Sign Of Severity Research Articles

Humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in kidney transplant recipients and dialysis patients: IgA and IgG patterns unraveled after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination

BackgroundInfection with SARS-CoV-2 in high-risk groups such as kidney transplant and dialysis patients is shown to be associated with a more serious course of the disease. Four years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, crucial knowledge on the immune responses in these patient groups is still lacking. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the humoral immune response after a SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to vaccination as well as the evolution of immunoglobulins over time.MethodsKidney transplant recipients, patients on haemodialysis or on peritoneal dialysis and healthy controls were included in this longitudinal multicenter study. SARS-CoV-2 anti-RBD, anti-NP and anti-S1S2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and A (IgA) as well as the neutralizing antibody capacity were measured.ResultsKidney transplant recipients had a significantly better humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 after infection (86.4%) than after a two-dose mRNA vaccination (55.8%) while seroconversion was comparable in patients on haemodialysis after infection (95.8%) versus vaccination (89.4%). In individuals without prior COVID-19, the IgG levels after vaccination were significantly lower in kidney transplant recipients when compared to all other groups. However, the IgA titres remained the highest in this patient group at each time point, both after infection and vaccination. A history COVID-19 was associated with higher antibody levels after double-dose vaccination in all patient categories and, while decreasing, titres remained high six months after double-dose vaccination.ConclusionKidney transplant recipients had a more robust humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 following infection compared to a two-dose mRNA vaccination, while patients on haemodialysis exhibited comparable seroconversion rates. Notably, individuals with prior COVID-19 exhibited higher IgG levels in response to vaccination. Hybrid immunity is thus the best possible defence against severe COVID-19 disease and seems also to hold up for these populations. Next, it is not clear whether the higher IgA levels in the kidney transplant recipients is beneficial for neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 or if it is a sign of disease severity.

Importance of screening severe COVID-19 patients for IFN-λ1, IL-6 and anti-S1 IgG levels

Cytokine storm is an important cause of death in COVID-19 patients. A recent clinical study showed that administration of recombinant interferon lambda 1 (IFN-λ1 or IL-29) may prevent severe COVID-19. On the other hand, IL-6 has been associated as a prognostic marker of worsening for COVID-19 patients. The objective of this study is to screen IFN-λ1, IL-6 and antibody levels in consecutive serum sample sets of COVID-19 patients. A total of 365 serum samples collected from 208 hospitalized COVID-19 patients were analyzed for IFN-λ1 and IL-6 levels as well as SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies and anti-S1 IgG antibodies. Analyses of serum samples for cytokine levels showed that IFN-λ1 (>8 pg/mL) and IL-6 (>2 pg/mL) were detected in approximately 64% and 21% patients, respectively. A decrement in IFN-λ1 levels and IL-6 levels above 35 pg/mL can be sign of clinical severity and upcoming dead. An increment in IL-6 levels wasn’t detected in every COVID-19 patient but a decrement in IL-6 levels was related to clinical improvement. Importantly, the detection of IFN-λ1 level together with an increase in anti-S1 IgG antibody response were observed in clinically improved patients. Screening severe COVID-19 patients for IFN-λ1, IL-6, and anti-S1 IgG antibody levels during their hospital stay especially in intensive care units may be beneficial to monitor the clinical status and management of treatment strategies. Importantly, detection of IFN-λ1 together with protective IgG antibody response can be an indication of clinical improvement in severe COVID-19 patients and these patients may be discharged from the hospital soon.

Dissociative experiences reduce online problem gambling treatment effectiveness

AimsTo determine whether dissociative experiences moderate online problem gambling treatment effectiveness, and to characterize the temporal persistence of the relationship between dissociation and problem gambling. DesignRepeatedly measured self-report data on a guided online cognitive behavioral therapy for problem gambling collected on four occasions: before treatment, after treatment, and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Setting and participantsThe data (N = 1243, 59.2% males) were collected in Finland between 2019 and 2021. MeasurementsThe primary outcome variable was the self-reported level of problem gambling. The predictors were the treatment phase and dissociative experiences, their interaction, and the demographic covariates of age, education, income, and gender. FindingsProblem gambling scores and dissociative experiences declined significantly following treatment and remained low through the follow-ups (retention rates: 52.6% [post-treatment], 26.3% [at the 6-month follow-up], and 16.1% [at the 12-month follow-up]). However, the treatment was significantly less effective in reducing problem gambling for individuals who kept experiencing dissociation after the treatment. ConclusionsDissociation is an integral sign of problem gambling severity and sustained dissociative experiences may significantly reduce the long-term effectiveness of online problem gambling treatments. Treatment efforts should be customized to account for individual differences in dissociative tendencies, and future research should broaden the study of dissociative experiences to other behavioral addictions.

Influence of white blood cells count on parasite density in Malaria in children aged 6 to 59 months in Benin

For many years, the treatment of malaria was based on clinical presumptive diagnosis, making its differential diagnosis with other causes of hyperthermia difficult. This drug pressure has led to the emergence of Plasmodium strains resistant to the most commonly used antimalarial drugs. This is why in 2004, the health authorities decided to revise the policy of malaria management by adopting a new strategy based on the rational use of artemisininbased combination therapies after the biological confirmation of suspected malaria cases. The biological diagnosis is an essential part of malaria management. The gold standard technique for diagnosis is the thick drop combined with the calculation of parasite density (PD), which is determined on the basis of the number of parasites counted in a microscopic field against a proposed standard number of leukocytes. The number of leukocytes used to calculate the parasite density should ideally be the actual number of leukocytes in the patient per cubic millimetre of blood. However, in the absence of the availability of a blood count at the time of the thick drop, an average number of 8 000 leukocytes/mm3 was used by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to estimate the parasite density. Nonetheless, in Benin the average number of leukocytes adopted by the National Malaria Control Programme (PNLP) is 6 000/mm3. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of the leukocyte count on the calculation of the parasite density in cases of uncomplicated malaria. The study was a cross-sectional study with an analytical aim and took place in 2 hospitals in Benin, the Klouékanmey zone hospital in the south of Benin and the Djougou health centre in the north. It involved a population of 476 children aged between 6 and 59 months who were seen in consultation and in whom the clinical diagnosis of simple Plasmodium falciparum malaria was suspected. Children aged between 6 and 59 months, weighing at least 5 kg, with an axillary temperature ≥ 37.5°C at the time of consultation or a history of fever in the last 24 hours or other symptoms pointing to the diagnosis of malaria were included. Infestation was mono-specific for Plasmodium falciparum. Informed consent was required from the child's parents or guardian. The criteria for non-inclusion in our study were the presence of at least one sign of malaria severity, signs of severe malnutrition or a febrile state related to underlying infectious diseases other than malaria. Thick blood count and haemogram were systematically performed in all included children. Parasite density was calculated according to 3 methods, first using a weighted leukocyte count of 6 000/mm3 recommended by the Benin National Malaria Control Programme (PNLP), then a leukocyte count of 8 000/mm3 recommended by the World Health Organisation and finally the patient's actual leukocyte count obtained from the blood count. It should be noted that these different samples were respectively taken on the day of inclusion in compliance with the conditions of the pre-analytical phase in force in our medical biology laboratory. At the end of our study, 313 children, i.e. 65.76% of our study population had a positive white blood cell count with a positivity rate of 62.14% in Djougou, i.e. 174 children, and 70.9% in Klouékanmey, i.e. 139 children. The average leukocyte count in these children was 11,580/mm3. Among them, 205 children had an abnormal white blood cell count, i.e. 17 cases of leukopenia (5.43%) and 188 cases of hyperleukocytosis (60.06%). Using successively the average number of 6 000 leukocytes/mm3 proposed by the Benin PNLP and that of 8 000 leukocytes/mm3 proposed by the WHO, the average parasite densities were respectively 47,943 and 63,936 trophozoïtes/µl against 92,290 trophozoïtes/µl when the real number of leukocytes of the patients was used for the calculation of the PD. By using an average of 6 000 leukocytes/mm3 for PD calculation, 60% of the calculated PDs were underestimated and 6% were overestimated. Using an average of 8 000 leukocytes/mm3 resulted in 49% of PD being underestimated and 15% being overestimated. The difference between the three calculation methods was considered statistically significant (p value <0.05). The use of 6 000 or 8 000 coefficients for the estimation of parasitaemia could lead to a significant underestimation of the parasite load.

Grimace scale assessment during Citrobacter rodentium inflammation and colitis development in laboratory mice.

Bacterial infections and chronic intestinal inflammations triggered by genetic susceptibility, environment or an imbalance in the intestinal microbiome are usually long-lasting and painful diseases in which the development and maintenance of these various intestinal inflammations is not yet fully understood, research is still needed. This still requires the use of animal models and is subject to the refinement principle of the 3Rs, to minimize suffering or pain perceived by the animals. With regard to this, the present study aimed at the recognition of pain using the mouse grimace scale (MGS) during chronic intestinal colitis due to dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) treatment or after infection with Citrobacter rodentium. In this study 56 animals were included which were divided into 2 experimental groups: 1. chronic intestinal inflammation (n = 9) and 2. acute intestinal inflammation (with (n = 23) and without (n = 24) C. rodentium infection). Before the induction of intestinal inflammation in one of the animal models, mice underwent an abdominal surgery and the live MGS from the cage side and a clinical score were assessed before (bsl) and after 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, and 48 hours. The highest clinical score as well as the highest live MGS was detected 2 hours after surgery and almost no sign of pain or severity were detected after 24 and 48 hours. Eight weeks after abdominal surgery B6-Il4/Il10-/- mice were treated with DSS to trigger chronic intestinal colitis. During the acute phase as well as the chronic phase of the experiment, the live MGS and a clinical score were evaluated. The clinical score increased after DSS administration due to weight loss of the animals but no change of the live MGS was observed. In the second C57BL/6J mouse model, after infection with C. rodentium the clinical score increased but again, no increased score values in the live MGS was detectable. In conclusion, the live MGS detected post-operative pain, but indicated no pain during DSS-induced colitis or C. rodentium infection. In contrast, clinical scoring and here especially the weight loss revealed a decreased wellbeing due to surgery and intestinal inflammation.

Clinical Instability Is a Sign of Severity of Illness: A Cohort Study.

Test the hypothesis that within patient clinical instability measured by deterioration and improvement in mortality risk over 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-hour time intervals is indicative of increasing severity of illness. Analysis of electronic health data from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020. PICU and cardiac ICU at an academic children's hospital. All PICU patients. Data included descriptive information, outcome, and independent variables used in the Criticality Index-Mortality. None. There were 8,399 admissions with 312 deaths (3.7%). Mortality risk determined every three hours using the Criticality Index-Mortality, a machine learning algorithm calibrated to this hospital. Since the sample sizes were sufficiently large to expect statical differences, we also used two measures of effect size, the proportion of time deaths had greater instability than survivors, and the rank-biserial correlation, to assess the magnitude of the effect and complement our hypothesis tests. Within patient changes were compared for survivors and deaths. All comparisons of survivors versus deaths were less than 0.001. For all time intervals, two measures of effect size indicated that the differences between deaths and survivors were not clinically important. However, the within-patient maximum risk increase (clinical deterioration) and maximum risk decrease (clinical improvement) were both substantially greater in deaths than survivors for all time intervals. For deaths, the maximum risk increase ranged from 11.1% to 16.1% and the maximum decrease ranged from -7.3% to -10.0%, while the median maximum increases and decreases for survivors were all less than ± 0.1%. Both measures of effect size indicated moderate to high clinical importance. The within-patient volatility was greater than 4.5-fold greater in deaths than survivors during the first ICU day, plateauing at ICU days 4-5 at 2.5 greater volatility. Episodic clinical instability measured with mortality risk is a reliable sign of increasing severity of illness. Mortality risk changes during four time intervals demonstrated deaths have greater maximum and within-patient clinical instability than survivors. This observation confirms the clinical teaching that clinical instability is a sign of severity of illness.

Meningitis caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in infants in France: a case series.

We report the first case series focusing on clinical and biological characteristics of meningitis caused by ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in infants. Between 2001 and 2020, data on all cases of E. coli meningitis were prospectively collected from a network of 259 paediatric wards and 168 microbiology laboratories in France. We analysed the clinical and biological characteristics, short-term complications and long-term sequelae of ESBL-producing E. coli meningitis cases in patients <6 months old. In total, 548 cases of E. coli paediatric meningitis were reported. ESBL-producing E. coli represented 12 (2.2%) cases. We included 10 patients aged <6 months old. Eight (80%) patients presented at least one sign of clinical severity: six needed mechanical ventilation, three presented signs of shock and one was in a coma. The overall short-term prognosis was good, with only one meningitis-attributed death in the first hours of care. All surviving children received carbapenems for a median of 21 days (range 9-28). Two relapses occurred, including one in a patient who received only 14 days of imipenem. We reported no long-term sequelae at a median follow-up of 20 months. Meropenem seems to be the treatment of choice for ESBL-producing E. coli meningitis in children and needs to be given as early as possible (<48 h) and for at least 21 days. Maternal colonization or infection with ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae needs to be reported to the neonatal or paediatric ICU team, in order to adapt the empirical antibiotic therapy.

Nail Involvement in Pemphigus: Brief Report

Background: The objective of our study is to describe the different nail involvement at the beginning of the disease according to the type of pemphigus and according to the severity of the pemphigus. Material and methods: We carried out a prospective study over a 3-year period from 2019 to 2022 that included 21 hospitalized patients out of 80 with polydactyly nail involvement 13 pemphigus vulgaris, 4 pemphigus vegetans, and 3 superficial pemphigus in our dermatology department Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Hassan II Fez. Results: Paronychia was the most frequent finding overall, observed in 11 (52.38%) cases, followed by onychomadesis and Beau's lines in 8 cases (38%) and subungual hemorrhage in 6 cases (28.57%). Nail involvement was correlated with the severity of the pemphigus, in particular with severe mucosal involvement (17 patients or 80.9%). Conclusion: Nail involvement is a sign of pemphigus severity and may herald an exacerbation of the underlying disease.

Pulmonary Embolism in Critically Ill COVID-19 And Non-COVID-19 Patients: Systematic Analysis of Risk Factors, Diagnostic and Management Strategies, and Prognosis.

Background: Coronavirus disease of 2019 or COVID-19 is characterised by two main features: the first is the respiratory compromise which corresponds to acute respiratory distress syndrome while the second corresponds to the state of hypercoagulability responsible for thromboembolic complications particularly pulmonary embolism which is the subject of this work. Indeed, a high prevalence of pulmonary embolism has been reported throughout the pandemic period with a significant morbidity and mortality. This reflects the severity of this life-threatening emergency chiefly in the elderly, hemodynamically unstable patients, and patients with severe underlying conditions, mainly cardio-pulmonary comorbidities. The aim of our study is to point out the incidence, the risk factors, the clinical and paraclinical features, the management strategies, and the overall prognosis of pulmonary embolism in critically ill COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. Patients and methods: It is a retrospective observational study carried out over a two-year-period from January 2019 (non-COVID-19) to December 2020 (COVID-19). Over the study period, 42 cases of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 pulmonary embolism were collected from an overall set of 611 patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit of the IBN ROCHD university hospital of Casablanca. Results: The mean age in the COVID-19 group was 64-year-old versus 46-year-old in the non-COVID-19 group. The sex ratio was 1.2 and 0.94 in the non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 group, respectively. Clinical symptomatology was dominated by respiratory failure and chest pain in non-COVID-19 patients while in the COVID-19 group, semiology was dominated by dyspnea, cough, and chest pain. The major sign of severity in both groups was tachypnea. The chest X-ray was performed in all our patients, it displayed radiological abnormalities in all patients mainly hyper clarity in pulmonary fields. D-dimers were performed in all patients within the two study groups. A chest computed tomography angiogram was performed for all patients and showed unilateral pulmonary embolism in 61% of cases in the non-COVID-19 group versus 61.3% in the COVID-19 group. Cardiac ultrasound was performed for all patients. It showed dilatation of right cavities in both groups (81.8% in non-COVID-19 versus 93.5% in COVID-19 patients). Venous ultrasound of the lower limbs was performed in 96.8% of COVID-19 patients and in 72.7% of non-COVID-19 patients. With regards to management, all COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients received anticoagulation therapy based on standard heparin and anti-vitamin K. Mortality accounted for 54.5% in non-COVID-19 patients versus 74.2% in COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: COVID-19 pulmonary embolism is often associated with significantly higher morbidity and mortality as compared with non-COVID-19 pulmonary embolism.

A randomized controlled pilot study of add-on therapy of CIM-MEG19 (standardized Andrographis paniculata formulation) in mild to moderate COVID-19

BackgroundTraditional knowledge and scientific shreds of evidence strongly support the repurpose of Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata, CIM-MEG19) as an alternate therapy for prophylactic management and treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and associated health disorders. PurposeThe study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the CIM-MEG19 (standardized A. paniculata extract formulation), a proprietary Ayurvedic medicine in the COVID-19 management, clinical recovery, and outcomes in terms of hospitalization days as well as any sign of severity due to drug-drug interaction between CIM-MEG19 TM and standard of care (SoC). MethodsA randomized, parallel-group, active-controlled interventional pilot clinical study was conducted. The Group-A subjects were assigned to CIM-MEG19 add-on to SoC treatment using modern medicine without antiviral drug whereas Group-B patients with SoC treatment using modern medicine and recommended antiviral drug for COVID-19 management. Eighty RTPCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction) positive and eligible COVID-19 patients of age >18 years, having mild or moderate severity, were enrolled. ResultsClinical improvement in reduction of symptoms showed significant (p<0.0001) results in the average days in subjects of group-A (Investigational intervention arm) compared to Group B (SoC). The RT-PCR investigation exhibited COVID negative for 50 % in CIM-MEG19 add-on and 47% in SoC treatment after 8-11 days. Similarly, biochemical investigations showed that CIM-MEG19 group-A had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) after 14 days of treatment. Additionally, improvement in D-Dimer, ESR, and LDH in CIM-MEG19 add-on therapy was also observed. ConclusionsThe study demonstrated an excellent safety profile, declining the severity of the infection and halting the disease advancement/progression. CIM-Meg19 might be used as a potential natural drug for treating COVID-19.

Assessment of the liver microcirculation by laserdoppler flowmetry after extended liver resection in the experiment

Purpose. To assess microcirculation and mechanisms of its regulation in the liver after its extended resection.Materials and methods. 10 Wistar rats of both sexes weighing 180–270 g which had median laparotomy under general anesthesia were taken in the trial. Microcirculation in the liver of rats was assessed with LAKK-02 Laser-Doppler flowmeter (Russia). A light guide for determining microcirculation was placed on the visceral surface of the right liver lobe; parameters of Laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF-gram) were registered for 7 min. Then, ligatures were sequentially applied to the left lateral and median lobes of the liver followed by their cutting off; then, about 70 % of the organ were removed. After removal of both liver lobes, LDF-gram was recorded again for 7 minutes with a sensor placed on the visceral surface of the right liver lobe. Basic microcirculation parameters were registered before and after extended liver resection.Results. After the extended liver resection, average arithmetic parameters of microcirculation in the liver parenchyma decreased by 11.71 % (p &lt; 0.05), which indicates the decrease in the microvasculature perfusion. At the same time, indicators of standard deviation of the microcirculation index and the coefficient of variation did not change statistically significantly. The median maximum amplitude of neurogenic oscillations after the resection increased by 2.3 points (p &lt; 0.05). The amplitude of myogenic oscillations also increased after resection (p &lt; 0.05); however, the degree of increase was less than that of the neurogenic rhythms. It was found that in 70 % of animals the maximum amplitude of endothelial oscillations increased in the liver microcirculation after the extended resection; however, in general, differences between the average endothelial oscillations before and after the resection were not statistically significant.Conclusion. In the experimental liver resection, the most informative and reliable LDF criteria on ischemia development in the liver stump were average arithmetic microcirculation indices as well as the amplitude of neurogenic and myogenic oscillations. The authors emphasize that the degree of changes in these indices may be a sign of ischemia severity in the liver stump after its resection and may have a prognostic value, although the results obtained require further research.

Pulmonary arterial wall thickness increased in Behçet's disease patients with major organ involvement: Is it a sign of severity?

Behçet's disease (BD) is a unique systemic vasculitis mainly involving veins, in contrast to other vasculitides. Prior studies have shown that pulmonary arteries (PAs) have a similar structure to systemic veins. In this study we aimed to assess PA wall thickness by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in BD patients compared with healthy controls (HCs) and patients with non-inflammatory pulmonary embolism (NIPE). Patients with BD (n = 77) and NIPE (n = 33) and HCs (n = 57) were studied. PA wall thickness was measured from the mid-portion of the main PA with TTE by two cardiologists blinded to cases. PA wall thickness was significantly lower in HCs [3.6 mm (s.d. 0.3)] compared with NIPE [4.4 mm (s.d. 0.5)] and BD [4.4 mm (s.d. 0.6)] (P < 0.001 for both). PA wall thickness was similar between BD and NIPE (P = 0.6). Among patients with BD, PA wall thickness was significantly higher in patients with major organ involvement compared with mucocutaneous limited disease [4.7 mm (s.d. 0.4) vs 3.7 (0.4), P < 0.001], HCs and NIPE (P < 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively). PA wall thickness was comparable between patients with vascular and non-vascular major organ involvement [4.6 mm (s.d. 0.5) vs 4.7 (0.3), P = 0.3]. We observed that PA wall thickness was significantly higher in BD with major organ involvement compared with patients with only mucocutaneous limited disease, HCs and NIPE. These results suggest that increased PA wall thickness may be a sign of severe disease with major organ involvement in BD.

PB2298: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLATELET SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES AND THE SEVERITY OF NEWLY DIAGNOSED PEDIATRIC ITP

Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune mediated hemorrhagic disease characterized by thrombocytopenia. Platelet specific antibodies play a key role in platelet destruction. Aims: This study was aimed to determine whether platelet specific antibodies (including anti-GPIIb/IIIa, anti-GPIb/IX and anti-GPIa/IIa antibodies) are related to the severity of newly diagnosed pediatric ITP. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 154 newly diagnosed ITP patients from October 2016 to September 2021 in Beijing Children’s Hospital. Children who used only glucocorticoids during hospitalization were defined as Severity 1. Children who used glucocorticoids combined with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and/or single rhTPO were defined as Severity 2. Platelet specific antibodies were detected by PAKAUTO. Results: When the antibody levels were divided into positive and negative, children with positive anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody are more severe than children with negative anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody in newly diagnosed ITP (c2=3.969, P=0.046). When the antibody titer ratio was used to reflect the antibody levels, there was no significant difference between platelet specific antibodies and the severity of newly diagnosed pediatric ITP. Summary/Conclusion: Anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody is a sign of higher severity in newly diagnosed pediatric ITP. anti-GPIb/IX and anti-GPIa/IIa antibodies were not found to be related to the severity of ITP.

Hyponatremia among preeclampsia patients- a potential sign of severity.

Although hyponatremia in preeclamptic patients was previously described, its significance remains unknown. We aimed to describe the prevalence and clinical significance of hyponatremia among a cohort of preeclamptic patients. An electronic medical record based retrospective cohort study included all singleton deliveries at Hadassah University Medical Center between 2003 and 2015. Preeclampsia, with and without severe features, was defined using the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) Hypertension in Pregnancy Guidelines. Hyponatremia was defined as a sodium (Na) level≤130mEq/L, and severe hyponatremia as <125mEq/L. A group of normotensive pregnant women, matched for gestational age, gravdity and parity, served as control. A total of 700 preeclamptic patients were identified during the study period. Hyponatremia was noted in 14.6% compared to 0 of 79 patients in the control group. Hyponatremia was strongly correlated with severe features of preeclampsia, adverse neonatal and obstetrical outcome. Severe hyponatremia was strongly correlated with preeclampsia with severe features. Furthermore, even among subgroup of preeclamptic patients without severe features, hyponatremia correlated with less favorable pregnancy outcomes. Among relatively large cohort of preeclamptic patients, hyponatremia was not a rare finding. We found it more common in patients with preeclampsia and severe features. As women with preeclampsia are at risk for hyponatremia, serum sodium levels should be monitored, especially in those with severe features. In preeclamptic patients without severe features, hyponatremia may indicate a need for closer surveillance. However, larger studies are needed to establish hyponatremia as a marker of severity.

Comodulation of Dengue and Chikungunya Virus Infection During a Coinfection Scenario in Human Cell Lines.

The Dengue virus (DENV) and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) are the arboviruses that pose a threat to global public health. Coinfection and antibody-dependent enhancement are major areas of concern during DENV and CHIKV infections, which can alter the clinical severity. Acute hepatic illness is a common manifestation and major sign of disease severity upon infection with either dengue or chikungunya. Hence, in this study, we characterized the coexistence and interaction between both the viruses in human hepatic (Huh7) cells during the coinfection/superinfection scenario. We observed that prior presence of or subsequent superinfection with DENV enhanced CHIKV replication. However, prior CHIKV infection negatively affected DENV. In comparison to monoinfection, coinfection with both DENV and CHIKV resulted in lower infectivity as compared to monoinfections with modest suppression of CHIKV but dramatic suppression of DENV replication. Subsequent investigations revealed that subneutralizing levels of DENV or CHIKV anti-sera can respectively promote the ADE of CHIKV or DENV infection in FcγRII bearing human myelogenous leukemia cell line K562. Our observations suggest that CHIKV has a fitness advantage over DENV in hepatic cells and prior DENV infection may enhance CHIKV disease severity if the patient subsequently contracts CHIKV. This study highlights the natural possibility of dengue–chikungunya coinfection and their subsequent modulation in human hepatic cells. These observations have important implications in regions where both viruses are prevalent and calls for proper management of DENV-CHIKV coinfected patients.

IDF21-0128 Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Factors Related to Greater Clinical Severity at Presentation

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is an important diabetes complication associated to higher mortality and lower quality of life. DFU severity strongly depends on depth and the presence of infection. Previous studies have tried to identify factors related to DFU severity, most of them using the Wagner classification as the discriminative criteria. A number of factors have already been pointed out: smoking, higher body mass index, older age, insulin therapy, ulcer’s duration and localization. There are no data published on this subject in the Portuguese population, although it has already been stated that greater clinical severity at presentation is associated with increased risk of short-term amputation. Aim: To evaluate the factors related to infected and deep (and thus more severe) DFU at presentation. Method: Cross-sectional study including patients that attended a first diabetic foot appointment at our unit during the year of 2018. Only adult patients with an active DFU were included. Ulcers were classified as infected if they were graded a score ≥2 on the PEDIS classification and/or a stage B or D on the Texas classification; deep if they were graded a score ≥2 on the Texas classification and/or a grade ≥2 on the Wagner classification. Results: 435 patients were included, most of which were men (62.1%). Their median age was 70.0 (IQR 58.0-79.0) years and the mean diabetes duration was 20.0 (IQR 10.0-25.0) years. DFU infection was associated to poor nail care, both according to PEDIS (p=0.004) and Texas (p=0.005) classifications (OR≈2.000). The same association was found with peripheral artery disease (p=0.025 and p=0.009; OR≈1.800), lesion duration shorter than one month (p=0.023 and p=0.029; OR≈1.700) and dorsal and interdigital ulcer location (p=0.022 and p=0.018). Structural deformities were associated with infected DFU according to Texas classification (p=0.045). Diabetes duration over 10 years was associated with deeper wounds, both according to Texas (p=0.030) and Wagner (p=0.031) classifications (OR≈2.700). Being already on antibiotics at the time of the first appointment was associated with both infected and deep DFU. No association was found with patients’ age, HbA1c level (<7 vs ≥7%), neuropathy, education level or insulin therapy. Discussion: As other authors have described, we found that peripheral artery disease and dorsal ulcers are associated with increased lesion severity. We also found an association between interdigital ulcer location and infection, meaning that DFU in this location also tend to be more severe. This might be due to the fact that this area typically accumulates humidity and is often neglected in diabetic foot examination. Individuals with infected DFU are twice more likely to have poor nail care. Toenails may be a reservoir for bacterial and fungal colonization and thus may be associated to DFU severity. We also point out structural deformities and longer diabetes duration to be associated with more severe lesions. Previous medication with antibiotics by primary care physicians and need for quicker referral to our center also seem to be a sign of severity.

Streptococcus agalactiae meningitis presenting with cerebral infarction in an adult patient: Clinical case and review

Bacterial meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges associated with the invasion of bacteria. The etiologic agents vary by age group. Bacterial meningitis due to group B streptococcus (GBS) is common for the neonatal period but is deemed to be rare in adult patients. Since 2000, more than two-thirds of all cases occur in adults, which is becoming a growing problem worldwide. We present a rare case of GBS meningitis presented with cerebral infarction in an adult patient and briefly review the etiology and incidence of GBS infections in adults. There is an increasing incidence of cases in elderly patients, particularly in those with more medical comorbidities. Cerebral infarction as an adverse effect in bacterial meningitis is both a sign of severity and a predictor of a poor clinical outcome with a high mortality rate. Early recognition of the infection, a search for deep-seated infection, and early antimicrobial therapy are vital moments for successful management of the GBS disease.

Prevalence of Signs of Severity Identified in the Thai Population with Malaria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Understanding the prevalence of signs of severity identified in the Thai population with malaria could aid clinical management and disease control efforts, decrease mortality, and promote malaria elimination in Thailand. This systematic review aimed to collate the evidence regarding signs of severity identified in the Thai population with malaria. MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for potentially relevant studies. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. The pooled prevalence of signs of severity among patients with severe malaria and the pooled proportion of each sign of severity among all signs of severity were estimated using random-effects models. Heterogeneity among included studies was assessed using Cochran’s Q test. A subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate whether differences in pooled estimates between different study sites. Publication bias was assessed by visualizing funnel plot asymmetry and using Egger’s test. Among 741 studies identified by literature searching, 12 studies of a total of 2900 patients with severe malaria, in 7 Thai hospitals, met the eligibility criteria. Results of meta-analyses showed that the signs of the severity of malaria with the highest prevalence in Thailand were jaundice (54%), hyperparasitemia (47%), impaired consciousness/coma (21%), acidosis (18%), renal impairment (13%), shock (10%), convulsions (9%), severe anemia (8%), pulmonary edema/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (8%), hypoglycemia (4%), and bleeding/disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) (2%). The signs of the severity of malaria that made up the highest proportion of all signs of severity identified in the Thai population with malaria were hyperparasitemia (33%), jaundice (33%), impaired consciousness/coma (12%), acidosis (9%), renal impairment (7%), severe anemia (6%), convulsions (5%), shock (5%), pulmonary edema/ARDS (3%), bleeding/DIC (1%), and hypoglycemia (1%). The present study revealed the prevalence of signs of severity identified in the Thai population with malaria. Jaundice, hyperparasitemia, and impaired consciousness/coma were the most common signs of severity identified. These results may inform the management of patients with severe malaria and promote malaria-elimination efforts in Thailand.

Radio-laboratory findings in COVID-19 anosmia patients: a single-center experience

BackgroundThere is solid evidence that olfactory dysfunction (OD) can present in COVID-19 patients. Anosmia can be the only presentation or can be accompanied by other symptoms of COVID-19. Multiple cross-sectional studies have demonstrated that the incidence rate of olfactory dysfunction is high in COVID-19 patients with good prognosis. The aim of our study is to investigate the presence of OD with the radiologic and laboratory findings among COVID-19 positive patients.ResultsThere was statistical significance in clinical severity between anosmia and non-anosmia group (P value 0.000) denoting that anosmia sign mostly occur in mild COVID. Also, there was significance in D dimer between two groups (P value 0.044) denoting that D dimer could be a sign of clinical severity and it is usually not elevated in anosmia. All anosmia group had normal CT chest denoting that it is a mild form of COVID-19.ConclusionsOlfactory dysfunction (OD) is an imminent sign of COVID-19 patient, which can be presented as a sole symptom or with other symptoms. As anosmia could be the sole clinical presentation of COVID-19 patients without any other significant signs and so otolaryngologists should be aware of this presentation in COVID-19 diagnosis.

The Crazy-Paving Pattern in Chest CT Imaging of COVID-19 Patients: An Alarming Sign for Hospitalization

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a major threat to all humans. Objectives: To assess the association between the patients’ clinical and laboratory records, computed tomography (CT) findings, and epidemiological features of COVID-19 with the severity of the disease. Patients and Methods: In this retrospective case-control study conducted on the medical records of confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia patients on admission, we investigated the CT manifestations and clinical and laboratory risk factors for progression to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. The medical records and radiological CT features of confirmed COVID-19 patients were reviewed in one public hospital and one respiratory clinic in Qom, Iran, from August 1 to September 30, 2020. Results: Of 236 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 62 were infected with moderate to severe COVID-19 and required hospital admission, and 174 were followed-up on an outpatient basis. A significant difference was found in the mean age of the outpatient and hospitalized groups. The incidence of bilateral lung involvement, consolidations, linear opacities, crazy-paving pattern, air bronchogram, and number of lobes involved were significantly higher in the hospitalized group compared to the outpatient group. However, the crazy-paving pattern was only significantly associated with an oxygen saturation (SpO2) level &lt; 90% and, coughing. Our findings indicated that the crazy-paving pattern was significantly associated with the inflammatory phase. The presence of this pattern on admission, SpO2 &lt; 90%, older age, and diabetes were independent risk factors for progression to severe COVID-19. Conclusion: The crazy-paving pattern can predict the severity of COVID-19, which is of great importance in the management and follow-up of COVID-19 pneumonia patients. Clinical factors, such as aging, male gender, and diabetes, may be risk factors for the crazy-paving pattern. Severe cough is the most important clinical sign related to this pattern, along with an SpO2 &lt; 90%, which is an important sign of COVID-19 severity.