ABSTRACT
The new coronavirus infection COVID-19 is an acute viral disease that affects primarily the upper respiratory tract. The etiological agent of COVID-19 is the SARS-CoV-2 RNA virus (Coronaviridae family, Betacoronavirus genus, Sarbecovirus subgenus). We have developed a high-affinity human monoclonal antibody, called C6D7-RBD, which is specific to the S protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) from the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan-Hu-1 strain and exhibits virus-neutralizing activity in a test with recombinant antigens: angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and RBD.
ABSTRACT
Conjunctivitis may appear as the first symptom of the coronavirus infection (COVID-19). In isolated cases, the lesion of the conjunctiva evokes a systemic infectious process. Currently, the conjunctiva is not considered as an area of long-term reproduction of coronavirus, and its damage is caused by hyperproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines (especially IL-6); development of iridocyclitis and keratoconjunctivitis is also possible. Most often, local corticosteroids are used to treat these processes, although their use requires caution due to the risk of activating secondary infection (herpetic bacterial, fungal), which often develops as a result of immunodeficiency caused both by COVID-19 and the massive corticosteroid and antibiotic therapy employed when the course of the disease is severe. The severe condition of patients, the lung ventilation, and the prone position all contribute to corneal erosions, exposure keratopathy, pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis and angle-closure glaucoma attacks. The risk of transmission of coronavirus infection during keratoplasty is estimated as minimal.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Conjunctivitis , Keratoconjunctivitis , Conjunctiva , Humans , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, the European cystic fibrosis society (ECFS) has decided to launch a special ECFS-COVID-19 program to collect information on the of COVID-19 characteristics in the patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The results of the program should help timely and efficiently provide the patients with CF with the necessary care. Initially, it was assumed that COVID-19 would be severe in CF patients. The aim. Тo assess the prevalence and characteristics of COVID-19 in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) in the Russian Federation (RF). Methods. 6 cases (4 children and 2 adults) of COVID-19 in Russian CF patients were analyzed. Results. There are 405,843 infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Russia, the incidence of coronavirus infection in Russia was 1.4 cases per 1 thousand people. According to the Ministry of Health of the RF, as of December 2019, there were 3,931 patients with CF (2,823 children and 1,108 adults). The incidence of COVID-19 was 1.5 per 1000 patients with CF (1.4: 1,000 for children and 1.8: 1,000 for adults). The incidence was not higher than in the General population. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed in 4 boys and 2 women, 3 of the patients were infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 2 – with Achromobacter spp. Mild disease was seen in 5 patients including all the children. Pneumonia was registered in 3 patients. One child with COVID-19 had abdominal syndrome. 2 patients – 1 adult and 1 child – needed in-patient care. Additional antibiotics were given to 4 patients, 2 of them received i/v antibiotics. One adult patient was on the lung transplantation waiting list. This woman had long-term oxygen therapy and BiPAP noninvasive respiratory support before the infection with SARS-CoV-2, FEV1 was 24 %pred. Conclusion. Despite the fact that patients with CF are at risk of severe COVID-19, to date, in the described cases, COVID-19 infection has not led to a significant deterioration of the symptoms of CF. Not a single fatal outcome in Russian patients with CF has been recorded. © 2020 Medical Education. All rights reserved.