ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic modified the epidemiology and the transmission of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We collected data on RSV positivity and incidence from children hospitalized in the largest tertiary paediatric hospital in Greece before (2018-2020, period A), during (2020-2021, period B), and after (2021-2023, period C) the COVID-19 lockdown. A total of 9,508 children were tested for RSV. RSV positivity (%) was 17.6% (552/3,134) for period A, 2.1% (13/629) for period B, and 13.4% (772/5,745) for period C (p < 0.001). The mean age (±SD) of RSV-positive children among the three periods was A: 5.9(±9.3), B: 13.6 (±25.3), and C: 16.7 (±28.6) months (p < 0.001). The peak of RSV epidemiology was shifted from January-March (period A) to October-December (period C). RSV in-hospital incidence per 1,000 hospitalizations in paediatric departments was A:16.7, B:1.0, and C:28.1 (p < 0.001), and the incidence in the intensive care unit was A: 17.3, B: 0.6, and C: 26.6 (p < 0.001). A decrease in RSV incidence was observed during the COVID-19 lockdown period, whereas a significant increase was observed after the lockdown. A change in epidemiological patterns was identified after the end of the lockdown, with an earlier seasonal peak and an age shift of increased RSV incidence in older children.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections , Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human , Humans , Greece/epidemiology , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/epidemiology , Child, Preschool , Infant , Male , Female , Incidence , Child , Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data , SARS-CoV-2 , Infant, Newborn , Child, Hospitalized/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Seasons , QuarantineABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The involvement of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in breast cancer has been documented on palpable lesions. This study aims to assess serum MMP1, MMP-2, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), lobular neoplasia (LN), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) specifically in non-palpable mammographic breast lesions. METHODS: On women with benign (n=65), precursor [ADH (n=18) and LN (n=15)], preinvasive [DCIS (n=32)] and invasive [IDC (n=28)] lesions the serum concentrations of MMP-1, MMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TPS, and TPA were determined with immunoenzymatic assays. All women had non-palpable mammographic breast lesions of less than 10mm in diameter, as estimated on the mammographic views. Statistical analysis followed. RESULTS: TIMP-2 serum concentrations were positively associated with the severity of the lesion. On the contrary, MMP-2 levels were marginally negatively associated with severity; as evident, the MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio significantly decreased along with severity. Regarding TIMP-1, TPS, TPA, and TIMP-1/TIMP-2, no significant associations were demonstrated. MMP-2 and the MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio were significantly higher in the LN subgroup versus the ADH subgroup. CONCLUSION: TIMP-2 and MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio may exhibit meaningful changes along with progression of lesions. Extracellular cell matrix remodeling in ductal and lobular lesions may follow distinct patterns.