scholarly journals Pericarditis after SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Another Pebble in the Mosaic of Long COVID?

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1997
Author(s):  
Francesco Carubbi ◽  
Alessia Alunno ◽  
Silvia Leone ◽  
Nicoletta Di Di Gregorio ◽  
Bernardina Mancini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Infection ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
Persistent Symptoms ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Pericardial Diseases ◽  
Suitable Treatment ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Inflammatory Component

With the emerging success of the COVID-19 vaccination programs, the incidence of acute COVID-19 will decrease. However, given the high number of people who contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection and recovered, we will be faced with a significant number of patients with persistent symptoms even months after their COVID-19 infection. In this setting, long COVID and its cardiovascular manifestations, including pericarditis, need to become a top priority for healthcare systems as a new chronic disease process. Concerning the relationship between COVID-19 and pericardial diseases, pericarditis appears to be common in the acute infection but rare in the postacute period, while small pericardial effusions may be relatively common in the postacute period of COVID-19. Here, we reported a series of 7 patients developing pericarditis after a median of 20 days from clinical and virological recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection. We excluded specific identifiable causes of pericarditis, hence we speculate that these cases can be contextualized within the clinical spectrum of long COVID . All our patients were treated with a combination of colchicine and either ASA or NSAIDs, but four of them did not achieve a clinical response. When switched to glucocorticoids, these four patients recovered with no recurrence during drug tapering. Based on this observation and on the latency of pericarditis occurrence (a median of 20 days after a negative nasopharyngeal swab), could be suggested that post-COVID pericarditis may be linked to ongoing inflammation sustained by the persistence of viral nucleic acid without virus replication in the pericardium. Therefore, glucocorticoids may be a suitable treatment option in patients not responding or intolerant to conventional therapy and who require to counteract the pericardial inflammatory component rather than direct an acute viral injury to the pericardial tissue.

scholarly journals Persistent symptoms and association with inflammatory cytokine signatures in recovered COVID-19 patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Wei Xiang Ong ◽  
Siew-Wai Fong ◽  
Barnaby Edward Young ◽  
Yi-Hao Chan ◽  
Bernett Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Multivariable Model ◽  
Persistent Symptoms ◽  
Immune Mediators ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background The complications and sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their effect on long-term health are unclear, and the trajectory of associated immune dysregulation poorly understood. Methods We conducted a prospective longitudinal multi-center cohort study at four public hospitals in Singapore. COVID-19 patients were monitored for a median of six months after recovery from acute infection. Clinical symptoms and radiologic data were collected, along with plasma samples for quantification of immune mediators. The relationship between clinical symptoms and immune cytokine profiles was investigated. Results 288 participants were recruited, and follow-up data were available for 183, 175, and 120 participants at days 30, 90 and 180 post-symptom onset respectively. Symptoms related to COVID-19 were present in 31 (16.9%), 13 (7.4%), and 14 (11.7%) at days 30, 90 and 180. In a multivariable model, age >65 years, non-Chinese ethnicity, and the severity of acute infection were associated with increased likelihood of persistent symptoms. Recovered COVID-19 patients had elevated levels of pro-inflammatory IL-17A, SCF, IL-12p70, IL-1βand pro-angiogenic MIP-1β, BDNF, VEGF at day 180 compared to healthy controls. Higher levels of MCP-1 and PDGF-BB were detected in patients with persistent symptoms, versus symptom-free patients. Conclusions About 10% of recovered patients had persistent symptoms six months after initial infection. Immune cytokine signatures of the recovered patients reflected ongoing chronic inflammation and angiogenesis. COVID-19 patients should be monitored closely for emerging long-term health consequences.

Mosquito and Tick-borne Illnesses in the United States. Guidelines for the Recognition and Empiric Treatment of Zoonotic Diseases in the Wilderness.

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-257
Author(s):  
Suresh Antony
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever ◽  
Number Of Patients

Background:In the United States, tick-borne illnesses account for a significant number of patients that have been seen and treated by health care facilities. This in turn, has resulted in a significant morbidity and mortality and economic costs to the country.Methods:The distribution of these illnesses is geographically variable and is related to the climate as well. Many of these illnesses can be diagnosed and treated successfully, if recognized and started on appropriate antimicrobial therapy early in the disease process. Patient with illnesses such as Lyme disease, Wet Nile illness can result in chronic debilitating diseases if not recognized early and treated.Conclusion:This paper covers illnesses such as Lyme disease, West Nile illness, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, Ehrlichia, Tularemia, typhus, mosquito borne illnesses such as enteroviruses, arboviruses as well as arthropod and rodent borne virus infections as well. It covers the epidemiology, clinical features and diagnostic tools needed to make the diagnosis and treat these patients as well.

scholarly journals What’s going on following acute covid-19? Clinical characteristics of patients in an out-patient rehabilitation program

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Sergiu Albu ◽  
Nicolas Rivas Zozaya ◽  
Narda Murillo ◽  
Alberto Garcia-Molina ◽  
Cristian Andres Figueroa Chacón ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Rehabilitation Program ◽  
Neuropsychological Impairment ◽  
Outpatient Rehabilitation ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
Persistent Symptoms

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients present long-lasting physical and neuropsychological impairment, which may require rehabilitation. OBJECTIVES: The current cross-sectional study characterizes post COVID-19 sequelae and persistent symptoms in patients in an outpatient rehabilitation program. METHODS: Thirty patients [16 post-ICU and 14 non-ICU; median age = 54(43.8–62) years; 19 men] presenting sequelae and/or persistent symptoms (>3 months after acute COVID-19) were selected of 41 patients referred for neurorehabilitation. Patients underwent physical, neuropsychological and respiratory evaluation and assessment of impact of fatigue and quality of life. RESULTS: The main reasons for referral to rehabilitation were: fatigue (86.6%), dyspnea (66.7%), subjective cognitive impairment (46.7%) and neurological sequelae (33.3%). Post-ICU patient presented sequelae of critical illness myopathy and polyneuropathy, stroke and encephalopathy and lower forced vital capacity compared to non-ICU patients. Cognitive impairment was found in 63.3% of patients, with a similar profile in both sub-groups. Increased physical fatigue, anxiety and depression and low quality of life were prevalent irrespective of acute COVID-19 severity. CONCLUSIONS: The variability of post COVID-19 physical and neuropsychological impairment requires a complex screening process both in ICU and non-ICU patients. The high impact of persistent symptoms on daily life activities and quality of life, regardless of acute infection severity, indicate need for rehabilitation.

scholarly journals COVID-19—Importance for Patients on the Waiting List and after Kidney Transplantation—A Single Center Evaluation in 2020–2021

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 429
Author(s):  
Simone C. Boedecker ◽  
Pascal Klimpke ◽  
Daniel Kraus ◽  
Stefan Runkel ◽  
Peter R. Galle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Transplantation ◽  
Waiting List ◽  
Smoking History ◽  
Immunocompromised Patients ◽  
Dialysis Patients ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
Mild Disease ◽  
Probability Of Survival ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Immunosuppressed Patients

(1) Background: Dialysis patients and recipients of a kidney allograft are at high risk for infection with SARS-CoV-2. It has been shown that the development of potent neutralizing humoral immunity against SARS CoV-2 leads to an increased probability of survival. However, the question of whether immunocompromised patients develop antibodies has not yet been sufficiently investigated; (2) Methods: SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were examined in hemodialysis patients on the waiting list for kidney transplantation as well as patients after kidney transplantation. Patients were interviewed about symptoms and comorbidities, BMI, and smoking history; (3) Results: SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were found in 16 out of 259 patients (6%). The trend of infections here reflects the general course of infection in Germany with a peak in November/December of 2020. Remarkably, patients on the waiting list experienced only mild disease. In contrast, transplanted patients had to be hospitalized but recovered rapidly from COVID-19. Most interesting is that all immunosuppressed patients developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 after infection; (4) Conclusions: Even with extensive hygiene concepts, an above-average number of patients were infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the second wave of infections in Germany. Because SARS-CoV-2 infection triggered the formation of antibodies even in these immunocompromised patients, we expect vaccination to be effective in this group of patients. Thus, dialysis patients and patients after kidney transplantation should be given high priority in vaccination programs.

scholarly journals Not Only a Formulation: The Effects of Pickering Emulsion on the Entomopathogenic Action of Metarhizium brunneum

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 499
Author(s):  
Nitsan Birnbaum ◽  
Victoria Reingold ◽  
Sabina Matveev ◽  
Chandrasekhar Kottakota ◽  
Michael Davidovitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ricinus Communis ◽  
Larval Mortality ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Pickering Emulsion ◽  
Broad Host Range ◽  
High Humidity ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Metarhizium Brunneum

Growing global population and environmental concerns necessitate the transition from chemical to eco-friendly pest management. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are rising candidates for this task due to their ease of growing, broad host range and unique disease process, allowing EPF to infect hosts directly through its cuticle. However, EPF’s requirement for high humidity negates their integration into conventional agriculture. To mitigate this problem, we formulated Metarhizium brunneum conidia in an oil-in-water Pickering emulsion. Conidia in aqueous and emulsion formulations were sprayed on Ricinus communis leaves, and Spodoptera littoralis larvae were introduced under low or high humidity. The following were examined: conidial dispersion on leaf, larval mortality, conidial acquisition by larvae, effects on larval growth and feeding, and dynamic of disease progression. Emulsion was found to disperse conidia more efficiently and caused two-fold more adhesion of conidia to host cuticle. Mortality from conidia in emulsion was significantly higher than other treatments reaching 86.5% under high humidity. Emulsion was also found to significantly reduce larval growth and feeding, while conferring faster fungal growth in-host. Results suggest that a Pickering emulsion is able to improve physical interactions between the conidia and their surroundings, while weakening the host through a plethora of mechanisms, increasing the chance of an acute infection.

scholarly journals Covid-19 and acute conjunctivitis: Controversial data from a tertiary refferral Italian center

2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212199104
Author(s):  
Giuseppe D’Amico Ricci ◽  
Claudia Del Turco ◽  
Elena Belcastro ◽  
Marco Palisi ◽  
Mario R Romano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Time Span ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Eye Disorders ◽  
Eye Examination ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Acute Conjunctivitis ◽  
Piedmont Region

Purpose: Although acute conjunctivitis has been listed from the beginning as a possible sign of COVID-19, the likelihood of this association remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 and conjunctivitis. Methods: In this retrospective, observational study, we recruited all patients with signs and symptoms of acute conjunctivitis seen at the Eye Emergency Department (ED), Turin Eye Hospital, between 01/01/2020 and 12/05/2020 and cross-checked our data with the Piedmont Region online COVID-19 registry in the same period. Results: Among 10,065 patients seen at our ED during the timespan considered, 88 underwent a nasopharyngeal swab (NS) for SARS-CoV-2 detection within 4 weeks before/after our examination. On average, NS was performed −0.72 ± 1.8 weeks before/after eye examination. Of the 77 patients with a negative NS, 26 (33.8%) had a diagnosis of acute conjunctivitis, whereas the remaining 51 (66.2%) had other eye disorders. Among the 11 patients with COVID-19, 7 (63,6%) had a diagnosis of acute conjunctivitis. We found a non-statistically significant increase in NS positivity rate (21.2%) among cases examined at our ED for acute conjunctivitis, compared to the NS positivity rate (7.3%) in patients examined for all other eye conditions ( p = 0.092). The Odds Ratio of having a positive NS in patients with acute conjunctivitis was 3.43 (95% I.C. = 0.9–12.8, p = 0.06). Considering online-registry data of Turin population during the same time-span, among 2441 positive NS cases only 27 (1.1%) presented with acute conjunctivitis. Conclusion: Our results do not reveal a statistically significant correlation between COVID-19 and acute conjunctivitis. Synopsis The present study analyzes retrospectively data from a tertiary eye referral center to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 infection and conjunctivitis.

scholarly journals Self-Care IoT Platform for Diabetic Mellitus

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 2006
Author(s):  
Jai-Chang Park ◽  
Seongbeom Kim ◽  
Je-Hoon Lee
Keyword(s):  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Target Range ◽  
Process Data ◽  
Glucose Levels ◽  
Blood Glucose Levels ◽  
Iot Platform ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Glucose Management ◽  
The Relationship

Diabetes mellitus is a severe chronic disease, and the number of patients has increased. To manage blood glucose levels, patients should frequently measure their blood glucose and analyze which lifestyle habits affect blood glucose levels. However, it is hard to record and analyze the relationship between their blood glucose levels and lifestyle. The internet of things (IoT) is useful to interconnect, monitor, obtain, and process data between various devices used in everyday life to fulfill a common objective. This paper proposes an intelligent self-care platform using IoT technology that helps patients with chronic diabetes manage their blood glucose levels in their target range. In particular, we developed various devices called the self-care IoT pack. It consists of five different types of devices to obtain blood glucose levels, physical activities, food intake, medication, sleeping, and so on. They can collect blood glucose levels with lifestyles that automatically impact the patient’s blood glucose level. We also devised a self-care application to display and analyze the data obtained from the IoT pack. Consequently, the proposed self-care IoT platform collects the blood glucose levels and the lifestyles without any burden of record. By reviewing the accumulated information, the patients can find bad habits in blood glucose management and improve their lifestyle.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 in peritoneal swabs from asymptomatic patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasim AlAradi ◽  
Rawan A Rahman AlHarmi ◽  
Mariam AlKooheji ◽  
Sayed Ali Almahari ◽  
Mohamed Abdulla Isa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peritoneal Fluid ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
The Public ◽  
Asymptomatic Patients ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Viral Transfer

Abstract This is a case series of five patients with acute abdomen requiring surgery who tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and were asymptomatic, with the purpose of detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in peritoneal fluid. Nasopharyngeal swab was done as a prerequisite for admission or prior to admission as part of random testing. Two methods of viral testing were employed: Xpert® Xpress SARS-CoV-2 (rapid test) and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Either or both tests were done, with the former performed for patients requiring surgery immediately. Surgery was performed within 24–36 h from admission. Peritoneal fluid swabs were obtained for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR test. Swabs were immediately placed in viral transfer media and delivered to the public health laboratory in an ice bag. SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in peritoneal swabs. Due to the limited number of patients, further studies are required; yet, protective measures should still be taken by surgeons when dealing with COVID-19 cases.

scholarly journals Frequency of non-motor symptoms in Peruvian patients with Parkinson's disease

2013 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 216-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Cosentino ◽  
Yesenia Nuñez ◽  
Luis Torres
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Progressive Increase ◽  
Motor Symptoms ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Progression Of Disease ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Non Motor Symptoms

Introduction: Non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease are often not well recognized in clinical practice. Non-motor symptoms questionnaire (NMSQuest) is a simple instrument that allows patients or caregivers to report non-motor symptoms in a practical manner. Objective: We attempted to determine the prevalence of non-motor symptoms in three hundred Parkinson's disease outpatients. Results: The mean total non-motor symptoms was 12.41, ranging from 0 to 27 of a maximum of 30. At least one was present in 99.3% of patients. A progressive increase in mean total score was observed across each 5-year interval. Depression domain scored the most “positive” answers while urinary and anxiety /memory were secondly and thirdly most prevalent respectively. Conclusion: The large number of patients included in this study allowed evaluation of the occurrence of non-motor symptoms in early and advanced disease in addition to the relationship of these kinds of symptoms with progression of disease.

scholarly journals Association of age at menarche, parity, and hormonal contraceptive use with the histologic type of ovarian cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 118
Author(s):  
Firda Azizah ◽  
Pungky Mulawardhana ◽  
Willy Sandhika
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Contraceptive Use ◽  
Clear Cell ◽  
Hormonal Contraceptive ◽  
Age At Menarche ◽  
Histologic Type ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Age Of Menarche

HIGHLIGHT1. Relationship between age at menarche, parity, and contraceptive use with histologic type of ovarian cancer was analyzed. 2. A number of patients with ovarian cancer were analytically observed with retrospective cross-sectional approach and the histologic types of the cancer were determined.3. Age of menarche, parity, and hormonal contraceptive use was found not to have significant correlation with histologic type of ovarian cancer. ABSTRACTObjectives: This study analyze the relationship between age at menarche, parity, and contraceptive use with histologic type of ovarian cancer.Materials and Methods: This study used an observational analytic with a retrospective cross-sectional approach. The research samples were 128 patients with ovarian cancer at RSUD Dr. Saiful Anwar Malang in 2017-2019, all patients underwent primary staging laparotomy. The histologic type of ovarian cancer consist of: serous 45, mucinous 45, endometrioid 10, clear cell 20, and others 4. Data analysis using chi square.Results: The p value for the relationship between the age of menarche and histologic type of ovarian cancer was p = 0.500 (p> 0.05), parity p = 0.313, and contraceptive use p = 0.824. The distribution of clear cell was more common in multiparous, 40% of endometrioid found in nulliparous, serous were more common in women with hormonal contraceptive use >5 years, whereas mucinous were more common in history of use <5 years.Conclusion: There was no significant relationship between the age of menarche, parity, and hormonal contraceptive use on  histologic type of ovarian cancer.

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