Long COVID in Children and Adolescents: A Retrospective Study in a Pediatric Cohort.

Studies on long coronavirus disease (COVID) in children are scarce. We aimed to describe persistent symptoms and identify risk factors for its development. In our study population, 17.6% presented with long COVID, with respiratory symptoms more frequent in the first weeks and neuropsychiatric symptoms over time. Chronic conditions and obesity were risk factors, and adolescents were at a greater risk for long COVID.

Cyclists or avatars: is virtual cycling filling a short-term void during COVID-19 lockdown?

Indoor cycling has been a trend during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the lockdowns and social distancing measures imposed by most countries. Virtual cycling (eCycling) has grown exponentially, and its popularity among amateur and professional cyclists is shown by the fact that they regularly participate in virtual competitions in which people from all over the world interact via streaming. Although eCycling is derived from a traditional sport and adapted to a virtual platform, its future success once real competitions are reinstated has been seriously questioned. This virtual cycling modality has been openly criticized for the potential differences when competing and that it does not represent the true essence of cycling. These questions and the lack of clear guidelines for its competition suggest that eCycling has to go a long way before being considered a sport. This manuscript aims to present some challenges and opportunities regarding how virtual racing could be sustainable over time once the COVID-19 lockdown is over and demonstrate that eCycling was not just filling a short-term void left by real cycling during this pandemic.

COVID-19 Vaccine Reactogenicity and Vaccine Attitudes Among Children and Parents/Guardians After Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children or COVID-19 Hospitalization: September 2021-May 2022.

BACKGROUND: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a multiorgan hyperinflammatory condition following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data on COVID-19 vaccine adverse events and vaccine attitudes in children with prior MIS-C are limited. We described characteristics associated with COVID-19 vaccination, vaccine adverse events and vaccine attitudes in children with a history of MIS-C or COVID-19 and their parents/guardians. METHODS: We enrolled children previously hospitalized for MIS-C or COVID-19 from 3 academic institutions. We abstracted charts and interviewed children and parents/guardians regarding vaccine adverse events and acceptability. RESULTS: Of 163 vaccine-eligible children enrolled with a history of MIS-C and 70 with history of COVID-19, 51 (31%) and 34 (49%), respectively, received mRNA COVID-19 vaccine a median of 10 (Interquartile Range 6-13) months after hospital discharge. Among 20 children with MIS-C and parents/guardians who provided interviews, local injection site reaction of brief duration (mean 1.8 days) was most commonly reported; no children required medical care within 2 weeks postvaccination. Vaccine survey results of interviewed, vaccinated children and their parents/guardians: of 20 children with MIS-C and 15 children with COVID-19, 17 (85%) and 13 (87%), respectively, listed doctors in the top 3 most trusted sources for vaccine information; 13 (65%) and 9 (60%) discussed vaccination with their doctor. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 vaccination was well tolerated in children with prior MIS-C or COVID-19 participating in our investigation. Parents/guardians regarded their children's doctors as a trusted source of information for COVID-19 vaccines, and most vaccinated children's parents/guardians had discussed COVID-19 vaccination for their child with their doctor.

Realidad económica del sector empresarial durante el COVID-19 en el Ecuador, periodo 2020

The economic reality of the business sector has been negatively influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting liquidity, stability, and productivity due to the decrease in domestic demand for goods and services. Therefore, the present research paper aims to analyze the economic reality of the business sector during COVID-19 in Ecuador, period 2020, through bibliographic-documentary research with a quantitative approach, taking as a period for the study the year 2020, with the support of the analytical-synthetic scientific method. As a result, the economy of Ecuadorian companies contracted due to the containment measures implemented by the government to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, causing a decrease in Gross Domestic Product, sales, and jobs, and the rise of online shopping through official digital channels. It is concluded that the economic reality of the business sector in Ecuador has been vulnerable to external economic factors, causing several companies to change or close their activities to stay in the physical and especially digital market, adapting to changes in the environment.Alternate :La realidad económica del sector empresarial se ha visto influenciada negativamente por causa de la pandemia del COVID-19, afectando la liquidez, estabilidad y productividad por la disminución de la demanda nacional de bienes y servicios. Por tanto, el presente trabajo de investigación tiene como objetivo analizar la realidad económica del sector empresarial durante el COVID-19 en el Ecuador, periodo 2020, mediante una investigación bibliográfica-documental con enfoque cuantitativo, tomando como periodo de tiempo para el estudio el año 2020, con el apoyo del método científico analítico-sintético. Como resultado, la economía de las empresas ecuatorianas se contrajo debido a las medidas de confinamiento implementadas por el gobierno para evitar la propagación del virus COVID-19, originando el decrecimiento del Producto Interno Bruto, de las ventas y las plazas de trabajo, y el aumento de las compras online a través de los canales digitales oficiales. Se concluye que la realidad económica del sector empresarial del Ecuador se ha visto vulnerable a factores económicos externos, ocasionando que varias empresas cambien o cierren sus actividades para mantenerse en el mercado físico y sobre todo digital, adaptándose a los cambios del entorno.Alternate :A realidade econômica do setor empresarial tem sido influenciada negativamente pela pandemia COVID-19, afetando liquidez, estabilidade e produtividade devido à diminuição da demanda nacional por bens e serviços. Portanto, o presente trabalho de pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar a realidade econômica do setor empresarial durante a COVID-19 no Equador, período 2020, através de uma pesquisa bibliográfica-documentária com abordagem quantitativa, tomando o ano 2020 como o período de tempo para o estudo, com o apoio do método analítico-sintético-científico. Como resultado, a economia das empresas equatorianas contraiu devido às medidas de confinamento implementadas pelo governo para evitar a propagação do vírus COVID-19, levando a uma diminuição do Produto Interno Bruto, vendas e empregos, e a um aumento das compras on-line através dos canais digitais oficiais. Conclui-se que a realidade econômica do setor empresarial do Equador tem sido vulnerável a fatores econômicos externos, fazendo com que várias empresas mudem ou fechem suas atividades a fim de permanecer no mercado físico e, sobretudo, digital, adaptando-se ao ambiente em mudança.

Immunological characteristics of CoVID-19 and its implications

CoVID-19 is the most formidable unequaled global challenge invading 220 countries and territories in this millennium to uncountable saga of mortality, disability as humanity is witnessing devastation of socio-economy with more than 4 million deaths till date. The natural history of CoVID-19 from transmission through varied clinical features to overt complications is still under global research and research groups are on the run to trace its ramifications. This ranges from primary involvement of the pulmonary system to multisystem involvement through web of immunological pathways associated with susceptibility, clinical presentations, and severity of COVID-19. It has been hypothesized that the safe and effective mass vaccination program across the globe can ensure flattening of the pandemic curve to prepandemic normal life. This research group explored the basic and applied researches on molecular and immune mechanisms of SARS COV-2 virus. A sincere attempt has been made in futuristic research vision to find potential strengths, shortfalls, and efficacy of the plant-based immunotherapy, antibodies, and vaccine. Different research groups have hypothesized for the best possible use of these indigenous, stable, secure, efficacious natural products by searching their potential to accomplish emergency demands in this trying time. There is an urgent need to understand the inherent immunological predictors of the natural history of the disease spread over the spectrum from mild to severe forms of the disease and harp on these issues. In the wake of multiple waves with worse situations of evolving clinical features with the "variants of concern" and "variants of interest" and innovative interventions, this research group believes in optimum mix of microbial-derived biologicals with immune modifying drugs will broaden the preventive and curative spectrum. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Indian Journal of Health Sciences & Biomedical Research is the property of Wolters Kluwer India Pvt Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Giant Inverse T-wave in a Patient with COVID-19

It has been described that COVID-19 is a dynamic behavior and systemic affectation entity, so it is essential to develop the diagnostic and prognostic tools which allows to specifically identify target organ damage. The electrocardiographic finding of an inverse T-wave suggests transient apical dysfunction of the left ventricle, generating confusion among different heart diseases. However, despite the lack of troponin elevation and other myocardial injury signs, this finding is unspecific, especially in the patient with COVID-19. The aim of this manuscript is to present the case of a patient with COVID-19 without a previous diagnosis of heart disease, which manifests an isolated inverse T-wave.

Influence of the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the diagnosis and treatment of ulcerative colitis.

We analyzed how the healthcare restrictions that occurred in hospitals in Spain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly in March, April and May 2020, influenced the diagnosis, management and treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) in our center.

Role of miRNAs as biomarkers of COVID-19: a scoping review of the status and future directions for research in this field.

Aim: miRNAs are potential biomarkers of several diseases. This review aimed to identify the miRNAs that could serve as biomarkers of COVID-19. Materials & methods: A literature search of nine databases was carried out for studies published before 13 June 2021 that described dysregulated miRNAs in cells or animals infected by SARS-CoV-2 or in patients with COVID-19. Two independent reviewers selected the studies and extracted data; disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. Results: Twenty studies were included in this scoping review; results suggested that miR-21-5p, miR-146a, miR-126-3p, miR-144 and miR-155 are the most important dysregulated miRNAs that could serve as biomarkers for diagnosing and indicating the severity of COVID-19. miRNAs appear to play key roles in viral replication, proliferation of infected cells, immune response, inflammation and cardiovascular dysfunction. Conclusion: This review provides insights into the role of miRNAs as biomarkers in COVID-19 and the current status and future directions for research in this field.

[¿Conflictos de intereses ocultos en publicaciones científicas en tiempos de COVID-19?]

Hemos leído con sumo interés el artículo publicado por Diéguez-Campa, et al.1, titulado The 2020 research pandemic: a bibliometric analysis of publications on COVID-19 and their scientific impact during the first months, en el que los autores hacen un excelente e innovador análisis bibliométrico sobre la publicación científica médica en los primeros meses de desarrollo de la pandemia de COVID-19.

Evaluation of a SARS-CoV-2 Capture IgM Antibody Assay in Convalescent Sera.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for a global pandemic with over 152 million cases and 3.19 million deaths reported by early May 2021. Understanding the serological response to SARS-CoV-2 is critical to determining the burden of infection and disease (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) and transmission dynamics. We developed a capture IgM assay because it should have better sensitivity and specificity than the commonly used indirect assay. Here, we report the development and performance of a capture IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a companion indirect IgG ELISA for the spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins and the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of S. We found that among the IgM ELISAs, the S ELISA was positive in 76% of 55 serum samples from SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive patients, the RBD ELISA was positive in 55% of samples, and the N ELISA was positive in 15% of samples. The companion indirect IgG ELISAs were positive for S in 89% of the 55 serum samples, RBD in 78%, and N in 85%. While the specificities for IgM RBD, S, and N ELISAs and IgG S and RBD ELISAs were 97% to 100%, the specificity of the N IgG ELISA was lower (89%). RBD-specific IgM antibodies became undetectable by 3 to 6 months, and S IgM reached low levels at 6 months. The corresponding IgG S, RBD, and N antibodies persisted with some decreases in levels over this time period. These capture IgM ELISAs and the companion indirect IgG ELISAs should enhance serologic studies of SARS-CoV-2 infections. IMPORTANCE Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has inflicted tremendous loss of lives, overwhelmed health care systems, and disrupted all aspects of life worldwide since its emergence in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Detecting current and past infection by PCR or serology is important to understanding and controlling SARS-CoV-2. With increasing prevalence of past infection or vaccination, IgG antibodies are less helpful in diagnosing a current infection. IgM antibodies indicate a more recent infection and can supplement PCR diagnosis. We report an alternative method, capture IgM, to detect serum IgM antibodies, which should be more sensitive and specific than most currently used methods. We describe this capture IgM assay and a companion indirect IgG assay for the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S), nucleocapsid (N), and receptor-binding domain (RBD) proteins. These assays can add value to diagnostic and serologic studies of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).