taiwan has a nationwide neonatal BCG vaccination program that was launched in 1965. The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control established a web-based National Immunization Information System (NISS) in 2003 and included all citizens’ BCG vaccination records in NISS for those born after 1985. We identified COVID-19 Taiwanese patients born after 1985 between 21 January and 19 March 2021. Study participants were further classified into ages 4–24 years (birth year 1996–2016) and 25–33 years (birth year 1986–1995). We described their clinical syndrome defined by the World Health Organization and examined the relation between the COVID-19 severity and BCG vaccination status. Results: In the 4–24 age group, among 138 BCG vaccinated individuals, 80.4% were asymptomatic or had mild disease, while 17.4% had moderate disease, 1.5% had severe disease, and 0.7% had acute respiratory distress syndrome but none of them died. In contrast, all 6 BCG unvaccinated individuals in this age group experienced mild illness. In the 25–33 age group, moderate disease occurred in 14.2% and severe disease occurred in 0.9% of the 106 patients without neonatal BCG vaccination records, as compared to 19.2% had moderate disease and none had severe or critical disease of the 78 patients with neonatal BCG vaccination records. Conclusions: Our finding indicated that BCG immunization might not relate to COVID-19 severity in the young population.

Epidemic process of COVID-19 in the Russian Federation: interim results. 2nd report

2021 ◽  
pp. 10-15
Author(s):  
N.Yu. Pshenichnaya ◽  
◽  
I.A. Lizinfeld ◽  
G.Yu. Zhuravlev ◽  
A.A. Ploskireva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Epidemic Process ◽  
Mild Disease ◽  
Household Contacts ◽  
Moderate Disease ◽  
The Russian Federation

Objective. To perform an interim analysis of epidemiological parameters of COVID-19 related to contacts and secondary cases of infection in the Russian Federation. Materials and methods. We analyzed 190,856 primary COVID-19 cases and 146,996 people who had been in contact with them. We used some data of monitoring performed by the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing in January–June 2020. We characterized the foci of infection and people who had contacts with primary COVID-19 cases and secondary cases of infection. Results. Just over half (50.02%) of study participants who had contacts with COVID-19 contacted with primary patients with mild disease, whereas 45.40% of individuals contacted with patients with moderate disease and 4.58% of individuals had contacts with patients with severe disease. Patients with mild COVID-19 interacted with more people, which resulted in a greater number of secondary cases of infection. The highest proportion of both primary COVID-19 patients and people who had contact with COVID-19 was observed in the age group of 41–64 years (44.42% and 44.51%, respectively). Approximately one third of COVID-19 patients and people who had contact with COVID-19 were 18 to 40 years old (30.20% and 34.21% respectively). The proportions of children aged 0–6 years and 7–17 years among COVID-19 patients were 2.70% and 4.02%, respectively; the same proportions among those who had contact with COVID-19 cases were 1.94 and 3.13%, respectively. Household contacts were the most common ways of COVID-19 transmission in all age groups. Patients aged between 40 and 64 years played the most significant role in the transmission of this infection in different foci. Individuals from this age group comprised 42.02% of patients infected in social institutions, 43.40% of those who had household contacts, and 47.70% of those infected at work. Conclusion. Patients with mild and moderate disease aged 18 to 64 years had the highest number of contacts and, therefore, caused the highest number of secondary cases of infection. Household contacts played the most important role in COVID-19 transmission in all age groups. Among people aged 18 to 64 years, COVID-19 transmission at work was also important. In all foci of infection, the majority of patients were in the age group of 40–64 years. Our findings can be used to optimize the preventive measures for COVID-19. Key words: epidemic process, age groups, severity, contacts, COVID-19, Russia, household contacts

scholarly journals BCG Vaccination Status, Age, and Gender as Risk Factors for Leprosy in Endemic Areas in the Brazilian Amazon

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 97-104
Author(s):  
Luana Nepomuceno Gondim Costa Lima ◽  
Jasna Letícia Pinto Paz ◽  
Maria do Perpétuo Socorro Corrêa Amador Silvestre ◽  
Letícia Siqueira Moura ◽  
Ismari Perini Furlaneto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vaccination Status ◽  
World Health ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Bacillus Calmette Guerin ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Bcg Vaccination ◽  
Northern Brazil ◽  
Per Se ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Health Organization

In 2018, 208,619 new cases of leprosy were reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). Of these, 30,957 occurred in the Americas region and 28,660 (92.6% of the total in the Americas) were reported in Brazil. This study aimed to show the reality of the profile of a population in an endemic leprosy area in northern Brazil in relation to age, gender, and bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination status through the collection of data in the field with the evaluation of the study individuals, who were recruited by spontaneous demand. A total of 405 individuals participated in the study, with 100 multibacillary, 57 paucibacillary, and 248 healthy contacts. A relationship was observed between the occurrence of the disease, as well as the multibacillary form with the largest age group. The male gender was associated with leprosy per se, with the multibacillary form and was the largest representative of the group that was not vaccinated once. BCG vaccination was effective both in protecting against leprosy per se and in the multibacillary form. These results are limited by sample size, may not be conclusive, and will need further confirmation in a larger cohort.

scholarly journals Age, gender and BCG vaccination status as risk factors for Leprosy in endemic areas of northern Brazil.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luana Nepomuceno Gondim Costa Lima ◽  
Jasna Letícia Pinto Paz ◽  
Maria do Perpétuo Socorro Corrêa Amador Silvestre ◽  
Letícia Siqueira Moura ◽  
Ismari Perini Furlaneto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Male Gender ◽  
Vaccination Status ◽  
World Health ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Bcg Vaccination ◽  
The World ◽  
Northern Brazil ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background In 2018, 208.619 new cases of the leprosy were reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). Of these, 30.957 occurred in the Americas region and 28.660 (92.6% of the total in the Americas) were reported in Brazil. This study aimed to show the reality of the profile of a population in an endemic leprosy area in northern Brazil in relation to age, gender and BCG (bacilo Calmette-Guérin) vaccination status, through the collection of data in the field with evaluation of the study individuals, recruited by spontaneous demand.Methods 405 individuals participated in the study, being 100 multibacillary, 57 paucibacillary and 248 healthy contacts.Results A relationship was observed between the occurrence of the disease, as well as the multibacillary form with the largest age group. The male gender was associated with leprosy per se, with the multibacillary form and was the largest representative of the group that was not vaccinated once.Conclusion BCG vaccination was effective both in protecting against leprosy per se and in the multibacillary form. These results are limited by sample size, may not be conclusive and will need further confirmation in a larger cohort.

1329 Can One Size Fit All: Is Laparoscopic Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass the Best Bariatric Procedure for Treating Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)?

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Mahendran ◽  
P Ricart ◽  
S Robinson ◽  
A Perry ◽  
M Wadley
Keyword(s):  
Bariatric Surgery ◽  
Gastric Bypass ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Morbidly Obese ◽  
Disease Remission ◽  
Mild Disease ◽  
Moderate Disease ◽  
Remission Rates

Abstract Introduction Bariatric surgery produces superior weight loss and reversal of comorbidities in morbidly obese individuals compared to medical therapy alone. Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) was traditionally considered to prolonged remission of T2DM compared to other procedures such as Laparoscopic Sleeve-Gastrectomy (LSG). But recently published studies seek to disprove this by emphasising on duration and severity of T2DM before surgery rather than the type of procedure. We aim to verify if the severity of T2DM and type of operation (LRYGB Vs LSG) influence remission rates. Method In this retrospective cohort study, 204 patients were diagnosed with T2DM pre-operatively and had undergone either LRYGB or LSG. We used the Individualised Metabolic Surgery Score (IMSS) tool to divide patients into mild, moderate, and severe categories. Results Results showed that of the 204 patients 15% (n = 31) had mild disease, 62%( n = 127) had moderate disease and 23% (n = 46) had severe disease. Remission rates in each category were as follows: Conclusions We agree that patients with longstanding and severe T2DM have low remission rates after bariatric surgery, probably due to diminished beta-cell reserve. It is in contrary to recent publications which recommend LSG over LRYGB in patients with severe disease. This evidence necessitates further prospective studies before deciding which is the best procedure for patients with severe and longstanding T2DM.

scholarly journals High Incidence of Severe Influenza among Individuals over 50 Years of Age

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 1918-1924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna J. X. Zhang ◽  
Kelvin K. W. To ◽  
Herman Tse ◽  
Kwok-Hung Chan ◽  
Kun-Yuan Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Incidence Rate ◽  
Old Age ◽  
H1n1 Virus ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
World Health ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 ◽  
Age Group

ABSTRACTAge-specific epidemiological data on asymptomatic, symptomatic, and severe infections are essential for public health policies on combating influenza. In this study, we incorporated data on microbiologically confirmed infections and seroprevalence to comprehensively describe the epidemiology of pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza. Seroprevalence was determined from 1,795 random serum samples collected in our hospital in January 2007 (before the first wave of the pandemic) and March 2010 (after the second wave). Data on microbiologically confirmed infection and severe cases were obtained from the Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong. Severe cases were most common in the 51- to 60-year-old age group. The microbiologically confirmed incidence rate was highest for children aged ≤10 years and dropped sharply for the adult population (ρ = −1.0;P< 0.01), but the incidence rate for severe disease was highest for the 51- to 60-year-old age group. For the 51- to 60-year-old age group, the seroprevalence was similar to that for the younger age groups, but the proportion of severe cases relative to seroprevalence was significantly higher than that for 11- to 50-year-old age groups. As judged from the percentage of specimens positive for other respiratory viruses compared with that for pandemic H1N1 virus, the impact of symptomatic disease due to pandemic H1N1 virus was higher than that for other respiratory viruses in people aged ≤50 years. In conclusion, the 51- to 60-year-old age group, which had the highest overall incidence and the highest rate of severe disease but is currently not considered by the World Health Organization to be an at-risk group, should be prioritized for influenza vaccination in areas where universal influenza vaccination is not practiced.

scholarly journals The Burden of Laboratory-confirmed Influenza Infection in Lebanon Between 2008 and 2016: A single tertiary care center experience

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aia Assaf-Casals ◽  
Zeina Saleh ◽  
Sarah Khafaja ◽  
Danielle Fayad ◽  
Hady Ezzeddine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Influenza Infection ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
High Rate ◽  
World Health ◽  
Influenza B ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Tertiary Care Center

Abstract BACKGROUND: Influenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Following the 2009 pandemic, there was widened interest in studying influenza burden in all regions. However, since data from the World Health Organization (WHO) Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remain limited, we aimed to contribute to the understanding of influenza burden in Lebanon. METHODS: A retrospective chart review extending over a period of 8 seasons from Jan 1st, 2008 till June 30 th , 2016 at a tertiary care center in Beirut was performed. All cases confirmed to have influenza based on rapid antigen detection or/and polymerase chain reaction on a respiratory sample were included for analysis. Data on epidemiology, clinical presentation, complications, antiviral use and mortality were collected for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1829 cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza were identified. Average annual positivity rate was 14% (positive tests over total requested). Both influenza A and B co-circulated in each season with predominance of influenza A. Influenza virus started circulating in December and peaked in January and February. The age group of 19-50 years accounted for the largest proportion of cases (22.5%) followed by the age group of 5-19 years (18%). Pneumonia was the most common complication reported in 33% of cases. Mortality reached 3.8%. The two extremes of age (<2 years and ≥ 65years) were associated with a more severe course of disease, hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, complications, and mortality rate. Of all the identified cases, 26% were hospitalized. Moderate-to-severe disease was more likely in influenza B cases but no difference in mortality was reported between the two types. Antivirals were prescribed in 68.8% and antibiotics in 41% of cases. There seemed to be an increasing trend in the number of diagnosed and hospitalized cases over the years of the study. CONCLUSION: Patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza at our center had a high rate of hospitalization and mortality. A population based prospective surveillance study is needed to better estimate the burden of Influenza in Lebanon that would help formulate a policy on influenza control.

scholarly journals Defining Antibody Seroprevalence and Duration of Humoral Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Infection and/or Vaccination in a Greek Community

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 407
Author(s):  
Ourania S. Kotsiou ◽  
Dimitrios Papagiannis ◽  
Evangelos C. Fradelos ◽  
Dimitra I. Siachpazidou ◽  
Garifallia Perlepe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Antibody Response ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Vaccination Status ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Mild Disease ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Humoral Responses ◽  
Pandemic Wave

Background: In this work we aimed to evaluate antibody-response longevity to SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination in one of the Greek communities that was worst hit by the pandemic, Deskati, five months after a previous serosurveillance and nine months after the pandemic wave initiation (October 2020). Methods: The SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant method (Architect, Abbott, IL, USA) was used for antibody testing. Results: A total of 69 subjects, who previously tested positive or negative for COVID-19 antibodies, participated in the study. We found that 48% of participants turned positive due to vaccination and 27% of participants were both previously infected and vaccinated. All previously infected participants retained antibodies to the virus, irrespective of their vaccination status. The antibody titers were significantly higher in previously infected participants that had been vaccinated than those who were unvaccinated and in those that had been previously hospitalized for COVID-19 than those with mild disease. Conclusions: Antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection were maintained nine months after the pandemic. Vaccination alone had generated an immune response in almost half of the population. Higher antibody titers were found in the case of vaccination in previously infected subjects and especially in those with severe disease leading to hospitalization

scholarly journals Some Clinical and Immunological Features of Imported COVID-19 Cases in Mongolia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsogtsaikhan Sandag ◽  
Enkhsaikhan Lkhagvasuren ◽  
Munkhundrakh Batmunkh ◽  
Oyungerel Ravjir
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Lower Percentage ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
P Value ◽  
Mild Disease ◽  
Pulmonary Infiltrates ◽  
Cytokines And Chemokines ◽  
Moderate Disease ◽  
Serum Crp

SARS-CoV-2 disturbs the normal immune responses causing an uncontrolled inflammatory response in patients with severe COVID-19. The pattern of the immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 in individuals may fluctuate. Some have a virus-dependent protective immune response resulting in asymptomatic or mild disease with elimination of the virus within 7-10 days after onset of infection. Others develop virus non-dependent uncontrolled hyper-inflammation in the later period, leading to severe disease with cytokine storm, acute respiratory distress syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation and multi-organ failure. Methods: The serum of 72 patients was investigated for titers of 15 cytokines and chemokines using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits in the serum of peripheral blood samples. The means of groups were compared using ANOVA followed by Tukey multiple post hoc comparisons if the ANOVA p-value was <0.05. Results: Patients with pulmonary infiltrates on CT demonstrated a lower percentage of eosinophils (1.38±1.46%) and elevated level of serum CRP (8.57±19.10 mg/dL) compared to patients without pulmonary infiltrates (2.52±1.47% and 1.96±3.02 mg/dL respectively; p<0.05). ROC analysis for patients aged ≥35 years showed patients with mild disease (n=3) had a significantly higher titer of IL-1α and MCP-1 (AUC, 0.958 and 0.917 respectively, p<0.05) compared to patients with moderate disease (n=7).

Ulcerative colitis

2020 ◽  
pp. 2937-2950
Author(s):  
Jeremy Sanderson ◽  
Peter Irving
Keyword(s):  
Ulcerative Colitis ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Stool Culture ◽  
Volume Depletion ◽  
Mild Disease ◽  
Gradual Onset ◽  
Moderate Disease ◽  
Variable Extent ◽  
Maintenance Of Remission ◽  
Intravenous Steroids

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic relapsing and remitting disease in which chronic inflammation affects the rectum and extends proximally to a variable extent. The precise aetiology remains unknown but involves an interplay between reduced diversity in the gut microbiota and a genetically dysregulated gut immune system and epithelial barrier. Typical presentation of mild or moderate disease is with a gradual onset of symptoms including diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, and the passage of mucus. Severe disease is characterized by anorexia, nausea, weight loss, and severe diarrhoea, with the patient likely to look unwell with fever, tachycardia, and other signs of volume depletion, and the abdomen may be distended and tympanitic, with reduced bowel sounds and marked colonic tenderness. Diagnosis is usually made on the basis of exclusion of infective colitis by stool culture and the finding of typical diffuse inflammation in the rectum and above at sigmoidoscopy. Management requires rapid control of symptoms with induction therapy followed by maintenance of remission. Mild disease is typically treated with 5-aminosalicyclic acid delivered both orally and by enema, and moderate disease by 5-aminosalicyclic acid and steroids. Patients with severe disease require hospital admission, intravenous steroids, and daily review by both a physician and a surgeon experienced in the management of ulcerative colitis. Ciclosporin or infliximab are used as rescue therapies for steroid-resistant acute severe ulcerative colitis, but colectomy should not be delayed when this is required. Maintenance therapy with immunomodulators and biological therapies are both effective at maintaining remission, and several new biologicals are in clinical trials.

scholarly journals Tuberculosis Skin Test Screening in the National Tuberculosis Program of Trinidad and Tobago

Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 236
Author(s):  
Vijay Kumar Chattu ◽  
Sateesh Sakhamuri ◽  
Shastri Motilal ◽  
Liam J. Pounder ◽  
Vasishma Kanita Persad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trinidad And Tobago ◽  
Skin Test ◽  
Vaccination Status ◽  
World Health ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Bcg Vaccination ◽  
National Tuberculosis Program ◽  
National Tuberculosis ◽  
Contact Screening

Globally, a quarter of the population is infected with tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. About 5–10% of latent TB infections (LTBI) progress to active disease during the lifetime. Prevention of TB and treating LTBI is a critical component of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) End TB Strategy. This study aims to examine the screening practices for prevention and treatment employed by the National Tuberculosis Program of Trinidad and Tobago in comparison to the WHO’s standard guidelines. A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted from the TB registers (2018–2019) for persons aged 18 years and above with recorded tuberculin skin test reactions (TST). Bivariate comparisons for categorical variables were made using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. Binary logistic regression was used for exploring predictors of TST positivity with adjustment for demographic confounders in multivariable models. Of the total 1972 eligible entries studied, 384 (19.4%) individuals were tested positive with TST. TB contact screening (aOR 2.49; 95% CI 1.65, 3.75) and Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) vaccination status (aOR 1.66; 95% CI, 1.24 to 2.22) were associated with a positive TST reaction, whereas, preplacement screening failed to show such association when compared to those screened as suspect cases. The findings suggest that TB contact screening and positive BCG vaccination status are associated with TST positivity independent of age and gender.

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