[Coronavirus: from common cold to severe pulmonary failure]

Rapid detection of human coronavirus NL63 by isothermal reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification

Background

Human coronaviruses are one of the leading causes for respiratory tract infections and for frequent primary care consultation. The human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV..µNL63) is one representative of the seasonal coronaviruses and capable of infecting the upper and lower respiratory tract and causative agent for croup in children.

Objectives

For fast detection of HCoV-NL63, we developed an isothermal reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) assay.

Study design

The analytical sensitivities of the RT-RPA assay were identified for in vitro transcribed ribonucleic acid (RNA) and for genomic viral RNA from cell culture supernatant. Moreover, specificity was tested with nucleic acids from other human coronaviruses and a variety of clinically relevant respiratory viruses. Finally, a clinical nasopharyngeal swab sample with spiked genomic viral HCoV-NL63 RNA was analyzed.

Results

Our HCoV-NL63 RT-RPA assay is highly specific and has an analytical sensitivity of 13 RNA molecules/reaction for in vitro transcribed RNA. For genomic viral RNA from cell culture supernatant spiked into a clinical nasopharyngeal swab sample the assay...s analytical sensitivity is 170 RNA molecules/reaction. The assay shows amplification of the lowest detectable target copy number after 8 minutes and 7 minutes, respectively.

Conclusions

We were able to design a sensitive and specific RT-RPA assay for the detection of HCoV-NL63. Additionally, the assay is characterized by short duration, isothermal amplification, and simple instrumentation.

Do conspiracy theory and mistrust undermine people's intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Austria?

Conspiracy theories flourish during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic especially regarding vaccinations. As the vaccination reluctancy in Austria is high, it is important to understand the antecedents of vaccination intention at the preapproval stage of the vaccination process. An online survey was conducted in August 2020 in Austria with 217 primarily younger, female, educated participants. A two-step cluster analysis resulted in a sceptics cluster with a clear antivaccination tendency along with a right-wing political position, lower trust in general vaccines and lower education levels and the reference cluster. A considerable percentage of participants reported their reluctancy to have a COVID-19 vaccine. Although vaccination intention can be explained by attitude and subjective norm, this decision-making process is undermined by underlying factors such as conspiracy ideation and political position. Policy makers and health interventionists should take political background into consideration in efforts to increase vaccine compliance.

Coronavirus awareness, confinement stress, and mental health: Evidence from Honduras, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico and Spain

RATIONALE

The purpose of the current study was to analyze the influence of coronavirus awareness, psychological stress responses, and sociodemographic variables on mental health indicators (somatization, depression, and anxiety) in residents of Honduras, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Spain.

METHODS

The study used a quantitative, cross-sectional approach. Data was collected online using the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18); the Coronavirus Awareness Scale-6 (CAS-6) and a questionnaire that included psychological and sociodemographic questions. The total sample size consisted of 1559 respondents from Honduras (34%), Chile (29%), Costa Rica (17%), Mexico (11%), and Spain (9%).

RESULTS

The most common stress domains correspond to family (22.97%), financial (22.53%), academic (16.47%), leisure time constraints (14.23%), health (12.48%), peer group (7.63%), and religious concerns (3.69%). These domains are significantly associated with the respondent's country, sex, employment status, and being or not a health worker. Respondents who reported confinement stress also reported higher scores in anxiety, depression, and somatization. The Global Severity Index was significantly predicted by confinement stress, health, academic, and leisure time-related stress, sex, age, being a health worker, COVID-19 Personal Concern, and Perceived Seriousness. Non-significant predictors were employment status, the number of people at home, presence of older adults and children at home, financial, peer group, family, and religious concerns; the regression model had an R² of 0.26. Similar analyses were conducted for somatization, depression, and anxiety subscales.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic has adverse effects on the mental health of the general population, particularly regarding anxiety, depression, and somatization. Specific populations, such as women and healthcare workers, are at particular risk of suffering a deterioration in mental wellbeing. The implications of the study for public policy are discussed.

Emergency surgical management of cervical spine fracture-dislocation with acute paraplegia in COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019)-suspected patient: first experience from a German spine centre

PURPOSE

We present an organized hospital plan for the management of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients requiring emergency surgical interventions. To introduce a multidisciplinary approach for the management of COVID-19-infected patients and to report the first operated patient in the Corona unit.

METHODS

A detailed presentation of the hospital plan for a separate Corona unit with its intensive care unit and operating rooms. Description of the management of the first spine surgery case treated in this unit.

RESULTS

The Corona unit showed a practical approach for the management of an emergency cervical spine fracture-dislocation with acute paralysis. The patient is 92-year-old female. The mechanism of injury was a simple fall during the stay in the internal medicine department where the patient was treated in the referring hospital. The patient had no other injuries and was awake and oriented. The patient did not have the clinical symptom of COVID-19, and the test result of COVID-19 done in the referring hospital was not available on admission in our emergency room. Education of the medical staff and organization of the operating theatre facilitated the management of the patient without an increased risk of spreading the infection.

CONCLUSIONS

The current COVID-19 pandemic requires an extra-ordinary organization of the medical and surgical care of the patients. It is possible to manage an infected or a potentially infected patient surgically, but a multidisciplinary plan is necessary to protect other patients and the medical staff.