Search results for "coronavirus 2"

SARS-CoV-2 RNA load in the lower respiratory tract, viral RNAemia and N-antigenemia in critically ill adult COVID-19 patients: relationship with biom…

2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundLittle is known about the comparative kinetics of SARS-CoV-RNA load in the lower respiratory tract and in blood compartment in patients admitted to the intensive care unit, and how these relate to biomarkers of COVID-19 severity.MethodsSeventy-three consecutive critically ill COVID-19 patients (median age, 65 years) were recruited. Serial lower respiratory tract (n=165) and plasma (n=340) specimens were collected. RT-PCR and lateral flow immunochromatography assay were used for SARS-CoV-2 RNA quantitation and N protein detection in plasma, respectively. Serum levels of inflammatory and tissue-damage biomarkers in paired specimens were analyzed.ResultsSARS-CoV-RNA was detec…

Longitudinal investigation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in older patients in the province of Palermo (So…

2020

IntroductionClinical presentation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in old adults from Southern Italy is little known. This study aims to investigate the mortality risk related to risk factors, therapy and clinical course and to suggest prognostic indicators based on day-to-day follow-up of clinical and laboratory findings.Material and methodsIt was designed as a retrospective longitudinal cohort study of adult SARS-CoV-2 patients admitted at Partinico COVID Hospital in Palermo, Southern Italy. Patients were recruited between 4 March and 25 April and followed up until 31 May 2020, day-to-day until death or hospital discharge. Clinical data, laboratory…

Is a Mask That Covers the Mouth and Nose Free from Undesirable Side Effects in Everyday Use and Free of Potential Hazards?

2021

International journal of environmental research and public health : IJERPH 18(8), 4344 (2021). doi:10.3390/ijerph18084344

Post‐COVID ‐19 Liver Injury: Comprehensive Imaging With Multiparametric Ultrasound

2021

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to define patterns of liver injury after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection using multiparametric ultrasound (mpUS) in a variable patient population with differing severities of COVID-19. METHODS: Ninety patients were enrolled into the study: 56 had SARS-CoV-2 3-9 months prior to enrolment; 34 served as a clinically healthy control group. All patients underwent an mpUS evaluation of the liver (elastography, dispersion and attenuation imaging). Seventy-six patients had abdominal magnetic resonance (MR) and noncontrast enhanced thoracic computed tomography (CT) scans performed at the same day. All patients were screened for bioc…

Diagnostic Accuracy of a New Antigen Test for SARS-CoV-2 Detection

2021

Background and aims: Quick and reliable diagnostic tools play an important role in controlling the spread of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a new cyto-salivary antigen test aimed at detecting the presence of antigens for SARS-CoV-2, as compared by the gold standard RT-PCR and a lateral flow test. Methods: A total of 433 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study and the sensitivity and specificity of the new cyto-salivary antigen test were calculated, as compared to the RT-PCR nasopharyngeal swab and to the lateral flow test. Results: A total of 433 samples were collected and tested at the Mediterranean Fair in Palermo from Febru…

Could isotretinoin be a protective agent against COVID-19?: A dermatologist perspective.

2021

Being a "trending" unique treatment for moderate-to-severe acne, isotretinoin (13-cis retinoic acid) (ISO) is currently considered by experts the first line treatment even for mild acne, unless there is an absolute contraindication. ISO was identified, among other retinoids, to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells. Shoemark et al.1.

Intentional interruptions during compression only CPR: a way to increase adherence to CPR and compressions' quality?

2021

A Crowd-Sourced Database of Coronamusic: Documenting Online Making and Sharing of Music During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021

When a sweeping COVID-19 pandemic forced cultural venues, schools, and social hangouts into hibernation in early 2020, music life relocated to the digital world. On social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok, sofas and balconies took center stage for musical performances presented as live-streamed concerts and recorded videos. Amateurs and professional musicians alike embraced digital formats and innovated novel genres of corona-themed music. We will refer to the products of this musical phenomenon collectively as "coronamusic." Adapting a well-known term from cultural musicology (Small, 1999), the diverse practices of listening, playing, dancing, composing, rehearsi…

The potential role of COVID-19 hygienic measures in reducing infective complications during hospitalization

2021

Modeling epidemics through ladder operators

2020

Highlights • We propose an operatorial model to describe epidemics. • The model describes well the asymptotic numbers of the epidemics. • Ladder operators are used to model exchanges between the “actors” of the system.