Microwave resonant absorption of SARS-CoV-2 viruses.

Low power microwave can effectively deactivate influenza type A virus through the nonthermal structure-resonant energy transfer effect, at a frequency matching the confined-acoustic dipolar mode frequency of the virus. Currently, aerosol is considered the major route for SARS-CoV-2 transmission. For the potential microwave-based sterilization, the microwave-resonant frequency of SARS-CoV-2 must be unraveled. Here we report a microwave absorption spectroscopy study of the SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-229E viruses through devising a coplanar-waveguide-based sensor. Noticeable microwave absorption can be observed, while we identified the resonant frequencies of the 1st and 2nd dipolar modes of SARS-CoV-2 virus as 4 and 7.5 GHz respectively. We further found that the resonant frequencies are invariant to the virus titer, and we also studied the microwave absorption of HCoV-229E in weak acidity medium to simulate the common pH value in fluid secretion. Our results suggest the possible radiation frequency for the recently proposed microwave sterilization devices to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 virus through a nonthermal mechanism so as to control the disease transmission in the post-pandemic era.

Deleterious Association of Inhalant Use on Sleep Quality during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic generated large amounts of stress across the globe. While acute stress negatively impacts health, defining exact consequences and behavioral interventions can be difficult. We hypothesized that a generalized increase in stress and anxiety caused by continuation of the global pandemic would negatively impact sleep quality and that ever users of e-cigarettes and conventional tobacco would have more profound alterations over time. Participants were recruited via social media to complete an online survey in April 2020 (n = 554). Inhalant use was assessed through the UCSD Inhalant Questionnaire and sleep quality was gauged through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A set of participants (n = 217) retook the survey in June 2020. Inhalant users-historical or current e-cigarette vapers, conventional tobacco smokers, and dual users-had higher PSQI scores than never smoker/never vapers, demonstrating worse sleep quality in inhalant users. Non-smoking/non-vaping subjects who retook the survey in June 2020 had improvement in their PSQI scores by paired t test, indicating better sleep quality as the pandemic continued, while inhalant users of all types had persistently high PSQI scores (poor sleep quality). These data suggest that ever users of tobacco products may be susceptible to overall diminished sleep quality in the setting of stressful life circumstances. These data also suggest that pandemic-initiated lifestyle changes may have led to improvements in sleep quality. Finally, these findings raise concerns for correlations between either past or active e-cigarette use on sleep, and thus overall health.

Resonant Dipolar Coupling of Microwaves with Confined Acoustic Vibrations in a Rod-shaped Virus.

In this letter, we treat a rod-shaped virus as a free homogenous nanorod and identify its confined acoustic vibration modes that can cause strong resonant microwave absorption through electric dipolar excitation with a core-shell charge distribution. They are found to be the n = 4N-2 modes of the longitudinal modes of the nanorods, where N is an integer starting from 1 and n is the mode order quantum number. This study was confirmed by measuring the microwave absorption spectra of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), which is a rod-shaped virus. This is also the first study to identify the "dipolar-like" mode in a rod-shaped nano-object. Our study is not only an important step to achieve rapid and sensitive detection of rod-shaped viruses based on their microwave spectroscopic features and a non-contact method to measure the Young's modulus of rod-shaped viruses, but also is critical to formulate an efficient epidemic prevention strategy to deactivate viruses with the structure-resonant microwaves.

Primary human immunodeficiency virus infection presenting as elevated aminotransferases.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is often under-diagnosed because of its nonspecific presentations. Elevated aminotransferase levels is one of its clinical manifestations, but is infrequently reported in the literature. The objective of this study was to investigate cases of elevated aminotransferases as a manifestation of primary HIV-1 infection. METHODS: A retrospective chart review from October 1990 to May 2009 of HIV-1 infected patients in a registered database at a tertiary hospital was conducted to identify patients diagnosed with primary HIV-1 infection. An elevated aminotransferase level was broadly defined as above-normal values of alanine or aspartate aminotransferases. Acute hepatitis markers were determined using stored serum samples. RESULTS: Twenty-three of the 827 (2.8%) patients were identified as having a primary HIV-1 infection. All were male, with a median age of 26 years (range, 19-77 years), and the majority were men who had sex with men (19/23, 82.6%). The most common clinical manifestations were fever (95.7%), elevated aminotransferases (65.2%), fatigue (47.8%), and pharyngitis (47.8%). The median CD4 lymphocyte count was 374/µL (range, 109-674/µL) and the median log HIV viral load was 5.0 (range, 4.3-5.9). For the 15 patients with abnormal liver function tests, the median aspartate aminotransferase level was 112 U/L (range, 62-969 U/L) and the median alanine aminotransferase level was 146 U/L (range, 42-1,110 U/L). CONCLUSION: Elevated aminotransferases may be an initial manifestation of primary HIV infection and is more common than expected. Primary HIV-1 infection should be one of the differential diagnoses considered in young men presenting with unexplained, new-onset liver function impairment.

Clinical manifestations of Japanese encephalitis in southern Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Japanese encephalitis virus infection is a sporadic infectious disease in Taiwan. Despite progress in laboratory examinations and imaging studies, diagnosis of Japanese encephalitis remains underestimated. This study was conducted to identify clinical symptoms and laboratory findings that may assist in early identification of this disease. METHODS: This retrospective study included all patients diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital from January 2000 through December 2007. Epidemiologic data, predisposing factors, neurological and non-neurological signs and symptoms, laboratory data, and treatment were analyzed. Outcomes and neurological complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Eleven patients had Japanese encephalitis, and 10 had sufficient information for enrolment into the study. Nine patients presented with non-significant constitutional symptoms of fever, nausea, or headache. Other signs and symptoms included rhinorrhea, sore throat, abdominal pain, cough, myalgia, or arthralgia. Eight patients had lymphocytic pleocytosis with elevated protein and borderline low glucose levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. Leptomeningeal enhancement and low density lesions were the most common computed tomography findings. T2 hyperintensity lesions and leptomeningeal enhancement were seen in 5 patients. Two patients presenting with acute flaccid paralysis had high intensity lesions on the thalamus and basal ganglion. There were no correlations between clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings. None of the patients had neurological sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Presentations, laboratory examination, and clinical signs are not specific for Japanese encephalitis. Sporadic cases are usually seen from May to August, which are associated with monsoon rains. Hence increased awareness of this disease is recommended during these periods.

Comparison of clinical characteristics of amebic liver abscess in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and non-HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Amebic liver abscess is an emerging parasitic disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Clinical characteristics of this disease have rarely been compared between patients with and without HIV infection. METHODS: This retrospective study included 24 patients who had been diagnosed with amebic liver abscess during a 17-year period. The demographics, clinical manifestations, radiographic findings, and outcomes were compared between HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected patients. RESULTS: Among 24 patients with amebic abscess, 8 were HIV-infected and 16 were non-HIV-infected. The mean (+/- standard deviation [SD]) age of HIV-infected patients was 41.0 +/- 11.3 years (range, 27-62 years), which was younger than that of the non-HIV-infected group (58.5 +/- 14.6 years; range, 27-77 years; p=0.01). Compared with non-HIV-infected controls, patients with HIV infection had lower white blood cell counts (median, 17.2 x 10(9)/L vs 10.4 x 10(9)/L; p=0.01), neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio (median, 12.1 vs 2.7; p<0.01), total bilirubin (median, 42.7 micromol/L vs 13.7 micromol/L; p=0.02), blood urea nitrogen (median, 7.9 mmol/L vs 4.1 mmol/L; p=0.04), and creatinine (median, 114.9 micromol/L vs 88.4 micromol/L; p<0.01). On multivariate analysis, low N/L ratio remained a significant predictor for HIV infection (odds ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.264-0.912; p=0.024). No significant differences were observed in clinical manifestations, radiographic findings, and indirect hemagglutination titer between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: HIV-infected patients with amebic liver abscess tended to have a lower N/L ratio than non-HIV-infected comparators.