Re-infection of SARS-CoV-2: A case in a young dental healthcare worker.

Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 is a rare phenomenon. To date, there has been some cases reported from countries such as United States, Ecuador, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and Belgium. This case report presents the first case of reinfection from Saudi Arabia, and probably the first dental student to have been re-infected with COVID-19. A 24-year-old male dental student presents with reinfection after a period of three months since he was first infected with COVID-19. The signs and symptoms reported by the patient were similar in both instances, except that he developed fever only at the time of reinfection. The infection and reinfection were confirmed with a RT-PCR test reports. This report highlights how it is necessary to continue to observe all the prescriptions recently indicated in the literature in order to avoid new contagion for all health workers after healed from covid-19 or asymptomatic positive, since as seen sometimes the infection does not ensures complete immunity in 100% of cases.

Novel corona virus disease (COVID-19) awareness among the dental interns, dental auxiliaries and dental specialists in Saudi Arabia: A nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: Dental health care workers (DHCW's) are invariably at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. The objectives were; to investigate the current knowledge on COVID-19 among the DHCW's; and to conduct quasi-experiment among the DHCW's who were unaware of the disseminated COVID-19 information. METHODS: A nationwide cross-sectional study targeting dental interns, auxiliaries, and specialists with a two-staged cluster sampling technique was performed. A 17-item questionnaire was subjected to reliability and validity tests before being administered. The participants for quasi-experiment were separated from the original sample after their initial response. Chi-square test assessed responses to knowledge statements between the participants. Difference in mean knowledge scores between the categories of DHCW's and sources of COVID-19 information was assessed using ANOVA. Data from the quasi experiment (pre vs post knowledge intervention) was subjected to paired t-test. Percentage of DHCWs providing correct or wrong responses to each knowledge statement at baseline and after 7 days were compared using McNemar test. RESULTS: The overall sample consisted of 706 (N) participants, and the DHCW's with no prior knowledge on COVID-19 (N=206) were part of the quasi experiment. Findings from cross-sectional study revealed that knowledge was significantly (p<0.05) related to the qualification level (interns vs auxiliaries vs specialists). However, the difference in the source of information (WHO/CDC vs Journal articles vs MoH) did not demonstrate any effect. Number of participants with correct responses to knowledge questions had significantly (p<0.05) increased after intervention. Also, the overall mean knowledge score (10.74±2.32 vs 12.47±1.68; p<0.001) had increased significantly after the intervention. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the basic knowledge on COVID-19 among the DHCW's in Saudi Arabia is acceptable. Timely dissemination of information by the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia had a positive impact on the COVID-19 knowledge score of the DHCW's.

Thrombospondin-derived peptide attenuates Sjögren's syndrome-associated ocular surface inflammation in mice.

Sjögren's syndrome is the second most common rheumatic disease in which autoimmune response targets exocrine glands (salivary and lacrimal glands) result in clinical symptoms of dry mouth and dry eye. Inflammation of the lacrimal gland induces tear abnormalities that contribute to the inflammation of the ocular surface, which includes ocular mucosa. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) plays a critical regulatory role in the ocular mucosa and as such TSP-1-/- mice develop spontaneously chronic ocular surface inflammation associated with Sjögren's syndrome. The autoimmune pathology is also accompanied by a peripheral imbalance in regulatory (Treg ) and inflammatory Th17 effectors. In this study, we demonstrate an in-vitro effect of a CD47-binding TSP-derived peptide in the induction of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1-secreting forkhead box protein 2 (Foxp3+ ) Tregs from activated CD4+ CD25- T cells and the inhibition of pathogenic T helper type 17 (Th17)-promoting interleukin (IL)-23 derived from antigen-presenting cells. The in-vivo administration of this peptide promotes Foxp3+ Treg induction and inhibition of Th17 development. Consistent with these results, topical administration of CD47-binding TSP peptide, both before and after the onset of the disease, attenuates clinical symptoms of SS-associated dry eye in TSP-1-/- mice. Augmented expression of Foxp3 detected in the draining lymph nodes of TSP peptide -treated mice compared to those treated with control peptide suggests the ability of TSP peptide to restore peripheral immune imbalance. Thus, our results suggest that TSP-derived peptide attenuates Sjögren's syndrome-associated dry eye and autoimmune inflammation by preventing Th17 development while promoting the induction of Tregs . Collectively, our data identify TSP-derived peptide as a novel therapeutic option to treat autoimmune diseases.

CT in pulmonary hydatid disease: unusual appearances.

OBJECTIVE: To study the CT features of pulmonary hydatid disease. PATIENTS: Thirty-two consecutive patients with surgically proven pulmonary hydatid cysts. SETTING: SheriKashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Kashmir, India, a tertiary-care referral center. INTERVENTIONS: CT of the chest was obtained in all cases on Somatom DR double rotate CT scanner (Siemens; Erlangen, Germany). RESULTS: Forty cysts of different size and shapes were encountered, 34 of them being ruptured. CT density of the cysts varied from - 42 to 160 Hounsfield units (HU; median, 15.5 HU). Apart from the classically described features of pulmonary hydatid disease, a crescent-shaped rim of air at the lower end of the cyst (inverse crescent sign) was seen in three cysts, and a bleb of air in the wall of two as-yet unruptured cysts (signet ring sign). Thick wall (>10 mm) was observed in four cysts, and each of them had associated evidence of infection. CONCLUSIONS: Inverse crescent sign, signet ring sign, high CT density, and thick wall should be recognized as features of pulmonary hydatid cysts on CT.

Doctors and the assessment of blood glucose testing sticks: does colour blindness matter?

A group of doctors with congenital colour vision deficiency (CCVD) were compared with a group of controls in their assessment of colour blocks in the colour range of a widely available blood glucose testing stick. The majority of doctors with CCVD agreed with controls on colour matching. However, subjects with severe CCVD tended to match test blocks to a wider range of options than either those with a less severe defect or controls. This paper discusses the implications of these findings.

Doctors and the assessment of clinical photographs--does colour blindness matter?

Colour vision deficiency (CVD) is a common anomaly, especially in the male population. A group of doctors with CVD was compared with a control group. Doctors with CVD differed from controls in respect of their ability to detect, and in their confidence in the assessment of, abnormalities presented in clinical photographs. These findings suggest that doctors with CVD should take special care to ensure safe clinical practice.