Adult outpatients with long COVID infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Part 1: Oral microbiota alterations - PubMed
There were distinct variations in oral microbiota between COVID-19 patients with and without long COVID. Changes in oral microbiota may indicate long COVID.
Blood DNA methylation in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC): a prospective cohort study
DNA methylation integrates environmental signals with transcriptional programs. COVID-19 infection induces changes in the host methylome. While post-a…
FDA may greenlight updated Covid-19 vaccines as soon as this week, sources say | CNN
The US Food and Drug Administration is poised to sign off as soon as this week on updated Covid-19 vaccines targeting more recently circulating strains of the virus, according to two sources familiar with the matter, as the country experiences its largest summer wave in two years.
Statistischer Bericht - Monatsberichte der Todesursachenstatistik - Vorläufige Fallzahlen nach Monaten für ausgewählte Diagnosegruppen und Einzeldiagnosen - 2023
Die Daten aus dem Statistischen Bericht bilden den jeweiligen Bearbeitungsstand zum monatlichen Stichtag ab und können sich durch Nachmeldungen oder Korrekturen noch verändern. Wichtigste Datenbasis der Todesursachenstatistik ist der sogenannte vertrauliche Teil der Todesbescheinigung, welche die leichenschauenden Ärztinnen und Ärzte bei jedem Sterbefall ausfüllen. Statistische Landesämter verschlüsseln die medizinischen Angaben der Todesbescheinigung nach den Vorgaben der ICD-10 und ermitteln für jeden Sterbefall das Grundleiden, welches in die unikausale Todesursachenstatistik einfließt. Der veröffentlichte Merkmalskranz der monatlichen Todesursachenstatistik beschränkt sich vorrangig auf die Ausweisung des Grundleidens. Dabei werden die wichtigsten ICD-Kapitel, Diagnosegruppen und Einzeldiagnosen ausgewählt. Bezogen auf COVID-19 werden jedoch neben den Sterbefällen mit dem Grundleiden COVID-19 (an COVID-19 verstorben) auch diejenigen Sterbefälle ausgewiesen, bei welchen COVID-19 eine Begleiterkrankung war (mit COVID-19 verstorben). Der Statistische Bericht wird vorerst monatlich aktualisiert und stellt dann Daten für jeweils einen weiteren Kalendermonat bereit.
Avoided and avoidable deaths with the use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma in Italy during the first two years of pandemic
Italy was the first western country to be hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and suffered nearly 200,000 deaths so far during the four years of the pandemic. In March 2020, Italy first deployed COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) to treat hospitalized patients. Despite this initial effort, the proportion of COVID-19 patients treated with CCP during the first two years of the pandemic (2020-2021) was very low (approximately 2% of individuals hospitalized for COVID-19). In this study, we estimated the number of actual inpatient lives saved by CCP treatment in Italy using national mortality data, and CCP mortality reduction data from meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials and real-world data. We also estimated the potential number of lives saved if CCP had been deployed to 100% of hospitalized patients or used in 15% to 75% of outpatients. According to these models, CCP usage in 2020-2021 saved between 385-1304 lives, but this number would have increased to 17,751-60,079 if 100% of inpatients had been transfused with CCP. Similarly, broader (15-75%) usage in outpatients could have prevented 21,187-190,689 hospitalizations (desaturating hospitals) and 6,144-81,926 deaths. These data have important implications for convalescent plasma use in future infectious disease emergencies. ### 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 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 This manuscript generated no new dataset. * ARR : absolute risk reduction CCP : COVID-19 convalescent plasma RRR : relative risk reduction.
Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Activates Cardiac Fibrogenesis through NLRP3 Inflammasomes and NF-κB Signaling
Background: The spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is crucial to viral entry and can cause cardiac injuries. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and NOD-, LPR-, and pyrin-domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome are critical immune system components implicated in cardiac fibrosis. The spike proteins activate NLRP3 inflammasome through TLR4 or angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, damaging various organs. However, the role of spike proteins in cardiac fibrosis in humans and the interactions of spike proteins with NLRP3 inflammasomes and TLR4 remain poorly understood. Methods: We utilized scratch assays, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence to evaluate the migration, fibrosis signaling, mitochondrial calcium levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cell morphology of cultured human cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) treated with spike (S1) proteins for 24 h with or without an anti-ACE2 neutralizing antibody, a TLR4 blocker, or an NLRP3 inhibitor. Results: S1 protein enhanced CFs migration and the expressions of collagen 1, α-smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), phosphorylated SMAD2/3, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB). S1 increased ROS production but did not affect mitochondrial calcium content and cell morphology. Treatment with an anti-ACE2 neutralizing antibody attenuated the effects of S1 on collagen 1 and TGF-β1 expressions. Moreover, NLRP3 (MCC950) and NF-kB inhibitors, but not the TLR4 inhibitor TAK-242, prevented the S1-enhanced CFs migration and overexpression of collagen 1, TGF-β1, and IL-1β. Conclusion: S1 activates human CFs by priming NLRP3 inflammasomes through NF-κB signaling in an ACE2-dependent manner.
People living with HIV with the Omicron variant infection have milder COVID-19 symptoms: results from a cross-sectional study - AIDS Research and Therapy
Background China braces for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surge after adjusting the “zero COVID” strategy. We aimed to evaluate and compare the prevalence of clinical symptoms of the Omicron variant infection among people living with HIV (PLWH) and HIV-free people. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, in December 2022 by a self-administered online survey during the Omicron wave. Participants aged ≥ 18 years with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) diagnosis were recruited. PLWH managed by the local healthcare system were recruited, while HIV-free people were recruited by sending out online surveys through WeChat. We compared the prevalence of clinical symptoms of COVID-19 between PLWH and HIV-free people, and factors associated with symptom occurrence among PLWH were accessed. Results Total, 687 PLWH and 1222 HIV-free people were enrolled. After adjusting sex, age, body mass index, comorbidities and COVID-19 vaccination status, the prevalences of all symptoms, including higher degree and long duration of fever (aOR 0.51, 95%CI 0·42 − 0·61; aOR 0.52, 95%CI 0·43 − 0·63), were significantly lower among PLWH than among HIV-free people. Among PLWH, CD4+ T lymphocyte count (CD4 count) between 350 ~ 499 cells/µL and detectable HIV viral load (HIV-VL) were associated with significantly decreased risks of fever (aOR 0·63, 95%CI 0·40 − 0·97; aOR 0·56, 95%CI 0·33 − 0·94), headache (aOR 0·61, 95%CI 0·41 − 0·91; aOR 0·55, 95%CI 0·34 − 0·92) and muscle soreness (aOR 0·57, 95%CI 0·39 − 0·84; aOR 0·57, 95%CI 0·39 − 0·84). No apparent association between the symptoms prevalence and three/four doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccination among PLWH was observed; both males and older age were associated with significantly decreased risks of nasal congestion/runny nose (aOR 0·52, 95%CI 0·32 − 0·82; aOR 0·97, 95%CI 0·96 − 0·99) and headache (aOR 0·58, 95%CI 0·36 − 0·92; aOR 0·96, 95%CI 0·95 − 0·98); older age was associated with significantly decreased risks of higher degree of fever (aOR 0·97, 95%CI 0·95 − 0·98). Conclusions PLWH have significantly milder symptoms of the Omicron variant infection than HIV-free people. PLWH who are male, older, have low CD4 count, and detectable HIV-VL have reduced occurrence of COVID-19 symptoms. However, continuous monitoring should be conducted among PLWH during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impfung verhinderte mehr Todesfälle als angenommen
Die SARS-CoV-2-Impfungen wirkten noch besser als bisher angenommen. In 34 von 55 europäischen Ländern und Regionen haben sie die Covid-19-Sterblichkeit um 59 Prozent gesenkt. Das hat die erste retrospektive Studie mit realen Daten ergeben, die jetzt im medizinischen Fachblatt „Lancet Respiratory Medicine“ erschienen ist.
Excess deaths – a new methodology and better understanding
The COVID-19 pandemic heightened interest in patterns and levels of ‘excess’ deaths, typically defined as deaths over the number that might be expected to occur in an ‘average’ year. But with
Carotid body dysregulation contributes to Long COVID symptoms
Communications Medicine - El-Medany, Adams, Blythe et al. Investigate whether the carotid chemoreflex could be a mechanism underlying unexplained breathlessness in non-hospitalised patients with...
Association of COVID-19 with New-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease - IOS Press
An infectious etiology of Alzheimer’s disease has been postulated for decades. It remains unknown whether SARS-CoV-2 viral infection is associated with increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. In this retrospective cohort study of 6,245,282 older adul
COVID-19 increases risk of developing Alzheimer's by 50-80% in older adults
In a recent study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers investigated whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections could trigger the development of new-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
Risks of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 JN.1 Infection and Coronavirus Disease 2019–Associated Emergency Department Visits/Hospitalizations Following Updated Boosters and Prior Infection: A Population-Based Cohort Study
Receipt of updated XBB1.5 vaccines 8-120 days earlier was associated with lower risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, emergenc
Differential decline of SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific antibody levels, innate and adaptive immune cells, and shift of Th1/inflammatory to Th2 serum cytokine levels long after first COVID‐19
COVID-19 leads to a sustained reduction of immune cells of the myeloid and lymphoid cell lineages even 10 months after the first infection. Ten months after the first infection, S- and RBD-specific I...
Schwere Coronainfektion beeinträchtigt Kognition und Psyche auch Jahre später
Oxford – Menschen, die eine schwere, hospitalisierungsbedürftige COVID-19-Infektion durchgemacht haben, weisen auch 2-3 Jahre danach häufig noch signifikante...
Differences in airborne stability of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern is impacted by alkalinity of surrogates of respiratory aerosol | Journal of The Royal Society Interface
The mechanistic factors hypothesized to be key drivers for the loss of infectivity of viruses in the aerosol phase often remain speculative. Using a next-generation bioaerosol technology, we report measurements of the aero-stability of several SARS-CoV-2 ...
Seit Corona leiden plötzlich viel mehr Kinder unter ADHS - worauf Eltern achten müssen
Die Folgen der Kontaktverbote in der Corona-Zeit gerade für Kinder werden immer deutlicher. Der Medizinische Dienst registriert einen sprunghaften Anstieg von Entwicklungsstörungen. Auf welche Symptome Eltern achten müssen.
COVID-19 lockdowns in Denmark did not increase self-injury,...
When the global COVID-19 pandemic was declared in 2020, experts feared that the widespread lockdowns would adversely affect the mental health of young adults so strongly that it could increase...
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome correlation with SARS-CoV-2 N genotypes
Epigenetics and clinical observations referring to Betacoronavirus lead to the conjecture that Sarbecovirus may have the ability to infect lymphocytes…
