SARS-CoV-2 most concerning variants: A review on their complications, pathogenicity, transmissibility, and immune responses br

Since the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, several different variants and strains of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been identified. Each of these variants has several mutations in different constituents of the orig-inal virus, such as the spike (S) glycoprotein, receptor-binding domain, N-terminal domain, and furin cleavage site region. These mutations mainly influence the virulence, infectivity, and trans-mission of the virus. Also, they can help the virus escape the natural- or vaccine-induced immu-nity in the host body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention categorized these variants into three major classes: variants of interest, variants of concern (VOC), and variants of high consequence. In this review, four VOCs, i.e., B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, and B.1.427/B.1.429, have been presented, and their potential complications, pathogenicity, transmissibility, and capability of escaping natural- or vaccine-induced immunity are discussed. Moreover, the novel B.1.617 variant and its known characteristics are also demonstrated. In conclusion, this review can help clinicians and scientists better understand the most critical properties of the mentioned concern-ing variants of SARS-CoV-2 and guide them to conduct future studies on new preventive and therapeutic approaches in fighting COVID-19

Successful chemotherapy of an acute myeloid leukemia case infected with SARS-CoV-2

Introduction: New coronavirus or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019. There is not enough data for managing acute myeloid leukemia patients with concomitant infection with SARS-COV-2. This is a report of a unique case with acute leukemia and SARS-CoV-2 infection that recovered from both. Case Presentation: a 44-year man was admitted with fever and sweating. He was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Pan-cytopenia was detected and a bone marrow biopsy revealed acute leukemia. During his management, the patient developed a dry cough. He was transferred to our center for chemotherapy. Chest CT scan revealed bilateral peripheral patchy ground-glass infiltra-tions, indicating SARS-CoV-2 infection. Two weeks later, after antiviral and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, he developed severe dyspnea and became bedridden. Modified chemotherapy was started. He was rapidly recovered and developed complete remission. Conclusions: Immune system response to SARS-CoV-2 is under investigation. Cytokine storm was postulated for acute respiratory distress syndrome in these patients. Severe dyspnea in our patient may be due to cytokine storms and some degrees of leukostasis. We presented a successful chemotherapy of an acute leukemia patient that was simultaneously infected with COVID-19.

Risk factors for mortality of 557 adult patients with COVID 19 in Babol, Northern Iran: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed to investigate the risk factors for mortality in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: For this retrospective cohort study, we included 121 deceased and 436 discharged cases with COVID-19 in Babol, Northern Iran. The cases were between March 1 to April 1, 2020. RESULTS: Multivariate Poisson regression analysis revealed that older age (aRR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.05, p < 0.001), hospital length of stay (aRR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90, 0.97, p = 0.003), ICU admission (aRR: 4.34, 95% CI: 2.95, 6.37, p < 0.001), cerebrovascular disease (aRR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.20, 3.19, p = 0.007), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) (aRR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.22, 3.55, p = 0.006), septic shock (aRR: 2.98, 95% CI: 1.44, 6.19, p = 0.003), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (aRR: 3.80, 95% CI: 2.28, 6.31, p < 0.001), acute kidney failure (AKF) (aRR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.12, 3.76, p = 0.021), acute heart failure (AHF) (aRR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.62, p = 0.043) and lymphocyte count (aRR: 3.01, 95% CI: 1.99, 4.57, p < 0.001) were associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: Findings showed that elderly with comorbidities such as cerebrovascular diseases had an increased risk of death. Some complications such as: pneumonia, septic shock, ARDS, AHF, and AKF played crucial roles as well death (Tab. 2, Ref. 25).

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), MERS and SARS: Similarity and difference

SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of COVID-19. Since its outbreak in December 2019, COVID-19 has swept the globe. By 17 July 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) had confirmed 13 119 239 cases and 573 752 deaths, and the numbers are still rising. Current evidence shows that COVID-19 is lower than severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome in terms of severity and mortality risk, although the infections are particularly more severe in patients with underlying medical conditions. The bulk of COVID-19 patients had close contact with confirmed cases, but an exact origin and specific transmission for COVID-19 are still unknown. As there is no approved antiviral treatment for COVID-19 infection, proper prevention and control practices are essential to control the infection. To have an insight view of COVID-19, we summarized and compared the etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention measures of COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and Middle East respiratory syndrome.