Comparative Analysis of Antimicrobial Antibodies between Mild and Severe COVID-19.

Patients with 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) exhibit a broad spectrum of clinical presentations. A person's antimicrobial antibody profile, as partially shaped by past infection or vaccination, can reflect the immune system health that is critical to control and resolve the infection. We performed an explorative immunoproteomics study using microbial protein arrays displaying 318 full-length antigens from 77 viruses and 3 bacteria. We compared antimicrobial antibody profiles between 135 patients with mild COVID-19 disease and 215 patients with severe disease in 3 independent cohorts from Mexico and Italy. Severe disease patients were older with higher prevalence of comorbidities. We confirmed that severe disease patients elicited a stronger anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) response. We showed that antibodies against HCoV-229E and HcoV-NL63 but not against HcoV-HKU1 and HcoV-OC43 were also higher in those who had severe disease. We revealed that for a set of IgG and IgA antibodies targeting coronaviruses, herpesviruses, and other respiratory viruses, a subgroup of patients with the highest reactivity levels had a greater incidence of severe disease compared to those with mild disease across all three cohorts. On the contrary, fewer antibodies showed consistent greater prevalence in mild disease in all 3 cohorts. IMPORTANCE The clinical presentations of COVID-19 range from asymptomatic to critical illness that may lead to intensive care or even death. The health of the immune system, as partially shaped by past infections or vaccinations, is critical to control and resolve the infection. Using an innovative protein array platform, we surveyed antibodies against hundreds of full-length microbial antigens from 80 different viruses and bacteria in COVID-19 patients from different geographic regions with mild or severe disease. We not only confirmed the association of severe COVID-19 disease with higher reactivity of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 but also uncovered known and novel associations with antibody responses against herpesviruses and other respiratory viruses. Our study represents a significant step forward in understanding the factors contributing to COVID-19 disease severity. We also demonstrate the power of comprehensive antimicrobial antibody profiling in deciphering risk factors for severe COVID-19. We anticipate that our approach will have broad applications in infectious diseases.

The Epidemic of Internalizing Problems Among Latinx Adolescents Before and During the Coronavirus 2019 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: Latinx youth exhibit disproportionately higher internalizing symptoms than their peers from other racial/ethnic groups. This study compares depression and anxiety symptoms between referred students of Latinx and non-Latinx backgrounds before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and examines key determinants within the Latinx sample. METHOD: Data are analyzed from four academic years - two before and two during the pandemic - from 1220 5th through 8th grade students (Mage = 12.1; 59.6% female; 59.9% Latinx or mixed-Latinx) referred for services across 59 Chicago Public School District (CPS) elementary schools. Using the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS), mean scores and risk levels for depression, social anxiety, and generalized anxiety are examined. RESULTS: Higher internalizing risk and comorbidity rates were found in the second year of the pandemic, compared to pre-pandemic levels. Latinx students reported higher depression, social anxiety, and generalized anxiety symptoms than non-Latinx students. During the pandemic, more Latinx students were classified as having comorbid depression and anxiety, and scored in the clinical range for depression, generalized anxiety, and social anxiety than non-Latinx students. Within the Latinx sample, girls and gender non-conforming students reported the highest maladjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the pressing need to examine the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of Latinx children and adolescents, and to address their internalizing problems.

Niveles de actividad y condición física en escolares de Educación Primaria en la "nueva normalidad” (Levels of activity and physical condition in primary school students in the "new normality")

The objective of the study was to explore the levels of activity and physical fitness in Primary School students during the "new normal" after confinement. 293 schoolchildren participated (Mage = 10.51;SD = 0.97), whose physical activity was measured using accelerometers and the PAQ-C questionnaire, and physical condition through the 20-m shuttle run test. In addition, pre-pandemic and post-lockdown physical activity and fitness were compared across two larger samples of schoolchildren from the same region (pre-pandemic: n = 1338, Mage = 10.50, SD = 1.09;post-lockdown: n = 1314, Mead = 10.58, SD = 1.04). The results showed levels of physical activity and sedentary lifestyle clearly far from those recommended by public health institutions and a physical condition below the 50th percentile (specifically, at the 30th percentile in both sexes). Finally, the comparison of the "new normal" stage with respect to the pre-pandemic situation, showed a decrease in the activity and physical condition of schoolchildren. The results invite us to continue investigating how the physical-sports habits of schoolchildren have been repositioned after confinement and during the "new normality", as well as to intensify efforts to promote active lifestyles in these periods of intermittent restrictions and progressive return to normal. Alternate :El objetivo del estudio fue explorar los niveles de actividad y condición física en escolares de Educación Primaria durante la "nueva normalidad” posterior al confinamiento. Participaron 293 escolares (Medad = 10.51;DT = 0.97), a los que se midió la actividad física mediante acelerómetros y el cuestionario PAQ-C, y la condición física a través del test de ida y vuelta de 20 m. Además, se comparó la actividad física y la condición física anterior a la pandemia y posterior al confinamiento a través de dos muestras más amplias de escolares de la misma región (prepandemia: n = 1338, Medad = 10.50, DT = 1.09;posconfinamiento: n = 1314, Medad = 10.58, DT = 1.04). Los resultados mostraron niveles de actividad física y de sedentarismo ostensiblemente alejados de los recomendados por las instituciones públicas de salud y una condición física por debajo del percentil 50 (en concreto, en el percentil 30 en ambos sexos). Por último, la comparación de la etapa de la "nueva normalidad” con respecto la situación prepandémica, mostró una disminución de la actividad y de la condición física de los escolares. Los resultados invitan a seguir investigando cómo se han resituado los hábitos físico-deportivos de los escolares tras el confinamiento y durante la "nueva normalidad”, así como a intensificar los esfuerzos de promoción de estilos de vida activos en estos periodos de restricciones intermitentes y de recuperación progresiva de la normalidad.Alternate :O objetivo do estudo foi explorar os níveis de atividade e aptidão física em alunos do Ensino Fundamental durante o "novo normal” após o confinamento. Participaram 293 escolares (Mage = 10,51;DP = 0,97), cuja atividade física foi mensurada por meio de acelerômetros e questionário PAQ-C, e condição física por meio do teste shuttle run de 20 m. Além disso, a atividade física e o condicionamento físico pré-pandemia e pós-bloqueio foram comparados em duas amostras maiores de escolares da mesma região (pré-pandemia: n = 1338, Mage = 10,50, SD = 1,09;pós-lockdown: n = 1314 , Mead = 10,58, SD = 1,04). Os resultados mostraram níveis de atividade física e sedentarismo claramente distantes dos recomendados pelas instituições de saúde pública e uma condição física abaixo do percentil 50 (especificamente, no percentil 30 em ambos os sexos). Por fim, a comparação da fase "novo normal” com a situação pré-pandemia, mostrou diminuição da atividade e condição física dos escolares. Os resultados nos convidam a continuar investigando como os hábitos físico-esportivos dos escolares têm sido reposicionados após o confinamento e durante a "nova normalidade”, bem co o a intensificar esforços para promover estilos de vida ativos nesses períodos de restrições intermitentes e retorno progressivo à normalidade. Palavras-chave: Lockdown, PAQ-C, COVID-19, OBAFI, pandemia.

Discrete models for analyzing the behavior of COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Mexico, Mexico.

In this paper we analyze the behavior of the COVID-19 pandemic during a certain period of the year 2020 in the state of Mexico, Mexico. For this, we will use the discrete models obtained by the first, third and fourth authors of this work. The first is a one-dimensional model, and the second is two-dimensional, both non-linear. It is assumed that the population of the state of Mexico is constant and that the parameters used are the infection capacity, which we will initially assume to be constant, and the recovery and mortality parameters in that state. We will show that even when the statistical data obtained are disperse, and the process could be stabilized, this has been slow due to chaotic mitigation, creating situations of economic, social, health and political deterioration in that region of the country. We note that the observed results of the behavior of the epidemic during that period for the first variants of the virus have continued to be observed for the later variants, which has not allowed the eradication of the pandemic.

Use of Anti-Mononuclear Antibodies as Therapy for Covid-19

Iphsj-22-12747(R);Published: 09-Jun-2022, DOI: 10.36648/1791809X.16.S7.948 Introduction The disease caused by a B-coronavirus, an RNA virus, had its beginnings in 2019 in Wuhan - China where a series of cases of pneumonia caused by this agent were identified, currently six serotypes that produce diseases in humans are known., four of these are prevalent and cause typical cold symptoms, the remaining two are responsible for the appearance of severe acute respiratory syndrome SarsCoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome MERS-CoV;After nucleic acid sequencing of lower respiratory tract epithelial cells from 4 patients with confirmed pneumonia of unknown cause by real-time reverse transcription PCR at Beijing Hospital, a novel 2019-nCoV beta coronavirus was found, which was then was called SARS-CoV-2, also giving as a result that this new virus has information from the subgenus Sarbecovirus, of the Orthocoronavirinae family, which makes it different from SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, however according to various reports it was identified that the genome of SARS-Co V-2, is between 75% and 80% identical to SARS-CoV and therefore its name, SARS-CoV-2 belongs to this genus of coronavirus and its genome consists of a single-stranded RNA 29 kb in length. The last protein is present inside the virion and is associated with the viral RNA, and the other 3 proteins are associated with the external structure of the virus, this disease causing the current pandemic of global importance is characterized by affinity to the respiratory system has characteristics important as the production of increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and a decrease in the response of T cells, which is directly related to inflammation and severe lung damage that occurs in patients infected with SarsCoV2, also highlighting the onset of given symptoms from 5 days, the incubation period of approximately 14 days and the high transmission capacity of the virus given by various mechanisms such as droplet transmission (given when the infected person coughs or sneezes and these droplets released by this mechanism are inhaled by the people nearby), by contact (when an individual has direct contact with contaminated surfaces). inhaled and then passes these through the eyes and mouth) and by aerosols (this occurs when the respiratory droplets of the infected are in contact with the environment in places with little ventilation or closed that when inhaled cause infection), in addition From this, manifestations and alterations have been found in the gastrointestinal area, since enterocytes with high expression of ACE II receptors have been found in this area, which is why fecal transmission is also described in a smaller proportion and less frequently (1). Some monoclonal antibodies are currently used to treat COVID-19, standing out in this group itolizumab and tocilizumab, the group's mechanism of action is based on the fact that monoclonal antibodies bind to target molecules, which can be surface membrane receptors, proteins associated with enzymatic systems or circulating proteins, which produces direct or indirect effects on tissue function, where virus neutralization occurs when a sufficient number of epitopes (antigenic determinant is the portion of a macromolecule that is recognized by the immune system, specifically the sequence to which antibodies bind, B cell receptors or T cell receptors.) on the surface of the virus are occupied by antibodies. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome;Viral pneumonia;Coronavirus infections;Antibodies;Cytokines;lymphocytes;Vaccines;COVID-19 treatment and or. [...]including all the documents that will deal with the use of anti-mononuclear antibodies as a therapy for Covid-19, the data found was between 16-28 records, thus using 22 articles for the preparation of this document.

Risk factors for HCV transmission in HIV-positive men who have sex with men in México.

PURPOSE: In the last two decades transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in HIV positive men who have sex with men (MSM) has been reported globally. Chemsex and specific sexual practices have been identified as risk factors. Our study aimed to identify risk factors for HCV transmission in MSM living with HIV attending in Mexico. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study from April to December 2019 at the Hospital de Infectología "La Raza" National Medical Center, in Mexico City. A case was defined as an HIV-infected MSM with positive HCV-antibody test. For each case, 3 controls were included, defined as HIV infected MSM with negative HCV-antibody test. A self-questionnaire covering sexual practices and other risk factors for HCV transmission was applied. Bivariate analysis was performed to obtain odds ratio (OR) using Chi-square test. Independent risk factors were identified in a subsequent analysis performing a logistic regression model. RESULTS: A total of 324 patients participated in the study, 81 cases and 243 controls. Median age was 30.5 years (IQR: 18-52) and 28.8 years (IQR: 21-45) in the case and control group, respectively. Most prevalent HCV genotype was 1a (79%). In the logistic regression model, sharing straw during cocaine inhalation (OR: 9.03; 95% CI; 1.35-13.52; P = 0.003), sharing sex toys (OR: 17.53, 95% CI; 6.85-44.86; P = 0.002), and ethyl chloride use for chemsex (OR: 2.26; 95% CI; 1.29-5.56; P = 0.037) were significant risk factors for HCV infection. CONCLUSION: This study identifies risk factors for HCV transmission in Mexico in HIV positive MSM in congruence with the findings of many studies performed worldwide. This is the first study that indicates a possible association between ethyl chloride use in chemsex and HCV infection. Assessment of local populations for risk factors for HCV transmission may help to develop specifically targeted behavioral interventions to reduce HCV transmission.

Planning for the assistance of critically ill patients in a Pandemic Situation: The experience of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: In the context of community transmission of the virus, the impact of the pandemic on health-care systems, mainly on intensive care units (ICU), was expected to be devastating. Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (HUVH) implemented an unprecedented critical patient-care planning and management of resources. METHODS: We describe a cohort of critically ill patients during the first two months of the pandemic (from March 3, 2020, to May 2, 2020) in HUVH, Barcelona. In this manuscript, we report our previsions, strategies implemented, and the outcomes obtained. RESULTS: Three-thousand and thirty-three patients were admitted to the HUVH Critical Care Units. Throughout the study period, the proportion of patients on IMV or IMV and ECMO remained above 78%. Most patients were men (65%); the most common age group was 60-70 years. Twenty-three patients received ECMO, and eighteen were cannulated at another center and transferred to HUVH. At the end of the study, fourteen patients were successfully decannulated, three patients died, and the rest of the patients were still on ECMO. Eight pregnant women have been treated in the ICU, with a survival rate of 100%. The ICU mortality of patients younger than 60 years was 3.2%. The mean ICU stay of both survivors and nonsurvivors was 14 days. CONCLUSION: The adequate preparation for resource expansion for critically ill patients care, main challenges, and overall positive results can serve as a precedent for similar future scenarios.

Communication strategies to facilitate emergency preparedness for Generation Z and college food pantries: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of research on college food pantry operations, especially in relation to emergency preparedness and disaster relief. However, there are multiple research studies confirming the efficacy of using social media to communicate with younger adults, especially Generation Z (Gen Z). METHODS: This study examines a college food pantry's social media posts and pantry utilization in a midsize, public university in Texas, prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Collegiate food insecurity was analyzed through the lens of the socioecological model. Social media data during the spring 2019 semester were compared using a two-way ANOVA prior to and following the origination of the COVID-19 pandemic within the state, and pantry utilization over the spring 2019 and fall 2020 semesters was evaluated using a t-test. RESULTS: There were significantly more likes per post on Instagram than other social media outlets, and there were significantly more impressions per post on Twitter as opposed to Facebook, with a trend toward more impressions per posts, after COVID-19. There was no significant difference in food pantry utilization between the fall and spring semester aside from a spike after return following the spring recess, confirmed as Grubb's outlier. Application of the socioecological model emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and multitiered interventions during an emergency, including the use of social media. CONCLUSION: This information can help collegiate organizations reach more students through targeted posting on select social media platforms used by their students. Interdisciplinary, inclusive approaches are recommended to reduce food insecurity for Gen Z students.

Frequency and Risk Factors for Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 Patients.

Background: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is an uncommon condition in COVID-19 patients. No information about outcome or risk factors is available at the time. The aim of this research is to report on the frequency and risk factors of spontaneous pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: An unmatched case-control study was carried out in a tertiary health-care facility for patients with COVID-19. Electronic files were reviewed to identify patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection by RT-PCR. Univariate analysis was used to describe demographic data. Mean differences were calculated using the Mann-Whitney test. Frequency and odds ratios were calculated by standard operations. Results: A total of 271 patients were included in the study. Nine patients showed spontaneous pneumomediastinum and four of them presented associated spontaneous pneumothorax. The most common risk factors associated with poor outcomes in COVID-19 patients were not considered as risk factors for spontaneous pneumomediastinum development. Conclusion: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon clinical feature in COVID-19 patients. More research is necessary to formulate statements regarding prevalence, risk factors, and outcome.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic among health care workers in a secondary teaching hospital in Spain.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a huge challenge to healthcare systems and their personnel worldwide. The study of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers (HCW), through prevalence studies, will let us know viral expansion, individuals at most risk and the most exposed areas in healthcare organizations. The aim of this study is to gauge the impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in our hospital workforce and identify groups and areas at increased risk. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This is a cross-sectional and incidence study carried out on healthcare workers based on molecular and serological diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of the 3013 HCW invited to participate, 2439 (80.9%) were recruited, including 674 (22.4%) who had previously consulted at the Occupational Health Service (OHS) for confirmed exposure and/or presenting symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. A total of 411 (16.9%) and 264 (10.8%) healthcare workers were SARS-CoV-2 IgG and rRT-PCR positive, respectively. The cumulative prevalence considering all studies (IgG positive HCW and/or rRT-PCR positive detection) was 485 (19.9%). SARS-CoV-2 IgG-positive patients in whom the virus was not detected were 221 (9.1%); up to 151 of them (68.3%) did not report any compatible symptoms nor consult at the OHS for this reason. Men became more infected than women (25% vs 18.5%, p = 0.0009), including when data were also classified by age. COVID-19 cumulative prevalence among the HCW assigned to medical departments was higher (25.2%) than others, as well as among medical staff (25.4%) compared with other professional categories (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HCW of our centre has been 19.9%. Doctors and medical services personnel have had the highest prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but many of them have not presented compatible symptoms. This emphasizes the performance of continuous surveillance methods of the most exposed health personnel and not only based on the appearance of symptoms.

Secondary structure determination of conserved SARS-CoV-2 RNA elements by NMR spectroscopy.

The current pandemic situation caused by the Betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (SCoV2) highlights the need for coordinated research to combat COVID-19. A particularly important aspect is the development of medication. In addition to viral proteins, structured RNA elements represent a potent alternative as drug targets. The search for drugs that target RNA requires their high-resolution structural characterization. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, a worldwide consortium of NMR researchers aims to characterize potential RNA drug targets of SCoV2. Here, we report the characterization of 15 conserved RNA elements located at the 5' end, the ribosomal frameshift segment and the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the SCoV2 genome, their large-scale production and NMR-based secondary structure determination. The NMR data are corroborated with secondary structure probing by DMS footprinting experiments. The close agreement of NMR secondary structure determination of isolated RNA elements with DMS footprinting and NMR performed on larger RNA regions shows that the secondary structure elements fold independently. The NMR data reported here provide the basis for NMR investigations of RNA function, RNA interactions with viral and host proteins and screening campaigns to identify potential RNA binders for pharmaceutical intervention.

Planning for the assistance of critically ill patients in a Pandemic Situation: The experience of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital. / Organización de la atención a pacientes críticos en situación de pandemia: Experiencia del Hospital Vall d'Hebron durante el brote de neumonía por SARS-CoV-2.

INTRODUCTION: In the context of community transmission of the virus, the impact of the pandemic on health-care systems, mainly on intensive care units (ICU), was expected to be devastating. Vall d́Hebron University Hospital (HUVH) implemented an unprecedented critical patient-care planning and management of resources. METHODS: We describe a cohort of critically ill patients during the first two months of the pandemic (from March 3, 2020, to May 2, 2020) in HUVH, Barcelona. In this manuscript, we report our previsions, strategies implemented, and the outcomes obtained. RESULTS: Three-thousand and thirty-three patients were admitted to the HUVH Critical Care Units. Throughout the study period, the proportion of patients on IMV or IMV and ECMO remained above 78%. Most patients were men (65%); the most common age group was 60-70 years. Twenty-three patients received ECMO, and eighteen were cannulated at another center and transferred to HUVH. At the end of the study, fourteen patients were successfully decannulated, three patients died, and the rest of the patients were still on ECMO. Eight pregnant women have been treated in the ICU, with a survival rate of 100%. The ICU mortality of patients younger than 60 years was 3.2%. The mean ICU stay of both survivors and nonsurvivors was 14 days. CONCLUSION: The adequate preparation for resource expansion for critically ill patients care, main challenges, and overall positive results can serve as a precedent for similar future scenarios.