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Zhou YH, Xu C, Tao Y, Gu M, Zhou G, Zhou W, Jin Y, Xie J, Xu B, Zhou W, Chen J, Shi W. Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children shortly after ending zero-COVID-19 policy in China on December 7, 2022: a cross-sectional, multicenter, seroepidemiological study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1283158. [PMID: 38026391 PMCID: PMC10666904 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1283158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background China discontinued the zero-COVID-19 policy on December 7, 2022, and then COVID-19 surged mid-December 2022 through mid-January 2023. However, the actual incidence was unknown. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children shortly after ending the zero-COVID-19 policy. Methods This multicenter cross-sectional study included 1,065 children aged 8 months to 12 years from seven hospitals at six regions across Jiangsu province, based on the convenience sampling, from February 10 to March 10, 2023. Group I comprised 324 children aged 8 months-2 years without COVID-19 vaccination, group II consisted of 338 preschool children aged 3-5 years with varied vaccination history, and group III contained 403 primary school children aged 6-12 years with mostly vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccines were composed of inactivated SARS-CoV-2. In addition, 96 children's sera collected in 2014 were included as negative controls. IgG and IgM antibodies against nucleocapsid (N) and subunit 1 of spike (S1) of SARS-CoV-2 (anti-N/S1) were measured with commercial kits (YHLO Biotech, Shenzhen, China). Results None of the 96 children (5.1 ± 3.5 years; 58.3% boys) in 2014 was positive for anti-N/S1 IgG or IgM. Of the 1,065 children (5.0 ± 3.5 years; 56.0% boys), 988 (92.8%) were anti-N/S1 IgG positive but none was anti-N/S1 IgM positive. The positive rate of anti-N/S1 IgG in Group I, II, and III was 90.4, 88.5, and 98.3%, respectively, with significantly higher in group III than in groups I and II (p < 0.0001). The median antibody titers in group III (381.61 AU/ml) were much higher than that in group I (38.34 AU/ml) and II (51.88 AU/ml; p < 0.0001). Conclusion More than 90% children experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection shortly after ending zero-COVID-19 policy in China, much higher than estimated infections by other studies. The widespread SARS-CoV-2 infection in unvaccinated children should be influential on the policy of COVID-19 vaccination in children in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hua Zhou
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chenyu Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhenjiang Fourth People’s Hospital, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yue Tao
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Meng Gu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Changzhou Children's Hospital of Nantong University, Changzhou Children's Hospital, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guiping Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yixing Second People’s Hospital, Yixing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First People’s Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yue Jin
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Huai'an Second People's Hospital and the Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai’an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Xie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, People's Hospital of Xuyi County, Xuyi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Biyun Xu
- Medical Statistics and Analysis Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wensan Zhou
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Junhao Chen
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weifeng Shi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First People’s Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
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Shoraka S, Mohebbi SR, Hosseini SM, Zali MR. Comparison of plasma mitochondrial DNA copy number in asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 patients. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1256042. [PMID: 37869674 PMCID: PMC10587688 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1256042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a wide clinical spectrum, from asymptomatic infection to mild or severe disease and death, have been reported in COVID-19 patients. Studies have suggested several possible factors, which may affect the clinical outcome of COVID-19. A pro-inflammatory state and impaired antiviral response have been suggested as major contributing factors in severe COVID-19. Considering that mitochondria have an important role in regulating the immune responses to pathogens, pro-inflammatory signaling, and cell death, it has received much attention in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recent studies have demonstrated that high levels of cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) are associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality. However, there have been few studies on cf-mtDNA in SARS-CoV-2 infection, mainly focusing on critically ill COVID-19 cases. In the present study, we investigated cf-mtDNA copy number in COVID-19 patients and compared between asymptomatic and symptomatic cases, and assessed the clinical values. We also determined the cf-nuclear DNA (cf-nDNA) copy number and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) mRNA level in the studied groups. Materials and methods Plasma and buffy coat samples were collected from 37 COVID-19 patients and 33 controls. Briefly, after total DNA extraction, plasma cf-mtDNA, and cf-nDNA copy numbers were measured by absolute qPCR using a standard curve method. Furthermore, after total RNA extraction from buffy coat and cDNA synthesis, TFAM mRNA levels were evaluated by qPCR. Results The results showed that cf-mtDNA levels in asymptomatic COVID-19 patients were statistically significantly higher than in symptomatic cases (p value = 0.01). However, cf-nDNA levels were higher in symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic cases (p value = 0.00). There was no significant difference between TFAM levels in the buffy coat of these two groups (p value > 0.05). Also, cf-mtDNA levels showed good diagnostic potential in COVID-19 subgroups. Conclusion cf-mtDNA is probably important in the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to its role in inflammation and immune response. It can also be a promising candidate biomarker for the diagnosis of COVID-19 subgroups. Further investigation will help understanding the COVID-19 pathophysiology and effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahrzad Shoraka
- Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Reza Mohebbi
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Masoud Hosseini
- Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Zali
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Yu SY, Xie JR, Luo JJ, Lu HP, Xu L, Wang JJ, Chen XQ. Liver test abnormalities in asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 patients and their association with viral shedding time. World J Hepatol 2022; 14:1953-1963. [PMID: 36483605 PMCID: PMC9724107 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v14.i11.1953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asymptomatic infections and mild symptoms are common in patients infected with the Omicron variant, and data on liver test abnormalities are rare.
AIM To evaluated the clinical characteristics of asymptomatic and mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with abnormal liver test results.
METHODS This retrospective study included 661 laboratory-confirmed asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 patients who were treated in two makeshift hospitals in Ningbo from April 5, 2022 to April 29, 2022. Clinical information and viral shedding time were collected, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were performed in statistical analyses.
RESULTS Of the 661 patients, 83 (12.6%) had liver test abnormalities, and 6 (0.9%) had liver injuries. Abnormal liver tests revealed a reliable correlation with a history of liver disease (P < 0.001) and a potential correlation with male sex and obesity (P < 0.05). Elevated alanine aminotransferase was reliably associated with obesity (P < 0.05) and a history of liver disease (P < 0.001). Elevated aspartate transaminase (AST) was reliably correlated with a history of liver disease (P < 0.001), and potentially correlated with age over 30 years (P < 0.05). There was a reliable correlation between AST ≥ 2× the upper limit of normal and a longer viral shedding time, especially in mild cases.
CONCLUSION Obesity and a history of liver disease are risk factors for liver test abnormalities. Being male and an older age are potential risk factors. Attention should be given to liver tests in asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 patients, which has crucial clinical significance for evaluating the viral shedding time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Yi Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo 315010, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jia-Rong Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo 315010, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jun-Jun Luo
- Department of Cardiology, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo 315010, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Hong-Peng Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo 315010, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo 315010, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jun-Jie Wang
- Department of Information Technology, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo 315010, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xue-Qin Chen
- Department of Traditional Medicine, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo 315010, Zhejiang Province, China
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4
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Duan R, Mao Q, Ding X, Qiu Q, Wang P. Immunologic features of asymptomatic postvaccination infections with the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in adults. Immun Inflamm Dis 2022; 10:e670. [PMID: 35759224 PMCID: PMC9210569 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Asymptomatic infections may play an important role in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) Delta variant transmissions. However, the immunologic features of asymptomatic postvaccination infections with the Delta variant of SARS‐CoV‐2 in adults remain to be defined. Methods A retrospective study involving 36 vaccinated adults infected with the SARS‐CoV‐2 Delta variant was performed. Their demographic and laboratory data were collected and analyzed in The First People's Hospital of Jingmen from August 4 to 20, 2021. Results Of the 36 adults, 6 persons had an asymptomatic infection. The severity of the SARS‐CoV‐2 infections was highly correlated with the doses of vaccinations (p = 0.019). The symptomatic and asymptomatic infected SARS‐CoV‐2 adults showed normal levels of leukocytes and lymphocytes. The C‐reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) levels were elevated in the symptomatic groups. The period between the last vaccination to the time of infection in the asymptomatic group was longer than that in the mild and moderate groups (73 vs. 61 vs. 50 days; p = 0.047). The percentage of suppressor T‐cells in the asymptomatic group was the highest (32.2 ± 4.0% vs. 22.0 ± 7.2% vs. 29.3 ± 8.0%; p = 0.004). The signal‐to‐cutoff ratio value of total antibody against SARS‐CoV‐2 in the asymptomatic group was lower than that in the other two groups (383 vs. 703 vs. 1792; p < 0.001) and much lower than that in the moderate group. The multivariate ordinal logistic analysis after adjusting for gender, vaccination date, and vaccination dose indicated that CRP at Days 4−7 and 8−14, IL‐6 on Days 4−7, and total antibody were risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 severity. Conclusions Asymptomatic postvaccination infections with the Delta variant of SARS‐CoV‐2 in adults tend to infect persons vaccinated twice. The immunophenotype profile for asymptomatic postvaccination infections is less inflammatory and accompanied by relatively lower antibody titers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Duan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Blood Transfusion, The First People's Hospital of Jingmen, Hubei, China
| | - Qiang Mao
- Department of Medical Records and Statistics, The First People's Hospital of Jingmen, Hubei, China
| | - Xu Ding
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Blood Transfusion, The First People's Hospital of Jingmen, Hubei, China
| | - Qiwu Qiu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First People's Hospital of Jingmen, Hubei, China
| | - Pei Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Blood Transfusion, The First People's Hospital of Jingmen, Hubei, China
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SARS-CoV-2 Viral Shedding and Associated Factors among COVID-19 Inpatients and Outpatients. Interdiscip Perspect Infect Dis 2022; 2022:1411106. [PMID: 35734510 PMCID: PMC9207016 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1411106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background According to the contagious ability of the new virus, SARS-CoV-2, characterization of viral shedding duration in the period of infection is highly valuable in terms of providing quarantine guidelines and isolation policies. Therefore, we aimed at viral shedding determination in 58 COVID-19 confirmed Iranian subjects in different stages. Methods 58 COVID-19 confirmed Iranian subjects including 21 outpatients and 37 inpatients were investigated. The analytical data and clinical properties were documented in the standard questionnaire. The RT-PCR tests were done two and three weeks after the symptoms initiation. Results Viral eradication occurred in 44.8% two weeks after illness initiation whereas in 71% who achieved a negative PCR test in the third week. Moreover, prolonged viral shedding was observed in hospitalized cases in comparison to outpatients. Almost 30% of patients continued viral shedding three weeks after disease initiation. Conclusion A longer duration of viral shedding in hospitalized cases rather than outpatients was observed in this study. The results similar to other investigations call into question if the current policies are enough to prevent the viral spread or not. This study should be done on a larger sample to provide an appropriate time in isolation policy.
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Ding J, Liu C, Wang Z, Guo H, Zhang K, Ma L, Wang B, Zhao H, Song M, Guan X. Characteristics and Prognosis of Antibody Non-responders With Coronavirus Disease 2019. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:813820. [PMID: 35795627 PMCID: PMC9251059 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.813820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been spreading globally. Information regarding the characteristics and prognosis of antibody non-responders to COVID-19 is limited. Methods In this retrospective, single-center study, we included all patients with confirmed COVID-19 using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) admitted to the Fire God Mountain hospital from February 3, 2020, to April 14, 2020. A total of 1,921 patients were divided into the antibody-negative (n = 94) and antibody-positive (n = 1,827) groups, and 1:1 propensity score matching was used to match the two groups. Results In the antibody-negative group, 40 patients (42.6%) were men, and 49 (52.1%) were older than 65 years. Cough was the most common symptom in the antibody negative group. White blood cell counts, neutrophils, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, interleukin-6, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, creatine kinase isoenzyme, urea nitrogen, and creatinine were significantly higher in the antibody-negative patients than in the antibody-positive group (P < 0.005). The number of days of nucleic acid-negative conversion in the antibody-negative group was shorter than that in the antibody-positive group (P < 0.001). The hospitalization time of the antibody-negative patients was shorter than that of the antibody-positive patients (P < 0.001). Conclusion Some COVID-19 patients without specific antibodies had mild symptoms; however, the inflammatory reaction caused by innate clinical immunity was more intense than those associated with antibodies. Non-specific immune responses played an essential role in virus clearance. There was no direct correlation between excessive inflammatory response and adverse outcomes in patients. The risk of reinfection and vaccination strategies for antibody-negative patients need to be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyu Ding
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Eighth Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Changxin Liu
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Eighth Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhao Wang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Eighth Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Guo
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Eighth Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Kan Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Eighth Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Ma
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Eighth Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Eighth Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Huijun Zhao
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Eighth Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Manya Song
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Eighth Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xizhou Guan
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Eighth Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Xizhou Guan
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Yan H, Ding Y, Guo W. Epidemiological, Radiographical, and Laboratorial Characteristics of Chinese Asymptomatic Cases With COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Public Health 2022; 10:808471. [PMID: 35433622 PMCID: PMC9008196 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.808471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of asymptomatic cases are helpful for the identification and management of patients with asymptomatic COVID-19 infection. Four electronic databases were searched from December 1, 2019 to February 8, 2022 for relevant articles. Data synthesis, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis were performed on the included studies. I2 and Q tests were applied to evaluate heterogeneity across studies. The risk of publication bias was assessed and visualized using a funnel plot. A total of 45 studies consisting of 2,655 patients with no symptoms at the screening point were included. Pooled results showed that in China, 65% of initial no-symptoms COVID-19 patients did not present any COVID-19-related symptom during follow-up or by end of disease course (asymptomatic infections). High proportions of initial no-symptoms COVID-19 patients (76%) and patients with asymptomatic infection (55%) had abnormal CT features at the screening point. High proportion of patients with asymptomatic infection had been detected Ig G+ (72%) and/or Ig M+ (57%) at the screening point. The chest CT scan and SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody testing could serve as effective supplementary methods to identify asymptomatic cases in the early stage of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the chest CT scan and the SARS-CoV-2-specific IgM and IgG testing should not replace reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for screening in asymptomatic patients. The combination of repeated RT-PCR, chest CT scans, and the SARS-CoV-2-specific IgM and IgG testing should be performed for those highly suspected SARS-CoV-2 infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haohao Yan
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yudan Ding
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wenbin Guo
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
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Cao X, Li W, Wang T, Ran D, Davalos V, Planas-Serra L, Pujol A, Esteller M, Wang X, Yu H. Accelerated biological aging in COVID-19 patients. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2135. [PMID: 35440567 PMCID: PMC9018863 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29801-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronological age is a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19. Previous findings indicate that epigenetic age could be altered in viral infection. However, the epigenetic aging in COVID-19 has not been well studied. In this study, DNA methylation of the blood samples from 232 healthy individuals and 413 COVID-19 patients is profiled using EPIC methylation array. Epigenetic ages of each individual are determined by applying epigenetic clocks and telomere length estimator to the methylation profile of the individual. Epigenetic age acceleration is calculated and compared between groups. We observe strong correlations between the epigenetic clocks and individual's chronological age (r > 0.8, p < 0.0001). We also find the increasing acceleration of epigenetic aging and telomere attrition in the sequential blood samples from healthy individuals and infected patients developing non-severe and severe COVID-19. In addition, the longitudinal DNA methylation profiling analysis find that the accumulation of epigenetic aging from COVID-19 syndrome could be partly reversed at late clinic phases in some patients. In conclusion, accelerated epigenetic aging is associated with the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and developing severe COVID-19. In addition, the accumulation of epigenetic aging from COVID-19 may contribute to the post-COVID-19 syndrome among survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Cao
- Department of Oncology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.,Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenjuan Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Research & Development, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dongzhi Ran
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,Key Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Veronica Davalos
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Laura Planas-Serra
- Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Center for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aurora Pujol
- Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Center for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats (ICREA), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Manel Esteller
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats (ICREA), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.,Physiological Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huichuan Yu
- Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. .,Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Fernández-Rojas MA, Luna-Ruiz Esparza MA, Campos-Romero A, Calva-Espinosa DY, Moreno-Camacho JL, Mendlovic F, Plett-Torres T, Alcántar-Fernández J. Seroconversion dynamic and SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in unvaccinated population during the first and second outbreaks in Mexico. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5241. [PMID: 35347208 PMCID: PMC8960100 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09395-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Serosurveillance helps establish reopening guidelines and determine the immunity levels in different populations to reach herd immunity. Then, there is an urgent need to estimate seroprevalence population wide. In Mexico, information about COVID-19 cases and related deaths is scarce. Also, there is no official serosurveillance, limiting our knowledge of the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Here, we report the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 522,690 unvaccinated people from July 5th to December 31st, 2020. The overall seroprevalence was 32.8% and highest in adults aged 30–39 years (38.5%) than people under 20 years (33.0%) or older (28.9%). Moreover, in a cohort of 1655 individuals confirmed COVID-19 by PCR, we found that symptomatic people (HR = 2.56) increased seroconversion than presymptomatic. Also, we identified that the most discriminative symptoms for COVID-19 that could predict seroconversion were anosmia and ageusia (HR = 1.70), fever, myalgia/arthralgia, and cough (HR = 1.75). Finally, we found that obese people had lower seroconversion (HR = 0.53) than healthy people, but the opposite happens in diabetic people (HR = 1.39). These findings reveal that around one-third of Mexican outpatients had anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies before vaccination. Also, some symptoms improve empirically COVID-19 diagnosis and seroconversion. This information could help fine-tune vaccination schemes and the reopening and back-to-work algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Fernández-Rojas
- Innovation and Research Department, Salud Digna A.C., Francisco Villa 113 sur, 80000, Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Marco A Luna-Ruiz Esparza
- Innovation and Research Department, Salud Digna A.C., Francisco Villa 113 sur, 80000, Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Abraham Campos-Romero
- Innovation and Research Department, Salud Digna A.C., Francisco Villa 113 sur, 80000, Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | | | - José L Moreno-Camacho
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Salud Digna, 80000, Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico.,National Reference Center "Culiacan", Salud Digna, 80300, Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Fela Mendlovic
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Anáhuac México Norte, Huixquilucan, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Tanya Plett-Torres
- Plan de Estudios Combinados en Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jonathan Alcántar-Fernández
- Innovation and Research Department, Salud Digna A.C., Francisco Villa 113 sur, 80000, Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico.
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Nyagwange J, Ndwiga L, Muteru K, Wamae K, Tuju J, testing team COVID, Kutima B, Gitonga J, Karanja H, Mugo D, Kasera K, Amoth P, Murunga N, Babu L, Otieno E, Githinji G, Nokes D, Tsofa B, Orindi B, Barasa E, Warimwe G, Agoti CN, Bejon P, Ochola-Oyier LI. Epidemiology of COVID-19 infections on routine polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serology testing in Coastal Kenya. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 7:69. [PMID: 35505772 PMCID: PMC9034174 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17661.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: There are limited studies in Africa describing the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and serostatus of individuals tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We tested routine samples from the Coastal part of Kenya between 17 th March 2020 and 30 th June 2021. Methods: SARS-CoV-2 infections identified using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and clinical surveillance data at the point of sample collection were used to classify as either symptomatic or asymptomatic. IgG antibodies were measured in sera samples, using a well validated in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Mombasa accounted for 56.2% of all the 99,694 naso-pharyngeal/oro-pharyngeal swabs tested, and males constituted the majority tested (73.4%). A total of 7737 (7.7%) individuals were SARS-CoV-2 positive by RT-PCR. The majority (i.e., 92.4%) of the RT-PCR positive individuals were asymptomatic. Testing was dominated by mass screening and travellers, and even at health facility level 91.6% of tests were from individuals without symptoms. Out of the 97,124 tests from asymptomatic individuals 7,149 (7%) were positive and of the 2,568 symptomatic individuals 588 (23%) were positive. In total, 2458 serum samples were submitted with paired naso-pharyngeal/oro-pharyngeal samples and 45% of the RT-PCR positive samples and 20% of the RT-PCR negative samples were paired with positive serum samples. Symptomatic individuals had significantly higher antibody levels than asymptomatic individuals and become RT-PCR negative on repeat testing earlier than asymptomatic individuals. Conclusions: In conclusion, the majority of SARS-CoV-2 infections identified by routine testing in Coastal Kenya were asymptomatic. This reflects the testing practice of health services in Kenya, but also implies that asymptomatic infection is very common in the population. Symptomatic infection may be less common, or it may be that individuals do not present for testing when they have symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kevin Wamae
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - James Tuju
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | | | | | | | - Daisy Mugo
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - D.J. Nokes
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
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11
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Wang Y, Zheng K, Gao W, Lv J, Yu C, Wang L, Wang Z, Wang B, Liao C, Li L. Asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic infection in Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic. MEDICAL REVIEW (BERLIN, GERMANY) 2022; 2:66-88. [PMID: 35658110 PMCID: PMC9047649 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2021-0034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
With the presence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) asymptomatic infections detected, their proportion, transmission potential, and other aspects such as immunity and related emerging challenges have attracted people's attention. We have found that based on high-quality research, asymptomatic infections account for at least one-third of the total cases, whereas based on systematic review and meta-analysis, the proportion is about one-fifth. Evaluating the true transmission potential of asymptomatic cases is difficult but critical, since it may affect national policies in response to COVID-19. We have summarized the current evidence and found, compared with symptomatic cases, the transmission capacity of asymptomatic individuals is weaker, even though they have similar viral load and relatively short virus shedding duration. As the outbreak progresses, asymptomatic infections have also been found to develop long COVID-19. In addition, the role of asymptomatic infection in COVID-19 remains to be further revealed as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants continue to emerge. Nevertheless, as asymptomatic infections transmit the SARS-CoV-2 virus silently, they still pose a substantial threat to public health. Therefore, it is essential to conduct screening to obtain more knowledge about the asymptomatic infections and to detect them as soon as possible; meanwhile, management of them is also a key point in the fight against COVID-19 community transmission. The different management of asymptomatic infections in various countries are compared and the experience in China is displayed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ke Zheng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjing Gao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Lv
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking University Centre for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness and Response, Beijing, China
| | - Canqing Yu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking University Centre for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness and Response, Beijing, China
| | - Lan Wang
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Zijun Wang
- Peking University Centre for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness and Response, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Meinian Public Health Institute, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Chunxiao Liao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking University Centre for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness and Response, Beijing, China
| | - Liming Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking University Centre for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness and Response, Beijing, China
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12
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Dhawan M, Priyanka, Parmar M, Angural S, Choudhary OP. Convalescent plasma therapy against the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants: Delineation of the potentialities and risks. Int J Surg 2022; 97:106204. [PMID: 34974199 PMCID: PMC8717699 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2021.106204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in a catastrophic pandemic and severely impacted people's livelihoods worldwide. In addition, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has posed a severe threat to humankind. Due to the dearth of therapeutic options during the commencement of the pandemic, convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) played a significant part in the management of patients with severe form of COVID-19. Several recent studies have proposed various protective effects of CPT, such as antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, and immunomodulatory actions, curtailing the devastating consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. On the contrary, several clinical studies have raised some serious concerns about the effectiveness and reliability of CPT in the management of patients with COVID-19. The protective effects of CPT in severely ill patients are yet to be proved. Moreover, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has raised concerns about the effectiveness of CPT against COVID-19. Therefore, to establish concrete evidence of the efficacy of CPT and adjudicate its inclusion in the management of COVID-19, an updated review of present literature is required, which could help in the development of an efficient therapeutic regimen to treat COVID-19 amid the emergence of new viral variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Dhawan
- Department of Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, Punjab, India,The Trafford Group of Colleges, Manchester, WA14 5PQ, UK
| | - Priyanka
- Independent Researcher, 07, Type IV Quarter, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (I), Selesih, Aizawl, 796015, Mizoram, India
| | - Manisha Parmar
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, 141004, Punjab, India
| | - Steffy Angural
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, GNA University, Phagwara-Hoshiarpur Road, Sri Hargobindgarh, 144401, Punjab, India,Corresponding author
| | - Om Prakash Choudhary
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (I), Selesih, Aizawl, 796015, Mizoram, India,Corresponding author
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13
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Strathdee SA, Abramovitz D, Harvey-Vera A, Vera CF, Rangel G, Artamonova I, Chaillon A, Ignacio C, Calderon A, Martin NK, Patterson TL. Prevalence and correlates of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among people who inject drugs in the San Diego-Tijuana border region. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260286. [PMID: 34807963 PMCID: PMC8608290 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People who inject drugs may be at elevated SARS-CoV-2 risk due to their living conditions and/or exposures when seeking or using drugs. No study to date has reported upon risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among people who inject drugs. METHODS AND FINDINGS Between October, 2020 and June, 2021, participants aged ≥18 years from San Diego, California, USA and Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico who injected drugs within the last month underwent interviews and testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibodies. Binomial regressions identified correlates of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. RESULTS Of 386 participants, SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 36.3% (95% CI: 31.5%-41.1%); 92.1% had detectable IgM antibodies. Only 37.5% had previously been tested. Seroprevalence did not differ by country of residence. None tested RNA-positive. Most (89.5%) reported engaging in ≥1 protective behavior [e.g., facemasks (73.5%), social distancing (46.5%), or increasing handwashing/sanitizers (22.8%)]. In a multivariate model controlling for sex, older age, and Hispanic/Latinx/Mexican ethnicity were independently associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity, as was engaging in sex work (AdjRR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.18-2.27) and having been incarcerated in the past six months (AdjRR: 1.49; 95% CI: 0.97-2.27). Comorbidities and substance using behaviors were not associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS In this community-based study of people who inject drugs in the San Diego-Tijuana border region, over one third were SARS-CoV-2 seropositive, exceeding estimates from the general population in either city. We found no evidence that substance use behaviors were associated with an elevated risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but observed that circumstances in the risk environment, notably sex work and incarceration, were independently associated with higher SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence. Our findings suggest that a binational policy response to COVID-19 mitigation is warranted beyond the closure of the U.S.-Mexico border. Furthermore, decriminalizing sex work and drug use could reduce the burden of COVID-19 among people who inject drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffanie A. Strathdee
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Daniela Abramovitz
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Alicia Harvey-Vera
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
- Facultad de Medicina, Campus Tijuana, Universidad Xochicalco, Baja California, Mexico
- United States-Mexico Border Health Commission, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Carlos F. Vera
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Gudelia Rangel
- United States-Mexico Border Health Commission, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
- Departmento de Estudios de Población, El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Irina Artamonova
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Antoine Chaillon
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Caroline Ignacio
- Department of Medicine, San Diego Center for AIDS Research Translational Virology Core, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Alheli Calderon
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Natasha K. Martin
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Thomas L. Patterson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
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