Coronavirus (COVID-19) Collection
Neutralizing antibodies following three doses of BNT162b2 vaccine, breakthrough infection, and symptoms during the Omicron predominant wave
During the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the waning of the second vaccine-induced immunogenicity over time [1, 2] and the emergence of variants of concerns (VOCs), such as Delta and Omicron, have led many countries to adopt the booster (third) vaccine campaign. Observational studies have shown that a third-dose of existing mRNA vaccines is still effective against infection with Delta and Omicron variants and hospitalization [3-5]; however, the third-dose vaccine effectiveness (VE) against Omicron infection is lower than that against Delta [3, 4].SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody Therapies: Early retrospective cohort study of 26 hospitalized patients treated with Bamlanivimab or Casirivimab/Imdevimab
The first patient with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was officially registered in December 2019. Only 3 months afterwards the WHO announced Covid-19 as pandemic [1].Effect of remdesivir on mortality and the need for mechanical ventilation among hospitalized COVID-19 patients: real-world data from resource-limited country
Georgia introduced remdesivir for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in December 2020. We evaluated the real-world effect of remdesivir on mortality and the need for mechanical ventilation among COVID-19 inpatients.Immunogenicity of a fractional or full third dose of AZD1222 vaccine or BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine after two doses of CoronaVac vaccines against Delta and Omicron variants
COVID-19 vaccines approved in Thailand include the mRNA-based vaccines, BNT162b2 (‘PF’; Pfizer Inc, New York, United States, US; BioNTech Manufacturing GmbH, Mainz, Germany) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna Inc, Cambridge, US); the inactivated virus vaccine, CoronaVac (Sinovac Biotech, Beijing, China); and the adenovirus vector vaccine, AZD1222 (‘AZ’; Oxford-AstraZeneca, United Kingdom, UK). However, variants of concern like Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron, especially BA.1 (B.1.1.529), are driving infection surges amid waning vaccine effectiveness (VE) [1].Emergence and geographic dominance of Omicron subvariants XBB/XBB.1.5 and BF.7 – the public health challenges
Since the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in November 2021 [1], it has rapidly replaced the former strains as the key driver of the pandemic. As of 27 October 2022, the Omicron variant was considered the only circulating variant of concern (VOC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) [2]. Omicron has spawned subvariants due to its propensity of engendering novel mutations. In January 2022, the original Omicron strain BA.1 was replaced by BA.2; and other subvariants – BA.3, BA.4, BA.5 and XE – have subsequently emerged.Alterations in smell or taste in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 during periods of Omicron variant dominance
The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19, was first identified in late November 2021 and has since spread rapidly worldwide. To date, this variant remains the dominant variant in the global pandemic [1]. Since the pandemic outbreak, anosmia and dysgeusia have been shown to be key symptoms of the SARS-CoV-2 infection [2]. Some patients still have not recovered these senses almost a year later, and for a proportion of those who have, the sense of smell has been distorted [3].Applicability of a colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for SARS-CoV-2 detection in high exposure risk setting
The novel COVID-19 is caused by the highly transmissible viral pathogen named SARS-CoV-2. The first infected cases were reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, the People's Republic of China. In 2021, a resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 infections, together with several adaptive mutations in the viral genome, led to a public health crisis worldwide [1]. In Thailand, a new wave of infections originated in clusters of foreign laborers and overcrowded communities as well as among family contacts. Public health strategies for infection control were implemented and effectively limited disease transmission.Effects of dexamethasone use on viral clearance among patients with COVID-19: a multicenter cohort study
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has greatly harmed global health and the global economy [1]. SARS-CoV-2 can be detected from the nasopharynx for a median of 2-3 weeks after the onset of symptoms [2]. A patient's infectivity is determined by the presence of the virus in body fluids, secretions, and excreta [3]. According to Taiwanese policy, all patients with positive viral RNA detection must be isolated, and isolated patients can only be discharged after symptom relief and two successive negative viral nucleic acid results of respiratory specimens [4].Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of other communicable diseases in Japan
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected >600 million patients, with over 6.4 million deaths reported worldwide as of September 1, 2022 [1,2]. Mortality rates for COVID-19 differ between Western countries (1.1% in the United States, 0.8% in the United Kingdom) and Asian countries (0.5% in China, 0.2% in Japan) [1,2]; although, the reasons remain uncertain. National governments have been faced with various challenges in balancing attempts to control the COVID-19 pandemic with the stabilization of economic activity.Differential clinical characteristics and performance of home antigen tests between parents and children following household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during the Omicron variant pandemic
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant pandemic struck Taiwan in April 2022. Rapid antigen tests play an important role in providing rapid results during a pandemic. However, self-collected samples by children's caregivers without the supervision of medical personnel raise some concerns.Pooling of sputum samples to increase tuberculosis diagnostic capacity in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic
We assessed whether combining (pooling) four individual's samples and testing with Xpert Ultra has the same accuracy as testing samples individually, as a more efficient testing method.Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in primary and secondary school students and staff in England in the 2020/2021 school year: a longitudinal study
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns that schools might contribute to sustaining or amplifying community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 led to widespread school closures [1]. This impacted education, well-being, and societal health [2,3]. Evidence now indicates that SARS-CoV-2 transmission does occur among and from children but can be reduced by preventive interventions in schools [4–6]. The overall role of schools in community spread is thought to be low-to-moderate, especially with mitigations in place; although, this may vary with virus variants [7–9].Relapsing COVID-19 infection as a manifestation of Good's syndrome: a case report and literature review
IntroductionGlobal patterns and drivers of influenza decline during the COVID-19 pandemic
Starting with the worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2, observations of a sharp decline in influenza circulation were reported. In the first months of 2020, the flu season was shortened in some northern hemisphere and tropical countries [1,2]. During the subsequent 18 months, influenza incidence showed an all-time low in New Zealand [3], Australia [4], the United States [5–7], and the WHO European Region [8]. The circulation was still low in 2021.Safety and immunogenicity of the bi-cistronic GLS-5310 COVID-19 DNA vaccine delivered with the GeneDerm suction device
The SARS-CoV-2 is the third highly pathogenic coronavirus to emerge this century. Whereas the emergent SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) caused fewer than 10,000 cases each, there have been greater than 500 million documented cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection globally and greater than 6 million deaths ( https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html ).A cohort study of post-COVID-19 condition across the Beta, Delta, and Omicron waves in South Africa: 6-month follow-up of hospitalized and nonhospitalized participants
The post-COVID-19 condition (PCC), as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), “occurs in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, usually 3 months from the onset of COVID-19, with symptoms that last for at least 2 months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis” [1]. Conservative estimates are that 10-30% individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 may be affected by PCC [2], whereas a study reported that as many as 60% of COVID-19 survivors will experience PCC at least during the first year [3].Time from last immunity event against infection during Omicron-dominant period in Malaysia
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) and its prominent sublineages continue to be the dominant strains (>98%) circulating globally since February 2022 [1–3]. The spike mutations of Omicron resulted in higher viral transmissibility and capability to escape neutralizing antibodies from vaccinated sera [4]. Immune evasion is evident because a higher number of breakthrough and reinfection cases were observed during the Omicron-dominant period [5,6]. Symptomatic COVID-19 cases increased as studies found moderate booster effectiveness against Omicron infection, whereas the effectiveness against severe outcomes was largely preserved [7,8].Lopinavir/ritonavir for treatment of non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a randomized clinical trial
COVID-19 remains a significant public health problem. There has been success in developing outpatient therapeutics such as neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, oral antivirals, and intermittent intravenous remdesivir infusions [1–7]. However, these treatments are costly, susceptible to resistance from new SARS-CoV-2 variants, and may not improve symptom resolution [8–11]. With increasing vaccination and less severe variants, hospitalization rates have declined [12–14], and the focus of initial treatment is now shifting toward acute symptom and functional recovery [15,16].Fatal cases after Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 infection: Results of an autopsy study
The Omicron variant of concern (VOC) of SARS-CoV-2 is characterized by both high infectivity and transmissibility. Despite this, it causes a rather mild clinical course of COVID-19 compared with the other VOCs [1–3]. In concordance, animal experiments showed reduced pathogenicity of the Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.2 compared with other VOCs. This includes less prominent loss of weight and lower viral burden in the upper and lower respiratory tracts in hamsters, angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2)-wildtype mice, and K18-hACE2 transgenic mice [4].Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines on hospitalization and death in Guilan, Iran: a test-negative case-control study
Iran has experienced a high rate of death during the pandemic of COVID-19 [1,2]. The first case of the disease in Iran was reported on February 17, 2020 [2], And Iran reported its first COVID-19 deaths on February 19, 2020 [3]. From the outset of the pandemic, various strategies were proposed to overcome this emergency crisis, including quarantine and social distancing, each of which had its limitations and problems [2]. News of the production of vaccine for the disease sparked hope once again, and many countries have started mass vaccination to combat the disease [4].Quantifying excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 in The Gambia: a time-series analysis of three health and demographic surveillance systems
In January 2020, COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. At the time, 7818 cases and 170 deaths were reported in 19 countries, mainly in Asia [1]. Almost a year later, COVID-19 spread across the world and caused about 278 million cases and 5.4 million deaths. Despite the extent of the pandemic, Africa, which accounts for approximately 16% of the world population, has been relatively spared by the pandemic as it accounted only for 3% of cases (7 million) and deaths (0.16 million) [2].The impact of variant and vaccination on SARS-CoV-2 symptomatology; three prospective household cohorts
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2019, several SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) have emerged [1]. With the emergence of the Omicron VOC (BA.1) and its descendants (BA.2 and further), the pandemic has taken a new turn. Omicron variants are characterized by a high number of mutations compared with the ancestral strain and are associated with immune escape and enhanced angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) binding [2,3]. In addition, the Omicron variants are less capable of infecting the lower respiratory tract due to a shift in cellular tropism away from transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2) expressing cells, promoting faster replication in the upper airways but reduced replication in the lungs [4,5].
