Covid19-Sources

Scientific Reports - Exploring the therapeutic potential of Thymus vulgaris ethanol extract: a computational screening for antimicrobial compounds against COVID-19 induced mucormycosis

Mount Sinai study suggests COVID-19 infection should be considered a risk factor for future cardiopulmonary conditions

COVID-19 vaccines have been updated each year since 2022 to improve protection against evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, it is unclear whether a reformulation will be necessary for 2025. KP.2-based monovalent COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (KP.2 MV) were authorized for use in 2024, and they conferred substantial protection against hospitalizations caused by viral variants that emerged and dominated later, such as KP.3.1.1 and XEC. Today, LP.8.1 has become the dominant variant worldwide, particularly so in North America. To characterize the antigenicity of LP.8.1, we tested serial serum samples from 16 individuals who recently received KP.2 MV in neutralization assays against KP.3.1.1, XEC, and LP.8.1 pseudoviruses. Serum neutralizing antibody titers against LP.8.1 were comparable to those against KP.3.1.1 and XEC, indicating that LP.8.1 is antigenically similar to its predecessors. Therefore, the currently authorized KP.2 MV may not need to be updated for 2025, if the vaccine manufacturers could demonstrate comparable immunogenicity for KP.2 MV and LP.8.1-based mRNA vaccines and, of course, in the absence of an antigenically divergent SARS-CoV-2 emerging. ### Competing Interest Statement D.D.H. co-founded TaiMed Biologics and RenBio, and he serves as a consultant for WuXi Biologics and Brii Biosciences and is a board director at Vicarious Surgical. A.G. served as a member of the scientific advisory board for Janssen Pharmaceuticals and has consulted and serves on a scientific advisory board for Sanofi Pasteur. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest. National Institutes of HealthNational Institutes of Health, https://ror.org/01cwqze88, subcontract no. 0258-A700-4609 under federal contract no. 75N93021C00014, subcontract GR0010139-PO024016 under federal contract no. 75N93021C00016, K08 AI180347, K23 AI171263, K24 AI155230 Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationBill & Melinda Gates Foundation, INV019355 Columbia UniversityColumbia University, https://ror.org/00hj8s172, UR014016

We have observed hypernatraemia and hypokalaemia with normal serum urea and creatinine associated with new‐onset hypertension among COVID‐19 patients. We assessed the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) of two patients during the pandemic and found elevated urinary potassium (without causal medications) and hyporeninaemic hypoaldosteronism in both. We fully investigated a fit 74‐year‐old woman with COVID‐19 who developed hypertension (peak blood pressure (BP) 195/120 mmHg), hypokalaemia (range 2.7‐3.2 mmol/L) and hypernatraemia (range 150‐166 mmol/L) during the first week of admission. There was metabolic alkalosis with pH 7.50, bicarbonate 31 mmol/L, partial pressure of carbon dioxide 5.3 kPa. Adjusted calcium and serum magnesium were normal. Urinary potassium (K+) was 19.72 mmol/L and 24.46 mmol/L (0‐10) on 2 occasions. Plasma renin was 0.2 nmol/L/h (0.5‐3.5) and aldosterone 60 pmol/L (60‐250).

A wide range of cardiac symptoms have been observed in COVID-19 patients, often significantly influencing the clinical outcome. While the pathophysiology of pulmonary COVID-19 manifestation has been substantially unraveled, the underlying ...

A lot of people have noticed it. In the past few years, a bunch of different infections in England have started moving together. Spikes, dips, rising and falling in sync.

The illness raises the likelihood that children develop chronic kidney disease, irritable bowel syndrome and cardiovascular issues, Penn researchers say.

DMZ – WISSENSCHAFT ¦ S. Koller Die Langzeitfolgen von SARS-CoV-2-Infektionen, auch als post-akute sequelae (PASC) bekannt, betreffen nicht nur Erwachsene, sondern zunehmend auch Kinder und Jugendliche. Eine umfassende Studie, die kürzlich in Nature Communications veröffentlicht wurde, beleuchtet die kardiovaskulären Auswirkungen einer COVID-19-Infektion in der jungen Bevölkerung. Forscher um Bingyu Zhang und Kollegen analysierten Daten von über 1,2 Millionen Personen, um das Risiko von Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen nach einer SARS-CoV-2-Infektion bei Kindern und Jugendlichen zu untersuchen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass infizierte junge Menschen signifikant häufiger an verschiedenen Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen leiden, einschließlich Bluthochdruck, Arrhythmien, Myokarditis und sogar kardiogenem Schock. Methodik und Kohorte Für ihre Kohortenstudie verwendeten die Forscher elektronische Gesundheitsdaten aus 19 Kinderkliniken und Gesundheitsinstitutionen der USA, die im Rahmen des RECOVER-Konsortiums zwischen März 2020 und September 2023 gesammelt wurden. Die Kohorte umfasste 297.920 SARS-CoV-2-positive Kinder und 915.402 SARS-CoV-2-negative Kontrollpersonen, die über einen Zeitraum von mindestens sechs Monaten nach der Infektion oder dem Indexdatum nachverfolgt wurden. Die Studie untersuchte nicht nur die allgemeine kardiovaskuläre Gesundheit, sondern differenzierte auch nach dem Vorhandensein von angeborenen Herzfehlern (CHDs), da diese die Entwicklung von PASC-Komplikationen beeinflussen könnten. Ergebnisse: Kardiovaskuläre Risiken bei Kindern mit und ohne angeborene Herzfehler Die Studie stellte fest, dass Kinder und Jugendliche nach einer SARS-CoV-2-Infektion ein signifikant erhöhtes Risiko für eine Vielzahl von kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen hatten. Besonders auffällig waren: Hypertension (Bluthochdruck) Ventrikuläre Arrhythmien Myokarditis und Perikarditis (Entzündung des Herzmuskels und des Herzbeutels) Herzinsuffizienz und Kardiomyopathie (Herzschwäche und Muskelerkrankung des Herzens) Kardiogener Schock (Herzbedingte Kreislaufinsuffizienz) Thromboembolismus (Blutgerinnsel und ihre Folgekomplikationen) Brustschmerzen und Palpitationen (Herzklopfen) Diese Risiken traten sowohl bei Kindern mit als auch ohne angeborene Herzfehler auf, wobei bei letzterer Gruppe insbesondere das Risiko für Myokarditis und perikardiale Entzündungen erhöht war. Auch bei Kindern, die vor der Infektion keine kardiovaskulären Vorerkrankungen hatten, war das Risiko für diese Zustände höher als bei den nicht infizierten Kontrollgruppen. Besonders bemerkenswert war der hohe Anstieg an Myokarditis und Perikarditis, was mit anderen Studien übereinstimmt, die einen Anstieg entzündlicher Herzkrankheiten nach einer COVID-19-Infektion in allen Altersgruppen dokumentierten. Ein weiteres interessantes Ergebnis war das erhöhte Risiko für Vorhofflimmern bei Kindern mit angeborenen Herzfehlern. Bedeutung der Ergebnisse und klinische Implikationen Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie unterstreichen die Notwendigkeit einer intensiven Nachbeobachtung und frühzeitigen Intervention bei Kindern und Jugendlichen, die an COVID-19 erkrankt sind. Auch wenn die Mehrheit der betroffenen Kinder keine schweren akuten Komplikationen durch COVID-19 erlebte, zeigen die kardiovaskulären Langzeitfolgen, dass die Pandemie auch bei jungen Menschen langfristige gesundheitliche Auswirkungen hat. Die Studie betont, dass Gesundheitsdienstleister über das erhöhte Risiko von Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen nach einer COVID-19-Infektion informiert sein sollten, um rechtzeitig diagnostische Tests und therapeutische Maßnahmen einzuleiten. Ein weiterer wichtiger Aspekt der Studie ist die Erkenntnis, dass auch Kinder ohne bekannte Herzprobleme einem erhöhten Risiko für kardiovaskuläre Komplikationen ausgesetzt sind. Dies könnte Auswirkungen auf die klinische Praxis haben, insbesondere bei der Betreuung von Kindern mit COVID-19 und der Einschätzung ihrer kardiovaskulären Risiken. Fazit und Ausblick Diese Forschung liefert wichtige neue Erkenntnisse über die kardiovaskulären Langzeitfolgen einer COVID-19-Infektion bei Kindern und Jugendlichen. Angesichts der Zunahme von post-akuten Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen nach einer SARS-CoV-2-Infektion ist es entscheidend, dass Ärzte und Gesundheitseinrichtungen geeignete Ressourcen bereitstellen, um eine kontinuierliche kardiologische Überwachung und eine frühzeitige Intervention zu ermöglichen. Weitere Forschungen sind notwendig, um die genauen Mechanismen hinter den erhöhten kardiovaskulären Risiken zu verstehen und maßgeschneiderte Behandlungsstrategien zu entwickeln, die den langfristigen Gesundheitsbedarf dieser jungen Patienten adressieren. > Zur Studie

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 resulted in over 705 million infections and more than 7 million deaths worldwide. The virus primarily spreads through aerosol droplets released during breathing, coughing, or sneezing, leading to symptoms ranging from mild fever and cough to severe outcomes, including death. Given the high risk associated with COVID-19, understanding its behavior in diverse geographical and environmental conditions is critical. With the expansion of human exploration into space, there is an urgent need to assess the risks posed by COVID-19 in extraterrestrial environments. Space exploration and tourism represent an emerging industry, projected to reach a market value of $1.8 trillion. With numerous missions planned by organizations such as NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO, and countries like India and China, it is vital to address potential health risks particularly those posed by airborne infectious diseases like COVID-19 among astronauts and space tourists. This study reviews existing literature on airborne infections in space, identifies key knowledge gaps, and aims to enhance preparedness for potential COVID-19 outbreaks during space missions. By analyzing airborne infectious diseases in space, the study predicts the risks posed by COVID-19 and develops evidence-based guidelines to mitigate its spread. The findings will not only help protect space travelers but also inform future spacecraft design by incorporating enhanced safety measures, ultimately reshaping the future of human space exploration. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. KPU Student Research and Innovation Grant (Steam 2), ,

npj Vaccines - Development and in vivo evaluation of a SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine using high hydrostatic pressure

Maguire et al. evaluated electronic health records from 2.5 years during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify clinical features associated with COVID-19 severity. Their findings underscore the significant link between COVID-19 severity, neuropsychiatric complications, and nutritional insufficiency as key risk factors of COVID-19 outcomes.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of glycocalyx dietary supplement (GDS), containing glucosamine sulfate and fucoidan, on endothelial glycocalyx integrity and vascular function in sub...

Objectives: Long COVID is a debilitating condition that impacts millions of Americans, but patients and clinicians have little information on how to prevent this disorder. Vaccination is a vital tool in preventing acute COVID-19 and may confer additional protection against Long COVID. There is limited evidence regarding the optimal timing of COVID-19 vaccination (i.e., vaccination schedule) to minimize the risk of Long COVID. Methods: We applied Longitudinal Targeted Maximum Likelihood Estimation to electronic health record (EHR) data from a retrospective cohort of patients vaccinated against COVID-19 between December 2021 and September 2022. We evaluated the association between binary COVID-19 vaccination status (two or more doses vs. zero doses) and 12-month Long COVID risk among patients diagnosed with acute COVID-19 between December 2021 and September 2022. In addition, we compared the 12-month cumulative risk of Long COVID (ICD-10 code U09.9) among patients diagnosed with acute COVID-19 one to three months after vaccination, three to five months after vaccination, or five to seven months after vaccination while adjusting for relevant high-dimensional baseline and time-dependent covariates. Results: We analyzed EHR data from a retrospective cohort of 1,558,018 patients. In our binary cohort (n = 519,980), we found that vaccinated patients had a lower risk of Long COVID than unvaccinated patients (adjusted marginal risk ratio 0.84 (0.81, 0.88)). In our longitudinal cohort (n = 1,085,291), we did not find a significant difference in Long COVID risk comparing patients who were diagnosed with acute COVID-19 one to three months after vaccination versus patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 three to five months (adjusted marginal risk ratio 0.93 (95% CI 0.62, 1.41) or 5 to 7 months (adjusted marginal risk ratio 1.06 (95% CI 0.72, 1.56)) after vaccination. Conclusions: We found that COVID-19 vaccination before SARS-CoV-2 infection was protective against Long COVID, and we did not find that this protection significantly waned within 7 months after vaccination. These findings suggest that COVID-19 vaccination protects against Long COVID. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This research was financially supported by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (1K01AI182501-01 to Zachary Butzin-Dozier) and a global development grant (OPP1165144) from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Individual authors were supported by the following funding sources: NIMH R01131542 (PI Rena C. Patel), Jerrod Anzalone is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, U54 GM115458, which funds the Great Plains IDeA-CTR Network. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. ### 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 UC Berkeley Office for Protection of Human Subjects (2022-01-14980). The N3C data transfer to NCATS is performed under a Johns Hopkins University Reliance Protocol # IRB00249128 or individual site agreements with NIH. N3C received a waiver of consent from the NIH Institutional Review board and allows the secondary analysis of these data without additional 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 analytic code and data are available in the N3C Enclave by request. Access to the N3C Data Enclave is managed by NCATS (https://ncats.nih.gov/research/research-activities/n3c/resources/data-access). Interested researchers must first complete a data use agreement, and next a data use request, in order to access the N3C Data Enclave. Once access is granted, the N3C data use committee must review and approve all use of data and the publication committee must approve all publications involving N3C data.

This study explores the transcriptional responses and associated chromatin changes in monocyte-derived macrophages of human subjects following two SARS-CoV-2 vaccination doses. Macrophages isolated after two weeks following this regime showed increased responsiveness to in vitro stimulation. In addition, patterns of H3K27 acetylation were changed at this timepoint and loci with differential H3K27ac were found to be enriched in genes related to TLR signaling pathways, regulation of cytokine production, and innate immunity GOs. Changes in acetylation were accompanied by differential gene expression in macrophages in vaccinated (2 doses) relative to unvaccinated individuals - enriched genes in similar GO categories as differential H3K27ac genes. The changes in H3K27ac patterns and gene expression are maintained long-term (to at least 12 weeks). In addition to gene expression changes, the isolated macrophages at 12 weeks maintained an increased responsiveness to some secondary innate immunity triggers. Longer-term memory, 36 weeks after 2nd vaccination dose, showed still some trends of differential H3K27ac although no longer significant. Nevertheless, there appears to be a form of memory as a 3rd vaccination dose boosts H3K27ac changes and macrophage response to stimulation to levels beyond those of the 1st & 2nd vaccination, indicating maintenance of responsiveness.

AbstractBackground. The bivalent COVID-19 mRNA boosters became available in fall 2022 and were recommended alongside the seasonal influenza vaccine. Howeve

Combining multiple vaccines may trigger stronger immune responses in fewer shots, potentially improving the efficacy of immunization programs.

The findings of this study highlight the widespread burden posed by URIs and otitis media across all age groups and both sexes. There is a continued need for surveillance, prevention, and management to better understand and reduce the burden associated with URIs and otitis media, and research is needed to assess their impacts on individuals, communities, economies, and health-care systems worldwide.

This cohort study investigates the risk of gastrointestinal tract symptoms and disorders during the postacute and chronic phases of COVID-19 illness among children and adolescents.

This cohort study investigates the association of SARS-CoV-2 infection with risk of postacute adverse kidney outcomes among children and adolescents.

Long COVID can result in increased risk for a variety of serious health problems for young people, including those affecting the kidney, gut, and cardiovascular system, according to a group of new studies led by investigators at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. “While most public attention has focused on the acute phase of COVID-19, our findings reveal children face significant long-term health risks that clinicians need to monitor,” said senior author Yong Chen, PhD, a professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology. The studies were conducted under the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative, a special project sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that includes more than two dozen health care institutions. These medical centers pooled de-identified data from electronic health records dating back to the start of the COVID pandemic.

Growing evidence suggests the neurobiological mechanism upholding post-COVID-19 depression mainly relates to immune response and subsequent unresolved…

Die Schrecken der Corona-Pandemie liegen größtenteils hinter uns. Jetzt zeigt sich: Die Impfung könnte jetzt sogar nachwirken – positiv.

The origin of SARS-CoV-2 has been intensely scrutinized, and epidemiological and genomic evidence has consistently pointed to Wuhan’s Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market as the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Early cases were associated with this market, and environmental sequencing placed the common ancestor of SARS-CoV-2 genomic diversity within the market. Phylogenetic analysis also suggested separate introductions of lineages A and B into the human population, a finding that can be tested with additional data. Here, we curated an expanded sequence dataset of early SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes, including newly available sequences from mid-January 2020. In this dataset, we found no additional support for previously proposed alternative progenitor sequences, or for any evolutionary intermediates between lineages A and B in the human population. Instead, we identified SARS-CoV-2 lineages that may have spread from the market, and additional samples of a sublineage of lineage A with three mutations, including one found in closely related bat coronaviruses. Although our analysis of early pandemic genomes suggests that this mutation is unlikely to characterize the immediate SARS-CoV-2 ancestor, it is more plausible than two previously proposed ancestral genomes. These findings reinforce the proposed emergence of SARS-CoV-2 from the wildlife trade at the Huanan market, demonstrating how new data continues to both solidify and clarify our understanding of how the pandemic began.

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection affecting the cardiovascular system have been reported, but evidence in young people is limited. Here, the authors quantify the incidence of a range of outcomes in children and adolescents using electronic health records from the United States.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Long COVID, a chronic condition following SARS-CoV-2 infection, has raised concerns regarding its effects on the male reproductive system, particularly viral persistence in immune-privileged sites, such as the testis. This study ...

Background Common complaints of long COVID patients are cardiac symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and a feeling of palpitations. The study aimed to investigate the clinical features of patients with persistent cardiological symptoms occurring within 3 to 6 months after COVID-19. Differences in ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), Holter ECG (electrocardiogram) and Echocardiography between people with and without persistent cardiological symptoms were evaluated. We also assessed whether the symptoms of anxiety and depression may be implicated in the clinical outcomes. Materials and methods This was a retrospective study of patients affiliated with the STOP-COVID registry who attended a follow-up visit 3–6 months after undergoing COVID-19. The visit assessed the clinical symptoms present and performed tests: ABPM, Holter ECG and Echocardiography. 504 patients additionally had GAD-2 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item) and PHQ-2 (Patient Health Questionnaire-2) tests performed. Results The analysis included 1080 patients. At least 1 of the analyzed symptoms was present in 586 patients (54.3%). The most common symptom was fatigue (38.9%). Comparing patients with or without palpitations showed that the mean value of ventricular extrasystole was higher in the former group (p = 0.011). Comparing patients with and without cardiac symptoms, there were differences in the mean values of the PHQ-2 (p = 0.022) and GAD-2 (p  0.001) scales, as well as in the percentage of responses related to the risk of anxiety or depression. Conclusion Cardiological symptoms are common among health issues that patients must face after contracting COVID-19. People with palpitations had more excessive ventricular extrasystoles than patients without these symptoms. Trial registration Our retrospective study was based on analysis of medical data of patients with COVID-19 treated on out-patient basis in the STOP-COVID registry of the Polish Long-Covid Cardiovascular (PoLoCOV-CVD) study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier– NCT05018052, the registration date 29.05.2020). Consent to conduct the study was obtained from the Bioethics Committee of the District Medical Chamber in Lodz (no. KB-0115/2021).

NVX-CoV2373 is an adjuvanted, recombinant spike protein nanoparticle vaccine that was shown to have clinical efficacy for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in phase 2b–3 trials in the United Kingdom and South Africa, but its efficacy had not yet been tested in North America. METHODS We conducted a phase 3, randomized, observer-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in the United States and Mexico during the first half of 2021 to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NVX-CoV2373 in adults (≥18 years of age) who had not had severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Participants were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive two doses of NVX-CoV2373 or placebo 21 days apart. The primary objective was to determine vaccine efficacy against reverse- transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction–confirmed Covid-19 occurring at least 7 days after the second dose. Vaccine efficacy against moderate-to-severe disease and against different variants was also assessed. RESULTS Of the 29,949 participants who underwent randomization between December 27, 2020, and February 18, 2021, a total of 29,582 (median age, 47 years; 12.6% ≥65 years of age) received at least one dose: 19,714 received vaccine and 9868 placebo. Over a period of 3 months, 77 cases of Covid-19 were noted — 14 among vaccine recipi- ents and 63 among placebo recipients (vaccine efficacy, 90.4%; 95% confidence inter- val [CI], 82.9 to 94.6; P0.001). Ten moderate and 4 severe cases occurred, all in placebo recipients, yielding vaccine efficacy against moderate-to-severe disease of 100% (95% CI, 87.0 to 100). Most sequenced viral genomes (48 of 61, 79%) were variants of concern or interest — largely B.1.1.7 (alpha) (31 of the 35 genomes for variants of concern, 89%). Vaccine efficacy against any variant of concern or interest was 92.6% (95% CI, 83.6 to 96.7). Reactogenicity was mostly mild to moderate and transient but was more frequent among NVX-CoV2373 recipients than among placebo recipients and was more frequent after the second dose than after the first dose. CONCLUSIONS NVX-CoV2373 was safe and effective for the prevention of Covid-19. Most break- through cases were caused by contemporary variant strains. (

Many health problems persisted up to 3 years post-discharge, with self-reported fatigue and cognitive problems worsening in the third year. PEM was common, and linked to a more severe phenotype of long COVID. These findings highlight the urgent need to optimize treatment options and investigate underlying pathological mechanisms of COVID-19.