New­onset non­motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease and post­COVID­19 syndrome: A prospective cross­sectional study.

The clinical range of post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) has not yet been thoroughly characterized, with the exception of a few small case studies. The aim of the present study was to investigate the motor and non-motor progression of patients with PD (PWP) and post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) at baseline and at 6 months after infection with COVID-19. A cross-sectional prospective study of 38 PWP+/PCS+ and 20 PWP+/PCS- matched for age, sex and disease duration was conducted. All patients were assessed at baseline and at 6 months using a structured clinicodemographic questionnaire, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (the UPDRS III), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, the Hoehn and Yahr scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale and the levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD). There was a statistically significant difference in the LEDD (P=0.039) and UPDRS III (P=0.001) at baseline and at 6 months after infection with COVID-19 between the PWP with PCS groups. The most common non-motor PCS symptoms were anosmia/hyposmia, sore throat, dysgeusia and skin rashes. There was no statistically significant difference in demographics or specific scores between the two groups, indicating that no prognostic factor for PCS in PWP could be identified. The novelty of the present study is that it suggests the new onset of non-motor PCS symptoms of PWP with a mild to moderate stage.

COVID­19 vaccination in liver transplant recipients (Review).

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Sars-CoV-2) infection has significantly affected immunocompromised individuals and subsequently, liver transplant recipients (LTRs). Early in the course of pandemic, this vulnerable population was prioritized for vaccination, after obtaining encouraging data about the vaccination benefits on disease severity and mortality. As the published knowledge was mainly supported from studies which were limited to the healthy population, the present review summarizes the data from the literature on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in LTRs and the available vaccination guidelines of international societies. The COVID-19 vaccination of LTRs is strongly recommended as a safe and effective measure in order to prevent severe disease and mortality.

Ocular trauma, visual acuity related to time of referral and psychosocial determinants, during COVID­19 pandemic: A prospective study.

The aim of the present study was to explore the associations between visual outcomes of ocular injury patients in a tertiary hospital unit with clinical and demographic variables and to evaluate the psychosocial impact of the injury on the patients. An 18-month prospective study of 30 eye-injured adult patients was conducted in the General University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, a tertiary referral hospital. All severe eye injury case information was prospectively collected between February 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was labelled not poor (>0.5/10 or >20/400 on the Snellen scale, <1.3 in LogMAR scale) and poor (≤0.5/10 or ≤20/400 on the Snellen scale, ≥1.3 on the LogMAR equivalent). Data regarding participants' perceived stress levels, by using Perceived Stress Scale 14 (PSS-14), were collected prospectively, one year after study end. Out of 30 ocular injury patients selected, 76.7% were men and most of them were self-employed and private or public sector workers (36.7%). Not poor final BCVA was related to not poor initial BCVA [odds ratio (OR) 1.714; P=0.006]. No statistical associations were found between visual outcome and demographic or clinical factors, but not poor final BCVA was associated with improved self-reported psychological condition of the sufferers, as examined by a questionnaire sheet developed to collect information for study purpose (8.36/10 vs. 6.40/10; P=0.011). No patient reported job loss or changed work status following the injury. Not poor initial BCVA was a significant predictor for not poor final visual outcomes (OR 1.714; P=0.006). Patients with not poor final BCVA expressed higher levels of positive psychology (8.36/10 vs. 6.40/10; P=0.011) and less fear of eye injury repetition (64.0 vs. 100.0%; P=0.286). Not poor final BCVA was associated with low PSS-14 scores one year after study end (77.3 vs. 0.0%, P=0.003). Collaboration between ophthalmologists, mental health professionals and primary care team may be important in order to help patients to cope with the psychosocial burden sequel to eye trauma.

Ocular trauma, visual acuity related to time of referral and psychosocial determinants, during COVID‑19 pandemic: A prospective study

The aim of the present study was to explore the associations between visual outcomes of ocular injury patients in a tertiary hospital unit with clinical and demographic variables and to evaluate the psychosocial impact of the injury on the patients. An 18-month prospective study of 30 eye-injured adult patients was conducted in the General University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, a tertiary referral hospital. All severe eye injury case information was prospectively collected between February 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was labelled not poor (>0.5/10 or >20/400 on the Snellen scale, <1.3 in LogMAR scale) and poor (≤0.5/10 or ≤20/400 on the Snellen scale, ≥1.3 on the LogMAR equivalent). Data regarding participants' perceived stress levels, by using Perceived Stress Scale 14 (PSS-14), were collected prospectively, one year after study end. Out of 30 ocular injury patients selected, 76.7% were men and most of them were self-employed and private or public sector workers (36.7%). Not poor final BCVA was related to not poor initial BCVA [odds ratio (OR) 1.714;P=0.006]. No statistical associations were found between visual outcome and demographic or clinical factors, but not poor final BCVA was associated with improved self-reported psychological condition of the sufferers, as examined by a questionnaire sheet developed to collect information for study purpose (8.36/10 vs. 6.40/10;P=0.011). No patient reported job loss or changed work status following the injury. Not poor initial BCVA was a significant predictor for not poor final visual outcomes (OR 1.714;P=0.006). Patients with not poor final BCVA expressed higher levels of positive psychology (8.36/10 vs. 6.40/10;P=0.011) and less fear of eye injury repetition (64.0 vs. 100.0%;P=0.286). Not poor final BCVA was associated with low PSS-14 scores one year after study end (77.3 vs. 0.0%, P=0.003). Collaboration between ophthalmologists, mental health professionals and primary care team may be important in order to help patients to cope with the psychosocial burden sequel to eye trauma. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Experimental & Therapeutic Medicine is the property of Spandidos Publications UK 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.)

COVID-19-associated pneumonia in Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome: A case report.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exerts differential effects on various individuals. The majority of infected individuals experience mild-to-moderate disease and usually recover, without requiring hospitalization. It has been reported that those who have underlying chronic diseases are more susceptible to infection and may thus develop significantly more serious illness. As a result, COVID-19 may aggravate pre-existing respiratory illnesses, such as interstitial lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome is an uncommon clinical condition marked by post-infectious infantile bronchiolitis obliterans. Traditionally, the diagnosis is made in infancy following an investigation for reoccurring respiratory infections, although in rare cases, the diagnosis is made in adulthood. The present study describes the case of a 45-year-old patient with Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome hospitalized due to COVID-19, which is the first one to be reported. To the best of our knowledge, there are currently no data available on the effects of COVID-19 in these individuals, stheir optimal therapy, or the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on their clinical course. Thus, it is hoped that the present study sheds some light into this condition.

Towards effective COVID­19 vaccines: Updates, perspectives and challenges (Review).

In the current context of the pandemic triggered by SARS-COV-2, the immunization of the population through vaccination is recognized as a public health priority. In the case of SARS­COV­2, the genetic sequencing was done quickly, in one month. Since then, worldwide research has focused on obtaining a vaccine. This has a major economic impact because new technological platforms and advanced genetic engineering procedures are required to obtain a COVID­19 vaccine. The most difficult scientific challenge for this future vaccine obtained in the laboratory is the proof of clinical safety and efficacy. The biggest challenge of manufacturing is the construction and validation of production platforms capable of making the vaccine on a large scale.

Insights in paediatric virology during the COVID-19 era (Review)

The present article provides an overview of the key messages of the topics discussed at the ‘7th Workshop on Paediatric Virology', which was organised virtually on December 20, 2021 by the Institute of Paediatric Virology, located on the Island of Euboea in Greece. The workshop's plenary lectures were on: i) viral pandemics and epidemics in the ancient Mediterranean;ii) the impact of obesity on the outcome of viral infections in children and adolescents;and iii) COVID-19 and artificial intelligence. Despite the scarcity of evidence from fossils and remnants, viruses have been recognised as significant causes of several epidemics in the ancient Mediterranean. Paediatric obesity, a modifiable critical health risk factor, has been shown to impact on the development, progression and severity of viral infections. Thus, the prevention of paediatric obesity should be included in formulating public health policies and decision-making strategies against emerging global viral threats. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, artificial intelligence has been used to facilitate the identification, monitoring and prevention of SARS-CoV-2. In the future, it will play a fundamental role in the surveillance of epidemic-prone infectious diseases, in the repurposing of older therapies and in the design of novel therapeutic agents against viral infections. The collaboration between different medical specialties and other diverse scientific fields, including archaeology, history, epidemiology, nutritional technologies, mathematics, computer technology, engineering, medical law and ethics is essential for the successful management of paediatric viral infections. The current COVID-19 pandemic has underscored this need, which should be further encouraged in modern medical education.

COVID-19-associated pneumonia in Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome: A case report

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exerts differential effects on various individuals. The majority of infected individuals experience mild-to-moderate disease and usually recover, without requiring hospitalization. It has been reported that those who have underlying chronic diseases are more susceptible to infection and may thus develop significantly more serious illness. As a result, COVID-19 may aggravate pre-existing respiratory illnesses, such as interstitial lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome is an uncommon clinical condition marked by post-infectious infantile bronchiolitis obliterans. Traditionally, the diagnosis is made in infancy following an investigation for reoccurring respiratory infections, although in rare cases, the diagnosis is made in adulthood. The present study describes the case of a 45-year-old patient with Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome hospitalized due to COVID-19, which is the first one to be reported. To the best of our knowledge, there are currently no data available on the effects of COVID-19 in these individuals, stheir optimal therapy, or the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on their clinical course. Thus, it is hoped that the present study sheds some light into this condition.

Multiple sclerosis and computational biology (Review).

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurodegenerative disease whose prevalence has increased worldwide. The resultant symptoms may be debilitating and can substantially reduce the of patients. Computational biology, which involves the use of computational tools to answer biomedical questions, may provide the basis for novel healthcare approaches in the context of MS. The rapid accumulation of health data, and the ever-increasing computational power and evolving technology have helped to modernize and refine MS research. From the discovery of novel biomarkers to the optimization of treatment and a number of quality-of-life enhancements for patients, computational biology methods and tools are shaping the field of MS diagnosis, management and treatment. The final goal in such a complex disease would be personalized medicine, i.e., providing healthcare services that are tailored to the individual patient, in accordance to the particular biology of their disease and the environmental factors to which they are subjected. The present review article summarizes the current knowledge on MS, modern computational biology and the impact of modern computational approaches of MS.

Vaccine development for zoonotic viral diseases caused by positive­sense single­stranded RNA viruses belonging to the Coronaviridae and Togaviridae families (Review).

Outbreaks of zoonotic viral diseases pose a severe threat to public health and economies worldwide, with this currently being more prominent than it previously was human history. These emergency zoonotic diseases that originated and transmitted from vertebrates to humans have been estimated to account for approximately one billion cases of illness and have caused millions of deaths worldwide annually. The recent emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (coronavirus disease 2019) is an excellent example of the unpredictable public health threat causing a pandemic. The present review summarizes the literature data regarding the main vaccine developments in human clinical phase I, II and III trials against the zoonotic positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses belonging to the Coronavirus and Alphavirus genera, including severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle east respiratory syndrome, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, Semliki Forest virus, Ross River virus, Chikungunya virus and O'nyong-nyong virus. That there are neither vaccines nor effective antiviral drugs available against most of these viruses is undeniable. Therefore, new explosive outbreaks of these zoonotic viruses may surely be expected. The present comprehensive review provides an update on the status of vaccine development in different clinical trials against these viruses, as well as an overview of the present results of these trials.

Factors predicting poor outcomes of patients treated with tocilizumab for COVID­19­associated pneumonia: A retrospective study.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is a significant global issue that has major implications for the healthcare system. The mortality rates associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection vary according to the geographical region and are associated with age, comorbidities and vaccination status. Organ damage is caused by the cytokine release syndrome, which plays a crucial role in the course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Innate and adaptive immune system stimulation in patients with COVID-19 results in inappropriate cytokine release. The anti-IL-6 receptor antagonist, tocilizumab, is used in the treatment of connective tissue diseases. The present single-center retrospective study on patients with COVID-19 admitted to hospital between September, 2020 and April, 2022 aimed to identify predictors of mortality and other unfavorable outcomes in patients treated with tocilizumab for COVID-19-associated pneumonia. Demographics, vaccination status against SARS-CoV-2, the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), laboratory data and chest X-ray scores were recorded upon admission. In total, 174 subjects (121 males; mean age, 62.43±13.47 years) fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included. Among the 174 participants, 58 (33.3%) were intubated. The mortality rate was 35.1%. The non-survivors were older, mostly females, and had a higher CCI score. At the evaluation upon admission, the survivors presented with higher levels of alanine transferase and gamma glutamyl-transferase and with a greater number of platelets (PLTs), while patients that were intubated were also older, mostly females, and had a higher CCI score (P<0.05). Age was identified as the only independent factor predicting mortality in the Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression analysis. By performing a sub-analysis regarding sex, it was revealed that the value of PLTs was an independent factor predicting intubation and 90-day mortality in male patients, and the lymphocyte count was the only factor associated with intubation in female patients. On the whole, the data of the present study may be used to identify patient subpopulations responding to treatment with tocilizumab in prospective clinical trials.

Novel computational pipelines in antiviral structure­based drug design (Review).

Viral infections constitute a fundamental and continuous challenge for the global scientific and medical community, as highlighted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In combination with prophylactic vaccines, the development of safe and effective antiviral drugs remains a pressing need for the effective management of rare and common pathogenic viruses. The design of potent antivirals can be informed by the study of the three-dimensional structure of viral protein targets. Structure-based design of antivirals in silico provides a solution to the arduous and costly process of conventional drug development pipelines. Furthermore, rapid advances in high-throughput computing, along with the growth of available biomolecular and biochemical data, enable the development of novel computational pipelines in the hunt of antivirals. The incorporation of modern methods, such as deep-learning and artificial intelligence, has the potential to revolutionize the structure-based design and repurposing of antiviral compounds, with minimal side effects and high efficacy. The present review aims to provide an outline of both traditional computational drug design and emerging, high-level computing strategies.

Factors predicting poor outcomes of patients treated with tocilizumab for COVID‑19‑associated pneumonia: A retrospective study

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is a significant global issue that has major implications for the healthcare system. The mortality rates associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection vary according to the geographical region and are associated with age, comorbidities and vaccination status. Organ damage is caused by the cytokine release syndrome, which plays a crucial role in the course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Innate and adaptive immune system stimulation in patients with COVID-19 results in inappropriate cytokine release. The anti-IL-6 receptor antagonist, tocilizumab, is used in the treatment of connective tissue diseases. The present single-center retrospective study on patients with COVID-19 admitted to hospital between September, 2020 and April, 2022 aimed to identify predictors of mortality and other unfavorable outcomes in patients treated with tocilizumab for COVID-19-associated pneumonia. Demographics, vaccination status against SARS-CoV-2, the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), laboratory data and chest X-ray scores were recorded upon admission. In total, 174 subjects (121 males;mean age, 62.43±13.47 years) fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included. Among the 174 participants, 58 (33.3%) were intubated. The mortality rate was 35.1%. The non-survivors were older, mostly females, and had a higher CCI score. At the evaluation upon admission, the survivors presented with higher levels of alanine transferase and gamma glutamyl-transferase and with a greater number of platelets (PLTs), while patients that were intubated were also older, mostly females, and had a higher CCI score (P<0.05). Age was identified as the only independent factor predicting mortality in the Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression analysis. By performing a sub-analysis regarding sex, it was revealed that the value of PLTs was an independent factor predicting intubation and 90-day mortality in male patients, and the lymphocyte count was the only factor associated with intubation in female patients. On the whole, the data of the present study may be used to identify patient subpopulations responding to treatment with tocilizumab in prospective clinical trials.

New­onset neuropsychiatric sequelae and 'long­COVID' syndrome (Review).

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a widespread impact on individuals' mental health through indirect psychological and social mechanisms, related to factors such as fear of infection or death, social isolation, lack of social support and financial instability. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has also been associated with the development or recurrence of neuropsychiatric symptoms, both during the acute phase, as well as during the post-acute 'long-COVID' phase. In addition to the COVID-19 survivors with a mental health history that are at a high risk of experiencing a range of neuropsychiatric symptoms following resolution of acute COVID-19, there is accumulating evidence that a diagnosis of COVID-19 may also be associated with new-onset neuropsychiatric morbidity among survivors without pre-existing mental health disorders. In particular, studies investigating the incidence of post-acute neuropsychiatric sequelae, based mostly on retrospective cohort study designs and data from national health registries, have reported the development of new-onset manifestations, including depression, anxiety, psychotic symptoms, sleep disturbances and fatigue. Nevertheless, when COVID-19 survivors were compared with SARS-CoV-2-negative controls and especially survivors of other disorders (such as influenza), the findings regarding the risk of incident neuropsychiatric manifestations varied among studies. While there is evidence of an association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the subsequent occurrence of new-onset neuropsychiatric symptoms, especially among patients with increased disease severity, further research using methodological approaches less susceptible to confounding bias is required to establish causal relationships.

Acute hepatitis and liver injury in hospitalized patients with COVID­19 infection.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a systemic illness with an increased host inflammatory response that affects multiple extra-pulmonary organs, including the gastrointestinal tract. Abnormalities in liver biochemistry have been observed in a significant proportion of patients with COVID-19 upon admission, and this proportion increases with hospitalization. These abnormalities are typically manifested as elevations in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, with less frequently detected elevations in the levels of cholestatic enzymes. Elevated aminotransaminase levels have been linked to an increased risk of mortality and complications, indicating the severity of COVID-19 infection. The present study evaluated the prevalence and the baseline factors associated with the development of acute hepatitis (ΑΗ), liver injury (LI) and associated patterns, as well as the presence of abnormalities in the levels of aminotransferases at discharge in the same cohort. For this purpose, 1,304 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection were enrolled in the study. According to the results obtained, AST levels at baseline were the only independent factor for AH during hospital stay, while AST, alkaline phosphatase and ferritin levels were independent baseline factors for the development of LI. The patients with hepatocellular, compared to those with cholestatic LI, exhibited similar survival rates, as well as similarities in the development of acute kidney injury and the need for oxygen via high-flow nasal cannula and/or mechanical ventilation. In addition, age and ALT were independent risk factors for persistent abnormal values of AST and ALT at discharge.

Biomarkers predicting the 30­day mortality of patients who underwent elective surgery and were infected with SARS­CoV­2 during the post­operative period: A retrospective study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a significant global concern that has had major implications for the healthcare system. Patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) undergoing elective or emergency surgical procedures have a substantial risk of mortality and peri-operative complications. The present study aimed to describe the characteristics of patients who underwent elective surgery and developed nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection post-surgery. Patients who underwent thoracic, upper and lower abdominal or peripheral elective surgery with a polymerase chain reaction diagnosis of COVID-19, at 3-7 days after the surgery, were enrolled in the present retrospective study. Demographics, vaccination status against SARS-CoV-2, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and laboratory data were recorded upon admission to the hospital unit. In total, 116 subjects (80 males, 36 females; mean age, 67.31±16.83 years) fulfilling the inclusion criteria were identified. Among the 116 participants, 14 (12.1%) were intubated. From the 116 individuals analyzed, 84 were alive after 30 days (survivors), and 32 had succumbed to the disease (non-survivors). The mortality rate was 27.6% (32/116). The non-survivors had an older age and a higher CCI score. At the evaluation upon admission to the hospital unit, the survivors presented with higher serum albumin levels and a higher number of blood lymphocytes. In addition, the survivors exhibited lower levels of lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as a higher neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and CRP to albumin ratio (CAR) (P<0.05). The patients that were intubated had higher levels of gamma glutamyl-transferase (GGT), ALP and ferritin, as well as a higher NLR and platelet to lymphocyte ratio upon admission to the hospital unit (P<0.05). According to the Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression analysis, the only independent predictors of mortality and intubation were ALP and GGT upon admission, respectively (P<0.05). On the whole, the findings of the present study suggest that more stringent guidelines are required in order to prevent infection during the post-operative period.

Role of endothelial dysfunction in the severity of COVID­19 infection (Review).

COVID­19 patients with severe infection have been observed to have elevated auto­antibodies (AAs) against angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1R) and endothelin (ET) 1 receptor type A (ETAR), compared with healthy controls and patients with favorable (mild) infection. AT1R and ETAR are G protein­coupled receptors, located on vascular smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, immune and endothelial cells, and are activated by angiotensin II (Ang II) and ET1 respectively. AAs that are specific for these receptors have a functional role similar to the natural ligands, but with a more prolonged vasoconstrictive effect. They also induce the production of fibroblast collagen, the release of reactive oxygen species and the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines (including IL­6, IL­8 and TNF­α) by immune cells. Despite the presence of AAs in severe COVID­19 infected patients, their contribution and implication in the severity of the disease is still not well understood and further studies are warranted. The present review described the major vascular homeostasis systems [ET and renin­angiotensin­aldosterone system (RAAS)], the vital regulative role of nitric oxide, the AAs, and finally the administration of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), so as to provide more insight into the interplay that exists among these components and their contribution to the severity, prognosis and possible treatment of COVID­19.

Onodera's prognostic nutritional index: Comparison of its role in the severity and outcomes of patients with COVID­19 during the periods of alpha, delta and omicron variant predominance.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a severe public health threat worldwide, affecting the function of multiple organs in affected individuals, in addition to respiratory function. Several strains of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been circulating worldwide since it first arose, with some of these having the ability to escape from natural or vaccine-mediated immunity. The Onodera's prognostic nutritional index (OPNI), which is derived from the peripheral lymphocyte count and serum albumin, has been reported to be significantly associated with a poor survival rate and post-operative complications in patients with various diseases and in some studies on patients with COVID-19. The aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of OPNI as a prognostic indicator in patients with COVID-19 during the periods of alpha, delta and omicron variant predominance. Adult patients who visited or were hospitalized due to SARS-CoV-2 infection were included, covering the second, third (alpha variant), fourth (delta variant) and fifth (omicron variant) pandemic waves. According to the results obtained, OPNI exhibited a statistically significant difference among patients with mild/moderate, severe and critical disease, with the lowest values observed in patients with critical disease in all the pandemic waves examined. Moreover, OPNI was found to be an independent prognostic biomarker of intubation and mortality in patients with COVID-19, according to multivariate logistic regression analysis, including as confounders an age >65 years, the male sex and the presence of comorbidities in all periods examined.

Onodera's prognostic nutritional index: Comparison of its role in the severity and outcomes of patients with COVID‑19 during the periods of alpha, delta and omicron variant predominance

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a severe public health threat worldwide, affecting the function of multiple organs in affected individuals, in addition to respiratory function. Several strains of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been circulating worldwide since it first arose, with some of these having the ability to escape from natural or vaccine-mediated immunity. The Onodera's prognostic nutritional index (OPNI), which is derived from the peripheral lymphocyte count and serum albumin, has been reported to be significantly associated with a poor survival rate and post-operative complications in patients with various diseases and in some studies on patients with COVID-19. The aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of OPNI as a prognostic indicator in patients with COVID-19 during the periods of alpha, delta and omicron variant predominance. Adult patients who visited or were hospitalized due to SARS-CoV-2 infection were included, covering the second, third (alpha variant), fourth (delta variant) and fifth (omicron variant) pandemic waves. According to the results obtained, OPNI exhibited a statistically significant difference among patients with mild/moderate, severe and critical disease, with the lowest values observed in patients with critical disease in all the pandemic waves examined. Moreover, OPNI was found to be an independent prognostic biomarker of intubation and mortality in patients with COVID-19, according to multivariate logistic regression analysis, including as confounders an age >65 years, the male sex and the presence of comorbidities in all periods examined.

Immature granulocytes: Innovative biomarker for SARS-CoV-2 infection

Immature granulocytes (IGs) include metamyelocytes, myelocytes and promyelocytes, and are the precursors of neutrophils. Increased IG counts found in peripheral blood indicate an enhanced bone marrow activity. In addition, IGs have been evaluated in numerous clinical conditions, such as severe acute pancreatitis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome and infectious complications following open-heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. Neutrophils are considered to play a crucial role in the host defense during bacterial and fungal infections, and are involved in the antiviral immune response. Numerous studies have reported the role of neutrophils in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, concluding that the percentage of neutrophils may be a predictor of the severity of COVID-19 infection. There has been limited research regarding the role of neutrophil precursors in viral infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. The present thus aimed to evaluate the role of the IG count in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection. The patients were predominantly infected with the alpha variant and were all unvaccinated. The IG count was measured and was found to be associated with disease severity, with patient outcomes, with the duration of hospitalization and with the development of complications. The IG count was a significantly associated with the severity of COVID-19 infection, with greater IG count values being detected in severe and critical cases. In addition, greater IG count values were associated with a longer duration of hospitalization. Furthermore, the IG count was found to be an independent prognostic biomarker of intubation and mortality in patients with COVID-19, according to multivariate logistic regression analysis, including age, the male sex and the presence of comorbidities as confounders. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Molecular Medicine Reports is the property of Spandidos Publications UK 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.)