There is growing evidence that the humoral immune response plays a significant role in the resolution of SARS-CoV-2. Patients with inherited or acquired immunoglobulin deficiencies have a higher risk of mortality, delayed viral clearance, and prolonged symptomatic infection, and this contributes to viral evolution. Case reports/series have implied a therapeutic role of monoclonal antibodies and convalescent plasma (CCP) as well as antivirals in the management of seronegative, symptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we discuss the existing evidence supporting the efficacy of the above-mentioned treatment options and provide suggestions for management.

Purpose Although monoclonal antibodies specific to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are known, information about the B-cell receptor (BCR) repertoire and its change in patients during COVID-19 disease progression is underreported. Methods We used immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) variable region (IGHV) spectratyping and next-generation sequencing of peripheral blood B-cell genomic DNA collected at multiple time points during disease evolution to study B-cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in 14 individuals with acute COVID-19. Results We found a broad distribution of responding B-cell clones. The IGH gene usage was not significantly skewed but frequencies of individual IGH genes changed repeatedly. We found predominant usage of unmutated and low mutation-loaded IGHV rearrangements characterizing naïve and extrafollicular B-cells among the majority of expanded peripheral B-cell clonal lineages at most tested time points in most patients. IGH rearrangement usage showed no apparent relation to anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers. Some patients demonstrated mono/oligoclonal populations carrying highly mutated IGHV rearrangements indicating antigen experience at some of the time points tested, including even before anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected. Conclusion We present evidence demonstrating that the B-cell response to SARS-CoV-2 is individual and includes different lineages of B-cells at various time points during COVID-19 progression.

A document by Mariana Aparecida Pasa Morgan. Click on the document to view its contents.

Background: CFTR-Related Metabolic Syndrome/ Cystic Fibrosis Screen Positive, Inconclusive Diagnosis (CRMS/CFSPID) is the diagnosis in infants who have a positive Cystic Fibrosis (CF) newborn screen (NBS), 2 CF-causing mutations, and borderline or normal sweat test. NY State implemented a new CF NBS algorithm (IRT-DNA-SEQ) in December 2017 with significant improvement in positive predictive value. This algorithm also resulted in detection of more CRMS cases. For these infants repeat sweat testing is recommended at 6, 12, and 18 months to monitor for risk of rising sweat chloride over time and 6-48% of infants with CRMS develop clinical features suggestive of CF. Infants with CRMS and sweat test results in the normal range are often lost to follow and parents were unwilling to return for recommended repeat sweat testing during the statewide lockdown during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic. We recognized the practice gap exacerbated during the pandemic and underscore the importance of establishing a medical home in a CF Center for longitudinal care. Methods: Retrospective analysis of infants with CRMS from December 2017 to December 2020 were collected by 10 NY CF Centers and the NBS program with NYU as the data collection and statistical analysis site. Infants with CRMS without repeat sweat chloride testing at 6 months of age were considered lost to follow up, and their parents were contacted via mail or telephone. Families completed a questionnaire that was developed with the assistance of CF Voice to evaluate parental understanding of CRMS and the recommendation for repeat sweat chloride testing. Primary care providers (PCPs) caring for infants with CRMS were also contacted and provided educational materials about CRMS. A subcommittee of CF Center Directors met to develop a statewide approach for the management of infants with CRMS. Results: Of 350 infants diagnosed with CRMS, 179 (51.1%) infants were lost to follow up. As an outcome of this QI effort 31 (17.3%) were scheduled for repeat sweat tests and follow up at CF Centers. This QI effort explored the knowledge and practice gap among PCPs with limited understanding of the implications of a CRMS diagnosis. CF Center Directors subcommittee issued a consensus statement regarding evaluation and follow up for infants with CRMS in NY. Conclusions: This QI effort effectively recaptured infants with CRMS previously lost to follow up. Consensus recommendations for CRMS include annual visits until 2-6 years of age for repeat sweat testing and in adolescence to educate the patient about clinical and reproductive implications of CRMS.

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic, which can cause cough, fever, muscle aches, fatigue and, sore throat. However, most people do not know how to cope with them so that some patients may progress to pneumonia and even severe disease. Therefore, it’s crucial to effectively cope with COVID-19 infection at home to reduce the rate of hospitalization, ease the burden of healthcare systems, alleviate patients’ suffering, and shorten the illness duration. In this regard, we aim to describe the symptom groups of the recently epidemic BF.7 variant strain infection, and summarize previous clinical experience and expert guidelines, the following home care measures for the five main symptoms were proposed. We hope that these strategies will serve as a reference for home care of patients and help them take appropriate measures to manage their symptoms.

Background: Accurate prediction of SARS-CoV-2 severity remains a challenge. Torque Teno Virus (TTV), recognized as a surrogate marker for cellular immunity in solid organ transplant recipients, holds potential for assessing infection outcomes. Objectives: We investigated whether quantifying TTV in nasopharyngeal samples upon emergency ward (ED) admission could serve as an early predictor of SARS-CoV-2 severity. Study design: Retrospective single-center study in the ED of Saint-Louis Hospital in Paris, France. TTV DNA was quantified in nasopharyngeal swab samples collected for SARS-CoV-2 testing. Results: Among 295 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients, 92 returned home, 160 were admitted to medical wards, and 43 to the intensive care unit. Among 295 SARS-CoV-2 patients, 92 were discharged, 160 hospitalized, and 43 admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Elevated TTV loads were observed in ICU patients (Median: 3.02 log copies/mL, interquartile range [IQR]: 2.215-3.825), exceeding those in discharged (2.215, [0; 2.962]) or hospitalized patients (2.24, [0; 3.29]) (p=0.006). Multivariate analysis identified diabetes, obesity, hepatitis, fever, dyspnea, oxygen requirement, and TTV load as predictors of ICU admission. A 2.91 log 10 copies/mL TTV threshold independently predicted ICU admission. Conclusion: Nasopharyngeal TTV quantification in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients is linked to the likelihood of ICU admission and might reflect respiratory immunosuppression.

Although reports have shown an association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and a reduction in male semen parameters, no population big-data analyses have been verified. This ecological comparative study aimed to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on semen quality. This ecological comparison study was based on the nationwide loosening of COVID-19 curbs in China on 2022-12-07, 1 month after which, an 89% infection rate was reported in Henan Province, China. We compared semen quality and serum hormone levels from 2023-01-07 to 4-30 and 2022-01-07 to 4-30 at the Reproductive Center of Henan Provincial People’s Hospital. Our results indicated a significant decrease in semen volume ( P<0.0001), sperm concentration ( P=0.0004), total sperm count ( P<0.0001), progressive motility ( P<0.0001), and nonprogressive motility ( P<0.0001) after the nationwide loosening of COVID-19 curbs. The effects on semen volume and total sperm count lasted for a long time. An increase in the rate of sperm neck defects was observed ( P<0.0001). Infection also caused hormone disruption in prolactin ( P<0.0001), testosterone ( P=0.0220), sex hormone-binding globulin ( P<0.0001), and free testosterone index ( P=0.0126), and an increase in estrogen ( P<0.0001), osteocalcin ( P<0.0001), and 25-OH-VD ( P<0.0001). The present study revealed that mild COVID-19 appeared to have a detrimental effect on semen parameters.

To analyse the difference in COVID-19 infection between kidney transplant patients and non-transplant patients. We included post-transplant patients with COVID-19 infection who attended Shenzhen No. 3 Hospital from December 2022 to February 2023, and enrolled the general population with COVID-19 infection who were hospitalized during the same period, matched by age and gender. They were divided into Kidney Transplant Recipients group (KTR) (n=194) and Non-Kidney Transplant Recipients Group（NKTR）(n=516) and the basic information, clinical symptoms, laboratory data, treatments and outcomes of these two groups were compared. The proportion of the renal transplant population classified as severe and critical was 15.5%, which was significantly higher than that in NKTR group (P < 0.05); the proportion of patients with pneumonia was also significantly higher than that in NKTR group. The mean maximum fever temperature was slightly higher in the NKTR( P<0.001);Kidney transplant population having lower absolute lymphocyte counts on admission and 7 days after admission than the general population, with statistically significant differences（ P<0.001, P＜0.001). The use of intravenous hormones was significantly higher (42.8% vs. 6.0%, p=0.000), as was the use of small molecules such as Azvudine and Paxlovid, compared to the general population. A total of 10 patients in the included population required ICU admission, all in the KTR group; six patients experienced death, also in the renal transplant group. Conclusion: Post-transplant COVID-19 infections are more severe and require hormonal and small molecule antiviral therapy, and the prognosis is worse than in the general population.

A document by Esra Fener. Click on the document to view its contents.

COVID-19 pandemic-altered epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus infections in young childrenTomohiro Udagawa1, Mari Okada1, Ryuichi Nakagawa1, Haruna Yokoyama1, Tomoyuki Kato2,4, Maki Furuya3, Hayato Sakaguchi3,4, Masayuki Nagasawa1,4*Department of Pediatrics1, Department of Pharmacy2, Department of Laboratory3, Department of Infection Control4,Musashino Red Cross Hospital, 1-26-1, Kyonan-cho Musashino-city, Tokyo, 180-8610, JapanKey word:COVID-19, viral interference, respiratory syncytial virus, metapneumovirus,*Author for correspondenceMasayuki Nagasawa, PhD., MD.Department of Pediatrics, Musashino Red Cross Hospital1-26-1, Kyonan-cho, Musashino-city, Tokyo 180-8610, JapanTel: +81 422 32 3111Fax: +81 422 32 9551E-mail: masayukin@musashino.jrc.or.jpCorrespondence:Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) are closely related viruses belonging to pneumovirinae subfamily and cause bronchiolitis and pneumoniae in infants and young children, resulting in hospitalization, which becomes a major health problem in pediatric care.1, 2 To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of these viral infections, we investigated and compared the epidemic patterns of RSV and hMPV infections in children admitted and diagnosed at our hospital before and after COVID-19 pandemic. The pathogenic diagnosis was made by antigen test before 2020 and by Filmarray respiratory panel® (ver2.1) test thereafter.In the reports so far, the epidemics of both virus infections have not completely overlapped in Japan3, 4, and the epidemic peaks of both infections in our hospital from 2015 to 2019 did not overlap as well as shown in Figure 1. These phenomena are referred to as social viral interference and have been mentioned in several viral infections.5-7 COVID-19, which emerged at the end of 2019, quickly spread around the world and became a pandemic.8, 9 Japan also implemented a social lockdown from April to May 2020. As a result, social activity restrictions continued, and no epidemics of RSV or hMPV were observed in 2020. After that, a large-scale epidemic of RSV was seen in the summer of 2021 due to the easing of restrictions on social activities and movements and the reopening of nursery schools, but no hMPV epidemic was observed. In 2022 and 2023, epidemics of both RSV and hMPV were seen. Interestingly, both outbreaks occurred around the same time, unlike before the COVID-19 pandemic (Figure1). More interestingly, when comparing the age distribution of infected children, the age distribution in post-COVID-19 epidemic shifted nearly 2 years older than that before COVID-19 epidemic (figure 2). Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the age distribution during the epidemic of both viral infections was almost similar from year to year (data not shown).The periodic prevalence of epidemic respiratory viral infections in children can be attributed to several factors.First is viral evolution. Viruses have the ability to mutate and evolve rapidly. These new strains can lead to recurrent outbreaks as the population lacks immunity to the modified virus. Second is host susceptibility. In a population, individuals may gain immunity to a specific viral infection through prior exposure or vaccination. However, over time, the immunity acquired through natural infection or vaccination can wane. Third are changes in population density and mobility. Population dynamics, including changes in population density and mobility, can influence the transmission of viral infections. Increased travel, urbanization, and global connectivity facilitate the rapid spread of viruses across regions and continents. Fourth are environmental factors. Certain viral infections exhibit seasonal patterns due to environmental factors. For instance, respiratory viruses like influenza tend to peak during the colder months when people spend more time indoors in close proximity, providing favorable conditions for viral transmission. Additionally, changes in climate patterns or ecological disturbances can affect the distribution and prevalence of vector-borne infections such as dengue or Zika virus. Fifth is lack of universal vaccination or treatment. The absence of effective vaccines or treatments against a particular viral infection can contribute to its periodic prevalence.RSV and hMPV spread through similar routes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the measures taken to control COVID-19 have inevitably limited the transmission of both respiratory viruses among children. Furthermore, the reduced exposure to common respiratory viruses during the pandemic may affect the development of natural immunity in children, potentially leading to a susceptible population when restrictions ease and social interactions increase. One of the reasons why children aged 3 to 4 years became more susceptible to RSV and hMPV after the COVID-19 pandemic may be that immunity was not stimulated due to the decrease in epidemic viral diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the possibility that the virus mutated during the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be completely ruled out.Viral interference at the individual level has been verified in animal experiments.10, 11 However, virus interference at the population level is observed as an indirect phenomenon and its causes are complicated. From this perspective, a detailed examination of the trends in infectious diseases, especially in children before and after the rare COVID-19 pandemic will provide very important suggestions for considering the mode of transmission of viral infections in society, the maturation process of immunity to viruses, and countermeasures against acute viral infection epidemics.

Aim: The influence of human factors on safety in healthcare settings is well established, with targeted interventions reducing risk and enhancing team performance. In experimental and early phase clinical research participant safety is paramount and safeguarded by guidelines, protocolised care and staff training, however the real-world interaction and implementation of these risk-mitigating measures has never been subjected to formal system-based assessment. Methods: Independent structured observations, systematic review of study documents, and interviews and focus groups were used to collate data on three key tasks undertaken in a Clinical Research Facilty (CRF) during a SARS CoV-2 controlled human infection model (CHIM) study. The Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) was employed to analyse and categorise findings, and develop recommendations for safety interventions. Results: High levels of team functioning and a clear focus on participant safety were evident throughout the study. Despite this, latent risks in both study-specific and CRF work systems were identified in all four SEIPS domains (people, environment, tasks and tools). 14 actionable recommendations were generated collaboratively. These included inter-organisation and inter-study standardisation, optimised checklists for safety critical tasks, and use of simulation for team training and exploration of work systems. Conclusion: This pioneering application of human factors techniques to analyse work systems during the conduct of research in a CRF revealed risks unidentified by routine review and appraisal, and despite international guideline adherence. SEIPS may aid categorisation of system problems and the formulation of recommendations that reduce risk and mitigate potential harm applicable across a trials portfolio

The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection has left behind a new symptomatology called post COVID-19. The pathophysiological mechanisms still remain controversial; however, a link between persistent inflammation and these sequelae has been suggested. Herein, we longitudinally assessed up- and downstream molecules of the NLRP3 inflammasome’s pathway in three study groups: healthy donors (HC, n=14) and donors with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who had been hospitalized, the latter divided into post COVID-19 (PC, n=27) and non-post COVID-19 patients (nPC, n=27) based on the presence or absence of symptomatology at month 6, respectively. Plasma cytokines (IL-1β, IL-3, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18, IP-10, MIG, TNF-α, IFN-γ, MIP-1α and MIP-1β) and total peroxide (TPX) levels were quantified at baseline and at months 1 and 6 after the onset of the infection. Baseline values were the highest for both TPX and cytokines that progressively decreased thereafter the acute infection. IL-1β, MIP-1α, and TNF-α at month 1 were the only cytokines that show a significant difference between nPC and PC. These findings suggest that a persistent inflammatory state one month after the onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection related to specific cytokines (IL-1β, MIP-1α, and TNF-α) might guide to predict post COVID-19 symptomatology.

Omicron emerged as the fifth variant of concern of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic in late 2021 and rapidly overtook the previously predominant Delta variants with a significantly faster transmission rate and unique mutations on the spike gene. Hence, the ability to identify viral variants rapidly and affordably in large number of patients, which facilitates the monitoring of the transmission and clinical impact of new variants, is needed to obtain information for updating the public health policy. In this study, we evaluated the capability of two RT-PCR and mass spectrometry-based SARS-CoV-2 variant classification platforms to distinguish Delta, Omicron BA.1, and Omicron BA.2 variants in 618 COVID-19-positive samples from patients in Bangkok collected during November 2011-March 2022. Analysis of the time-evolution pattern of SARS-CoV-2 variant profiles indicated that the BA.1 and BA.2 possess up to 2-3 times higher transmission rates than the Delta variant. Our study showcases a cost-effective virus surveillance that enables a quantitative estimation of variant-specific public health impact.

Objective Our study aimed to investigate the oral microbiome of patients infected with the Omicron variant (PIOV) and the changes in oral microbiota during the recovery of infection, compared to those infected with the original strain (PIOS) and provide a theoretical foundation for early diagnosis and disease prognosis of PIOV from the perspective of microecology. Design We collected 963 samples of tongue-coating prospectively, including 349 samples of PIOV, 242 samples of recovered patients from PIOV (RP), 300 samples of healthy controls (HC), and 72 samples of PIOS. We randomly selected tongue-coating samples from PIOV and HC at a ratio of 2:1, respectively, as the discovery cohort and validation cohort. Results Oral microbial diversity was significantly increased in PIOV. Compared to HC, conditional pathogenic bacteria were increased in PIOV. The classifier based on 6 optimal oral microbial markers had high diagnostic efficiency in both cohorts. Oral microbiota numbers were changed as the disease recovered. Conclusion For the first time, our study characterizes the oral microbiota of PIOV and RP, successfully establishes and validates the noninvasive diagnostic model of PIOV, and outlines the correlation between the OTUs of microbiota and clinical indicators.

A document by hai hong Lin. Click on the document to view its contents.

Objective: To identify risk factors among pregnant with COVID- 19 for adverse outcomes related to disease severity, maternal morbidities, neonatal mortality and morbidity, and adverse birth outcomes. Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, 45 pregnant patients with COVID-19 pneumonia confirmed by RT-PCR were evaluated at HMIMV. The inclusion criteria were pregnant patients diagnosed with COVID-19 confirmed by RT-PCR and hospitalized in the gynecology-obstetrics and intensive care unit at Mohammed V Military Training Hospital (HMIMV). Exclusion criteria were non-pregnant patients and pneumonia cases with unconfirmed COVID-19 cause. Data was collected from patient records and telephone calls. The study used SPSS software to analyze the data.  Results: Our study recorded 45 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women over 2.5 years in the gynecology-obstetrics department at HMIMV. The age group most affected was 20-35 years, with 75% of cases. 57% of patients had no known comorbidities. 88.8% of patients were symptomatic at diagnosis, with fever, asthenia, headache, myalgia, anosmia, and ageusia being the most common symptoms. Almost 30% of patients required admission to the ICU, with 60% requiring oxygen supplementation. The study recorded 36 live births (80%), of which 26 cases (72.2%) required no further care and had a favorable outcome.  Conclusion: Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, which can be fatal, is a significant risk associated with COVID-19. Pregnant women with underlying medical conditions are more vulnerable to this complication and may benefit from preventive measures, such as lockdowns, to reduce their risk of infection. The severity of maternal disease appears to have an impact on obstetrical and neonatal outcomes, with potential complications including cesarean sections, neonatal prematurity, and admission to the intensive care unit .

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) enters the host cell by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). While evolutionarily conserved, ACE2 glycoproteins differ across various species and differential interactions with Spike (S) glycoproteins of SARS-CoV-2 viruses impact species specificity. Reverse zoonoses led to SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks on multiple American mink ( Mustela vison) farms during the pandemic and gave rise to mink-associated S substitutions known for transmissibility between mink and zoonotic transmission to humans. In this study, we used bio-layer interferometry (BLI) to discern the differences in binding affinity between multiple human and mink-derived S glycoproteins of SARS-CoV-2 and their respective ACE2 glycoproteins. Further, we conducted a structural analysis of a mink variant S glycoprotein and American mink ACE2 (mvACE2) using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), revealing four distinct conformations. We discovered a novel intermediary conformation where the mvACE2 glycoprotein is bound to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the S glycoprotein in a “down” position, approximately 34° lower than previously reported “up” RBD. Finally, we compared residue interactions in the S-ACE2 complex interface of S glycoprotein conformations with varying RBD orientations. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 entry.

Background and Aims: The long-term respiratory sequelae of COVID-19 infection in children remain poorly understood and may differ across countries. This study aims to investigate the respiratory sequelae, including residual respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in Thai children. The secondary aim is to identify factors associated with the respiratory sequelae. Materials and Methods: This is an observational study involving 56 healthy children, aged between 7-18 years, who were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection from July 2021 to February 2023. Clinical data relating to COVID-19 infection and persistent symptoms after the infection were assessed after the infection up to six months. Spirometry was performed to assess pulmonary function. Results: Post COVID-19 symptoms were identified in 14 patients (25%), with fatigue, cough, and dyspnea being common symptoms (28-35%). A significant correlation was found between post COVID-19 symptoms and pneumonia (OR = 6.00, 95%CI [1.54,23.33], p=0.01). Abnormal pulmonary function was identified in 10 patients (17.8%) with obstructive impairment being the most common. However, there were no significant association between clinical factors and pulmonary function impairment. Conclusion: Prolonged respiratory symptoms and abnormal pulmonary function following COVID-19 infection are not uncommon in children. The post COVID-19 symptoms are possibly associated with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Airbone viral pathogens can rapidly spread and become a global menace, including both human and animal viruses which can trigger important socioeconomical and health effects. Therefore, to prevent and contain potential epidemic outbreaks, accurate, fast, and affordable diagnostic point-of-care tests (POCT) are required. As a proof of concept, we have developed a molecular detection system based in Loop-mediated isothermal AMPlification technique (LAMP) for two different RNA airborne viruses: the well-known human SARS-CoV-2, and the avian metapneumovirus (aMPV), the aetiologic agent of a communicable disease infecting mainly turkeys and chickens. To obtain a POC diagnostic system, we coupled the LAMP technique to DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles detection. Validation of this system was carried out in 140 pharyngeal swabs from COVID-19 symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, and in 50 different samples (pharyngeal swabs and tracheal tissue samples) collected from aMPV infected chickens and turkeys. The system allows viral detection in about 60 minutes by the naked eye with 100% specificity, and 97.22% and 87.88% sensitivity for SARS-CoV-2 and aMPV, respectively. In summary, this novel detection system based on the coupling of RT-LAMP to DNA-nanoprobes allows suitable virus testing in the field, with accurate levels very close to conventional qRT-PCR based diagnosis.

Hepcidin is an important peptide hormone for iron homeostasis. It was shown to be increased in COVID-19 patients and may be a prognostic marker. In this study, the aim was to investigate serum hepcidin values and other iron metabolism parameters following the first and second COVID-19 vaccination. Thirty-eight healthcare workers were included in the study. Serum ferritin, hepcidin, iron, COVID-19 IgG and unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC) values were measured after the first vaccination (PRE) and second vaccination (POST). Changes and associations of serum parameters were statistically analyzed. It was determined that there was no statistically significant difference between the pre and post levels of ferritin (p=0.122), serum iron (p=0.127) or UIBC (p=0.145). Hepcidin was found to be significantly different between PRE and POST samples (p=0.0001). Hepcidin (PRE) was found to be significantly higher than the POST levels. Interestingly, there was no statistically significant relationship between the PRE and POST changes of ferritin and hepcidin (p=0.063). The association of PRE and POST changes of other parameters were also analyzed and a significant negative correlation between PRE and POST changes of serum iron and UIBC were found (rho=-0.751, p=0.0001). It was observed a decrease in hepcidin measures after second vaccination compared to the values after first vaccination. Vaccination affects serum hepcidin and this may be related with the interaction of hepcidin and the immune response.

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes a global pandemic named COVID-19. That virus causes a range of human respiratory tract infections; that severity varies from relatively mild to severe respiratory injury syndrome. It has indicated that some individuals might offer susceptibility to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection due to genetic factors. ACE2, TMPRSS2, TYK2, SLC6A20, and IFNAR2 human genes are involved in the pathogenesis of coronavirus in various populations and geographic territories; Therefore, examining the genetic variants of these genes can determine their association with the severity of the COVID-19 disease. In this study, the Whole-Exome Sequencing (WES) technique was used to identify variants of the mentioned human genes concerning the presence or absence of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in the cohort of 100 individuals from Iran; that may modulate viral infectivity and make some individuals more vulnerable than others. Next, the frequency of variants found in the Iranian population was compared with those belonging to reference individuals from the 1000 Genomes Project, genomAD, and ExAC. In addition, due to the extraordinary importance of the protein’s three-dimensional structure in maintaining the optimal function of the protein, also protein modeling was performed for the essential found variants. The ACE2 gene showed a high level of polymorphism. While TMPRSS2 is less polymorphic. The variants rs759499720/ACE2، rs776459296/ACE2، rs386818798/TMPRSS2، rs771922681/TYK2، rs753470142/TYK2، c.675G>T/TYK2، rs147760034/SLC6A20، rs139008024/SLC6A20, and rs759744926/IFNAR2 showed a significant association with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19. These variants have previously been detected in studies.

A document by Harkesh Arora. Click on the document to view its contents.

COVID-19 has altered the existing organizational dynamics. Almost every sector within a few weeks introduced virtual working, where it was feasible. Even sectors already practicing work from home with select groups made it mandatory for all. The study covers the impact of COVID--19 induced lockdowns on employee productivity in select sectors of the service industry. Respondents from the BFSI, IT, and Education sectors were drawn to record their responses. The results have demonstrated a significant impact of remote working on employee productivity across sectors and constructs. However, the degree of impact varied from sector to sector. This paper also highlights issues in digital adaptation. This study may be considered one of the initial attempts to investigate the impact of the universalization of remote on employee productivity in dominant service verticals. The findings suggest employees have accepted remote working as a feasible alternative to physical workplaces, since they find remote working provides the flexibility to balance work and life. The HR managers can apply the findings from this study to apply remote working as a strategic tool to attract and retain talent. This paper also contributes to the scant literature on employee productivity during an extraordinary global crisis.

Background: A proportion of the convalescent SARS-CoV-2 pediatric population presents nonspecific symptoms, mental health problems and a reduction in quality of life similar to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID-19 symptomatic. However, data regarding its clinical manifestation and immune mechanisms are currently scarce. Methods: In this study, we perform a comprehensive clinical and immunological profiling of 17 convalescent COVID-19 children with post-acute COVID-19 sequelae (PASC) manifestation and 13 convalescent children without PASC manifestation. A detailed medical history, blood and instrumental tests and physical examination were obtained from all patients. SARS-CoV-2 reactive T cell response was analyzed via multiparametric flowcytometry and the humoral immunity was addressed via pseudovirus neutralization and ELISA assay. Results: The most common PASC symptoms were shortness of breath/exercise intolerance, paresthesia, smell/taste disturbance, chest pain, dyspnea, headache and lack of concentration. Blood count and clinical chemistry showed no statistical differences among the study groups. We detected higher frequencies of spike (S) reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells among the PASC study group, characterized by TNFα and IFNγ production and low functional avidity. CRP levels are positively correlated with IFNγ producing reactive CD8+ T cells. Conclusions: Our data might indicate a possible involvement of a persistent cellular inflammatory response triggered by SARS-CoV-2 in the development of the observed sequelae in pediatric PASC. These results may have implications on future therapeutic and prevention strategies.