Diagnosis Of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Research Articles

Comparing the effect of obesity on major adverse cardiovascular events in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19): insights from the national inpatient sample (NIS) database

Abstract Introduction Recent studies have shown an ‘obesity paradox,’ which refers to improved hospital outcomes and prognosis in obese individuals when compared to their non-obese counterparts. This paradox is evident when myocardial infarction (MI), venous thromboembolism (VTE), and cardiovascular mortality are considered. There is limited information extrapolated from large inpatient databases describing inpatient hospital outcomes of patients with obesity and concomitant COVID-19. Purpose To determine the association of obesity with inpatient mortality of acute (MI), cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) and cardiovascular death in patients with COVID-19 using the NIS database. Methods The NIS database for calendar year 2020 was queried to identify adult hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 and a secondary diagnosis of obesity. Cases were identified using International Classification of Diseases – 10 Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality; secondary outcomes were length of stay (LOS), total hospital charge (THC), and inpatient complications. Linear, univariate, and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the outcomes and adjust for confounders. Results A total of 1,050,045 hospitalizations for COVID-19 were identified, 292,800 (27.9%) of which had the co-diagnosis of obesity. Out of the identified hospitalizations with COVID-19 and obesity, 29,290 (10%) died. After multivariate adjustment for confounding variables, obesity was associated with increased inpatient mortality (adjusted odds [aOR] 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32-1.42, p < 0.001), while CVA and acute MI were negatively associated with obesity (aOR 0.81; CI 0.68-0.97, p = 0.023 and aOR 0.92; CI 0.86-0.99, p = 0.026, respectively). Additionally, obesity was associated with multiple inpatient complications, including but not limited to: sepsis (aOR 1.44; CI 1.38-1.51, p < 0.001); acute respiratory failure (aOR 1.46; CI 1.43-1.50, p < 0.001), need for intubation (aOR 1.66; CI 1.60-1.73, p < 0.001), need for mechanical ventilation (aOR 1.69; CI 1.62-1.75, p < 0.001); cardiac arrest (aOR 1.32; CI 1.23-1.42, p < 0.001); and need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (aOR 1.37; CI 1.26-1.50, p < 0.001). Conclusion The findings of this study are inconsistent with the obesity paradox. Obese patients hospitalized with COVID-19 had an increased association of mortality and inpatient complications; however, there was a negative association between obesity and CVA and acute MI.

Abstract 14906: Incidence and Impact of Takotsubo Syndrome in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

Background: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) has been reported in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients, although minimal data are available. Objectives: We assessed the incidence and impact of TTS on hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using ICD-10 to identify patients with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 with or without TTS in the National Inpatient Sample 2020 database. We compared outcomes between both groups after propensity score matching for patient and hospital demographics and comorbidities. Results: A total of 211,448 patients with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 were identified. Of these, 171 (0.08%) had a secondary diagnosis of TTS. Before matching, COVID-19 patients with TTS, compared with those without TTS, were older (68.95 vs 64.26 years) and more likely to be female (64.3% vs 47.2%) and to have anxiety (24.6% vs 12.8), depression (17.5% vs 11.4%), and COPD (24.6% vs 14.7%) (all p<0.05). The TTS group had worse outcomes in death (30.4% vs 11.1%), cardiac arrest (7.6% vs 2.1%), cardiogenic shock (12.9% vs 0.4%), length of stay (LOS, 10.7 vs 7.5 days), and total charges ($152,685 vs $78,468), respectively (all p< 0.001). After matching, the TTS group (n=170), compared with the non-TTS group (n=508), had a higher incidence of inpatient mortality (30% vs 14%, p<0.001), cardiac arrest (7.6% vs 2.8%, p=0.009), and cardiogenic shock (12.4% vs 0.4%, p<0.001), a longer LOS (10.7 vs 7.6 days, p<0.001), and higher total charges ($152,943 vs $79,523, p<0.001). Conclusions: TTS is a rare but severe in-hospital complication in COVID-19 patients.

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 in solid organ transplant recipients.

Post-acute sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (PASC), defined as prolonged symptoms following an episode of COVID-19, is not well-characterized in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR). In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of PASC in SOTR, its descriptive characteristics, and associated risk factors. We retrospectively identified SOTRs with acute COVID-19 between June 1, 2020 and April 15, 2022, and abstracted demographic and medical history, characteristics of acute COVID-19 illness, and COVID-19 vaccination status. We defined PASC as ongoing/new symptoms present at 6weeks or longer following acute COVID-19 diagnosis. Among 208 SOTRs with acute COVID-19, 72 (35%) developed PASC. Common symptoms were respiratory symptoms (67%), headache (40%), and difficulty concentrating (10%). Severe acute COVID-19 disease and presence of respiratory symptoms were associated with higher odds of PASC in multivariable analyses, while receipt of at least one COVID-19 vaccination prior to transplantation was protective. We found that PASC occurs in about a third of SOTRs with acute COVID-19 and has similar symptoms as described previously in immunocompetent hosts. Pre-transplant vaccination may be protective. Further prospective multicenter studies are needed.

Biochemical, Serological and Immunological Tests for Diagnosis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Patients: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Recent studies have suggested the role of primary laboratory tests in addition to clinical symptoms for patients suspected to have coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which play a significant role in the diagnosis of COVID-19. However, the results of these studies are contradictory. The present study was conducted to evaluate biochemical, serological, and immunological tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19 patients. This study was presented in accordance with the PRISMA protocol. This protocol is registered with the code CRD42019145410 in PROSPERO. We conducted a comprehensive literature search in databases, including Web of Science, PubMed/Medline, CINAHL Scopus, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Science Direct, and EBSCO to find citations from the beginning of January 2019 until the beginning of April 2020 without any restrictions. Finally, 51 studies, including 5,490 COVID-19 patients, were included in the present metaanalysis. The prevalence of different factors observed in laboratory findings was as follows: the prevalence of lymphopenia in patients with COVID-19 accounted for 51.6% (95% CI: 44.0-59.1), elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) was 63.6% (95% CI: 57.0-69.8), elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 62.5% (95% CI: 50.1-73.5), elevated tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) was 28.7% (95% CI: 9.0-62.1), elevated serum amyloid-A level was 74.7% (95% CI: 50.0-89.7), elevated procalcitonin level was 72.6% (95% CI: 58.1-83.5), elevated interleukin-6 level was 59.9% (95% CI: 48.2-70.5), reduced CD3 level was 68.3% (95% CI: 50.1-82.2), reduced CD4 level was 62.0% (95% CI: 51.1- 71.6), elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level accounted for 53.1% (95% CI: 43.6-62.4), elevated brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) accounted for 48.9% (95% CI: 30.4-67.7), reduced albumin and reduced pre-albumin levels in patients with COVID-19 were estimated to be 54.7% (95% CI: 38.1-70.2) and 49.0% (95% CI: 26.6-71.8), and D-dimer level was 44.9% (95% CI: 31.0-59.6). The results show lymphopenia, elevated ESR level, elevated CRP level, elevated serum amyloid-A, elevated TNFα, elevated procalcitonin level, elevated interleukin-6 level, reduced CD3, reduced CD4, elevated BNP, elevated LDH, reduced albumin, reduced pre-albumin, and elevated Ddimer levels as the most common findings at the time of admission.

The fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose increased the neutralizing antibody response against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant in a diverse Brazilian population.

Most of the original immunization regimens against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were composed of two doses, followed by a subsequent third booster dose to control the Omicron variant and hence coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, most data generated regarding the fourth dose were not based on the general population. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the effect of the fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose in a diverse Brazilian population. This retrospective observational study was conducted between May and September 2022. We gathered data on the vaccine regimens and COVID-19 serologic status from 266 healthy volunteers who received three or four vaccine doses, as well as COVID-19 diagnosis and viral genome sequencing from 457 patients with flu-like symptoms. In addition, we conducted immunoinformatic analysis to assess the conserved epitopes in the locally circulating viruses. We showed that the fourth dose did not increase the serum levels of antiviral antibodies, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. However, it significantly increased neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers against the Omicron variant. All viral sequences generated in this study were Omicron subvariants, mainly B.A.5.1. Notably, most NAb epitopes present in the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 were not detected among the circulating Omicron subvariants. None of the volunteers who received the third or fourth doses presented COVID-19 for at least 1 year before the study period. Altogether, these results indicate that the fourth vaccine dose increases the serum levels of NAbs that recognize highly conserved epitopes in Omicron subvariants.IMPORTANCESeveral additional COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in the Brazilian population to prevent the disease caused by the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant. The efficacy of a third dose as a booster is already well described. However, it is important to clarify the humoral immune response gain induced by a fourth dose. In this study, we evaluate the effect of the fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose in a diverse Brazilian population, considering a real-life context. Our study reveals that the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine increased the neutralizing antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and significantly contributed in the reduction of the disease caused by this variant.

Sex-Specific Total Testosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate Status in Noncritically Ill Hospitalized Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), male subjects have consistently been linked to poor severity and prognosis. Data on sex hormones in non-critical COVID-19-infected patients are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the status of total testosterone (TT) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) among noncritical patients with COVID-19 according to sex and their associations with clinical and biochemical features. This cross-sectional observational study was done in the COVID-19 unit of a University hospital during the period of September 2021 to February 2022 among 91 adults (18-65 years) with reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction confirmed noncritical COVID-19 patients. Blood was drawn by venipuncture before receiving steroids between 07:00 to 09:00 a.m. in a fasting state to measure serum TT and DHEAS by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Diagnosis and classification of COVID-19 were done according to World Health Organization's interim guidance. Age- and sex-specific laboratory reference values were used to classify the TT and DHEAS status of the patients. Only three males (8.1%) had low TT and the rest had normal TT. On the other hand, 15 (27.8%) of the females had high TT with normal levels in the rest. Similarly, 11 (29.7%) males had low DHEAS. Females had low, normal, and high DHEAS in four (7.4%), 48 (88.9%), and two (3.7%) cases respectively. Males with moderate severity of COVID-19 had significantly lower DHEAS (post hoc P=0.038) than the mild group. Both TT (P=0.008) and DHEAS (P=0.023) significantly correlated with neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio and only DHEAS with platelets/lymphocytes ratio (P=0.044) in males. In females, TT significantly correlated with serum sodium (P=0.034). In noncritical COVID-19 patients, substantial gender variations in TT and DHEAS were detected and correlated with severity markers in males.

Acute Corneal Hydrops in Keratoconus Coinciding With COVID-19 Infection.

To the Editor: Acute corneal hydrops (AH), characterized by corneal stromal edema after a Descemet membrane rupture that allows aqueous humor entry, is observed in cases of keratoconus. Patients typically present with rapidly deteriorating visual acuity, photophobia, and pain. A timely diagnosis and management are essential to ruling out other vision-threatening pathologies such as corneal edema, infectious keratitis, uveitis, Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, postoperative edema, and acute transplant rejection. Here we describe a case of AH in a patient with keratoconus coinciding with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and emphasize the importance of patient education in the context-restricted face-to-face consultations. A 20-year-old healthy man was evaluated regularly every 3 months for keratoconus using visual acuity and refraction assessments and anterior segment optical coherence tomography imaging. He wore corneal rigid gas-permeable contact lenses in both eyes. He also had a mild ocular allergy but no atopy or habit of eye-rubbing. There was no family history of keratoconus. A year earlier, he had an episode of AH in his left eye. While his left eye stabilized after pressure patching, the keratoconus progressed in his right eye. Examination findings at his last visit before the COVID-19 diagnosis included: corrected distance visual acuity with a gas-permeable contact lens of 20/30 (right) and 20/16 (left), anterior keratometry of 66.4 D (right) and 43.5 D (left), the thinnest corneal thickness of 264 mm (right) and 468 mm (left), and posterior “best-fit sphere” 9-mm radius values of 4.88 (right) and 6.46 mm (left). Approximately 2 months after the last follow-up, he developed flu-like symptoms (sore throat and fever) and was diagnosed the next day with COVID-19 on polymerase chain reaction. Two days after symptom onset, he noticed sudden deterioration of vision in his right eye and called our hospital. The cornea specialist in the ophthalmology department made a tentative phone diagnosis of AH based on his ocular history and instructed him to apply a pressure patch with ophthalmic ointment. He was examined at our hospital after 10 days of quarantine. The corrected distance visual acuity of the right eye was 20/2000, while a slitlamp examination revealed corneal protrusion and marked corneal epithelial as well as stromal edema in the right eye. Fluorescein corneal observation showed no epithelial abnormality, and a definitive AH diagnosis was made. Optical coherence tomography imaging revealed a break in Descemet membrane with overlying corneal edema (Supplemental Digital Content Fig. 1, https://links.lww.com/APJO/A179). No abnormality was noted in the left eye. He had received the second COVID-19 vaccine dose 1 month before the viral infection and reported experiencing no vaccine-related complications. On examination a month later, the AH in the right eye had remarkably improved. Various ophthalmic management and care delivery experiences have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Perspectives in corneal crosslinking were reported relating to keratoconus in particular.1,2 To the best of our knowledge, our case is the first of AH with concomitant keratoconus and COVID-19 infection, although it was not possible to demonstrate a clear association among them. A previous history of AH in either eye is a predisposing risk factor for AH.3 This case underscores the importance of informing patients of their disease status and the need to undergo regular examinations. However, patients with COVID-19 may not be able to receive a timely ophthalmic examination. This patient was distressed until the postquarantine ophthalmic examination was performed; however, his previous experience with AH including successful pressure patching was helpful for the clinician and patient, who was better able to understand the extent of his condition and follow the provided instructions. In the absence of a clinical history of keratoconus, effectively managing AH before a face-to-face examination could be performed would have been challenging. Here are summary points of consideration when educating a patient with an acute event during a pandemic setting: Recognize the patient’s distress due to being in isolation during the acute event. Provide clear information about the disease and instructions for its independent management during quarantine. Strict hand hygiene should be thoroughly practiced while applying the pressure patch and patients should keep unwashed hands away from their face at times. Remote management may require conservative management methods. This requires careful consideration, particularly in acute ophthalmic cases. Although keratoconus was previously considered a noninflammatory ectatic corneal disease, recent evidence shows a relationship between its pathogenesis and chronic inflammatory events.4,5 Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is known to cause a proinflammatory state.6 There are several reports of corneal graft rejection in patients infected with COVID-19.6–8 Large population-based case-control studies are needed to investigate the possible association between AH in keratoconus and the SARS-CoV-2 cytokine response. Shizuka Koh, MD, PhD*† Takeshi Soma, MD, PhD† Vishal Jhanji, MD‡ Kohji Nishida, MD, PhD†

MultiCOVID: a multi modal deep learning approach for COVID-19 diagnosis

The rapid spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 led to a global overextension of healthcare. Both Chest X-rays (CXR) and blood test have been demonstrated to have predictive value on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis on different prevalence scenarios. With the objective of improving and accelerating the diagnosis of COVID-19, a multi modal prediction algorithm (MultiCOVID) based on CXR and blood test was developed, to discriminate between COVID-19, Heart Failure and Non-COVID Pneumonia and healthy (Control) patients. This retrospective single-center study includes CXR and blood test obtained between January 2017 and May 2020. Multi modal prediction models were generated using opensource DL algorithms. Performance of the MultiCOVID algorithm was compared with interpretations from five experienced thoracic radiologists on 300 random test images using the McNemar–Bowker test. A total of 8578 samples from 6123 patients (mean age 66 ± 18 years of standard deviation, 3523 men) were evaluated across datasets. For the entire test set, the overall accuracy of MultiCOVID was 84%, with a mean AUC of 0.92 (0.89–0.94). For 300 random test images, overall accuracy of MultiCOVID was significantly higher (69.6%) compared with individual radiologists (range, 43.7–58.7%) and the consensus of all five radiologists (59.3%, P < .001). Overall, we have developed a multimodal deep learning algorithm, MultiCOVID, that discriminates among COVID-19, heart failure, non-COVID pneumonia and healthy patients using both CXR and blood test with a significantly better performance than experienced thoracic radiologists.

Frequency of Lymphopenia in Infants with COVID-19: Vaccination Dilemma

Abstract Objective Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is mainly a respiratory system disease, many hematological abnormalities have been reported. Due to the application of primary immunization in infancy, our study aimed to examine the relationship between lymphopenia frequency and duration of lymphopenia in infants with COVID-19. Methods The files of infants hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID-19 in the Pediatric Pandemic Service of Istanbul Medical Faculty between January 2020 and October 2022 were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic characteristics, leukocyte, lymphocyte count, comorbidity, hospitalization, and lymphopenia recovery time were recorded. Results In this study, 93 infants with COVID-19 were included. Lymphopenia was detected in 62 of these patients (n = 62/93, 66.7%). The 47.3% of the patients were female (n = 44) and the mean age was 6 ± 3.42 months. Comorbidities were detected in the 33% of the patients. Lymphopenia resolved in an average of 11 days. While the mean hospitalization period of patients with lymphopenia was 3.6 ± 2.9 (minimum: 1 and maximum: 15) days, the mean hospitalization period of patients without lymphopenia was 2.5 days. Leukopenia (p: 0.014) and lymphopenia (p: 0.005) were more common in infants with chronic disease. Similarly, the duration of hospitalization and recovery from lymphopenia were statistically significantly longer (p: 0.016). A statistically significant correlation was found between the duration of lymphopenia recovery and the duration of hospitalization (p: 0.001). Conclusion Although we found lymphopenia as a common finding in infancy in our study, it was not observed frequently enough to require the postponement of the vaccination program due to its short duration. Vaccination should not be delayed due to lymphopenia in infants with COVID-19 to avoid a missed opportunity for vaccination.

Duvelisib for Critically Ill Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Investigator-Initiated, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Trial.

Despite improvements in prevention and treatment, severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with high mortality. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways contribute to cytokine and cell-mediated lung inflammation. We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot trial to determine the feasibility, safety, and preliminary activity of duvelisib, a PI3Kδγ inhibitor, for the treatment of COVID-19 critical illness. We enrolled adults aged ≥18 years with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 with hypoxic respiratory failure, shock, and/or new cardiac disease, without improvement after at least 48 hours of corticosteroid. Participants received duvelisib (25 mg) or placebo for up to 10 days. Participants had daily semi-quantitative viral load measurements performed. Dose modifications were protocol driven due to adverse events (AEs) or logarithmic change in viral load. The primary endpoint was 28-day overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, 60-day OS, and duration of critical care interventions. Safety endpoints included viral kinetics and AEs. Exploratory endpoints included serial cytokine measurements and cytometric analysis. Fifteen patients were treated in the duvelisib cohort, and 13 in the placebo cohort. OS at 28 days was 67% (95% confidence interval [CI], 38%-88%) compared to 62% (95% CI, 32%-86%) for placebo (P = .544). Sixty-day OS was 60% versus 46%, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.66 [95% CI, .22-1.96]; P = .454). Other secondary outcomes were comparable. Duvelisib was associated with lower inflammatory cytokines. In this pilot study, duvelisib did not significantly improve 28-day OS compared to placebo for severe COVID-19. Duvelisib appeared safe in this critically ill population and was associated with reduction in cytokines implicated in COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome, supporting further investigation. NCT04372602.

Evaluation of a novel lyophilized-pellet-based 2019-nCoV nucleic acid detection kit for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has swept the world and poses a serious threat to human health. In the post-pandemic-era, we must remain vigilant against the co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses. More accurate and convenient detection methods are required for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 due to its prolonged existence. In this study, the application value of a novel lyophilized-pellet-based 2019-nCoV nucleic acid diagnostic kit (PCoV-Kit) was evaluated by comparing it with a conventional liquid diagnostic kit (LCoV-Kit). We assessed the sensitivity, precision, accuracy, specificity, and amplification efficiency of PCoV-Kit and LCoV-Kit using diluted SARS-CoV-2 RNA reference materials. The results showed that both kits had high sensitivity, precision, accuracy, and specificity. A total of 2,033 oropharyngeal swab specimens collected during mass screening in Fuzhou in December 2022 were applied for the consistency analysis of the two reagents. In the detection of clinical oropharyngeal swab specimens, although the positive rate of PCoV-Kit (19.28%) was slightly lower than that of LCoV-Kit (20.86%), statistical analysis demonstrated a high degree of consistency between the test results obtained using both kit (χ2 = 1.57, P>0.05; Kappa coefficient = 0.90, 95%CI: 0.88-0.93). In conclusion, the use of lyophilized PCoV-Kit provides a non-inferior assay for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

Research on the diagnosis of corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19) based on machine-learning

In recent years, the Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19) has brought a huge impact on people's daily life and the normal operation of society, and as machine learning research deepens, this technology could help detect viruses such as the novel coronavirus. According to this, how to accurately, quickly and effectively analyze and classify laboratory results with multiple indicators through the method of machine learning is the object of this paper. In order to explore the classification performance of various machine learning classification algorithms on laboratory results, linear and non-linear methods were used respectively to analyze and classify the laboratory results. In linear analysis, distance discriminant and fisher discriminant were used to explore the classification effect of linear classification on laboratory results. The non-linear analysis mainly used Adaptive Boosting(AdaBoost) and Random Forest algorithm which are widely used to test the classification effect under the influence of multiple indexes. In this paper, python and other tools were used to classify samples of different combinations by using the idea of cross validation. By comparing the running time and detection accuracy, it was found that Adaboost algorithm is applicable in most cases and was a relatively fast and accurate classification method. In addition, Random Forest algorithm had similar accuracy, but it might have better performance on a large data set.

Performance evaluation of in-house developed Covid-19 IgG/IgM antibody rapid diagnostic kit

In the interest of preventing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic from spreading, it is crucial to promptly identify and confine afflicted patients. Serological antibody testing is a significant diagnostic technique that is increasingly employed in clinics, however its clinical use is still being investigated. The present study was carried out to scrutinize how well Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody testing using in-house developed rapid antibody assay worked against the chemiluminescence (CLIA) assay. Either IgG positive (IgG + IgM-) or IgM positive (IgM + IgG-); both IgG and IgM positive (IgM + IgG+); and negatives (IgM- IgG-) have been evaluated. A total of 300 samples with diverse age and sexual identity data were included. The combined sensitivities for IgG + IgM+, IgM + IgG-, IgG + IgM- and IgG-IgM- were evaluated. More accurate diagnostic results may be obtained using molecular diagnostic tools. The Antibody Rapid Diagnostic kit’s (in-house developed) performance was satisfactory for determining the presence of Covid-19 infection with IgG and IgM positivity. The IgG and IgM positivity helped evaluate the immune response in the individual for the COVID-19 infection. These results lend support to the additional utilisation of serological antibody tests in the COVID-19 diagnosis.

Determinants and outcomes of acute pancreatitis in patients hospitalized for COVID-19: Early pandemic experience

ObjectivesTo examine the predictors and outcomes associated with the development of acute pancreatitis (AP) in patients hospitalized with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). MethodsThis is an observational analysis of the 2020 National Inpatient Sample Database. The study includes adult patients who were admitted with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and stratifies them based on the presence or absence of AP during their hospitalization. Predictors of AP development between the two groups and differences in outcomes are examined. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using Stata/BE 17.0 is conducted, with adjustments made for age, sex, race, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Statistical significance is determined at a p-value of <0.05. ResultsSignificant factors associated with an increased risk of AP in COVID-19 patients include Hispanic ethnicity, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, residence in states located in the southern region, history of chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, malnutrition, portal hypertension, and alcohol use. COVID-19 patients who developed AP were also found to be at higher risk of adverse outcomes, including mortality, acute coronary syndrome, acute kidney injury, sepsis, septic shock, in-hospital cardiac arrest, invasive mechanical ventilation, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, prolonged length of stay, and increased healthcare cost. ConclusionsIn hospitalized patients with COVID-19, the presence of AP is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Risk factors for developing AP in this population include Hispanic ethnicity, residence in the southern region, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, history of chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, malnutrition, portal hypertension, and alcohol use.

Incidence of Thromboembolism in COVID-19 Patients in Intensive Care Units: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection was declared a pandemic, causing high mortality and morbidity worldwide.It predisposes patients to both arterial and venous thromboembolism, which causes high mortality, and is one of the most serious complications of the disease. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the frequency of thromboembolic events in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to identify the factors causing thromboembolism. The digital records of patients admitted to the adult ICU of Derince Training and Research Hospital, Kocaeli, Turkey, with a diagnosis of COVID-19 between March 13, 2020, and December 31, 2021, were retrospectively reviewed. Data of 484 patients, 248 (51.2%) female and 236 (48.8%) male, aged between 18-98 years were analyzed. The overall, arterial and venous incidence of thromboembolism was 14.8%, 11.3%, and 3.5%, respectively. There was no significant association between COVID-19 variants and the development of thromboembolism. The effect of various patient variables on the development of thromboembolism was evaluated, including cardiovascular disease (p<0.001), age (p=0.003), use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (p<0.001), antiplatelet therapy (p<0. 001), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score (p=0.003), D-dimer (p=0.015), fibrinogen (p=0.032), ferritin (p=0.015), prothrombin time (PT) (p=0.015), international normalized ratio (INR) (p=0.012), troponin (p=0.012) values at the ICU admission were found statistically significant. The cut-off values were 2.565 (μg/mL) for D-dimer, 435.51 (mg) for fibrinogen, 633.55 (ml/ng) for ferritin, 1.155 for INR, and 0.085 (ng/mL) for troponin. Although low-molecular-weight heparin(LMWH) is the first choice, it may be appropriate to add ASA and other antiplatelet agents to reduce the risk of thromboembolism in patients with high thromboembolic risk including advanced age, cardiovascular disease, and elevated levels ofD-dimer, troponin, ferritin, and fibrinogen.

Development of a nucleic acid-based screen printed electrochemical biosensor using Ti3C2Tx-MXene for the detection of SARS-CoV-2

The SARS-CoV-2 virus poses a major risk to human health which has put a tremendous strain on already stretched healthcare resources. Despite continuous improvements in Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) detection, treatment technology and ongoing global immunization efforts, the lethal virus has undergone several mutations and is still claiming millions of lives worldwide. In this respect, the development of a hybridization-based nucleic acid biosensor for SARS-CoV-2 virus is the major focus of the current effort in response to the critical demand for developing quick and accurate diagnostic methods. Herein, we employ Screen Printed Carbon Electrode (SPCE) coated with Ti3C2Tx-MXene nanosheets followed by amino-functionalized probe DNA (NH2-pDNA) as a robust surface for the sensing of SARS-CoV-2. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry were employed for assessing the electrochemical behavior of NH2-pDNA/Ti3C2Tx/SPCE bioelectrode. Meanwhile, the analytical sensor response for SARS-CoV-2 was studied using impedance within target DNA concentration of 0.1 pM − 1 µM. The developed biosensor displayed detection limit of 0.004 pM, showing a high degree of selectivity in the presence of non-complementary interferents with a shelf life of 40 days. Additionally, a good linearity for the detection of target sequence in spiked serum samples was established; as a result, exhibiting huge potential for use in the contemporary healthcare sector for fast, accurate and reliable diagnosis of COVID-19 in a point-of-care scenario.

Explore the changes of intestinal flora in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 based on bioinformatics.

Studies have revealed that there were significant changes in intestinal flora composition in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) compared to non-COVID-19 patients, regardless of whether they were treated with medication. Therefore, a comprehensive study of the intestinal flora of COVID-19 patients is needed to further understand the mechanisms of COVID-19 development. In total, 20 healthy samples and 20 COVID-19 samples were collected in this study. Firstly, alpha diversity and beta diversity were analyzed to assess whether there were difference in species richness and diversity as well as species composition between COVID-19 and control groups. The observed features index, Evenness index, PD index, and Shannon index were utilized to measure alpha diversity. The principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) were performed to analyzed beta diversity. Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) was utilized to analyze the variability in the abundance of bacterial taxa from different classification levels. The random forest (RF), Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and univariate logistic regression were utilized to identify key Amplicon Sequence Variant (ASVs). Finally, the relevant networks of bacterial taxa were created in COVID-19 and control groups, separately. There were more species in the control group than in COVID-19 group. The observed features index, Shannon index, and Evenness index in the control groups were markedly higher than in the COVID-19 group. Therefore, there were marked variations in bacterial taxa composition between the COVID-19 and control groups. The nine bacterial taxa were significantly more abundant in the COVID-19 group, such as g-Streptococcus, f-Streptococcaceae, o-Lactobacillales, c-Bacilli and so on. In the control group, 26 bacterial taxa were significantly more abundant, such as c-Clostrjdia, o-Oscillospirales, f-Ruminococcaceae, etc. The 5 key ASVs were obtained through taking the intersection of the characteristic ASVs obtained by the three algorithms, namely ASV6, ASV53, ASV92, ASV96, and ASV105, which had diagnostic value for COVID-19. The relevance network in the control group was more complex compared to the COVID-19 group. Our findings provide five key ASVs for diagnosis of COVID-19, providing a scientific reference for further studies of COVID-19.

Enhanced Diagnosis of Influenza and COVID-19 Using Machine Learning

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread globally, causing a significant impact on public health. This study proposes a predictive model employing machine learning techniques to distinguish between influenza-like illness and COVID-19 based on clinical symptoms and diagnostic parameters. Leveraging a dataset sourced from BMC Med Inform Decis Mak, comprising cases of influenza and COVID-19, we explore a diverse set of features, including clinical symptoms and blood assay parameters. Two prominent machine learning algorithms, XGBoost and Random Forest, are employed and compared for their predictive capabilities. The XGBoost model, in particular, demonstrates superior accuracy with an AUC under the ROC curve of 98.8%, showcasing its potential for clinical diagnosis, especially in settings with limited specialized testing equipment. Our model's practical applicability in community-based testing positions it as a valuable tool for efficient COVID-19 detection. This study advances the field of predictive modeling for disease detection, offering promising prospects for improved public health outcomes and pandemic response strategies. The model's reliability and effectiveness make it a valuable asset in the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comparison of The Nutritional Habits of Individuals With and Without a COVID-19 Diagnosis: An Online Cross-Sectional Study From Türkiye

Objective: Türkiye, which is located in the European Region of the World Health Organization (WHO) has been also affected by the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study was conducted between January and April 2021, in which the number of daily COVID-19 cases increased from an average of 8,500 to 50,000. This cross-sectional online study aimed to compare the dietary habits of individuals with and without a COVID-19 diagnosis. &#x0D; Material and Method: The study included a total of 1,448 individuals aged 18-64 years. Study data were collected through the Google platform using a questionnaire that included sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19 status, anthropometric measurements, physical activity status, and nutritional characteristics. &#x0D; Results: Those with COVID-19 had higher Body Mass Index (BMI) than those without COVID-19. The rates of those who had regular physical activity, considered nutrition important for protection from COVID-19, and ordered food online were lower among those participants with COVID-19 than those without COVID-19. The rates of those who lost appetite and weight, used nutritional supplements, increased their nutritional budget during the pandemic, and shopped for food from online marketplaces were higher too among those with COVID-19. Those with COVID-19 were found to consume red meat, fruit, and herbal tea more frequently and soft drinks less frequently than those without COVID-19. &#x0D; Conclusion: In line with these results, it may be considered that those with COVID-19 try to comply with healthy nutrition recommendations. Our results can be used to prepare appropriate nutritional guidelines for pandemic and quarantine periods.

OR30-06 Hospitalisation, Intensive Care And Death Due To COVID-19 In Swedish Patients With Adrenal Insufficiency

Abstract Disclosure: R. Bergthorsdottir: None. D. Esposito: None. G. Johannsson: None. O. Ragnarsson: None. P. Dahlqvist: None. S. Bensing: None. J. Nåtman: None. F. Nyberg: None. Background: Patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI) have increased risk for morbidity and mortality related to infectious disorders. Whether patients with AI have an increased risk for infection with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), need of hospitalisation, intensive care or death in COVID-19 disease is still unknown. Methods: Swedish national register-based cohort study. Patients with primary and secondary AI were identified in linked Swedish national healthcare registers and followed from 2020-01-01 until 2021-02-28, and were compared to controls from the general population, matched 10:1 for age and sex. The following COVID-19 outcomes were studied: hospitalisation, intensive care and death. Findings: We identified 5430 patients with AI, and 54300 controls; 47.6% females, with a mean (±SD) age of 57.1 (±18.1) years. The prevalence of positive COVID-19 testing and diagnosis were similar in patients with AI and controls. The rate of hospitalisation (2.1% vs 0.8%), intensive care (0.3% vs 0.1%) and death (0.8% vs 0.2%) for COVID-19 were higher in AI patients than controls, respectively. After adjustment for socioeconomic factors and comorbidities, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for hospitalisation was 1.96 (1.59-2.43), for intensive care admission it was 2.76 (1.49-5.09) and for death 2.29 (1.60-3.28). Interpretation: Patients with AI have an increased risk for severe and fatal COVID-19 infection and should therefore be prioritised for vaccination, early antiviral and supportive treatment to prevent hospitalisation and death. Presentation: Sunday, June 18, 2023