scholarly journals Epidemiology, virology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 649-668
Author(s):  
Samira MAHMOUDI ◽  
Mehrnoosh BAYAT ◽  
Mahsa Akafzadeh SAVARI ◽  
Setareh NASIRI ◽  
Rozita NASIRI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Features ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Healing Process ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Human Trial ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Molecular Tests ◽  
Cell Counts

Since December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged and spread quickly worldwide. The disease is generally mild in adult people but in any with comorbidities may proceed to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia, and multi-organ dysfunction. By performing molecular tests on respiratory secretions can diagnose the virus. Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and normal/low white cell counts are common laboratory diagnoses of COVID-19 while the tomographic chest scan is usually irregular for many infected people. Some patients progress to respiratory failure, pneumonia, and finally death by the end of the first week of illness because of the sharp rise in inflammatory cytokines such as IL7, IL2, GCSF, IL10, MIP1A, MCP1, IP10, and TNFα. Various approaches to the COVID- 19 are being performed by scientists. Use of chemical medical drugs that are effective for other viral infections. Among them, remdesivir was approved by FDA on 1th May 2020 because of its impact to treat patients. Also, several studies have revealed that many Chinese herbal remedies have a remarkable impact on the healing process when simultaneously were used along with pharmacological drugs. In the meantime, many efforts have been made to produce an effective vaccine, and so far, the Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine has been successful and has entered phase 2 in the human trial. The current review focus on epidemiology, virology, clinical features, diagnosis, and available treatment of coronavirus that might assist researchers and clinicians in establishing action options for timely against this infection.

scholarly journals Clinical features and predictors of severity in COVID-19 patients with critical illness in Singapore

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ser Hon Puah ◽  
◽  
Barnaby Edward Young ◽  
Po Ying Chia ◽  
Vui Kian Ho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Plateau Pressure ◽  
Apache Ii Score ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Ventilatory Management

AbstractWe aim to describe a case series of critically and non-critically ill COVID-19 patients in Singapore. This was a multicentered prospective study with clinical and laboratory details. Details for fifty uncomplicated COVID-19 patients and ten who required mechanical ventilation were collected. We compared clinical features between the groups, assessed predictors of intubation, and described ventilatory management in ICU patients. Ventilated patients were significantly older, reported more dyspnea, had elevated C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase. A multivariable logistic regression model identified respiratory rate (aOR 2.83, 95% CI 1.24–6.47) and neutrophil count (aOR 2.39, 95% CI 1.34–4.26) on admission as independent predictors of intubation with area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.928 (95% CI 0.828–0.979). Median APACHE II score was 19 (IQR 17–22) and PaO2/FiO2 ratio before intubation was 104 (IQR 89–129). Median peak FiO2 was 0.75 (IQR 0.6–1.0), positive end-expiratory pressure 12 (IQR 10–14) and plateau pressure 22 (IQR 18–26) in the first 24 h of ventilation. Median duration of ventilation was 6.5 days (IQR 5.5–13). There were no fatalities. Most COVID-19 patients in Singapore who required mechanical ventilation because of ARDS were extubated with no mortality.

scholarly journals Routine blood tests as a potential diagnostic tool for COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (7) ◽  
pp. 1095-1099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Ferrari ◽  
Andrea Motta ◽  
Marta Strollo ◽  
Giuseppe Banfi ◽  
Massimo Locatelli
Keyword(s):  
Blood Test ◽  
Hematological Parameters ◽  
False Negative ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Test Analysis ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Routine Blood ◽  
Glutamyl Transpeptidase

AbstractObjectivesThe outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to date, the epidemic has gradually spread to 209 countries worldwide with more than 1.5 million infected people and 100,000 deaths. Amplification of viral RNA by rRT-PCR serves as the gold standard for confirmation of infection, yet it needs a long turnaround time (3–4 h to generate results) and shows false-negative rates as large as 15%–20%. In addition, the need of certified laboratories, expensive equipment and trained personnel led many countries to limit the rRT-PCR tests only to individuals with pronounced respiratory syndrome symptoms. Thus, there is a need for alternative, less expensive and more accessible tests.MethodsWe analyzed the plasma levels of white blood cells (WBCs), platelets, C-reactive protein (CRP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of 207 patients who, after being admitted to the emergency room of the San Raffaele Hospital (Milan, Italy) with COVID-19 symptoms, were rRT-PCR tested. Of them, 105 tested positive, whereas 102 tested negative.ResultsStatistically significant differences were observed for WBC, CRP, AST, ALT and LDH. Empirical thresholds for AST and LDH allowed the identification of 70% of either COVID-19-positive or -negative patients on the basis of routine blood test results.ConclusionsCombining appropriate cutoffs for certain hematological parameters could help in identifying false-positive/negative rRT-PCR tests. Blood test analysis might be used as an alternative to rRT-PCR for identifying COVID-19-positive patients in those countries which suffer from a large shortage of rRT-PCR reagents and/or specialized laboratory.

scholarly journals Mediterranean Diet for the Prevention of Gestational Diabetes in the Covid-19 Era: Implications of Il-6 In Diabesity

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 1213
Author(s):  
Anna Lucia Fedullo ◽  
Antonio Schiattarella ◽  
Maddalena Morlando ◽  
Anna Raguzzini ◽  
Elisabetta Toti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gestational Diabetes ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
High Body Mass Index ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Gestational Weight ◽  
Poor Outcomes

The aim of this review is to highlight the influence of the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and Gestational Weight Gain (GWG) during the COVID-19 pandemic era and the specific role of interleukin (IL)-6 in diabesity. It is known that diabetes, high body mass index, high glycated hemoglobin and raised serum IL-6 levels are predictive of poor outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The immunopathological mechanisms of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection include rising levels of several cytokines and in particular IL-6. The latter is associated with hyperglycemia and insulin resistance and could be useful for predicting the development of GDM. Rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, MedDiet improves the immune system and could modulate IL-6, C reactive protein and Nuclear Factor (NF)-κB. Moreover, polyphenols could modulate microbiota composition, inhibit the NF-κB pathway, lower IL-6, and upregulate antioxidant enzymes. Finally, adhering to the MedDiet prior to and during pregnancy could have a protective effect, reducing GWG and the risk of GDM, as well as improving the immune response to viral infections such as COVID-19.

scholarly journals Current Status of Zika Virus Vaccines: Successes and Challenges

Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aryamav Pattnaik ◽  
Bikash R. Sahoo ◽  
Asit K. Pattnaik
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Congenital Diseases ◽  
Vaccine Candidates ◽  
Efficacy Trials ◽  
Nucleic Acid Vaccines ◽  
Funding Agencies ◽  
Inactivated Vaccines

The recently emerged Zika virus (ZIKV) spread to the Americas, causing a spectrum of congenital diseases including microcephaly in newborn and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in adults. The unprecedented nature of the epidemic and serious diseases associated with the viral infections prompted the global research community to understand the immunopathogenic mechanisms of the virus and rapidly develop safe and efficacious vaccines. This has led to a number of ZIKV vaccine candidates that have shown significant promise in human clinical trials. These candidates include nucleic acid vaccines, inactivated vaccines, viral-vectored vaccines, and attenuated vaccines. Additionally, a number of vaccine candidates have been shown to protect animals in preclinical studies. However, as the epidemic has waned in the last three years, further development of the most promising vaccine candidates faces challenges in clinical efficacy trials, which is needed before a vaccine is brought to licensure. It is important that a coalition of government funding agencies and private sector companies is established to move forward with a safe and effective vaccine ready for deployment when the next ZIKV epidemic occurs.

scholarly journals Immune Response to Herpes Simplex Virus Infection and Vaccine Development

Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony C. Ike ◽  
Chisom J. Onu ◽  
Chukwuebuka M. Ononugbo ◽  
Eleazar E. Reward ◽  
Sophia O. Muo
Keyword(s):  
Herpes Simplex Virus ◽  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Recombinant Dna ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
The Body ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Subunit Vaccines ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Hsv Infections

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are among the most common viral infections and usually last for a lifetime. The virus can potentially be controlled with vaccines since humans are the only known host. However, despite the development and trial of many vaccines, this has not yet been possible. This is normally attributed to the high latency potential of the virus. Numerous immune cells, particularly the natural killer cells and interferon gamma and pathways that are used by the body to fight HSV infections have been identified. On the other hand, the virus has developed different mechanisms, including using different microRNAs to inhibit apoptosis and autophagy to avoid clearance and aid latency induction. Both traditional and new methods of vaccine development, including the use of live attenuated vaccines, replication incompetent vaccines, subunit vaccines and recombinant DNA vaccines are now being employed to develop an effective vaccine against the virus. We conclude that this review has contributed to a better understanding of the interplay between the immune system and the virus, which is necessary for the development of an effective vaccine against HSV.

scholarly journals Gut mycobiota alterations in patients with COVID-19 and H1N1 infections and their associations with clinical features

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Longxian Lv ◽  
Silan Gu ◽  
Huiyong Jiang ◽  
Ren Yan ◽  
Yanfei Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Features ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽  
Candida Glabrata ◽  
Penicillium Citrinum ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Fungal Burden ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Bacterial Microbiota ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThe relationship between gut microbes and COVID-19 or H1N1 infections is not fully understood. Here, we compared the gut mycobiota of 67 COVID-19 patients, 35 H1N1-infected patients and 48 healthy controls (HCs) using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 3-ITS4 sequencing and analysed their associations with clinical features and the bacterial microbiota. Compared to HCs, the fungal burden was higher. Fungal mycobiota dysbiosis in both COVID-19 and H1N1-infected patients was mainly characterized by the depletion of fungi such as Aspergillus and Penicillium, but several fungi, including Candida glabrata, were enriched in H1N1-infected patients. The gut mycobiota profiles in COVID-19 patients with mild and severe symptoms were similar. Hospitalization had no apparent additional effects. In COVID-19 patients, Mucoromycota was positively correlated with Fusicatenibacter, Aspergillus niger was positively correlated with diarrhoea, and Penicillium citrinum was negatively correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP). In H1N1-infected patients, Aspergillus penicilloides was positively correlated with Lachnospiraceae members, Aspergillus was positively correlated with CRP, and Mucoromycota was negatively correlated with procalcitonin. Therefore, gut mycobiota dysbiosis occurs in both COVID-19 patients and H1N1-infected patients and does not improve until the patients are discharged and no longer require medical attention.

scholarly journals Acute Progressive Visual Loss in a Case of Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Challenges in the Utility of Molecular Tests in Early Diagnose of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Amanati ◽  
Nader Shakibazad ◽  
Bahman Pourabbas ◽  
Mohammad Hossein Nowroozzadeh ◽  
Soheila Zareifar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Visual Loss ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Cmv Infection ◽  
Cmv Retinitis ◽  
Molecular Tests ◽  
Early Diagnose ◽  
Clinical Pictures ◽  
Acute Myeloid

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is one of the rare but debilitating presentations of the CMV infection in children with leukemia. Herein, we report a 12-year-old boy with acute myeloid leukemia complicated by rapid progressive visual loss during relapse of leukemia. The definite diagnosis of CMV retinitis was made after vitreous aspiration. Despite prompt treatment and ophthalmologic intervention, he died because of AML relapse. Viral infections, especially cytomegalovirus infection, may present with vague clinical pictures during any time of chemotherapy, which may not be easily distinguishable from bacterial or fungal retinitis and also chemotherapy-induced retinopathies. Clinician should consider CMV retinitis in seropositive patients especially those without detectable viremia.

scholarly journals The evidence of porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus induced nonsuppurative encephalitis as the cause of death in piglets

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zi Li ◽  
Wenqi He ◽  
Yungang Lan ◽  
Kui Zhao ◽  
Xiaoling Lv ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Wild Strain ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Encephalomyelitis Virus ◽  
Cns Dysfunction ◽  
Porcine Hemagglutinating Encephalomyelitis Virus

An acute outbreak of porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (PHEV) infection in piglets, characterized with neurological symptoms, vomiting, diarrhea, and wasting, occurred in China. Coronavirus-like particles were observed in the homogenized tissue suspensions of the brain of dead piglets by electron microscopy, and a wild PHEV strain was isolated, characterized, and designated as PHEV-CC14. Histopathologic examinations of the dead piglets showed characteristics of non-suppurative encephalitis, and some neurons in the cerebral cortex were degenerated and necrotic, and neuronophagia. Similarly, mice inoculated with PHEV-CC14 were found to have central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction, with symptoms of depression, arched waists, standing and vellicating front claws. Furthmore, PHEV-positive labeling of neurons in cortices of dead piglets and infected mice supported the viral infections of the nervous system. Then, the major structural genes of PHEV-CC14 were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed, and the strain shared 95%–99.2% nt identity with the other PHEV strains available in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis clearly proved that the wild strain clustered into a subclass with a HEV-JT06 strain. These findings suggested that the virus had a strong tropism for CNS, in this way, inducing nonsuppurative encephalitis as the cause of death in piglets. Simultaneously, the predicted risk of widespread transmission showed a certain variation among the PHEV strains currently circulating around the world. Above all, the information presented in this study can not only provide good reference for the experimental diagnosis of PHEV infection for pig breeding, but also promote its new effective vaccine development.

scholarly journals Serum Leptin Levels, Nutritional Status, and the Risk of Healthcare-Associated Infections in Hospitalized Older Adults

Nutrients ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 226
Author(s):  
Elena Paillaud ◽  
Johanne Poisson ◽  
Clemence Granier ◽  
Antonin Ginguay ◽  
Anne Plonquet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Nutritional Assessment ◽  
Mini Nutritional Assessment ◽  
Healthcare Associated Infections ◽  
Serum Leptin ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Hospitalized Older Adults ◽  
Healthcare Associated

We aimed to determine whether serum leptin levels are predictive of the occurrence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in hospitalized older patients. In a prospective cohort, 232 patients had available data for leptin and were monitored for HAIs for 3 months. Admission data included comorbidities, invasive procedures, the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), BMI, leptin, albumin and C-reactive protein levels, and CD4 and CD8 T-cell counts. Multivariate logistic regression modelling was used to identify predictors of HAIs. Of the 232 patients (median age: 84.8; females: 72.4%), 89 (38.4%) experienced HAIs. The leptin level was associated with the BMI (p < 0.0001) and MNA (p < 0.0001) categories. Women who experienced HAIs had significantly lower leptin levels than those who did not (5.9 μg/L (2.6–17.7) and 11.8 (4.6–26.3), respectively; p = 0.01; odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval): 0.67 (0.49–0.90)); no such association was observed for men. In a multivariate analysis of the women, a lower leptin level was significantly associated with HAIs (OR = 0.70 (0.49–0.97)), independently of comorbidities, invasive medical procedures, and immune status. However, leptin was not significantly associated with HAIs after adjustments for malnutrition (p = 0.26) or albuminemia (p = 0.15)—suggesting that in older women, the association between serum leptin levels and subsequent HAIs is mediated by nutritional status.

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