- Trends and Costs of US Telehealth Use Among Patients With Cardiovascular Disease Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: This study documented the number of telehealth and in-person outpatient encounters per 100 patients with cardiovascular disease, as well as the percentage of telehealth encounters from January 2019 to June 2021, and the average payments per telehealth and in-person encounters across a 12-month period.
- Collagen-Specific HSP47(+) Myofibroblasts and CD163(+) Macrophages Identify Profibrotic Phenotypes in Deceased Hearts With SARS-CoV-2 Infections: Researchers studied the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on cardiac fibrosis by examining the expression of HSP47, a stress-inducible chaperone protein that regulates procollagen biosynthesis and secretion in heart tissue. Their results showed increased expression of HSP47 in human autopsy tissue, suggesting a role for this protein in cardiac fibrosis in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals.
- Structure-based virtual screening and molecular docking of drugs against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-ACE2 receptor complex: The agent responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic is the newly discovered coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which binds to the ACE2 receptor on host cells with its trimeric spike protein. A structure-based virtual screening and molecular docking of existing drugs against this high-resolution structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-ACE2 receptor complex has been performed.
- SARS-CoV-2 live virus neutralization after four COVID-19 vaccine doses in people with HIV receiving suppressive ART: This study quantified the neutralization of wild-type, Omicron-BA.5, and Omicron-BQ.1 specific antibodies up to one month after a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose in 63 people with HIV (19 SARS-CoV-2-naive and 44 SARS-CoV-2-experienced).
- Analysis of COVID-19 Infection Chains in a School Setting: Data From a School-Based rRT-PCR-Gargle Pool Test System: This study analyzed infection chains in primary schools and household members of infected students using systematic real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase-chain-reaction (rRT-PCR)-gargle pool testing. Results showed that SARS-CoV-2 transmission was limited to the school environment and that household members of infected students were rarely infected.
- Incidence and Clinical Outcomes of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Critically lll Patients with COVID-19: A Multicenter Cohort Study – New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation and COVID-19: This study aims to investigate the incidence and clinical outcomes associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation in critically ill patients with COVID-19. A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted on adult patients admitted to ICUs from March 2020 to July 2021. The results of this study will help inform treatment strategies for critically ill patients with COVID-19.
- Did weekly economic index and volatility index impact US food sales during the first year of the pandemic: Researchers use the US weekly economic index (WEI) and the Chicago Board Options Exchange volatility index (VIX) to measure economic and financial dislocations caused by COVID-19 pandemic shocks on food sales in the United States from January 2020 to January 2021. They validate the NARDL model by testing a battery of models using the autoregressive distributed lags (ARDL) methodology (ARDL, NARDL, and QARDL).
- A Case of Left Ventricular Thrombus and Herpetic Esophagitis in an Immunocompetent Patient With COVID-19: A 57-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital with altered mental status and was found to have a left ventricular thrombus. This case suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection may be associated with thrombosis, both venous and arterial, though the mechanism behind this is not yet fully understood.
- Antibody responses to BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine among healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities: A cohort study in Northern Italy: This study is a prospective cohort study conducted among healthcare workers and residents of 13 long-term care facilities in Northern Italy to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 specific immunoglobulin class G (IgG) titers before and after vaccination with Pfizer/BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The aim is to assess the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections in this population.
- Post-COVID-19 vaccine acute encephalitis in an adult patient: A case report and literature review: A patient developed encephalitis, hyponatremia, hallucinations, and seizures one day after receiving the second dose of the Sinopharm vaccine, raising concerns about the safety profile of vaccines fast-tracked for emergency use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The use of a companion robot to improve depression symptoms in a community-dwelling older adult during the coronavirus disease 2019 state of emergency: This case study investigated the impact of using a companion robot (Smibi(R)) on the mental state of an 80-year-old woman receiving home-visit rehabilitation services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Extensive Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Post COVID-19 Vaccination: A 42-year-old man developed a severe headache, numbness at the back of the neck, vomiting, mild blurring of vision, and diplopia four days after receiving the third dose of BNT162b2 (BioNTech/Pfizer). He was diagnosed with extensive cerebral sinus thrombosis, a rare side effect of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
- Worsening of asthma control after recovery from mild to moderate COVID-19 in patients from Hong Kong: This study examined the association between mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and asthma control post infection. The primary outcome was a reduction in Asthma Control Test (ACT) score by >/= 3 points post-COVID infection, while the secondary outcome was the need for an increase in asthma medication post-COVID infection.
- Multi-organ impairment and long COVID: a 1-year prospective, longitudinal cohort study: This study aims to determine the prevalence of organ impairment in long COVID patients at 6 and 12 months after initial symptoms and explore links to clinical presentation. It is a prospective cohort study involving individuals from two non-acute healthcare settings (Oxford and London). Physiological and biochemical investigations will be performed to assess symptoms, health status, and multi-organ tissue characterisation and function.
- Post COVID-19 vaccination and adverse events: correspondence
Daily News Pulse for March 13, 2023
Summary: Princeton students have seen an overall improvement in course satisfaction since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Japan, many people are still wearing masks despite the government’s easing of guidelines.
