1.
Allergy. 2020 Mar 18. doi: 10.1111/all.14283. [Epub ahead of print]
Sputum and serum immunoglobulins in adult asthmatics with recurrent respiratory tract infections.
Ho T1,2, Al-Selahi E1,3, Mukherjee M1, Huang C1, Radford K1, Kjarsgaard M1, Lavigne N1, Halabecki J1, Waserman S1,3, Nair P1,2.
2.
Rev Paul Pediatr. 2020 Mar 16;38:e2018280. doi: 10.1590/1984-0462/2020/38/2018280. eCollection 2020.
MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME IN A CHILD WITH ADENOVIRUS PNEUMONIA: CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW.
[Article in English, Portuguese]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To report the case of a child who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from a pulmonary infection by adenovirus.
CASE DESCRIPTION:
A female patient aged 2 years and 6 months, weighting 10,295 grams developed fever, productive cough and vomiting, later on progressing to ARDS despite initial therapy in accordance with the institutional protocol for ARDS treatment. The child evolved to refractory hypoxemia and hypercapnia, requiring high parameters of mechanical pulmonary ventilation and use of vasoactive agents. In the treatment escalation, the patient received steroids, inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), was submitted to the prone position, started oscillatory high-frequency ventilation (HFOV) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was indicated due to severe refractory hypoxemia. During this time, the patient's clinical response was favorable to HFOV, improving oxygenation index and hypercapnia, allowing the reduction of vasoactive medications and mechanical ventilation parameters, and then the indication of ECMO was suspended. The patient was discharged after 26 days of hospital stay without respiratory or neurological sequelae.
COMMENTS:
Adenovirus infections occur mainly in infants and children under 5 years of age and represent 2 to 5% of respiratory diseases among pediatric patients. Although most children with adenovirus develop a mild upper respiratory tract disease, more severe cases can occur. ARDS is a serious pulmonary inflammatory process with alveolar damage and hypoxemic respiratory failure; Adenovirus pneumonia in children may manifest as severe pulmonary morbidity and respiratory failure that may require prolonged mechanical ventilation. Exclusive pulmonary recruitment and HFOV are advantageous therapeutic options.
3.
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2020 Jan 22;164. pii: D3979.
[A wider perspective on night work; health risks, lifestyle and interventions].
[Article in Dutch]
Abstract
A lot of research has been conducted into night work in recent years. This shows that people who work nights have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease; people doing night work in the healthcare sector also have an increased risk of influenza and respiratory tract infections. There are also differences in sleep patterns, physical activity and diet between those who work at night and those who work during the day. However, at this point in time there are no effective lifestyle interventions available to lower the risks associated with night work. Along with the Health Council of the Netherlands we advise limiting night work as much as possible. Work is currently in progress on occupational medicine guidelines for night work.
4.
Harefuah. 2020 Mar;159(3):163-165.
[MORAXELLA OSLOENSIS BACTEREMIA WITH PNEUMONIA: FIRST REPORTED CASE IN ISRAEL].
[Article in Hebrew]
Abstract
Community acquired pneumonia (CAP), an acute infection of the pulmonary parenchyma acquired in the community, is generally treated in an outpatient setting and involves different etiological agents. In the adult community, the most common pathogen in the disease is Streptococcus pneumonia, though other multiple etiological agents (atypical) have been involved, including Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, and Legionella pneumophila. The genus Moraxella consists of aerobic, oxidase-positive gram-negative coccobacilli. Moraxella catarrhalis is known to be a common inhabitant of the upper respiratory tract and has been implicated as an etiologic agent in multiple diseases of the respiratory tract (but not limited to), such as bronchitis, pneumonia, otitis media, and sinusitis. The species Moraxella osloensis is a gram-negative opportunistic human pathogen, which has been found to cause several human diseases and infections such as meningitis, vaginitis, sinusitis, bacteremia, endocarditis, and septic arthritis. However, due to the subject's rarity, there is a paucity of information in the medical literature regarding its clinical significance, epidemiological data and appropriate therapy. We present the first case reported in Israel of Moraxella osloensis bacteremia in a patient with multiple co-morbidities including C. difficile infection (CDI) carrier state which presented with clinical symptoms (supported by radiological features) of community-acquired pneumonia. The patient was initially treated with empiric antibiotics including a 3rd generation cephalosporin and a macrolide that were substituted with IV Augmentin (Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid) according to the organism's sensitivity tests. Our patient showed remarkable clinical and laboratory improvement with the therapy mentioned above.
5.
Tuberc Respir Dis (Seoul). 2020 Mar 10. doi: 10.4046/trd.2019.0037. [Epub ahead of print]
Risk Factor and Mortality in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism Combined with Infectious Disease.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Infectious conditions may increase the risk of venous thromboembolism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factor for combined infectious disease and its influence on mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE).
METHODS:
Patients with PE diagnosed based on spiral computed tomography findings of the chest were retrospectively analyzed. They were classified into two groups: patients who developed PE in the setting of infectious disease or those with PE without infection based on review of their medical charts.
RESULTS:
Of 258 patients with PE, 67 (25.9%) were considered as having PE combined with infectious disease. The sites of infections were the respiratory tract in 52 patients (77.6%), genitourinary tract in three patients (4.5%), and hepatobiliary tract in three patients (4.5%). Underlying lung disease (odds ratio [OR], 3.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.926-7.081; p<0.001), bed-ridden state (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.390-5.811; p=0.004), and malignant disease (OR, 1.867; 95% CI, 1.017-3.425; p=0.044) were associated with combined infectious disease in patients with PE. In-hospital mortality was higher in patients with PE combined with infectious disease than in those with PE without infection (24.6% vs. 11.0%, p=0.006). In the multivariate analysis, combined infectious disease (OR, 4.189; 95% CI, 1.692-10.372; p=0.002) were associated with non-survivors in patients with PE.
CONCLUSION:
A substantial portion of patients with PE has concomitant infectious disease and it may contribute a mortality in patients with PE.
Copyright©2020. The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases.
KEYWORDS:
Infectious Disease; Mortality; Pulmonary Embolism
6.
Infection. 2020 Mar 17. doi: 10.1007/s15010-020-01411-w. [Epub ahead of print]
Clinical relevance and impact of Corynebacterium isolation in lower respiratory tract of critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation.
Clariot S1, Constant O1, Lepeule R2, Fihman V3,4, Razazi K5, Cook F1, Attias A1, Merle JC1, Hemery F6, Levesque E1,7,4, Decousser JW3,7,4, Langeron O1,7, Mongardon N8,9,10.
Abstract
PURPOSE:
Corynebacterium spp. (C. spp.) is commonly considered as a contaminant in respiratory specimens. No study has ever focused on its clinical relevance in the lower respiratory tract of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and requiring mechanical ventilation. The aims were to describe the characteristics of ICU patients with a C. spp. positive deep respiratory specimen, to investigate the impact of C. spp. on the occurrence of pneumonia, and to evaluate the outcomes of these pneumonia.
METHODS:
We retrospectively included all adult patients admitted to ICU in a 1000-bed University Hospital (2007-2017) who had a C. spp. positive lower respiratory tract specimen at a significant quantitative level. We used clinical, radiological, and microbiological criteria to classify the likelihood of such pneumonia.
RESULTS:
Among the 31 patients included, acute respiratory failure and postoperative care after major surgery were the main reasons of admission. SAPS II was 47 [34-60]. C. spp. pneumonia was considered as probable, possible and unlikely in 10, 14, and 7 patients, respectively. Fifty-two and 94% of C. spp. strains were sensitive to amoxicillin, and vancomycin/linezolid, respectively. Seventeen patients had a complete course of antibiotic against C. spp. The overall ICU mortality was 58%.
CONCLUSION:
Corynebacterium spp seems to be responsible for authentic pneumonia in mechanically ventilated patients. It should be considered as clinically relevant when predominantly present in respiratory specimen from patients suspected with pneumonia in ICU, and empirically treated.
KEYWORDS:
Colonization; Corynebacterium; Infection; Nosocomial infection; Pneumonia; Sepsis
7.
J Gastroenterol. 2020 Mar 17. doi: 10.1007/s00535-020-01680-0. [Epub ahead of print]
Adverse events of nucleos(t)ide analogues for chronic hepatitis B: a systematic review.
Abstract
Nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) are the main drug category used in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment. Despite the fact that NAs have a favourable safety profile, undesired adverse events (AEs) may occur during the treatment of CHB. Given the eminent number of patients currently receiving NAs, even a small risk of any of these toxicities can represent a major medical issue. The main objective of this review was to analyse information available on AEs associated with the use of NAs in published studies. We choose the following MesH terms for this systematic review: chronic hepatitis B, side effects and treatment. All articles published from 1 January 1990 up to 19 February 2018 in MEDLINE of PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and LILACS databases were searched. A total of 120 articles were selected for analysis, comprising 6419 patients treated with lamivudine (LAM), 5947 with entecavir (ETV), 3566 with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), 3096 with telbivudine (LdT), 1178 with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) and 876 with tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). The most common AEs in all NAs assessed were abdominal pain/discomfort, nasopharyngitis/upper respiratory tract infections, fatigue, and headache. TAF displays the highest density of AEs per patient treated among NAs (1.14 AE/treated patient). In conclusion, treatment of CHB with NAs is safe, with a low incidence of AEs. Despite the general understanding TAF being safer than TDF, the number of patients treated with TAF still is too small in comparison to other NAs to consolidate an accurate safety profile. PROSPERO Registration No. CRD42018086471.
KEYWORDS:
Adverse events; Chronic hepatitis B; Nucleotide/nucleoside analogues
8.
Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2020 Mar 17. doi: 10.1007/s00103-020-03114-x. [Epub ahead of print]
[Self-reported infections in the German National Cohort (GNC) in the context of the current research landscape].
[Article in German]
Hassenstein MJ1,2, Aarabi G3, Ahnert P4,5,6, Becher H7, Franzke CW8, Fricke J9, Krause G1,10,11, Glöckner S1,10, Gottschick C12, Karch A13, Kemmling Y1, Kerrinnes T1,10, Lange B1,10, Mikolajczyk R12, Nieters A14,15, Ott JJ1,10, Ahrens W16,17, Berger K13, Meinke-Franze C18, Gastell S19, Günther K16, Greiser KH20, Holleczek B21, Horn J12, Jaeschke L22, Jagodzinski A23,24,25, Jansen L26, Jochem C27, Jöckel KH28, Kaaks R29, Krist L9, Kuß O30, Langer S12, Legath N13, Leitzmann M27, Lieb W31, Loeffler M4,5, Mangold N32,33, Michels KB8, Meisinger C34,35, Obi N7, Pischon T22,36,37,38, Schikowski T39, Schipf S18, Schulze MB19, Stang A28, Waniek S31, Wirkner K4,5, Willich SN9, Castell S40,41.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Infectious diseases continue to play an important role for disease perception, health-economic considerations and public health in Germany. In recent years, infectious diseases have been linked to the development of non-communicable diseases. Analyses of the German National Cohort (GNC) may provide deeper insights into this issue and pave the way for new targeted approaches in disease prevention.
OBJECTIVES:
The aim was to describe the tools used to assess infectious diseases and to present initial data on infectious disease frequencies, as well as to relate the GNC assessment tools to data collection methods in other studies in Germany.
METHODS:
As part of the baseline examination, questions regarding infectious diseases were administered using both an interview and a self-administered touchscreen questionnaire. Data from the initial 101,787 GNC participants were analysed.
RESULTS:
In the interview, 0.2% (HIV/AIDS) to 8.6% (shingles) of respondents reported ever having a medical diagnosis of shingles, postherpetic neuralgia (in cases where shingles was reported), hepatitis B/C, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis or sepsis if treated in hospital. In the questionnaire, 12% (cystitis) to 81% (upper respiratory tract infections) of respondents reported having experienced at least one occurrence of upper or lower respiratory tract infections, gastrointestinal infections, cystitis or fever within the past 12 months.
OUTLOOK:
The cross-sectional analyses of data and tools presented here - for example on determinants of susceptibility to self-reported infections - can be anticipated from the year 2021 onward. Beyond that, more extensive research into infectious disease epidemiology will follow, particularly once analyses of GNC biological materials have been performed.
KEYWORDS:
Cohort study; Communicable diseases; Epidemiology; German National Cohort (GNC); Infectious disease epidemiology; Infectious diseases
9.
Front Immunol. 2020 Feb 28;11:267. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00267. eCollection 2020.
Role of Epstein-Barr Virus in Pathogenesis and Racial Distribution of IgA Nephropathy.
Zachova K1, Kosztyu P1, Zadrazil J2, Matousovic K3, Vondrak K4, Hubacek P5, Julian BA6, Moldoveanu Z7, Novak Z8, Kostovcikova K9, Raska M1,7, Mestecky J6,7,9.
Abstract
IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the dominant type of primary glomerulonephritis worldwide. However, IgAN rarely affects African Blacks and is uncommon in African Americans. Polymeric IgA1 with galactose-deficient hinge-region glycans is recognized as auto-antigen by glycan-specific antibodies, leading to formation of circulating immune complexes with nephritogenic consequences. Because human B cells infected in vitro with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) secrete galactose-deficient IgA1, we examined peripheral blood B cells from adult IgAN patients, and relevant controls, for the presence of EBV and their phenotypic markers. We found that IgAN patients had more lymphoblasts/plasmablasts that were surface-positive for IgA, infected with EBV, and displayed increased expression of homing receptors for targeting the upper respiratory tract. Upon polyclonal stimulation, these cells produced more galactose-deficient IgA1 than did cells from healthy controls. Unexpectedly, in healthy African Americans, EBV was detected preferentially in surface IgM- and IgD-positive cells. Importantly, most African Blacks and African Americans acquire EBV within 2 years of birth. At that time, the IgA system is naturally deficient, manifested as low serum IgA levels and few IgA-producing cells. Consequently, EBV infects cells secreting immunoglobulins other than IgA. Our novel data implicate Epstein-Barr virus infected IgA+ cells as the source of galactose-deficient IgA1 and basis for expression of relevant homing receptors. Moreover, the temporal sequence of racial-specific differences in Epstein-Barr virus infection as related to the naturally delayed maturation of the IgA system explains the racial disparity in the prevalence of IgAN.
Copyright © 2020 Zachova, Kosztyu, Zadrazil, Matousovic, Vondrak, Hubacek, Julian, Moldoveanu, Novak, Kostovcikova, Raska and Mestecky.
KEYWORDS:
EBV-Epstein-Barr virus; IgA; IgA nephropathy; mucosal immunology; racial distribution
10.
Infect Drug Resist. 2020 Mar 3;13:725-732. doi: 10.2147/IDR.S239514. eCollection 2020.
Burden of Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Infection in Hospitalized Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Nepal.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a significant multidrug-resistant (MDR) nosocomial pathogen worldwide and is responsible for various healthcare-associated infections. The MDR strains have been reported increasingly during the last decades in hospitalized patients. They have developed resistance to most of the available antibiotics and are known to produce various acquired β-lactamases. The β-lactamase producing strains have a potential for rapid dissemination in hospital settings, as it is often plasmid-mediated. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (ISDA) stated A. baumannii as one of the "red alert" pathogens that greatly threatens the utility of our current antibacterial armamentarium. The study attempted to investigate the spectrum and antimicrobial resistance among MDR A. baumannii and their potential implications in hospitalized patients in a tertiary care hospital of Nepal.
METHODS:
This study was conducted at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Nepal from January 2017 to December 2017. A total of 177 A. baumannii isolated from hospitalized patients were included in the study. The AST was performed by disc diffusion method. The MDR strains were identified by the criteria of Magiorakos et al, ESBL production by CLSI guidelines, and AmpC β-lactamase production by the AmpC disc test. MBL and KPC production were detected as per the method of Tsakris et al.
RESULTS:
Out of 177 A. baumannii, 91.0% were MDR isolates. Among the MDR isolates, the majority were isolated from respiratory tract specimens and were isolated from ICU patients. Most of the MDR isolates were resistant to all first-line antibiotics and all were completely sensitive to only polymyxin B and colistin sulfate. MBL (67.7%) was the common β-lactamase production among MDR isolates.
CONCLUSION:
Acinetobacter baumannii can cause a vast variety of infections in hospitalized patients. The highly resistant MDR strains are common in tertiary care hospitals. This bacteria lead to high morbidity and mortality as we are left with the only option of treating them by potentially toxic antibiotics like colistin sulfate and polymyxin B. Detection of drug resistance and rational use of antibiotics play a crucial role in the fight against this MDR pathogen.
© 2020 Yadav et al.
KEYWORDS:
Acinetobacter baumannii; hospitalized patients; metallo-β-lactamase; multidrug resistant
11.
Respir Investig. 2020 Mar 14. pii: S2212-5345(20)30029-0. doi: 10.1016/j.resinv.2020.01.008. [Epub ahead of print]
Corynebacterium species as one of the major causative pathogens of bacterial pneumonia.
Abstract
Recent advances using molecular methods, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flightmass spectrometry, and next-generation sequencers enable rapid and precise detection of bacterial species in the clinical samples, revealing bacterial diversities in the human body. Corynebacterium species are Gram-positive bacilli, which can cause pneumonia and have been reported as causative pathogens of lower respiratory tract infections since the 1970's. However, Corynebacterium spp. may be recognized and sorted as part of normal respiratory flora on Gram staining and culture, resulting in clinical under-recognition as pathogenic bacteria. The results of the clone library method using bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence analysis in Japanese patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia revealed that bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from the lung lesions contained 11.8% Corynebacterium spp., which was the second most predominant bacterial phylotype. Additionally, among patients in whom Corynebacterium spp. were detected, C. simulans was most commonly detected followed by C. striatum. In addition, almost half of the patients in whom C. simulans was detected was monophylotypic infection and/or co-detection of C. simulansand C. striatum. Further clinical information is expected on corynebacteria as pathogens of lower respiratory tract infection.
Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.
KEYWORDS:
Corynebacteria; Corynebacterium; Pathogen; Pneumonia; Respiratory infection
12.
BMC Infect Dis. 2020 Mar 17;20(1):225. doi: 10.1186/s12879-020-4950-y.
Bacterial otitis media in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear, comprising a spectrum of diseases. It is the commonest episode of infection in children, which often occurs after an acute upper respiratory tract infection. Otitis media is ranked as the second most important cause of hearing loss and the fifth global burden of disease with a higher incidence in developing worlds like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Therefore, this systematic review is aimed to quantitatively estimate the current status of bacterial otitis media, bacterial etiology and their susceptibility profile in sub-Saharan Africa.
METHODS:
A literature search was conducted from major databases and indexing services including EMBASE (Ovid interface), PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, WHO African Index-Medicus and others. All studies (published and unpublished) addressing the prevalence of otitis media and clinical isolates conducted in sub-Saharan Africa were included. Format prepared in Microsoft Excel was used to extract the data and data was exported to Stata version 15 software for the analyses. Der-Simonian-Laird random-effects model at a 95% confidence level was used for pooled estimation of outcomes. The degree of heterogeneity was presented with I2 statistics. Publication bias was presented with funnel plots of standard error supplemented by Begg's and Egger's tests. The study protocol is registered on PROSPERO with reference number ID: CRD42018102485 and the published methodology is available from http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/CRD42018102485.
RESULTS:
A total of 33 studies with 6034 patients were included in this study. All studies have collected ear swab/discharge samples for bacterial isolation. The pooled isolation rate of bacterial agents from the CSOM subgroup was 98%, patients with otitis media subgroup 87% and pediatric otitis media 86%. A univariate meta-regression analysis indicated the type of otitis media was a possible source of heterogeneity (p-value = 0.001). The commonest isolates were P. aeruginosa (23-25%), S. aureus (18-27%), Proteus species (11-19%) and Klebsiella species. High level of resistance was observed against Ampicillin, Amoxicillin-clavulanate, Cotrimoxazole, Amoxicillin, and Cefuroxime.
CONCLUSION:
The analysis revealed that bacterial pathogens like P. aeruginosa and S. aureus are majorly responsible for otitis media in sub-Saharan Africa. The isolates have a high level of resistance to commonly used drugs for the management of otitis media.
KEYWORDS:
Antimicrobial resistance; Bacterial isolates; Meta-analysis; Otitis media; Sub-Saharan Africa; Systematic review
13.
Microorganisms. 2020 Mar 14;8(3). pii: E413. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8030413.
Proteomic Adaptation of Streptococcus pneumoniae to the Human Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37.
Abstract
Secreted antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an important part of the human innate immune system and prevent local and systemic infections by inhibiting bacterial growth in a concentration-dependent manner. In the respiratory tract, the cationic peptide LL-37 is one of the most abundant AMPs and capable of building pore complexes in usually negatively charged bacterial membranes, leading to the destruction of bacteria. However, the adaptation mechanisms of several pathogens to LL-37 are already described and are known to weaken the antimicrobial effect of the AMP, for instance, by repulsion, export or degradation of the peptide. This study examines proteome-wide changes in Streptococcus pneumoniae D39, the leading cause of bacterial pneumonia, in response to physiological concentrations of LL-37 by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Our data indicate that pneumococci may use some of the known adaptation mechanisms to reduce the effect of LL-37 on their physiology, too. Additionally, several proteins seem to be involved in resistance to AMPs which have not been related to this process before, such as the teichoic acid flippase TacF (SPD_1128). Understanding colonization- and infection-relevant adaptations of the pneumococcus to AMPs, especially LL-37, could finally uncover new drug targets to weaken the burden of this widespread pathogen.
KEYWORDS:
LL-37; Streptococcus pneumoniae; adaptation; antimicrobial peptide; proteomics
14.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Mar 13;17(6). pii: E1857. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17061857.
Home Assessment of Indoor Microbiome (HAIM) in Relation to Lower Respiratory Tract Infections among Under-Five Children in Ibadan, Nigeria: The Study Protocol.
Abstract
The association between household air pollution and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) among children under five years of age has been well documented; however, the extent to which the microbiome within the indoor environment contributes to this association is uncertain. The home assessment of indoor microbiome (HAIM) study seeks to assess the abundance of indoor microbiota (IM) in the homes of under-five children (U-5Cs) with and without LRTI. HAIM is a hospital- and community-based study involving 200 cases and 200 controls recruited from three children's hospitals in Ibadan, Nigeria. Cases will be hospital-based patients with LRTI confirmed by a pediatrician, while controls will be community-based participants, matched to cases on the basis of sex, geographical location, and age (±3 months) without LRTI. The abundance of IM in houses of cases and controls will be investigated using active and passive air sampling techniques and analyzed by qualitative detection of bacterial 16SrRNA gene (V3-V4), fungal ITS1 region, and viral RNA sequencing. HAIM is expected to elucidate the relationship between exposure to IM and incidence of LRTI among U-5Cs and ultimately provide evidence base for strategic interventions to curtail the burgeoning burden of LRTI on the subcontinent.
KEYWORDS:
Ibadan; home; indoor microbiome; lower respiratory tract infections; study protocol; under-five children
15.
J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2020 Mar;10(1):1-3. doi: 10.2991/jegh.k.200218.003.
COVID-19 in the Shadows of MERS-CoV in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has plagued the Middle East since it was first reported in 2012. Recently, at the end of December 2019, a cluster of pneumonia cases were reported from Wuhan city, Hubei Province, China, linked to a wet seafood market with a new coronavirus identified as the etiologic agent currently named SARS-CoV-2. Most cases are in Mainland China with international spread to 25 countries. The novelty of the virus, the rapid national and international spread, and the lack of therapeutic and preventative strategies have led the WHO International Health Regulation emergency committee to declare the disease as Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on January 30, 2020. As it relates to countries with the ongoing MERS-CoV community cases and hospital acquired infections, there will be a huge challenge for HCWs to deal with both coronaviruses, especially with the lack of standardized and approved point of care testing. This challenge will now be faced by the whole global health community dealing with COVID-19 since both coronaviruses have similar presentation. Those patients should now be tested for both MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 simultaneously, and with the continuing wide international spread of SARS-CoV-2, the travel history to China in the last 14 days will be of less significance.
© 2020 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press International B.V.
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19; MERS-CoV; SARS-CoV-2; Saudi Arabia
16.
Prehosp Disaster Med. 2020 Apr;35(2):119. doi: 10.1017/S1049023X2000031X.
COVID-19: Not a Simple Public Health Emergency.
17.
Clin Sci (Lond). 2020 Mar 13;134(5):543-545. doi: 10.1042/CS20200163.
Soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2: a potential approach for coronavirus infection therapy?
Abstract
A new coronavirus, referred to as SARS-CoV-2, is responsible for the recent outbreak of severe respiratory disease. This outbreak first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has spread to other regions of China and to 25 other countries as of January, 2020. It has been known since the 2003 SARS epidemic that the receptor critical for SARS-CoV entry into host cells is the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The S1 domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV attaches the virus to its cellular receptor ACE2 on the host cells. We thought that it is timely to explain the connection between the SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, ACE2 and the rationale for soluble ACE2 as a potential therapy.
© 2020 The Author(s).
KEYWORDS:
2019 Novel Coronavirus; Coronavirus; angiotensin converting enzyme 2
18.
Vet Rec. 2020 Mar 14;186(10):298. doi: 10.1136/vr.m1009.
RCVS may relax guidance due to Covid-19.
[No authors listed]
19.
Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi. 2020 Mar 12;43(3):183-184. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1001-0939.2020.03.008.
[Expert consensus on the use of corticosteroid in patients with 2019-nCoV pneumonia].
[Article in Chinese]
20.
J Diabetes. 2020 Apr;12(4):347-348. doi: 10.1111/1753-0407.13027.
Diabetes and COVID-19.
Comment on
- A Novel Coronavirus from Patients with Pneumonia in China, 2019. [N Engl J Med. 2020]
21.
N Z Med J. 2020 Mar 13;133(1511):7-8.
Politicians: please work together to minimise the spread of COVID-19.
Murdoch D1, Addidle M2, Andersson HS3, Arnold B4, Balm M5, Benschop J6, Betty B7, Birch M8, Bloomfield M9, Brunton C10, Burns A11, Chambers S12, Cook L13, Dalton S8, Duncan H14, Elvy J15, Everts R16, Freeman J17, French N18, Grimwade K19, Hammer D20, Hayman D21, Holland D22, Hudson B23, Huggan P24, Ikram R17, Jack S25, Kelly M26, Lamont I27, Maze M28, McAuliffe G29, McBride S30, Metcalf S8, Morpeth S31, Morris A32, Murton S33, Pink R34, Pithie A35, Pitout M20, Priest P36, Raymond N37, Read K38, Ritchie S39, Rogers M40, Schroeder P41, Taylor S42, Taylor J9, Thomas M43, Upton A44, Ussher J45, Werno A46, Wiles S47.
22.
Nat Med. 2020 Mar;26(3):312. doi: 10.1038/s41591-020-0810-y.
Lack of maternal-fetal SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Stower H1.
Comment on
23.
Int J Health Geogr. 2020 Mar 11;19(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s12942-020-00202-8.
Geographical tracking and mapping of coronavirus disease COVID-19/severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic and associated events around the world: how 21st century GIS technologies are supporting the global fight against outbreaks and epidemics.
Abstract
In December 2019, a new virus (initially called 'Novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV' and later renamed to SARS-CoV-2) causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (coronavirus disease COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and rapidly spread to other parts of China and other countries around the world, despite China's massive efforts to contain the disease within Hubei. As with the original SARS-CoV epidemic of 2002/2003 and with seasonal influenza, geographic information systems and methods, including, among other application possibilities, online real-or near-real-time mapping of disease cases and of social media reactions to disease spread, predictive risk mapping using population travel data, and tracing and mapping super-spreader trajectories and contacts across space and time, are proving indispensable for timely and effective epidemic monitoring and response. This paper offers pointers to, and describes, a range of practical online/mobile GIS and mapping dashboards and applications for tracking the 2019/2020 coronavirus epidemic and associated events as they unfold around the world. Some of these dashboards and applications are receiving data updates in near-real-time (at the time of writing), and one of them is meant for individual users (in China) to check if the app user has had any close contact with a person confirmed or suspected to have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the recent past. We also discuss additional ways GIS can support the fight against infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics.
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19; GIS; SARS-CoV-2
- PMID:
- 32160889
- PMCID:
- PMC7065369
- DOI:
- 10.1186/s12942-020-00202-8
- [Indexed for MEDLINE]
24.
Euro Surveill. 2020 Mar;25(9). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.9.2000202.
Potential scenarios for the progression of a COVID-19 epidemic in the European Union and the European Economic Area, March 2020.
Johnson HC1,2, Gossner CM1,2, Colzani E2, Kinsman J2, Alexakis L2, Beauté J2, Würz A2, Tsolova S2, Bundle N2, Ekdahl K2.
Abstract
Two months after the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the possibility of established and widespread community transmission in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) is becoming more likely. We provide scenarios for use in preparedness for a possible widespread epidemic. The EU/EEA is moving towards the 'limited sustained transmission' phase. We propose actions to prepare for potential mitigation phases and coordinate efforts to protect the health of citizens.
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19; Europe; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; pandemic; preparedness
- PMID:
- 32156332
- PMCID:
- PMC7068161
- DOI:
- 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.9.2000202
- [Indexed for MEDLINE]
25.
Euro Surveill. 2020 Mar;25(9). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.9.2003051.
Updated rapid risk assessment from ECDC on the outbreak of COVID-19: increased transmission globally.
- PMID:
- 32156331
- PMCID:
- PMC7068166
- DOI:
- 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.9.2003051
- [Indexed for MEDLINE]
26.
Euro Surveill. 2020 Mar;25(9). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.9.2000173.
Rapid establishment of laboratory diagnostics for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in Bavaria, Germany, February 2020.
Konrad R1,2, Eberle U3,1, Dangel A1,2, Treis B3, Berger A2, Bengs K2, Fingerle V3, Liebl B4,5, Ackermann N3,1, Sing A4,1,2.
Abstract
The need for timely establishment of diagnostic assays arose when Germany was confronted with the first travel-associated outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Europe. We describe our laboratory experiences during a large contact tracing investigation, comparing previously published real-time RT-PCR assays in different PCR systems and a commercial kit. We found that assay performance using the same primers and probes with different PCR systems varied and the commercial kit performed well.
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19; Corona Virus; Infectious disease; Laboratory Diagnostics; Molecular Testing; Real-Time PCR; SARS-CoV-2; outbreaks
- PMID:
- 32156330
- PMCID:
- PMC7068163
- DOI:
- 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.9.2000173
- [Indexed for MEDLINE]
27.
Euro Surveill. 2020 Mar;25(9). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.9.2000178.
First cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the WHO European Region, 24 January to 21 February 2020.
Spiteri G1, Fielding J2, Diercke M3, Campese C4, Enouf V5, Gaymard A6, Bella A7, Sognamiglio P8, Sierra Moros MJ9, Riutort AN10, Demina YV11, Mahieu R12, Broas M13, Bengnér M14, Buda S3, Schilling J3, Filleul L15, Lepoutre A16, Saura C17, Mailles A4, Levy-Bruhl D4, Coignard B4, Bernard-Stoecklin S4, Behillil S5, van der Werf S5, Valette M6, Lina B6, Riccardo F7, Nicastri E8, Casas I18, Larrauri A19, Salom Castell M20, Pozo F18, Maksyutov RA21, Martin C22, Van Ranst M23, Bossuyt N24, Siira L25, Sane J26, Tegmark-Wisell K27, Palmérus M28, Broberg EK1, Beauté J1, Jorgensen P2, Bundle N1, Pereyaslov D2, Adlhoch C1, Pukkila J2, Pebody R2, Olsen S29,2, Ciancio BC29,1.
Abstract
In the WHO European Region, COVID-19 surveillance was implemented 27 January 2020. We detail the first European cases. As at 21 February, nine European countries reported 47 cases. Among 38 cases studied, 21 were linked to two clusters in Germany and France, 14 were infected in China. Median case age was 42 years; 25 were male. Late detection of the clusters' index cases delayed isolation of further local cases. As at 5 March, there were 4,250 cases.
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19; Novel coronavirus; SARS; SARS-COV-2; coronavirus disease 2019
- PMID:
- 32156327
- PMCID:
- PMC7068164
- DOI:
- 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.9.2000178
- [Indexed for MEDLINE]
28.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Mar 6;17(5). pii: E1729. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17051729.
Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China.
Abstract
Background: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic is a public health emergency of international concern and poses a challenge to psychological resilience. Research data are needed to develop evidence-driven strategies to reduce adverse psychological impacts and psychiatric symptoms during the epidemic. The aim of this study was to survey the general public in China to better understand their levels of psychological impact, anxiety, depression, and stress during the initial stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. The data will be used for future reference. Methods: From 31 January to 2 February 2020, we conducted an online survey using snowball sampling techniques. The online survey collected information on demographic data, physical symptoms in the past 14 days, contact history with COVID-19, knowledge and concerns about COVID-19, precautionary measures against COVID-19, and additional information required with respect to COVID-19. Psychological impact was assessed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and mental health status was assessed by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results: This study included 1210 respondents from 194 cities in China. In total, 53.8% of respondents rated the psychological impact of the outbreak as moderate or severe; 16.5% reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms; 28.8% reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms; and 8.1% reported moderate to severe stress levels. Most respondents spent 20-24 h per day at home (84.7%); were worried about their family members contracting COVID-19 (75.2%); and were satisfied with the amount of health information available (75.1%). Female gender, student status, specific physical symptoms (e.g., myalgia, dizziness, coryza), and poor self-rated health status were significantly associated with a greater psychological impact of the outbreak and higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.05). Specific up-to-date and accurate health information (e.g., treatment, local outbreak situation) and particular precautionary measures (e.g., hand hygiene, wearing a mask) were associated with a lower psychological impact of the outbreak and lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.05). Conclusions: During the initial phase of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, more than half of the respondents rated the psychological impact as moderate-to-severe, and about one-third reported moderate-to-severe anxiety. Our findings identify factors associated with a lower level of psychological impact and better mental health status that can be used to formulate psychological interventions to improve the mental health of vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 epidemic.
KEYWORDS:
anxiety; coronavirus; depression; epidemic; knowledge; precaution; psychological impact; respiratory symptoms; stress
29.
CMAJ. 2020 Mar 9;192(10):E264-E265. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.1095852.
Proposed protocol to keep COVID-19 out of hospitals.
30.
Lancet. 2020 Mar 7;395(10226):809-815. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30360-3. Epub 2020 Feb 12.
Clinical characteristics and intrauterine vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 infection in nine pregnant women: a retrospective review of medical records.
Chen H1, Guo J1, Wang C2, Luo F3, Yu X1, Zhang W4, Li J1, Zhao D5, Xu D1, Gong Q1, Liao J1, Yang H6, Hou W7, Zhang Y8.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Previous studies on the pneumonia outbreak caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were based on information from the general population. Limited data are available for pregnant women with COVID-19 pneumonia. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in pregnancy and the intrauterine vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 infection.
METHODS:
Clinical records, laboratory results, and chest CT scans were retrospectively reviewed for nine pregnant women with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia (ie, with maternal throat swab samples that were positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2]) who were admitted to Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, from Jan 20 to Jan 31, 2020. Evidence of intrauterine vertical transmission was assessed by testing for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in amniotic fluid, cord blood, and neonatal throat swab samples. Breastmilk samples were also collected and tested from patients after the first lactation.
FINDINGS:
All nine patients had a caesarean section in their third trimester. Seven patients presented with a fever. Other symptoms, including cough (in four of nine patients), myalgia (in three), sore throat (in two), and malaise (in two), were also observed. Fetal distress was monitored in two cases. Five of nine patients had lymphopenia (<1·0 × 10⁹ cells per L). Three patients had increased aminotransferase concentrations. None of the patients developed severe COVID-19 pneumonia or died, as of Feb 4, 2020. Nine livebirths were recorded. No neonatal asphyxia was observed in newborn babies. All nine livebirths had a 1-min Apgar score of 8-9 and a 5-min Apgar score of 9-10. Amniotic fluid, cord blood, neonatal throat swab, and breastmilk samples from six patients were tested for SARS-CoV-2, and all samples tested negative for the virus.
INTERPRETATION:
The clinical characteristics of COVID-19 pneumonia in pregnant women were similar to those reported for non-pregnant adult patients who developed COVID-19 pneumonia. Findings from this small group of cases suggest that there is currently no evidence for intrauterine infection caused by vertical transmission in women who develop COVID-19 pneumonia in late pregnancy.
FUNDING:
Hubei Science and Technology Plan, Wuhan University Medical Development Plan.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Comment in
- SARS-CoV-2 infection in children: Transmission dynamics and clinical characteristics. [J Formos Med Assoc. 2020]
- What are the risks of COVID-19 infection in pregnant women? [Lancet. 2020]
- Lack of maternal-fetal SARS-CoV-2 transmission. [Nat Med. 2020]
31.
J Educ Eval Health Prof. 2020 Jan;17:10. doi: 10.3352/jeehp.2020.17.10. Epub 2020 Mar 7.
How to train the health personnel for protecting themselves from novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection during their patient or suspected case care.
Huh S1.
32.
J Infect Dev Ctries. 2020 Feb 29;14(2):125-128. doi: 10.3855/jidc.12600.
Similarity in Case Fatality Rates (CFR) of COVID-19/SARS-COV-2 in Italy and China.
Abstract
As of 28 February 2020, Italy had 888 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections, with most cases in Northern Italy in the Lombardia and Veneto regions. Travel-related cases were the main source of COVID-19 cases during the early stages of the current epidemic in Italy. The month of February, however, has been dominated by two large clusters of outbreaks in Northern Italy, south of Milan, with mainly local transmission the source of infections. Contact tracing has failed to identify patient zero in one of the outbreaks. As of 28 February 2020, twenty-one cases of COVID-19 have died. Comparison between case fatality rates in China and Italy are identical at 2.3. Additionally, deaths are similar in both countries with fatalities in mostly the elderly with known comorbidities. It will be important to develop point-of-care devices to aid clinicians in stratifying elderly patients as early as possible to determine the potential level of care they will require to improve their chances of survival from COVID-19 disease.
Copyright (c) 2020 Rossella Porcheddu, Caterina Serra, David Kelvin, Nikki Kelvin, Salvatore Rubino.
KEYWORDS:
Case Fatality Rates; Italy; Novel coronavirus COVID-19; SARS-CoV-19; outbreak
33.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Mar 4;17(5). pii: E1679. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17051679.
Prediction of Epidemic Spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Driven by Spring Festival Transportation in China: A Population-Based Study.
Abstract
After the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, we estimated the distribution and scale of more than 5 million migrants residing in Wuhan after they returned to their hometown communities in Hubei Province or other provinces at the end of 2019 by using the data from the 2013-2018 China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS). We found that the distribution of Wuhan's migrants is centred in Hubei Province (approximately 75%) at a provincial level, gradually decreasing in the surrounding provinces in layers, with obvious spatial characteristics of circle layers and echelons. The scale of Wuhan's migrants, whose origins in Hubei Province give rise to a gradient reduction from east to west within the province, and account for 66% of Wuhan's total migrants, are from the surrounding prefectural-level cities of Wuhan. The distribution comprises 94 districts and counties in Hubei Province, and the cumulative percentage of the top 30 districts and counties exceeds 80%. Wuhan's migrants have a large proportion of middle-aged and high-risk individuals. Their social characteristics include nuclear family migration (84%), migration with families of 3-4 members (71%), a rural household registration (85%), and working or doing business (84%) as the main reason for migration. Using a quasi-experimental analysis framework, we found that the size of Wuhan's migrants was highly correlated with the daily number of confirmed cases. Furthermore, we compared the epidemic situation in different regions and found that the number of confirmed cases in some provinces and cities in Hubei Province may be underestimated, while the epidemic situation in some regions has increased rapidly. The results are conducive to monitoring the epidemic prevention and control in various regions.
KEYWORDS:
2019 novel coronavirus; population size; quasi-experimental approach; social characteristics of floating population; the origins of Wuhan's migrants
34.
Cytometry A. 2020 Mar;97(3):215-216. doi: 10.1002/cyto.a.23990.
Machine Learning, COVID-19 (2019-nCoV), and multi-OMICS.
35.
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2020 Feb;24(4):2012-2019. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_202002_20379.
Novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV: prevalence, biological and clinical characteristics comparison with SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
Human infections with zoonotic coronavirus contain emerging and reemerging pathogenic characteristics which have raised great public health concern. This study aimed at investigating the global prevalence, biological and clinical characteristics of novel coronavirus, Wuhan China (2019-nCoV), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection outbreaks.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
The data on the global outbreak of "2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV" were obtained from World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), concerned ministries and research institutes. We also recorded the information from research documents published in global scientific journals indexed in ISI Web of Science and research centers on the prevalence, biological and clinical characteristics of 2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV.
RESULTS:
Worldwide, SARS-CoV involved 32 countries, with 8422 confirmed cases and 916 (10.87%) casualties from November 2002 to August 2003. MERS-CoV spread over 27 states, causing 2496 cases and 868 (34.77%) fatalities during the period April 2012 to December 2019. However, the novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV spread swiftly the global borders of 27 countries. It infected 34799 people and resulted in 724 (2.08%) casualties during the period December 29, 2019 to February 7, 2020. The fatality rate of coronavirus MERS-CoV was (34.77%) higher than SARS-CoV (10.87%) and 2019-nCoV (2.08%); however, the 2019-nCoV transmitted rapidly in comparison to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.
CONCLUSIONS:
The novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV has diverse epidemiological and biological characteristics, making it more contagious than SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. It has affected more people in a short time period compared to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, although the fatality rate of MERS-CoV was higher than SARS-CoV and 2019-nCoV. The major clinical manifestations in coronavirus infections 2019-nCoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS CoV are fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, generalized myalgia, malaise, drowsy, diarrhea, confusion, dyspnea, and pneumonia. Global health authorities should take immediate measures to prevent the outbreaks of such emerging and reemerging pathogens across the globe to minimize the disease burden locally and globally.
36.
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2020 Feb;24(4):2006-2011. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_202002_20378.
COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus 2019) - recent trends.
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning that, although the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) from Wuhan City (China), is not pandemic, it should be contained to prevent the global spread. The COVID-19 virus was known earlier as 2019-nCoV. As of 12 February 2020, WHO reported 45,171 cases and 1115 deaths related to COVID-19. COVID-19 is similar to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) virus in its pathogenicity, clinical spectrum, and epidemiology. Comparison of the genome sequences of COVID-19, SARS-CoV, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) showed that COVID-19 has a better sequence identity with SARS-CoV compared to MERS CoV. However, the amino acid sequence of COVID-19 differs from other coronaviruses specifically in the regions of 1ab polyprotein and surface glycoprotein or S-protein. Although several animals have been speculated to be a reservoir for COVID-19, no animal reservoir has been already confirmed. COVID-19 causes COVID-19 disease that has similar symptoms as SARS-CoV. Studies suggest that the human receptor for COVID-19 may be angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor similar to that of SARS-CoV. The nucleocapsid (N) protein of COVID-19 has nearly 90% amino acid sequence identity with SARS-CoV. The N protein antibodies of SARS-CoV may cross react with COVID-19 but may not provide cross-immunity. In a similar fashion to SARS-CoV, the N protein of COVID-19 may play an important role in suppressing the RNA interference (RNAi) to overcome the host defense. This mini-review aims at investigating the most recent trend of COVID-19.
37.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Mar 3;17(5). pii: E1633. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17051633.
Potential Factors Influencing Repeated SARS Outbreaks in China.
Abstract
Within last 17 years two widespread epidemics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred in China, which were caused by related coronaviruses (CoVs): SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Although the origin(s) of these viruses are still unknown and their occurrences in nature are mysterious, some general patterns of their pathogenesis and epidemics are noticeable. Both viruses utilize the same receptor-angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-for invading human bodies. Both epidemics occurred in cold dry winter seasons celebrated with major holidays, and started in regions where dietary consumption of wildlife is a fashion. Thus, if bats were the natural hosts of SARS-CoVs, cold temperature and low humidity in these times might provide conducive environmental conditions for prolonged viral survival in these regions concentrated with bats. The widespread existence of these bat-carried or -released viruses might have an easier time in breaking through human defenses when harsh winter makes human bodies more vulnerable. Once succeeding in making some initial human infections, spreading of the disease was made convenient with increased social gathering and holiday travel. These natural and social factors influenced the general progression and trajectory of the SARS epidemiology. However, some unique factors might also contribute to the origination of SARS in Wuhan. These factors are discussed in different scenarios in order to promote more research for achieving final validation.
KEYWORDS:
2019-nCoV; ACE2; COVID-19; CoV; SARS; SARS-CoV; Wuhan pneumonia; angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; bat; coronavirus; drought; epidemic; epidemiology; exposure; green light; host; infection; outbreak; red light; risk; severe acute respiratory syndrome; wildlife
38.
J Chin Med Assoc. 2020 Mar;83(3):217-220. doi: 10.1097/JCMA.0000000000000270.
The outbreak of COVID-19: An overview.
Abstract
In late December 2019, a previous unidentified coronavirus, currently named as the 2019 novel coronavirus#, emerged from Wuhan, China, and resulted in a formidable outbreak in many cities in China and expanded globally, including Thailand, Republic of Korea, Japan, United States, Philippines, Viet Nam, and our country (as of 2/6/2020 at least 25 countries). The disease is officially named as Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19, by WHO on February 11, 2020). It is also named as Severe Pneumonia with Novel Pathogens on January 15, 2019 by the Taiwan CDC, the Ministry of Health and is a notifiable communicable disease of the fifth category. COVID-19 is a potential zoonotic disease with low to moderate (estimated 2%-5%) mortality rate. Person-to-person transmission may occur through droplet or contact transmission and if there is a lack of stringent infection control or if no proper personal protective equipment available, it may jeopardize the first-line healthcare workers. Currently, there is no definite treatment for COVID-19 although some drugs are under investigation. To promptly identify patients and prevent further spreading, physicians should be aware of the travel or contact history of the patient with compatible symptoms.
39.
Euro Surveill. 2020 Feb;25(8). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.8.2000097.
Early transmission patterns of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in travellers from Wuhan to Thailand, January 2020.
Okada P1, Buathong R2, Phuygun S1, Thanadachakul T1, Parnmen S1, Wongboot W1, Waicharoen S1, Wacharapluesadee S3, Uttayamakul S2, Vachiraphan A2, Chittaganpitch M1, Mekha N1, Janejai N1, Iamsirithaworn S2, Lee RT4, Maurer-Stroh S5,4.
Abstract
We report two cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in travellers from Wuhan, China to Thailand. Both were independent introductions on separate flights, discovered with thermoscanners and confirmed with RT-PCR and genome sequencing. Both cases do not seem directly linked to the Huanan Seafood Market in Hubei but the viral genomes are identical to four other sequences from Wuhan, suggesting early spread within the city already in the first week of January.
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Wuhan; coronavirus; transmission; traveller
- PMID:
- 32127124
- PMCID:
- PMC7055038
- DOI:
- 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.8.2000097
- [Indexed for MEDLINE]
40.
J Integr Med. 2020 Mar;18(2):152-158. doi: 10.1016/j.joim.2020.02.005. Epub 2020 Feb 20.
In silico screening of Chinese herbal medicines with the potential to directly inhibit 2019 novel coronavirus.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
In this study we execute a rational screen to identify Chinese medical herbs that are commonly used in treating viral respiratory infections and also contain compounds that might directly inhibit 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), an ongoing novel coronavirus that causes pneumonia.
METHODS:
There were two main steps in the screening process. In the first step we conducted a literature search for natural compounds that had been biologically confirmed as against sever acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus or Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Resulting compounds were cross-checked for listing in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database. Compounds meeting both requirements were subjected to absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) evaluation to verify that oral administration would be effective. Next, a docking analysis was used to test whether the compound had the potential for direct 2019-nCoV protein interaction. In the second step we searched Chinese herbal databases to identify plants containing the selected compounds. Plants containing 2 or more of the compounds identified in our screen were then checked against the catalogue for classic herbal usage. Finally, network pharmacology analysis was used to predict the general in vivo effects of each selected herb.
RESULTS:
Of the natural compounds screened, 13 that exist in traditional Chinese medicines were also found to have potential anti-2019-nCoV activity. Further, 125 Chinese herbs were found to contain 2 or more of these 13 compounds. Of these 125 herbs, 26 are classically catalogued as treating viral respiratory infections. Network pharmacology analysis predicted that the general in vivo roles of these 26 herbal plants were related to regulating viral infection, immune/inflammation reactions and hypoxia response.
CONCLUSION:
Chinese herbal treatments classically used for treating viral respiratory infection might contain direct anti-2019-nCoV compounds.
Copyright © 2020 Shanghai Changhai Hospital. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
2019-nCoV; Chinese herbal; Drugs; Molecular docking; Natural compounds; Network pharmacology; Pneumonia; Wuhan coronavirus
Comment in
41.
Infect Dis Poverty. 2020 Feb 28;9(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s40249-020-00640-3.
A mathematical model for simulating the phase-based transmissibility of a novel coronavirus.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
As reported by the World Health Organization, a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was identified as the causative virus of Wuhan pneumonia of unknown etiology by Chinese authorities on 7 January, 2020. The virus was named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses on 11 February, 2020. This study aimed to develop a mathematical model for calculating the transmissibility of the virus.
METHODS:
In this study, we developed a Bats-Hosts-Reservoir-People transmission network model for simulating the potential transmission from the infection source (probably be bats) to the human infection. Since the Bats-Hosts-Reservoir network was hard to explore clearly and public concerns were focusing on the transmission from Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market (reservoir) to people, we simplified the model as Reservoir-People (RP) transmission network model. The next generation matrix approach was adopted to calculate the basic reproduction number (R0) from the RP model to assess the transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2.
RESULTS:
The value of R0 was estimated of 2.30 from reservoir to person and 3.58 from person to person which means that the expected number of secondary infections that result from introducing a single infected individual into an otherwise susceptible population was 3.58.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our model showed that the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 was higher than the Middle East respiratory syndrome in the Middle East countries, similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome, but lower than MERS in the Republic of Korea.
KEYWORDS:
Basic reproduction number; Mathematical model; Next generation matrix; Novel coronavirus; Transmissibility
- PMID:
- 32111262
- PMCID:
- PMC7047374
- DOI:
- 10.1186/s40249-020-00640-3
- [Indexed for MEDLINE]
43.
Occup Med (Lond). 2020 Mar 12;70(1):3-5. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqaa036.
Occupational risks for COVID-19 infection.
44.
BMC Med. 2020 Feb 28;18(1):57. doi: 10.1186/s12916-020-01533-w.
Q&A: The novel coronavirus outbreak causing COVID-19.
- PMID:
- 32106852
- PMCID:
- PMC7047369
- DOI:
- 10.1186/s12916-020-01533-w
- [Indexed for MEDLINE]
45.
Viruses. 2020 Feb 25;12(3). pii: E254. doi: 10.3390/v12030254.
Preliminary Identification of Potential Vaccine Targets for the COVID-19 Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Based on SARS-CoV Immunological Studies.
Abstract
The beginning of 2020 has seen the emergence of COVID-19 outbreak caused by a novel coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). There is an imminent need to better understand this new virus and to develop ways to control its spread. In this study, we sought to gain insights for vaccine design against SARS-CoV-2 by considering the high genetic similarity between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV, which caused the outbreak in 2003, and leveraging existing immunological studies of SARS-CoV. By screening the experimentally-determined SARS-CoV-derived B cell and T cell epitopes in the immunogenic structural proteins of SARS-CoV, we identified a set of B cell and T cell epitopes derived from the spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins that map identically to SARS-CoV-2 proteins. As no mutation has been observed in these identified epitopes among the 120 available SARS-CoV-2 sequences (as of 21 February 2020), immune targeting of these epitopes may potentially offer protection against this novel virus. For the T cell epitopes, we performed a population coverage analysis of the associated MHC alleles and proposed a set of epitopes that is estimated to provide broad coverage globally, as well as in China. Our findings provide a screened set of epitopes that can help guide experimental efforts towards the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
KEYWORDS:
2019 novel coronavirus; 2019-nCoV; B cell epitopes; COVID-19; Coronavirus; MERS-CoV; SARS-CoV; SARS-CoV-2; T cell epitopes; vaccine
46.
Int J Oral Sci. 2020 Feb 24;12(1):8. doi: 10.1038/s41368-020-0074-x.
High expression of ACE2 receptor of 2019-nCoV on the epithelial cells of oral mucosa.
Abstract
It has been reported that ACE2 is the main host cell receptor of 2019-nCoV and plays a crucial role in the entry of virus into the cell to cause the final infection. To investigate the potential route of 2019-nCov infection on the mucosa of oral cavity, bulk RNA-seq profiles from two public databases including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Functional Annotation of The Mammalian Genome Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (FANTOM5 CAGE) dataset were collected. RNA-seq profiling data of 13 organ types with para-carcinoma normal tissues from TCGA and 14 organ types with normal tissues from FANTOM5 CAGE were analyzed in order to explore and validate the expression of ACE2 on the mucosa of oral cavity. Further, single-cell transcriptomes from an independent data generated in-house were used to identify and confirm the ACE2-expressing cell composition and proportion in oral cavity. The results demonstrated that the ACE2 expressed on the mucosa of oral cavity. Interestingly, this receptor was highly enriched in epithelial cells of tongue. Preliminarily, those findings have explained the basic mechanism that the oral cavity is a potentially high risk for 2019-nCoV infectious susceptibility and provided a piece of evidence for the future prevention strategy in dental clinical practice as well as daily life.
- PMID:
- 32094336
- PMCID:
- PMC7039956
- DOI:
- 10.1038/s41368-020-0074-x
- [Indexed for MEDLINE]
47.
Med Clin (Barc). 2020 Mar 13;154(5):175-177. doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2020.02.002. Epub 2020 Feb 21.
One world, one health: The novel coronavirus COVID-19 epidemic.
[Article in English, Spanish]
Trilla A1.
48.
Biomolecules. 2020 Feb 19;10(2). pii: E331. doi: 10.3390/biom10020331.
Rigidity of the Outer Shell Predicted by a Protein Intrinsic Disorder Model Sheds Light on the COVID-19 (Wuhan-2019-nCoV) Infectivity.
Abstract
The world is currently witnessing an outbreak of a new coronavirus spreading quickly across China and affecting at least 24 other countries. With almost 65,000 infected, a worldwide death toll of at least 1370 (as of 14 February 2020), and with the potential to affect up to two-thirds of the world population, COVID-19 is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be a global health emergency. The speed of spread and infectivity of COVID-19 (also known as Wuhan-2019-nCoV) are dramatically exceeding those of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). In fact, since September 2012, the WHO has been notified of 2494 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, whereas the 2002-2003 epidemic of SARS affected 26 countries and resulted in more than 8000 cases. Therefore, although SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 are all the result of coronaviral infections, the causes of the coronaviruses differ dramatically in their transmissibility. It is likely that these differences in infectivity of coronaviruses can be attributed to the differences in the rigidity of their shells which can be evaluated using computational tools for predicting intrinsic disorder predisposition of the corresponding viral proteins.
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19; Wuhan-2019-nCoV; membrane protein; nucleocapsid protein; protein intrinsic disorder; shell disorder; transmission; virulence
49.
Biosci Trends. 2020 Mar 16;14(1):1-2. doi: 10.5582/bst.2020.01056. Epub 2020 Feb 25.
COVID-19: Real-time dissemination of scientific information to fight a public health emergency of international concern.
Abstract
Rapidly sharing scientific information is an effective way to reduce public panic about COVID-19, and doing so is the key to providing real-time guidance to epidemiologists working to contain the outbreak, clinicians managing patients, and modelers helping to understand future developments and the possible effectiveness of various interventions. This issue has rapidly reviewed and published articles describing COVID-19, including the drug treatment options for SARS-CoV-2, its clinical characteristics, and therapies involving a combination of Chinese and Western medicine, the efficacy of chloroquine phosphate in the treatment of COVID-19 associated pneumonia according to clinical studies, and reflections on the system of reserve medical supplies for public health emergencies. As an academic journal, we will continue to quickly and transparently share data with frontline healthcare workers who need to know the epidemiological and clinical features of COVID-19.
KEYWORDS:
2019-nCoV; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; sharing data
50.
Microbes Infect. 2020 Mar;22(2):72-73. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2020.02.006. Epub 2020 Feb 22.
Is COVID-19 receiving ADE from other coronaviruses?
Tetro JA1.
Abstract
One of the most perplexing questions regarding the current COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic is the discrepancy between the severity of cases observed in the Hubei province of China and those occurring elsewhere in the world. One possible answer is antibody dependent enhancement (ADE) of SARS-CoV-2 due to prior exposure to other coronaviruses. ADE modulates the immune response and can elicit sustained inflammation, lymphopenia, and/or cytokine storm, one or all of which have been documented in severe cases and deaths. ADE also requires prior exposure to similar antigenic epitopes, presumably circulating in local viruses, making it a possible explanation for the observed geographic limitation of severe cases and deaths.
Copyright © 2020 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Antibody dependent enhancement; COVID-19; Coronavirus
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