The novel coronavirus disease 19 (COVID‐19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), can have two phases: acute (generally 4 weeks after onset) and chronic (>4 weeks ...after onset). Both phases include a wide variety of signs and symptoms including neurological and psychiatric symptoms. The signs and symptoms that are considered sequelae of COVID‐19 are termed post‐COVID condition, long COVID‐19, and post‐acute sequelae of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (PASC). PASC symptoms include fatigue, dyspnea, palpitation, dysosmia, subfever, hypertension, alopecia, sleep problems, loss of concentration, amnesia, numbness, pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, depression, and anxiety. Because the specific pathophysiology of PASC has not yet been clarified, there are no definite criteria of the condition, hence the World Health Organization's definition is quite broad. Consequently, it is difficult to correctly diagnose PASC. Approximately 50% of patients may show at least one PASC symptom up to 12 months after COVID‐19 infection; however, the exact prevalence of PASC has not been determined. Despite extensive research in progress worldwide, there are currently no clear diagnostic methodologies or treatments for PASC. In this review, we discuss the currently available information on PASC and highlight the neurological sequelae of COVID‐19 infection. Furthermore, we provide clinical suggestions for diagnosing and caring for patients with PASC based on our outpatient clinic experience.
Objective
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) continues to spread, and younger patients are also being critically affected. This study analyzed obesity as an independent risk factor for mortality in ...hospitalized patients younger than 50.
Methods
This study retrospectively analyzed data of patients with COVID‐19 who were hospitalized to a large academic hospital system in New York City between March 1, 2020, and May 17, 2020. Data included demographics, comorbidities, BMI, and smoking status. Obesity groups included the following: BMI of 30 to < 40 kg/m2 and BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2. Multivariable logistic regression models identified variables independently associated with mortality in patients younger and older than 50.
Results
Overall, 3,406 patients were included; 572 (17.0%) patients were younger than 50. In the younger age group, 60 (10.5%) patients died. In the older age group, 1,076 (38.0%) patients died. For the younger population, BMI ≥ 40 was independently associated with mortality (adjusted odds ratio 5.1; 95% CI: 2.3‐11.1). For the older population, BMI ≥ 40 was also independently associated with mortality to a lesser extent (adjusted odds ratio 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2‐2.3).
Conclusions
This study demonstrates that hospitalized patients younger than 50 with severe obesity are more likely to die of COVID‐19. This is particularly relevant in the Western world, where obesity rates are high.
The BioGRID (Biological General Repository for Interaction Datasets, thebiogrid.org) is an open‐access database resource that houses manually curated protein and genetic interactions from multiple ...species including yeast, worm, fly, mouse, and human. The ~1.93 million curated interactions in BioGRID can be used to build complex networks to facilitate biomedical discoveries, particularly as related to human health and disease. All BioGRID content is curated from primary experimental evidence in the biomedical literature, and includes both focused low‐throughput studies and large high‐throughput datasets. BioGRID also captures protein post‐translational modifications and protein or gene interactions with bioactive small molecules including many known drugs. A built‐in network visualization tool combines all annotations and allows users to generate network graphs of protein, genetic and chemical interactions. In addition to general curation across species, BioGRID undertakes themed curation projects in specific aspects of cellular regulation, for example the ubiquitin‐proteasome system, as well as specific disease areas, such as for the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus that causes COVID‐19 severe acute respiratory syndrome. A recent extension of BioGRID, named the Open Repository of CRISPR Screens (ORCS, orcs.thebiogrid.org), captures single mutant phenotypes and genetic interactions from published high throughput genome‐wide CRISPR/Cas9‐based genetic screens. BioGRID‐ORCS contains datasets for over 1,042 CRISPR screens carried out to date in human, mouse and fly cell lines. The biomedical research community can freely access all BioGRID data through the web interface, standardized file downloads, or via model organism databases and partner meta‐databases.
Background
The impact of chronic stressors like the COVID‐19 pandemic is likely to be magnified in adolescents with pre‐existing mental health risk, such as attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder ...(ADHD). This study examined changes in and predictors of adolescent mental health from before to during the COVID‐19 pandemic in the Southeastern and Midwestern United States.
Methods
Participants include 238 adolescents (132 males; ages 15–17; 118 with ADHD). Parents and adolescents provided ratings of mental health symptoms shortly before the COVID‐19 pandemic and in spring and summer 2020.
Results
Adolescents on average experienced an increase in depression, anxiety, sluggish cognitive tempo, inattentive, and oppositional/defiant symptoms from pre‐COVID‐19 to spring 2020; however, with the exception of inattention, these symptoms decreased from spring to summer 2020. Adolescents with ADHD were more likely than adolescents without ADHD to experience an increase in inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, and oppositional/defiant symptoms. Adolescents with poorer pre‐COVID‐19 emotion regulation abilities were at‐risk for experiencing increases in all mental health symptoms relative to adolescents with better pre‐COVID‐19 emotion regulation abilities. Interactive risk based on ADHD status and pre‐COVID‐19 emotion regulation abilities was found for inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, such that adolescents with ADHD and poor pre‐COVID‐19 emotion regulation displayed the highest symptomatology across timepoints. Lower family income related to increases in inattention but higher family income related to increases in oppositional/defiant symptoms.
Conclusions
The early observed increases in adolescent mental health symptoms during the COVID‐19 pandemic do not on average appear to be sustained following the lift of stay‐at‐home orders, though studies evaluating mental health across longer periods of time are needed. Emotion dysregulation and ADHD increase risk for sustained negative mental health functioning and highlight the need for interventions for these populations during chronic stressors. Results and clinical implications should be considered within the context of our predominately White, middle class sample.
Objective
The COVID‐19 pandemic might pose special challenges to patients with eating disorders (EDs) by interfering with daily routines. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the ...current pandemic on patients with bulimia nervosa (BN).
Methods
Fifty‐five former inpatients with BN completed an online survey on psychological consequences of the COVID‐19 pandemic as well as on changes in health care utilisation and on the use and helpfulness of different coping strategies.
Results
Almost half of patients (49%) reported a deterioration of their ED symptomatology and 62% reported a reduced quality of life. The frequency of binge eating increased in 47% of patients and self‐induced vomiting in 36%. Forty‐six percent of patients stated a noticeable impairment of psychotherapy. Face‐to‐face psychotherapy decreased by 56% but videoconferencing therapy was only used by 22% of patients. Enjoyable activities, virtual social contacts with friends and mild physical activities were rated as the most helpful coping strategies among those most used.
Discussion
Approximately one half to two‐thirds of former inpatients with BN experienced a negative impact of the crisis on their ED symptomatology and quality of life. In challenging times when face‐to‐face therapy options are restricted, e‐health treatments such as videoconferencing therapy should be considered to ensure continuity of care.
Aim
COVID‐19 is associated with an exacerbated inflammatory response that can result in fatal outcomes. Systemic inflammation is also a main characteristic of periodontitis. Therefore, we ...investigated the association of periodontitis with COVID‐19 complications.
Materials and Methods
A case–control study was performed using the national electronic health records of the State of Qatar between February and July 2020. Cases were defined as patients who suffered COVID‐19 complications (death, ICU admissions or assisted ventilation), and controls were COVID‐19 patients discharged without major complications. Periodontal conditions were assessed using dental radiographs from the same database. Associations between periodontitis and COVID 19 complications were analysed using logistic regression models adjusted for demographic, medical and behaviour factors.
Results
In total, 568 patients were included. After adjusting for potential confounders, periodontitis was associated with COVID‐19 complication including death (OR = 8.81, 95% CI 1.00–77.7), ICU admission (OR = 3.54, 95% CI 1.39–9.05) and need for assisted ventilation (OR = 4.57, 95% CI 1.19–17.4). Similarly, blood levels of white blood cells, D‐dimer and C Reactive Protein were significantly higher in COVID‐19 patients with periodontitis.
Conclusion
Periodontitis was associated with higher risk of ICU admission, need for assisted ventilation and death of COVID‐19 patients, and with increased blood levels of biomarkers linked to worse disease outcomes.
As a highly infectious respiratory tract disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause respiratory, physical, and psychological dysfunction in patients. Therefore, pulmonary rehabilitation ...is crucial for both admitted and discharged patients of COVID-19. In this study, based on the newly released pulmonary rehabilitation guidelines for patients with COVID-19, as well as evidence from the pulmonary rehabilitation of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome, we investigated pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with COVID-19 having complications, such as chronic pulmonary disease, and established an intelligent respiratory rehabilitation model for these patients.
The SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), has rapidly swept across the world since its identification in December 2019. Otolaryngologists are at unique risk due to the ...close contact with mucus membranes of the upper respiratory tract and have been among the most affected healthcare workers in Wuhan, China. We present information on COVID‐19 management relevant to otolaryngologists on the frontlines of this pandemic and provide preliminary guidance based on practices implemented in China and other countries and practical strategies deployed at Stanford University. Laryngoscope, 130:2537–2543, 2020
The cytokine storm and COVID‐19 Hu, Biying; Huang, Shaoying; Yin, Lianghong
Journal of medical virology,
January 2021, Volume:
93, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), which began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has caused a large global pandemic and poses a serious threat to public health. More than 4 million cases of ...COVID‐19, which is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), have been confirmed as of 11 May 2020. SARS‐CoV‐2 is a highly pathogenic and transmissible coronavirus that primarily spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact. A growing body of clinical data suggests that a cytokine storm is associated with COVID‐19 severity and is also a crucial cause of death from COVID‐19. In the absence of antivirals and vaccines for COVID‐19, there is an urgent need to understand the cytokine storm in COVID‐19. Here, we have reviewed the current understanding of the features of SARS‐CoV‐2 and the pathological features, pathophysiological mechanisms, and treatments of the cytokine storm induced by COVID‐19. In addition, we suggest that the identification and treatment of the cytokine storm are important components for rescuing patients with severe COVID‐19.
Highlights
SARS‐CoV‐2 is a highly pathogenic and transmissible coronavirus that primarily spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact.
A cytokine storm is associated with COVID‐19 severity and is also a crucial cause of death from COVID‐19.
Impaired acquired immune responses and uncontrolled inflammatory innate responses may be associated with the mechanism of the cytokine storm in COVID‐19.
Early control of the cytokine storm through therapies, such as immunomodulators and cytokine antagonists, is essential to improve the survival rate of patients with COVID‐19.
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