Cytokine Profile in Different Post-Covid-19 Condition Phenotypes

Background: At least 10% of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients suffer from persistent symptoms for >12 weeks, known as post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) or Long Covid. Reported symptomatology is diverse with >200 physical and neurological debilitating symptoms. Here, we analyzed pro-inflammatory cytokine levels as a potential mechanism underlying persistent symptomatology. Method(s): Clinical data and samples used belong to the KING cohort extension, which includes clinically well characterized PCC (N=358, 59 persistent symptoms evaluated), COVID-19 recovered and uninfected subjects. We used Gower distances to calculate symptom's similarity between PCC and Ward's hierarchical clustering method to identify different symptom patterns among PCC patients. Cytokine levels of randomly selected PCC, recovered and uninfected subjects (N=193) were measured on plasma samples collected >6 months after acute infection using the 30-Plex Panel for Luminex. Mann- Whitney t-test was used to compare PCC vs recovered groups and Kruskal-Wallis t-test for >2 groups comparisons (PCC vs recovered vs Uninfected and within PCC clusters). FDR correction was applied for statistical significance (p-adj). Result(s): Hierarchical clustering identified 5 different PCC clusters according to their symptomatology, where PCC3 and PCC5 clusters showed higher prevalence of women ( >80%) and more persistent symptoms, while acute COVID-19 was mild in >80% of the patients. We selected 91 PCC (belonging to each cluster), 57 recovered and 45 uninfected subjects for cytokine profiling (Table 1). 13 soluble markers were significantly elevated (IL-1beta, Eotaxin, MIP-1beta, MCP-1, IL-15, IL-5, HGF, IFN-alpha, IL-1RA, IL-7, MIG, IL-4 and IL-8) in PCC and recovered groups compared to uninfected subjects (all p-adj< 0.04). In addition, PCC subjects tended towards higher levels of IL-1RA compared to recovered group (padj= 0.071). Within PCC clusters, FGF-basic and RANTES were elevated while IL-2 and MIG were decreased in PCC3 and PCC5 compared to the other PCC clusters (all p-adj< 0.04). TNF-alpha, IP-10, G-CSF and MIP-1alpha were decreased in PCC3 and PCC5 not reaching statistical significance (all p-adj=0.07). Conclusion(s): Some cytokines remained altered in all SARS-CoV-2 infected subjects independently of persistent symptoms after 6 months from acute infection. Differences between PCC and recovered individuals are limited after correction. Importantly, PCC cytokine profiles showed differences between clusters, which suggests different PCC subsyndromes with distinct etiology. Subjects Characteristics (Table Presented).

Cyber Dating Violence, attachment and relationship satisfaction in young Mexicans during confinement

With the appearance of COVID-19, couple relationships have been modified due to the leading role of ICT in the initiation and preservation of affective bonds, however, the inappropriate use of ICT can lead to Cyber dating violence (CDV). Thus, the objective of this research was to analyze this phenomenon and some associated factors in a sample of 230 young Mexicans, where CDV, attachment style and satisfaction with the relationship were evaluated. Based on the analyzes carried out, it was determined that control behaviors committed and suffered were found in the female sample, a relationship of CDV with avoidant and anxious attachment, as well as with satisfaction with the relationship;Likewise, a positive association was determined between the duration of the relationship and the CDV of control committed and suffered. For their part, the men indicated having suffered and perpetrated direct aggression and control, links were also found between the control committed and suffered, and the aggression committed and suffered. In conclusion, the data obtained suggest that Cyber dating violence is a bidirectional phenomenon, which is related to attachment and satisfaction with the relationship.

SARS-CoV-2 NEUTRALIZING RESPONSE beyond 1 YEAR after INFECTION

Background: Understanding the determinants of long-term immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and the concurrent impact of vaccination and emerging variants of concern will guide optimal strategies to achieve global protection against the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A prospective cohort of 332 COVID 19 patients was followed beyond one year. Plasma neutralizing activity was evaluated using HIV-based reporter pseudoviruses expressing different SARS-CoV-2 spikes and was longitudinally analyzed using mixed-effects models. Results: Long-term neutralizing activity was stable beyond one year after infection in mild/asymptomatic and hospitalized participants. However, longitudinal models suggest that hospitalized individuals generate both short-and long-lived memory B cells, while responses of non-hospitalized were dominated by long-lived B cells. In both groups, vaccination boosted responses to natural infection. In unvaccinated participants, viral variants, mainly beta, reduced the efficacy of long-term (>300 days from infection) neutralization. Importantly, despite showing higher neutralization titers, hospitalized patients showed lower cross-neutralization of beta variant compared to non-hospitalized. Multivariate analysis identified severity of primary infection as the factor that independently determines both the magnitude and the inferior cross-neutralization activity of long-term neutralizing responses. Conclusion: Neutralizing response induced by SARS-CoV-2 is heterogeneous in magnitude but stable beyond one year after infection. Vaccination boosts these long-lasting natural neutralizing responses and should help counteract the resistance to neutralization of variants of concern such as the beta variant. Severity of primary infection determines higher magnitude but poorer quality of long-term neutralizing responses.

Does gender divergence matter? The moderating effect of media exposure on adherence to covid-19 quarantine protocol

This study aimed to find out if there are gender differences in how Filipinos adhere to the COVID-19 quarantine protocol. This research utilized the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a framework. According to the TPB, the behavior to follow the COVID-19 protocol will be determined by one’s attitude, subjective norms, controllability, and self-efficacy. Media was added as a moderating variable between these predictors and the behavior to follow the COVID-19 protocol. An online survey was conducted amongst 200 females and 200 males in Metro Manila. This research locale was chosen as it had the highest COVID-19 infection rate in the Philippines. The study results showed no statistical differences between gender in their compliance to quarantine protocol except for attitude and controllability. These two variables and media were significant to the adherence to the COVID-19 protocol. Further, the media moderated the relationship between attitude and adherence to the COVID-19 protocol. The results showed that media exposure, whether traditional or new, moderated the adherence to quarantine protocol in both groups. This study concludes that media can be used to encourage adherence to quarantine protocol for both genders. Thus, it is recommended that marketers design the same mass media campaign to follow the quarantine protocol for both genders. © 2021 by De La Salle University.

QUALIFICAÇÃO DO PLASMA CONVALESCENTE SARS-CoV-2 EM DOADORES DE SANGUE

Introducao: A pandemia relacionada ao novo coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), com sua alta morbi-mortalidade, tem impulsionado um movimento de busca de tratamentos seguros e eficazes. Dentro deste contexto, a utilizacao de imunizacao passiva tem ganhado importancia. O Plasma imune ou "convalescente" (PC), refere-se ao plasma que e coletado de individuos apos a resolucao da infeccao e desenvolvimento de anticorpos. Alem de ja ter sido utilizado nas epidemias de Ebola e H1N1, a administracao de PC para os pacientes enfermos por SARS-CoV-2, tem sido relatado em alguns estudos, com ocorrencia de melhora de parametros clinicos e laboratoriais. A nao padronizacao deste produto e o conhecimento incipiente sobre este agente, traz uma seria de obstaculos que devem ser suplantados. O recrutamento, a elegibilidade do doador e a pesquisa e quantificacao dos anticorpos, sao alguns deles. Nao se sabe ate o momento qual a concentracao de anticorpos necessarias no PC, para que possa ser minimamente efetivo. O Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), preconiza que seja realizada pesquisa de anticorpos contra SARS-CoV-2 e sugere utilizacao de doadores que tenham titulo de anticorpos neutralizantes acima de 1/80. A pesquisa de anticorpos neutralizantes e um teste de pouco acesso na praticas clinica. Estudos tem sido feitos para correlacionar resultados de Elisa e/ou Quimioluminescencia com a presenca e titulos de anticorpos neutralizantes. Neste estudo, descrevemos a experiencia utilizando o teste de pesquisa de anticorpos SARS-CoV-2 (Abbott) com leitura de densidade optica correlacionada com titulos acima de 1/80 de anticorpos neutralizantes. Objetivo: Realizar a qualificacao de doadores quanto a existencia e intensidade de anticorpo SARS-CoV-2 IgG em doadores de sangue, a fim de fornecer terapeutica potencialmente eficaz de PC para o tratamento da COVID-19. Materiais e metodos: Foram realizados 459 testes de titulacao SARS-CoV-2 IgG em doadores de sangue do grupo H.Hemo. Os doadores testados eram homens ou mulheres nuligestas, que atendiam aos criterios para doacao de sangue, com exame confirmatorio da SARS- CoV-2 e no minimo 30 dias de resolucao dos sinais e sintomas da doenca. As amostras foram coletadas em duas situacoes: coleta somente de exames para pesquisa e qualificacao do doador para posterior doacao de plasma convalescente por aferese, ou coleta de doacao de sangue total e amostras para titulacao do plasma fresco congelado. Resultados: Dos 459 testes realizados, 333 (73%) apresentaram resultados positivos para IgG. Destes, 222 (66%) foram considerados qualificados para doacao de plasma convalescente, pois apresentaram leitura de densidade optica maior ou igual a 3,5. Este numero representa somente 47% do total de exames realizados. Conclusao: O desenvolvimento da doenca COVID-19 isoladamente nao representa um criterio seguro para qualificacao de doadores de plasma convalescente, uma vez que foram identificados pacientes com titulos baixos e ate negativos de anticorpo no plasma de doadores em mais de 50% dos candidatos.Copyright © 2020

Cyber dating violence in college students during pandemic due COVID-19

The present research aims to explore and analyze the factors associated with CDV in a sample of 307 Mexican college students, during the COVID-19 pandemic. In both sexes, a high agreement in secure attachment was found, as well as a high prevalence of Jealousy and Vigilance towards the partner, a bidirectionality in control, as well as a significant correlation between Jealousy and Committed and suffered Control. In females, an association of Anxious attachment was found with Electronic Vigilance Committed Control and Secure Attachment;and finally;in the other hand, males showed a negative correlation between avoidant attachment and suffered control. The findings are discussed in the light of an interactional perspective of violence, pointing out the possible practical implications, as well as the need for future studies that delve into the phenomenon during the pandemic.