Shortened SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA shedding in saliva during early Omicron compared to wild-type pandemic phase.

This study compared the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding in saliva between wild-type virus-infected and Omicron-infected household cohorts. Pre-existing immunity in participants likely shortens the viral RNA shedding duration and lowers viral load peaks. Frequent saliva sampling can be a convenient tool to study viral load dynamics.

Lower levels of household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 VOC Omicron compared to Wild-type: an interplay between transmissibility and immune status.

Background: Knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 household transmission dynamics guides infection control and vaccination measures. This household cohort study prospectively assessed the impact of both the Omicron BA.2 variant and immunity on household transmission using dense saliva sampling and sequence analysis.

The role of antibody-dependent enhancement in dengue vaccination.

Dengue is the most rapidly spreading vector-borne disease worldwide, with over half the global population at risk for an infection. Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) is associated with increased disease severity and may also be attributable to the deterioration of disease in vaccinated people. Two dengue vaccines are approved momentarily, with more in development.

Uncovering the Contrasts and Connections in PASC: Viral Load and Cytokine Signatures in Acute COVID-19 versus Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC).

The recent global COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound and enduring impact, resulting in substantial loss of life. The scientific community has responded unprecedentedly by investigating various aspects of the crisis, particularly focusing on the acute phase of COVID-19. The roles of the viral load, cytokines, and chemokines during the acute phase and in the context of patients who experienced enduring symptoms upon infection, so called Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 or PASC, have been studied extensively.

Post COVID-19 Pandemic Increased Detection of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae in Adults Admitted to the Intensive Care.

: () infections can progress to severe respiratory complications, necessitating intensive care treatment. Recent post COVID-19 pandemic surges underscore the need for timely diagnosis, given potential diagnostic method limitations. A retrospective case series analysis was conducted on PCR-positive patients admitted to two Dutch secondary hospitals' ICUs between January 2023 and February 2024.

Dolutegravir/Lamivudine Is Noninferior to Continuing Dolutegravir- and Non-Dolutegravir-Based Triple-Drug Antiretroviral Therapy in Virologically Suppressed People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: DUALING Prospective Nationwide Matched Cohort Study.

Background: Confirming the efficacy of dolutegravir/lamivudine in clinical practice solidifies recommendations on its use.

Methods: Prospective cohort study (DUALING) in 24 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment centers in the Netherlands. HIV RNA-suppressed cases were on triple-drug antiretroviral regimens without prior virological failure or resistance and started dolutegravir/lamivudine.

Dynamics of Low-Level Viremia and Immune Activation after Switching to a Darunavir-Based Regimen.

There is an ongoing debate regarding whether low-level viremia (LLV), in particular persistent LLV, during HIV treatment with optimal adherence originates from low-level viral replication, viral production, or both. We performed an observational study in 30 individuals with LLV who switched to a boosted darunavir (DRV)-based therapy. In-depth virological analyses were used to characterize the viral population and the (activity) of the viral reservoir.

Large outbreak of typhoid fever on a river cruise ship used as accommodation for asylum seekers, the Netherlands, 2022.

On 6 April 2022, the Public Health Service of Kennemerland, the Netherlands, was notified about an outbreak of fever and abdominal complaints on a retired river cruise ship, used as shelter for asylum seekers. The diagnosis typhoid fever was confirmed on 7 April. An extensive outbreak investigation was performed.

Virological Failure After Switch to Long-Acting Cabotegravir and Rilpivirine Injectable Therapy: An In-depth Analysis.

Background: Long-acting (LA) injectable therapy with cabotegravir (CAB) and rilpivirine (RPV) is currently used as maintenance treatment for human immunodeficiency virus type 1, and has a low risk for virological failure (VF). Although the risk is low, the circumstances and impact of VF in the real-world setting merit further evaluation.

Methods: We performed an in-depth clinical, virological, and pharmacokinetic analysis on the reasons behind and the impact of VF during LA CAB/RPV therapy in 5 cases from the Netherlands.

Long term sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection in children: a household study.

Background: In children persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported, however, duration and characteristics of symptoms in previously healthy children remain unclear. Therefore this study aimed to evaluate persisting symptoms in children at 6 and 12 months after a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study households with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 positive outbreak were matched 1:1 to household controls from SARS-CoV-2 negative outbreaks.

Clinical validation of novel dried blood spot based collecting device using serum separation for measuring SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Accurate surveillance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence includes large-scale antibody testing of the population. Current testing methods require collection of venous blood samples by a healthcare worker, or dried blood spot (DBS) collection using finger prick, however this might have some logistic and processing limitations. We investigated the performance of the Ser-Col device for detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies using a finger prick: DBS-like collection system that includes a lateral flow paper for serum separation and allows for automated large scale analysis.

Initial Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Viral Load Is Associated With Disease Severity: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: We assessed the association between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral load and hospital admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and in-hospital mortality.

Methods: All SARS-CoV-2-positive persons with a combined nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab that was collected between 17 March 2020 and 31 March 2021 in public health testing facilities were included.

Results: From 20 207 SARS-CoV-2-positive persons, 310 (1.

High Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Household Transmission Rates Detected by Dense Saliva Sampling.

Background: Understanding the dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) household transmission is important for adequate infection control measures in this ongoing pandemic.

Methods: Households were enrolled upon a polymerase chain reaction-confirmed index case between October and December 2020, prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination program. Saliva samples were obtained by self-sampling at days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 from study inclusion.

The Effect of Varying Interval Definitions on the Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfections: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Cohort Study.

Background: We assessed the SARS-CoV-2 reinfection rate in a large patient cohort, and evaluated the effect of varying time intervals between two positive tests on assumed reinfection rates using viral load data.

Methods: All positive SARS-CoV-2 samples collected between 1 March 2020 and 1 August 2021 from a laboratory in the region Kennemerland, the Netherlands, were included. The reinfection rate was analyzed using different time intervals between two positive tests varying between 2 and 16 weeks.

SARS-CoV-2 viral-load distribution reveals that viral loads increase with age: a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study.

Background: Describing the SARS-CoV-2 viral-load distribution in different patient groups and age categories.

Methods: All results from first nasopharyngeal (NP) and oropharyngeal (OP) swabs from unique patients tested via SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) collected between 1 January and 1 December 2020 predominantly in the Public Health Services regions Kennemerland and Hollands Noorden, province of North Holland, the Netherlands, were included in this study. SARS-CoV-2 PCR crossing-point (Cp)-values were used to estimate viral loads.

[Rectal lesions and liver lesions caused by syphilis].

Background: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease, caused by the spirochete Treponema Pallidum. Many different manifestations exist, which can complicate diagnosis.

Case: A 36-year-old man with a known HIV infection, presented himself with rectal blood loss and abdominal pain.

QTc Prolongation in COVID-19 Patients Using Chloroquine.

Chloroquine is used in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 infection, although there is no substantial evidence for a beneficial effect. Chloroquine is known to prolong the QRS and QTc interval on the ECG. To assess the effect of chloroquine on QRS and QTc intervals in COVID-19 patients, we included all inpatients treated with chloroquine for COVID-19 in the Spaarne Gasthuis (Haarlem/Hoofddorp, the Netherlands) and had an ECG performed both in the 72 h before and during or at least 48 h after treatment.

The effect of switching protease inhibitors to raltegravir on endothelial function, in HIV-infected patients.

Objective Lipid management is one of the cornerstones of cardiovascular risk reduction. Treatment of HIV infection with protease inhibitors (PIs) may cause dyslipidaemia, whilst the integrase inhibitor raltegravir (RAL) has a relatively favorable effect on plasma lipids. We examined the effect of switching from PIs to RAL on endothelial function, and its effect on immunological and inflammatory parameters.

Greater carotid intima media thickness at a younger age in HIV-infected patients compared with reference values for an uninfected cohort.

Objectives: In contrast to the general population, no decline in cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been noted in HIV-infected patients over the last 10 years. We compared the carotid artery intima media thickness (CIMT) of HIV-infected patients to that of age- and gender-matched reference values and determined the relationship between CVD risk factors and CIMT.

Methods: A total of 292 HIV-infected patients were enrolled in the study.

Maraviroc Intensification Improves Endothelial Function in Abacavir-Treated Patients, an Open-Label Randomized Cross-Over Pilot Study.

Background: The increased risk of abacavir in cardiovascular disease (CVD) in HIV-infected patients is still being debated. Maraviroc, a CCR5 blocker, has been shown to decrease immune activation and monocyte infiltration in atherosclerotic plaques in murine experiments. Therefore, we examined the effect of maraviroc intensification on flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in abacavir-treated HIV-infected patients and its effect on immunological and inflammatory parameters.

Clinical outcome of maraviroc-containing therapy in heavily pre-treated HIV-1-infected patients.

Available data on the use of maraviroc (MVC) in clinical settings are limited. In this cohort study, the clinical outcomes of HIV-1-infected patients treated with MVC were analysed and the predictive values of different tropism assays were compared. Baseline viral tropism was assessed and compared by phenotypic (Trofile and MT-2) and genotypic assays.

Quantification of naive and memory T-cell turnover during HIV-1 infection.

Background: In HIV infection, the homeostasis of CD4 and CD8 T cells is dramatically disturbed, and several studies have pointed out that T-cell turnover rates are increased. To understand how the CD4 and CD8 T-cell pools are affected, it is important to have quantitative insights into the lifespans of the cells constituting the different T-lymphocyte populations.

Methods: We used long-term in-vivo H2O labeling and mathematical modeling to estimate the average lifespans of naive and memory CD4 and CD8 T cells in untreated (n = 4) and combination antiretroviral therapy-treated (n = 3) HIV-1-infected individuals.