The role of personal identity as a resource for college students during COVID-19.

Objective: We examined the role of personal identity vis-à-vis COVID-related outcomes among college students from seven U.S. campuses during spring/summer 2021. Participants: The present sample consisted of 1,688 students (74.5% female, age range 18-29). The sample was ethnically diverse, and 57.3% were first-generation students. Procedures: Students completed an online survey assessing personal identity synthesis and confusion, COVID-related worries, general internalizing symptoms, positive adaptation, and general well-being. Results: Personal identity synthesis was negatively related to COVID-related worries and general internalizing symptoms, and positively related to positive adaptation, both directly and indirectly through life satisfaction and psychological well-being. Personal identity confusion evidenced an opposing set of direct and indirect associations with outcome variables. Conclusions: Personal identity may potentially be protective against pandemic-related distress among college students, in part through its association with well-being. Reducing identity confusion and promoting identity synthesis are essential among college students during this and future pandemics.

Short telomeres in alveolar type II cells associate with lung fibrosis in post COVID-19 patients with cancer.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The severity of COVID-19 increases with each decade of life, a phenomenon that suggest that organismal aging contributes to the fatality of the disease. In this regard, we and others have previously shown that COVID-19 severity correlates with shorter telomeres, a molecular determinant of aging, in patient's leukocytes. Lung injury is a predominant feature of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection that can further progress to lung fibrosis in post-COVID-19 patients. Short or dysfunctional telomeres in Alveolar type II (ATII) cells are sufficient to induce pulmonary fibrosis in mouse and humans. Here, we analyze telomere length and the histopathology of lung biopsies from a cohort of alive post-COVID-19 patients and a cohort of age-matched controls with lung cancer. We found loss of ATII cellularity and shorter telomeres in ATII cells concomitant with a marked increase in fibrotic lung parenchyma remodeling in post- COVID-19 patients compared to controls. These findings reveal a link between presence of short telomeres in ATII cells and long-term lung fibrosis sequel in Post-COVID-19 patients.

Prevalencia y factores asociados a infección por SARS-CoV-2 en adultos mayores institucionalizados

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of infection and the factors associated with COVID-19 in a geriatric institution in Cali, Colombia. This is an observational, cross-sectional study in institutionalized older adults after a COVID-19 outbreak. In a population of 252 adults who were screened for SARS-CoV-2. The prevalence of COVID-19 infection and its relationship with sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, symptoms, and geriatric clinimetry were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate regression models with prevalence ratios. Of this population, 84 (33.3%) were infected. A higher prevalence was found in adults ≥80 years (PR = 1.69 95% CI 1.16-2.47), with malnutrition (MNA <17) (PR = 1.44 95% CI 1.01-2.04 ) and with a Barthel index <60 (PR = 1.57 95% CI 1.09-2.25). Those infected presented mostly with fever (PR = 2.08 95% CI 1.39-3.09) and cough (PR = 1.61 95% CI 1.10-2.34). In conclusion, the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in institutionalized older adults is related to advanced age, malnutrition, and functional dependence.Alternate :El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de infección y los factores asociados con la COVID-19 en una institución geriátrica de Cali, Colombia. Se trata de un estudio observacional de corte transversal en adultos mayores institucionalizados durante un brote de COVID-19. En una población de 252 adultos a los cuales se les realizó tamización mediante pruebas para detección de SARS-CoV-2, se analizó la prevalencia de la infección por la COVID-19 y su relación con las características sociodemográficas, comorbilidades, síntomas y clinimetría geriátrica mediante modelos de regresión bivariados con razones de prevalencias. De esta población, 84 (33,3%) se infectaron. Se encontró mayor prevalencia de la enfermedad en adultos ≥80 años (RP= 1,69 IC 95% 1,16-2,47), con malnutrición (MNA<17) (RP= 1,44 IC 95% 1,01-2,04) y con un índice de Barthel <60 (RP= 1,57 IC 95% 1,09-2,25). Los infectados se presentaron en su mayoría con fiebre (RP= 2,08 IC 95% 1,39-3,09) y tos (RP= 1,61 IC 95% 1,10-2,34). En conclusión, la prevalencia de infección por COVID-19 en el adulto mayor institucionalizado se relaciona con edad avanzada, malnutrición y dependencia funcional.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Mu variant on vaccine effectiveness: A comparative genomics study at the peak of the third wave in Bogota, Colombia.

We assessed the circulation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 variants amongst vaccinated military personnel in Bogotá, Colombia to evaluate the mutations of certain variants and their potential for breakthrough infection in vaccinated subjects. We observed that in vaccinated individuals the most frequent infecting lineage was Mu (B.1.621 and B.1.621.1). The above is possibly associated with specific mutations that confer it with vaccine-induced immune escape ability. Our findings highlight the importance of how genomic tracking coupled with epidemiological surveillance can assist in the study of novel emerging variants (e.g., Omicron) and their impact on vaccination efforts worldwide.

Epidemiological Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants During Social Protests in Cali, Colombia.

Background: The third wave of the global health crisis attributed to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus reached Colombia in March 2021. Over the following 6 months, it was interpolated by manifestations of popular disapproval to the actual political regime-with multiple protests sprouting throughout the country. Large social gatherings seeded novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) variants in big cities and propagated their facile spread, leading to increased rates of hospitalizations and deaths. Methods: In this article, we evaluate the effective reproduction number (Rt) dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Cali, Colombia, between 4 April 2021 and 31 July 2021 based on the analysis of 228 genomes. Results: Our results showed clear contrast in Rt values between the period of frequent protests (Rt > 1), and the preceding and following months (Rt < 1). Genomic analyses revealed 16 circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages during the initial period-including variants of concern (VOCs) (Alpha, Gamma, and Delta) and variants of interest (VOIs) (Lambda and Mu). Furthermore, we noticed the Mu variant dominating the COVID-19 distribution schema as the months progressed. We identified four principal clusters through phylogenomic analyses-each one of potentially independent introduction to the city. Two of these were associated with the Mu variant, one associated with the Gamma variant, and one with the Lambda variant. Conclusion: Our results chronicle the impact of large group assemblies on the epidemiology of COVID-19 during this intersection of political turmoil and sanitary crisis in Cali, Colombia. We emphasize upon the effects of limited biosecurity strategies (which had characterized this time period), on the spread of highly virulent strains throughout Cali and greater Colombia.

Epidemiological Indicators of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and Vaccination Effectiveness on the Report of Positive Cases in the Colombian Army.

The description of the epidemiological indicators of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), such as the mortality rate (MR), the case fatality rate (CFR), and the attack rate (AR), as well as the geographical distribution and daily case reports, are used to evaluate the impact that this virus has had within the Colombian Army and its health system. As military forces around the world represent the force that defends sovereignty, independence, the integrity of the national territory, and the constitutional order, while maintaining migration controls in blocked border areas during this critical pandemic times, they must carry out strict epidemiological surveillance to control the situation among the servicemen. Up to date, the Colombian Army has faced a very high attack rate (AR = 8.55%) due, among others, to living conditions where active military personnel share bedrooms, bathrooms, and dining facilities, which facilitate the spread of the virus. However, being a mainly young and healthy population, the MR was 1.82 deaths/1,000 ha, while the CFR = 2.13% indexes consistently low if compared with those values reported for the national population. In addition, the effectiveness of vaccination is shown in daily cases of COVID-19, where, for the third peak, the active military population presented a decrease of positive patients compared to the dynamics of national transmission and the total population of the military forces (active, retired, and beneficiaries).

Phylogenomic Evidence of Reinfection and Persistence of SARS-CoV-2: First Report from Colombia.

The continuing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and the emergence of novel variants have raised concerns about possible reinfection events and potential changes in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission dynamics. Utilizing Oxford Nanopore technologies, we sequenced paired samples of three patients with positive RT-PCR results in a 1-2-month window period, and subsequent phylogenetics and genetic polymorphism analysis of these genomes was performed. Herein, we report, for the first time, genomic evidence of one case of reinfection in Colombia, exhibiting different SARS-CoV-2 lineage classifications between samples (B.1 and B.1.1.269). Furthermore, we report two cases of possible viral persistence, highlighting the importance of deepening our understanding on the evolutionary intra-host traits of this virus throughout different timeframes of disease progression. These results emphasize the relevance of genomic surveillance as a tool for understanding SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics, and how this may translate effectively to future control and mitigations efforts, such as the national vaccination program.