Epidemiological Trend of Paediatric COVID-19 in First and Second Wave of Corona Pandemic — An Observational Study

Objective : To compare the epidemiological trend of COVID-19 in pediatric patients in First and Second wave of Corona pandemic. Material and Methods : Data of all RTPCR samples for SARS-CoV-2 collected between June, 2020 and June, 2021, were retrospectively analyzed and compared between pediatric and adults in 1st and 2nd wave of pandemic in Central Hospital, North Western Railway Jaipur Rajasthan. Results : Total 9766 samples were collected, out of it paediatric samples were 533 which is 5.47% of total. 137 out of 533 paediatric samples reported positive for SARS-CoV-2. Overall paediatric positivity rate is 25.7% and adult positivity rate is 28.4%. Positivity rate, Hospitalization and death rate in First wave in paediatric population is 20.7%, 0% and 0% and for adult 29.5%, 30% and 0.29% respectively. In Second wave positivity rate, hospitalization and death rate for pediatric is 30.5%, 2.4%, 0% and for adult it is 27.7%, 32.8% and 5.16% respectively. Conclusion : Overall adult and paediatric positivity is comparable. Pediatric positivity increased significantly by 47.3% in Second wave specially in age group 6 to 12 years. Positivity is more in male child as compared to female. Though in Second wave more paediatric patients reported positive and 2 cases (2.4 %) required hospitalization also but no severe COVID infection or death was reported in children in this study

Prevalence of Novel Corona Virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) and its Uncertain Future in the Different Regions of Punjab

Background: Coronavirus disease?19 (COVID?19), produced by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS?CoV?2), has become a global pandemic, giving rise to a serious health threat globally. Many countries have seen a two?wave pattern in there reported cases during the period of pandemic. Similarly, our country has reported the first peak between March and October 2020 followed by the second peak between April and June 2021. Objectives: The objective of this study was conducted to describe the spatiotemporal patterns and early epidemiological features of COVID?19 cases from November 2020 to May 2021 in the central (Majha) region of Punjab state of India which was considered as the epicenter of the infection. Methods: The multiplexed real?time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT?PCR) method was used to detect SARS?CoV?2, with co?amplification of specific target genes using real?time PCR kits. Results: During the second wave, test positivity rate for COVID?19 in our laboratory (the central region of Punjab) was recorded as 4.8%. The study revealed that an increased sustained proportion of COVID?19 incidence is present in young adult age group (20–39 years) with 8.65% positive rate followed by the older age group and least in young ones. It was observed that during the second wave, more symptomatic individuals are positive (10.26%) alongside it was also observed that male population (5.61%) was more prone to infection in comparison to females (3.78%). Whole?genome sequencing carried out on 120 random samples selected from all the districts of Majha region of Punjab state showed two prominent strains, namely alpha variant (95 cases) and delta variant (19 cases). Conclusion: A higher positivity rate in the second wave demonstrates the rapid spread of the new emerging virus variants and warrants the implementation of strict vaccination regimes and quarantine in the affected region.

SARS-CoV-2 infection rates after different vaccination schemes: An online survey in Turkey

Objective: To identify effects of various nationwide vaccination protocols on the evolution of new SARS-CoV-2 infections among adult population and to evaluate the safety of mRNA (BioNTech/ Pfizer) vaccine. Methods: Totally 10 735 adult volunteers that received at least one dose of BioNTech/Pfizer or triple doses of CoronaVac participated in this cross-sectional-online survey between 1 and 10 September 2021. The information was collected covering a 5-month period from April 2021 to September 2021. Information about people who were vaccinated with only single and double dose CoronaVac were not included in this study. Results: At least one side effect after single and double dose of BioNTech/Pfizer and triple doses of CoronaVac were observed in 42.1%, 42.5% and 10.9%, respectively. The most common side effects were shoulder/arm pain, weakness/fatigue, muscle/joint pain and headache. The side effects were the most frequent in single BioNTech/Pfizer, while it was the least in triple CoronaVac. The rate of positive PCR tests before vaccination was 17.6%, and decreased to 3.0% after vaccination. The rates of positive SARS CoV-2-PCR were 18.8%, 3.5%, 3.1%, 0.5% and 4.6% in single BioNTech/Pfizer, double BioNTech/Pfizer, double CoronaVac+single BioNTech/Pfizer, double CoronaVac+double BioNTech/Pfizer and triple CoronaVac, respectively. While 1.8% of PCR positive COVID-19 cases needed intensive unit care in the pre-vaccination period, intensive care unit was required in 0%, 1.5%, 2.4%, 0% and 4.2% after single BioNTech/ Pfizer, double BioNTech/Pfizer, double CoronaVac+single BioNTech/ Pfizer, double CoronaVac+double BioNTech/Pfizer and triple CoronaVac, respectively. Reinfection rate after vaccination was 0.4%. Conclusions: The rarity of COVID-19 infection after vaccination suggests that efficacy of vaccines is maintained. On the other hand, the data underscore the critical importance of continued public health mitigation.

Application value of real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound in transrectal prostate biopsy / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To explore the application value of real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound (RTCEU) in improving the detection rate of transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This prospective study included 91 male patients with abnormally high PSA (4－20 μg/L) or abnormalities in DRE or MRI, who underwent 12+X prostate biopsy following conventional transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and RTCEU examination. We compared the numbers of suspected prostatic nodules before and after RTCEU as well as the detection rates of prostate cancer between conventional TRUS-guided 12PBx and 12PBx plus lesion-targeted biopsy procedures.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally, 57 of the 86 suspected lesions on TRUS (66.3%), and 108 of the 118 abnormal nodules on RTCEU (91.5%) were confirmed to be prostate cancer. RTCEU achieved a significantly higher detection rate than TRUS (P<0.01). A total of 39 cases of prostate cancer (42.8%) were detected by RTCEU, while only 28 (30.7%) by TRUS, with statistically significant difference in the detection rate between the two procedures (P=0.033).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound can significantly improve the detection rate of prostate cancer and provide a valuable guide to targeted prostate biopsy.</p>

A Six-Year Study on the Changes in Airborne Pollen Counts and Skin Positivity Rates in Korea: 2008-2013

PURPOSE: The occurrence of pollen allergy is subject to exposure to pollen, which shows regional and temporal variations. We evaluated the changes in pollen counts and skin positivity rates for 6 years, and explored the correlation between their annual rates of change. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed the number of pollen grains collected in Seoul, and retrospectively reviewed the results of 4442 skin-prick tests conducted at the Severance Hospital Allergy-Asthma Clinic from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2013. RESULTS: For 6 years, the mean monthly total pollen count showed two peaks, one in May and the other in September. Pollen count for grasses also showed the same trend. The pollen counts for trees, grasses, and weeds changed annually, but the changes were not significant. The annual skin positivity rates in response to pollen from grasses and weeds increased significantly over the 6 years. Among trees, the skin positivity rates in response to pollen from walnut, popular, elm, and alder significantly increased over the 6 years. Further, there was a significant correlation between the annual rate of change in pollen count and the rate of change in skin positivity rate for oak and hop Japanese. CONCLUSION: The pollen counts and skin positivity rates should be monitored, as they have changed annually. Oak and hop Japanese, which showed a significant correlation with the annual rate of change in pollen count and the rate of change in skin positivity rate over the 6 years may be considered the major allergens in Korea.