ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 outbreak marks a global public health crisis. Therefore, consideration is given to preventative measures that could contribute to reducing the risk of infection and positively influence the course of the disease. Attention is currently being paid to the use of nutraceuticals, mainly vitamin D, minerals and beta glucans. In this study, we monitor the relationship of vitamin D levels in immunodeficient patients to the risk of developing COVID-19. In a set of 71 patients, we find gradation of disease onset and progression in patients with values less than 30 ng/mL. In individuals with vitamin D levels above 40 ng/mL, we find a high level of protection, and a beneficial course of clinical manifestation stemming from the application of minerals and beta glucans. © 2023, Czech Medical Association J.E. Purkyne. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The COVID-19 epidemic resulted in a global crisis of public health. Therefore, the possibility of prevention, leading to reduced infection and/or an improved disease state, is the subject of intensive attention. The novelty of this study is the direct evaluation of vitamin D levels with the risk of COVID-19 infection. Background(s): Currently, several nutraceuticals, including vitamin D, beta-glucan, and some minerals, are being studied for their role in stimulating immunity. Our study focused on the relationship between levels of vitamin D in immunodeficient patients and the risk of the development of COVID-19. Method(s): In this study, patients were supplemented with vitamin D. Result(s): In a group of 71 patients, we found that patients with vitamin D levels below 30 ng/ml had an increased risk of COVID-19 development and more severe disease progress. In patients with blood levels over 40 ng/ml, we consistently found high levels of protection against COVID-19 infection. Conclusion(s): The most important finding is that vitamin D levels above 40 ng/ml result in the reduction of risks of serious clinical manifestation of COVID-19 infection.Copyright © 2023 Richter et al.
ABSTRACT
Background and Aims Elderly, especially those with chronic diseases, are a population at high risk of a severe course of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study aimed to investigate the complex immune response after vaccination in nursing home residents older than 65 years depending on the previous COVID-19 status and vaccine brand. Methods 375 participants participated in the study in September-October 2021. IgG antibodies against spike protein and nucleocapsid protein, the titer of virus neutralization antibodies, and cellular immunity (interferon-gamma release assay) were tested in elderly nursing home residents vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna 30-31 weeks after the completion of vaccination and in those vaccinated with AstraZeneca 23 weeks before sampling. The prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was evaluated in Stata version 17. Results In total, 95.2% (95% CI: 92.5%-97.1%) of samples had positive results of anti-S IgG, 92.8% (95% CI: 89.7%-95.2%) were positive in virus neutralization assay and 89.0% (95% CI: 84.5%-92.5%) in the interferon-gamma-releasing assay (indicator of cellular immunity). Even though the immune response to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were evaluated after a longer period than AstraZeneca, the immune response in residents vaccinated with these vaccines were superior. All immune parameters in vaccinated individuals were significantly higher in convalescent residents than in those who had not been infected with COVID. No case of COVID-19 occurred during the vaccination-to-test period. Conclusions High immune response was found in elderly nursing homes residents (65 years and older) after 5-7 months after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. In particular, vaccinated convalescents showed high immune responses. It appears that such residents are much better protected from COVID-19 than those who are only vaccinated. Key messages In a random sample of elderly nursing homes residents, high immune responses were found 5-7 months after the completion of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in the Czech Republic. During the vaccination-to-test period (5-7 months) no case of COVID-19 occurred in the samples of Elderly Nursing Homes Residents in the Czech Republic.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The article presents the results of a study of family clusters of COVID-19 whose aim was to describe the clinical course of the disease in children, to identify secondary transmission in households with infected children, and to find out the differences in the antibody response between children and adults. Data were collected from 3 March 2020 to 25 October 2020, that is at the time when the alpha or delta variants were not dominant. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of data on infected children in the Usti nad Labem Region collected by the Regional Public Health Authority along with questionnaire data reported by their families. Serological tests were performed in study volunteers. RESULTS: The most common symptoms in children were headache, runny nose, and loss of smell and taste. The hospital admission rates were 0.8% in children and 2.4% in adults. The secondary transmission rate in families where the index case was a child reached 22.6%. It was higher when the index case was a child 11-15 years of age or asymptomatic. The secondary transmission rate in families where the index case was an adult equalled 77.1%. Children had higher IgG antibody levels than adults at post-infection months 4 and 5, but their seropositivity rate was comparable to that of adults. CONCLUSION: Children have a nonspecific clinical course of the disease, which is quite similar as other viroses, and rarely require hospital admission. Secondary transmission in families where the index case was a child is not uncommon and is also possible through contact with an asymptomatic child. After recovery, children have higher levels of antibodies at post-infection months 4 and 5.
ABSTRACT
The knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) shedding is highly relevant to the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). Deep nasopharyngeal swabs repeatedly collected from a cohort of one hundred patients with COVID-19 were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction). The median period of viral genome detectability was 15 days. Furthermore, the authors tested the hypothesis on the relationship between the severity of COVID-19 and the period in which the viral genome is detectable. They did not find any statistically significant difference in the duration of viral clearance between patients with asymptomatic to mild disease or severe disease.
ABSTRACT
The knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) shedding is highly relevant to the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). Deep nasopharyngeal swabs repeatedly collected from a cohort of one hundred patients with COVID-19 were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction). The median period of viral genome detectability was 15 days. Furthermore, the authors tested the hypothesis on the relationship between the severity of COVID-19 and the period in which the viral genome is detectable. They did not find any statistically significant difference in the duration of viral clearance between patients with asymptomatic to mild disease or severe disease.