Infectious Diseases

IntroductionStudies focus on pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and complications during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Long-term outcomes of COVID-19 patients who discharge intensive care unit (ICU) are unclear. ObjectivesWe investigated the effect of COVID-19 on lung structure, pulmonary functional, exercise capacity and quality of life in patients discharge from ICU and medical ward. MethodsA prospective single-centre study conducted in PCR confirmed COVID-19 ...

BackgroundThe ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global threat. Identification of markers for symptom onset and disease progression is a pressing issue. We compared the clinical features on admission among patients who were diagnosed with asymptomatic, mild, and severe COVID-19 at the end of observation. MethodsThis retrospective, single-center study included 104 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from the mass infection on the Diamond Princess cruise ship...

INTRODUCTIONDuring the unprecedented health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic it was suggested that obesity might aggravate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Therefore, this study aims to investigate the association between Compute Tomography (CT)-based measurements of visceral and subcutaneous fat as measures of obesity and COVID-19 severity. METHODS30 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and a mean age of 65.59 {+/-} 13.06 years from a level one medical center...

Background - Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in people [≥]60 years old is on the rise in Germany. There has been a recommendation for pneumococcal vaccination in this age group since 1998. Methods - We determined the vaccination status of people [≥]60 years old with IPD in Germany. We assessed vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the recommended 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23). Results - The rate of pneumococcal vaccination in older adults with IPD is low, 26%, with only 16% of peopl...

ObjectivesNo data were available about in-flight transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we report an in-flight transmission cluster of COVID-19 and describe the clinical characteristics of these patients. MethodsAfter a flight, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 was reported in 12 patients. Ten patients were admitted to the designated hospital. Data were collected from 25th January to 28th February 2020. Clinical information was retrospectively collected. ResultsAll patients are passengers without fligh...

IntroductionTo analyse the effectiveness of a dose of adenovirus vector ChAdOx1 vaccine (AVChOx1) in an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 detected in a prison. MethodsObservational study carried out at Brians-1 Prison, Barcelona. After detecting a case of infection, rt-PCR was administered to all prisoners (some of whom had been vaccinated 21-23 days previously with a dose of AVChOx1) and to staff. Infection rates in vaccinated and unvaccinated populations were calculated, as was vaccine effectiveness. R...

Rationale and ObjectivesStudies suggest an association between chest CT findings assessed with semi-quantitative CT score and gravity of Covid-19. The objective of this work is to analyze potential correlation between visual quantification of lesion severity at initial chest CT and clinical outcome in confirmed Covid-19 patients. Materials and MethodsFrom March 5th to March 21st, 2020, all consecutive patients that underwent chest CT for clinical suspicion of Covid-19 at a single tertiary cente...

ObjectiveFrank torsion, or lesser atelectasis, of the right middle lobe/lingula may occur following right upper lobectomy/left apical trisegmentectomy. While some surgeons fix/pex the right middle lobe/lingula to the lower lobe, the necessity for this is unclear. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent right upper lobectomy/left apical trisegmentectomy at our institution (2008-2023). We compared patients who underwent fixation vs. those who did not. The primary outcomes were i...

IntroductionImmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is characterized by a decrease in platelet counts and can be triggered by various factors, such as viral infections and vaccinations. Concerns have emerged regarding potential links between the vaccines for COVID-19 and the worsening of ITP. This systematic review aims to comprehensively assess the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on patients with ITP, including associated risks and outcomes. Methods and AnalysisA thorough search will be conducted ac...

To date, there have been reports of neurologic manifestations in Covid-19 patients including ischemic strokes, Guillain-Barre Syndrome and anosmia. In this case report, we describe a patient who presented with dysosmia, dysgeusia along with monocular peripheral vision loss after being diagnosed with Covid-19.

IntroductionEarly differentiation between emergency department (ED) patients with and without corona virus disease (COVID-19) is very important. Chest CT scan may be helpful in early diagnosing of COVID-19. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of CT using RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 as reference standard and investigated reasons for discordant results between the two tests. MethodsIn this prospective single centre study in the Netherlands, all adult symptomatic ED patients had both a CT scan and a...

ImportanceThe analysis of lung tissues of patients with COVID-19 may help understand pathogenesis and clinical outcomes in this life-threatening respiratory illness. ObjectiveTo determine the histological patterns in lung tissue of patients with severe COVID-19. Design and participantsLungs tissues of 38 cases who died for COVID-19 in two hospital of Northern Italy were systematically analysed. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemistry for the inflammatory infiltrate and cellular compon...

BackgroundChest CT (CT) is the reference for assessing pulmonary injury in suspected or diagnosed COVID-19 with signs of clinical severity. We explored the role of lung ultrasonography (LU) in quickly assessing lung status in these patients. MethodseChoVid is a multicentric study based on routinely collected data, conducted in 3 emergency units of Assistance Publique des Hopitaux de Paris (APHP); 107 patients were included between March 19, 2020 and April 01, 2020 and underwent LU, a short clin...

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has posed a serious threat to global health, with developing nations like India being amongst the worst affected. Chest CT scans play a pivotal role in the diagnosis and evaluation of COVID-19, and certain CT features may aid in predicting the prognosis of COVID-19 illness. MethodsThis was a single-centre, hospital-based, cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary care centre in Northern India during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic from May-June 202...

BackgroundThe outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a massive impact on the whole world. Computed tomography (CT) has been widely used in the diagnosis of this novel pneumonia. This study aims to understand the role of CT for the diagnosis and the main imaging manifestations of patients with COVID-19. MethodsWe conducted a rapid review and meta-analysis on studies about the use of chest CT for the diagnosis of COVID-19. We comprehensively searched databases and preprint se...

BackgroundLittle is known about the damage to the respiratory system in asymptomatic patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). ObjectiveHerein, we evaluated the findings of chest computed tomography (CT) and radiography in patients with COVID-19 who were asymptomatic. MethodsWe retrospectively investigated patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 but who did not show any symptoms. Among the 139 patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized, 10 (7.2%) were asymptomatic. Their chest CT...

BackgroundQuantitative CT (QCT) analysis is an invaluable diagnostic tool to assess lung injury and predict prognosis of patients affected by COVID-19 pneumonia. PTX3 was recently described as one of the most reliable serological predictors of clinical deterioration and short-term mortality. The present study was designed to evaluate a correlation between serological biomarkers of inflammation and lung injury measured by QCT. MethodsThis retrospective monocentric study analysed a cohort of pati...

ObjectivesTo assess inter-observer agreement and clinical significance of chest CT reporting in patients suspected of COVID-19. MethodsFrom 16th to 24th March 2020, 241 consecutive patients addressed to hospital for COVID-19 suspicion had both chest CT and SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR. Eight observers (2 thoracic and 2 general senior radiologists, 2 junior radiologists and 2 emergency physicians) retrospectively categorized each CT into one out of 3 categories (evocative, compatible for COVID-19 pneumonia...

BackgroundThe mortality of COVID-19 differs between countries and regions. By now, reports on COVID-19 are largely focused on first-generation cases. This study aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of imported and second-generation cases. MethodsThis retrospective, multicenter cohort study included 134 confirmed COVID-19 cases from 9 cities outside Wuhan. Epidemiological, clinical and outcome data were extracted from medical records and were compared between severe and non-severe cases...

From the first outbreak in Wuhan (China) in December 2019, until today the number of deaths worldwide due to the coronavirus pandemic exceeds eight hundred thousand people and the number of infected people arises to more than 25 million. No treatment tested worldwide has shown unquestionable efficacy in the fight against COVID 19, according to NICE reports. We have designed an experimental treatment called IDEA based on four affordable drugs already available on the market in Argentina, based on...