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Li J, Yu P, Liu Q, Xu L, Chen Y, Li Y, Zhang F, Zhu W, Peng Y. Safety and efficacy assessment of an mRNA rabies vaccine in dogs, rodents, and cynomolgus macaques. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:130. [PMID: 39033177 PMCID: PMC11271276 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00925-w] [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: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Rabies is a lethal disease caused by the rabies virus (RABV), which causes acute neurological infections in mammals, including human beings. We previously reported that an mRNA vaccine (LVRNA001) encoding the rabies virus's glycoprotein induced strong protective immune responses to rabies in mice and dogs. Here, we further evaluate the safety of LVRNA001. First, we performed a confirmative efficacy study in dogs, which showed that LVRNA001 fully protected the animals from the virus, both pre- and post-infection. Moreover, using pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis murine models, we showed that LVRNA001, built from the CTN-1 strain, was able to protect against various representative RABV strains from the China I-VII clades. To evaluate the safety of the vaccine, chronic and reproductive toxicity studies were performed with cynomolgus macaques and rats, respectively. In a repeated-dose chronic toxicity study, vaccinated monkeys displayed no significant alterations in body weight, temperature, or hematological and biochemical markers. Lymphocyte subset measurement and histopathological examination showed that no toxicity was associated with the vaccine. The immunogenicity study in cynomolgus macaques demonstrated that LVRNA001 promoted the generation of neutralizing antibodies and Th1-biased immune response. Evaluation of reproductive toxicity in rats revealed that administration of LVRNA001 had no significant effects on fertility, maternal performance, reproductive processes, and postnatal outcomes. In conclusion, LVRNA001 can provide efficient protection against rabies virus infection in dogs and mice, and toxicity studies showed no significant vaccine-related adverse effects, suggesting that LVRNA001 is a promising and safe vaccine candidate for rabies prophylaxis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianglong Li
- Liverna Therapeutics Inc., Zhuhai, 519000, China
| | - Pengcheng Yu
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Health Commission, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Liverna Therapeutics Inc., Zhuhai, 519000, China
| | - Long Xu
- AIM Vaccine Co. Ltd., Beijing, 100076, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Liverna Therapeutics Inc., Zhuhai, 519000, China
| | - Yan Li
- Liverna Therapeutics Inc., Zhuhai, 519000, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- AIM Vaccine Co. Ltd., Beijing, 100076, China.
| | - Wuyang Zhu
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Health Commission, Beijing, 102206, China.
| | - Yucai Peng
- Liverna Therapeutics Inc., Zhuhai, 519000, China.
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Sukosd IE, Pescariu SA, Faur C, Danila AI, Prodan-Barbulescu C, Fira-Mladinescu O. Utility of Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) in Assessing Quality of Life among Patients with Heart Failure Undergoing Exercise Training Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review. Diseases 2024; 12:64. [PMID: 38667522 PMCID: PMC11049255 DOI: 10.3390/diseases12040064] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) in assessing quality of life improvements among patients with heart failure (HF) undergoing various forms of exercise training rehabilitation, including telemedicine and in-person modalities, across all stages of HF, irrespective of ejection fraction (EF) and clinical status. The aim was to collate evidence from studies employing the KCCQ as a measure of quality of life (QoL). A comprehensive search strategy was implemented across PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases, adhering to the PRISMA guidelines, including literature up until October 2023. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies on patients diagnosed with HF undergoing exercise training rehabilitation assessed by KCCQ. Nine articles met the inclusion criteria, involving a total of 3905 patients from various global locations and conducted between 2012 and 2022. Results indicated significant heterogeneity in exercise interventions and patient characteristics. Notably, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) showed a marked improvement in KCCQ scores (from 68.0 to 80.0) compared to moderate continuous training (MCT) and control groups, underscoring its potential for enhancing QoL. Additionally, a significant improvement in the 6-min walking test (6MWT) outcomes was observed, with an average increase of 106 m (95% CI: 60, 152) in one study, reflecting physical capacity enhancements. However, the difference in KCCQ scores between intervention and control groups was not statistically significant in several studies. In conclusion, the KCCQ's effectiveness is highlighted by its ability to detect clinically meaningful improvements in QoL across diverse exercise modalities, including HIIT and MCT, tailored to the specific needs of HF populations. The consistent correlation between KCCQ score improvements and enhanced physical outcomes, such as the 6MWT, supports its reliability in capturing the nuanced benefits of exercise interventions on patient well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Emoke Sukosd
- Doctoral School, Department of General Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (I.E.S.); (C.P.-B.)
- Center for Research and Innovation in Precision Medicine of Respiratory Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Silvius Alexandru Pescariu
- Department of Cardiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Cosmin Faur
- Department of Orthopedics, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Alexandra Ioana Danila
- Department of Anatomy and Embriology, Discipline of Pulmonology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Catalin Prodan-Barbulescu
- Doctoral School, Department of General Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (I.E.S.); (C.P.-B.)
- Department of Anatomy and Embriology, Discipline of Pulmonology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- IInd Surgery Clinic, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ovidiu Fira-Mladinescu
- Center for Research and Innovation in Precision Medicine of Respiratory Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Discipline of Pulmonology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
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Zhang M, Jiao Z. Nonlinear Relationship Between Interleukin-6 and NT-proBNP at Admission in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:6259-6267. [PMID: 37753230 PMCID: PMC10519174 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s426470] [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: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Elevated levels of the inflammatory marker interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cardiac injury marker N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) have been observed in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the relationship between IL-6 and NT-proBNP levels remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between IL-6 and NT-proBNP levels in patients with COVID-19. Patients and Methods This was a cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients with COVID-19 were included herein. The independent and dependent target variables were the IL-6 and NT-proBNP levels, respectively, measured at baseline. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses and curve fitting were also performed. Results The average age of the 121 selected participants was 49.8 ± 15.8 years old, and 48.8% (59/121) were male. The estimated β value between Ln-transformed IL-6 and NT-proBNP was 0.28 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.12-0.44, P = 0.001) in univariate logistic regression analysis and 0.09 (95% CI -0.04-0.21, P = 0.176) in the fully adjusted model. This relationship was nonlinear, with a point of 2.7, and the β values (and CIs) for the left (<2.7) and right (≥2.7) sides of the inflection point were -0.06 (95% CI -0.23-0.12, P = 0.534) and 0.77 (95% CI 0.18-1.37, P = 0.016) in the fully adjusted model, respectively. Conclusion Our results suggest a nonlinear association between IL-6 and NT-proBNP levels. Higher IL-6 levels are associated with NT-proBNP in patients with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meijuan Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Tianjin Haihe Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhanquan Jiao
- Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Tianjin Haihe Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
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Musat O, Sorop VB, Sorop MI, Lazar V, Marti DT, Susan M, Avram CR, Oprisoni A, Vulcanescu DD, Horhat FG, Bagiu IC, Horhat DI, Diaconu MM. COVID-19 and Laboratory Markers from Romanian Patients-A Narrative Review. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1837. [PMID: 37763241 PMCID: PMC10532991 DOI: 10.3390/life13091837] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 has significantly impacted the whole world, and Romania was no exception. Biomarkers play a crucial role in understanding and managing the disease. However, research regarding laboratory analyses for patients with COVID-19 is fairly limited. For detection, PCR testing is still considered the golden standard, while antibodies are still useful for monitoring both patients and their vaccination status. In our country, biomarkers such as CRP, LDH, transaminases, cardiac, and iron markers have been used to assess the status of patients and even predict illness outcome. CRP, IL-6, LDH, FER, fibrinogen, creatinine, and vitamin D levels have been associated with increased severity, risk of ICU admission, and death. Cardiac markers and D-dimers are also good predictors, but their role seems more important in patients with complications. HDL cholesterol and BUN levels were also suggested as potential biomarkers. Hematological issues in SARS-CoV-2 infections include neutrophilia, lymphopenia and their ratio, while PCT, which is a marker of bacterial infections, is better to be used in patients with co- or supra-infections. The current research is a narrative review that focuses on the laboratory results of Romanian COVID-19 patients. The goal of this article is to provide an update on the research on biomarkers and other laboratory tests conducted inside the borders of Romania and identify gaps in this regard. Secondly, options for further research are discussed and encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ovidiu Musat
- Department of Ophthalmology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Dionisie Lupu Street, No. 37, Sector 2, 020021 Bucharest, Romania;
- Department of Ophthalmology, “Dr Carol Davila” Central Military Emergency University Hospital, Mircea Vulcanescu Street, No. 88, 010825 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Virgiliu Bogdan Sorop
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (V.B.S.); (M.M.D.)
| | - Madalina Ioana Sorop
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (M.I.S.); (D.D.V.)
| | - Viorica Lazar
- Department of General Medicine, “Vasile Goldis” University of Medicine, Liviu Rebreanu Street, No. 86, 310048 Arad, Romania;
- Pediatric Clinic II, Clinical Hospital Emergency of Arad County, Andrényi Károly Street, No. 2-4, 310037 Arad, Romania
| | - Daniela Teodora Marti
- Department of Biology and Life Sciences, “Vasile Goldis” University of Medicine, Liviu Rebreanu Street, No. 86, 310048 Arad, Romania;
- Clinical Analysis Laboratory Clinical Hospital Emergency of Arad County, Andrényi Károly Street, No. 2-4, 310037 Arad, Romania
| | - Monica Susan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Centre for Preventive Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Cecilia Roberta Avram
- Department of Residential Training and Post-University Courses, “Vasile Goldis” Western University, Liviu Rebreanu Street 86, 310414 Arad, Romania;
| | - Andrada Oprisoni
- Department of Pediatrics, Discipline of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Dan Dumitru Vulcanescu
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (M.I.S.); (D.D.V.)
- Department of Microbiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Multidisciplinary Research Center on Antimicrobial Resistance (MULTI-REZ), Microbiology Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Clinical Analysis Laboratory, “Louis Turcanu” Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children, Iosif Nemoianu Street 2, 300011 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Florin George Horhat
- Department of Microbiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Multidisciplinary Research Center on Antimicrobial Resistance (MULTI-REZ), Microbiology Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Clinical Analysis Laboratory, “Louis Turcanu” Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children, Iosif Nemoianu Street 2, 300011 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Iulia Cristina Bagiu
- Department of Microbiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Multidisciplinary Research Center on Antimicrobial Resistance (MULTI-REZ), Microbiology Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Clinical Analysis Laboratory, “Louis Turcanu” Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children, Iosif Nemoianu Street 2, 300011 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Delia Ioana Horhat
- Department of ENT, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Mircea Mihai Diaconu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (V.B.S.); (M.M.D.)
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Marusca LM, Reddy G, Blaj M, Prathipati R, Rosca O, Bratosin F, Bogdan I, Horhat RM, Tapos GF, Marti DT, Susan M, Pingilati RA, Horhat FG, Adelina M. The Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Respiratory Infections in Children under 6 Years Old: A Systematic Review. Diseases 2023; 11:104. [PMID: 37606475 PMCID: PMC10443358 DOI: 10.3390/diseases11030104] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood respiratory tract infections (RTIs) pose a significant health burden, especially in children under six years old. The main objective of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention of RTI in this population while also exploring potential effect modifiers such as age, baseline vitamin D status, and type of respiratory infection. A systematic review of the literature published up to February 2023 was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, searching PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus databases. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, which investigated the association between vitamin D supplementation and respiratory infections in children between zero and five years old. The included studies were conducted between 2012 and 2021, encompassing a total of 2189 children from five randomized trials, two case-control studies, and one prospective cohort study. The relationship between vitamin D supplementation and the prevention of childhood RTI was not consistently observed across all included studies. Pooled results demonstrated varied effects of vitamin D supplementation on respiratory infection incidence, severity, and symptoms. Three studies reported statistically significant associations between low vitamin D levels and respiratory infections (OR = 4.90, OR = 6.97), while one study found that children who received vitamin D supplementation of 800 UI/day for 3 months during the cold season had fewer episodes of respiratory symptoms (RR = 0.55) and recovered more quickly from acute RTI. Lastly, according to one study, vitamin D intake < 80 IU/kg/day was significantly associated with the risk of acquiring pneumonia (OR 7.9) but not bronchiolitis. The remaining five studies found no statistically significant differences in infection rates or severity (p-value > 0.050). The available evidence on the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation for preventing and treating respiratory infections in children under six years old is limited, with only a few favorable effects being reported. In some cases, a dose of 80 UI/kg/day was found to provide significant protection for acute respiratory infections, although in the major trials the only benefit was a quicker recovery and fewer respiratory symptoms, with no impact on incidence and severity of respiratory infections. Nevertheless, the study protocol, the supplementation dose, and duration of supplementation had significant variations between studies, leading to inconclusive findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larisa Mihaela Marusca
- Laboratory Medicine, “Louis Turcanu” Emergency Hospital for Children, Doctor Iosif Nemoianu Street, 300011 Timisoara, Romania;
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.)
| | - Gowry Reddy
- New York Medical College at St. Mary’s and St. Clare’s Hospital, Denville, NJ 07834, USA;
| | - Mihaela Blaj
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, University Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | | | - Ovidiu Rosca
- Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Felix Bratosin
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Iulia Bogdan
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Razvan Mihai Horhat
- Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Gabriela-Florentina Tapos
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Arad County Emergency Clinical Hospital, Calea Victoriei, 310037 Arad, Romania;
| | - Daniela-Teodora Marti
- Department of Biology and Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, Revolutiei Square 94, 310025 Arad, Romania;
| | - Monica Susan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Discipline of Medical Semiology I, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Raja Akshay Pingilati
- Malla Reddy Institute of Medical Sciences, Suraram Main Road 138, Hyderabad 500055, India;
| | - Florin George Horhat
- Multidisciplinary Research Center on Antimicrobial Resistance (MULTI-REZ), Microbiology Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Mavrea Adelina
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Cardiology Clinic, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
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Bogdan I, Reddyreddy AR, Nelluri A, Maganti RK, Bratosin F, Fericean RM, Dumitru C, Barata PI, Tapalaga G, Marincu I. Fungal Infections Identified with Multiplex PCR in Severe COVID-19 Patients during Six Pandemic Waves. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1253. [PMID: 37512065 PMCID: PMC10385930 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59071253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: With an increasing number of severe COVID-19 cases presenting with secondary fungal infections, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of fungal co-infections in severe COVID-19 patients across the six waves, identify the most common fungal pathogens associated with severe COVID-19, and explore any potential links between patient characteristics, therapeutic strategies, and the prevalence and type of fungal infection. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on severe COVID-19 patients admitted to the Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology Hospital, "Victor Babes", Romania, between March 2020 and August 2022. Samples were collected from respiratory specimens, blood, and urine, after which a standard nucleic acid extraction protocol was employed. Patients were divided into groups with and without fungal infections, identified using multiplex PCR. The groups were compared based on demographic data, comorbidities, pandemic wave number, and clinical outcomes. Results: Out of 288 patients, 96 (33.3%) had fungal infections, with Candida spp. being the most common. Patients with fungal infections had higher rates of obesity (35.4% vs. 21.4%, p = 0.010) and a higher Charlson comorbidity index (CCI > 2) (37.5% vs 25.0%, p = 0.027). Ventilator use was significantly higher in the fungal infection group (45.8% vs. 18.8%; p < 0.001), as was ICU admission (39.6% vs. 26.6%; p = 0.024) and mortality (32.3% vs 12.0%; p < 0.001). The distribution of different fungal species varied across the pandemic waves, with no statistical significance (p = 0.209). The mortality risk notably increased with the degree of drug resistance (OR for three or more drug resistances = 6.71, p < 0.001). The second, fourth, and fifth pandemic waves were significantly associated with higher mortality risk (OR = 3.72, 3.61, and 4.08, respectively, all p < 0.001). Aspergillus spp. and Mucor spp. infections were significantly associated with increased mortality risk (OR = 4.61 and 6.08, respectively, both p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our study indicates a significant presence of fungal co-infections among severe COVID-19 patients that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients with drug-resistant infections. These findings underline the necessity for comprehensive diagnostic approaches and tailored treatment strategies in managing COVID-19 patients, especially during specific pandemic waves and in patients with particular fungal infections. Further research is required to understand the implications of these co-infections and their management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iulia Bogdan
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | | | - Aditya Nelluri
- School of General Medicine, Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Tumakuru 572107, India
| | - Ram Kiran Maganti
- School of General Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, Kolar 563101, India
| | - Felix Bratosin
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Roxana Manuela Fericean
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Catalin Dumitru
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Paula Irina Barata
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, "Vasile Goldis" Western University of Arad, 310025 Arad, Romania
- Center for Research and Innovation in Precision Medicine of Respiratory Diseases, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Gianina Tapalaga
- Department of Odontotherapy and Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Iosif Marincu
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
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7
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Dumitrescu A, Doros G, Lazureanu VE, Septimiu-Radu S, Bratosin F, Rosca O, Patel H, Porosnicu TM, Vitcu GM, Mirea A, Oancea C, Mihaicuta S, Stoicescu ER, Barata PI. Post-Severe-COVID-19 Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation: A Comprehensive Study on Patient Features and Recovery Dynamics in Correlation with Workout Intensity. J Clin Med 2023; 12:4390. [PMID: 37445425 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12134390] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The aftermath of severe COVID-19 frequently involves considerable cardiopulmonary damage, necessitating rehabilitation. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on cardiopulmonary health and assess the effectiveness of various rehabilitative interventions. Conducted between September 2021 and September 2022, this prospective study included patients who had been diagnosed with severe COVID-19 and admitted at the "Victor Babes" Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology Hospital, Timisoara, Romania. The patients were stratified into low- and high-intensity rehabilitation groups. The rehabilitation protocols were individually tailored, and the patient recovery was closely monitored over a 3-month period. Our cohort comprised 84 patients, with a mean age of 56.3 years for the low-intensity group (n = 42) and 53.1 years for the high-intensity group (n = 42). Both groups showed significant improvements in the lung injury area, need for oxygen supplementation, ejection fraction, systolic pulmonary artery pressure, and forced vital capacity. Additionally, considerable enhancements were observed in maximal voluntary ventilation, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow, and forced expiratory flow at 25-75%. The work intensity also demonstrated substantial improvements from the initial testing to the 3-month mark in both groups. This study provides evidence that personalized, targeted rehabilitation strategies can improve long-term cardiopulmonary health in patients recovering from severe COVID-19, proving both low-intensity and high-intensity training as sufficient to improve heart and lung function if performed correctly and over a relatively short duration of 3 months. The study findings underscore the importance of implementing comprehensive cardiopulmonary rehabilitation protocols in the care of post-COVID-19 patients and highlight the value of stratified rehabilitation intensity based on individual patient dynamics and recovery features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreea Dumitrescu
- Cardioprevent Foundation, Calea Dorobantilor 3, 300134 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Gabriela Doros
- Third Discipline of Pediatrics, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Voichita Elena Lazureanu
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Susa Septimiu-Radu
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Felix Bratosin
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ovidiu Rosca
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Harshkumar Patel
- Department of General Medicine, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Medical College, Rajkot 360001, Gujarat, India
| | - Tamara Mirela Porosnicu
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Intensive Care Unit, "Victor Babes" Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases and Pneumology, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Gabriela Mut Vitcu
- Cardioprevent Foundation, Calea Dorobantilor 3, 300134 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Andrei Mirea
- Cardioprevent Foundation, Calea Dorobantilor 3, 300134 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Cristian Oancea
- Center for Research and Innovation in Precision Medicine of Respiratory Diseases, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Stefan Mihaicuta
- Cardioprevent Foundation, Calea Dorobantilor 3, 300134 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Emil Robert Stoicescu
- Discipline of Physiology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Paula Irina Barata
- Discipline of Physiology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, "Vasile Goldis" Western University of Arad, Revolutiei Square 94, 310025 Arad, Romania
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8
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Trapani S, Caporizzi A, Ricci S, Indolfi G. Human Bocavirus in Childhood: A True Respiratory Pathogen or a "Passenger" Virus? A Comprehensive Review. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1243. [PMID: 37317217 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, human bocavirus (HBoV) has appeared as an emerging pathogen, with an increasing number of cases reported worldwide. HBoV is mainly associated with upper and lower respiratory tract infections in adults and children. However, its role as a respiratory pathogen is still not fully understood. It has been reported both as a co-infectious agent (predominantly with respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza viruses, and adenovirus), and as an isolated viral pathogen during respiratory tract infections. It has also been found in asymptomatic subjects. The authors review the available literature on the epidemiology of HBoV, the underlying risk factors associated with infection, the virus's transmission, and its pathogenicity as a single pathogen and in co-infections, as well as the current hypothesis about the host's immune response. An update on different HBoV detection methods is provided, including the use of quantitative single or multiplex molecular methods (screening panels) on nasopharyngeal swabs or respiratory secretions, tissue biopsies, serum tests, and metagenomic next-generations sequencing in serum and respiratory secretions. The clinical features of infection, mainly regarding the respiratory tract but also, though rarely, the gastrointestinal one, are extensively described. Furthermore, a specific focus is dedicated to severe HBoV infections requiring hospitalization, oxygen therapy, and/or intensive care in the pediatric age; rare fatal cases have also been reported. Data on tissue viral persistence, reactivation, and reinfection are evaluated. A comparison of the clinical characteristics of single infection and viral or bacterial co-infections with high or low HBoV rates is carried out to establish the real burden of HBoV disease in the pediatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Trapani
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini, 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
- Pediatric Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Viale Pieraccini, 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Alice Caporizzi
- Pediatric Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Viale Pieraccini, 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Silvia Ricci
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini, 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
- Division of Immunology, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Viale Pieraccini, 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Indolfi
- Pediatric Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Viale Pieraccini, 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
- NEUROFARBA Department, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini, 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
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9
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Bogdan I, Gadela T, Bratosin F, Dumitru C, Popescu A, Horhat FG, Negrean RA, Horhat RM, Mot IC, Bota AV, Stoica CN, Feciche B, Csep AN, Fericean RM, Chicin GN, Marincu I. The Assessment of Multiplex PCR in Identifying Bacterial Infections in Patients Hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12030465. [PMID: 36978332 PMCID: PMC10044563 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12030465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial infection can occur in patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 in various conditions, resulting in poorer outcomes, such as a higher death rate. This current systematic review was conducted in order to assess the efficiency of multiplex PCR in detecting bacterial infections in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, as well as to analyze the most common bacterial pathogens and other factors that interfere with this diagnosis. The research was conducted using four electronic databases (PubMed, Taylor&Francis, Web of Science, and Wiley Online Library). Out of 290 studies, nine were included in the systematic review. The results supported the use of multiplex PCR in detecting bacteria, considering its high sensitivity and specificity rates. The most common bacterial pathogens found were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae. The median age at admission was 61.5 years, and the majority of patients were men (70.3%), out of a total of 1553 patients. The proportion of ICU admission was very high, with a pooled proportion of 52.6% over the analyzed studies, and an average duration of hospitalization of 13 days. The mortality rate was proportionally high, as was the rate of ICU admission, with a pooled mortality of 24.9%. It was discovered that 65.2% of all patients used antibiotics before admission, with or without medical prescription. Antibiotic treatment should be considered consciously, considering the high risks of developing antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iulia Bogdan
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Tejaswi Gadela
- School of General Medicine, Bhaskar Medical College, Amdapur Road 156-162, Hyderabad 500075, India
| | - Felix Bratosin
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Catalin Dumitru
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Correspondence: (C.D.); (B.F.); (G.N.C.)
| | - Alin Popescu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Florin George Horhat
- Multidisciplinary Research Center on Antimicrobial Resistance (MULTI-REZ), Microbiology Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | | | - Razvan Mihai Horhat
- Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ion Cristian Mot
- ENT Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Adrian Vasile Bota
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Carmen Nicoleta Stoica
- Oradea Emergency Clinical Hospital, Infectious Diseases Department, 410087 Oradea, Romania
| | - Bogdan Feciche
- Department of Urology, Satu-Mare County Emergency Hospital, Strada Ravensburg 2, 440192 Satu-Mare, Romania
- Correspondence: (C.D.); (B.F.); (G.N.C.)
| | - Andrei Nicolae Csep
- Department of Psycho-Neuroscience and Recovery, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania
| | - Roxana Manuela Fericean
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Gratiana Nicoleta Chicin
- Faculty of General Medicine, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, Bulevardul Revolutiei 94, 310025 Arad, Romania
- National Institute of Public Health, Strada Doctor Leonte Anastasievici 1-3, 050463 Bucuresti, Romania
- Correspondence: (C.D.); (B.F.); (G.N.C.)
| | - Iosif Marincu
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
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10
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Mocanu A, Lazureanu VE, Laza R, Marinescu AR, Cut TG, Sincaru SV, Marza AM, Popescu IM, Herlo LF, Nelson-Twakor A, Rivis M, Bratosinand F, Porosnicu TM, Mederle AO. Laboratory Findings and Clinical Outcomes of ICU-admitted COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Assessment of Particularities Identified among Romanian Minorities. J Pers Med 2023; 13:jpm13020195. [PMID: 36836429 PMCID: PMC9967597 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13020195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The Roma population accounts for over 3% (approximately 10 to 15 million) of Romania's permanent population, and it represents one of Europe's most impoverished populations. Due to poverty and unemployment, Romania's Roma minority may have diminished access to healthcare and preventive medicine. The limited existing evidence suggests that the European Roma group has been at a higher risk of becoming ill and dying during the pandemic owing to their lifestyle choices, socioeconomic circumstances, and genetic pathophysiological traits. As a result, the purpose of the present research was to investigate the link between the inflammatory markers implicated and the clinical progression of COVID-19 in Roma patients who were brought to the intensive care unit. We considered 71 Roma patients admitted to the ICU with SARS-CoV-2 infection and 213 controls from the general population with the same inclusion criteria. The body mass index of patients was statistically significantly higher among Roma patients, with more than 57% being overweight, compared with 40.7% in the control group. Frequent smoking was more prevalent in patients of Roma ethnicity admitted to the ICU and the number of comorbidities. We observed a significantly higher proportion of severe imaging features at admission in the group of cases, although this difference may have been associated with the higher prevalence of smoking in this group. The mean duration of hospitalization was longer by 1.8 days than the control group. Elevated ESR levels were observed in 54.0% of Roma patients at admission, compared with 38.9% in the control group. Similarly, 47.6% of them had elevated CRP levels. IL-6 increased significantly at the time of ICU admission, similarly to the significant rise in the CRP levels, compared with the general population. However, the proportion of intubated patients and mortality did not differ significantly. On multivariate analysis, the Roma ethnicity significantly influenced the CRP (β = 1.93, p-value = 0.020) and IL-6 (β = 1.85, p-value = 0.044). It is necessary to plan different healthcare strategies aimed at special populations, such as the Roma ethnicity, to prevent the reduced disparities presented in in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Mocanu
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Voichita Elena Lazureanu
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Ruxandra Laza
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Adelina Raluca Marinescu
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Talida Georgiana Cut
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Suzana-Vasilica Sincaru
- Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation, Strada Gheorghe Maricescu, 540327 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Adina Maria Marza
- Department of Surgery, Multidisciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Irina-Maria Popescu
- Department XIII, Discipline of Epidemiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Lucian-Flavius Herlo
- Department of Surgery, Ineu City Hospital, Republicii Street 2, 315300 Arad, Romania
| | - Andreea Nelson-Twakor
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Ovidius” University of Constanta, 900527 Constanta, Romania
| | - Mircea Rivis
- Department of Anesthesiology and Oral Surgery, Multidisciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Felix Bratosinand
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Tamara Mirela Porosnicu
- Intensive Care Unit, “Victor Babes” Hospital for Infectious Disease and Pneumology, Strada Gheorghe Adam 13, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Alexandru Ovidiu Mederle
- Department of Surgery, Multidisciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
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11
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Hrubaru I, Motoc A, Moise ML, Miutescu B, Citu IM, Pingilati RA, Popescu DE, Dumitru C, Gorun F, Olaru F, Erdelean I, Forga M, Nicolae N, Citu C. The Predictive Role of Maternal Biological Markers and Inflammatory Scores NLR, PLR, MLR, SII, and SIRI for the Risk of Preterm Delivery. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11236982. [PMID: 36498555 PMCID: PMC9738289 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11236982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In many countries, preterm birth, defined as birth before 37 completed weeks of gestation, is the primary cause of infant death and morbidity. An increasing body of research suggests that inflammation (both clinical and subclinical) plays a significant role in inducing preterm labor or developing pregnancy problems that lead to premature birth. Consequently, the purpose of this research was to determine the predictive value of the Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), derived Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (dNLR), Monocytes-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR), Platelets-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), for premature delivery. A retrospective study analyzed a total of 243 eligible pregnancies that resulted in a preterm birth during 2020 and 2021. A control group without a history of preterm birth was matched by age and trimester of laboratory analysis at a 1:1 ratio. Although the number of comorbidities was similar among study groups, the body-mass index estimated for the week of gestation was significantly higher among the patients from the prematurity group, as well as the prevalence of urinary tract infections and smoking. Laboratory data showed that patients with a preterm birth had significantly higher white blood cell count and monocytes, but significantly lower lymphocytes, platelets, and hemoglobin. The NLR, dNLR, PLR, and MLR scores showed to be significantly higher among patients from the prematurity group, but SII and SIRI were not significantly different between the study groups. It was observed that the AUC values of NLR, dNLR, PLR, and MLR were higher than 0.600, respectively NLR had the highest value among the tested scores (AUC = 0.694) and the highest sensitivity in this study (71%). The highest sensibility was achieved by dNLR, with 70%, and an AUC value of 0.655 (p-value = 0.022). PLR had the second-highest AUC value (0.682) and the best score in terms of sensitivity (70%) and sensibility (69%) (p-value = 0.015). Lastly, MLR had the lowest significant AUC score (0.607) and lowest sensitivity/sensibility. The significant cut-off values for the inflammatory scores were 9.0 for NLR, 9.8 for dNLR, 250 for PLR, and 4.07 for MLR. After evaluating the importance of these inflammatory scores, further clinical applications should be conducted to confirm the results and improve therapy and care to reduce the burden of premature deliveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Hrubaru
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Andrei Motoc
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Marius Liviu Moise
- Department of Radiology, “Premiere” Hospital—“Regina Maria”, Calea Aradului 113, 300643 Timisoara, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Bogdan Miutescu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Premiere” Hospital—“Regina Maria”, Calea Aradului 113, 300643 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ioana Mihaela Citu
- Department of Internal Medicine I, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Raja Akshay Pingilati
- Malla Reddy Institute of Medical Sciences, Suraram Main Road 138, Hyderabad 500055, India
| | - Daniela-Eugenia Popescu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Neonatology, Premiere Hospital, Regina Maria Health Network, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Catalin Dumitru
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Florin Gorun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Flavius Olaru
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Izabella Erdelean
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Marius Forga
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Nicoleta Nicolae
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Cosmin Citu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
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12
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COVID-19 Clinical Features and Outcomes in Elderly Patients during Six Pandemic Waves. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11226803. [PMID: 36431282 PMCID: PMC9692444 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11226803] [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: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Many elderly patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 infections are admitted to intensive care units. Age was previously identified as an independent risk factor for death and contributed to the greater severity of COVID-19. The elderly may have diminished lung functions, poor reactions to artificial ventilation, and compromised immune systems. However, it is yet uncertain how each pandemic wave and the predominant SARS-CoV-2 strains contribute to varying results and how patient groups such as the elderly are impacted. Comparing six COVID-19 pandemic waves, the objective of this study was to examine the variation in case severity, symptomatology, ICU hospitalizations, and mortality among SARS-CoV-2-infected elderly individuals. The study followed a retrospective design, including 60 eligible patients older than 70 years in each of the six pandemic wave groups, after matching them by the number of comorbidities and gender. SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first, third, and fourth pandemic waves had a significantly higher risk of mortality for hospitalized patients. Confusion and dyspnea at admission were significant risk factors for ICU admission in elderly patients (β = 1.92, respectively β = 3.65). The laboratory parameters identified decreased lymphocytes (β = 2.11), elevated IL-6 (β = 1.96), and procalcitonin (β = 2.46) as the most significant risk factors. The third and fourth COVID-19 waves had considerably more severe infections (31.7% and 26.7%) than the sixth wave (13.3%). Median ICU stay and percentage of patients receiving oxygen support also differed across pandemic waves. However, mortality rates between the six pandemic waves were similar. The average length of hospitalization varied dramatically among the six pandemic waves. Although senior patients are more likely to have worse COVID-19 outcomes after hospitalization, this risk is mitigated by the greater prevalence of comorbidities and frailty among the elderly. The six pandemic waves that were specifically evaluated did not reveal considerably disproportionate variations in terms of patient mortality; however, during the fourth pandemic wave, there were likely more hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 in Romania. It is probable that certain circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains were more infectious, resulting in an increase in infections and a strain on healthcare systems, which might explain the variations found in our research.
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13
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A Retrospective Assessment of Laboratory Findings and Cytokine Markers in Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Patients of Roma Population. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11226777. [PMID: 36431254 PMCID: PMC9697185 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11226777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing research data suggests that the severity of COVID-19 is linked with higher levels of inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines, chemokines, tumor necrosis factor, C-reactive protein, ferritin, and D-dimers. In addition, it was evident from the existing research data that the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection differs according to independent risk factors such as race and ethnicity. Some scarce evidence shows that the European Roma community is likely to be at an elevated risk of illness and death during the pandemic due to their lifestyle, social factors, and economics. Assuming that precautions must be taken to protect this population from coronavirus infections and from widening existing disparities in comparison with the Romanian ethnic population, the current study aimed to observe the clinical evolution of the Roma patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in correlation with the laboratory findings and inflammatory markers involved. After calculating the sample size requirements, we included 83 Roma patients admitted to the hospital with severe COVID-19 and 236 patients of Romanian ethnicity with the same inclusion criteria. Patients were selected from the period stretching from March 2020 to December 2021, before COVID-19 vaccines were introduced. Compared with the general population, the Roma patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection had a higher unemployment rate (39.8%), and most of them were residing in rural regions (65.4%). There were significantly more overweight patients in the Roma group than in the control group (57.8% vs. 40.7%), and it was also observed that high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus were significantly more prevalent in the Roma patients. They had significantly longer mean duration of hospitalization was significantly longer in the group of Roma patients (18.1 days vs. 16.3 days). IL-6 and CRP levels were significantly more elevated during admission in the group of Roma patients (43.4% vs. 28.4%); however, IL-6 levels normalized at discharge, but ESR remained high. Although ICU admissions were significantly more frequent in this group, the mortality rate was not significantly higher than in the general population. It is necessary to plan different healthcare strategies aimed at special populations, such as the Roma ethnicity to prevent disparities in negative outcomes reflected in this study. The results imply that community-health collaborations between organizations of minority groups and healthcare professionals can mitigate the disproportionate consequences of the pandemic on Roma.
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14
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Evaluation of FIB-4, NFS, APRI and Liver Function Tests as Predictors for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Elderly Population: A Matched Case-Control Analysis. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11175149. [PMID: 36079087 PMCID: PMC9457203 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11175149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Several investigations have revealed that COVID-19 causes a significant death rate due to acute respiratory distress syndrome, alterations in the quantity of ACE2 receptor expression, or the intensity of cytokine storm. Similarly, patients with hepatic impairment that are co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 are more likely to display upregulations of ACE2 receptors and cytokine storm overload, which exacerbates hepatic impairment, potentially increasing the death rate. Moreover, it is expected that the aging population develops a higher degree of hepatic fibrosis in association with other comorbid conditions that are likely to influence the course of COVID-19. Therefore, this research was developed to describe the differences in liver test parameters in elderly individuals with COVID-19 in relation to other inflammatory markers and outcomes. This current observational single-center research followed a case-control design of elderly patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The research was conducted at a tertiary emergency hospital in western Romania during a two-year period. There were 632 patients included in the analysis that were split into two equal groups matched 1:1 based on gender and body mass index. Three hundred sixteen patients made the group of cases with COVID-19 patients older than 65 years, while the other half were the 316 patient controls with COVID-19 that were younger than 65 years old. Disease outcomes showed a higher prevalence of ICU admissions (22.8% vs. 12.7%, p-value < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality (17.1% vs. 8.9%, p-value = 0.002) in the group of cases. Specific and non-specific liver biomarkers were identified as risk factors for mortality in the elderly, such as ALP (OR = 1.26), LDH (OR = 1.68), AST (OR = 1.98), and ALT (OR = 2.34). Similarly, patients with APRI and NFS scores higher than 1.5 were, respectively, 2.69 times and, 3.05 times more likely to die from COVID-19, and patients with FIB-4 scores higher than 3.25 were 3.13 times more likely to die during hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our research indicates that abnormally increased liver biomarkers and high liver fibrosis scores are related to a worse prognosis in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals.
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15
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Wang W, Guan R, Liu Z, Zhang F, Sun R, Liu S, Shi X, Su Z, Liang R, Hao K, Wang Z, Liu X. Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of human bocavirus infection in children hospitalized for acute respiratory tract infection in Qingdao, China. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:935688. [PMID: 36033842 PMCID: PMC9399728 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.935688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent infection and prolonged shedding of human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) in children have been reported, and the role of HBoV1 as a sole causative pathogen in acute respiratory infection (ARI) is yet to be established. While the reported prevalence of HBoV infection varies due to different detection methods and sampling criteria, determining the viral and bacterial etiology of HBoV infection using multiplex real-time PCR is yet to be reported. Herein, we aimed to further explore the pathogenicity of HBoV in patients with ARI by screening the viral and bacterial infections in children with ARI in Qingdao and comparing the epidemiological, clinical characteristics, and etiological results. Human bocavirus was identified in 28.1% of the samples, and further sequencing analysis of the detected HBoV confirmed 96.4% as HBoV1. The rate of HBoV as a single viral infection was 75%, and the rate of coinfection with bacteria was 66.1%, suggesting the need for continued monitoring of HBoV in children with ARIs. Clinical characterization suggested that HBoV infection may affect the function of organs, such as the liver, kidney, and heart, and the blood acid–base balance. Additionally, it is essential to promote awareness about the importance of disinfection and sterilization of the hospital environment and standardizing operations. The interactions between HBoV and other pathogens remain to be investigated in further detail in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, The College of Public Health of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Renzheng Guan
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ziran Liu
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao, China
| | - Rui Sun
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao, China
| | - Sitong Liu
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaoyan Shi
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhilei Su
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao, China
| | - Rongxiang Liang
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao, China
| | - Kangyu Hao
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, The College of Public Health of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhaoguo Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, The College of Public Health of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Zhaoguo Wang
| | - Xianming Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China
- Xianming Liu
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Budea CM, Pricop M, Bratosin F, Bogdan I, Saenger M, Ciorica O, Braescu L, Domuta EM, Grigoras ML, Citu C, Diaconu MM, Marincu I. Antibacterial and Antifungal Management in Relation to the Clinical Characteristics of Elderly Patients with Infective Endocarditis: A Retrospective Analysis. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11070956. [PMID: 35884210 PMCID: PMC9312084 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11070956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Infective endocarditis (IE) is increasingly prevalent in the elderly, particularly due to the rising frequency of invasive procedures and intracardiac devices placed on these individuals. Several investigations have highlighted the unique clinical and echocardiographic characteristics, the microorganisms implicated, and the prognosis of IE in the elderly. In addition, the old population seems to be fairly diverse, ranging from healthy individuals with no medical history to patients with many ailments and those who are immobile. Furthermore, the therapy of IE in this group has not been well investigated, and worldwide recommendations do not propose tailoring the treatment approach to the patient’s functional state and comorbid conditions. A multicenter research study was designed as a retrospective study of hospitalized patients with infective endocarditis, aiming to examine the characteristics of elderly patients over 65 years old with infective endocarditis in relation to the antibiotic and antifungal treatments administered, as well as to quantify the incidence of treatment resistance, adverse effects, and mortality in comparison to patients younger than 65. Based on a convenience sampling method, we included in the analysis a total of 78 patients younger than 65 and 131 patients older than 65 years. A total of 140 patients had endocarditis on native valves and 69 patients had endocarditis on prosthetic valves. A significantly higher proportion of elderly patients had signs of heart failure on admission, and the mortality rate was significantly higher in the elderly population. A majority of infections had a vascular cause, followed by dental, maxillo-facial, and ENT interventions. The most common complications of IE were systemic sepsis (48.1% of patients older than 65 years vs. 30.8% in the younger group). The most frequent bacterium involved was Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Streptococcus spp. in a total of more than 50% of all patients. The most commonly used antibiotics were cephalosporins in 33.5% of cases, followed by penicillin in 31.2% and glycopeptides in 28.7%, while Fluconazole was the initial option of treatment for fungal endocarditis in 24.9% of cases. Heart failure at admission (OR = 4.07), the development of septic shock (OR = 6.19), treatment nephrotoxicity (OR = 3.14), severe treatment complications (OR = 4.65), and antibiotic resistance (OR = 3.24) were significant independent risk factors for mortality in the elderly patients. Even though therapeutic management was initiated sooner in the older patients, the associated complications and mortality rate remained significantly greater than those in the patients under 65 years old.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camelia Melania Budea
- Department of Ear-Nose-Throat, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
| | - Marius Pricop
- Discipline of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Felix Bratosin
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
| | - Iulia Bogdan
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
| | - Miriam Saenger
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
| | - Ovidiu Ciorica
- Business Administration and Economics Faculty, West University of Timisoara, Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi Street 16, 300115 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Laurentiu Braescu
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases, Str. Gh. Adam nr. 13A, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Eugenia Maria Domuta
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
- Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Piata 1 Decembrie 10, 410073 Oradea, Romania
| | - Mirela Loredana Grigoras
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Cosmin Citu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.C.); (M.M.D.)
| | - Mircea Mihai Diaconu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.C.); (M.M.D.)
| | - Iosif Marincu
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
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17
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Characterization and Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Overweight and Obese Patients: A Dynamic Comparison of COVID-19 Pandemic Waves. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11102916. [PMID: 35629042 PMCID: PMC9143838 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11102916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
There are few data on the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 viral manifestations in obese and overweight persons during each of the five waves that occurred in Romania during the last two years. As such, the purpose of this research was to characterize the variance in case severity, symptomatology, ICU hospitalizations, and mortality among overweight and obese individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We included 250 overweight and obese patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, where 50 patients were selected from each of the five pandemic waves that existed in Romania until March 2022. A total of 113 patients with normal body mass index were included in the study. They were matched with overweight and obese patients by age, gender, and cardiovascular comorbidities to avoid the effect of confounding factors. Between the five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania, the present investigation found substantial changes in overweight and obese patient features. Obesity increases the risk of hospitalization, severe complications, and mortality from COVID-19. However, this unique demographic is disproportionately affected by obesity-related comorbidities, which contribute to these adverse outcomes. We advocate for the development of new guiding principles for the formulation of healthcare strategies aimed at high-prevalence special populations such as overweight and obese individuals, while also promoting pandemic containment and avoiding the recurrence of pandemic waves with the same guidelines that proved detrimental in terms of economic and human life loss.
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