A Population-Based Test-Negative Matched Case-Control Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Effectiveness Among Pregnant People in Ontario, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: Pregnancy is a risk factor for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, which can result in adverse pregnancy outcomes, thus making understanding vaccine effectiveness (VE) in this population important. This study aimed to assess the VE of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-related hospitalization in pregnant people. METHODS: Population-based matched test-negative case-control study of pregnant people aged 18-49 years, of 12 or more weeks gestation in Ontario, Canada, symptomatic with possible SARS-CoV-2 infection, and having at least 1 positive (n = 1842) or negative (n = 8524) real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) SARS-CoV-2 test between December 14, 2020, and December 31, 2021. The exposure was receipt of ≥1 dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine versus no vaccination. Exposure was further stratified by number and recency of doses. The primary outcome was a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test. As a secondary outcome, VE for COVID-19-related hospitalization was assessed. RESULTS: In the primary outcome analysis, there were 1821 positive cases, matched to 1821 negative controls. The mean (SD) maternal age was 31 (5) years. When compared to those unvaccinated, receipt of ≥1 dose was associated with an estimated VE of 39% (95% CI 29%-48%) for symptomatic infection, and 85% (95% CI 72%-92%) for COVID-19 hospitalization. VE estimates demonstrated waning with increased time since last vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: mRNA COVID-19 vaccines provide protection against symptomatic COVID-19 illness and are highly effective at preventing severe illness in pregnant people. The observed effect of vaccine waning highlights the importance of booster doses to provide optimal protection for pregnant people.

Worldwide application and valuation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support during the COVID-19 pandemic (WAVES).

OBJECTIVE: The outcomes of COVID-19 patients on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) varied. We aim to investigate the variability concerning location and timeframe. We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 351 institutions in 53 countries. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge or death up to 90 days from ECMO start. The associations between calendar time (month and year) of ECMO initiation and the primary outcome were examined by Cox regression modeling. Multivariable survival analyses were adjusted for the time of ECMO start, age, body mass index, APACHE II, SOFA, and the duration of mechanical ventilation before ECMO. RESULTS: 1060 adult COVID-19 patients enrolled in the COVID-19 Critical Care Consortium (COVID Critical) international registry and required VV-ECMO support. The study period is from January 2020 to December 2021. The median age was 51 years old, and 70% were male patients. Most patients were from Europe (39.3%) and North America (37.4%). The in-hospital mortality of the entire cohort was 47.12%. In North America and Europe, there was an increased probability of death from May 2020 through February 2021. Latin America showed a steady rate of survival until late in the study. South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa showed an increased chance of mortality around May 2020. In the Asian-Pacific region, after February 2021, there was an increased probability of death. The time of ECMO initiation and advanced patient age were associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSION: Variability in the outcomes of COVID-19 patients on VV-ECMO existed within different regions. This variability reflects the differences in resources, policies, patient selection, management, and possibly COVID-19 virus subtypes. Our findings might help guide global response in the future by early adoption of patient selection protocols, worldwide policies, and delivery of resources.

Comparison of the course of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children during different pandemic waves.

The purpose of this study is to assess the rate, clinical picture, and management of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) during the different COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC) domination periods. This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. The incidence and clinical picture of MIS-C during the original/Alpha (group 1) and Delta/Omicron (Group 2) variant domination periods were compared. Among 108 eligible patients, 74 (68.5%) were hospitalized during the group 1 domination period, and 34 (31.5%) were hospitalized during the group 2 domination period. The median (Me) patient ages were 76 months (interquartile range [IQR] 35-130) and 73 months (IQR 45-118), and 61% and 65% of patients were male, respectively. There was no significant difference in the presence of positive SARS-CoV 2 antibody test results (IgM or IgG) between the groups (84 vs. 90%; p = 0.54).No differences between groups were observed in fever duration prior to admission (Me [IQR]: 5 days [3-6] vs. 5 days [4-6]; p = 0.26) or the presence of mucocutaneous (95 vs. 100%; p = 0.41), circulatory (70.3 vs. 61.8%; p = 0.86), neurological (6.8 vs. 2.9%; p = 0.662), or gastrointestinal symptoms (84 vs. 79%; p = 0.59). Respiratory symptoms were more common in group 2 (70 vs. 91%; p = 0.015). The need for intensive care unit admission was similar in both groups (16.2 vs. 17.6%, p = 1.0). No deaths occurred in the entire cohort. The studied children were characterized by high C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels, concentrations of ferritin within normal limits, lymphopenia, moderate hypoalbuminemia, and high B-type natriuretic peptide/brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations; however, there were no differences between the groups. Intravenous immunoglobulins were administered as a first-line treatment for almost all patients. There was no significant difference in corticosteroid administration between the groups (87% vs. 74%; p = 0.11); however, the summary dose of methylprednisolone was higher in group 2 (Me [IQR]″ 12.6 mg/kg [10.5-17.8] vs. 16.4 mg/kg [13.3-19.5]; p = 0.03). The median length of stay was 11 days [IQR]: [9-14] and 10 days [8-12], respectively (p = 0.065). CONCLUSION: The clinical course of MIS-C is similar in subsequent pandemic waves; however, the incidence of MIS-C seems to be decreasing. WHAT IS KNOWN: • The clinical picture of COVID-19 is evolving. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a relatively new serious disease connected with SARS-CoV-2 infection, and in subsequent waves of the pandemic, new cases of the disease have been recorded. WHAT IS NEW: • The clinical picture of MIS-C is not specific, but the course is still severe. • The incidence of MIS-C during the different pandemic waves is decreasing and the diagnosis in the period of lower prevalance is challenging.

Adapting obstetric and neonatal services during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: The provision of care to pregnant persons and neonates must continue through pandemics. To maintain quality of care, while minimizing physical contact during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) pandemic, hospitals and international organizations issued recommendations on maternity and neonatal care delivery and restructuring of clinical and academic services. Early in the pandemic, recommendations relied on expert opinion, and offered a one-size-fits-all set of guidelines. Our aim was to examine these recommendations and provide the rationale and context to guide clinicians, administrators, educators, and researchers, on how to adapt maternity and neonatal services during the pandemic, regardless of jurisdiction. METHOD: Our initial database search used Medical subject headings and free-text search terms related to coronavirus infections, pregnancy and neonatology, and summarized relevant recommendations from international society guidelines. Subsequent targeted searches to December 30, 2020, included relevant publications in general medical and obstetric journals, and updated society recommendations. RESULTS: We identified 846 titles and abstracts, of which 105 English-language publications fulfilled eligibility criteria and were included in our study. A multidisciplinary team representing clinicians from various disciplines, academics, administrators and training program directors critically appraised the literature to collate recommendations by multiple jurisdictions, including a quaternary care Canadian hospital, to provide context and rationale for viable options. INTERPRETATION: There are different schools of thought regarding effective practices in obstetric and neonatal services. Our critical review presents the rationale to effectively modify services, based on the phase of the pandemic, the prevalence of infection in the population, and resource availability.

SARS-CoV-2 Clinical Characteristics and Viral Shedding in Kuwait.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection and estimate viral shedding duration in respiratory specimens. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed from February 25 to March 25, 2020. In Kuwait, all suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, contacts of cases, and returning travelers were systematically tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. All infected persons, regardless of symptoms, were hospitalized and serially tested until they had two negative results. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Two hundred seven cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were included in this study. About half of the cases were asymptomatic and 1.9% died. The median time to negative RT-PCR was 22 days. Increasing age, ARDS, and low peripheral white blood cell count were associated with prolonged PCR positivity. CONCLUSION: Predictors for prolonged RT-PCR positivity included increasing age, ARDS, and low white blood cell count. The findings of this study may aid in better understanding of the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and molecular testing dynamics.

The Pediatric COVID-19 Registry in Kuwait: Methodology and Results of Pilot Phase.

OBJECTIVE: Establishing a pediatric COVID-19 registry in Kuwait (PCR-Q8) was deemed imperative during the pandemic to study children infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) focusing on mode of presentation, therapeutic interventions, disease severity, and early outcomes. This manuscript describes the rapid establishment of the PCR-Q8 registry showcasing an infrastructure of the development process and presents the results of the pilot phase. SUBJECT AND METHODS: The registry was developed and implemented using the general key steps from a resource titled "Registries for Evaluating Patient Outcomes: A User's Guide" as a guide for best practice, experience from a previously established pediatric diabetes registry in Kuwait and several other COVID-19 registries developed globally. During the pilot phase, a convenience sample of 120 children was included, of whom 66 (55%) were male. RESULTS: Experience and expertise from other COVID-19 registries; guidance provided by the World Health Organization; and effective collaboration and cooperation between the stakeholders, study group, and data enterers during these challenging times were critical for the development and implementation of the registry. Our results were similar to international reports which showed that most children presented with mild disease (69.2%), majority (70.2%) had normal chest X-ray, and the most common symptom at presentation was fever (77%). CONCLUSION: We anticipate the development of PCR-Q8 to be a stepping-stone for more in-depth investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children in Kuwait and for the establishment of other registries.

Comparison of Estimated Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Seroprevalence Through Commercial Laboratory Residual Sera Testing and a Community Survey.

We compared severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 seroprevalence estimated from commercial laboratory residual sera and a community household survey in metropolitan Atlanta during April and May 2020 and found these 2 estimates to be similar (4.94% vs 3.18%). Compared with more representative surveys, commercial sera can provide an approximate measure of seroprevalence.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pregnant Women: Neuroimmune-Endocrine Changes at the Maternal-Fetal Interface.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has devastating effects on the population worldwide. Given this scenario, the extent of the impact of the disease on more vulnerable individuals, such as pregnant women, is of great concern. Although pregnancy may be a risk factor in respiratory virus infections, there are no considerable differences regarding COVID-19 severity observed between pregnant and nonpregnant women. In these circumstances, an emergent concern is the possibility of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric harm for the offspring of infected mothers. Currently, there is no stronger evidence indicating vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2; however, the exacerbated inflammatory response observed in the disease could lead to several impairments in the offspring's brain. Furthermore, in the face of historical knowledge on possible long-term consequences for the progeny's brain after infection by viruses, we must consider that this might be another deleterious facet of COVID-19. In light of neuroimmune interactions at the maternal-fetal interface, we review here the possible harmful outcomes to the offspring brains of mothers infected by SARS-CoV-2.

Dispatched nurses' experience of wearing full gear personal protective equipment to care for COVID-19 patients in China-A descriptive qualitative study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: We explored dispatched nurses' experiences of wearing full gear personal protective equipment to care for patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China. BACKGROUND: Full gear personal protective equipment is the primary and foremost measure to prevent the contact and transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2); however, working in full gear personal protective equipment may hinder nursing care activities and thus negatively affect patients' and nurses' health. DESIGN: This descriptive qualitative inquiry followed the COREQ guidelines. METHODS: Individual semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted in a purposive sample of 15 frontline nurses who were dispatched to the outbreak epicentre from March to April 2020. Verbatim transcripts were content analysed. RESULTS: Four themes emerged from the data: inadequate preparedness for working with full gear personal protective equipment, full gear personal protective equipment stimulated stress responses, coping strategies and professional growth. Participants learned a great deal from problem-focussed and emotion-focussed strategies to tackle challenges related to the prolonged wearing of full gear personal protective equipment for quality nursing care and reduced risk of exposure. They became more vigilant to the adherence to evolving protocols and appropriate training concerning full gear personal protective equipment use. CONCLUSIONS: Frontline nurses confronted various but diminishing challenges related to the use of full gear personal protective equipment when caring for patients with COVID-19 across the approximate 40-day period. Consistent use of coverall personal protective equipment to protect from SARS-CoV-2 in high exposure settings would be feasible if nurses were better prepared; therefore, scenario-based skill training concerning the prolonged use of full gear personal protective equipment should be offered regularly and intensively. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study informs future decisions concerning improved full gear personal protective equipment-related psychomotor training and promoting ways for nurses to cope with the stress that comes from working in highly contiguous environments.

A compendium answering 150 questions on COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2.

In December 2019, China reported the first cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This disease, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has developed into a pandemic. To date, it has resulted in ~9 million confirmed cases and caused almost 500 000 related deaths worldwide. Unequivocally, the COVID-19 pandemic is the gravest health and socioeconomic crisis of our time. In this context, numerous questions have emerged in demand of basic scientific information and evidence-based medical advice on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Although the majority of the patients show a very mild, self-limiting viral respiratory disease, many clinical manifestations in severe patients are unique to COVID-19, such as severe lymphopenia and eosinopenia, extensive pneumonia, a "cytokine storm" leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome, endothelitis, thromboembolic complications, and multiorgan failure. The epidemiologic features of COVID-19 are distinctive and have changed throughout the pandemic. Vaccine and drug development studies and clinical trials are rapidly growing at an unprecedented speed. However, basic and clinical research on COVID-19-related topics should be based on more coordinated high-quality studies. This paper answers pressing questions, formulated by young clinicians and scientists, on SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, and allergy, focusing on the following topics: virology, immunology, diagnosis, management of patients with allergic disease and asthma, treatment, clinical trials, drug discovery, vaccine development, and epidemiology. A total of 150 questions were answered by experts in the field providing a comprehensive and practical overview of COVID-19 and allergic disease.

Study of different heterocycles showing significant anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 activity in vitro and in vivo.

Background and Aim: With the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), antiviral drug development has gained increased significance due to the high incidence and potentially severe complications of the resulting coronavirus infection. Heterocycle compounds, acting as antimetabolites of DNA and RNA monomers, rank among the most effective antiviral drugs. These compounds' antiviral effects on various SARS-CoV-2 isolates, as found in existing data collections, form the basis for further research. The aim of this study was to examine the possible antiviral effect of some originally synthesized heterocyclic compounds. Materials and Methods: The main methods were cell culturing, cytotoxicity assay, qRT-PCR assay, tissue and blood cells analysis, and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging. Results: In both in vitro and in vivo conditions, the elimination of SARS-Cov-2 occurred significantly earlier after administration of the compounds compared to the control group. In hamsters, the primary symptoms of coronavirus disease disappeared following administration of heterocycle compounds. Conclusion: Using delta and omicron strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, newly created heterocycle compound analogs dramatically reduced SARS-CoV-2 multiplication, resulting in a drop in viral RNA load in the supernatant under in vitro conditions. Improvements in pathological manifestations in the blood, bone marrow, and internal organs of hamsters demonstrated that heterocycle compounds inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication both in vitro and in vivo.

Strategy To Assess Zoonotic Potential Reveals Low Risk Posed by SARS-Related Coronaviruses from Bat and Pangolin.

In the last 2 decades, pathogens originating in animals may have triggered three coronavirus pandemics, including the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Thus, evaluation of the spillover risk of animal severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-related coronavirus (SARSr-CoV) is important in the context of future disease preparedness. However, there is no analytical framework to assess the spillover risk of SARSr-CoVs, which cannot be determined by sequence analysis alone. Here, we established an integrity framework to evaluate the spillover risk of an animal SARSr-CoV by testing how viruses break through key human immune barriers, including viral cell tropism, replication dynamics, interferon signaling, inflammation, and adaptive immune barriers, using human ex vivo lung tissues, human airway and nasal organoids, and human lung cells. Using this framework, we showed that the two pre-emergent animal SARSr-CoVs, bat BtCoV-WIV1 and pangolin PCoV-GX, shared similar cell tropism but exhibited less replicative fitness in the human nasal cavity or airway than did SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, these viruses triggered fewer proinflammatory responses and less cell death, yet showed interferon antagonist activity and the ability to partially escape adaptive immune barriers to SARS-CoV-2. Collectively, these animal viruses did not fully adapt to spread or cause severe diseases, thus causing successful zoonoses in humans. We believe that this experimental framework provides a path to identifying animal coronaviruses with the potential to cause future zoonoses. IMPORTANCE Evaluation of the zoonotic risk of animal SARSr-CoVs is important for future disease preparedness. However, there are misconceptions regarding the risk of animal viruses. For example, an animal SARSr-CoV could readily infect humans. Alternately, human receptor usage may result in spillover risk. Here, we established an analytical framework to assess the zoonotic risk of SARSr-CoV by testing a series of virus-host interaction profiles. Our data showed that the pre-emergent bat BtCoV-WIV1 and pangolin PCoV-GX were less adapted to humans than SARS-CoV-2 was, suggesting that it may be extremely rare for animal SARSr-CoVs to break all bottlenecks and cause successful zoonoses.

Perceived professional benefits and associated factors among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

AIMS: To examine the perceived professional benefits (PPB) and associated factors among nurses during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in China. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Using the snowball sampling method, 492 nurses (478 females, 14 males) were recruited. Data were collected using an online survey, including participants' socio-demographic and working characteristics, psychological distress related to the COVID-19 pandemic, dealing with professional frustration, professional self-reflection and PPB from 1-30 April 2020. RESULTS: Nurses experienced high levels of PPB. In linear regression analysis, self-perceived concerns about COVID-19, emotional shock caused by it, risk perception towards their occupations, dealing with professional frustration and professional self-reflection were positively associated with PPB among nurses. These factors explained 84% variance in PPB. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted that although the nurses experienced psychological distress, they gained high PPB during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, to facilitate nurses' efforts to achieve professional growth, more educational resources and opportunities for engaging in reflective practices could be provided.

Clinico-epidemiological profile of non-survivors of COVID-19 during the last two waves in a tertiary care hospital of North India: A retrospective descriptive study.

Background: SARS-CoV-causing COVID-19 resulted in mortality, and the clinic-epidemiological profile at the time of admission of patients who died later could provide an insight into pathophysiological consequences due to infection. Method: Retrospective observational study of 64 RTPCR-confirmed COVID-19 non-survivors was conducted from April - June 2021 and January February 2022. Data were analyzed, and a P value<0.05 was taken as significant. Results: 60.94% and 39.06 % were males and females, and 26.57% & 73.43 % of patients had moderate and severe disease, respectively. Fever, cough, and dyspnea were the most common presenting symptoms. 78.12% and 21.88% had pre-existing (diabetes and hypertension were most common) and no co-morbidities, respectively. 65.62 & 17.19 % of patients had bilateral and unilateral ground glass opacities, respectively. Thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, neutrophilia, elevated monocytes, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of 7.52 were hematological findings. D dimer was elevated. ABG showed low PaO2 and SPO2 %. ALT and AST were elevated. Tachycardia was also present. Compared to the first wave, no significant association of gender with severity was found. However, the percentage of male patients was higher. The association of the duration of stay and co-morbidity with disease severity was significant in both the first and subsequent waves of COVID-19. Conclusion: Co-morbidity, disease severity, and radiological lung opacities play a role in the outcome of COVID-19. The associated findings are hematological, renal, liver, cardiovascular, and arterial blood gas derangements.

Saddle pulmonary embolism in the setting of COVID-19 infection: A systematic review of case reports and case series.

Saddle pulmonary embolism (SPE) is a rare type of pulmonary embolism that can lead to hemodynamic compromise causing sudden deaths. Due to a dearth of large prospective studies in this area, little is known regarding the epidemiology, and prognosis and factors affecting the latter for COVID-19-associated SPE. We aimed to describe COVID-19-associated SPE and quantify and compare mortality and factors affecting mortality among the cases. We included a total of 25 publications with a total of 35 cases. The average age was 45 ± 16.3 years with 11 females and 24 males. Dyspnoea (82.5%), orthopnoea (43.5%), and cough (43.5%) were the most common symptoms, and obstructive shock was present in five (21.7%) patients. The average reported oxygen (O2) saturation was 85.8% ± 11.9 mm Hg. Hypertension (26.1%), diabetes (21.7%), and deep vein thrombosis (21.7%) were the most commonly reported comorbidities. Right heart strain was recognized in seven (30%) patients on electroencephalogram (S1QIIITIII) and 12 (52.2%) patients on echocardiogram. Anticoagulation, thrombolysis, and percutaneous intervention were tried in 21 (91.3%), 13 (56.5%), and 6 (26.1%) cases, respectively. Despite the aggressive management, 2 of 25 (8.7%) patients died in our smaller case report cohort. We conclude that despite aggressive management modalities, the mortality of SPE remains high in COVID-19.

CompCorona: A web application for comparative transcriptome analyses of coronaviruses reveals SARS-CoV-2-specific host response.

Background/aim: Understanding the mechanism of host transcriptomic response to infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is crucial, especially for patients suffering from long-term effects of COVID-19, such as long COVID or pericarditis inflammation, potentially linked to side effects of the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. We conducted comprehensive transcriptome and enrichment analyses on lung and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) infected with SARS-CoV-2, as well as on SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, to uncover shared pathways and elucidate their common disease progression and viral replication mechanisms. Materials and methods: We developed CompCorona, the first interactive online tool for visualizing gene response variance among the family Coronaviridae through 2D and 3D principal component analysis (PCA) and exploring systems biology variance using pathway plots. We also made preprocessed datasets of lungs and PBMCs infected by SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV publicly available through CompCorona. Results: One remarkable finding from the lung and PBMC datasets for infections by SARS-CoV-2, but not infections by other coronaviruses (CoVs), was the significant downregulation of the angiogenin (ANG) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) genes, both directly involved in epithelial and vascular endothelial cell dysfunction. Suppression of the TNF signaling pathway was also observed in cells infected by SARS-CoV-2, along with simultaneous activation of complement and coagulation cascades and pertussis pathways. The ribosome pathway was found to be universally suppressed across all three viruses. The CompCorona online tool enabled the comparative analysis of 9 preprocessed host transcriptome datasets of cells infected by CoVs, revealing the specific host response differences in cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This included identifying markers of epithelial dysfunction via interactive 2D and 3D PCA, Venn diagrams, and pathway plots. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that infection by SARS-CoV-2 might induce pulmonary epithelial dysfunction, a phenomenon not observed in cells infected by other CoVs. The publicly available CompCorona tool, along with the preprocessed datasets of cells infected by various CoVs, constitutes a valuable resource for further research into CoV-associated syndromes.

Experimental and natural infections of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 in pets and wild and farm animals.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread globally and has led to extremely high mortality rates. In addition to infecting humans, this virus also has infected animals. Experimental studies and natural infections showed that dogs have a low susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, whereas domesticated cats and other animals in the family Felidae, such as lions, tigers, snow leopards, and cougars, have a high susceptibility to viral infections. In addition, wild white-tailed deer, gorillas, and otters have been found to be infected by SARS-CoV-2. Furry farm animals, such as minks, have a high susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The virus appears to spread among minks and generate several new mutations, resulting in increased viral virulence. Furthermore, livestock animals, such as cattle, sheep, and pigs, were found to have low susceptibility to the virus, whereas chicken, ducks, turkeys, quail, and geese did not show susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. This knowledge can provide insights for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mitigation strategies in animals and humans. Therefore, this review focuses on experimental (both replication and transmission) in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies of SARS-CoV-2 infections in pets and in wild and farm animals, and to provide details on the mechanism associated with natural infection.

Complete remission of stage IV sinonasal small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: A case report.

Sinonasal small cell carcinoma (SmCC) is a rare type of neoplasm. The current case report describes the case of a 30-year-old male patient with stage IV SmCC who underwent concurrent radiotherapy (RT) plus etoposide-cisplatin treatment. Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and fibroscopy examination showed complete remission at 3 months post-treatment. However, leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) occurred at 9 months. A literature search identified no previous case reports describing LM of SmCC. The patient was treated with concurrent RT plus irinotecan-gemcitabine. During the sixth cycle of irinotecan-gemcitabine, the patient required intensive care admission due to severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2-associated pneumonia. Following clearance of the pneumonia, LM was assessed using PET/CT and MRI at 3 months, which revealed a complete response to irinotecan-gemcitabine. In May 2021, the patient succumbed to LM following disease recurrence. The findings of this case report should encourage other authors to publish their treatment outcomes regarding SmCC. More clinical trials are required to achieve better results in terms of patient outcome.

Evaluation of UVC Excimer Lamp (222 nm) Efficacy for Coronavirus Inactivation in an Animal Model.

The current pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has encouraged the evaluation of novel instruments for disinfection and lowering infectious pressure. Ultraviolet subtype C (UVC) excimer lamps with 222 nm wavelength have been tested on airborne pathogens on surfaces and the exposure to this wavelength has been considered safer than conventional UVC. To test the efficacy of UVC excimer lamps on coronaviruses, an animal model mimicking the infection dynamics was implemented. An attenuated vaccine based on infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) was nebulized and irradiated by 222 nm UVC rays before the exposure of a group of day-old chicks to evaluate the virus inactivation. A control group of chicks was exposed to the nebulized vaccine produced in the same conditions but not irradiated by the lamps. The animals of both groups were sampled daily and individually by choanal cleft swabs and tested usign a strain specific real time RT-PCR to evaluate the vaccine replication. Only the birds in the control group were positive, showing an active replication of the vaccine, revealing the efficacy of the lamps in inactivating the vaccine below the infectious dose in the other group.