COVID-19 vaccination linked to fewer cardiac events
Analyzing the most extensive datasets in the U.S., researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have revealed that vaccination against COVID-19 is associated with fewer heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular issues among people who were infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The research letter, “Impact of Vaccination on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with COVID-19 Infection,” was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology on February 20. The research will also be presented in a poster session on March 5, 2023 in New Orleans, LA, at the American College of Cardiology’s 72nd Annual Scientific Session Together With World Heart Federation’s World Congress of Cardiology:
SARS-CoV-2 infection of thymus induces loss of function that correlates with disease severity
Lymphopenia, particularly when restricted to the T-cell compartment, has been described as one of the major clinical hallmarks in patients with corona…
SARS-CoV-2 M Protein Facilitates Malignant Transformation of Breast Cancer Cells
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread faster due to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, which carry an increased risk of infecting patients with comorbidities, such as breast cancer. However, there are still few reports on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the progression of breast cancer, as well as the factors and mechanisms involved. In the present study, we investigated the impact of SARS-CoV-2 proteins on breast cancer cells (BCC). The results suggested that SARS-CoV-2 M protein induced the mobility, proliferation, stemness and in vivo metastasis of a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line, MDA-MB-231, which are involved in the upregulation of NFκB and STAT3 pathways. In addition, compared to MDA-MB-231 cells, the hormone-dependent breast cancer cell line MCF-7 showed a less response to M protein, with the protein showing no effects of promoting proliferation, stemness, and in vivo metastasis. Of note, coculture with M protein-treated MDA-MB-231 cells significantly induced the migration, proliferation, and stemness of MCF-7 cells, which are involved in the upregulation of genes related to EMT and inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 infection might promote the ability of aggressive BCC to induce the malignant phenotypes of the other non-aggressive BCC. Taken together, these findings suggested an increased risk of poor outcomes in TNBC patients with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which required a long-term follow-up. In addition, th...
ROCKVILLE, MD – COVID-19 infections can cause potentially life-threatening heart issues. Studies suggest that people with COVID-19 are 55% more likely to suffer a major adverse cardiovascular event, including heart attack, stroke and death, than those without COVID-19. They’re also more likely to have other heart issues, like arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). Andrew Marks, a cardiologist and biophysics professor at Columbia University, Steven Reiken, a research scientist in Marks’ lab, and colleagues, have studied some of the changes that occur in the heart that could lead to these problems. Reiken will present their work on Monday February 20 at the 67th Annual Biophysical Society Meeting in San Diego, California.
Post-COVID syndrome is associated with capillary alterations, macrophage infiltration and distinct transcriptomic signatures in skeletal muscles
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic not only resulted in millions of acute infections worldwide, but also caused innumerable cases of post-infectious syndromes, colloquially referred to as long COVID. Due to the heterogeneous nature of symptoms and scarcity of available tissue samples, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. We present an in-depth analysis of skeletal muscle biopsies obtained from eleven patients suffering from enduring fatigue and post-exertional malaise after an infection with SARS-CoV-2. Compared to two independent historical control cohorts, patients with post-COVID exertion intolerance had fewer capillaries, thicker capillary basement membranes and increased numbers of CD169+ macrophages. SARS-CoV-2 RNA could not be detected in the muscle tissues, but transcriptomic analysis revealed distinct gene signatures compared to the two control cohorts, indicating immune dysregulations and altered metabolic pathways. We hypothesize that the initial viral infection may have caused immune-mediated structural changes of the microvasculature, potentially explaining the exercise-dependent fatigue and muscle pain. ### Competing Interest Statement ND accepted speaker honoraria of Integra LifeSciences and serves as advisor for Alexion Pharmaceuticals. ### Funding Statement Helmholtz Association Initiative and Networking Fund grant KA1-Co-02 COVIPA (EW, LGTA, ML) European Commission grant Go Safe Horizon 2020, 870144 (ND) ### 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: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Charite - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin (EA2/066/20 and EA2/163/17) in accordance with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. 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 and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors.
Incident autoimmune diseases in association with a SARS-CoV-2 infection: A matched cohort study
Objectives To investigate whether the risk of developing an incident autoimmune disease is increased in patients with previous COVID-19 disease compared to people without COVID-19. Method A cohort was selected from German routine health care data covering 38.9 million individuals. Based on documented diagnoses, we identified individuals with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 through December 31, 2020. Patients were matched 1:3 to control patients without COVID-19. Both groups were followed up until June 30, 2021. We used the four quarters preceding the index date until the end of follow-up to analyze the onset of autoimmune diseases during the post-acute period. Incidence rates (IR) per 1000 person-years were calculated for each outcome and patient group. Poisson models were deployed to estimate the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of developing an autoimmune disease conditional on a preceding diagnosis of COVID-19. Results In total, 641,704 patients with COVID-19 were included. Comparing the incidence rates in the COVID-19 (IR=15.05, 95% CI: 14.69-15.42) and matched control groups (IR=10.55, 95% CI: 10.25-10.86), we found a 42.63% higher likelihood of acquiring autoimmunity for patients who had suffered from COVID-19. This estimate was similar for common autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, or Sjögren syndrome. The highest IRR was observed for autoimmune disease of the vasculitis group. Patients with a more severe course of COVID-19 were at a greater risk for incident autoimmune diseases. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with an increased risk of developing new-onset autoimmune diseases after the acute phase of infection. ### Competing Interest Statement FT, FE, AV, MS, JJ, BK, LR, CS, and JS and report institutional funding for this project from the German Federal Ministry of Health. Unrelated to this study, JS reports grants for investigator-initiated research from the German GBA, the BMG, BMBF, EU, Federal State of Saxony, Novartis, Sanofi, ALK, and Pfizer. He also participated in advisory board meetings for Sanofi, Lilly, and ALK. MB reports payment for data analysis which is presented in this paper from DAK‐Gesundheit. Unrelated to this study, MB reports grants from German GBA, Pfizer and Sanofi Pasteur and consulting fees from Janssen‐Cilag. He participated in an advisory board for GSK. The other authors declare that they have no competing interest. ### Clinical Protocols ### Funding Statement This study is supported by a grant from the German Federal Ministry of Health (Bundesgesundheitsministerium) under Grant Number ZMI1-2521NIK705. ### 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: The ethics committee of the TU Dresden gave ethical approval for this work (approval number: BO-EK (COVID)-482102021). 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 and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes The raw data used in this study cannot be made available in the manuscript, the supplemental files, or in a public repository due to German data protection laws (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz). The aggregated data is stored on a secure drive at ZEGV.
Multiviral Quartet Nanocages Elicit Broad Anti-Coronavirus Responses for Proactive Vaccinology
Defending against future pandemics may require vaccine platforms that protect across a range of related pathogens. The presentation of multiple receptor-binding domains (RBDs) from evolutionarily-related viruses on a nanoparticle scaffold elicits a strong antibody response to conserved regions. Here we produce quartets of tandemly-linked RBDs from SARS-like betacoronaviruses coupled to the mi3 nanocage through a SpyTag/SpyCatcher spontaneous reaction. These Quartet Nanocages induce a high level of neutralizing antibodies against several different coronaviruses, including against viruses not represented on the vaccine. In animals primed with SARS-CoV-2 Spike, boost immunizations with Quartet Nanocages increased the strength and breadth of an otherwise narrow immune response. Quartet Nanocages are a strategy with potential to confer heterotypic protection against emergent zoonotic coronavirus pathogens and facilitate proactive pandemic protection. One Sentence Summary A vaccine candidate with polyprotein antigens displayed on nanocages induces neutralizing antibodies to multiple SARS-like coronaviruses. ### Competing Interest Statement M.H. is an inventor on a patent on spontaneous amide bond formation (EP2534484) and a SpyBiotech co-founder and shareholder. M.H. and A.H.K. are inventors on a patent on SpyTag003:SpyCatcher003 (UK Intellectual Property Office 1706430.4). P.J.B. and A.A.C. are inventors on a US patent application filed by the California Institute of Technology that covers the methodology to generate cross-reactive antibodies using mosaic nanoparticles. P.J.B., and A.A.C. are inventors on a US patent application filed by the California Institute of Technology that covers the monoclonal antibodies elicited by vaccination with Mosaic nanoparticles described in this work. P.J.B., A.A.C. and J.R.K. are inventors on a US patent application filed by the California Institute of Technology that covers the methods of isolating cross-reactive antibodies by vaccination with mosaic nanoparticles. All other authors have no competing interests to declare.
One-Fourth of COVID-19 Patients Have an Impaired Pulmonary Function after 12 Months of Illness Onset
Background: This longitudinal study evaluates the extent of impaired pulmonary function over time after SARS-CoV-2 infection across the full spectrum of COVID-1
COVID-19: Kann Metformin in der Frühphase eine Hospitalisierung...
Minneapolis/Minnesota – Die Wirkstoffe Ivermectin, Fluvoxamin und Metformin, die seit Beginn der Pandemie als mögliche Wirkstoffe gegen COVID-19 in der... #Metformin #Studie #COVID19 #NEJM
Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children with confirmed COVID-19 infection in a tertiary referral hospital in Manila, Philippines - Tropical Medicine and Health
Background COVID-19 has challenged the under-resourced health systems of low- and middle-income countries, significantly affecting child health. Available published data on Filipino children with COVID-19 infection are limited. This study aims to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pediatric patients with confirmed COVID-19 in an infectious disease hospital in Manila, Philippines. Main text This cross-sectional study reviewed data on patients ages 0 to 18 years with confirmed COVID-19 infection, admitted to San Lazaro Hospital from January 25, 2020 to January 25, 2022. Demographic data and clinical characteristics obtained from COVID-19 case investigation forms were summarized and compared between severe and non-severe cases. Risk factors for disease severity and mortality were analyzed. Of 115 patients, 64% were males. There were 87 patients (75.7%) with asymptomatic, mild, or moderate disease, and 28 cases (24.3%) with severe or critical illness. The median age of all patients was 10 years (interquartile range: 4–15 years). The majority of patients (40.9%) were adolescents ages 13 to 18 years. Predominant symptoms were fever (73.9%) and cough (55.7%). Patients with severe or critical illness were more likely to experience difficulty of breathing (55.2% vs 44.8%, p
Incidence of Epilepsy and Seizures Over the First 6 Months After a COVID-19 Diagnosis
Background and Objectives The relationship between COVID-19 and epilepsy is uncertain. We studied the potential association between COVID-19 and seizures or epilepsy in the 6 months after infection.
Methods We applied validated methods to an electronic health records network (TriNetX Analytics) of 81 million people. We closely matched people with COVID-19 infections to those with influenza. In each cohort, we measured the incidence and hazard ratios (HRs) of seizures and epilepsy. We stratified data by age and by whether the person was hospitalized during the acute infection. We then explored time-varying HRs to assess temporal patterns of seizure or epilepsy diagnoses.
Results We analyzed 860,934 electronic health records. After matching, this yielded 2 cohorts each of 152,754 patients. COVID-19 was associated with an increased risk of seizures and epilepsy compared with influenza. The incidence of seizures within 6 months of COVID-19 was 0.81% (95% CI 0.75–0.88; HR compared with influenza 1.55 [1.39–1.74]). The incidence of epilepsy was 0.30% (0.26–0.34; HR compared with influenza 1.87 [1.54–2.28]). The HR of epilepsy after COVID-19 compared with influenza was greater in people who had not been hospitalized and in individuals younger than 16 years. The time of peak HR after infection differed by age and hospitalization status.
Discussion The incidence of new seizures or epilepsy diagnoses in the 6 months after COVID-19 was low overall, but higher than in matched patients with influenza. This difference was more marked in people who were not hospitalized, highlighting the risk of epilepsy and seizures even in those with less severe infection. Children appear at particular risk of seizures and epilepsy after COVID-19 providing another motivation to prevent COVID-19 infection in pediatric populations. That the varying time of peak risk related to hospitalization and age may provide clues as to the underlying mechanisms of COVID-associated seizures and epilepsy.
CPT=
: Current Procedural Terminology;
HRs=
: hazard ratios;
HCOs=
: healthcare organizations;
ICD=
: International Classification of Diseases ;
PNES=
: psychological nonepileptic attacks
Do masks work?Recently, some ppl have started claiming it's proven that they don't. Is this true? I dove into the details, went to the sources, and what I found was so ridiculous it was FUNNY: pic.twitter.com/VTSFjPW6mM— Tomas Pueyo (@tomaspueyo) February 27, 2023
Identification of a molnupiravir-associated mutational signature in SARS-CoV-2 sequencing databases
Molnupiravir, an antiviral medication that has been widely used against SARS-CoV-2, acts by inducing mutations in the virus genome during replication. Most random mutations are likely to be deleterious to the virus, and many will be lethal. Molnupiravir-induced elevated mutation rates have been shown to decrease viral load in animal models. However, it is possible that some patients treated with molnupiravir might not fully clear SARS-CoV-2 infections, with the potential for onward transmission of molnupiravir-mutated viruses. We set out to systematically investigate global sequencing databases for a signature of molnupiravir mutagenesis. We find that a specific class of long phylogenetic branches appear almost exclusively in sequences from 2022, after the introduction of molnupiravir treatment, and in countries and age-groups with widespread usage of the drug. We calculate a mutational spectrum from the AGILE placebo-controlled clinical trial of molnupiravir and show that its signature, with elevated G-to-A and C-to-T rates, largely corresponds to the mutational spectrum seen in these long branches. Our data suggest a signature of molnupiravir mutagenesis can be seen in global sequencing databases, in some cases with onwards transmission. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement TS was supported by the Wellcome Trust (210918/Z/18/Z) and the Francis Crick Institute which receives its core funding from Cancer Research UK (FC001043), the UK Medical Research Council (FC001043), and the Wellcome Trust (FC001043). This research was funded in whole, or in part, by the Wellcome Trust [210918/Z/18/Z, FC001043]. For the purpose of Open Access, the authors have applied a CC-BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript resulting from this preprint. ID-B is supported by PhD funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections at University of Liverpool in partnership with Public Health England (PHE) (now UKHSA), in collaboration with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the University of Oxford (award 200907). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Department of Health and Social Care or NIHR. Neither the funders or trial sponsor were involved in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, nor the preparation of the manuscript. TP was funded by the G2P-UK National Virology Consortium funded by the MRC (MR/W005611/1). CR was supported by a Fondation Botnar Research Award (Programme grant 6063) and UK Cystic Fibrosis Trust (Innovation Hub Award 001). ### 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: No new data were generated for this study. Source global sequencing data were available from GISAID ([epicov.org][1]) and the INSDC via GenBank: . AGILE2 genomic data was published in and deposited at from which we analysed it. 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 and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes No new primary data was generated for this study. We used data from international sequencing databases (GISAID and INSDC), and from the AGILE clinical trial, where genomic data were obtained from BioProject PRJNA854613 at the SRA. Our GitHub repository is available at . [1]: https://epicov.org
Effectiveness of Bivalent Boosters against Severe Omicron Infection
On August 31, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Moderna and Pfizer–BioNTech bivalent Covid-19 vaccines, each containing equal amounts of mRNA encoding the spike protein from the ancestral strain and the spike protein from the BA.4 and BA.5 strains of the B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant, for emergency use as a single booster dose at least 2 months after primary or booster vaccination.1 The FDA authorizations were based on nonclinical data for these two bivalent vaccines, safety and immunogenicity data for bivalent vaccines containing mRNA from the BA.1 lineage of the omicron variant, and safety and effectiveness data for the monovalent mRNA Covid-19 vaccines.1 Since September 1, these two bivalent mRNA vaccines have replaced their monovalent counterparts as booster doses for persons 12 years of age or older in the United States and in other countries. Here, we report data from a large cohort study on the effectiveness of these two bivalent vaccines against severe infection with omicron BA.4.6, BA.5, BQ.1, and BQ.1.1.
Tom Jefferson: How Cochrane is doing pharma a good turn - The BMJ
The way in which Cochrane produces its reviews is a boon to pharma, says Tom Jefferson We do not know how the pharmaceutical industry viewed the birth of the Cochrane [...]More...
SAfE transport: wearing face masks significantly reduces the spread of COVID-19 on trains - BMC Infectious Diseases
COVID-19 has had a substantial impact globally. It spreads readily, particularly in enclosed and crowded spaces, such as public transport carriages, yet there are limited studies on how this risk can be reduced. We developed a tool for exploring the potential impacts of mitigation strategies on public transport networks, called the Systems Analytics for Epidemiology in Transport (SAfE Transport). SAfE Transport combines an agent-based transit assignment model, a community-wide transmission model, and a transit disease spread model to support strategic and operational decision-making. For this simulated COVID-19 case study, the transit disease spread model incorporates both direct (person-to-person) and fomite (person-to-surface-to-person) transmission modes. We determine the probable impact of wearing face masks on trains over a seven day simulation horizon, showing substantial and statistically significant reductions in new cases when passenger mask wearing proportions are greater than 80%. The higher the level of mask coverage, the greater the reduction in the number of new infections. Also, the higher levels of mask coverage result in an earlier reduction in disease spread risk. These results can be used by decision makers to guide policy on face mask use for public transport networks.
School Masking Policies and Secondary SARS-CoV-2 Transmission
OBJECTIVES. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, masking has been a widely used mitigation practice in kindergarten through 12th grade (K–12) school districts to limit within-school transmission. Prior studies attempting to quantify the impact of masking have assessed total cases within schools; however, the metric that more optimally defines effectiveness of mitigation...
Lifting Universal Masking in Schools — Covid-19 Incidence among Students and Staff
In February 2022, Massachusetts rescinded a statewide universal masking policy in public schools, and many Massachusetts school districts lifted masking requirements during the subsequent weeks. In the greater Boston area, only two school districts — the Boston and neighboring Chelsea districts — sustained masking requirements through June 2022. The staggered lifting of masking requirements provided an opportunity to examine the effect of universal masking policies on the incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in schools.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report384 MMWR / March 11, 2022 / Vol. 71 / No. 10US Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention SARS-CoV-2 Incidence in K–12 School Districts with Mask-Required Versus Mask-Optional Policies — Arkansas, August–October 2021
Masks are effective at limiting transmission of SARS-CoV-2,
the virus that causes COVID-19 (1), but the impact of poli-
cies requiring masks in school settings has not been widely
evaluated (2–4). During fall 2021, some school districts in
Arkansas implemented policies requiring masks for students
in kindergarten through grade 12 (K–12). To identify any
association between mask policies and COVID-19 incidence,
weekly school-associated COVID-19 incidence in school
districts with full or partial mask requirements was compared
with incidence in districts without mask requirements during
August 23–October 16, 2021. Three analyses were performed:
1) incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated comparing
districts with full mask requirements (universal mask require-
ment for all students and staff members) or partial mask
requirements (e.g., masks required in certain settings, among
certain populations, or if specific criteria could not be met)
with school districts with no mask requirement; 2) ratios of
observed-to-expected numbers of cases, by district were calcu-
lated; and 3) incidence in districts that switched from no mask
requirement to any mask requirement were compared before
and after implementation of the mask policy. Mean weekly
district-level attack rates were 92–359 per 100,000 persons in
the community* and 137–745 per 100,000 among students
and staff members; mean student and staff member vaccination
coverage ranged from 13.5% to 18.6%. Multivariable adjusted
IRRs, which included adjustment for vaccination coverage,
indicated that districts with full mask requirements had 23%
lower COVID-19 incidence among students and staff members
compared with school districts with no mask requirements.
Bone mineral density changes in osteoporotic and osteopenic patients after COVID-19 infection - Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is linked to high levels of inflammatory cytokines and prolonged immobilization; furthermore, corticosteroid treatment leads to increased bone loss and resorption. We aimed to study the change in bone mineral density (BMD) after COVID-19 infection in osteoporotic and osteopenic patients. One hundred osteoporotic or osteopenic patients were selected in this single-center retrospective study; the patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 56 patients who got COVID-19 infection. Group 2 included 44 patients who did not get COVID-19 infection. BMD was assessed at baseline, after 9 months of COVID infection, and then after 1 year follow-up using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan. Results There was no significant difference between two groups regarding demographic data (p 0.05); there was a significant decrease in BMD of the lumbar region and femur at 9 months as compared to baseline in group1 (p
Acute Bone Loss Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Mice
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV-2) and has infected more than 650 million people worldwide. Approximately 23% of these patients developed lasting “long-haul” COVID symptoms, including fatigue, joint pain, and systemic hyperinflammation. However, the direct clinical impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the skeletal system including bone and joint health has not been deter- mined. Utilizing a humanized mouse model of COVID-19, this study provides the first direct evidence that SARS-CoV- 2 infection leads to acute bone loss, increased osteoclast number, and thinner growth plates. This bone loss could decrease whole-bone mechanical strength and increase the risk of fragility fractures, particularly in older patients, while thinner growth plates may create growth disturbances in younger patients. Evaluating skeletal health in patients that have recovered from COVID-19 will be crucial to identify at-risk populations and develop effective countermeasures.
Osteoclast-mediated bone loss observed in a COVID-19 mouse model
The consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the musculoskeletal system represent a dangerous knowledge gap. Aging patients are at added risk for SARS-…
Silver Spring/Maryland – Die US-Arzneimittelbehörde FDA hat auf einer Beratertagung Pläne zur Vereinheitlichung der COVID-19-Impfungen vorgestellt. Künftig...
Hospital Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant vs Influenza in Switzerland
This cohort study compares in-hospital outcomes among patients hospitalized with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant vs those hospitalized with influenza A or B in Switzerland.
FastStats is an official application from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and puts access to topic-specific statistics at your fingertips.
Past SARS-CoV-2 infection protection against re-infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Protection from past infection against re-infection from pre-omicron variants was very high and remained high even after 40 weeks. Protection was substantially lower for the omicron BA.1 variant and declined more rapidly over time than protection against previous variants. Protection from severe disease was high for all variants. The immunity conferred by past infection should be weighed alongside protection from vaccination when assessing future disease burden from COVID-19, providing guidance on when individuals should be vaccinated, and designing policies that mandate vaccination for workers or restrict access, on the basis of immune status, to settings where the risk of transmission is high, such as travel and high-occupancy indoor settings.
