Infectious Medicine最新文献

Background

Given that epidemiological evidence suggests a potential protective role for Bacille-Calmette-Guerin against COVID-19, we aimed to explore whether pre-exposure of human monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells to BCG could modulate their response to SARS-CoV-2 S-glycoprotein.

Methods

Dual THP-1 cells containing 2 reporter plasmids for transcription factors NF-κB, and IRF were differentiated into macrophages over 3 days using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, or into dendritic cells over 6 days using commercial monocyte-dencritic cell differentiation media and matured with recombinant tumor necrosis factor-α. Cells were exposed to BCG for 24 h and then stimulated with SARS-CoV-2 S-glycoprotein for 24 hours.

Results

Pre-exposure of human macrophages and DCs to BCG increased IRF and NF-kb activation in response to the SARS-CoV-2 S-glycoprotein.

Conclusions

Our results showed that pre-exposure of both types of cells to BCG exhibited an increase in inflammatory transcription factors upon stimulation with S-glycoprotein. BCG-induced trained immunity may be an important tool for reducing susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and severity of COVID-19. Our findings help in the design of future BCG-based therapeutic approaches in the treatment of diseases caused by viral infections.

Background

COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus is characterized by respiratory compromise and immune system involvement, even leading to serious disorders, such as cytokine storm.

Methods

We then conducted a literature review on the topic of sepsis and covid-19, and in parallel conducted an experimental study on the histological finding of patients who died from SARS-Covid 19 infection and a control group.

Results

Sepsis associated with covid-19 infection has some similarities and differences from that from other causes.

Conclusion

In this paper the complex interplay between the 2 disorders was discussed, focusing on the similarities and on the effect that one could have on the other. A preliminary experimental section that demonstrates the multisystemic involvement in subjects who die from SARS-CoV-2 is also proposed.

Background

During the course of an epidemic of a potentially fatal disease, it is difficult to accurately estimate the case fatality rate (CFR) because many calculation methods do not account for the delay between case confirmation and disease outcome. Taking the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) as an example, this study aimed to develop a new method for CFR calculation while the pandemic was ongoing.

Methods

We developed a new method for CFR calculation based on the following formula: number of deaths divided by the number of cases T days before, where T is the average delay between case confirmation and disease outcome. An objective law was found using simulated data that states if the hypothesized T is equal to the true T, the calculated real-time CFR remains constant; whereas if the hypothesized T is greater (or smaller) than the true T, the real-time CFR will gradually decrease (or increase) as the days progress until it approaches the true CFR.

Results

Based on the discovered law, it was estimated that the true CFR of COVID-19 at the initial stage of the pandemic in China, excluding Hubei Province, was 0.8%; and in Hubei Province, it was 6.6%. The calculated CFRs predicted the death count with almost complete accuracy.

Conclusions

The method could be used for the accurate calculation of the true CFR during a pandemic, instead of waiting until the end of the pandemic, whether the pandemic is under control or not. It could provide those involved in outbreak control a clear view of the timeliness of case confirmations.

Background

In Brazil, the Ministry of Health (MH) monitors leprosy using 15 indicators, with the aim of implementing and evaluating evidence-based public policies. However, an excessive number of variables can complicate the definition of objectives and verification of epidemiological goals.

Methods

In this paper, we develop the Global Leprosy Assessment Index (GLAI), a composite measure that integrates two key dimensions for the control the disease: epidemiological and operational. Using a confirmatory factor analysis model to examine 2020 state-level data, we have standardized GLAI to a range of 0 to 1.

Results

Higher values within this range indicate a greater severity of the disease. The mean value of the GLAI was 0.67, with a standard deviation of 0.22. Roraima has the highest value, followed by Paraíba with 0.88 while Tocantins records the lowest value of the indicator, followed by Mato Grosso with 0.14. The epidemiological and operational indicators have a positive but statistically insignificant correlation (r = 0.25; p-value = 0.20).

Conclusions

The development of evidence-based public policies depends on the availability of valid and reliable indicators. The GLAI presented in this paper is easily reproducible and can be used to monitor the disease with disaggregated information. Furthermore, the GLAI has the potential to serve as a more robust parameter for evaluating the impact of actions designed to eradicate leprosy in Brazil.

In this current case series, all Coronavirus disease 2019 patients had predominant ophthalmological presentation. Only one patient sough care for concomitant respiratory symptoms. We reported herein 2 cases with cranial oculomotor nerve palsy, one patient with confirmed diagnosis of branch retinal vein occlusion, and the last one patient presenting for acute kareto-conjunctivitis with several recurrences, which was unsuccessfully treated with steroids and requiring cliclosporin. These case series highlights the importance of collecting a careful history of ocular presentation, including exposures to possible infected patients with SARS-CoV-2. This this will lead to an early diagnosis and treatment and to make appropriate infection control measures.

Background

Despite the United States (US) having an abundant supply of COVID-19 vaccines, vaccination rates lag behind other high-income countries, suggesting that vaccine hesitancy and attitudes play a greater role in public health measures than pure supply and access. With the acknowledgment that vaccination attitudes and status may or may not be correlated, this study examined COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among vaccinated US adults by asking: 1) What is the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the vaccinated? 2) Does COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy vary across sociodemographic characteristics? 3) Does COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy vary by healthcare access and influenza vaccination over the past 5 years?

Methods

Data were collected through an online survey of 2022 US adults with a final analytic sample of 1383 vaccinated respondents.

Results

Overall, 48.8% of vaccinated adults reported some level of hesitancy, while a slight majority reported they were “not at all hesitant”. Younger respondents, women, and Black and American Indian or Alaska Native participants had greater adjusted odds of being more hesitant towards receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Respondents who had a primary care physician had greater adjusted odds than those who did not have a primary care physician of being more hesitant towards receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Conclusions

This is the first population-based national sample study examining COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among vaccinated individuals from subgroups of distinctive backgrounds in order to inform targeted strategies for reducing vaccine hesitancy. Findings can assist in efforts to increase vaccination rates and also decrease vaccine hesitancy at the national level.

Background

We aimed to investigate risk factors predicting oxygen demand in COVID-19 patients.

Methods

Patients admitted to Shizuoka General Hospital with COVID-19 from August 2020 to August 2021 were included. First, we divided patients into groups with and without oxygen demand. Then, we compared patients' clinical characteristics and laboratory and radiological findings to determine factors predicting oxygen demand.

Results

One hundred seventy patients with COVID-19 (aged 58±15 years, 57 females) were enrolled. Common comorbidities were cardiovascular diseases (47.6%), diabetes mellitus (28.8%), and dyslipidemia (26.5%). Elder age, higher body mass index, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, lower lymphocyte count, albumin, hepatic attenuation value, and the liver-to-spleen ratio (L/S), higher D-dimer, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, troponin-T, C-reactive protein, KL-6, chest and abdominal circumference, and visceral fat were found in patients with oxygen demand. According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, L/S, lymphocyte count, D-dimer, and abdominal circumference under the diaphragm were independent risk factors predicting oxygen demand in COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions

On admission, L/S, lymphocyte count, D-dimer, and abdominal circumference were predictive factors for oxygen demand. These factors may help in the appropriate triage of COVID-19 patients in the decision to admit them to the hospital.

Background

In March 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, and Tunisia implemented a containment and targeted screening strategy. The country's public health policy has since focused on managing hospital beds.

Methods

The study analyzed the bed occupancy rates in public hospitals in Tunisia during the pandemic. The evolution of daily cases and nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPI) actions undertaken by the Tunisian Government were also analyzed. The study used 3 indices to assess bed flexibility: Ramp duration until the peak, ramp growth until the peak, and ramp rate until the peak. The study also calculated the time shift at the start and peak of each wave to evaluate the government's response efficacy.

Results

The study found that the evolution of the epidemic in Tunisia had 2 phases. The first phase saw the pandemic being controlled due to strong NPI actions, while the second phase saw a relaxation of measures and an increase in wave intensity. ICU bed availability followed the demand for beds, but ICU bed occupancy remained high, with a maximum of 97%. The government's response in terms of bed distribution and reallocation was slow. The study found that the most deadly wave by ICU occupied bed was the third wave due to a historical variant, while the fifth wave due to the delta variant was the most deadly in terms of cumulative death.

Conclusions

The study concluded that decision-makers could use its findings to assess their response capabilities in the current pandemic and future ones. The study highlighted the importance of flexible and responsive healthcare systems in managing pandemics.

We analyzed the case of a 49-year-old woman with HIV infection off-therapy with poor viro-immunological compensation, not vaccinated for SARS-COV-2, hospitalized for lobar pneumonia and severe COVID19-related respiratory failure in intensive care unit (ICU). The hospitalization was complicated by bacteraemic ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) isolated on pleural fluid culture, treated with colistin and cefiderocol for about 3 weeks. The molecular research of MDR-AB on transtracheal aspirate was negative following this therapy.

The aim is to show the safety, efficacy and tolerability of colistin-based combination therapy with cefiderocol for Acinetobacter baumannii infection in HIV-infected patient.

Background

Tuberculosis is a disease of great relevance since it is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Gastrointestinal tuberculosis is an unusual presentation. It is defined as the involvement of any segment of the digestive tract, associated viscera, and peritoneum. The study's main objective is to collect information from autopsies of patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal tuberculosis in a Pathology reference center in Colombia.

Methods

This is a retrospective and descriptive study of autopsy reports. A total of 4,500 autopsies were performed between January 2004 and December 2020. The inclusion criteria were authorization of a family member following local law regulations and a final autopsy diagnosis of gastrointestinal tuberculosis using microscopic visualization.

Results

Forty-eight patients with gastrointestinal tuberculosis autopsies were included in our study. Most of the patients were male (n = 35, 72.9%) with a median age of 40.5 years old. Human immunodeficiency virus infection history was reported in 28 cases (58.33%). The most affected gastrointestinal tract site was the terminal ileum. Ulcers and thickened epithelium were common autopsies macroscopic findings. Tuberculosis multiorgan compromise was a relevant finding in patients with gastrointestinal tuberculosis.

Conclusions

Gastrointestinal tuberculosis is a disease of great importance, being its diagnosis a clinical challenge. Underdiagnosis can be reported in a high percentage of cases, so autopsy diagnosis can help reveal more accurate data about this condition.