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Muruganantham JK, Veerabathiran R. The influence of Omicron on vaccine efficacy and durability: a neurology perspective. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2024; 13:175-183. [PMID: 39144125 PMCID: PMC11319109 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2024.13.3.175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Omicron variants present new challenges when it comes to understanding their impact on vaccines, antiviral strategies, and possible neurological consequences. This article describes the characteristics of the Omicron variant, its epidemiology, the efficacy of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, and its association with lymphoid depletion. We also explore the neurological implications of Omicron, focusing on its association with encephalopathy and encephalitis. There are unique challenges associated with the Omicron variant, which is characterized by distinct mutations and increased transmissibility. For a better understanding of the effects of this disease and developing strategies to combat its spread, especially concerning neurological complications, ongoing research is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jethendra Kumar Muruganantham
- Human Cytogenetics and Genomics Laboratory, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, India
| | - Ramakrishnan Veerabathiran
- Human Cytogenetics and Genomics Laboratory, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, India
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Dal Negro RW, Turco P, Povero M. mRNA vaccines protect from the lung microvasculature injury and the capillary blood volume loss occurring in SARS-CoV-2 paucisymptomatic infections. Multidiscip Respir Med 2024; 19:973. [PMID: 38833210 PMCID: PMC11186436 DOI: 10.5826/mrm.2024.973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The reduction of lung capillary blood volume (Vc) had been identified as the microvascular injury mostly underlying the respiratory Long-COVID syndrome following post-COVID-19 pneumonia. The same kind of injury have been recently also found in several individuals after milder paucisymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections. Though current guidelines strongly recommend vac-cination, studies aimed to investigate the in vivo protection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines on lung microvascular targets still are missing to our best knowledge. AIM to assess the protection of mRNA vaccines from the reduction of lung capillary blood volume (Vc) caused by pauci-symptomatic SARS.CoV-2 infections in vaccinated compared to unvaccinated individuals. METHODS Non-smoking individuals with recent paucisymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection were divided into vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Lung function parameters, including single-breath diffusing capacity and microvascular blood volume, were compared between groups. RESULTS fifty vaccinated and twenty-five unvaccinated well-matched individuals were studied. Differently than usual lung function parameters, only the single-breath simultaneous assessment of sDLCO, sDLNO/sDLCO ratio and Vc allowed to identify the occurrence of the lung microvascular injury with high sensitivity and specificity (p<0.001). CONCLUSION mRNA vaccines proved to exert a high protection from the loss of lung capillary blood volume (Vc) induced by SARS.CoV-2 paucisymptomatic infections (p<0.001). The availability of this non-invasive investigational model should be regarded as a very helpful tool for assessing and comparing in vivo the protective effect of mRNA vaccines on the human microvascular structures of the deep lung.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto W. Dal Negro
- National Centre for Respiratory Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmacoepidemiology - CESFAR, Verona, Italy
| | - Paola Turco
- AdRes Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Torino, Italy
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Özcan D, Özçelik F, Mammadov R, Aktaş M, Altındağ F, Alkan AA, Karapapak M, Altuner D, Süleyman H. Biochemical and histopathological evaluation of systemic and ocular toxicity of favipiravir in rats. Cutan Ocul Toxicol 2024; 43:105-112. [PMID: 38174703 DOI: 10.1080/15569527.2023.2300788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Purpose: Favipiravir (FAV) used against COVID-19 is an antiviral drug that causes adverse reactions, such as hyperuricaemia, liver damage, and hematopoetic toxicity. The aim of the study was to investigate the systemic and ocular side-effects of FAV in rats, for the first time.Materials and methods: A total of 18 albino male Wistar rats were used in the study. The rats were divided into 3 groups as the healthy group (HG), the group given 50 mg/kg/day favipiravir (FAV50), and the group given 200 mg/kg/d favipiravir (FAV200). These doses were given to the experimental groups for one week. At the end of the experiment histopathological examinations were performed on the conjunctiva and sclera of the eye. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (tGSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were measured in blood samples taken from rats. Results: Compared to HG, the MDA (1.37 ± 0.61 vs. 4.82 ± 1.40 µmol/mL), IL-1β (2.52 ± 1.14 vs. 6.67 ± 1.99 pg/mL), and TNF-α levels (3.28 ± 1.42 vs. 8.53 ± 3.06 pg/mL) of the FAV200 group were higher. The levels of tGSH (7.58 ± 1.98 vs. 2.50 ± 0.98 nmol/mL) and SOD (13.63 ± 3.43 vs. 3.81 ± 1.43 U/mL) the FAV200 group were lower than the HG (p < 0.05, for all). The degree of damage to the cornea and sclera of the FAV200 group was quite high according to HG (p < 0.001). Conclusions: FAV can cause damage to rat conjunctiva and sclera by increasing oxidant stress and inflammation at high dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delil Özcan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Health Sciences, Seyrantepe Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Fatih Özçelik
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Health Sciences, Seyrantepe Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Renad Mammadov
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, Erzincan, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Aktaş
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, Erzincan, Turkey
| | - Fikret Altındağ
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey
| | | | - Murat Karapapak
- Department of Ophthalmology, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Durdu Altuner
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, Erzincan, Turkey
| | - Halis Süleyman
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, Erzincan, Turkey
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Zhou X, Huang T, Pan H, Du A, Wu T, Lan J, Song Y, Lv Y, He F, Yuan K. Bioinformatics and system biology approaches to determine the connection of SARS-CoV-2 infection and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300441. [PMID: 38648205 PMCID: PMC11034673 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causal agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has infected millions of individuals worldwide, which poses a severe threat to human health. COVID-19 is a systemic ailment affecting various tissues and organs, including the lungs and liver. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is one of the most common liver cancer, and cancer patients are particularly at high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nonetheless, few studies have investigated the impact of COVID-19 on ICC patients. METHODS With the methods of systems biology and bioinformatics, this study explored the link between COVID-19 and ICC, and searched for potential therapeutic drugs. RESULTS This study identified a total of 70 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) shared by both diseases, shedding light on their shared functionalities. Enrichment analysis pinpointed metabolism and immunity as the primary areas influenced by these common genes. Subsequently, through protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, we identified SCD, ACSL5, ACAT2, HSD17B4, ALDOA, ACSS1, ACADSB, CYP51A1, PSAT1, and HKDC1 as hub genes. Additionally, 44 transcription factors (TFs) and 112 microRNAs (miRNAs) were forecasted to regulate the hub genes. Most importantly, several drug candidates (Periodate-oxidized adenosine, Desipramine, Quercetin, Perfluoroheptanoic acid, Tetrandrine, Pentadecafluorooctanoic acid, Benzo[a]pyrene, SARIN, Dorzolamide, 8-Bromo-cAMP) may prove effective in treating ICC and COVID-19. CONCLUSION This study is expected to provide valuable references and potential drugs for future research and treatment of COVID-19 and ICC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Zhou
- Division of Liver Surgery, Department of General Surgery and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tengda Huang
- Division of Liver Surgery, Department of General Surgery and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongyuan Pan
- Division of Liver Surgery, Department of General Surgery and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ao Du
- Division of Liver Surgery, Department of General Surgery and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tian Wu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiang Lan
- Division of Liver Surgery, Department of General Surgery and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yujia Song
- Division of Liver Surgery, Department of General Surgery and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yue Lv
- Division of Liver Surgery, Department of General Surgery and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fang He
- Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kefei Yuan
- Division of Liver Surgery, Department of General Surgery and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Chen LN, Shou ZX, Jin X. Interaction Between Genetic Susceptibility and COVID-19 Pathogenesis in Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Disorders: The Role of Immune Responses. Viral Immunol 2024; 37:1-11. [PMID: 38271561 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2023.0074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have highlighted the emergence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) symptoms reminiscent of Kawasaki disease in children, including fever, heightened multisystem inflammation, and multiorgan involvement, posing a life-threatening complication. Consequently, extensive research endeavors in pediatric have aimed to elucidate the intricate relationship between COVID-19 infection and the immune system. COVID-19 profoundly impacts immune cells, culminating in a cytokine storm that particularly inflicts damage on the pulmonary system. The gravity and vulnerability to COVID-19 are closely intertwined with the vigor of the immune response. In this context, the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecule assumes pivotal significance in shaping immune responses. Genetic scrutiny of HLA has unveiled the presence of at least one deleterious allele in children afflicted with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Furthermore, research has demonstrated that COVID-19 exploits the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor, transmembrane serine protease type 2, and various other genes to gain entry into host cells, with individuals harboring ACE-2 polymorphisms being at higher risk. Pediatric studies have employed diverse genetic methodologies, such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and whole exome sequencing, to scrutinize target genes. These investigations have pinpointed two specific genomic loci linked to the severity and susceptibility of COVID-19, with the HLA locus emerging as a notable risk factor. In this comprehensive review article, we endeavor to assess the available evidence and consolidate data, offering insights into current clinical practices and delineating avenues for future research. Our objective is to advance early diagnosis, stabilization, and appropriate management strategies to mitigate genetic susceptibility's impact on the incidence of COVID-19 in pediatric patients with multisystem inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Na Chen
- Department of Pediatric, Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Zhang-Xuan Shou
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xue Jin
- Department of Pharmacy, Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Cancer Center, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, China
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A S, S L, K AO, R S, A HJ. Resilient communities? A qualitative interview study on sustaining a community project for health promotion among socially disadvantaged women during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1654. [PMID: 37644521 PMCID: PMC10463586 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16593-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES With the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 a global pandemic impacted on health promotion, overlapping and hindering efforts to overcome the worldwide pandemic of lacking physical activity (PA). Nationwide lockdowns, the closure of public facilities and sports venues, made it significantly more difficult to sustain community-run PA projects. In our case study, we explore (a) under which circumstances a community-basedhealth promotion project can be maintained during crisis and (b) what resilience capacities are important for community project coordinators to deal with those aggravating circumstances. METHODS Our case study looks at a community-based project called BIG, an exercise promotion project for women in difficult life circumstances. The case study was conducted between July 2021 and January 2022 with six municipalities implementing the project. Following a triangulation approach, we used minutes from short exchanges (n=17) with community project coordinators, information brochures about current exercise classes (n=6) and semi-structured qualitative interviews with project coordinators (n=6). All data were analyzed using the framework approach. RESULTS All sites showed a high level of willingness to adapt to the pandemic situation and to maintain the project as best as possible. Findings highlight that coordinators whose work routine was characterized by intense relationship management with participants and trainers demonstrated higher levels of adaptive and absorptive capacities on an individual level than coordinators of those communities with less social cohesion. At a community level, important resources for strengthening adaptive and absorptive resilience capacities were job security of the coordinators, sufficient financial resources to adapt classes to changing circumstances, and a supportive organizational climate in the coordinators' working environment to allow them to react flexibly according to current pandemic regulations. CONCLUSION Despite high resilience capacities especially on an individual level, the low-threshold nature of the project could not be maintained at a pre-pandemic level. For many women, participation in the project was no longer possible at times. Awareness should be raised in communities that PA promotion programs are crucial to strengthening physical and mental health, even in times of crisis. It seems necessary to find permanent funding options for such programs, to integrate them permanently into municipal structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sauter A
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Medical Sociology, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Linder S
- Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nuremberg, Gebbertstraße 123b, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Abu-Omar K
- Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nuremberg, Gebbertstraße 123b, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sommer R
- Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nuremberg, Gebbertstraße 123b, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Herrmann-Johns A
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Medical Sociology, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
- School of Medicine and Public Health, HMRI Building, Level 4, West Wing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
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Sharma S, Kumari B, Ali A, Patel PK, Sharma AK, Nair R, Singh PK, Hajela K. Mannose-binding lectin gene 2 variant DD (rs 5030737) is associated with susceptibility to COVID-19 infection in the urban population of Patna City (India). Mol Genet Genomics 2023; 298:955-963. [PMID: 37204457 PMCID: PMC10196310 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-023-02030-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The study aimed to measure plasma levels of Mannose-Binding Lectin (MBL) and MBL-associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2) and their polymorphisms in COVID-19 patients and controls to detect association. As MBL is a protein of immunological importance, it may contribute to the first-line host defence against SARS-CoV-2. MBL initiates the lectin pathway of complement activation with help of MASP-1 and MASP-2. Hence, appropriate serum levels of MBL and MASPs are crucial in getting protection from the disease. The polymorphisms of MBL and MASP genes affect their plasma levels, impacting their protective function and thus may manifest susceptibility, extreme variability in the clinical symptoms and progression of COVID-19 disease. The present study was conducted to find plasma levels and genetic variations in MBL and MASP-2 in COVID-19 patients and controls using PCR-RFLP and ELISA, respectively.The present study was conducted to find plasma levels and genetic variations in MBL and MASP-2 in COVID-19 patients and controls using PCR-RFLP and ELISA, respectively. Our results indicate that median serum levels of MBL and MASP-2 were significantly low in diseased cases but attained normal levels on recovery. Only genotype DD was found to be associated with COVID-19 cases in the urban population of Patna city.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadhana Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, 801507, Bihar, India.
| | - Bandana Kumari
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, 801507, Bihar, India
| | - Asgar Ali
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, 801507, Bihar, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar Patel
- Department of Botany, SBN Government PG College, Barwani, 451551, MP, India
| | - Abhay Kumar Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, 801507, Bihar, India
| | - Rathish Nair
- College of Nursing, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, 801507, Bihar, India
| | | | - Krishnan Hajela
- School of Life Sciences, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore, 452014, MP, India
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Xenakis MN. Generalizing the Wells-Riley Infection Probability: A Superstatistical Scheme for Indoor Infection Risk Estimation. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 25:896. [PMID: 37372240 DOI: 10.3390/e25060896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence supports that air is the main transmission pathway of the recently identified SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease. Estimating the infection risk associated with an indoor space remains an open problem due to insufficient data concerning COVID-19 outbreaks, as well as, methodological challenges arising from cases where environmental (i.e., out-of-host) and immunological (i.e., within-host) heterogeneities cannot be neglected. This work addresses these issues by introducing a generalization of the elementary Wells-Riley infection probability model. To this end, we adopted a superstatistical approach where the exposure rate parameter is gamma-distributed across subvolumes of the indoor space. This enabled us to construct a susceptible (S)-exposed (E)-infected (I) dynamics model where the Tsallis entropic index q quantifies the degree of departure from a well-mixed (i.e., homogeneous) indoor-air-environment state. A cumulative-dose mechanism is employed to describe infection activation in relation to a host's immunological profile. We corroborate that the six-foot rule cannot guarantee the biosafety of susceptible occupants, even for exposure times as short as 15 min. Overall, our work seeks to provide a minimal (in terms of the size of the parameter space) framework for more realistic indoor SEI dynamics explorations while highlighting their Tsallisian entropic origin and the crucial yet elusive role that the innate immune system can play in shaping them. This may be useful for scientists and decision makers interested in probing different indoor biosafety protocols more thoroughly and comprehensively, thus motivating the use of nonadditive entropies in the emerging field of indoor space epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markos N Xenakis
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., FI-02044 Espoo, Finland
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Njekwa K, Muyoyeta M, Mulenga B, Chisenga CC, Simuyandi M, Chilengi R. Superimposed Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) in a 26-Year-Old Female with No Underlying Co-Morbidities Recovering from COVID-19-Case Report. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8050268. [PMID: 37235316 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8050268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis before the COVID-19 pandemic is said to have killed more people globally than any other communicable disease and is ranked the 13th cause of death, according to the WHO. Tuberculosis also still remains highly endemic, especially in LIMCs with a high burden of people living with HIV/AIDS, in which it is the leading cause of mortality. Given the risk factors associated with COVID-19, the cross similarities between tuberculosis and COVID-19 symptoms, and the paucity of data on how both diseases impact each other, there is a need to generate more information on COVID-19-TB co-infection. In this case report, we present a young female patient of reproductive age with no underlying comorbidities recovering from COVID-19, who later presented with pulmonary tuberculosis. It describes the series of investigations performed and treatments given during the follow-up. There is a need for more surveillance for possible COVID-19-TB co-infection cases and further research to understand the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis and vice versa, especially in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katanekwa Njekwa
- Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), P.O. Box 34681, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
| | - Monde Muyoyeta
- Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), P.O. Box 34681, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Tuberculosis Programs-Director, Centre for Infectious Disease Research, P.O. Box 34681, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
| | - Bavin Mulenga
- Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), P.O. Box 34681, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
| | | | - Michelo Simuyandi
- Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), P.O. Box 34681, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Enteric Diseases and Vaccine Research Unit (EDVRU)-Director, P.O. Box 34681, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
| | - Roma Chilengi
- Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), P.O. Box 34681, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI)-Director, H9M2+WGX, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
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10
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Zelek WM, Harrison RA. Complement and COVID-19: Three years on, what we know, what we don't know, and what we ought to know. Immunobiology 2023; 228:152393. [PMID: 37187043 PMCID: PMC10174470 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2023.152393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus was identified in China in 2019 as the causative agent of COVID-19, and quickly spread throughout the world, causing over 7 million deaths, of which 2 million occurred prior to the introduction of the first vaccine. In the following discussion, while recognising that complement is just one of many players in COVID-19, we focus on the relationship between complement and COVID-19 disease, with limited digression into directly-related areas such as the relationship between complement, kinin release, and coagulation. Prior to the 2019 COVID-19 outbreak, an important role for complement in coronavirus diseases had been established. Subsequently, multiple investigations of patients with COVID-19 confirmed that complement dysregulation is likely to be a major driver of disease pathology, in some, if not all, patients. These data fuelled evaluation of many complement-directed therapeutic agents in small patient cohorts, with claims of significant beneficial effect. As yet, these early results have not been reflected in larger clinical trials, posing questions such as who to treat, appropriate time to treat, duration of treatment, and optimal target for treatment. While significant control of the pandemic has been achieved through a global scientific and medical effort to comprehend the etiology of the disease, through extensive SARS-CoV-2 testing and quarantine measures, through vaccine development, and through improved therapy, possibly aided by attenuation of the dominant strains, it is not yet over. In this review, we summarise complement-relevant literature, emphasise its main conclusions, and formulate a hypothesis for complement involvement in COVID-19. Based on this we make suggestions as to how any future outbreak might be better managed in order to minimise impact on patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wioleta M Zelek
- Dementia Research Institute and Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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11
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Musavi H, Abazari O, Barartabar Z, Kalaki-Jouybari F, Hemmati-Dinarvand M, Esmaeili P, Mahjoub S. The benefits of Vitamin D in the COVID-19 pandemic: biochemical and immunological mechanisms. Arch Physiol Biochem 2023; 129:354-362. [PMID: 33030073 DOI: 10.1080/13813455.2020.1826530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In December 2019, a new infectious complication called CoronaVirus Infectious Disease-19, briefly COVID-19, caused by SARS-COV-2, is identified in Wuhan, China. It spread all over the world and became a pandemic. In many individuals who had suffered SARS-COV-2 infection, cytokine storm starts through cytokine overproduction and leads to Acute Respiratory Syndrome (ARS), organ failure, and death. According to the obtained evidence, Vitamin D (VitD) enhances the ACE2/Ang(1-7)/MasR pathway activity, and it also reduces cytokine storms and the ARS risk. Therefore, VitD intake may be beneficial for patients with SARS-COV-2 infection exposed to cytokine storm but do not suffer hypotension. In the present review, we have explained the effects of VitD on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) function and angiotensin-converting enzyme2 (ACE2) expression. Furthermore, we have reviewed the biochemical and immunological effects of VitD on immune function in the underlying diseases and its role in the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadis Musavi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Omid Abazari
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Zeinab Barartabar
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Kalaki-Jouybari
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mohsen Hemmati-Dinarvand
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Parisa Esmaeili
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Soleiman Mahjoub
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
- Department of Pathology, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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12
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Patel SV, Shah S, Patel R, Bavishi S, Pethani Y, Shah K. Ovarian Vein Thrombosis: A Sequela of COVID-Associated Coagulopathy. Cureus 2023; 15:e36437. [PMID: 37090373 PMCID: PMC10115594 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.36437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes endothelial damage, blood stasis, and an overall state of hypercoagulability. This makes COVID a huge risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and arterial thromboembolism (ATE). Twenty percent of COVID-19 patients suffer from coagulation abnormalities like pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, etc. Ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) has been previously linked to post-partum period, pregnancy, hypercoagulable state, or malignancy. We analyzed PubMed and Google Scholar databases for research and publications regarding OVT in patients with COVID-19. The search yielded nine case reports. These case reports were found to implicate COVID-associated coagulopathy (CAC) as an additional risk factor for ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT). OVT most commonly presents with abdominal pain and fever, making it difficult to diagnose, owing to the similarity in presentation with multiple other pathologies. OVT can be diagnosed radiologically with ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, or CT scan with IV contrast. CT has been used as the modality of choice for diagnosing OVT. Although rare, OVT can cause life-endangering complications by extension of thrombus into systemic veins or pulmonary artery embolization. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are vital. There is no official guideline for the treatment of OVT post-COVID. However, the literature supports the use of apixaban or enoxaparin/acenocoumarol.
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New Monoclonal Antibodies Specific for Different Epitopes of the Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 and Its Major Variants: Additional Tools for a More Specific COVID-19 Diagnosis. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020610. [PMID: 36831149 PMCID: PMC9953266 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of the new pathogen SARS-CoV-2 determined a rapid need for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to detect the virus in biological fluids as a rapid tool to identify infected individuals to be treated or quarantined. The majority of commercially available antigenic tests for SARS-CoV-2 rely on the detection of N antigen in biologic fluid using anti-N antibodies, and their capacity to specifically identify subjects infected by SARS-CoV-2 is questionable due to several structural analogies among the N proteins of different coronaviruses. In order to produce new specific antibodies, BALB/c mice were immunized three times at 20-day intervals with a recombinant spike (S) protein. The procedure used was highly efficient, and 40 different specific mAbs were isolated, purified and characterized, with 13 ultimately being selected for their specificity and lack of cross reactivity with other human coronaviruses. The specific epitopes recognized by the selected mAbs were identified through a peptide library and/or by recombinant fragments of the S protein. In particular, the selected mAbs recognized different linear epitopes along the S1, excluding the receptor binding domain, and along the S2 subunits of the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 and its major variants of concern. We identified combinations of anti-S mAbs suitable for use in ELISA or rapid diagnostic tests, with the highest sensitivity and specificity coming from proof-of-concept tests using recombinant antigens, SARS-CoV-2 or biological fluids from infected individuals, that represent important additional tools for the diagnosis of COVID-19.
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Dal Negro RW, Turco P, Povero M. Nebivolol: an effective option against long-lasting dyspnoea following COVID-19 pneumonia - a pivotal double-blind, cross-over controlled study. Multidiscip Respir Med 2022; 17:886. [PMID: 36636645 PMCID: PMC9830396 DOI: 10.4081/mrm.2022.886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pulmonary microvascular occlusions can aggravate SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and result in a variable decrease in capillary blood volume (Vc). Dyspnoea may persist for several weeks after hospital discharge in many patients who have "radiologically recovered" from COVID-19 pneumonia. Dyspnoea is frequently "unexplained" in these cases because abnormalities in lung vasculature are understudied. Furthermore, even when they are identified, therapeutic options are still lacking in clinical practice, with nitric oxide (NO) supplementation being used only for severe respiratory failure in the hospital setting. Nebivolol is the only selective β1 adrenoceptor antagonist capable of inducing nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation by stimulating endothelial NO synthase via β3 agonism. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of nebivolol versus placebo in patients who had low Vc and complained of dyspnoea for several weeks after COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods Patients of both genders, aged ≥18 years, non-smokers, who had a CT scan that revealed no COVID-related parenchymal lesions but still complaining of dyspnoea 12-16 weeks after hospital discharge, were recruited. Spirometrical volumes, blood haemoglobin, SpO2, simultaneous diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (CO) and NO (DLCO and DLNO, respectively), DLNO/DLCO ratio, Vc and exhaled NO (eNO) were measured together with their dyspnoea score (DS), heart frequency (HF), and blood arterial pressure (BAP). Data were collected before and one week after both placebo (P) and nebivolol (N) (2.5 mg od) double-blind cross-over administered at a two-week interval. Data were statistically compared, and p<0.05 assumed as statistically significant. Results Eight patients (3 males) were investigated. In baseline, their mean DS was 2.5±0.6 SD, despite the normality of lung volumes. DLCO and DLNO mean values were lower than predicted, while mean DLNO/DLCO ratio was higher. Mean Vc proved substantially reduced. Placebo did not modify any variable (all p=ns) while N improved DLco and Vc significantly (+8.5%, p<0.04 and +17.7%, p<0.003, respectively). eNO also was significantly increased (+17.6%, p<0.002). Only N lowered the dyspnoea score (-76%, p<0.001). Systolic and diastolic BAP were slightly lowered (-7.5%, p<0.02 and -5.1%, p<0.04, respectively), together with HF (-16.8%, p<0.03). Conclusions The simultaneous assessment of DLNO, DLCO, DLNO/DLCO ratio, and Vc confirmed that long-lasting dyspnoea is related to hidden abnormalities in the lung capillary vasculature. These abnormalities can persist even after the complete resolution of parenchymal lesions regardless of the normality of lung volumes. Nebivolol, but not placebo, improves DS and Vc significantly. The mechanism suggested is the NO-mediated vasodilation via the β3 adrenoceptor stimulation of endothelial NO synthase. This hypothesis is supported by the substantial increase of eNO only assessed after nebivolol. As the nebivolol tolerability in these post-COVID normotensive patients was very good, the therapeutic use of nebivolol against residual and symptomatic signs of long-COVID can be suggested in out-patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto W. Dal Negro
- National Centre for Respiratory Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmacoepidemiology - CESFAR, Verona ,National Centre for Respiratory Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmacoepidemiology, Via G. Rossetti 4, 37124 Verona, Italy.
| | - Paola Turco
- Research & Clinical Governance, Verona, Italy
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15
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Bizjak DA, John L, Matits L, Uhl A, Schulz SVW, Schellenberg J, Peifer J, Bloch W, Weiß M, Grüner B, Bracht H, Steinacker JM, Grau M. SARS-CoV-2 Altered Hemorheological and Hematological Parameters during One-Month Observation Period in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:15332. [PMID: 36499657 PMCID: PMC9735540 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hematological and hemorheological parameters are known to be altered in COVID-19; however, the value of combined monitoring in order to deduce disease severity is only scarcely examined. A total of 44 acute SARS-CoV-2-infected patients (aCOV) and 44 age-matched healthy controls (Con) were included. Blood of aCOV was sampled at admission (T0), and at day 2 (T2), day 5 (T5), day 10 (T10), and day 30 (T30) while blood of Con was only sampled once. Inter- and intra-group differences were calculated for hematological and hemorheological parameters. Except for mean cellular volume and mean cellular hemoglobin, all blood cell parameters were significantly different between aCOV and Con. During the acute disease state (T0-T5), hematological and hemorheological parameters were highly altered in aCOV; in particular, anemic conditions and increased immune cell response/inflammation, oxidative/nitrosative stress, decreased deformability, as well as increased aggregation, were observed. During treatment and convalescence until T30, almost all abnormal values of aCOV improved towards Con values. During the acute state of the COVID-19 disease, the hematological, as well as the hemorheological system, show fast and potentially pathological changes that might contribute to the progression of the disease, but changes appear to be largely reversible after four weeks. Measuring RBC deformability and aggregation, as well as oxidative stress induction, may be helpful in monitoring critically ill COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucas John
- Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, 89075 Ulm, Germany
| | - Lynn Matits
- Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, 89075 Ulm, Germany
- Clinical & Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Alisa Uhl
- Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, 89075 Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Jana Schellenberg
- Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, 89075 Ulm, Germany
| | - Johannes Peifer
- Central Emergency Services, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Wilhelm Bloch
- Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, 50933 Cologne, Germany
| | - Manfred Weiß
- Clinic for Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Medical School, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Beate Grüner
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Hendrik Bracht
- Central Emergency Services, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Marijke Grau
- Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, 50933 Cologne, Germany
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16
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Sori N, Kunnummal SP, Peddha MS, Khan M. Prophylactic effect of pectic oligosaccharides against poly I: C- induced virus-like infection in BALB/c mice. J Food Biochem 2022; 46:e14459. [PMID: 36240117 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.14459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Pectin oligosaccharides (POS) are pectin-derived prebiotics that exerts anti-inflammatory effects on the host and stimulates an innate immune response. The role of POS in protective immunity against viral infections is not very obvious. Therefore, the prophylactic effect of POS in the mouse model induced by Poly I: C mimicking viral infection was examined. Mice fed POS showed a significant (p ≤ .05) increase in IgG, sIgA, IgA, IL-12, and a significant (p ≤ .05) decrease in the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-5, IL-6, IL-13 and IL-17 in lung and blood serum after Poly I: C stimulation. However, the control group could not inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines. POS also promoted the growth of the Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Rilenellaceae, and Lachanospiraceae groups. Therefore, this study demonstrate that POS has the potiential to protect against viral inflammation by altering gut microbiota and activating mucosal immunity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: POS is 2-10 mer oligomers of pectin. The human gastrointestinal tract lacks the enzyme to break down POS. They are fermented by gut bacteria in the colon and stimulate the proliferation of specific gut bacteria that are positively correlated with the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and SCFA. POS also stimulates the secretion of IgA, which inhibits bacterial and viral adhesion and protects the host. Therefore, POS can be used as a functional food ingredient in food to stimulate a specific group of gut bacteria and enhance preventive immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Sori
- Department of Microbiology and Fermentation Technology, CSIR - Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru, India
| | - Saarika Pothuvan Kunnummal
- Department of Microbiology and Fermentation Technology, CSIR - Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru, India.,CSIR-Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, India
| | - MuthuKumar Serva Peddha
- CSIR-Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, India.,Department of Biochemistry, CSIR - Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru, India
| | - Mahejibin Khan
- Department of Microbiology and Fermentation Technology, CSIR - Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru, India.,CSIR-Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, India
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Li PC, Wang HS, Shibu MA, Wang J, Huang SH, Wang JH, Wang JH, Huang CY, Chiang CY, Lin YJ, Ho TJ, Lin SZ, Chung HC, Yu HY, Su SH, Chou YF, Tai CH, Ding DC, Shih CY. Clinical course of patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection co-treatment with Jin Si Herbal Tea in Eastern Taiwan: A retrospective cohort study. J Herb Med 2022; 36:100610. [PMID: 36341465 PMCID: PMC9616512 DOI: 10.1016/j.hermed.2022.100610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has affected more than 608 million people and has killed 6.5 million people in the world. A few studies showed traditional Chinese medicine can be beneficial for COVID-19 treatment. An herbal preparation Jin Si Herbal Tea (JS) was formulated with herbal extracts known for their potential to decrease spike protein and ACE2 interaction, 3CL, and TRPMSS2 protease activity, and thus aimed to evaluate the clinical course of JS co-treatment along with the usual treatment schedule given for severe COVID-19 patients. Methods This retrospective cohort study included patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital between June and July 2021. All the patients were co-treated with JS and the primary outcome was death. The secondary outcomes included laboratory exam, Ct value, clinical course, and hospital stays. There were 10 patients recruited in this study and divided into < 70 years and ≧ 70 years groups (n = 5 in each group). Results Older patients (≧70 years) had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index, VACO index, and lower hemoglobin levels than < 70 years patients. The trend of lymphocyte count, LDH, D-dimer, and Ct value of non-survivors was not consistent with previous studies. The death rate was 20% and the recovery rate to mild illness in 14 days was 40%. Conclusion In conclusion, this is the first clinical study of JS co-treatment in severe COVID-19 patients. JS co-treatment might reduce death rate and recovery time. Further large-scale clinical trials would be expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Chen Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Sheng Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | | | - Jhen Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Shiau-Huei Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Jeng-Hung Wang
- Department of Medical Research, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Ji-Hung Wang
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- Division of Cardiology, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yang Huang
- Cardiovascular and Mitochondrial Related Disease Research Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 970, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
- Center of General Education, Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 970, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung 413, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Yi Chiang
- Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India
| | - Yu-Jung Lin
- Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India
| | - Tsung-Jung Ho
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
- Integration Center of Traditional Chinese and Modern Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan
- School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 97004, Taiwan
| | - Shinn-Zong Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Chun Chung
- Department of Nursing, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yuan Yu
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - San-Hua Su
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Fang Chou
- Department of Nursing, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hui Tai
- Department of Nursing, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Dah-Ching Ding
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
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18
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Dal Negro RW, Turco P, Povero M. Long-lasting dyspnoea in patients otherwise clinically and radiologically recovered from COVID pneumonia: a probe for checking persisting disorders in capillary lung volume as a cause. Multidiscip Respir Med 2022; 17:875. [PMID: 36268261 PMCID: PMC9577559 DOI: 10.4081/mrm.2022.875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background During SARS-CoV-2 infection, diffuse alveolar damage and pulmonary microvascular abnormalities are critical events that result in gas exchange disorders of varying severity and duration. The only measure of carbon monoxide (CO) diffusing capacity (DLCO) is unable to distinguish the alveolar from the vascular side of present and residual diffusive abnormalities, and measure of nitric oxide (NO) diffusing capacity (DLNO) is also recommended. Dyspnoea, despite being understudied, persists in a significant proportion of patients for several weeks after hospital discharge. The goal of this study was to look into the underlying cause of long-term dyspnoea in patients who were "clinically and radiologically recovered" from COVID pneumonia by assessing DLCO and DLNO at the same time. Methods Patients of both genders, aged ≥18 years, who had a CT scan showing complete resolution of COVID-related parenchymal lesions were recruited consecutively. Spirometrical volumes, blood haemoglobin, SpO2, DLCO, DLNO and capillary blood volume (Vc) were measured. Data from patients without dyspnoea (group A) and from patients still claiming dyspnoea after 12-16 weeks from their hospital discharge (group B) were statistically compared. Results Forty patients were recruited: 19 in group A and 21 in group B. Groups were comparable for their general characteristics and spirometrical volumes, that were in the normal range. Mean values for DLCO, DLNO and Vc were significantly and substantially lower than predicted only in patients of group B (p<0.011; p<0.0036; p<0.02; p<0.001, respectively). The DLNO/ DLCO ratio was higher in group B (p<0.001) and inversely correlated to Vc values (-0.3636). Conclusions The single-breath, simultaneous measurement of DLCO, DLNO, and Vc demonstrated that problems with blood gas exchange can persist even after parenchymal lesions have healed completely. Regardless of the normality of spirometric volumes, there was a significant reduction in lung capillary blood volume. In these patients, the cause of long-term dyspnoea may be related to hidden abnormalities in the vascular side of diffusive function. In the near future, novel therapeutic approaches against residual and symptomatic signs of long-COVID are possible.
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19
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Lampova B, Doskocil I, Kourimska L, Kopec A. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may affect the course of COVID-19. Front Immunol 2022; 13:957518. [PMID: 36238306 PMCID: PMC9551352 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.957518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The highly infectious coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is a new coronavirus that has been spreading since late 2019 and has caused millions of deaths worldwide. COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly worldwide despite high vaccination coverage; therefore, it is crucial to focus on prevention. Most patients experience only mild symptoms of COVID-19. However, in some cases, serious complications can develop mainly due to an exaggerated immune response; that is, a so-called cytokine storm, which can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome, organ failure, or, in the worst cases, death. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and their metabolites can modulate inflammatory responses, thus reducing the over-release of cytokines. It has been hypothesized that supplementation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids could improve clinical outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Some clinical trials have shown that administering n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to critically ill patients can improve their health and shorten the duration of their stay in intensive care. However, previous clinical studies have some limitations; therefore, further studies are required to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Lampova
- Department of Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Ivo Doskocil
- Department of Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
- *Correspondence: Ivo Doskocil,
| | - Lenka Kourimska
- Department of Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Aneta Kopec
- Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Food Technology, The University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
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20
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Latifi-Pupovci H. Molecular mechanisms involved in pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2: Immune evasion and implications for therapeutic strategies. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 153:113368. [PMID: 35792393 PMCID: PMC9243164 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused the outbreak of unusual viral pneumonia that emerged in late 2019 in the city of Wuhan, China. Since then, because of its high transmission and pathogenic potential it spread almost all over the world causing the pandemic, as an extraordinary threat to the world public health. Rapid activation of a well-orchestrated and functional immune system with its both arms innate and adaptive immune response is pivotal to eradication of the disease caused by this coronavirus (COVID-19). Therefore, in this review are summarized the most recent data on complex molecular mechanisms involved in the innate and adaptive immune response to combat COVID-19. In addition to widely used vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, because of the induction of short-lived immunity and appearance of variants of concern (VOCs), there will be also discussed newly developed strategies to target different viral proteins, which are not prone to frequent mutations. Obviously, SARS-CoV-2 cannot evade the effect of these novel drugs and therefore they show a great promise as an antiviral therapy not only in COVID-19 but also in future viral outbreaks.
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21
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Sapir T, Averch Z, Lerman B, Bodzin A, Fishman Y, Maitra R. COVID-19 and the Immune Response: A Multi-Phasic Approach to the Treatment of COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158606. [PMID: 35955740 PMCID: PMC9369212 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a viral agent that causes Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a disease that causes flu-like symptoms that, when exacerbated, can have life-threatening consequences. COVID-19 has been linked to persistent symptoms, sequelae, and medical complications that can last months after the initial infection. This systematic review aims to elucidate the innate and adaptive immune mechanisms involved and identify potential characteristics of COVID-19 pathology that may increase symptom duration. We also describe he three different stages of COVID-19—viral replication, immune hyperactivation, and post-acute sequelae—as well as each phase’s corresponding immune response. Finally, we use this multiphasic approach to describe different treatment approaches for each of the three stages—antivirals, immunosuppressants and monoclonal antibodies, and continued immunosuppressants—to fully curate the treatment to the stage of disease.
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22
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Fröberg A. The COVID-19 pandemic: The importance of physical activity among faculty members. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2022; 70:1597-1600. [PMID: 33048633 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1817037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed serious challenge to societies worldwide. To prevent person-to-person transmission of the coronavirus and avoid associated morbidity and mortality, several public health measures have been introduced by various health organizations and authorities, such as social distancing policies and quarantine. While necessary, these public health measures are likely to have implications for people's physical activity behaviors. This viewpoint is intended for faculty members and focus on the importance of physical activity for health. Suggestions on how to stay physically active during the COVID-19 pandemic are also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Fröberg
- Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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McDaniel CG, Commander SJ, DeLaura I, Cantrell S, Leraas HJ, Moore CB, Reed CR, Pahl KS, Tracy ET. Coagulation Abnormalities and Clinical Complications in Children With SARS-CoV-2: A Systematic Review of 48,322 Patients. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2022; 44:323-335. [PMID: 34862349 DOI: 10.1097/mph.0000000000002321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Given the limited information on the coagulation abnormalities of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in pediatric patients, we designed a systematic review to evaluate this topic. A comprehensive literature search was conducted for "SARS-CoV-2," "coagulopathy," and "pediatrics." Two authors independently screened the articles that the search returned for bleeding, thrombosis, anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet usage, and abnormal laboratory markers in pediatric patients with SARS-CoV-2, and the authors then extracted the relevant data. One hundred twenty-six publications were included. Thirty-four (27%) studies reported thrombotic complications in 504 patients. Thirty-one (25%) studies reported bleeding complications in 410 patients. Ninety-eight (78%) studies reported abnormal laboratory values in 6580 patients. Finally, 56 (44%) studies reported anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet usage in 3124 patients. The variety of laboratory abnormalities and coagulation complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 presented in this review highlights the complexity and variability of the disease presentation in infants and children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sarah Cantrell
- Duke University School of Medicine
- Duke University Medical Center Library and Archives, Durham, NC
| | | | | | | | - Kristy S Pahl
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
- Department of Pediatrics
| | - Elisabeth T Tracy
- Department of Surgery
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Duke University Medical Center
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24
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Bushnaq T, Algheshairy RM, Almujaydil MS, Malki AA, Alharbi HF, Barakat H. Dietary Habits and Lifestyle Behaviors of Saudi Residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137659. [PMID: 35805318 PMCID: PMC9265301 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has continued to spread rapidly worldwide, forcing countries to enact lockdowns and strict social-distancing measures that affect individual and population health. This study investigates the changes in dietary habits and lifestyle behaviors among Saudi residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 786 participants, with a mean age of 30 years. The questionnaire was administered online and sent via social media applications. Dietary habits, physical activity, TV-watching time, sleep patterns, stressors, and socio-demographic data were evaluated. Among the survey respondents, there was an increase in weight gain, food consumption, and decreased physical activity. Respondents who gained weight consumed more snacks, ate larger food portions, and engaged in less physical activity. Furthermore, a high fish, water, and supplements intake was noticed. Although respondents’ intake of fruits and vegetables was low, most individuals reported a negatively changed intake. However, most respondents reported increased consumption of lean meat and sweet foods. Observing changes in dietary and lifestyle habits during the lockdown period may help elaborate on the pandemic’s consequences for population health and assist in formulating and implementing policies for future closures, while supporting vulnerable groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taqwa Bushnaq
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; (T.B.); (A.A.M.)
| | - Reham M. Algheshairy
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.A.); (H.F.A.)
- Correspondence: (R.M.A.); or (H.B.); Tel.: +966-547-141-277 (H.B.)
| | - Mona S. Almujaydil
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.A.); (H.F.A.)
| | - Asma Al Malki
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; (T.B.); (A.A.M.)
| | - Hend F. Alharbi
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.A.); (H.F.A.)
| | - Hassan Barakat
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.A.); (H.F.A.)
- Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Moshtohor 13736, Egypt
- Correspondence: (R.M.A.); or (H.B.); Tel.: +966-547-141-277 (H.B.)
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25
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Cimini E, Agrati C. γδ T Cells in Emerging Viral Infection: An Overview. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061166. [PMID: 35746638 PMCID: PMC9230790 DOI: 10.3390/v14061166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
New emerging viruses belonging to the Coronaviridae, Flaviviridae, and Filoviridae families are serious threats to public health and represent a global concern. The surveillance to monitor the emergence of new viruses and their transmission is an important target for public health authorities. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an excellent example of a pathogen able to cause a pandemic. In a few months, SARS-CoV-2 has spread globally from China, and it has become a world health problem. Gammadelta (γδ) T cell are sentinels of innate immunity and are able to protect the host from viral infections. They enrich many tissues, such as the skin, intestines, and lungs where they can sense and fight the microbes, thus contributing to the protective immune response. γδ T cells perform their direct antiviral activity by cytolytic and non-cytolytic mechanisms against a wide range of viruses, and they are able to orchestrate the cellular interplay between innate and acquired immunity. For their pleiotropic features, γδ T cells have been proposed as a target for immunotherapies in both cancer and viral infections. In this review, we analyzed the role of γδ T cells in emerging viral infections to define the profile of the response and to better depict their role in the host protection.
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Smolnikova MV, Tereshchenko SY. Proteins of the lectin pathway of the complement system activation: immunobiological functions, genetics and involvement in the pathogenesis of human diseases. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND IMMUNITY 2022. [DOI: 10.15789/2220-7619-pot-1777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The complement system is the most ancient components in the innate immunity, mainly functioning to primarily eliminate bacterial agents intravascularly. Moreover, the complement complex proteins play a role as a bridge between the systems of innate and adaptive immunity providing adequate conditions for maturation and differentiation of B- and T-lymphocytes. The complement system consists of plasma proteins and membrane receptors. Plasma proteins interact with each other via the three described cascade pathways lectin (which is most ancient phylogenetically), alternative and classical. Lectins are proteins comprising a separate superfamily of pattern-recognizing receptors able to sense molecules of oligo- and polysaccharide nature and induce their aggregation. Among all the lectins, ficolins (FCN) (common domain fibrinogen) and collectins (common domain collagen) mannose-binding lectin (MBL), hepatic and renal collectins have exert unique functions by complexing with carbohydrate components of microbial wall. Formation of a compound complex microbial wall polysaccharides + collectin/ficolin + specific mannose-binding lectin-associated serine proteases (MARP) results in the complement system activation, inflammatory reaction and bacterium elimination. Such scenario is proceeded along the lectin pathway compared to the two other pathways called classical and alternative. Examining a role of the complement system and congenital protein defects in the pathogenesis of various diseases is of topical interest because inborn deficiency of the complement components comprises at least 5% out of total primary immunodeficiency rate, whereas the aspects of their prevalence and pathogenesis remain unexplored. Relevance of investigating the complement system components for diverse populations is tremendous, taking into consideration accumulated evidence regarding an important role of the lectin pathway in viral infections. Lectins, the main proteins in the lectin pathway of the complement activation, are encoded by polymorphic genes, wherein single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) result in altered protein conformation and expression, which, in turn, affects functionality and potential to respond to a pathogen. The distribution of the lectin polymorphic gene frequencies and their haplotypes displays extremely marked population differences. According to analyzing available data, population SNP frequencies including those associated with inborn deficiencies for components of the lectin pathway have been currently scarce or unexplored. hence, here we review major lectins and their functions, their functionally significant SNPs in diverse populations and their pathogenetic importance for host defense functions.
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Muthiah G, Sarkar A, Roy S, Singh P, Kumar P, Bhardwaj K, Jaiswal A. Nanotechnology Toolkit for Combating COVID-19 and Beyond. CHEMNANOMAT : CHEMISTRY OF NANOMATERIALS FOR ENERGY, BIOLOGY AND MORE 2022; 8:e202100505. [PMID: 35542043 PMCID: PMC9074423 DOI: 10.1002/cnma.202100505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 is unlikely to be contained anytime soon with conventional medical technology. This beckons an urgent demand for novel and innovative interventions in clinical protocols, diagnostics, and therapeutics; to manage the current "disease X" and to be poised to counter its successor of like nature if one were to ever arise. To meet such a demand requires more attention to research on the viral-host interactions and on developing expeditious solutions, the kinds of which seem to spring from promising domains such as nanotechnology. Inducing activity at scales comparable to the viruses themselves, nanotechnology-based preventive measures, diagnostic tools and therapeutics for COVID-19 have been rapidly growing during the pandemic. This review covers the recent and promising nanomedicine-based solutions relating to COVID-19 and how some of these are possibly applicable to a wider range of viruses and pathogens. We also discuss the type, composition, and utility of nanostructures which play various roles specifically under prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. Further, we have highlighted the adoption and commercialization of some the solutions by large and small corporations alike, as well as providing herewith an exhaustive list on nanovaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giredhar Muthiah
- School of Basic SciencesIndian Institute of Technology MandiKamandMandi Himachal Pradesh175075India
| | - Ankita Sarkar
- School of Basic SciencesIndian Institute of Technology MandiKamandMandi Himachal Pradesh175075India
| | - Shounak Roy
- School of Basic SciencesIndian Institute of Technology MandiKamandMandi Himachal Pradesh175075India
| | - Prem Singh
- School of Basic SciencesIndian Institute of Technology MandiKamandMandi Himachal Pradesh175075India
| | - Praveen Kumar
- School of Basic SciencesIndian Institute of Technology MandiKamandMandi Himachal Pradesh175075India
| | - Keshav Bhardwaj
- School of Basic SciencesIndian Institute of Technology MandiKamandMandi Himachal Pradesh175075India
| | - Amit Jaiswal
- School of Basic SciencesIndian Institute of Technology MandiKamandMandi Himachal Pradesh175075India
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Sinatti G, Santini SJ, Tarantino G, Picchi G, Cosimini B, Ranfone F, Casano N, Zingaropoli MA, Iapadre N, Bianconi S, Armiento A, Carducci P, Ciardi MR, Mastroianni CM, Grimaldi A, Balsano C. PaO 2/FiO 2 ratio forecasts COVID-19 patients' outcome regardless of age: a cross-sectional, monocentric study. Intern Emerg Med 2022; 17:665-673. [PMID: 34637082 PMCID: PMC8505469 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-021-02840-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
We studied the predictive value of the PaO2/FiO2 ratio for classifying COVID-19-positive patients who will develop severe clinical outcomes. One hundred fifty patients were recruited and categorized into two distinct populations ("A" and "B"), according to the indications given by the World Health Organization. Patients belonging the population "A" presented with mild disease not requiring oxygen support, whereas population "B" presented with a severe disease needing oxygen support. The AUC curve of PaO2/FiO2 in the discovery cohort was 0.838 (95% CI 0.771-0.908). The optimal cut-off value for distinguishing population "A" from the "B" one, calculated by Youden's index, with sensitivity of 71.79% and specificity 85.25%, LR+4.866, LR-0.339, was < 274 mmHg. The AUC in the validation cohort of 170 patients overlapped the previous one, i.e., 0.826 (95% CI 0.760-0.891). PaO2/FiO2 ratio < 274 mmHg was a good predictive index test to forecast the development of a severe respiratory failure in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. Moreover, our work highlights that PaO2/FiO2 ratio, compared to inflammatory scores (hs-CRP, NLR, PLR and LDH) indicated to be useful in clinical managements, results to be the most reliable parameter to identify patients who require closer respiratory monitoring and more aggressive supportive therapies. Clinical trial registration: Prognostic Score in COVID-19, prot. NCT04780373 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04780373 (retrospectively registered).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Sinatti
- School of Emergency and Urgency Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Life, Health and Environmental Sciences-MESVA, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Silvano Junior Santini
- School of Emergency and Urgency Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Life, Health and Environmental Sciences-MESVA, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tarantino
- Clinical Medicine and Surgery Department, Federico II University Medical School of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanna Picchi
- Department of Infectious Disease, San Salvatore Hospital, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Benedetta Cosimini
- School of Emergency and Urgency Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Life, Health and Environmental Sciences-MESVA, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Francesca Ranfone
- School of Emergency and Urgency Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Life, Health and Environmental Sciences-MESVA, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Nicolò Casano
- School of Emergency and Urgency Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Life, Health and Environmental Sciences-MESVA, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Nerio Iapadre
- Department of Infectious Disease, San Salvatore Hospital, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Simone Bianconi
- Emergency and Acceptance Department, San Pietro Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Carducci
- Department of Pneumology, San Salvatore Hospital, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Ciardi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Clara Balsano
- School of Emergency and Urgency Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Life, Health and Environmental Sciences-MESVA, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
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Obesity and Leptin Resistance in the Regulation of the Type I Interferon Early Response and the Increased Risk for Severe COVID-19. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14071388. [PMID: 35406000 PMCID: PMC9002648 DOI: 10.3390/nu14071388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity, and obesity-associated conditions such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, are important risk factors for severe Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The common denominator is metaflammation, a portmanteau of metabolism and inflammation, which is characterized by chronically elevated levels of leptin and pro-inflammatory cytokines. These induce the “Suppressor Of Cytokine Signaling 1 and 3” (SOCS1/3), which deactivates the leptin receptor and also other SOCS1/3 sensitive cytokine receptors in immune cells, impairing the type I and III interferon early responses. By also upregulating SOCS1/3, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 adds a significant boost to this. The ensuing consequence is a delayed but over-reactive immune response, characterized by high-grade inflammation (e.g., cytokine storm), endothelial damage, and hypercoagulation, thus leading to severe COVID-19. Superimposing an acute disturbance, such as a SARS-CoV-2 infection, on metaflammation severely tests resilience. In the long run, metaflammation causes the “typical western” conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. Severe COVID-19 and other serious infectious diseases can be added to the list of its short-term consequences. Therefore, preventive measures should include not only vaccination and the well-established actions intended to avoid infection, but also dietary and lifestyle interventions aimed at improving body composition and preventing or reversing metaflammation.
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Abidi E, El Nekidy WS, Alefishat E, Rahman N, Petroianu GA, El-Lababidi R, Mallat J. Tocilizumab and COVID-19: Timing of Administration and Efficacy. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:825749. [PMID: 35250575 PMCID: PMC8894855 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.825749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Elevated concentrations of interleukin-6 have been demonstrated to be an important key factor in COVID-19 host immune impairment. It represents an important prognostic factor of harm associated with COVID-19 infection by stimulating a vigorous proinflammatory response, leading to the so-called “cytokine storm”. Therefore, immunomodulatory interventions targeting interleukin-6 receptor antagonism have been investigated as potential treatments to counterbalance the host immune dysregulation and to support the advantageous effects of corticosteroids. Tocilizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that has gained much interest during the COVID-19 pandemic as an interleukin-6 receptor antagonist. Various early observational studies have reported beneficial effects of tocilizumab. Moreover, consequent randomized controlled trials have subsequently shown significant positive results about tocilizumab efficacy and safety, focusing on outcomes like mortality, risk of intensive care unit admission, and the need for mechanical ventilation, while others presented conflicting findings. In this review, we first described the pathophysiology of COVID-19 infection while highlighting the role of interleukin-6. Furthermore, we also discussed the non-conclusive evidence about tocilizumab to be used as the standard of care therapy for all patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, as well as its beneficial effects in selected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emna Abidi
- Department of Pharmacy Services, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Wasim S. El Nekidy
- Department of Pharmacy Services, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Eman Alefishat
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- *Correspondence: Eman Alefishat,
| | - Nadeem Rahman
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Critical Care Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Georg A. Petroianu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rania El-Lababidi
- Department of Pharmacy Services, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jihad Mallat
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Critical Care Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Normandy University, UNICAEN, Caen, France
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31
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Ahmed MN, Jahan R, Nissapatorn V, Wilairatana P, Rahmatullah M. Plant lectins as prospective antiviral biomolecules in the search for COVID-19 eradication strategies. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 146:112507. [PMID: 34891122 PMCID: PMC8648558 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lectins or clusters of carbohydrate-binding proteins of non-immune origin are distributed chiefly in the Plantae. Lectins have potent anti-infectivity properties for several RNA viruses including SARS-CoV-2. The primary purpose of this review is to review the ability of lectins mediated potential biotherapeutic and bioprophylactic strategy against coronavirus causing COVID-19. Lectins have binding affinity to the glycans of SARS-COV-2 Spike glycoprotein that has N-glycosylation sites. Apart from this, the complement lectin pathway is a "first line host defense" against the viral infection that is activated by mannose-binding lectins. Mannose-binding lectins deficiency in serum influences innate immunity of the host and facilitates infectious diseases including COVID-19. Our accumulated evidence obtained from scientific databases particularly PubMed and Google Scholar databases indicate that mannose-specific/mannose-binding lectins (MBL) have potent efficacies like anti-infectivity, complement cascade induction, immunoadjuvants, DC-SIGN antagonists, or glycomimetic approach, which can prove useful in the strategy of COVID-19 combat along with the glycobiological aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infections and antiviral immunity. For example, plant-derived mannose-specific lectins BanLac, FRIL, Lentil, and GRFT from red algae can inhibit and neutralize SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, as confirmed with in-vitro, in-vivo, and in-silico assessments. Furthermore, Bangladesh has a noteworthy resource of antiviral medicinal plants as well as plant lectins. Intensifying research on the antiviral plant lectins, adopting a glyco-biotechnological approach, and with deeper insights into the "glycovirological" aspects may result in the designing of alternative and potent blueprints against the 21st century's biological pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Nasir Ahmed
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Biotechnology & Natural Medicine Division, TechB Nutrigenomics, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
| | - Rownak Jahan
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
| | - Veeranoot Nissapatorn
- School of Allied Health Sciences and World Union for Herbal Drug Discovery (WUHeDD), Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Polrat Wilairatana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Mohammed Rahmatullah
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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Abdulsada Al-Ghuraibawi NH, Zeki Al-Fadhel S, Mohammed Ali DM, Kadhem Al-Hakeim H. Differences in Clinical Outcomes between Smokers and Non-Smokers infected with COVID-19. ARCHIVES OF RAZI INSTITUTE 2022; 77:449-459. [PMID: 35891718 PMCID: PMC9288610 DOI: 10.22092/ari.2021.356682.1894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cigarette smoking is a risk factor associated with different diseases, claiming millions of lives annually. Smoking status has been studied for a long time and proved to be a major cause of smokers' decreased immunity. In the present pandemic COVID-19 disease, there was an unclear belief about the effect of smoking on patients with COVID-19. Therefore, the current cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on the sequelae of COVID-19. This cross-sectional study involved 200 COVID-19 patients (114 males and 86 females) aged 13-77 years. A number of 87 patients were smokers, and the rest of them were non-smokers. All patients underwent a comprehensive laboratory assessment and diagnosis by full medical history by the physicians. The results indicated a significant difference (P<0.001) between smokers and non-smokers in terms of hypertension, anticoagulant, steroid therapy, pulmonary lesion, oxygen saturation, and duration of disease. As an overall conclusion, it can be stated that COVID-19 is less severe in smokers and they require less intensive treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - S Zeki Al-Fadhel
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq
| | - D M Mohammed Ali
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq
| | - H Kadhem Al-Hakeim
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq
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33
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Smolnikova MV, Tereshchenko SY. Prevalence of the polymorphic H-ficolin (FCN3) genes and mannosebinding lectin-associated serine protease-2 (MASP2) in indigenous populations from the Russian Arctic regions. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2022; 25:847-854. [PMID: 35083404 PMCID: PMC8756107 DOI: 10.18699/vj21.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Lectins, being the main proteins of the lectin pathway activating the complement system, are encoded
by polymorphic genes, wherein point mutations cause the protein conformation and expression to change, which
turns out to have an effect on the functionality and ability to respond to the pathogen. In the current study, largescale
data on the population genotype distribution of the genes for H-ficolin FCN3 rs28357092 and mannose-binding
lectin-associated serine protease MASP2 rs72550870 among the indigenous peoples of the Russian Arctic regions
(Nenets, Dolgans and Nganasans, a mixed population and Russians: a total sample was about 1000 newborns)
have been obtained for the first time. Genotyping was carried out using RT-PCR. The frequency of the homozygous
variant del/del FCN3 rs28357092 associated with the total absence of the most powerful activator of the lectin complement
pathway, N-ficolin, was revealed; 0 % in the Nenets, 0.8 % in the Dolgans and Nganasans, and 3.5 % among
the Russians ( p < 0.01). Analysis of the prevalence of the MASP2 genotypes has shown the predominance of the
homozygous variant AA in all studied populations, which agrees with the available world data. The heterozygous
genotype AG rs72550870 associated with a reduced level of protease was found to occur rarely in the Nenets, Dolgans
and Nganasans compared to newborns of Caucasoid origin from Krasnoyarsk: 0.5 % versus 3.3 %, respectively.
Moreover, among 323 examined Nenets, one AG carrier was identified, whereas in Russians, 16 out of 242 examined
newborns were found to be AG carriers ( p < 0.001). A homozygous variant (GG) in total absence of protease with
impaired binding of both MBL and ficolins was not detected in any of the 980 examined newborns. An additional
analysis of infectious morbidity in Arctic populations allows one to find phenotypic characteristics related to a high
functional activity of the lectin pathway of complement activation as an most important factor for the first-line of
anti-infectious defense, including such new viral diseases as COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. V. Smolnikova
- Scientific Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North – a separate division of the Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center” of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
| | - S. Yu. Tereshchenko
- Scientific Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North – a separate division of the Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center” of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
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Serra A, Fratello M, Federico A, Ojha R, Provenzani R, Tasnadi E, Cattelani L, Del Giudice G, Kinaret PAS, Saarimäki LA, Pavel A, Kuivanen S, Cerullo V, Vapalahti O, Horvath P, Lieto AD, Yli-Kauhaluoma J, Balistreri G, Greco D. Computationally prioritized drugs inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection and syncytia formation. Brief Bioinform 2021; 23:6484515. [PMID: 34962256 PMCID: PMC8769897 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbab507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The pharmacological arsenal against the COVID-19 pandemic is largely based on generic anti-inflammatory strategies or poorly scalable solutions. Moreover, as the ongoing vaccination campaign is rolling slower than wished, affordable and effective therapeutics are needed. To this end, there is increasing attention toward computational methods for drug repositioning and de novo drug design. Here, multiple data-driven computational approaches are systematically integrated to perform a virtual screening and prioritize candidate drugs for the treatment of COVID-19. From the list of prioritized drugs, a subset of representative candidates to test in human cells is selected. Two compounds, 7-hydroxystaurosporine and bafetinib, show synergistic antiviral effects in vitro and strongly inhibit viral-induced syncytia formation. Moreover, since existing drug repositioning methods provide limited usable information for de novo drug design, the relevant chemical substructures of the identified drugs are extracted to provide a chemical vocabulary that may help to design new effective drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Serra
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,BioMediTech Institute, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE), Tampere, Finland
| | - Michele Fratello
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,BioMediTech Institute, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE), Tampere, Finland
| | - Antonio Federico
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,BioMediTech Institute, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE), Tampere, Finland
| | - Ravi Ojha
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riccardo Provenzani
- Drug Research Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ervin Tasnadi
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Centre, Eotvos Lorand Research Network, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Luca Cattelani
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,BioMediTech Institute, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE), Tampere, Finland
| | - Giusy Del Giudice
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,BioMediTech Institute, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE), Tampere, Finland
| | - Pia A S Kinaret
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,BioMediTech Institute, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE), Tampere, Finland.,Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Laura A Saarimäki
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,BioMediTech Institute, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE), Tampere, Finland
| | - Alisa Pavel
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,BioMediTech Institute, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE), Tampere, Finland
| | - Suvi Kuivanen
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vincenzo Cerullo
- Drug Research Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Vapalahti
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Virology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Peter Horvath
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Centre, Eotvos Lorand Research Network, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Antonio Di Lieto
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jari Yli-Kauhaluoma
- Drug Research Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Giuseppe Balistreri
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Dario Greco
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,BioMediTech Institute, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE), Tampere, Finland.,Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on athletes: a cross-sectional study. Biol Sport 2021; 38:703-711. [PMID: 34937981 PMCID: PMC8670804 DOI: 10.5114/biolsport.2021.106147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant challenges and implications for the sports community. Thus, this study aimed to describe the prevalence of COVID-19 in Brazilian athletes and identify the epidemiological, clinical, athletic, life and health factors associated with the disease in these individuals. A cross-sectional study was performed involving 414 athletes from 22 different sports using an online questionnaire from August to November 2020. The association between the athletes’ characteristics and COVID-19 was evaluated using a logistic regression model. The prevalence of COVID-19 was 8.5%, although only 40% of athletes reported having been tested. Being under 27 years of age (3-fold), having children (~5-fold), having a teammate test positive for COVID-19 (2.5-fold), and smoking (14-fold) were associated with a possible higher risk of disease. Almost 20% of athletes self-reported musculoskeletal injuries during the period of the pandemic that was studied. Athletes with a university education (P = 0.02), a profession other than sports (P < 0.001), those from a low-income family (P = 0.01), and public health system users (P = 0.04) were significantly less frequently tested for COVID-19, whereas international competitors, athletes who received a wage, and athletes who had a teammate who tested positive for COVID-19 were 2-, 3-, and 15-fold more likely to be tested for COVID-19, respectively. Approximately 26% of the athletes who tested negative or were untested reported more than three characteristic COVID-19 symptoms, and 11% of athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 were asymptomatic. The identification of modifiable (have children, smoking, and teammates positively tested) and non-modifiable (age under 27 years) factors related to COVID-19 in athletes can contribute to implementing surveillance programmes to decrease the incidence of COVID-19 in athletes and its negative impacts in sports.
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Target Groups for a Short Dexamethasone Course among Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients. Crit Care Res Pract 2021; 2021:5557302. [PMID: 34877019 PMCID: PMC8645403 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5557302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Corticosteroids are one of the most promising therapeutic agents for critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Despite emerging data, assessed populations and regimens vary, and there are patient subgroups whose response to steroids remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and treated with a short dexamethasone course to determine which patient categories derive the highest benefit. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a prospectively collected single-center ICU database (April 1–October 1, 2020). Adult COVID-19 patients were assigned to dexamethasone (12 mg × 3 days) and usual care groups. Patient, management, and outcome data were extracted. The primary outcome was the 28-day ICU mortality. Subgroup analysis was performed to assess the impact of dexamethasone on mortality in patients with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Results Of 233 patients, 220 (median age: 65 years, 38% female) were included: 83 patients received dexamethasone and 137 received usual care. Overall, 28 (33.7%) and 54 (39.4%) patients in the dexamethasone and usual care groups, respectively, died within 28 days since ICU admission (rate ratio (RR) 0.86; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.59–1.23; p=0.405). In the IMV cohort, dexamethasone did not decrease the 28-day mortality compared with usual care (47.5% vs. 62.0%; RR 0.78; 95% CI: 0.57–1.09; p=0.107). A subgroup analysis revealed significantly lower 28-day mortality in IMV patients <65 years receiving dexamethasone vs. usual care (22.6% vs. 48.5%; RR 0.47; 95% CI: 0.22–0.98; p=0.043), which was not seen in IMV patients ≥65 years (75.0% vs. 71.1%; RR 1.06; 95% CI: 0.79–1.42; p=0.719). Patients ≥65 years experienced hyperglycemia, bacterial infection, and septic shock significantly more often than younger patients who received dexamethasone (p=0.002, p=0.025, and p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions A 3-day dexamethasone course is not associated with lower 28-day mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients, either in the entire ICU cohort or in the IMV. Dexamethasone may significantly reduce the 28-day mortality in IMV patients <65 years, but not in the older IMV subgroup. Dexamethasone administration in patients ≥65 years is associated with a significantly higher rate of adverse events than that in younger patients.
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Abstract
COVID-19 has become a major pandemic in recent times. The exact pathophysiology and understanding of cytokine storm and immunomodulation are evolving. Various cytokines have been implicated in the pathophysiology of COVID-19. Immunosuppressant immunomodulators like steroids, canakinumab, anakinra, tocilizumab, sarilumab, baricitinib, ruxolitinib, bevacizumab, and itolizumab have been tried. Immunostimulant immunomodulators like interferons (IFNs) and Mycobacterium w (Mw) have also been repurposed. Considering the role of multiple cytokines implicated in COVID-19, molecules working on the majority of the targets, may hold a promising future prospect
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep Rangappa
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Columbia Asia, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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Di Salvo E, Di Gioacchino M, Tonacci A, Casciaro M, Gangemi S. Alarmins, COVID-19 and comorbidities. Ann Med 2021; 53:777-785. [PMID: 34042528 PMCID: PMC8168739 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2021.1921252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the aetiological agent of COVID-19 disease, is representing a worldwide threat for the medical community and the society at large so that it is being defined as "the twenty-first-century disease". Often associated with a severe cytokine storm, leading to more severe cases, it is mandatory to block such occurrence early in the disease course, to prevent the patients from having more severe, sometimes fatal, outcomes. In this framework, early detection of "danger signals", possibly represented by alarmins, can represent one of the most promising strategies to effectively tailor the disease and to better understand the underlying mechanisms eventually leading to death or severe consequences. In light of such considerations, the present article aims at evaluating the role of alarmins in patients affected by COVID-19 disease and the relationship of such compounds with the most commonly reported comorbidities. The conducted researches demonstrated yet poor literature on this specific topic, however preliminarily confirming a role for danger signals in the amplification of the inflammatory reaction associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. As such, a number of chronic conditions, including metabolic syndrome, gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases, in turn, associated with higher levels of alarmins, both foster the infection and predispose to a worse prognosis. According to these preliminary data, prompt detection of high levels of alarmins in patients with COVID-19 and co-morbidities could suggest an immediate intense anti-inflammatory treatment.Key messageAlarmins have a role in the amplification of the inflammatory reaction associated with SARS-CoV-2 infectiona prompt detection of high levels of alarmins in patients with COVID-19 could suggest an immediate intense anti-inflammatory treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Di Salvo
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Mario Di Gioacchino
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
- YDA – Institute for Clinical Immunotherapy and Advanced Biological Treatments, Pescara, Italy
| | - Alessandro Tonacci
- National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), Clinical Physiology Institute, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Casciaro
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit and School of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Messina, Messina
| | - Sebastiano Gangemi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit and School of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Messina, Messina
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Abdominal Computed Tomography Imaging Findings in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Year-Long Experience and Associations Revealed by Explainable Artificial Intelligence. J Imaging 2021; 7:jimaging7120258. [PMID: 34940725 PMCID: PMC8704652 DOI: 10.3390/jimaging7120258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this retrospective study is to assess any association between abdominal CT findings and the radiological stage of COVID-19 pneumonia, pulmonary embolism and patient outcomes. We included 158 adult hospitalized COVID-19 patients between 1 March 2020 and 1 March 2021 who underwent 206 abdominal CTs. Two radiologists reviewed all CT images. Pathological findings were classified as acute or not. A subset of patients with inflammatory pathology in ACE2 organs (bowel, biliary tract, pancreas, urinary system) was identified. The radiological stage of COVID pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, overall days of hospitalization, ICU admission and outcome were registered. Univariate statistical analysis coupled with explainable artificial intelligence (AI) techniques were used to discover associations between variables. The most frequent acute findings were bowel abnormalities (n = 58), abdominal fluid (n = 42), hematomas (n = 28) and acute urologic conditions (n = 8). According to univariate statistical analysis, pneumonia stage > 2 was significantly associated with increased frequency of hematomas, active bleeding and fluid-filled colon. The presence of at least one hepatobiliary finding was associated with all the COVID-19 stages > 0. Free abdominal fluid, acute pathologies in ACE2 organs and fluid-filled colon were associated with ICU admission; free fluid also presented poor patient outcomes. Hematomas and active bleeding with at least a progressive stage of COVID pneumonia. The explainable AI techniques find no strong relationship between variables.
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40
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Dound YA, Sehgal R. Preclinical Efficacy and Safety Studies of Formulation SSV-003, a Potent Anti-Viral Herbal Formulation. J Exp Pharmacol 2021; 13:913-921. [PMID: 34712064 PMCID: PMC8548056 DOI: 10.2147/jep.s310452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Recent viral pandemics have challenged the global scientific community to immediately develop new therapies. The fastest approach to develop these is to explore natural products for their efficacies and repurposing of already approved molecules. Keeping global emergency in view, researchers at Shreepad Shree Vallabh SSV Phytopharmaceuticals developed the CurvicTM (SSV-003) formulation, comprising of curcumin, vitamin C, vitamin K2-7, selenomethionine and Zinc. Methods Researchers have systematically studied the SSV-003 formulation for its in vitro efficacy against influenza A virus (H1N1) (ATCC® VR-219™) and human beta coronavirus (ATCC® VR1558™) using MDCK & HCT-8 cell lines, respectively, in vivo efficacy studies of SSV-003 on influenza A virus infected Balb/c mice, and acute toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines. Results Formulation SSV-003 showed potent antiviral activities against both the selected virus strains. Its IC50 was significantly lessthan ribavirin against influenza A-H1N1-VR219, with no cytopathic effect. SSV-003 showed IC50 of 2.26 µg/mL against human beta coronavirus, which was near to the IC50 of ribavirin (2.25 µg/mL) and was less than remedisivir (6.23 µg/mL) with no cytopathic effect. In-vivo studies in an influenza A virus infected mice model showed a significantly higher TCID50 value in the infected control group as compared to test groups. Animals treated with SSV-003 showed a dose dependent decrease in TCID50. Formulation SSV-003 at the dose of 500, 1,000, and 1,500 mg/kg body weight showed 85.9%, 94.6%, and 95.1% decreases in infection as compared to the infected control group. Dose-dependent significant increases in CD4+, CD8+ counts, IgG and IgM levels were observed in SSV-003 treated groups as compared to the infected control group and remedisivir treated group. In the acute oral toxicity study, no mortality or morbidity was observed. Conclusion The data from these preclinical studies provide strong evidence of potent and safe antiviral and immunomodulatory activity of SSV-003.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogesh Arun Dound
- Research and Development, Shreepad Shree Vallabh SSV Phytopharmaceuticals, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Rajesh Sehgal
- Research and Development, Pharma Instinct Pvt. Ltd, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
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41
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Mariotti S, Capocefalo A, Chiantore MV, Iacobino A, Teloni R, De Angelis ML, Gallinaro A, Pirillo MF, Borghi M, Canitano A, Michelini Z, Baggieri M, Marchi A, Bucci P, McKay PF, Acchioni C, Sandini S, Sgarbanti M, Tosini F, Di Virgilio A, Venturi G, Marino F, Esposito V, Di Bonito P, Magurano F, Cara A, Negri D, Nisini R. Isolation and Characterization of Mouse Monoclonal Antibodies That Neutralize SARS-CoV-2 and Its Variants of Concern Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta by Binding Conformational Epitopes of Glycosylated RBD With High Potency. Front Immunol 2021; 12:750386. [PMID: 34764961 PMCID: PMC8576447 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.750386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibodies targeting Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 have been suggested to account for the majority of neutralizing activity in COVID-19 convalescent sera and several neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) have been isolated, characterized and proposed as emergency therapeutics in the form of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). However, SARS-CoV-2 variants are rapidly spreading worldwide from the sites of initial identification. The variants of concern (VOC) B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma) and B.1.167.2 (Delta) showed mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein potentially able to cause escape from nAb responses with a consequent reduction of efficacy of vaccines and mAbs-based therapy. We produced the recombinant RBD (rRBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein from the Wuhan-Hu 1 reference sequence in a mammalian system, for mice immunization to isolate new mAbs with neutralizing activity. Here we describe four mAbs that were able to bind the rRBD in Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and the transmembrane full-length spike protein expressed in HEK293T cells by flow cytometry assay. Moreover, the mAbs recognized the RBD in supernatants of SARS-CoV-2 infected VERO E6 cells by Western Blot under non-reducing condition or in supernatants of cells infected with lentivirus pseudotyped for spike protein, by immunoprecipitation assay. Three out of four mAbs lost their binding efficiency to completely N-deglycosylated rRBD and none was able to bind the same recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli, suggesting that the epitopes recognized by three mAbs are generated by the conformational structure of the glycosylated native protein. Of particular relevance, three mAbs were able to inhibit Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 infection of VERO E6 cells in a plaque-reduction neutralization test and the Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 as well as the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta VOC in a pseudoviruses-based neutralization test. These mAbs represent important additional tools for diagnosis and therapy of COVID-19 and may contribute to the understanding of the functional structure of SARS-CoV-2 RBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Mariotti
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio Capocefalo
- Dipartimento Sicurezza alimentare, nutrizione e sanità pubblica veterinaria, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Angelo Iacobino
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Raffaela Teloni
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Maria Laura De Angelis
- Dipartimento di Oncologia e Medicina Molecolare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Alessandra Gallinaro
- Centro nazionale per la salute globale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Maria Franca Pirillo
- Centro nazionale per la salute globale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Martina Borghi
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Andrea Canitano
- Centro nazionale per la salute globale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Zuleika Michelini
- Centro nazionale per la salute globale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Melissa Baggieri
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Antonella Marchi
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Paola Bucci
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Paul F. McKay
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chiara Acchioni
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Silvia Sandini
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Marco Sgarbanti
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Fabio Tosini
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio Di Virgilio
- Centro per la sperimentazione ed il benessere animale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Giulietta Venturi
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Francesco Marino
- Centro nazionale per il controllo e la valutazione dei farmaci, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Valeria Esposito
- Centro nazionale per il controllo e la valutazione dei farmaci, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Paola Di Bonito
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Fabio Magurano
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Andrea Cara
- Centro nazionale per la salute globale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Donatella Negri
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Roberto Nisini
- Dipartimento di Malattie infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
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Liu WY, Chien CW, Tung TH. Healthcare practice strategies for integrating personalized medicine: Management of COVID-19. World J Clin Cases 2021; 9:8647-8657. [PMID: 34734043 PMCID: PMC8546804 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i29.8647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Personalized medicine is the tailor-made clinical treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient. It may be considered an extension of traditional approaches to knowing and treating diseases. Personalized medicine has the potential to change the way of identification and management of health problems. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that primarily affects the patients’ lungs. The first case of pneumonia of unknown cause was reported in Wuhan, China on December 31, 2019. As thus, we are quickly approaching the era of personalized medicine. This review discusses the practices currently used in the management of COVID-19 and how they relate to personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Yi Liu
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, MD 21205, United States; Shanghai Bluecross Medical Science Institute, Shanghai 201100, Shanghai Province, China
- Institute for Hospital Management, Tsing Hua University, Shenzhen Campus, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ching-Wen Chien
- Institute for Hospital Management, Tsing Hua University, Shenzhen Campus, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Tao-Hsin Tung
- Evidence-based Medicine Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China
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43
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Filip R, Anchidin-Norocel L, Gheorghita R, Savage WK, Dimian M. Changes in Dietary Patterns and Clinical Health Outcomes in Different Countries during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic. Nutrients 2021; 13:3612. [PMID: 34684615 PMCID: PMC8539259 DOI: 10.3390/nu13103612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to an excess in community mortality across the globe. We review recent evidence on the clinical pathology of COVID-19, comorbidity factors, immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and factors influencing infection outcomes. The latter specifically includes diet and lifestyle factors during pandemic restrictions. We also cover the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through food products and the food chain, as well as virus persistence on different surfaces and in different environmental conditions, which were major public concerns during the initial days of the pandemic, but have since waned in public attention. We discuss useful measures to avoid the risk of SARS-CoV-2 spread through food, and approaches that may reduce the risk of contamination with the highly contagious virus. While hygienic protocols are required in food supply sectors, cleaning, disinfection, avoidance of cross-contamination across food categories, and foodstuffs at different stages of the manufacturing process are still particularly relevant because the virus persists at length on inert materials such as food packaging. Moreover, personal hygiene (frequent washing and disinfection), wearing gloves, and proper use of masks, clothes, and footwear dedicated to maintaining hygiene, provide on-site protections for food sector employees as well as supply chain intermediates and consumers. Finally, we emphasize the importance of following a healthy diet and maintaining a lifestyle that promotes physical well-being and supports healthy immune system function, especially when government movement restrictions ("lockdowns") are implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana Filip
- Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania; (R.F.); (R.G.); (W.K.S.)
- Regional County Emergency Hospital, 720224 Suceava, Romania
| | - Liliana Anchidin-Norocel
- Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania; (R.F.); (R.G.); (W.K.S.)
| | - Roxana Gheorghita
- Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania; (R.F.); (R.G.); (W.K.S.)
- Integrated Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Advanced Materials, Nanotechnologies, and Distributed Systems for Fabrication and Control, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania;
| | - Wesley K. Savage
- Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania; (R.F.); (R.G.); (W.K.S.)
- Integrated Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Advanced Materials, Nanotechnologies, and Distributed Systems for Fabrication and Control, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania;
| | - Mihai Dimian
- Integrated Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Advanced Materials, Nanotechnologies, and Distributed Systems for Fabrication and Control, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania;
- Department of Computers, Electronics and Automation, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
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44
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Ivanov A, Semenova E. Long-term monitoring of the development and extinction of IgA and IgG responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection. J Med Virol 2021; 93:5953-5960. [PMID: 34185312 PMCID: PMC8426671 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite the great interest of the scientific community in the behavior of the human body after contact with the new coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), long-term (more than 6 months) monitoring of the immunological status of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) having varying severity degrees and of the people with a low SARS-CoV-2 viral load is practically absent. The aim of this study is a 9-month monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 infection immune response development and extinction using quantitative assessment of IgA and IgG levels in the blood of healthy donors living in the context of the coronavirus pandemic and of the patients who have undergone COVID-19. The project involved 180 volunteers, of whom 51 persons (28.33%) fell ill with COVID-19 during the observation period. All people who underwent COVID-19 developed a stable humoral immune response but their individual immune status had a number of features. Approximately 39.22% (20 of 51 people) of project participants diagnosed with COVID-19 showed an unusual change in plasma anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA levels. Relatively high levels of IgA (ratio ~ 3) after recovery persisted for a long time (more than 6 months). In one-third (17 of 51 people) of patients with COVID-19, the IgA level exceeded the IgG level. IgA antibodies appeared earlier and showed a stronger and more robust response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus than IgG. Increased levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA (ratio from 0.8 to 2.36) throughout the observation period were recorded in 28 of 180 project participants (15.56%) of whom only one person fell ill with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Ivanov
- Department of Human GeneticsSaint‐Petersburg State University HospitalSt. PetersburgRussia
- North‐West Centre for Evidence‐Based Medicine JSCSt. PetersburgRussia
| | - Elena Semenova
- Division of Molecular and Radiation BiophysicsNational Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" B.P.Konstantinov St Petersburg Nuclear Physics InstituteGatchinaRussia
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45
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Hawryłkowicz V, Lietz-Kijak D, Kaźmierczak-Siedlecka K, Sołek-Pastuszka J, Stachowska L, Folwarski M, Parczewski M, Stachowska E. Patient Nutrition and Probiotic Therapy in COVID-19: What Do We Know in 2021? Nutrients 2021; 13:3385. [PMID: 34684384 PMCID: PMC8538178 DOI: 10.3390/nu13103385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The main nutritional consequences of COVID-19 include reduced food intake, hypercatabolism, and rapid muscle wasting. Some studies showed that malnutrition is a significant problem among patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection, and the outcome of patients with SARS-CoV-2 is strongly associated with their nutritional status. The purpose of this study was to collect useful information about the possible elements of nutritional and probiotic therapy in patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. METHODS A narrative review of the literature, including studies published up to 13 September 2021. RESULTS Probiotics may support patients by inhibiting the ACE2 receptor, i.e., the passage of the virus into the cell, and may also be effective in suppressing the immune response caused by the proinflammatory cytokine cascade. In patients' diet, it is crucial to ensure an adequate intake of micronutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids (at 2-4 g/d), selenium (300-450 μg/d) and zinc (30-50 mg/d), and vitamins A (900-700 µg/d), E (135 mg/d), D (20,000-50,000 IU), C (1-2 g/d), B6, and B12. Moreover, the daily calorie intake should amount to ≥1500-2000 with 75-100 g of protein. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the treatment of gut dysbiosis involving an adequate intake of prebiotic dietary fiber and probiotics could turn out to be an immensely helpful instrument for immunomodulation, both in COVID-19 patients and prophylactically in individuals with no history of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Hawryłkowicz
- Department of Human Nutrition and Metabolomics, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (V.H.); (L.S.)
| | - Danuta Lietz-Kijak
- Department of Propedeutics, Physiodiagnostics and Dental Physiotherapy, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland;
| | | | - Joanna Sołek-Pastuszka
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-242 Szczecin, Poland;
| | - Laura Stachowska
- Department of Human Nutrition and Metabolomics, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (V.H.); (L.S.)
| | - Marcin Folwarski
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland;
| | - Miłosz Parczewski
- Department of Infectious, Tropical and Acquired Immunological Diseases, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-455 Szczecin, Poland;
| | - Ewa Stachowska
- Department of Human Nutrition and Metabolomics, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (V.H.); (L.S.)
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46
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Boechat JL, Chora I, Morais A, Delgado L. The immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 immunopathology - Current perspectives. Pulmonology 2021; 27:423-437. [PMID: 33867315 PMCID: PMC8040543 DOI: 10.1016/j.pulmoe.2021.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a new beta coronavirus, similar to SARS-CoV-1, that emerged at the end of 2019 in the Hubei province of China. It is responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. The ability to gain quick control of the pandemic has been hampered by a lack of detailed knowledge about SARS-CoV-2-host interactions, mainly in relation to viral biology and host immune response. The rapid clinical course seen in COVID-19 indicates that infection control in asymptomatic patients or patients with mild disease is probably due to the innate immune response, as, considering that SARS-CoV-2 is new to humans, an effective adaptive response would not be expected to occur until approximately 2-3 weeks after contact with the virus. Antiviral innate immunity has humoral components (complement and coagulation-fibrinolysis systems, soluble proteins that recognize glycans on cell surface, interferons, chemokines, and naturally occurring antibodies) and cellular components (natural killer cells and other innate lymphocytes). Failure of this system would pave the way for uncontrolled viral replication in the airways and the mounting of an adaptive immune response, potentially amplified by an inflammatory cascade. Severe COVID-19 appears to be due not only to viral infection but also to a dysregulated immune and inflammatory response. In this paper, the authors review the most recent publications on the immunobiology of SARS-CoV-2, virus interactions with target cells, and host immune responses, and highlight possible associations between deficient innate and acquired immune responses and disease progression and mortality. Immunotherapeutic strategies targeting both the virus and dysfunctional immune responses are also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Boechat
- Clinical Immunology Service, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil; Basic and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal; Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal
| | - I Chora
- Internal Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos, Senhora da Hora, Portugal; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal
| | - A Morais
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal; Pulmonology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitario de Sao Joao, Porto, Portugal
| | - L Delgado
- Basic and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal; Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal
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47
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Fang H, Younis MH, Cai W, Lan X, Jiang D. New wine in old bottles: 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT reveals COVID-19 in patients with prostate cancer. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE AND MOLECULAR IMAGING 2021; 11:332-336. [PMID: 34513287 PMCID: PMC8414401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to influence every aspect of human life across the globe. It was reported that vascular angiogenesis of COVID-19 was elevated in patients with equally severe influenza virus infection. In this issue of AJNMMI, Farolfi et al. reported that there was lung uptake not related to prostate cancer in almost all COVID-19 patients who performed 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT scans and most of the lung uptake lesions were matched with typical CT patterns of COVID-19. With the advantages of having various tracers for whole-body imaging, PET provides opportunities to study the mechanism of COVID-19 from different aspects and obtain patterns of extrapulmonary lesions in COVID-19, which helps explore more effective treatments for the patients. This case series opened the door to many future studies. Furthermore, such a multi-national/multi-institutional collaboration in the pandemic truly encouraged us that science is indeed without borders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanyi Fang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430022, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular ImagingWuhan 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Muhsin H Younis
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison 53705, WI, USA
| | - Weibo Cai
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison 53705, WI, USA
| | - Xiaoli Lan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430022, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular ImagingWuhan 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Dawei Jiang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430022, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular ImagingWuhan 430022, Hubei, China
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48
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Velikova T, Snegarova V, Kukov A, Batselova H, Mihova A, Nakov R. Gastrointestinal mucosal immunity and COVID-19. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:5047-5059. [PMID: 34497434 PMCID: PMC8384742 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i30.5047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As the gastrointestinal tract may also be a crucial entry or interaction site of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the role of the gut mucosal immune system as a first-line physical and immunological defense is critical. Furthermore, gastrointestinal involvement and symptoms in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have been linked to worse clinical outcomes. This review discusses recent data on the interactions between the virus and the immune cells and molecules in the mucosa during the infection. By carrying out appropriate investigations, the mucosal immune system role in SARS-CoV-2 infection in therapy and prevention can be established. In line with this, COVID-19 vaccines that stimulate mucosal immunity against the virus may have more advantages than the others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsvetelina Velikova
- Department of Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Lozenetz, Medical Faculty, Sofia University, St. Kliment Ohridski, Sofia 1407, Bulgaria
| | - Violeta Snegarova
- Clinic of Internal Diseases, Naval Hospital – Varna, Military Medical Academy, Medical Faculty, Medical University, Varna 9000, Bulgaria
| | - Alexander Kukov
- Department of Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Lozenetz, Medical Faculty, Sofia University, St. Kliment Ohridski, Sofia 1407, Bulgaria
| | - Hristiana Batselova
- Department of Epidemiology and Disaster Medicine, Medical University, Plovdiv, University Hospital "St George", Plovdiv 6000, Bulgaria
| | - Antoaneta Mihova
- Department of Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Lozenetz, Medical Faculty, Sofia University, St. Kliment Ohridski, Sofia 1407, Bulgaria
| | - Radislav Nakov
- Clinic of Gastroenterology, Tsaritsa Joanna University Hospital, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia 1527, Bulgaria
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49
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Tran C, Drury B, Yuen HW, Rosenthal J, Neeki MM. Miller-Fisher Syndrome Presenting as Facial Diplegia With COVID-19 Co-Infection. Cureus 2021; 13:e17060. [PMID: 34522538 PMCID: PMC8428322 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.17060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has reportedly been associated with various neurological manifestations, including unilateral facial palsy and, very rarely, facial diplegia. We present a unique case of Miller-Fisher Syndrome (MFS), a variant of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) that was noted in conjunction with a COVID-19 infection. In this case, a patient presented with bilateral facial palsy, dysarthria, right-sided hemiparesis, ataxia, and the confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection. His computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain and serology test results did not support alternate etiologies for facial palsy. His cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies demonstrated albuminocytologic dissociation, which was consistent with the diagnosis of MFS and further supported by his ataxia and ophthalmoplegia. A five-day course of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy combined with physical, occupational, and speech therapy improved his recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuong Tran
- Emergency Medicine, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, USA
| | - Blake Drury
- Emergency Medicine, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, USA
| | - Ho-Wang Yuen
- Emergency Medicine, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, USA
| | | | - Michael M Neeki
- Emergency Medicine, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, USA
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50
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Purja S, Shin H, Lee JY, Kim E. Is loss of smell an early predictor of COVID-19 severity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Pharm Res 2021; 44:725-740. [PMID: 34302637 PMCID: PMC8302975 DOI: 10.1007/s12272-021-01344-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the severity of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is likely to be distinguished by variations in loss of smell (LOS). Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis of 45 articles that include a total of 42,120 COVID-19 patients from 17 different countries to demonstrate that severely ill or hospitalized COVID-19 patients have a lesser chance of experiencing LOS than non-severely ill or non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients (odds ratio = 0.527 [95% CI 0.373–0.744; p < 0.001] and 0.283 [95% CI 0.173–0.462; p < 0.001], respectively). We also proposed a possible mechanism underlying the association of COVID-19 severity with anosmia, which may explain why patients without sense of smell develop severe COVID-19. Variations in LOS according to the severity of COVID-19 is a global phenomenon, with few exceptions. Since severely ill patients have a lower rate of anosmia, patients without anosmia should be monitored more closely in the early stages of COVID-19, for early diagnosis of severity of illness. An understanding of how the severity of COVID-19 infection and LOS are associated has profound implications for the clinical management and mitigation strategies for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujata Purja
- Evidence-Based Research Laboratory, Department of Health, Social and Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 06974, South Korea
| | - Hocheol Shin
- Evidence-Based Research Laboratory, Department of Health, Social and Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 06974, South Korea
| | - Ji-Yun Lee
- Pathophysiology Laboratory, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 06974, South Korea
| | - EunYoung Kim
- Evidence-Based Research Laboratory, Department of Health, Social and Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 06974, South Korea.
- Clinical Research Laboratory College of Pharmacy, Division of Licensing of Medicines and Regulatory Science, The Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Management, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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