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Lista F, Peragallo MS, Biselli R, De Santis R, Mariotti S, Nisini R, D'Amelio R. Have Diagnostics, Therapies, and Vaccines Made the Difference in the Pandemic Evolution of COVID-19 in Comparison with "Spanish Flu"? Pathogens 2023; 12:868. [PMID: 37513715 PMCID: PMC10384375 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070868] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In 1918 many countries, but not Spain, were fighting World War I. Spanish press could report about the diffusion and severity of a new infection without censorship for the first-time, so that this pandemic is commonly defined as "Spanish flu", even though Spain was not its place of origin. "Spanish flu" was one of the deadliest pandemics in history and has been frequently compared with the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic. These pandemics share similarities, being both caused by highly variable and transmissible respiratory RNA viruses, and diversity, represented by diagnostics, therapies, and especially vaccines, which were made rapidly available for COVID-19, but not for "Spanish flu". Most comparison studies have been carried out in the first period of COVID-19, when these resources were either not yet available or their use had not long started. Conversely, we wanted to analyze the role that the advanced diagnostics, anti-viral agents, including monoclonal antibodies, and innovative COVID-19 vaccines, may have had in the pandemic containment. Early diagnosis, therapies, and anti-COVID-19 vaccines have markedly reduced the pandemic severity and mortality, thus preventing the collapse of the public health services. However, their influence on the reduction of infections and re-infections, thus on the transition from pandemic to endemic condition, appears to be of minor relevance. The high viral variability of influenza and coronavirus may probably be contained by the development of universal vaccines, which are not easy to be obtained. The only effective weapon still remains the disease prevention, to be achieved with the reduction of promiscuity between the animal reservoirs of these zoonotic diseases and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florigio Lista
- Istituto di Scienze Biomediche della Difesa, Ispettorato Generale della Sanità Militare, Stato Maggiore della Difesa, 00184 Roma, Italy
| | - Mario Stefano Peragallo
- Centro Studi e Ricerche di Sanità e Veterinaria, Comando Logistico dell'Esercito, 00184 Roma, Italy
| | - Roberto Biselli
- Ispettorato Generale della Sanità Militare, Stato Maggiore della Difesa, 00184 Roma, Italy
| | - Riccardo De Santis
- Istituto di Scienze Biomediche della Difesa, Ispettorato Generale della Sanità Militare, Stato Maggiore della Difesa, 00184 Roma, Italy
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Sapienza, Università di Roma, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Sabrina Mariotti
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Roberto Nisini
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Raffaele D'Amelio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Molecolare, Sapienza, Università di Roma, 00198 Roma, Italy
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Elkhatib WF, Abdelkareem SS, Khalaf WS, Shahin MI, Elfadil D, Alhazmi A, El-Batal AI, El-Sayyad GS. Narrative review on century of respiratory pandemics from Spanish flu to COVID-19 and impact of nanotechnology on COVID-19 diagnosis and immune system boosting. Virol J 2022; 19:167. [PMID: 36280866 PMCID: PMC9589879 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-022-01902-2] [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: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The rise of the highly lethal severe acute respiratory syndrome-2 (SARS-2) as corona virus 2019 (COVID-19) reminded us of the history of other pandemics that happened in the last century (Spanish flu) and stayed in the current century, which include Severe-Acute-Respiratory-Syndrome (SARS), Middle-East-Respiratory-Syndrome (MERS), Corona Virus 2019 (COVID-19). We review in this report the newest findings and data on the origin of pandemic respiratory viral diseases, reservoirs, and transmission modes. We analyzed viral adaption needed for host switch and determinants of pathogenicity, causative factors of pandemic viruses, and symptoms and clinical manifestations. After that, we concluded the host factors associated with pandemics morbidity and mortality (immune responses and immunopathology, ages, and effect of pandemics on pregnancy). Additionally, we focused on the burdens of COVID-19, non-pharmaceutical interventions (quarantine, mass gatherings, facemasks, and hygiene), and medical interventions (antiviral therapies and vaccines). Finally, we investigated the nanotechnology between COVID-19 analysis and immune system boosting (Nanoparticles (NPs), antimicrobial NPs as antivirals and immune cytokines). This review presents insights about using nanomaterials to treat COVID-19, improve the bioavailability of the abused drugs, diminish their toxicity, and improve their performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walid F Elkhatib
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, African Union Organization St., Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Galala University, New Galala City, Suez, Egypt.
| | - Shereen S Abdelkareem
- Department of Alumni, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Industries, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Entertainment Area, Badr City, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Wafaa S Khalaf
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, 11751, Egypt
| | - Mona I Shahin
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Tymaa, Tabuk University, Tymaa, 71491, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Dounia Elfadil
- Biology and Chemistry Department, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Alaa Alhazmi
- Medical Laboratory Technology Department, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
- SMIRES for Consultation in Specialized Medical Laboratories, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed I El-Batal
- Drug Microbiology Laboratory, Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Gharieb S El-Sayyad
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Galala University, New Galala City, Suez, Egypt.
- Drug Microbiology Laboratory, Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, Egypt.
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Areekal B, Joseph NC, Rajan MP, Ravindran RK, Vijayan AS, Vanlalhriatpuii E. Household secondary attack rate in SARS-CoV-2 infection during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in South India. J Family Med Prim Care 2022; 11:6268-6273. [PMID: 36618242 PMCID: PMC9810882 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_452_22] [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: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a major public health problem since its inception disrupting public life and crippling health systems. The mutated variant of the causative virus, Delta, has been notorious in causing rapid upsurge in cases compared to the Alpha variant. The current study tries to find out the household secondary attack rate (HSAR) of COVID-19 and factors associated with it during the second wave of cases in Kerala. Methodology A retrospective cohort study was performed among 313 household contacts of 76 COVID-19 patients who had been admitted in Government Medical College, Thrissur, in the southern state of India, Kerala. Data from the participants were collected via phone using a semi-structured interview schedule, and analysis was performed with SPSS software. Results The HSAR among household contacts was 59.1% (53.4-64.6%). The risk of acquiring COVID infection among household contacts was higher among contacts of symptomatic index cases with a P value of 0.001 and an odds ratio of 11 (3.7-32.4). index cases were having a home isolation P value of 0.001 and an odds ratio of 3.2 (2-5.1), with delay in COVID-19 testing for index cases with a P value of 0.006. Regarding characteristics of household contacts, higher age groups (p = 0.048), groups living in the same room with an index case P value of 0.021 and an odds ratio of [1.71 (1-2.8)], groups having physical contact with an index case P value of 0.001 and an odds ratio of [3.7 (2.1-7)], groups with touched or cleaned linen/articles with an index case P value of 0.02 and an odds ratio of [1.8 (1-3.1)], and groups having co-morbidities, especially diabetes mellitus (p = 0.0020), were significantly associated with chances of acquiring infection. However, the history of previous COVID positivity in household contacts was a protective factor against the infection P value of 0.009 with an odds ratio of [0.09 (0.01-0.78)]. Conclusion The study concludes that the second wave of COVID-19 in Kerala was primarily caused by a high SAR, especially among household contacts, and this could have been the reason for the difficulty in control measures during the wave.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binu Areekal
- Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala, India,Address for correspondence: Dr. Binu Areekal, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala, India. E-mail:
| | - Navya C. Joseph
- Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala, India
| | - Maneesha P. Rajan
- Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala, India
| | - Reshmy K. Ravindran
- Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala, India
| | - Anagha S. Vijayan
- Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala, India
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Blann AD, Heitmar R. SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: A Narrative Review. Br J Biomed Sci 2022; 79:10426. [PMID: 36148046 PMCID: PMC9486701 DOI: 10.3389/bjbs.2022.10426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The World Health Organisation has reported that the viral disease known as COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is the leading cause of death by a single infectious agent. This narrative review examines certain components of the pandemic: its origins, early clinical data, global and UK-focussed epidemiology, vaccination, variants, and long COVID.
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Effect Evaluation of Echocardiography on Right Ventricular Function in Patients after the Recovering from Coronavirus Disease 2019. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:6161015. [PMID: 35844461 PMCID: PMC9284327 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6161015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This research was aimed at exploring the changes in right ventricular function in patients after the recovery of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) under echocardiography and providing a reference for the rehabilitation and treatment of COVID-19 patients. Three echocardiographic follow-up examinations were performed on 40 recovered COVID-19 patients and 40 healthy people. Right ventricular function between patients after COVID-19 rehabilitation and healthy people was compared. The mean values of right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF), right myocardial performance index (RMPI), and tricuspid annular plane systolic speed (S') were compared between patients after COVID-19 rehabilitation and healthy subjects. The technical parameters of two-dimensional speckle tracking were compared. The results showed that the differences in RVFAC, TAPSE, RVEF, and RMPI between COVID-19 patients and healthy controls were not significant during the three follow-up periods (P > 0.05). At the first follow-up, the S' was 12.78 cm/s in COVID-19 patients and 13.18 cm/s in healthy subjects. At the second follow-up, the S' was 11.98 cm/s in COVID-19 patients and 12.77 cm/s in healthy subjects. At the third follow-up, the S' was 12.79 cm/s in COVID-19 patients and 13.12 cm/s in healthy subjects. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in right ventricular function between COVID-19 patients and healthy controls, and there was no significant difference in cardiovascular symptoms (P > 0.05). In summary, COVID-19 had no substantial effect on right ventricular function and better recovery in patients.
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Murdaca G, Paladin F, Tonacci A, Isola S, Allegra A, Gangemi S. The Potential Role of Cytokine Storm Pathway in the Clinical Course of Viral Respiratory Pandemic. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9111688. [PMID: 34829918 PMCID: PMC8615478 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111688] [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: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The "cytokine storm" (CS) consists of a spectrum of different immune dysregulation disorders characterized by constitutional symptoms, systemic inflammation and multiorgan dysfunction triggered by an uncontrolled immune response. Particularly in respiratory virus infections, the cytokine storm plays a primary role in the pathogenesis of respiratory disease and the clinical outcome of respiratory diseases, leading to complications such as alveolar edema and hypoxia. In this review, we wanted to analyze the different pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the various respiratory viral pandemics (COVID-19; SARS; MERS; H1N1 influenza A and Spanish flu) which have affected humans in this and last century, with particular attention to the phenomenon of the "cytokine storm" which determines the clinical severity of the respiratory disease and consequently its lethality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Murdaca
- Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa and Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0103537924; Fax: +39-0105556950
| | - Francesca Paladin
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa and Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Tonacci
- Clinical Physiology Institute, National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Stefania Isola
- School and Operative Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (S.I.); (S.G.)
| | - Alessandro Allegra
- Division of Hematology, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Sebastiano Gangemi
- School and Operative Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (S.I.); (S.G.)
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Klingelhöfer D, Braun M, Brüggmann D, Groneberg DA. The pandemic year 2020: A world map of Coronavirus research. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e30692. [PMID: 34346891 PMCID: PMC8428375 DOI: 10.2196/30692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background SARS-CoV-2 is one of the most threatening pandemics in human history. As of the date of this analysis, it had claimed about 2 million lives worldwide, and the number is rising sharply. Governments, societies, and scientists are equally challenged under this burden. Objective This study aimed to map global coronavirus research in 2020 according to various influencing factors to highlight incentives or necessities for further research. Methods The application of established and advanced bibliometric methods combined with the visualization technique of density-equalizing mapping provided a global picture of incentives and efforts on coronavirus research in 2020. Countries’ funding patterns and their epidemiological and socioeconomic characteristics as well as their publication performance data were included. Results Research output exploded in 2020 with momentum, including citation and networking parameters. China and the United States were the countries with the highest publication performance. Globally, however, publication output correlated significantly with COVID-19 cases. Research funding has also increased immensely. Conclusions Nonetheless, the abrupt decline in publication efforts following previous coronavirus epidemics should demonstrate to global researchers that they should not lose interest even after containment, as the next epidemiological challenge is certain to come. Validated reporting worldwide and the inclusion of low-income countries are additionally important for a successful future research strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Markus Braun
- Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt, DE
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Ruscitti P, Conforti A, Cipriani P, Giacomelli R, Tasso M, Costa L, Caso F. Pathogenic implications, incidence, and outcomes of COVID-19 in autoimmune inflammatory joint diseases and autoinflammatory disorders. Adv Rheumatol 2021; 61:45. [PMID: 34238376 PMCID: PMC8264991 DOI: 10.1186/s42358-021-00204-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to spread rapidly, there are still many unresolved questions of how this virus would impact on autoimmune inflammatory joint diseases and autoinflammatory disorders. The main aim of this paper is to describe the main studies focusing their attention on COVID-19 incidence and outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondylarthritis (SpA), and autoinflammatory disease cohorts. We also revised possible pathogenic mechanisms associated with. Available data suggest that, in patients with RA and SpA, the immunosuppressive therapy, older age, male sex, and the presence of comorbidities (hypertension, lung disease, diabetes, CVD, and chronic renal insufficiency/end-stage renal disease) could be associated with an increased risk of infections and high rate of hospitalization. Other studies have shown that lower odds of hospitalization were associated with bDMARD or tsDMARDs monotherapy, driven largely by anti-TNF therapies. For autoinflammatory diseases, considering the possibility that COVID-19 could be associated with a cytokine storm syndrome, the question of the susceptibility and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients displaying innate immunity disorders has been raised. In this context, data are very scarce and studies available did not clarify if having an autoinflammatory disorder could be or not a risk factor to develop a more severe COVID-19. Taking together these observations, further studies are likely to be needed to fully characterize these specific patient groups and associated SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piero Ruscitti
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Conforti
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Paola Cipriani
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Roberto Giacomelli
- Rheumatology and Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Rome 'Campus Biomedico', Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Tasso
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Luisa Costa
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Caso
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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