Metabolic Reprogramming in SARS-CoV-2 Infection Impacts the Outcome of COVID-19 Patients.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection triggers inflammatory clinical stages that affect the outcome of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Disease severity may be associated with a metabolic imbalance related to amino acids, lipids, and energy-generating pathways. The aim of this study was to characterize the profile of amino acids and acylcarnitines in COVID-19 patients. A multicenter, cross-sectional study was carried out. A total of 453 individuals were classified by disease severity. Levels of 11 amino acids, 31 acylcarnitines, and succinylacetone in serum samples were analyzed by electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry. Different clusters were observed in partial least squares discriminant analysis, with phenylalanine, alanine, citrulline, proline, and succinylacetone providing the major contribution to the variability in each cluster (variable importance in the projection >1.5). In logistic models adjusted by age, sex, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and nutritional status, phenylalanine was associated with critical outcomes (odds ratio=5.3 (95% CI 3.16-9.2) in the severe vs. critical model, with an area under the curve of 0.84 (95% CI 0.77-0.90). In conclusion the metabolic imbalance in COVID-19 patients might affect disease progression. This work shows an association of phenylalanine with critical outcomes in COVID-19 patients, highlighting phenylalanine as a potential metabolic biomarker of disease severity.

Prevalence and predictors of anti-SARS-CoV-2 serology in a highly vulnerable population of Rio de Janeiro: A population-based serosurvey.

Background: COVID-19 serosurveys allow for the monitoring of the level of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and support data-driven decisions. We estimated the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a large favela complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods: A population-based panel study was conducted in Complexo de Manguinhos (16 favelas) with a probabilistic sampling of participants aged ≥1 year who were randomly selected from a census of individuals registered in primary health care clinics that serve the area. Participants answered a structured interview and provided blood samples for serology. Multilevel regression models (with random intercepts to account for participants' favela of residence) were used to assess factors associated with having anti-S IgG antibodies. Secondary analyses estimated seroprevalence using an additional anti-N IgG assay. Findings: 4,033 participants were included (from Sep/2020 to Feb/2021, 22 epidemic weeks), the median age was 39·8 years (IQR:21·8-57·7), 61% were female, 41% were mixed-race (Pardo) and 23% Black. Overall prevalence was 49·0% (95%CI:46·8%-51·2%) which varied across favelas (from 68·3% to 31·4%). Lower prevalence estimates were found when using the anti-N IgG assay. Odds of having anti-S IgG antibodies were highest for young adults, and those reporting larger household size, poor adherence to social distancing and use of public transportation. Interpretation: We found a significantly higher prevalence of anti-S IgG antibodies than initially anticipated. Disparities in estimates obtained using different serological assays highlight the need for cautious interpretation of serosurveys estimates given the heterogeneity of exposure in communities, loss of immunological biomarkers, serological antigen target, and variant-specific test affinity. Funding: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, Royal Society, Serrapilheira Institute, and FAPESP.

Toward Using Cloud Computing at Universities in Developing Countries Considering the Covid-19 Crisis

The Cloud computing is one of the trendiest buzzwords utilized these days. It is the upcoming technology provisioning resources to the customers in the form of different services like software, infrastructure and platform. Services are made available via the Internet to users on demand. Cloud Computing services are aimed to furnish easy, scalable access to resources, applications, and services and are wholly handled by a cloud service provider. A Cloud Computing service can automatically scale to satisfy the demands of its customers. The service provider delivers the hardware and software needed for the service therefore there is no essential for a company to supply or deploy its own resources or assign information technology (IT) staff to control the service. Universities take benefit of available cloud services delivered by service providers and allow their own users/learners to accomplish business and academic works. In this paper, we will review what the cloud computing services will furnish in the educational field, specially at universities in developing countries where the usage of computers are more concentrated and determine the opportunities of common applications for students and teachers, and particularly considering the Covid-19 crisis. The teachers and students can use the Cloud applications anywhere at any time without going through the installation step using a device connected to Internet. This work presents a guideline for successful Cloud Computing usage. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

COVID-19 infection in patients receiving immunpsuppressive therapy: Experience of a North African nephrology center

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Since its outbreak in December 2019,novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become one of physicians top concerns worldwide. Special attention is payed to immunocompromised patients with whom the virus is feared to be more aggressive . Our aim was to assess outcomes in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy who presented with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS- CoV-2) infection. METHOD: we monitored patients undergoing immunosuppressive regimens who presented with SARS- CoV-2 infection during a four months period from September to December 2020 in the Nephrology department of Charles Nicolle's Teaching Hospital. The diagnosis was made through nasopharyngygeal swabs. Kidney transplant patients were not included. RESULTS: we identified 9 patients who presented a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (details are shown in figure 1). Age varied from 32 to 67 years. Gender ratio was 0,8. Six patients had hypertension and one patient had diabetes. Seven patients suffered from chronic kidney disease stage 4 (2 patients) and stage 5 (5 patients). Active smoking was noted in 4 patients. Indications for immunosuppressive therapy were vasculitis (5patients) , lupus nephritis (1 patient) , scleroderma (1patient), cryoglubulinemia (1 patient) and multiple myeloma (1 patient). Therapies used included corticosteroids alone (2 patients) or in association with cyclophosphamide (6 patients) and in one case bortezomib. COVID-19 symptoms included fever (6 patients), fatigue (7 patients), joint pain (3 patients), dry cough (all patients)and diarrhea ( one patient). Medium duration under immunosuppressive treatment was of 42,1 days when COVID-19 diagnosis was made Among the patients, six had a mild COVID-19 presentation and displayed favorable outcomes;whereas the remaining three had severe symptoms requiring high dose oxygen and died. As for the renal outcomes, we observed no detioration of kidney function following the COVID-19 infection in any of the patients .All of the patients were treated with antibiotics, heparin and vitamins. CONCLUSION: SARS- CoV-2 infection is a serious condition that can threaten prognosis especially in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs responsible for a weaker immune response. Further work on a larger group of patients is necessary to establish whether this group is more prone to contract the COVID-19 infection and have poorer outcomes.

The role of orthopaedic trainees during the COVID-19 pandemic and impact on post-graduate orthopaedic education: a four-nation survey of over 100 orthopaedic trainees.

AIMS: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the provision of orthopaedic care across the UK. During the pandemic orthopaedic specialist registrars were redeployed to "frontline" specialties occupying non-surgical roles. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on orthopaedic training in the UK is unknown. This paper sought to examine the role of orthopaedic trainees during the COVID-19 and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on postgraduate orthopaedic education. METHODS: A 42-point questionnaire was designed, validated, and disseminated via e-mail and an instant-messaging platform. RESULTS: A total of 101 orthopaedic trainees, representing the four nations (Wales, England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland), completed the questionnaire. Overall, 23.1% (23/101) of trainees were redeployed to non-surgical roles. Of these, 73% (17/23) were redeployed to intensive treatment units (ITUs), 13% (3/23) to A/E, and 13%(3/23%) to general medicine. Of the trainees redeployed to ITU 100%, (17/17) received formal induction. Non-deployed or returning trainees had a significant reduction in sessions. In total, 42.9% (42/101) % of trainees were not timetabled into fracture clinic, 53% (53/101) of trainees had one allocated theatre list per week, and 63.8%(64/101) of trainees did not feel they obtained enough experience in the attached subspecialty and preferred repeating this. Overall, 93% (93/101) of respondents attended at least one weekly online webinar, with 79% (79/101) of trainees rating these as useful or very useful, while 95% (95/101) trainees attended online deanery teaching which was rated as more useful than online webinars (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Orthopaedic specialist trainees occupied an important role during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has had a significant impact on orthopaedic training. It is imperative this is properly understood to ensure orthopaedic specialist trainees achieve competencies set out in the training curriculum.Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-11:676-682.

Clinical Pharmacists: An Invaluable Part of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Frontline Response.

Although coronavirus disease 2019 was first identified in December 2019, it rapidly spread and became a global pandemic. The number of patients infected with the novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) rose rapidly in New York State, placing great stress on healthcare systems. The traditional roles and practices of healthcare providers were dramatically redefined to meet the demand to care for the large number of ill patients. While literature reports on the experiences of many frontline staff, there is a scarcity of reports on the role of clinical pharmacists during this crisis. We report the role of critical care clinical pharmacists at a large academic medical center in New York City during this pandemic. Effective crisis management required clinical pharmacists to employ a wide array of skills and knowledge. Areas included clinical expertise, education, data analysis, health informatics infrastructure, and inventory management in times of surging medication use and manufacturer shortages. Clinical pharmacists fulfilled an essential service during the coronavirus pandemic by working to ensure the best possible outcomes for the patients they served on the frontline.