COVID-19 Prediction, Diagnosis and Prevention Through Computer Vision

Recent Corona Virus Disease (COVID) outbreak, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), has been posing a big threat to global health since December 2019. In response, research community from all over the world has shifted all their efforts to contribute in this global war by providing crucial solutions. Various computer vision (CV) technologies along with other artificial intelligence (AI) subsets have significant potential to fight in frontline of this turbulent war. Normally radiologists and other clinicians are using reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for diagnosing COVID-19, which requires strict examination environment and a set of resources. Further, this method is also prone to false negative errors. One of the potential solutions for effective and fast screening of doubtful cases is the intervention of computer vision-based support decision systems in healthcare. CT-scans, X-rays and ultrasound images are being widely used for detection, segmentation and classification of COVID-1. Computer vision is using these modalities and is providing the fast, optimal diagnosis at the early-stage controlling mortality rate. Computer vision-based surveillance technologies are also being used for monitoring physical distance, detecting people with or without face masks, screening infected persons, measuring their temperature, tracing body movements and detecting hand washing. In addition to these, it is also assisting in production of vaccine and contributing in administrative tasks and clinical management. This chapter presents an extensive study of some computer vision-based technologies for detection, diagnosis, prediction and prevention of COVID. Our main goal here is to draw a bigger picture and provide the role of computer vision in fight against COVID-19 pandemic. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

Babesiosis as a Cause of Atraumatic Splenic Injury: Two Case Reports and a Review of Literature.

We present two cases of Babesia-induced splenic injury at a single institution. In the late summer, two patients presented with left-sided abdominal pain radiating to the shoulder. They were both found to have hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute splenic infarction on imaging. Blood smears showed intracellular ring forms consistent with Babesia spp. and low parasitemia (<1%). Diagnosis was confirmed by PCR for Babesia microti. Both patients improved with azithromycin and atovaquone, without blood products or surgical intervention. Several weeks following treatment, repeat blood smears revealed no parasites. Splenic infarct and hemorrhage have been previously reported as rare complications of babesiosis. However, given the steady rise in Babesia microti cases in the USA, even these rare complications will become more prevalent. We review both the diagnosis and management of Babesia-induced splenic complications, which can be challenging in patients with low-level parasitemia. Clinicians should consider babesiosis as a cause of atraumatic splenic injury.

Four SARS-CoV-2 vaccines induce quantitatively different antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants (preprint)

BackgroundEmerging and future SARS-CoV-2 variants may jeopardize the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns. Therefore, it is important to know how the different vaccines perform against diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants. MethodsIn a prospective cohort of 165 SARS-CoV-2 naive health care workers, vaccinated with either one of four vaccines (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, AZD1222 or Ad26.COV2.S), we performed a head-to-head comparison of the ability of sera to recognize and neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs; Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron). Repeated serum sampling was performed 5 times during a year (from January 2021 till January 2022), including before and after booster vaccination with BNT162b2. FindingsFour weeks after completing the initial vaccination series, SARS-CoV-2 wild-type neutralizing antibody titers were highest in recipients of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 (geometric mean titers (GMT) of 197 [95% CI 149-260] and 313 [95% CI 218-448], respectively), and substantially lower in those vaccinated with the adenovirus vector-based vaccines AZD1222 and Ad26.COV2.S (GMT of 26 [95% CI 18-37] and 14 [95% CI 8-25] IU/ml, respectively). These findings were robust for adjustment to age and sex. VOCs neutralization was reduced in all vaccine groups, with the largest (9- to 80-fold) reduction in neutralization observed against the Omicron variant. The booster BNT162b2 vaccination increased neutralizing antibody titers for all groups with substantial improvement against the VOCs including the Omicron variant. Study limitations include the lack of cellular immunity data. ConclusionsOverall, this study shows that the mRNA vaccines appear superior to adenovirus vector-based vaccines in inducing neutralizing antibodies against VOCs four weeks after initial vaccination and after booster vaccination.

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern evade humoral immune responses from infection and vaccination (preprint)

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants pose a threat to human immunity induced by natural infection and vaccination. We assessed the recognition of three variants of concern (B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and P.1) in cohorts of COVID-19 patients ranging in disease severity (n = 69) and recipients of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine (n = 50). Spike binding and neutralization against all three VOC was substantially reduced in the majority of samples, with the largest 4-7-fold reduction in neutralization being observed against B.1.351. While hospitalized COVID-19 patients and vaccinees maintained sufficient neutralizing titers against all three VOC, 39% of non-hospitalized patients did not neutralize B.1.351. Moreover, monoclonal neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) show sharp reductions in their binding kinetics and neutralizing potential to B.1.351 and P.1, but not to B.1.1.7. These data have implications for the degree to which pre-existing immunity can protect against subsequent infection with VOC and informs policy makers of susceptibility to globally circulating SARS-CoV-2 VOC.

Single-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in a prospective cohort of COVID-19 patients (preprint)

Background The urgent need for, but limited availability of, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines worldwide has led to widespread consideration of dose sparing strategies, particularly single vaccine dosing of individuals with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods We evaluated SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody responses following a single-dose of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) mRNA vaccine in 155 previously SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals participating in a population-based prospective cohort study of COVID-19 patients. Participants varied widely in age, comorbidities, COVID-19 severity and time since infection, ranging from 1 to 15 months. Serum antibody titers were determined at time of vaccination and one week after vaccination. Responses were compared to those in SARS-CoV-2-naive health care workers after two BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine doses. Results Within one week of vaccination, IgG antibody levels to virus spike and RBD proteins increased 27 to 29-fold and neutralizing antibody titers increased 12-fold, exceeding titers of fully vaccinated SARS-CoV-2-naive controls (95% credible interval (CrI): 0.56 to 0.67 v. control 95% CrI: -0.16 to -0.02). Pre-vaccination neutralizing antibody titers had the largest positive mean effect size on titers following vaccination (95% CrI (0.16 to 0.45)). COVID-19 severity, the presence of comorbidities and the time interval between infection and vaccination had no discernible impact on vaccine response. Conclusion A single dose of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine up to 15 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection provides neutralizing titers exceeding two vaccine doses in previously uninfected individuals. These findings support wide implementation of a single-dose mRNA vaccine strategy after prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The psychological impact of covid-19 pandemic on the pediatricians of faisalabad: A cross-sectional study

Background: Pediatricians are facing mental health issues including anxiety, depression, and insomnia, regardless of whether they are, or are not dealing directly with the COVID-19 patients. Objective of this study was to determine the frequency of depression, anxiety, and stress, during COVID-19 pandemic, among pediatricians using Depression, Anxiety, Stress Self-reporting (DASS-21) score. Material and Methods: This descriptive, Cross-Sectional Study was conducted at The Children's Hospital & Institute of Child Health, Faisalabad and Allied Hospital Faisalabad & affiliated hospitals, Pakistan;from August 2020 to October 2020. A total of 110 pediatricians from district Faisalabad of Pakistan, fulfilling the eligibility criteria, were included in the study. An e-questionnaire was circulated which was filled and submitted by the pediatricians online. The e-questionnaire included 33 questions, including 21 questions from the DASS-21 questionnaire. Demographic details like age, gender, place of work, current working position were recorded. Data were collected and analyzed by SPSS v.20. P-value less than 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Pediatricians reporting symptoms of depression using DASS-21 were 39/110;mild (11), moderate (16) and severe (07). Pediatricians reporting symptoms of anxiety were 40/110;mild (09), moderate (21) and severe (05). Pediatricians reporting symptoms of stress were 33/110;mild (10), moderate (15) and severe (06). More pediatricians in younger age groups reported statistically significant symptoms of stress (p-value=0.017). Significant symptoms of anxiety and stress were reported in pediatricians, who suffered from COVID-19 infection (p-value=0.006 & 0.055), and those who witnessed the death of a COVID-19 patient (p-value=0.013 & 0.012) Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, pediatricians are suffering from mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and stress;despite the lower frequency and severity of COVID-19 infection in pediatric patients. Measures should be taken to support mental health of pediatricians during this time of crisis.