Severity Of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection Research Articles

Association Between Serum C-Reactive Protein (CRP) And D-Dimer Levels In Covid-19 Patients In A Tertiary Level Hospital, Khulna

Background: The novel corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is major public health issue. It is the most significant global health challenge in the world. Biomarkers play a significant role to detect the severity of COVID-19 infection in the perspective of management of the patients. Aim and objective: We aimed to assess the association between the levels of C-Reactive Protein and D-dimer in COVID-19 patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of Pathology and department of Microbiology GMCH, Khulna. 152 patients with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID -19) positive patients were enrolled in this study. C-reactive protein and D-dimer levels are measured in the laboratory of Pathology department, GMCH, Khulna. All statistical computations were performed by using window-based computer software devised with Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics 21 version). Results: In this study CRP level was found of mean value of 62.84± 44.64 mg/L with a range of 1.40-195.20 mg/L. It was normal in 21 (13.8%) patients and increased in in 131 patients (86.2 %). The mean value of D-dimer was 2.48 ± 02.20 mg/L with a range of 0.10-9.35 mg/L. D-dimer was normal in 26 (17.1%) patients, whereas it was increased in 126 patients (82.9 %). We performed Pearson’s correlation-coefficient (r) test to compare the association between the levels of CRP with D-dimer in COVID-19 positive patients. There was moderately positive and significant correlation (r = +0.647, p <0.05) between the levels of CRP and D-dimer. Conclusion: There was statistically significant correlation between the levels of serum CRP with D-dimer in COVID-19 positive patients. These two biomarkers can be used to assess the severity in patients with COVID-19 positive with thrombotic disorder for reduction of morbidity and mortality of COVID positive patients. J Dhaka Med Coll. 2023; 32(1) : 57-62

Psychiatric outcomes among COVID-19 egyptian patients at ain shams university quarantine hospitals: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundPsychological repercussions resulting from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been encountered, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study aimed to assess the frequency and severity of PTSD, depression, and anxiety in a sample of Egyptian patients with COVID-19 infection and analyze potential risk factors. The current study is a descriptive cross-sectional, hospital-based study, conducted from August 2020 to June 2021. The sample was selected from patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection at Ain Shams University hospitals (outpatient clinics and inpatient units). Patients underwent a COVID severity criteria scoring system, structured clinical interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I), PTSD checklist–Civilian Version (PCLC), Beck depression inventory, and Taylor’s manifest anxiety scale.ResultsPTSD was observed in 79.29% of the study sample, 61.43% had depression, and 18.57% had anxiety. The severity of COVID-19 infection was significantly associated with PTSD severity mean scores (P value = 0.027). Furthermore, a significant relationship was observed between the severity of depression and COVID-19 infection severity (P value = 0.028). The number of comorbid medical risk factors demonstrated significance to PTSD severity (P value = 0.014).ConclusionA significant portion of the study’s patients experienced psychiatric consequences following COVID-19 infection, with 79.29% developing PTSD, 61.43% suffering from depression, and 18.57% experiencing anxiety. Various factors, such as the presence of chronic medical illnesses and the number of co-morbid medical risk factors, were observed to contribute to these psychiatric outcomes. Therefore, comprehensive psychiatric assessment and management in COVID-19 patients especially with severe forms of the disease and hospitalized patients are mandatory.

Incremental Value of Radiomics Features of Epicardial Adipose Tissue for Detecting the Severity of COVID-19 Infection.

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is known for its pro-inflammatory properties and association with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity. However, existing detection methods for COVID-19 severity assessment often lack consideration of organs and tissues other than the lungs, which limits the accuracy and reliability of these predictive models. The retrospective study included data from 515 COVID-19 patients (Cohort 1, n=415; Cohort 2, n=100) from two centers (Shanghai Public Health Center and Brazil Niteroi Hospital) between January 2020 and July 2020. Firstly, a three-stage EAT segmentation method was proposed by combining object detection and segmentation networks. Lung and EAT radiomics features were then extracted, and feature selection was performed. Finally, a hybrid model, based on seven machine learning models, was built for detecting COVID-19 severity. The hybrid model's performance and uncertainty were evaluated in both internal and external validation cohorts. For EAT extraction, the Dice similarity coefficients (DSC) of the two centers were 0.972 (±0.011) and 0.968 (±0.005), respectively. For severity detection, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), net reclassification improvement (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) of the hybrid model increased by 0.09 (p<0.001), 19.3 % (p<0.05), and 18.0 % (p<0.05) in the internal validation cohort, and by 0.06 (p<0.001), 18.0 % (p<0.05) and 18.0 % (p<0.05) in the external validation cohort, respectively. Uncertainty and radiomics features analysis confirmed the interpretability of increased certainty in case prediction after inclusion of EAT features. This study proposed a novel three-stage EAT extraction method. We demonstrated that adding EAT radiomics features to a COVID-19 severity detection model results in increased accuracy and reduced uncertainty. The value of these features was also confirmed through feature importance ranking and visualization.

Infection prevention and control status at public hospitals and factors associated with COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers in Myanmar: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundHospitals should prepare for emerging diseases and protect healthcare workers (HCWs) from work-related infection. This study aims to assess public hospital preparedness for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a year after the Myanmar government began implementing COVID-19 prevention measures, and to identify factors associated with work-related COVID-19 infection among HCWs in Myanmar.MethodsIn January 2021, data were collected from 101 hospitals and 706 HCWs who had COVID-19 in Myanmar in 2020. Data from the hospitals included basic information, the status of infection prevention and control (IPC), the preparedness for COVID-19 (guidelines, checklists, fever screening, patient pathway, and training), handwashing facilities, and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE). Data of COVID-19 infected HCWs included age, occupation, workplace, severity and source of COVID-19 infection, knowledge and practice of handwashing, and working environment. Chi-square test was performed to compare the preparedness for COVID-19 among three hospital levels (primary, secondary and tertiary levels). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the associated factors of work-related infection of HCWs.ResultsThe total number of beds, HCWs, and COVID-19 patients in 2020 at the 101 hospitals was 12,888, 14,421, and 19,835, respectively. The availability of PPE was high in hospitals at all levels. Approximately 80% of hospitals had functional status of IPC, set up fever screening and patient pathway, and provided training on IPC and COVID-19. However, only 39.6% of hospitals had developed COVID-19 guidelines and 55.4% had developed checklists. The percentage of hospitals that prepared each measurement was lowest at the primary level. The factors associated with work-related COVID-19 among HCWs were being 30–39 years old, working as a doctor, working at isolation wards, having disinfection technique training, and having enough PPE at the workplace.ConclusionThe preparedness for COVID-19 at public hospitals in Myanmar in January 2021 was insufficient, especially in the availability of the guidelines and checklists and at primary hospitals. A support system for hospital pandemic preparedness and monitoring of IPC implementation is needed. The government should prepare for emerging diseases and provide appropriate and adequate PPE and additional training to all HCWs, especially HCWs who work for isolation wards.

Impact of HLA Alleles on COVID-19 Severity in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Study.

Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted global health, particularly affecting vulnerable populations, such as organ transplant recipients. Human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) play a critical role in immune response regulation, and understanding their association with COVID-19 can provide insights into disease susceptibility and severity. This study aims to explore the association between HLA allele variability and COVID-19 susceptibility and severity among kidney transplant recipients. Methods In 2023, we conducted a study on 73 kidney transplant recipients who tested positive for COVID-19 via polymerase chain reaction. This study included assessments of clinical status, immunosuppressive drug levels, HLA allele frequencies, and donor-recipient tissue compatibility. Molecular analyses were performed using sequence-specific oligonucleotide typing, and statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results Among the participants, 31 were hospitalized and 42 were treated as outpatients. Significant differences were observed in HLA allele distributions, particularly the HLA-A*11 allele, which was more prevalent in outpatient-treated patients, suggesting a potential protective effect. No significant age differences were observed between hospitalized and outpatient groups. Serum tacrolimus levels were notably higher in outpatients. Statistical analyses revealed significant associations between certain HLA groups and the severity of COVID-19 infection. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of HLA allele compatibility in influencing the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients. The findings suggest that specific HLA alleles may reduce susceptibility or moderate the severity of COVID-19, indicating a need for broader genetic studies across diverse populations to validate these observations and improve management strategies for transplant recipients during pandemics.

Serial evaluation of biventricular function in COVID-19 recovered patients using speckle tracking echocardiography

ObjectivesThe persistence and outcomes following myocardial injury subsequent to coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection has not been properly elucidated. We assessed sub-clinical bi-ventricular dysfunction using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in post COVID-19 patients. MethodsA total of 189 subjects following recovery from COVID-19 infection were enrolled. Detailed echocardiography including STE along with clinical, hematological, biochemical and inflammatory parameters were assessed for all. Patients were divided into four groups (asymptomatic, mild, moderate and severe) based on severity of COVID-19 infection. Additionally, 90 healthy individuals were enrolled as controls. All these patients were followed up for one year following enrolment. ResultsSubclinical LV and right ventricle (RV) dysfunction were seen in 58 (30.7 %) and 55 (29.1 %) patients respectively at baseline. Significant difference was observed in mean LVGLS values among the three groups (mild: −21.5 ± 2.8 %; moderate: −17 ± 7.1 %; severe: −12.1 ± 4 %; P < 0.0001). Over a year of follow-up, significant improvement in LVGLS from baseline (−19.1 ± 5.8 %) was observed (−19.9 ± 4.6 %; P < 0.0001). Similarly, RVFWS (−23.5 ± 6.3 % vs −23.8 ± 5.8 %; P = 0.03) had significant improvement from baseline to one year of follow-up. Reduced LVGLS was reported in 12 (6.3 %) subjects while impaired RVFWS was documented in 10 (5.3 %) subjects at one year of follow-up. ConclusionsSubclinical LV and RV dysfunction were seen in nearly a third of recovered COVID-19 patients. Over a year of follow-up, significant improvement in subclinical LV and RV dysfunction was noted.

Serum Angiotensin II Level in Pediatric Patients with COVID-19 and its Correlation with the Disease Severity

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly discovered RNA betacoronavirus infection. It has been caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Angiotensin II (Ang-II) is a mitochondrial toxin that under normal circumstances is rapidly removed by angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2). SARS-CoV-2 uses the receptor ACE-2 for host cell entry and viral replication. ACE-2 proteins are occupied and downregulated by SARS-CoV-2. ACE-2 downregulation has been directly linked to toxic over accumulation of Ang-II. Accumulating Ang-II triggers many severe and fatal conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Aim of the Work To assess the serum level of Ang-II and correlate it with the severity of COVID-19 infection in pediatric patients. Patients and Methods This case control study was conducted on 45 positive COVID-19 RT-PCR children who were compared to age and sex matched 45 healthy controls. Clinical examination, laboratory assays and imaging studies were done for the patients group to assess the severity of COVID–19 infection. Serum Ang-II was measured by ELISA for both groups and correlated with clinical (heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation), laboratory (total leucocytic count, lymphocytes, neutrophils, serum ferritin, ESR and CRP) and radiological (chest x-ray and CORAD score of CT chest ) parameters of the patients. Results The median “IQR” of serum Ang-II was significantly higher in the COVID-19 patients than in the controls (100 (88-137) ng/L) versus 20 (15-25) ng/L) (p-value= 0.001). There were statistically significant positive correlations between serum Ang-II levels and different grades of clinical severity classification (rs = 0.92, p-value=0.001) and CORAD score of CT chest. On the other hand, no statistically significant correlations were found between serum levels of Ang-II and total leucocytic count, lymphocytes, neutrophils, ESR and CRP. Conclusion Serum Ang-II could be used as a biomarker in predicting the severity of COVID-19 infection in pediatrics.

COVID-19 and the need for special care for women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review

Objective The study investigates the association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and assess whether women with PCOS are at a higher susceptibility and risk for COVID-19 complications. Methods This review analyzes articles indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library, focusing on the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in December 1, 2019, until November 1, 2022. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the NIH quality assessment tool. The study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023371956) on January 12, 2023. Results A total of 11 observational studies were identified, totaling 22,155 PCOS patients. Despite the heterogeneity of the included studies, the findings of most of the studies were similar in terms of increased susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 infection in PCOS patients. PCOS patients were reported to have a 51% higher risk of COVID-19 infection than non-PCOS women (HR =1.51). Many causes have been identified to play a role, most notably the overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and elevated levels of RAS-associated proteins, decreased serum levels of neuropilin-1 (sNRP1), elevated serum biomarkers such as platelet degranulation and coagulation cascade markers increased acute phase response, and lower levels of vitamin D could render PCOS patients susceptible to a chronic inflammatory state, which can also lead to difficulties and severe consequences, when impacted by COVID-19. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic also influenced psychological well-being, with an increase in the incidence and severity of depression and anxiety among PCOS patients in the COVID-19 pandemic era compared to healthy individuals. Conclusions Patients with PCOS are more likely to get infected with COVID-19 and display a higher affinity to severe infections and complications due to overlapping and confounding factors. These findings suggest that PCOS patients may need more medical attention when infected with COVID-19.

Effect of Smoking on the Progression and Severity of COVID-19 Infection among Adult Males in Sullia Taluk of Dakshina Kannada

Abstract Context: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) primarily targets pulmonary epithelial cells, causing viral pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. It progresses more severely in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of smoking on the progression of COVID-19 infection among adult males in Sullia Taluk, Dakshina Kannada. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 230 male subjects, aged 18 years and above diagnosed with COVID-19 from the records of the general hospital, Sullia. Necessary data were collected using a validated questionnaire comprised of three parts, Part A recorded basic demography, Part B recorded details of smoking history, and Part C recorded details of COVID-19 symptomatology. Descriptive measures and Chi-square tests were conducted separately for each variable to determine the association between various determinants of smoking and COVID-19. P &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The response rate of the study was 68.7%. Among the studied population, 20.3% were smokers. Analysis revealed that loss of taste or smell (73.91%), cough (52.17%), difficulty in breathing (52.17%), persistent pain in the chest (21.73%), and running nose (13.16%) were significantly higher among smokers compared to their nonsmoking counterparts. Conclusions: Results of the study support the hypothesis that smoking has an effect on the progression and severity of COVID-19 infection.

Association of Interleukin-6 (rs1800795) and Interleukin-10 (rs1800896) Genetic Polymorphisms with the Outcome of COVID-19 Infection: A Single Center Study.

The corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected most of the world with varying degrees of morbidity and mortality. The presence of genetic polymorphisms may be associated with the severity and outcome of COVID-19 infection. This work aimed to evaluate the genetic polymorphisms of interleukin (IL-6) and IL-10 genes with the outcome of COVID-19 infection. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 354 patients who were classified into moderate and severe cases (including alive and deceased cases). All individuals were genotyped for one SNP for IL-6 (rs1800795) and one SNP for IL10 (rs1800896) using allelic discrimination real-time PCR technique. In this study, 198 cases were moderate, and 156 cases were severe. The risk of allele carriage of the minor allele of IL-6 rs1800795 (C) was significantly higher among the severe group when compared with that of the moderate group (p < 0.0001), while there was a mild significant difference of same allele carriage among alive cases when compared to that of deceased one (p < 0.04). Furthermore, the risk of the C allele of IL-10 rs1800896 was significantly increased in severe cases when compared with the moderate group (p < 0.0001), while there was no significant difference of the risk of the C allele in deceased cases when compared with that of alive ones (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the C allele (rs1800795) of IL-6 and the C allele (rs1800896) of IL-10 were highly significant in severe cases than in moderate cases. The C allele carriage of IL-6 showed only a significant difference between alive and deceased patients and not with the C allele of IL-10.

COVID-19 Infection in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with Rituximab Compared to Natalizumab and Healthy Controls: A Real-World Multicenter Study.

The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection on patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) undergoing various immunomodulating therapies can vary. Individuals on B-cell therapy, such as rituximab, may be more susceptible to infection compared to those treated with natalizumab. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and severity of COVID-19 infection in patients receiving rituximab, natalizumab, and healthy controls. This retrospective multicentric study included data derived from a centralized MS registry of four centers in South India. Data of patients on rituximab and natalizumab recruited between 2020 February and 2022 December were extracted from the registry and analyzed. The outcomes studied were the occurrence of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, death, post-COVID-19 relapses, and post-vaccine relapses. These outcomes were compared between the treatment groups and the matched controls. COVID-19 infection occurred in 49.1% (26/53) of those on rituximab, 19.2% (5/26) of those on natalizumab, and 11.5% (6/52) of healthy controls. In addition, 8/53 (15.1%) in the rituximab group and 1/26 (3.8%) in the natalizumab group were hospitalized. All 6/52 (11.5%) in the control group had mild infection, and none were hospitalized. No deaths occurred in any group. On statistical analysis, the occurrence of COVID-19 infection in the rituximab group was significantly higher when compared to natalizumab ( P = 0.0141) and healthy controls ( P < 0.001). Hospitalizations were significantly higher in the rituximab group when compared to healthy controls ( P < 0.006). MS patients treated with rituximab were more likely to experience COVID-19 infection compared to those treated with natalizumab and healthy controls. Hospitalization was more frequently seen in patients treated with rituximab compared to healthy controls.

Role of C-reactive protein, IL-6, and D-dimers in prediction of severity of coronavirus disease 2019: A pilot study.

The global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents numerous obstacles for healthcare professionals. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the role of serum biomarkers like- C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and D-dimers in the severity of COVID-19 infection. A cross-sectional, observational retrospective pilot study was conducted in Udaipur, Rajasthan, wherein data was collected from 250 subjects, out of which, data of 100 subjects were included as per the inclusion criteria. The data was recorded retrospectively among the health professionals via Google Forms in Udaipur, Rajasthan. There were 1 (1%), 3 (3%), 31 (31%) and 65 (65%) participants with minor elevation (0.3-1.0), moderate elevation (1-10), marked elevation (10-50) and severe elevation (>50) of CRP respectively. The difference between the groups was statistically highly significant with a significantly higher number of study participants with a severe elevation of CRP levels (χ2 = 107.84, P < 0.001). The results showed that there was a significant difference between the groups with IL6 in 0-7 range while 96 (96%) study participants had >7 IL6, and the difference was statistically highly significant (2 = 84.640, P 0.001). In conclusion, the existing body of research indicates a discernible correlation between COVID-19 infection and the fluctuation of biomarker levels. This supplement has the potential to be utilised in clinical practice as a means of informing treatment decisions and determining the necessity of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Initial Efficacy of the COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Booster and Subsequent Breakthrough Omicron Variant Infection in Patients with B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A Single-Center Cohort Study.

It has been suggested that the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) booster vaccination in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) is inferior to that in healthy individuals. However, differences according to histological subtype or treatment status are unclear. In addition, there has been less research on patients who subsequently develop breakthrough infections. We investigated the effects of the first COVID-19 booster vaccination for patients with B-NHL and the clinical features of breakthrough infections in the Omicron variant era. In this study, B-NHL was classified into two histological subtypes: aggressive lymphoma and indolent lymphoma. Next, patients were subdivided according to treatment with anticancer drugs at the start of the first vaccination. We also examined the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients who had breakthrough infections after a booster vaccination. The booster effect of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in patients with B-NHL varied considerably depending on treatment status at the initial vaccination. In the patient group at more than 1 year after the last anticancer drug treatment, regardless of the histological subtype, the booster effect was comparable to that in the healthy control group. In contrast, the booster effect was significantly poorer in the other patient groups. However, of the 213 patients who received the booster vaccine, 22 patients (10.3%) were infected with COVID-19, and 18 patients (81.8%) had mild disease; these cases included the patients who remained seronegative. Thus, we believe that booster vaccinations may help in reducing the severity of Omicron variant COVID-19 infection in patients with B-NHL.

P393 The frequency of COVID-19 infection and the impact of vaccination on the disease morbidity in Polish pediatric patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract Background Little is known about morbidity of Covid-19 infection in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with IBD. Methods A prospective, observational cohort study to evaluate morbidity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among pediatric patients with IBD. The questionnaire included information concerning numbers of vaccine doses, patients’ medication and disease activity. Disease flare was defined by worsening IBD symptoms and change in IBD medications. Results A total of 320 children with IBD, 169 with Crohn’s disease (CD)-52,8%, 150 with ulcerative colitis (UC) - 46,9%, 1 unclassified -0,3%, responded to the questionnaire concerning COVI-19 vaccination. Among the participants 114 (35,6%) patients have suffered from COVID19 (62 CD- 54,4%, 51 UC- 44,7%, 1 unclassified - 0,9%). In 79 cases (69,3%) COVID-19 course was mild, in 31 (27,2%) it was moderate, and 3 (2,6%) children had severe disease. There was no statistically significant difference in morbidity among patients with CD and UC. A total of 127 (39,7%) patients received at least 1 COVID-19 vaccine, and among them 22 (17,3%) children got COVID-19 infection after vaccination. 91 (47.2%) of unvaccinated patients got COVID 19 infection. Following SARS-CoV-2 disease, 22 (19.3%) patients reported exacerbation of IBD during or after COVID 19. In 82 (71.9%) patients COVID-19 infection had no effect on the course of their IBD. Among patients with exacerbation during/after SARS-CoV-2 disease, 3 (13.6%) were vaccinated and 19 (86.4%) of them were not vaccinated. Conclusion Based on the outcomes from our questionnaire concerning COVID-19 vaccination state on the large cohort of pediatric patients with IBD, we conclude that unvaccinated patients get sick more often than vaccinated ones, and there is no difference in the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection between children with CD and UC. Also, there is no statistically significant difference in the severity of COVID-19 infection between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. Vaccination against COVID-19 has no effect on the exacerbation of IBD during/after infection.

COVID-19 and the need for special care for women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review

Objective The study investigates the association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and assess whether women with PCOS are at a higher susceptibility and risk for COVID-19 complications. Methods This review analyzes articles indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library, focusing on the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in December 1, 2019, until November 1, 2022. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the NIH quality assessment tool. The study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023371956) on January 12, 2023. Results A total of 11 observational studies were identified, totaling 22,155 PCOS patients. Despite the heterogeneity of the included studies, the findings of most of the studies were similar in terms of increased susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 infection in PCOS patients. PCOS patients were reported to have a 51% higher risk of COVID-19 infection than non-PCOS women (HR =1.51). Many causes have been identified to play a role, most notably the overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and elevated levels of RAS-associated proteins, decreased serum levels of neuropilin-1 (sNRP1), elevated serum biomarkers such as platelet degranulation and coagulation cascade markers increased acute phase response, and lower levels of vitamin D could render PCOS patients susceptible to a chronic inflammatory state, which can also lead to difficulties and severe consequences, when impacted by COVID-19. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic also influenced psychological well-being, with an increase in the incidence and severity of depression and anxiety among PCOS patients in the COVID-19 pandemic era compared to healthy individuals. Conclusions Patients with PCOS are more likely to get infected with COVID-19 and display a higher affinity to severe infections and complications due to overlapping and confounding factors. These findings suggest that PCOS patients may need more medical attention when infected with COVID-19.

Risk stratification and prediction of severity of COVID-19 infection in patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 is a highly contagious viral disease. Cardiovascular diseases and heart failure elevate the risk of mechanical ventilation and fatal outcomes among COVID-19 patients, while COVID-19 itself increases the likelihood of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. We collected blood samples and clinical data from hospitalized cardiovascular patients with and without proven COVID-19 infection in the time period before the vaccine became available. Statistical correlation analysis and machine learning were used to evaluate and identify individual parameters that could predict the risk of needing mechanical ventilation and patient survival. Our results confirmed that COVID-19 is associated with a severe outcome and identified increased levels of ferritin, fibrinogen, and platelets, as well as decreased levels of albumin, as having a negative impact on patient survival. Additionally, patients on ACE/ARB had a lower chance of dying or needing mechanical ventilation. The machine learning models revealed that ferritin, PCO2, and CRP were the most efficient combination of parameters for predicting survival, while the combination of albumin, fibrinogen, platelets, ALP, AB titer, and D-dimer was the most efficient for predicting the likelihood of requiring mechanical ventilation. We believe that creating an AI-based model that uses these patient parameters to predict the cardiovascular patient's risk of mortality, severe complications, and the need for mechanical ventilation would help healthcare providers with rapid triage and redistribution of medical services, with the goal of improving overall survival. The use of the most effective combination of parameters in our models could advance risk assessment and treatment planning among the general population of cardiovascular patients.

Ayurveda formulations for prophylaxis against coronavirus disease-2019 infection - A prospective community-based study in identified containment zones of 19 districts across India

Abstract Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 steady mutation lead to the desperate search for effective treatment and preventive measures for coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) globally. Ayurveda describes various medications that have been recognized for their pharmacological properties, particularly immunomodulation and anti-viral properties. Objective: The objective of this study was comparative assessment of Guduchi Ghana Vati and Sudarshana Ghana Vati intake for the prophylaxis of COVID-19, with a control arm of standard prophylactic care in a population in a containment zone. Materials and methods: Communities having at least one confirmed case of COVID-19 were identified in 19 districts of India in 14 states. Twenty thousand healthy participants, irrespective of gender, in the intervention group and 10,000 healthy participants in the control group were enrolled from these selected communities through the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences identified 15 institutes. Two tablets (250 mg each) of Guduchi Ghana Vati were given twice daily with warm water after food or two tablets (500 mg each) of Sudarshana Ghana Vati were given twice daily with warm water after food for 30 days in the intervention group and standard of care issued by central/state/local health authorities as part of standard preventive measure against COVID-19 was followed in the control group. The primary outcome measure of the study was the comparative assessment of the occurrence of COVID-19 infection in clinically stable participants in the community having at least one confirmed case already identified with the control arm of standard prophylactic care. The secondary outcome measures were a comparative assessment of the severity of COVID-19 infection in participants taking Guduchi Ghana Vati or Sudarshana Ghana Vati and the control arm by assessment of participants not requiring hospitalization, the severity of symptoms of hospitalized patients in wards and patients requiring intensive care unit admission/ventilator support, global assessment of overall change as per the investigator and safety assessment by the evaluation of occurrence of adverse event (AE)/serious AE (SAE) due to consumption of Ayurvedic intervention. A P value of &lt; 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The rate of COVID-19 positivity in the intervention group was 0.07% (n = 14) and in the control group was 0.04% (n = 4). Among 14 participants in the intervention group who tested COVID-19 positive, only one participant required hospitalization for management of COVID-19. The 4 participants who tested COVID-19 positive in the control group were hospitalized for management of COVID-19. After 30 days of intervention, the mean Immune Status Questionnaire (ISQ) score in the intervention group at baseline was 8.50, which increased to 9.16 on the 30th day (mean difference = 0.66), depicting the better immune status of the participants. Whereas, in the control group, the mean ISQ score at baseline was 8.68, which after 30 days reached 8.91 (mean difference = 0.23). No adverse drug reactions were reported in the study. Conclusion: Guduchi Ghana Vati and Sudarshana Ghana Vati were well tolerated and safe and showed potential benefits in the prophylaxis of COVID-19 in the participants. The study population is limited in representing people affected by COVID-19. Subsequent randomized controlled clinical research on diverse population may be undertaken to substantiate the prophylactic role of trial drugs in varied population.

Signaling redox probe/DNA aptamer complexes on a new POP/2D WSe2 composite-based immunosensor towards the simultaneous detection of three-protein overexpression as an alternative severe SARS-COV-2 infection diagnosis

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic in which patients with symptoms are infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Clinical investigation of human immune response cytokines or/and overexpressed proteins at trace cut-off levels can be valuable to monitor body function failures and, eventually, improve the prognosis for patients. Nevertheless, the currently available technologies are still limited. Herein, we provide the first sandwich-like immunosensor that has the potential to detect multiple protein biomarkers in a single measurement. The sandwich-like structure was created by coating a three-screen printed carbon electrode (3SPCE) array with a porous organic polymer (POP)/2D WSe2 nanocomposite. This system enables the simultaneous immunoassay of C-reactive protein (CRP), native cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and procalcitonin (PCT), which together provide a panel of symptom-diagnostic biomarkers for the presence and severity of COVID-19 infection. The biomarker detection principle relies on three antibodies as bioreceptor probes bound on the modified 3SPCE and three aptamers to generate three redox probe complexes as signal amplifiers. After incorporating three redox species (Cd2+, methylene blue (MB), and Ag+) into the aptamer structure, well-differentiated oxidation peaks can be achieved, indicating the concentrations of these three proteins. Under the optimized conditions of the stepwise fabrications, the linear dynamic range of three-protein detection by our proposed multiplex biosensor ranges from 100 to 50,000 pg mL–1. The limits of detection (LODs) are as low as 62, 81, and 44 pg mL–1 for the detection of CRP, cTnI, and PCT, respectively. As proof of the concept, this multiplexed assay demonstrates outstanding analytical performance with excellent reproducibility, high sensitivity and selectivity, and acceptable recoveries of the detection in human serum. Therefore, the multiplexed sensor could be an alternative tool in the field of clinical analysis for the diagnosis of COVID-19 severity or other emerging infectious diseases.

Real-World Analysis of Obinutuzumab-Based Immunochemotherapy in Follicular Lymphoma in Chinese Population

Background Obinutuzumab is a first-in-class glycoengineered humanized type II anti-CD20 antibody. Immunochemotherapy based on obinutuzumab has demonstrated an advantage in prolonging progression-free survival (PFS) in pts with follicular lymphoma(FL) in a number of clinical trials(Marcus R, et al. N Engl J Med. 2017; Cheson BD, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2018). In Jun, 2021, obinutuzumab came into the market of China. However, few studies have investigated the efficacy and safety of obinutuzumab-based immunochemotherapy aiming at Chinese population. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed the data of Chinese pts with treatment-naïve(TN) or relapsed/refractory(R/R) follicular lymphoma who received obinutuzumab-based immunochemotherapy in our center, hoping to provide treatment reference for Chinese pts. Methods Eligible pts were age ≥18 years with histologically documented, CD20-positive follicular lymphoma (grade 1 to 3a, stage III/IV or stage II with tumor ≥7 cm in the greatest dimension), and at least 2 cycles of obinutuzumab-based treatment. Efficacy was assessed by objective response rate (ORR) and best of response (BOR), with toxicity evaluated based on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) (The 5th Edition). In addition, we recorded the incidence and severity of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection according to Scheme for Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID-19 (The 10th Trial Edition). Results Between Nov 1, 2021 and Apr 1, 2023, the data of 27 pts with TN FL who received G-CHOP (obinutuzumab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) regimen and 7 R/R pts treated with GB (Obinutuzumab, bendamustine) regimen was collected. The demographic and clinical characteristics at baseline were shown in Table 1. The median age of TN pts was 52 years, and 63.0% were female. The efficacy evaluation of TN pts was displayed in Figure 1. All of 27 pts achieved partial response (PR) after 2 cycles of GCHOP regimen. Eventually, 21 patiens completed 6 cycles of treatment, with 95.5% (21/22) assessed as complete response (CR) and 4.5% (1/21) maintaining PR. Three pts discontinued treatment due to COVID-19 infection and 2 for severe infections of other reasons. The end of treatment (EOT) ORR was 100% and the BOR of 96.3% (26/27) pts was assessed as CR. In 7 R/R pts, 5, 1 and 1 pts received 1, 2 and 3 lines of previous treatment regimens, respectively. The median age of this subgroup was 56 years. Totally, 6 pts achieved CR with an ORR of 85.7%, except for one pt who was evaluated as SD after 2 cycles of GB regimen and switched to another regimen. Two pts continued with maintenance therapy of obinutuzumab, and the rest 5 pts went on with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. By the end of follow-up, no pts showed progressive disease (PD) except for one who died of COVID-19 infection. All these pts in this study were infected with COVID-19 during the pandemic in China. For TN pts, mild, ordinary, severe and critical cases accounted for 14.8%, 44.4%, 29.6% and 11.1% respectively, and no pt died of COVID-19 infection. The median duration of COVID-19 infection was 23 (14-68) days, and over half of them were tested positive for more than 3 weeks. Of the R/R pts, 57.1% (4/7) presented severe, 14.3% (1/7) was critical and finally died of respiratory failure. The median duration of positive was 26 (21-95) days. Among pts treated wih GCHOP regimen, common grade 3-5 adverse events included infection (excluding COVID-19 infection) (25.9%) and hematological adverse events consisting of neutropenia (51.8%), thrombocytopenia (22.2%). Grade 3 infection, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in 14.3% (1/7) R/R pt each. The median follow-up time of TN pts and R/R pts was 8.9 (12.1-13.7) months and 11.7 (11.2-14.0) months, respectively. The median PFS of both was not achieved, 1-year PFS rate was 100% and 85.7% in TN and RR pts, respectively. Conclusions This real-world analysis with small sample size indicates that similar efficacy and toxicity was observed in Chinese patients with FL who were treated with obinutuzumab-based immunochemotherapy to that reported in literature. However, it is noteworthy that long-lasting immunosuppression may result in higher incidence and severity of COVID-19 infection in these patients compared to the general population.

Cough and sputum in long COVID are associated with severe acute COVID-19: a Japanese cohort study

BackgroundMultiple prolonged symptoms are observed in patients who recover from acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), defined as long COVID. Cough and sputum are presented by patients with long COVID during the acute and post-acute phases. This study aimed to identify specific risk factors for cough and sputum in patients with long COVID.MethodsHospitalized patients with COVID-19 aged 18 years were enrolled in a multicenter cohort study at 26 medical institutions. Clinical data during hospitalization and patient-reported outcomes after discharge were collected from medical records, paper-based questionnaires, and smartphone apps.ResultsAt the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups, there were no differences in the incidence rates of wet and dry coughs. In contrast, the proportion of patients presenting sputum without coughing increased over time compared to those with sputum and coughing. Univariate analyses of cough and sputum at all follow-up visits identified intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV), smoking, and older age as risk factors for prolonged symptoms. At the 12-month follow-up, persistent cough and sputum were associated with the characteristics of severe COVID-19 based on imaging findings, renal and liver dysfunction, pulmonary thromboembolism, and higher serum levels of LDH, KL-6, and HbA1C. The Kaplan–Meier curves showed that the severity of acute COVID-19 infection was correlated with prolonged cough and sputum production. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that IMV ventilator management were independent risk factors for prolonged cough and sputum at 12 months.ConclusionsIn a Japanese population with long COVID, prolonged cough and sputum production were closely associated with severe COVID-19. These findings emphasize that a preventive approach including appropriate vaccination and contact precaution and further development of therapeutic drugs for COVID-19 are highly recommended for patients with risk factors for severe infection to avoid persistent respiratory symptoms.