Covid19-Sources

MRI scans of long COVID patients with brain fog suggest that the blood brain barrier may be leaky.

Waves of COVID-19 infections have continued all around the world as new variants appear. The expectation that previous infections would reduce the probability or severity of the disease has proved to be incorrect [1]. While deaths during the acute phase have been decreasing, in part due to improved disease treatment and vaccination, excess mortality continues … Continued

A recent study estimates millions of children are suffering from long COVID. Michael George has more on why we still know so little about the illness and one mother's search for answers.

A message to "claim your dose by making a vaccination appointment" improved vaccine coverage by 2 percentage points.

DMZ – LEBEN ¦ Sarah Koller ¦ Inmitten der weltweiten Krise der COVID-19-Pandemie gibt es Geschichten, die oft übersehen werden - Geschichten von Familien, die im Schatten dieser turbulenten Zeit kämpfen. Eine solche Familie ist auch die von Frau Müller*, einer Krebspatientin im metastasierten Stadium seit 2018. Als die Pandemie begann, befanden sich ihre Kinder noch in der Schulpflicht, ihr Sohn stand mitten im Abitur. Frau Müller hatte bereits im Vorfeld mit Radiologen, Onkologen und Thoraxchirurgen über ihr erhöhtes Risiko einer COVID-19-Infektion gesprochen. Doch als sie sich vor Ort erkundigte, wurde ihr eine entmutigende Realität offenbart. Man sagte ihr, dass sie bei einer Infektion wahrscheinlich sterben würde, aber sie wurde ermutigt, die Gefahr herunterzuspielen, um ihrem Sohn nicht zusätzlich Sorgen zu bereiten. Ihnen wurde der "häusliche Infektionsschutz" empfohlen: keine persönlichen Treffen, ständiges Tragen von Masken für Frau Müller im Haus, getrennte Nutzung von Küche und Bad und keine gemeinsamen Mahlzeiten. Trotz ihrer Bemühungen, die Situation zu normalisieren, spürte ihr Sohn den Vertrauensverlust zutiefst. Er fühlte sich wie ein Mittel zum Zweck für die Wirtschaft, anstatt als geliebtes Familienmitglied wahrgenommen zu werden. Die Entscheidung, ob er im Distanzunterricht bleiben durfte, lag nicht bei den Eltern, sondern beim Schulamt. Nach zahlreichen Anstrengungen und Tränen wurde schließlich zugestimmt, dass er bis zur Impfung im Fernunterricht bleiben durfte. Doch auch dort stieß die Familie auf Herausforderungen. Die Schule war unzureichend auf den digitalen Unterricht vorbereitet, und einige Lehrer beschwerten sich über den zusätzlichen Aufwand, den Frau Müllers Sohn verursachte. Es gab grundsätzlich sehr wenige, motivierte Lehrkräfte. Als es dann endlich Zeit für die Impfung war, erlebte Frau Müller eine weitere Enttäuschung. Obwohl sie einen Termin für den Biontech-Impfstoff hatte, wurde ihr vor Ort mitgeteilt, dass an diesem Tag ausschließlich der AstraZeneca-Impfstoff verabreicht wurde. Trotz ärztlicher Empfehlungen, dass sie aufgrund von Nebenwirkungen nicht mit AstraZeneca geimpft werden sollte, wurde ihr keine andere Wahl gelassen. Der Umgang mit der Situation hinterließ bei Frau Müller und ihrer Familie einen bleibenden Eindruck. Sie wurden von der Politik im Stich gelassen und fühlten sich unverstanden und alleingelassen. Die Pandemie ist noch nicht vorbei und trotzdem fühlen sich vulnerable Personen wie Frau Müller immer noch verletzlich und im Stich gelassen. Sie werden wegen ihrer Vorsichtsmaßnahmen beschimpft und stigmatisiert. Ihr täglicher Kampf ums Überleben wird durch jede Einkaufsreise und jeden Arztbesuch zusätzlich erschwert. Frau Müller und ihre Familie sind nur eine von vielen "Schattenfamilien", die in dieser Pandemie unsichtbar bleiben. Ihre Geschichte zeigt die dringende Notwendigkeit auf, für diese Menschen einzustehen und sie zu unterstützen, während sie weiterhin um ihr Überleben kämpfen. Wir alle sollten uns bewusst sein, dass hinter den Statistiken und Schlagzeilen echte Menschen mit echten Geschichten stehen. Lassen Sie uns gemeinsam diese Menschen unterstützen und sicherstellen, dass sie die Unterstützung erhalten, die sie verdienen. (*Name geändert, um die Privatsphäre zu schützen)"

Experten schlagen Alarm: In Japan häufen sich die Fälle einer seltenen, aber gefährlichen bakteriellen Erkrankung. Innerhalb von nur zwei Monaten registrieren die Behörden fast 400 neue Infektionen. Die Ursache für den dramatischen Anstieg könnte mit der Corona-Pandemie zusammenhängen.

BackgroundAs about 10% of patients with COVID-19 present sequelae, it is important to better understand the physiopathology of so-called long COVID.MethodTo ...

In Japan wird seit Anfang des Jahres ein rasanter Anstieg von Infektionen mit einer seltenen Krankheit registriert. Die Ursachen dafür sind bislang unklar.

With an estimated 65 million individuals suffering from Long COVID, validated therapeutic strategies as well as non-invasive biomarkers are direly needed to guide clinical management. We used blood digital transcriptomics in search of viral persistence and Long COVID diagnostic biomarkers in a real-world, general practice-based setting with a long clinical follow-up. We demonstrate systemic SARS-CoV-2 persistence for more than 2 years after acute COVID-19 infection. A 2-gene biomarker, including FYN and SARS-CoV-2 antisense RNA, correctly classifies Long COVID with 93.8% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity. Specific immune transcripts and immunometabolism score correlate to systemic viral load and patient-reported anxiety/depression, providing mechanistic links as well as therapeutic targets to tackle Long COVID. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement FWO grant to JVW ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: This study was approved by the Ethical committee of University Hospitals Leuven (UZ Leuven, Belgium), all patients and controls have provided written informed consent. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors.

Scientific Reports - A novel, multitargeted endogenous metabolic modulator composition impacts metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-relevant primary human cell models

AXA1125 is an experimental drug developed by Axcella Health that "increased β-oxidation and improved bioenergetics in preclinical models". It was studied as a treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and long COVID,

Although treatment with AXA1125 did not improve the primary endpoint (τPCr-measure of mitochondrial respiration), when compared to placebo, there were significant improvements in fatigue-based symptoms among patients living with Long COVID following a four-week treatment period. Further multicentre studies are needed to validate our findings in a larger cohort of patients with fatigue-dominant Long COVID.

BA.2.86 is a recently emerged, highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant that spreads in many countries and threatens human health. This study shows that BA.2.86, unlike closely related variants, can enter lung cells with high efficiency and in a TMPRSS2-dependent fashion and is resistant against therapeutic antibodies.

PDF | Background: The present study investigates the influence of COVID-19 on mortality in the sixteen German federal states. To examine this issue, we... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate

Expression of CCR5 and its cognate ligands have been implicated in COVID-19 pathogenesis, consequently therapeutics directed against CCR5 are being investiga...

Symptome wie Husten, Kurzatmigkeit oder Erschöpfung können nach einer Corona-Infektion noch lange bestehen bleiben. Man spricht dann von Post oder Long Covid. Die Behandlung ist oft komplex.

Individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, lineage B.1.617.2, exhibit faster initial infection with a higher viral load than prior variants, and pseudotyped particles bearing the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant spike protein induce a faster initial infection rate of target cells compared to those bearing other SARS-CoV-2 variant spikes. Here, we show that pseudotyped particles bearing the Delta variant spike form unique aggregates, as evidenced by negative stain and cryogenic electron microscopy (EM), flow cytometry, and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Viral particles pseudotyped with other SARS-CoV-2 spike variants do not show aggregation by any of these criteria. The contribution to infection kinetics of the Delta spike’s unique property to aggregate is discussed with respect to recent evidence for collective infection by other viruses. Irrespective of this intriguing possibility, spike-dependent aggregation is a new functional parameter of spike-expressing viral particles to evaluate in future spike protein variants. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.

Patientinnen oder Patienten, die sich kurz vor oder nach ihrer Operation mit SARS-CoV-2 infizierten, haben laut Studienlage ein erhöhtes Komplikations- und Sterbe- risiko. Das Risiko ist bis zu 7 Wochen nach SARS-CoV-2-Infektion erhöht, auch dann, wenn die Betroffenen kei- ne Symptome aufwiesen, das heißt nur einen positiven Polymeraseket- tenreaktion-(PCR-)Test hatten (1).

To date, no systematic review or meta-analysis has comprehensively estimated the risk of mortality by surgery type on an international scale. We aim to delineate the risk of mortality in patients with COVID-19 who undergo surgery.

Even though more than two years have passed since the global pandemic started, COVID-19 continues to impact children all over the world. The most common course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children is short term with no or mild symptoms. However, there are two long-term consequences: long COVID and multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). A post-COVID19 programme for children has been created in Latvia; however, we know that the availability of this service is limited. We developed an online survey so that we could screen for those paediatric patients with long COVID who needed to see a specialist as soon as possible. The cross-sectional study from 1 November 2021 to 27 March 2022 included 220 patients. In our study, the most frequent symptoms in the age group 1.5 years were irritability (50%), mood swings (50%), persistent cough (33.3%) and loss of appetite (33.3%). In the group aged 1.5–5 years, a persistent cough (54.4%), mood swings (43.9%) and irritability (42.1%) were the most common symptoms, while in the group aged 6–10 years, fatigue (56.6%), abdominal pain (55.3%), headache (50%), and mood swings (50%) were seen most often. Meanwhile in the 11–18 age group, impaired physical activity (66.7%), fatigue (62.3%) and drowsiness (62.3%) were the most frequently seen symptoms.

To compare the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses in saliva and bioaerosols between two winters and model the probability of virus detection in classroom air for different viruses. Methods We analyze saliva, air, and air cleaner filter samples from studies conducted in two Swiss secondary schools (age 14-17 years) over seven weeks during the winters of 2021/22 and 2022/23. Two bioaerosol sampling devices and HEPA filters from air cleaners were used to collect airborne virus particles in five classrooms. Daily bioaerosol samples were pooled for each sampling device before PCR analysis of a panel of 19 respiratory viruses and viral subtypes. The probability of detection of airborne viruses was modelled using an adjusted Bayesian logistic regression model. Results Three classes (58 students) participated in 2021/22, and two classes (38 students) in 2022/23. During winter 2021/22, SARS-CoV-2 dominated in saliva (19 of 21 positive samples) and bioaerosols (9 of 10). One year later, there were 50 positive saliva samples, mostly influenza B, rhinovirus, and adenovirus, and two positive bioaerosol samples, one rhinovirus and one adenovirus. The weekly probability of airborne detection was 34% (95%-credible interval [CrI] 22%−47%) for SARS-CoV-2 and 10% (95%-CrI 5%-16%) for other respiratory viruses.

A literature review found pneumococcal conjugate vaccines were associated with some protection against flu and other viral respiratory tract infections.

Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the most severe drops in life expectancy seen in 50+ years.

As our kids return to school this year, it’s worth asking: What was the real impact of school closures during the height of the pandemic? Mehdi Hasan takes a...

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sweden registered a high level of excess deaths. Non-pharmaceutical interventions adopted by Sweden have been milder compared to those implemented in Denmark. Moreover, Sweden might have started the pandemic ...

BackgroundThe spread of SARS-CoV-2 cannot be well monitored and understood in areas without capacity for effective disease surveillance. Countries with a young population will have disproportionately large numbers of asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic infections, further hindering detection of infection. Sero-surveillance on a country-wide scale by trained medical professionals may be limited in a resource-limited setting such as Mali. Novel ways of broadly sampling the human population in a non-invasive method would allow for large-scale surveillance at a reduced cost.ApproachHere we evaluate the collection of naturally blood-fed mosquitoes to test for human anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the laboratory and at five field locations in Mali.ResultsImmunoglobulin-G antibodies to multiple SARS-CoV-2 antigens were readily detected in mosquito bloodmeals by bead-based immunoassay through at least 10 h after feeding [mean sensitivity of 0.92 (95% CI 0.78–1) and mean specificity of 0.98 (95% CI 0.88–1)], indicating that most blood-fed mosquitoes collected indoors during early morning hours (and likely to have fed the previous night) are viable samples for analysis. We found that reactivity to four SARS-CoV-2 antigens rose during the pandemic from pre-pandemic levels. The crude seropositivity of blood sampled via mosquitoes was 6.3% in October and November 2020 across all sites, and increased to 25.1% overall by February 2021, with the most urban site reaching 46.7%, consistent with...

Cognitive decline is a common adverse effect of the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19), particularly in the post-acute disease phase. The mechanisms of cognitive impairment after COVID-19 (COGVID) remain unclear, but neuroimaging studies provide evidence of brain changes, many that are associated with aging. Therefore, we calculated Brain Age Gap (BAG), which is the difference between brain age and chronological age, in a cohort of 25 mild to moderate COVID-19 survivors (did not experience breathlessness, pneumonia, or respiratory/organ failure) and 24 non-infected controls (mean age = 30 +/- 8) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). BAG was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group (F = 4.22, p = 0.046) by 2.65 years. Additionally, 80% of the COVID-19 group demonstrated an accelerated BAG compared to 13% in the control group (X2 = 20.0, p 0.001). Accelerated BAG was significantly correlated with lower cognitive function (p 0.041). Females in the COVID-19 group demonstrated a 99% decreased risk of accelerated BAG compared to males (OR = 0.015, 95% CI: 0.001 to 0.300). There was also a small (1.4%) but significant decrease in risk for accelerated BAG associated with longer time since COVID-19 diagnosis (OR = 0.986, 95% CI: 0.977 to 0.995). Our findings provide a novel biomarker of COGVID and point to accelerated brain aging as a potential mechanism of this adverse effect. Our results also offer further insight regarding gender-related disparities in cognitive morbidity associated with COVID-19. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This study did not receive any funding ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: This study was approved by the University of Texas at Austin Institutional Review Board (protocol# 00001337). I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due the fact that they constitute an excerpt of research in progress but will be available on the EBRAINS platform (https://www.ebrains.eu) under the corresponding author name at study completion. Interested parties may contact the corresponding author for further information.