Prevalence Of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Research Articles

COVID-19 and thyroid function: What do we know so far?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was characterized as a pandemic in March, 2020 by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is a respiratory syndrome that can progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiorgan dysfunction, and eventually death. Despite being considered a respiratory disease, it is known that other organs and systems can be affected in COVID-19, including the thyroid gland. Thyroid gland, as well as hypothalamus and pituitary, which regulate the functioning of most endocrine glands, express angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the main protein that functions as a receptor to which SARS-CoV-2 binds to enter host cells. In addition, thyroid gland is extremely sensitive to changes in body homeostasis and metabolism. Immune system cells are targets for thyroid hormones and T3 and T4 modulate specific immune responses, including cell-mediated immunity, natural killer cell activity, the antiviral action of interferon (IFN) and proliferation of T- and B-lymphocytes. However, studies show that patients with controlled hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism do not have a higher prevalence of COVID-19, nor do they have a worse prognosis when infected with the virus. On the other hand, retrospective observational studies, prospective studies, and case reports published in the last two years reported abnormal thyroid function related to acute SARS-CoV-2 infection or even several weeks after its resolution. Indeed, a variety of thyroid disorders have been documented in COVID-19 patients, including non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS), subacute thyroiditis and thyrotoxicosis. In addition, thyroid disease has already been reported as a consequence of the administration of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Overall, the data revealed that abnormal thyroid function may occur during and in the convalescence post-COVID condition phase. Although the cellular and molecular mechanisms are not completely understood, the evidence suggests that the "cytokine storm" is an important mediator in this context. Thus, future studies are needed to better investigate the pathophysiology of thyroid dysfunction induced by COVID-19 at both molecular and clinical levels.

Community-Acquired Pneumonia: Postpandemic, Not Post-COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic upended our approach to imaging community-acquired pneumonia, and this will alter our diagnostic algorithms for years to come. In light of these changes, it is worthwhile to consider several postpandemic scenarios of community-acquired pneumonia: (1) patient with pneumonia and recent positive COVID-19 testing; (2) patient with air space opacities and history of prior COVID-19 pneumonia (weeks earlier); (3) multifocal pneumonia with negative or unknown COVID-19 status; and (4) lobar or sublobar pneumonia with negative or unknown COVID-19 status. In the setting of positive COVID-19 testing and typical radiologic findings, the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia is generally secure. The diagnosis prompts vigilance for thromboembolic disease acutely and, in severely ill patients, for invasive fungal disease. Persistent or recurrent air space opacities following COVID-19 infection may more often represent organizing pneumonia than secondary infection. When COVID-19 status is unknown or negative, widespread airway-centric disease suggests infection with mycoplasma, Haemophilus influenzae, or several respiratory viruses. Necrotizing pneumonia favors infection with pneumococcus, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella, and anaerobes. Lobar or sublobar pneumonia will continue to suggest the diagnosis of pneumococcus or consideration of other pathogens in the setting of local outbreaks. A positive COVID-19 test accompanied by these imaging patterns may suggest coinfection with one of the above pathogens, or when the prevalence of COVID-19 is very low, a false positive COVID-19 test. Clinicians may still proceed with testing for COVID-19 when radiologic patterns are atypical for COVID-19, dependent on the patient's exposure history and the local epidemiology of the virus.

The rs1883832 Polymorphism (CD40-1C>T) Affects the Intensity of IgA Responses after BNT162b2 Vaccination

The effectiveness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination strategies is affected by several factors, including the genetic background of the host. In our study, we evaluated the contribution of the functional polymorphism rs1883832 affecting the Kozak sequence of the TNFSF5 gene (c.-1C>T), encoding CD40, to humoral immune responses after vaccination with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. The rs1883832 polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-RFLP in 476 individuals (male/female: 216/260, median age: 55.0 years, range: 20−105) of whom 342 received the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine and 134 received the adenovirus-based vector vaccines (67 on ChAdOx1-nCoV-19 vaccine, 67 on Ad.26.COV2.S vaccine). The IgG and IgA responses were evaluated with chemiluminescent microparticle and ELISA assays on days 21, 42, and 90 after the first dose. The T allele of the rs1883832 polymorphism (allele frequency: 32.8%) was significantly associated with lower IgA levels and represented, as revealed by multivariable analysis, an independent risk factor for reduced anti-spike protein IgA levels on days 42 and 90 following BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination. Similar to serum anti-spike IgA levels, a trend of lower anti-spike IgA concentrations in saliva was found in individuals with the T allele of rs1883832. Finally, the intensity of IgA and IgG responses on day 42 significantly affected the prevalence of COVID-19 after vaccination. The rs1883832 polymorphism may be used as a molecular predictor of the intensity of anti-spike IgA responses after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination.

Prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in children in Sivas province, Central Anatolia

Objectives: Transmission from asymptomatic patients is one of the biggest challenges in controlling the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak because these cases are a potential source for disease spread. Based on this situation, the aim of our study is to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 in asymptomatic pediatric dental patients representing Sivas and surrounding provinces. Methods: The population of the study consists of pediatric patients between the ages of 0-14 who applied to Sivas Oral and Dental Health Hospital General Operating Room for dental treatments between July 2020 and August 2021. Results: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was detected in only 5 patients (approximately 1.80%) out of 278 asymptomatic pediatric patients. Conclusions: It is thought that the COVID-19 infection, which threatens the whole world, can progress asymptomatically in children, and therefore it may be a risk factor for the spread of the infection. To tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, it is recommended to maintain a high level of infection control measures in schools and day-care and to implement widespread testing on a global scale targeting the pediatric population.

Prevalence of COVID-19 in Children with Gastrointestinal Manifestations: A Cross-sectional Study of 184 Cases in 2020 - 2021

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected human life for more than a year. COVID-19 is well known for its respiratory manifestations; however, other important symptoms help with its diagnosis. Although clinical presentations in adults have been understood, clinical data in pediatric COVID-19 cases are still lacking. Objectives: We investigated gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations of COVID-19 in pediatric cases. Methods: This study included 184 cases with GI manifestations referred to the pediatric emergency department of Namazi hospital from 20 March to 20 November 2020. Their clinical and laboratory data were extracted and analyzed with SPSS22. Results: Of 184 patients, 51 had positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR results. The most common symptom in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients was vomiting in 22 (43%) patients, followed by watery diarrhea in 12 (23.5%) and dysentery in 11 (21%). Significantly elevated CRP (P value = 0.002), ESR (P value < 0.001), and lymphocyte count (P value = 0.037) were found in PCR-positive patients. Conclusions: Our result demonstrates that COVID-19 could present with different GI symptoms. Also, the symptoms and lab data could help clinicians diagnose COVID-19, besides other differential diagnoses in pediatric patients with GI symptoms.

Evaluation of Factors Affecting the Quality of Virtual Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The prevalence of Corona virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected the university education system. Due to the development of technology in recent decades and the need for social distance to prevent the spread of the disease and to prevent interruptions in student education, education has changed to virtual. Considering the importance of education and its decisive role in improving the academic level of students, we tried to review the challenges of virtual education and the factors affecting its quality. This review study was performed by searching databases such: as Pubmed, Scopus, SID, and Magiran using keywords including virtual teaching, virtual learning, COVID-19, and Medical Sciences and limiting the search to the keywords in the title and abstract and also according to PRISMA guidelines. In the present study, the advantages and disadvantages of e-learning were investigated. Findings showed that the factors affecting the quality of e-learning are classified into four main sections, which include: the existence of appropriate infrastructure, Class control and administration, Necessary training for using software for professors and students, and the Proportion of the volume of taught content with its evaluation. One of the most important disadvantages of e-learning in the past year is the lack of proper infrastructure for training and exams, high internet interruption, the impossibility of student interaction, and the large volume of content. Due to the existence of barriers to the formation of classes in person, it is possible to help increase the educational quality of students and advance learning by using the necessary and appropriate measures in the correct use of virtual education and increasing the quality of the required infrastructure.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype prevalence and impact of COVID-19 on the HPV prevention program in Duhok city.

Introduction and aimsHuman papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of HPV infection, the prevalent HPV genotypes in women and men with recurrent genital infections, and the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the HPV prevention program.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in Duhok city, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, between January 2018 and September 2020. We recruited patients from an infectious disease clinic, who were married, were older than 18 years, and agreed to participate in this study. A reverse hybridisation-based assay was used to identify the HPV genotypes prevalent in these patients.ResultsAmong the patients in the study, 20.9% (67/320) tested positive for HPV infection. The HPV prevalence in females was 18.8% (52/276), which was lower than that in males (34.1%,15/44) (p = 0.21). Thirty-six patients (11.3%) were infected with a single HPV genotype, seventeen (5.3%) with two HPV genotypes, eight (2.5%) with three HPV genotypes, and the remaining six (1.8%) with four or more HPV genotypes. The most common genotypes detected among the patients were HPV-6 (7.2%), −11 (3.8%), and −16 (3.4%). The prevalence of all HPV genotype infections was highest and lowest in the 18–25- and 36–45-year age groups, respectively (X2 = 8.24; p = 0.041). The number of referred patients substantially reduced from 12 patients per month to 1 patient per month during the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionHPV infection was common in the study population. The most common genotypes were HPV 6, 11, and 16, against which vaccines are available. Further population-based studies are needed to investigate the prevalence of such an infection.

Comparison of antigen test and polymerase chain reaction for SARS-CoV-2 in children younger than 12 years.

Stopping the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is critical and can be achieved through rapid and effective detection techniques. Our objective was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of rapid antigen tests (RAgT) and reverse transcriptionquantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and to describe amplification cycle thresholds (Cts). Participants were children aged 1 month to 11 years with symptoms for less than 7 days, who did not have a detectable result in the past 90 days, and were immunocompetent. A total of 1855 patients were included; the prevalence of COVID-19 was 4.7%. For the RAgT, overall sensitivity was 60.2% and specificity, 99.8%; in children older than 5 years, values were 69.8% and 99.8%, respectively. Ct values for discordant samples were higher. To conclude, the diagnostic accuracy indicated that the specificity of RAgT is similar to that of RT-qPCR, but its sensitivity is notably lower, especially in children younger than 5 years.

Interrelationship between G-6-PD-deficiency frequency and accumulated number of coronavirus disease 2019 cases

Background The relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence and genetic background is an important clinical issue. A relationship has been proposed between COVID-19 and congenital hereditary blood disorder. Methods The authors report on a link between G-6-PD deficiency frequency and COVID-19 prevalence in an endemic area of a tropical Indochina country where G-6-PD deficiency is common. Results The scattergram can illustrate the descriptive distribution of both researched parameters based on the original data. There is no evident pattern of association between G-6-PD-deficient carrier frequency and COVID-19 incidence in the dual axis image. Conclusions In the research scenario, there was no significant link between G-6-PD insufficiency frequency and COVID-19 incidence, according to the data.

Comparison of Prevalence of Influenza and COVID-19: A Report From Hormozgan Province-Iran, 2019-2021

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza viruses produce a wide range of clinical disease severity, which varies from asymptomatic infection to death. The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China, followed a seasonal influenza pandemic. The prevalence of influenza has changed since the outbreak of COVID-19. In this study, we have compared the prevalence of influenza and COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic. Clinical symptoms were also assessed among patients. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in a single center on 229456 patients with the SARS in Hormozgan province, Iran, during 2019-2021 before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical features including age, sex, fever, cough, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, headache, body aches, and diarrhea were also analyzed. Results: The results indicated that out of a total of 229456 samples of patients, 71142 (31.00%) and 527 (.22%) cases were diagnosed with positive COVID-19 and positive influenza, respectively. Influenza activity decreased in March 2020 and remained low until September 2021, but it increased to near pre-pandemic seasonal levels since October 2021. The outbreak of influenza decreased by starting the restrictions and health protocols. Furthermore, the analysis of patients’ symptoms indicated that the most prevalent symptoms in influenza patients were fever, cough, and body pain, while the symptoms in COVID-19 patients were cough and headache. Conclusion: Social restrictions and adherence to health protocols could significantly reduce the incidence of seasonal influenza even after controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Influenza and COVID-19 have similar symptoms in patients, so diagnostic tests are necessary for proper diagnosis and management.

Evaluating the role of SARS-CoV-2 target genes based on two nucleic acid assay kits.

BackgroundEffective isolation and early treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relies on rapid, accurate, and straightforward diagnostic tools. In response to the rapidly increasing number of cases, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays for multiple target genes have become widely available in the market.MethodsIn total, 236 COVID-19 patients with positive results in both RT-qPCR and rapid antigen diagnosis (Ag-RDT) were enrolled in the study. The cycle threshold (Ct) was compared with different onset times and target genes. Comparison between groups was evaluated with the Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn test. The correlation between target genes was analyzed by Spearman.ResultsIn samples of Ct ≤ 21, Ct was different for the nucleocapsid (N), open reading frame 1ab (ORF1ab), and envelope (E) genes (P < 0.05). Mild COVID-19 patients within 7 days of onset accounted for 67.80% of all enrolled patients. At the above stage, all target genes reached the trough of Ct, and N genes showed lower values than the other target genes. The Ct of the ORF1ab and N gene in asymptomatic patients differed from those of mild patients within 7 days and more than 14 days of onset. The kits used in the study showed strong consistency among target genes, with all correlation coefficients >0.870.ConclusionRT-qPCR confirmed that the N gene performed well in Ct ≤ 21 and samples within 7 days of onset. Ag-RDT was discriminatory for patients within 7 days of onset. This study facilitated early identification and control of COVID-19 prevalence among patients.

The Effectiveness of Virtual Acceptance and Commitment Group Therapy on Mental Health in Women with Corona Anxiety undergoing Covid-19 Treatment

The prevalence of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been associated with many psychological problems and concerns. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual acceptance and commitment group therapy on mental health in women undergoing Covid-19 treatment. This study was a randomized controlled trial and a quasi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design. The statistical population included women undergoing Covid-19 treatment living in Ardakan, Yazd, Iran. Eighteen participants were randomly and equally divided into two groups of 9 cases, including the experimental and control groups. The participants answered the Lovibond Psychological Questionnaire (1995) in the pre-test and post-test stages. The experimental group received virtual-based acceptance and commitment group therapy intervention in 8 one-hour sessions, two sessions per week.&#x0D; In contrast, the control group did not receive any intervention during the study. Finally, the data were analyzed by the covariance analysis method at the significance level of 0.05. The results showed that the mean score of mental health and its dimensions (depression, anxiety, and stress) in the experimental group compared to the control group decreased significantly in the post-test stage (P&lt;0.001). According to the research results, virtual acceptance and commitment to group therapy can effectively reduce the psychological problems of people suffering from COVID-19.

Prevalence of Asymptomatic COVID-19 among Medical Laboratory Science Students of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome. It has been spreading rapidly worldwide, causing serious public health crisis. Although most SARS-CoV-2-infected cases have asymptomatic or mild-to-moderate diseases. This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of asymptomatic COVID-19 among Students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. A total of 100 Students were recruited for this study (50 males and 50 females). Ages were from 16 years upwards. 5ml of blood was drawn from each subject, 3 ml into an EDTA while 2ml was dispensed into plane tube for Elisa test of COVID-19 antibody dictation. The sensitivity and specificity of the Elisa kits used were 94.36% and 100% respectively. The full blood count was determined using Sysmex KX 21 Haematology autoanalyzer). Results of this showed that 48% of the subjects tested positive for COVID-19 antibody, while 52% tested negative. The mean white blood cells of COVID-19 antibody positive and negative subjects revealed 5.61±1.79x10/9 and 5.30±1.37x109/l respectively. There were no significant statistical differences (p&gt;0.05) in the white cell, Red cell indices of subjects positive for COVID-19 antibody when compared with those negative for COVID-19 antibody. Also result shows that those positive for COVID-19, their platelets revealed significant (&lt;0.001) lower count 234.1 ±151.1 x109/l when compared with those who were negative (250.0±152.7 x109/l). The study concludes that lymphocytes, neutrophils and mixed cell counts studied were lower in subjects positive for COVID-19 antibody while total white blood cell count was higher in positive group (p&gt;0.05). There was no significant difference (p&gt;0.05) in the WBC, LYM, MXD and NEUT of the subjects with respect to age and sex.

Prevalence of COVID-19 Among Older People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review

Background: On March 11, 2020, the WHO proclaimed the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic owing to coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 is a zoonotic virus that may be spread from bats to humans through airborne droplets and aerosols. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein has a high binding affinity for ACE2 receptors, widely expressed throughout the respiratory system, notably in epithelial lung cells. ACE2 receptors are found in intestinal mucosal, endothelial, heart, renal epithelial as well as cerebral neuronal cells, explaining COVID-19 extrapulmonary symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, heart failure, renal injury, headache, and confusion. Older persons with type2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection as drugs by which they are treated promote ACE2 receptor expression. Moreover, comorbidities increase the probability of poor outcomes after infection by the SARS-CoV-2. Research links COVID-19 to hyperglycemia in the elderly with type 2 diabetes. Twenty percent of people with diabetes get severe pneumonia and a septic course from viral infections. Diabetes contributed to sickness severity and fatality in MERS (MERS-CoV). Epidemiological findings in SARS-CoV-2-affected regions, CDC data, and other national health centers and hospitals suggest that individuals with diabetes had a 50% greater chance of dying from COVID-19. Methods: This systematic review involves a critical and reproducible summary of the results of the available publications on COVID-19 and diabetic elderly patients’ topics and questions. Fourteen studies (6 retrospective cohorts, two prospective, two cohorts, one combined retrospective, one observational, one cross-sectional, and one hospital-based study) were included in this systematic review. Results: From all studies, the mean age of older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus who suffered from COVID-19 was 50 to 89 years. The majority of the studies showed the male predominance of infection. The pooled prevalence of COVID-19 among diabetes mellitus elderly patients was 29.8%. Conclusions: Diabetes patients had a greater COVID-19 prevalence and severity, according to several explanations. Diabetes Mellitus increases the risk of infection due to innate and adaptive immunity deficiencies. Post COVID-19 complications arise due to a lack of equilibrium between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine networks in type 2 diabetes mellitus, contributing to increased mortality. Therefore, this study necessitates a large investigational study to find out how to boost the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 infection in an equilibrium manner not to produce much inflammatory cytokine in type 2 diabetes mellitus individuals to reduce the risk of developing complications and mortality consequently. Keywords: COVID-19, Diabetes mellitus, Type-2 diabetes, Elderly.

COVID-19 and Comorbidities in Douala, Cameroon

Aims: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) still negatively impacting the world. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of COVID-19 and comorbidities, associated factors, and evaluating the impact of these comorbidities on COVID-19 patients.&#x0D; Study Design: Cross-sectional hospital-based study.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: From January to March 2022, the present study was conducted at four health facilities in Douala town (Littoral Region, Cameroon).&#x0D; Methodology: Anthropometric, bioimpedance, physiological, blood and nasopharyngeal samples were used for diagnosing COVID-19, hepatitis B virus, diabetes, obesity and hypertension. SARS-CoV-2 genome were detected by retrotranscriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Data were analyzed with StatView v5 and GraphPad v5.03 software, and statistical significance was set at p &lt; 0.05.&#x0D; Results: A total of 178 patients, 139 Cameroonian and 39 foreigners, were finally included in the study. Lower COVID-19 vaccination coverage was seen in Cameroonians compared to foreigners (25.2% vs 43.6%, P = .02). No COVID-19 infection cases were found. The overall prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, obesity and HBV was 11.2%, 17.9%, 28.1% and 36.5%, respectively. Nearly 35% of patients were diagnosed with at least two of these comorbidities that significantly impacted on anthropometric, bioimpedance and physiological parameters. The risk of past COVID-infection was increased by 1.06 (95%CI 1.00 – 1.10, P = .03) and 2.81 (95%CI 1.65 – 5.77, P = .04) with one-unit increase in age and BMI, respectively. In contrast, risk of past COVID-19 infection was decreased by 94% (AOR = 0.06, 95%CI 0.01 – 0.76, P = .03) in foreigners compared to Cameroonians.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study outlines the importance to manage comorbidities in context of COVID-19 in Cameroon. Further studies should be conducted with more documented investigations about their epidemiology and impact on the natural history of COVID-19 in the country.

Assessing the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on mortality: a population-based, matched case-control study

ObjectivesEstimating the isolated effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the risk of mortality is challenging. We aimed to determine whether COVID-19 was associated with high rates of mortality independently of age, sex and underlying disorders. MethodsA population-based, matched, case-control study of adults insured by Clalit Health Services was performed. Cases were defined as patients who died of all causes between July and December 2020. Each case was matched in a ratio of 1:1 with a living control based on age, sex and co-morbidities. An unconditional logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for mortality. ResultsA total of 2874 patients who died were successfully matched with 2874 living controls. The prevalence of COVID-19 was higher among the patients who died than among the controls (13.5% [387/2874] vs. 4% [115/2874], respectively; OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 3.01–4.63; p < 0.001). A significantly increased odds of mortality was also observed in patients with COVID-19 without underlying diseases (OR, 3.67; 95% CI, 2.58–5.23) and in patients with COVID-19 and underlying diseases (OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 2.87–4.94). A multi-variate logistic analysis showed that COVID-19 (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.07–3.77), low socio-economic status (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.02–1.82), dementia (OR, 2.50; 95% CI, 2.10–3.01), smoking (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.13–1.63) and an interaction variable of age >80 years and COVID-19 (OR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.14–4.54) were independent risk factors for mortality, whereas influenza vaccination and high body mass index were associated with lower rates of mortality. ConclusionTesting positive for COVID-19 increased the risk of death three folds, regardless of underlying disorders. These results emphasize the effect of COVID-19 on mortality during the early period of the COVID-19 outbreak, when no vaccines or effective therapeutics were available.

The dilemma of COVID-19 diagnosis in pregnancy

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new and rapidly developing health crisis. Ongoing research looks at the prevalence and consequences of COVID-19 in the obstetric community and postnatal period. In the COVID-19 era, pregnant mothers were prone to infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), with a higher risk of poor pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, an accurate and early diagnosis is necessary for this vulnerable group screening for asymptomatic carriers is a cornerstone to limiting the COVID-19 pandemic. It is vital to evaluate patients’ clinical symptoms and epidemiological history carefully. Although the serological test, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), can confirm infection, it cannot determine the degree or severity of the illness. Moreover, it has false-negative results. Imaging tests allow an exact diagnosis of lung damage, the severity of the disease, and the classification of patients. Comprehensive analysis of serological and imaging data will assist in the formation of an appropriate clinical diagnosis. This review will discuss what is new and important in confirming COVID-19 infection in pregnant women and the pros and cons of each.

Clinical features and severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 structural protein-based serology of Mexican children and adolescents with coronavirus disease 2019.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus (CoV)-2 infection in children and adolescents primarily causes mild or asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and severe illness is mainly associated with comorbidities. However, the worldwide prevalence of COVID-19 in this population is only 1%-2%. In Mexico, the prevalence of COVID-19 in children has increased to 10%. As serology-based studies are scarce, we analyzed the clinical features and serological response (SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins) of children and adolescents who visited the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez (October 2020-March 2021). The majority were 9-year-old children without comorbidities who were treated as outpatients and had mild-to-moderate illness. Children aged 6-10 years and adolescents aged 11-15 years had the maximum number of symptoms, including those with obesity. Nevertheless, children with comorbidities such as immunosuppression, leukemia, and obesity exhibited the lowest antibody response, whereas those aged 1-5 years with heart disease had the highest levels of antibodies. The SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain-localized peptides and M and E proteins had the best antibody response. In conclusion, Mexican children and adolescents with COVID-19 represent a heterogeneous population, and comorbidities play an important role in the antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 in a multiethnic cohort of patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases in Qatar.

Background: Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) are characterized by immune dysfunction and associated with an increased risk of infections, which were of significant concern during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Variable rates of COVID-19 incidence have been reported in patients with ARDs; however, the true effect of this infection on this patient population is still unclear. We, therefore, aimed to evaluate the COVID-19 prevalence among a multiethnic cohort of patients with ARDs in Qatar.Material and Methods: We used telephonic surveys to collect demographic and clinical information of patients with ARD in Qatar between April 1 and July 31, 2020, including any close contact with a COVID-19 case at home or work and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. An electronic medical records review was conducted to verify pertinent data collected through the surveys. Prevalence with 95% confidence interval (CI), Student's t-tests, and chi-square/Fisher's exact tests were used for univariate analyses, whereas multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with COVID-19.Results: The study included 700 patients with ARD (mean age, 43.2 ± 12.3 years), and 73% were female. Until July 2020, 75 (11%, 95% CI 9%–13%) patients had COVID-19. Factors associated with COVID-19 included being a man (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.56, 95% CI 1.35–4.88, p = 0.01) and having close contact with a COVID-19 case (aOR 27.89, 95% CI 14.85–52.38, p = 0.01). Disease severity and rheumatic medications had no significant association with the odds of contracting COVID-19. In the 86 patients with ARD having close contact, the frequency of hydroxychloroquine utilization was lower in patients who contracted COVID-19 than in those who did not (35% vs 72.5%, p = 0.01).Conclusions: In Qatar, patients with ARDs had an overall higher prevalence of COVID-19 than global estimates. Being male and having close contact with a COVID-19 case were strongly associated with COVID-19 as reported globally. The presence of comorbid conditions, disease-specific factors, and rheumatic medications had no significant effect on the risk of COVID-19 in our study suggesting alternative mechanisms to the increased prevalence.

Academic Anxiety, Self-Regulated Learning Ability, and Self-Esteem in Chinese Candidates for College Entrance Examination During the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Survey Study.

PurposeThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a challenge for adolescents in China. This study aimed to explore the relationship between academic anxiety and self-esteem in Chinese candidates preparing for the college entrance examination during the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine the mechanism of mediating effect of self-regulated learning ability.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 293 college entrance examination candidates (including 170 females) from two middle schools in China using a voluntary, web-based, and anonymous questionnaire implemented via the Questionnaire Star app during COVID-19 prevalence in 2020.ResultsThis study found that 1) students in the high and low academic anxiety groups had different levels of self-regulated learning ability and self-esteem, 2) the academic anxiety, self-regulated learning ability, and self-esteem levels of students were significantly correlated and 3) after controlling the two independent variables of gender and subject type, academic anxiety had a significant negative predictive effect on self-esteem, and self-regulated learning ability played a mediating role between academic anxiety and self-esteem, where the mediating effect was 18.6%.ConclusionBased on the observations of the present study, self-regulated learning capacity was a mediator between academic anxiety and self-esteem. These findings suggest an underlying process by which low academic anxiety may increase self-esteem in candidates preparing for the college entrance examination by increasing self-regulated learning ability.