Histological and Ultrastructural Changes in Lungs One Year Post Asymptomatic or Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Evaluating the Potential for Active Virus Presence / Cambios Histológicos y Ultraestructurales en los Pulmones un Año Después de una Infección Asintomática o Leve por SARS-CoV-2: Evaluación del Potencial de Presencia Activa del Virus

SUMMARY: Prior research on post-COVID-19 or long COVID primarily focused on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 mostly in symptomatic patients. This study aimed to investigate the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 after 1 year of asymptomatic or mild COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 infected and control K18-hACE2 transgenic mice (n=25) were studied. Moderate and severe symptomatic subjects were sacrificed after eight days, while mild or asymptomatic mice were kept in BSL-III for twelve months. Analyses included general condition, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy, and qRT-PCR. Lungs from the twelve-month group showed thickening of alveolar walls, with some lungs exhibiting the recruitment of inflammatory cells, the presence of SARS- CoV-2 mRNA, immunopositivity for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and TEM showed viruses (60-125 nm) within vesicles, indicating continued replication. Certain lung samples showed persistent SARS-CoV-2 presence in Club cells, endothelial cells, and macrophages. The eight-day group exhibited viral interstitial pneumonitis, SARS-CoV-2 immunopositivity, and mRNA. The eight-day hearts displayed viral mRNA, while the twelve-month hearts tested negative. Some asymptomatic twelve-month subjects presented reduced surfactant, basal membrane thickening, fibrosis, and mild autonomic nerve degeneration. In this study conducted on mice, findings indicate the potential for chronic persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in the lungs one year post initial mild or asymptomatic infection, which could suggest the possibility of recurrent episodes in similar human conditions. The observed thickening of alveolar walls and potential fibrotic areas in these mice may imply an increased risk of post-COVID fibrosis in humans. Furthermore, the presence of SARS-CoV-2-positive inflammatory cells in some asymptomatic murine cases could herald a progression toward ongoing inflammation and chronic lung disease in humans. Therefore, the necessity for further studies in human subjects and vigilant monitoring of high-risk human populations is underscored.

Investigaciones anteriores sobre COVID-19 o COVID prolongado se centraron principalmente en la presencia de SARS-CoV-2 principalmente en pacientes sintomáticos. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar la persistencia del SARS-CoV-2 después de 1 año de COVID-19 asintomático o leve. Se estudiaron ratones transgénicos K18-hACE2 infectados con SARS-CoV-2 y de control (n=25). Los animales con síntomas moderados y graves se sacrificaron después de ocho días, mientras que los ratones con síntomas leves o asintomáticos se mantuvieron en BSL-III durante doce meses. Los análisis incluyeron estado general, histoquímica, inmunohistoquímica, microscopía electrónica de transmisión y qRT- PCR. Los pulmones del grupo de doce meses mostraron engrosamiento de las paredes alveolares, y algunos pulmones exhibieron reclutamiento de células inflamatorias, presencia de ARNm del SARS-CoV-2, inmunopositividad para la proteína de la espícula del SARS-CoV-2 y TEM mostró virus (60 -125 nm) dentro de las vesículas, lo que indica una replicación continua. Ciertas muestras de pulmón mostraron una presencia persistente de SARS- CoV-2 en exocrinocitos bronquiolares, células endoteliales y macrófagos. El grupo de ocho días presentó neumonitis intersticial viral, inmunopositividad al SARS-CoV-2 y ARNm. Los corazones de ocho días mostraron ARNm viral, mientras que los corazones de doce meses dieron negativo. Algunos animales asintomáticos de doce meses presentaron disminución del surfactante, engrosamiento de la membrana basal, fibrosis y degeneración leve del nervio autónomo. En este estudio realizado en ratones, los hallazgos indican la posibilidad de persistencia crónica del SARS-CoV-2 en los pulmones un año después de la infección inicial leve o asintomática, lo que podría sugerir la posibilidad de episodios recurrentes en condiciones humanas similares. El engrosamiento observado de las paredes alveolares y las posibles áreas fibróticas en estos ratones puede implicar un mayor riesgo de fibrosis post-COVID en humanos. Además, la presencia de células inflamatorias positivas para SARS- CoV-2 en algunos casos murinos asintomáticos podría presagiar una progresión hacia una inflamación continua y una enfermedad pulmonar crónica en humanos. Por lo tanto, se subraya la necesidad de realizar más estudios en seres humanos y realizar un seguimiento atento de las poblaciones humanas de alto riesgo.

Detection of plasma anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS)antibodies against enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli(EHEC) in asymptomatic kindergarten teachers fromBuenos Aires province

Resumen En Argentina, el síndrome urémico hemolítico causado por Escherichia coli enterohemorrágica (EHEC) tiene la más alta incidencia del mundo. Las infecciones por EHEC tienen un comportamiento endemoepidémico y causan del 20 al 30% de los síndromes de diarrea sanguinolenta en niños menores de 5 años. En el período 2016-2020, se notificaron 272 nuevos casos por año al Sistema de Vigilancia de Salud Nacional. Múltiples factores son responsables de la alta incidencia de SUH en Argentina, incluyendo la transmisión persona-persona. Con el objetivo de detectar posibles portadores asintomáticos de EHEC, realizamos un estudio preliminar de la frecuencia de anticuerpos antilipopolisacáridos contra los serotipos de EHEC más prevalentes en Argentina. El estudio se realizó con muestras de plasma obtenidas de 61 maestras y maestros de jardines de infantes de 26 instituciones del distrito de José C. Paz, localizado en el área suburbana de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. El 51% de las muestras presentaron anticuerpos contra los serotipos de lipopolisacáridos O157, O145, O121 y O103; el 6,4% de las muestras positivas tuvieron el isotipo IgM (n=2), el 61,3% el isotipo IgG (n=19) y el 32,3% los isotipos IgM e IgG (n=10). Dado que los anticuerpos antilipopolisacáridos presentan usualmente una duración corta, la detección de IgM específica podría indicar una infección reciente. Además, el alto porcentaje de muestras positivas hallado podría indicar una exposición frecuente a las cepas de EHEC en la cohorte estudiada. Asimismo, la gran población de adultos portadores asintomáticos de estas cepas patógenas podría contribuir al comportamiento endémico, a través de la transmisión persona-persona. El perfeccionamiento de programas educacionales continuos en jardines de infantes podría constituir una medida importante para reducir los casos de síndrome urémico hemolítico, no solo en Argentina, sino también en el mundo.

Abstract In Argentina, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by EHEC has the highest incidence in the world. EHEC infection has an endemo-epidemic behavior, causing 20-30% of acute bloody diarrhea syndrome in children under 5 years old. In the period 2016-2020, 272 new cases per year were notified to the National Health Surveillance System. Multiple factors are responsible for HUS incidence in Argentina including person-to-person transmission. In order to detect possible EHEC carriers, we carried out a preliminary study of the frequency of kindergarten teachers with anti-LPS antibodies against the most prevalent EHEC serotypes in Argentina. We analyzed 61 kindergarten teachers from 26 institutions from José C. Paz district, located in the suburban area of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Fifty-one percent of the plasma samples had antibodies against O157, O145, O121 and O103 LPS: 6.4% of the positive samples had IgM isotype (n=2), 61.3% IgG isotype (n=19) and 32.3% IgM and IgG (n=10). Given that antibodies against LPS antigens are usually short-lived specific IgM detection may indicate a recent infection. In addition, the high percentage of positive samples may indicate a frequent exposure to EHEC strains in the cohort studied, as well as the existence of a large non-symptomatic population of adults carrying pathogenic strains that could contribute to the endemic behavior through person-to-person transmission. The improvement of continuous educational programs in kindergarten institutions could be a mandatory measure to reduce HUS cases not only in Argentina but also globally.

Clinical significance of detecting group B Streptococcus from midstream urine culture / 中国感染控制杂志

Objective To explore the clinical significance and antimicrobial resistance of group B Streptococcus(GBS)isolated from midstream urine culture,aiming to provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of clinical urinary tract infection(UTI).Methods Information about GBS strains isolated from midstream urine culture of in-patients and outpatient in a hospital in Nanjing from February 2020 to December 2022 were retrieved through labora-tory information system,strains with complete data were screened out.Case data,urine routine,and antimicrobial susceptibility testing results were reviewed.Results A total of 9 081 non-repetitive bacterial strains were detected from midstream urine culture,including 425 GBS strains,accounting for 4.7％,ranking sixth.Strains with incom-plete data were excluded,a total of 365 patients were included in the study.169(46.3％)were males and 196(53.7％)were females,with an average age of(55.4±15.2)years.365 patients who were detected GBS were from 17 de-partments,with the highest proportion being department of urology(n=237,64.9％).The underlying diseases of patients mainly included hypertension(n=136),diabetes(n=95),urolithiasis(n=120)and urinary tumors(n=98).211 patients underwent urological surgery,all were treated with antimicrobial agents before surgery,and 205 patients underwent indwelling urinary catheters after surgery;9 patients were detected GBS from urine during the middle and advanced stage of pregnancy.36.4％(n=133),38.9％(n=142)and 24.7％(n=90)patients had GBS colony count ≤104 CFU/mL,104-105 CFU/mL,and ≥105 CFU/mL,respectively.Patients with symptoms of UTI accounted for 24.9％(n=91),and asymptomatic bacteriuria accounted for 75.1％(n=274).The incidence of UTI symptoms in males was lower than that in females(19.5％vs 29.6％,P＜0.05).As the GBS colony count in urine culture increased,the proportion of patients with symptoms of UTI showed an upward trend(P＜0.05).On the day of urine culture,the positive rates of urine routine white blood cells,leukocyte esterase,and nitrite were 53.2％,50.1％,and 3.8％,respectively.The positive rates of urine occult blood,leukocyte esterase,white blood cells,and urine protein in patients with symptomatic UTI were all higher than those with asymptomatic bacteriuria patients(all P＜0.05).No GBS were found to be resistant to penicillin,ampicillin,vancomycin,linezolid,and tigecycline.The resistance rate to levofloxacin and moxifloxacin was about 40％,and resistance rate to tetracycline and clindamycin was over 60％.Conclusion GBS isolated from urine is more common in non-pregnant adults,and only a small percentage have symptoms of UTI.The results of urine culture and urine routine should be comprehen-sively judged based on patient's clinical symptoms and signs.GBS in urine is susceptible to multiple antimicrobial agents,and clinical medication should be adopted rationally based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing result.

Study on the TCM Medication Law of Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia Based on Data Mining / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To explore the characteristics of TCM in the treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricemia based on data mining.Methods Clinical literature on the TCM treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricemia in CNKI,Wanfang Data,VIP and SinoMed was retrieved.After screening,the prescriptions obtained were input into Excel 2019 database,and SPSS Modeler 18.0,SPSS Statistics 26.0 and Cytoscape 3.9.1 were used for frequency analysis,association rule analysis,clustering analysis and factor analysis.Results A total of 133 articles meeting the criteria were included,and 140 prescriptions were included,involving 202 kinds of Chinese materia medica,with a total frequency of 1 387 times.22 drugs,such as Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma,Coicis Semen,Dioscoreae Spongiosae Rhizoma,Astrctylodis Rhizoma,were frequently used in the treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricemia.The commonly used drugs were drugs for urine excretion to strain off dampness,tonics,clearing heat,promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.The medicinal property was mainly warm,the medicinal taste was mainly sweet,and the meridians were mainly liver,spleen,stomach and kidney meridians.21 groups of medicinal combinations were obtained by high frequency drug association rule analysis,among which the core drug pairs were Coicis Semen-Astrctylodis Rhizoma,Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma-Dioscoreae Spongiosae Rhizoma-Coicis Semen,Coicis Semen-Astrctylodis Rhizoma-Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma,etc.Clustering analysis obtained 5 clustering methods,and factor analysis obtained 7 common factors.Conclusion In the TCM treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricemia,the main methods are urine excretion to strain off dampness,strengthening spleen and tonifying qi,and the main drugs are Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma,Coicis Semen,Dioscoreae Spongiosae Rhizoma,Astrctylodis Rhizoma,which can provide reference for clinical treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricemia.

Relationship between IL-1Ra gene polymorphism and the natural outcome of asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis / 安徽医科大学学报

Objective To investigate the relationship between interleukin 1 receptor a(IL-1Ra)gene polymorphism and different outcomes in asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis(aBV)patients with the aim of grouping and managing aBV patients.Methods In study on the natural attribution of aBV patients,all patients were enrolled and a sam-ple of venous blood and vaginal lavage fluid were separately frozen.After 4 months at the end of the clinical study,patients who completed the study were divided into three groups based on clinical outcomes:self-healing,progres-sive,and unchanged.The IL-1Ra gene polymorphism,the concentration of IL-1 β and IL-1Ra were tested,and the differences in the above indicators among three groups of patients with different outcomes were compared.Results 1 014 Chinese Han female patients were enrolled,and 984 patients completed clinical follow-up and obtained clini-cal outcome data.13 specimens were unusable during testing,with a total of 971 specimens completed the test.IL-1Ra gene was detected in all patients,with three genotypes:A1/A1,A1/A2,and A2/A2.Most population had a genotype of A1/A1,with the rarest genotype being A2/A2.No rare genotype of female was found.The frequency of A2 alleles in the progression group was significantly higher than that in the self-healing group(P＜0.05).IL-1 βand IL-1Ra were detected in all vaginal lavage fluid samples.Compared with the progression group,IL-1 β in the self-healing group was significantly lower(P＜0.05).When carrying the A2 allele,IL-1 β in progression group was relatively low,while the level of IL-1Ra was relatively high.The values of the unchanged group were middle.Con-clusion The polymorphism characteristics of the IL-1Ra gene in aBV patients are related to the IL-1Ra content in vaginal secretions.Carrying allele A2 is related to the elevation of IL-1Ra,the decrease of IL-1 β in vaginal secre-tions.Carrying allele A2 may affect the clinical outcome of aBV by some potential mechanism.

Viable Leishmania parasites in the absence of an in vitro IFN-γ response in asymptomatic carriers

ABSTRACT Asymptomatic infection (the absence or inapparent signs and symptoms) has been observed in many endemic areas of leishmaniasis, however, little is known about the parasitological and immunological factors associated with this type of infection. This study aimed to identify the in vitro expression of IFN-γ in asymptomatic carriers of viable Leishmania parasites. Asymptomatic infection was identified using the Montenegro skin test in an at-risk population from Yucatan, Mexico. Parasite viability was evinced in the blood by 7SL RNA transcripts amplification. The expression of mRNA IFN-γ was analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with soluble Leishmania antigen, using RT-qPCR. Parasite viability was observed in 33.3 % (5/15) of asymptomatic subjects. No differences were found in the expression of IFN-γ between asymptomatic and healthy subjects, and no correlation was found between the presence of viable parasites and the expression of IFN-γ. This study demonstrates the persistence of Leishmania parasites in the absence of an in vitro IFN-γ response in asymptomatic carriers from Mexico.

Comparative analysis of asymptomatic infection prevalence in Beta, Delta, and Omicron surges of COVID-19

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has had a devastating impact on the global population, with an estimated 650 million people infected and more than 6.6 million lives lost. Asymptomatic individuals have been shown to play a significant role in the transmission of the virus. Therefore, this study aims to investigate and compare the prevalence of asymptomatic individuals across three waves associated with the Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants of the virus. Methods This retrospective study was conducted between December 2020 and March 2022. The study population consisted of passengers on international flights who were referred to the Gerash Clinical and Molecular Diagnosis Laboratory. Real-time PCR was employed for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. Results Out of a total of 8592 foreign travelers referred to our laboratory, 139 (1.16 %) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection and were asymptomatic. During the Beta surge, 35 (1.49 %) out of 2335 passengers tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. In the Delta surge, 31 (0.6 %) out of 5127 passengers tested positive. However, during the Omicron surge, a significantly higher number of passengers, specifically 73 (6.46 %) out of 1130, had a positive result for the SARS-CoV-2 test. Conclusion Considering the significant role of asymptomatic transmission in the spread of COVID-19, it is imperative to reconsider health policies when dealing with future surges of the Omicron subvariants. Additionally, we strongly recommend that the World Health Organization prioritize the development and distribution of second-generation vaccines that target not only disease but also infection prevention.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome for COVID-19 by RT-PCR test during its intensifying phase, Gujarat, India

Background: The COVID-19 disease is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) originated from Wuhan, China, a pandemic. By knowing different demographic and clinical data, one can have a better idea about the progress and fate of disease, which will help others to plan accordingly to manage patients in terms of decreasing morbidity and mortality caused by it. Aims and Objectives: The study was done to describe the RT-PCR diagnostic profiles of SARS-CoV-2 patients in Gujarat from three districts (Arvalli, Sabarkantha, and Gandhinagar) and their correlation with respect to age, sex, travel history, symptoms, and underlying conditions. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with COVID-19, who were screened for SARS-CoV-2 from April 16 to May 25, 2020, from three districts of Gujarat (Arvalli, Sabarkantha, and Gandhinagar). Positive cases were confirmed by qRT-PCR and analyzed for epidemiological, demographic, and clinical characterization among different groups. Results: Of 4000 suspects screened, a total of 199 patients were confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among them, middle-aged group (5.4%) and young adult patients (4.3%) were infected with SARS-CoV-2. The median age was 33 years, including 143 males and 56 females. The positivity rate from breathlessness was 8 (28.5%), nasal discharge 2 (25%), and nausea/vomiting 2 (25%) followed by fever 28 (20%) among total cases in respective categories. Among asymptomatic 3536 patients, 146 patients were confirmed for SARS-CoV. Among 256 patients with comorbidities, 14 patients were confirmed for SARS-CoV. Conclusion: Clinical investigation in initial SARS-CoV-2 patients in the western Indian region revealed that young adult male was more susceptible than female. Symptoms such as fever, cough, and sore throat reports are useful for screening the SARS-CoV-2.

Shedding of infectious SARS-COV-2 in two asymptomatic children / Excreción de SARS-CoV-2 infeccioso en dos niños asin tomáticos

Abstract Asymptomatic infections with SARS-CoV-2 are associ ated with viral transmission and have a key role in the propagation of the pandemic. Understanding viral shed ding during asymptomatic infections is critical. Unfor tunately, data on asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in children is extremely limited. To determine the presence of viral viable shedding, we prospectively followed two healthy children of a family where both parents devel oped mild COVID-19 (April 2021). SARS-CoV-2 detection was made by RT-PCR and virus isolation by cell culture from saliva samples. Positive samples were sequenced to identify variants of SARS-CoV-2. Serum samples were evaluated to determine the presence of antibodies using a single enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, COVIDAR IgG). Both children were SARS-CoV-2 positive and asymptomatic. In addition, the virus grew in cell cul ture from saliva samples. Furthermore, one child showed viable SARS-CoV-2 for at least 17 days after the onset symptoms from his father. The recommended isolation period for asymptomatic contacts during the acquisition of data had been established for 10 days; however, this child remained with viable virus beyond that period. The positive samples from both children were consistent with B.1.1.28.1 lineage (Gamma). In both asymptomatic children, anti-Spike IgG was detected. Asymptomatic children may represent a source of infection that should not be underestimated during this pandemic.

Resumen Las infecciones asintomáticas por SARS-CoV-2 están asociadas a la transmisión viral y tienen un papel cla ve en la propagación de la pandemia. Comprender la excreción viral durante las infecciones asintomáticas es fundamental. Desafortunadamente, los datos sobre la infección asintomática por SARS-CoV-2 en niños son extremadamente limitados. Para determinar la presencia de excreción de virus viable, se siguió prospectivamente a dos niños sanos de una familia en la que ambos padres desarrollaron COVID-19 leve (abril 2021). La detección de SARS-CoV-2 se realizó por RT-PCR y el aislamiento del virus por cultivo celular a partir de muestras de saliva. Las muestras positivas se secuenciaron para identificar variantes de SARS-CoV-2. En las muestras de suero se determinó la presencia de anticuerpos utilizando un ensayo de ELISA (COVIDAR IgG). Ambos niños fueron positivos para SARS-CoV-2 y asintomáticos. Además, el virus creció en cultivos celulares a partir de muestras de saliva. Uno de los niños mantuvo SARS-CoV-2 via bles durante al menos 17 días después de la aparición de los síntomas de su padre. El período de aislamiento recomendado para contactos asintomáticos durante la adquisición de datos se había establecido en 10 días, sin embargo, este niño permaneció con virus viable más allá de ese período. Las muestras positivas de estos niños correspondieron al linaje B.1.1.28.1 (Gamma). En ambos niños asintomáticos se detectó anticuerpos IgG anti-Spike. Concluimos que los niños asintomáticos pueden representar una fuente de infección que no debe subestimarse durante esta pandemia.

¿Debemos manejar la hiperuricemia asintomática para proteger al riñón?

Contexto: el ácido úrico es el producto final de la degradación de las purinas en los primates, en condiciones normales es un agente antioxidante endógeno y participa en varias vías fisiológicas, sin embargo, cuando los niveles séricos de urato se incrementan, estos participan en el desarrollo de diversas enfermedades. Desde el siglo XIX se conoce de la asociación entre hiperuricemia y daño renal, aunque ninguna guía de manejo recomienda el uso de fármacos hipouricemiantes en pacientes asintomáticos, en algunos casos especiales, el manejo farmacológico beneficiará a pacientes con hiperuricemia, brindando protección al riñón y disminuyendo el riesgo de desarrollar enfermedad renal terminal. Objetivo: describir la relación entre hiperuricemia y daño renal, y analizar los casos en los que el manejo de esta condición con medicamentos resultará en un beneficio para el riñón de los pacientes. Metodología: revisión de la literatura sobre la participación de la hiperuricemia en el daño renal y análisis de los artículos revisados. Resultados: el manejo de la hiperuricemia asintomática puede proteger el riñón en algunas situaciones específicas. Conclusiones: hay situaciones específicas para la disminución de los niveles séricos de ácido úrico.

Background: Uric acid is the end product of purine degradation in primates, under normal conditions it is an endogenous antioxidant agent and participates in several physiological pathways. However, when serum urate levels are increased, they participate in the development of various diseases. Since the nineteenth century, the association between hyperuricemia and kidney damage has been known. Although no management guideline recommends the use of hypouricemic drugs in asymptomatic patients, in some special cases pharmacological management will benefit patients with hyperuricemia, providing protection to the kidney and decreasing the risk of developing end-stage renal disease. Purpose: To describe the relationship between hyperuricemia and kidney damage, and to analyze the cases in which the management of this condition with medications will result in a benefit for the kidney of patients. Methodology: Review of the literature on the involvement of hyperuricemia in kidney damage, analysis of the reviewed articles. Results: Management of asymptomatic hyperuricemia may protect the kidney in some specific situations. Conclusions: There are specific situations for the decrease of serum uric acid levels.

Rare Incidental Foreign Body in the Maxillary Sinus on Routine Radiographic Examination

Accidental entry of any foreign body into the paranasal sinus could be due to known causes or unknown causes with the patient being either symptomatic or sometimes asymptomatic. Such asymptomatic conditions make it difficult to detect the foreign body for an indefinite period which on a longer duration may lead to various complications later. Routine radiographic examination during dental checkup reports to serve a good purpose in these kinds of cases by accidental detection of such foreign bodies in the maxillofacial region leading to early diagnosis and timely management. The present paper highlights the importance of routine radiographs in detecting a rare type of foreign body (nasal stud) in the maxillary sinus in the asymptomatic patient.

Características poblacionales y placentarias asociadas a óbito en infección asintomática por SARS-CoV-2 / Population characteristics and placental findings associated with stillbirth in asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection

Resumen Objetivo: Comparar características poblacionales y hallazgos placentarios asociados a óbito, en mujeres con infección asintomática por coronavirus 2 del síndrome respiratorio agudo grave (SARS-CoV-2) al momento de la resolución del embarazo. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal analítico, mujeres con diagnóstico de óbito e infección asintomática por SARS-CoV-2. Se excluyeron pacientes con patología ginecológica y aquellas con más de una prueba RT-PCR. Resultados: No hay diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre las pacientes con infección asintomática por SARS-CoV-2 comparadas con pacientes sin infección para las características poblacionales como edad materna, antecedentes obstétricos, edad gestacional, escolaridad, estado civil, hábito tabáquico y enfermedades crónico-degenerativas. Tampoco hubo diferencia en los hallazgos placentarios de corioamnionitis, vasculitis, deciduitis, trombosis, aterosis aguda y necrosis fibrinoide. Conclusiones: No hay diferencia estadísticamente significativa en las características poblacionales y placentarias en embarazadas con diagnóstico de óbito, con y sin infección asintomática por SARS-CoV-2. Tenemos datos insuficientes para afirmar alguna característica asociada a óbito en pacientes con infección por SARS-CoV-2 asintomática.

Abstract Objective: To compare population characteristics and placental findings associated with stillbirth, in women with asymptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection at the time of delivery. Materials and methods: Analytical cross-sectional study women with a diagnosis of stillbirth and with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with gynecological pathology and those with more than one RT-PCR test were excluded. Results: There is no statistically significant difference between patients with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to patients without infection for population characteristics such as maternal age, obstetric history, gestational age, education, marital status, smoking habit, chronic-degenerative diseases. There was no difference in placental findings of chorioamnionitis, vasculitis, deciduitis, thrombosis, acute atherosis, and fibrinoid necrosis. Conclusions: There is no statistically significant difference in the population and placental characteristics, in pregnant women diagnosed with stillbirth with and without confirmed asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. For the moment, we have insufficient data to affirm any population characteristic associated with stillbirth in patients with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Prevalencia de infección por Chlamydia trachomatis y relación con el perfil de conductas sexuales en adolescentes y mujeres jóvenes de la Provincia de Osorno, Chile / Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection and relationship with the profile of sexual behaviors in adolescents and young women in the Province of Osorno, Chile

INTRODUCCIÓN: La infección por Chlamydia trachomatis es la ITS bacteriana más frecuente del mundo. En el cervix se presenta mayormente de forma asintomática y afecta especialmente a mujeres jóvenes y adolescentes. Puede producir daño permanente en el tracto reproductor femenino, se asocia a parto prematuro, infecciones neonatales transmitidas vía vertical y mayor riesgo de adquirir otras ITS como VIH Y VPH. Por estos motivos se han establecido estrategias de tamizaje para detectar y tratar precozmente la infección asintomática por C. trachomatis en diferentes países. En nuestro país no contamos con un programa nacional de tamizaje. OBJETIVO: Determinar la prevalencia de infección asintomática por Chlamydia trachomatis en mujeres entre 12 y 21 años de la Provincia de Osorno, Región de Los Lagos, Chile. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Se desarrolló un estudio de diseño transversal con una cohorte única de mujeres adolescentes y jóvenes consultantes en el Policlínico de Alto Riesgo Obstétrico y de Ginecología Infantil y Adolescente, del Hospital Base de Osorno, entre enero de 2019 y enero 2020. Se determinó el estado de infección asintomática mediante RPC en tiempo real para C. trachomatis. Se realizó una encuesta a fin de determinar características demográficas, hábitos y conductas sexuales de las pacientes estudiadas. RESULTADOS: Fueron reclutadas 124 mujeres entre 12 a 21 años de edad, de las cuales, 36 (29,3%) se encontraban embarazadas al momento del estudio. La prevalencia de infección asintomática por C. trachomatis fue de 14/124 (11,3%). En las mujeres gestantes se encontraron 6/36 (16,7%) casos positivos de infección por C. trachomatis y 8/88 (9,1%) en las no gestantes. Existe una mayor frecuencia de infección asintomática a menor edad de inicio de actividad sexual (33,3% en aquellas que inician entre 11-12 años vs. 16,2% en las que inician entre 1314 años, 7,4% entre 15-16 y 8% entre 17-21 años; p < 0,05). Esta tendencia no fue observada al comparar el estado de infección con el tiempo de vida sexual activa. Sólo 15,7% de las pacientes utilizó preservativo en todas sus relaciones sexuales. DISCUSIÓN: La infección asintomática por C. trachomatis es frecuente en las mujeres adolescentes y jóvenes sexualmente activas. Las pacientes con inicio más temprano de la actividad sexual coital (bajo 13 años de edad) podrían estar en mayor riesgo. Se requiere con urgencia establecer la frecuencia nacional de infección para desarrollar una estrategia sanitaria para su pesquisa y manejo oportuno en nuestro país.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the world most common bacterial STI. At uterine cervix it presents mostly asymptomatically and especially affects young women and adolescents. It can cause permanent damage to the female reproductive tract and is associated with premature birth, connatal infections and increased risk of acquiring other STIs such as HIV and HPV. For these reasons, other countries have established screening strategies to detect and treat asymptomatic C. trachomatis infection. Our country don't have a national screening program. AIM: To determine the prevalence of C. trachomatis asymptomatic infection in adolescent and young women in Osorno province, Los Lagos Region, Chile. METHODS: A crosssectional study was performed in adolescent and young women who consult at Hospital Base Osorno in the MaternoFetal and PediatricAdolescent Gynecology ambulatory clinics, between January 2019 and January 2020. The status of asymptomatic infection was determined by PCR for C. trachomatis. A survey was carried out to determine the demographic characteristics, habits and sexual behaviors. RESULTS: 124 women between 12 and 21 years of age were recruited, of which 36 (29,3%) were pregnant at the time of the study. The prevalence of asymptomatic infection by C. trachomatis was 11.3.%. In pregnant women, there were 6/36 (16.7%) positive cases for C. trachomatis and 8/88 (9.1%) in nonpregnant women. We found a higher frequency of asymptomatic infection at younger age of first sexual intercourse (33% in adolescents at 11-12 years old vs. 16.2% at 13-14, 7.4% at 15-16 and 8% at 17-21; p<0.05). Only 15.7% of the patients utilized condoms in all their intercourses. DISCUSSION: Asymptomatic C. trachomatis infection is common in adolescent and young women, with a higher risk in those who onset sexual activity at an early age (less than 13 years old). It is urgently required to determine the national frequency of asymptomatic C. trachomatis infection to develop a national strategy for screening and timely treatment.

Prevalence of Undiagnosed Diabetes and Impaired Glucose Tolerance in a Semi-urban Population from Calicut City

Though the prevalence of Diabetes is increasing worldwide, a thorough knowledge of the prevalence of undiagnosed Diabetes a pre-diabetes is lacking. This study from India is to evaluate the prevalence of asymptomatic diabetes among adults with comorbidities and without any history of Diabetes. Prevalence of asymptomatic individuals with Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerancewas 3% and 15%, respectively. The high prevalence found in the study raises concern over the health care indices and the need for urgent public health action to control the pandemic. Regular screening for Diabetes in adults is required to prevent complications of long-term diabetes

A Campylobacteriosis Outbreak Caused by One Asymptomatic Food Handler Carrier / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

In August 2021, three students with diarrhea from the same school visited a local hospital in the S district of Beijing. An epidemic investigation showed that there were more students with diarrhea in the same school and they had one meal together. Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from both patients with diarrhea and asymptomatic food handlers; however, the latter also carried Campylobacter coli. Phylogenomic analysis showed that there was a campylobacteriosis outbreak among the students, and the asymptomatic food handler may have been the source of the infection. Routine inspection and surveillance for Campylobacter is needed for the food producing staff, particularly those cooking in the cafeteria in schools or other public food services.

Carotid stenting in coronary artery bypass grafting patients with asymptomatic severe carotid artery stenosis / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:To evaluate the perioperative and follow-up data of carotid artery stenting (CAS)+ coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and CABG alone, and to assess the safety and efficacy of CAS in the treatment of severe stenosis of the carotid artery in combination with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 700 CABG patients combined asymptomatic carotid artery severe stenosis at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, and Beijing Tiantan Hospital from January 2018 to December 2022 was performed. According to whether or not underwent CAS treatment, they were divided into the CAS-CABG group(116 cases)and the CABG-only group(584 cases). The mean age of the CAS-CABG group was (64.8±7.3) years, and all of them underwent unilateral CAS surgery only; the mean age of the CABG only group was (65.5±7.6) years. The main results of the patients in the two groups were compared at 30 days after the operation and follow-up period.Results:The early postoperative stroke rate was significantly lower in the CAS-CABG group(2.6% vs. 9.1%, P=0.02), while the combined procedure did not increase the rates of mortality and adverse events during follow-up. Subgroup analysis revealed that there was no significant difference in stroke rates between the two procedures for asymptomatic unilateral carotid artery stenosis, advanced age, history of atrial fibrillation, and history of stroke were independent risk factors for early stroke in CABG for asymptomatic unilateral carotid artery stenosis. Conclusion:CAS-CABG is safe and effective in the treatment of coronary artery disease combined with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis, and can reduce the incidence of early postoperative stroke in patients. CABG patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis should be rationally screened for prophylactic CAS to reduce the risk of postoperative stroke in these patients.

A cross sectional validation study of sonographic findings of the first metatarsophalangeal Joint in gout and asymptomatic hyperuricemia

Objective@#Musculoskeletal ultrasound has gained recognition in early identification of crystal deposits in the joints and soft tissues. This study aims to validate the sonographic features of 1st metatarsophalangeal joints (MTPJs) in gout and asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AH).@*Methods@#Patients with gout (n=20) and AH (n=16) underwent a gray-scale ultrasound assessment of both 1st MTPJs on 3 positions (dorsal, medial, plantar) in longitudinal view. The static images were read by 2 blinded trained sonologists for the presence of double contour sign (DCS), erosions, and tophi.

Disputes and thinking on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic gallstones / 国际外科学杂志

Cholecystolithiasis is a common clinical disease, which can be secondary to cholecystitis, cholangitis, pancreatitis and gallbladder cancer. Many patients with gallstone have no obvious clinical symptoms such as biliary colic. Some patients are indeed asymptomatic because there are not obstruction and inflammation. However, some patients have no symptoms due to ignorance, mistaken for stomach pain, enteritis, etc. Some patients have no symptoms because of insensitivity and insufficient perception. For other patients with abnormal gallbladder morphology and structure, non-functional gallbladder must be no pain. To clarify the concept, diagnosis and classification of asymptomatic gallstones according to pathophysiological stages is conducive to the development of personalized management strategies. According to guidelines formulated by different periods, different regions and different medical institutions, there are many controversies regarding the management of asymptomatic gallstones, including regular follow-up, drug treatment, surgical resection or gallblades-saving lithotomy. Reasonable personalized diagnosis and treatment requires more in-depth basic research evidence.

Clinical characteristics of asymptomatic infection of brucellosis / 中华地方病学杂志

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of asymptomatic infection of brucellosis, in order to provide reference for prevention and treatment of brucellosis.Methods:Retrospective analysis was used to collect the clinical data of patients with brucellosis asymptomatic infection and confirmed cases admitted to the 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of Chinese PLA from 2017 to 2021, and the demography characteristics, clinical manifestations and laboratory test results were analyzed.Results:The results showed that a total of 18 cases of asymptomatic infection and 85 confirmed cases of brucellosis were included, and there was no statistically significant difference in age, gender, occupation and ethnicity distribution between the two groups ( F = 7.09, χ 2 = 0.74, 4.02, 0.55, P = 0.295, 0.785, 0.327, 1.000). The 18 cases of asymptomatic infection of brucellosis were found through screening in key populations, and no clinical symptoms or abnormal imaging signs were observed. The clinical symptoms of 85 confirmed cases were mainly muscle and joint pain, fever, sweating, fatigue, and low back pain; and the imaging manifestations were mainly arthritis, splenomegaly, and spondylitis. The median percentage of eosinophils (0.70%, 1.40%), percentage of basophils (3.05%, 0.40%), C-reactive protein (1.62, 4.62 mg/L), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (1.00, 11.00 mm/h), and antibody titer of serum agglutination test (1 ∶ 100, 1 ∶ 200) showed statistically significant differences between asymptomatic infection and confirmed cases of brucellosis ( Z = - 2.97, - 5.11, - 3.49, - 3.21, - 3.50, P = 0.003, 0.001, 0.001, 0.001, 0.007). Conclusions:There is a difference in the composition of granulocytes between asymptomatic infection and confirmed cases of brucellosis, and the level of inflammatory response indicators is lower than that of confirmed cases. Regular seroepidemiological surveys among key populations can help screen for asymptomatic infection of brucellosis.

Correlation between different clinical manifestations and changes of blood indexes in canine leishmaniasis / 中华地方病学杂志

Objective:To study the main blood parameters of Leishmania-infected dogs with different clinical symptoms in the high incidence area of visceral leishmaniasis in Gansu Province, and to provide scientific basis for early diagnosis and monitoring of canine leishmaniasis. Methods:In May 2019, Wenxian County of Longnan City and Diebu County of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the historical endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis in Gansu Province, were selected as the investigation sites, and 40 dogs with positive Leishmania DNA were investigated. According to their clinical symptoms, they were divided into three groups: asymptomatic ( n = 17), minimally symptomatic ( n = 12) and symptomatic ( n = 11). At the same time, 10 healthy dogs were selected as controls. Major blood indexes were detected by an automatic animal blood five-classification cell analyzer. Results:Compared with the control group, the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin content, hematocrit, and the number of lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils in the asymptomatic, minimally symptomatic and symptomatic groups were decreased ( P < 0.05), while the number of white blood cells and neutrophils in minimally symptomatic and symptomatic groups were decreased ( P < 0.05). The above blood indexes were lower in the symptomatic group than those in the asymptomatic group. The number of red blood cells (control group vs symptomatic group) decreased from (6.82 ± 0.05) × 10 12/L to (4.19 ± 0.08) × 10 12/L, hemoglobin content decreased from (15.84 ± 0.74) g/L to (9.65 ± 0.18) g/L, hematocrit decreased from (46.41 ± 0.95)% to (27.86 ± 0.42)%, the number of white blood cells decreased from (14.90 ± 0.22) × 10 9/L to (10.23 ± 0.24) × 10 9/L, the number of neutrophils decreased from (7.25 ± 0.18) × 10 9/L to (6.18 ± 0.11) × 10 9/L, the number of lymphocytes decreased from (2.80 ± 0.07) × 10 9/L to (1.64 ± 0.06) × 10 9/L, the number of monocytes decreased from (1.13 ± 0.01) × 10 9/L to (0.53 ± 0.02) × 10 9/L, and the number of eosinophils decreased from (1.70 ± 0.06) × 10 9/L to (0.71 ± 0.03) × 10 9/L. Conclusion:Different clinical symptoms of Leishmania-infected dogs have different blood test results.