Contraction of Respiratory Viral Infection During air Travel: An Under-Recognized Health Risk for Athletes.

Air travel has an important role in the spread of viral acute respiratory infections (ARIs). Aircraft offer an ideal setting for the transmission of ARI because of a closed environment, crowded conditions, and close-contact setting. Numerous studies have shown that influenza and COVID-19 spread readily in an aircraft with one virus-positive symptomatic or asymptomatic index case.

Clinical Outcomes of Acutely Ill Children According to Cycle Threshold Values of Respiratory Viruses Detected by Multiplex PCR Testing.

In this cohort study of 800 children attending a pediatric emergency department at Oulu University Hospital, Finland with fever or respiratory symptoms, the cycle threshold values of point-of-care multiplex polymerase chain reaction testing for respiratory viruses were not associated with hospitalization, respiratory support, or need for intensive care.

Coronavirus spike protein-specific antibodies indicate frequent infections and reinfections in infancy and among BNT162b2-vaccinated healthcare workers.

The prevalence of seasonal human coronavirus (HCoV) infections in early childhood and adults has not been well analyzed in longitudinal serological studies. Here we analyzed the changes in HCoV (229E, HKU1, NL63, OC43, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2) spike-specific antibody levels in follow-up serum specimens of 140 children at the age of 1, 2, and 3 years, and of 113 healthcare workers vaccinated for Covid-19 with BNT162b2-vaccine. IgG antibody levels against six recombinant HCoV spike subunit 1 (S1) proteins were measured by enzyme immunoassay.

Enterovirus D68 Outbreak in Children, Finland, August-September 2022.

We observed an intense enterovirus D68 outbreak in children in southwest Finland in August-September 2022. We confirmed enterovirus D68 infection in 56 children hospitalized for respiratory illnesses and in 1 child with encephalitis but were not able to test all suspected patients. Continuing surveillance for enterovirus D68 is needed.

Infectious viruses from transfected SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA.

SARS-CoV-2 emerged at the end of 2019, and like other novel pathogens causing severe symptoms, WHO recommended heightened biosafety measures for laboratories working with the virus. The positive-stranded genomic RNA of coronaviruses has been known to be infectious since the 1970s, and overall, all experiments with the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 propagation are carried out in higher containment level laboratories. However, as SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been routinely handled in BSL-2 laboratories, the question of the true nature of RNA infectiousness has risen along with discussion of appropriate biosafety measures.

Biomarkers of viral and bacterial infection in rhinovirus pneumonia.

Background: Rhinovirus (RV) is often detected in children hospitalized with pneumonia, but the role of RV in causing pneumonia is still unclear.

Methods: White blood cell count, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) levels were determined from blood samples in children ( = 24) hospitalized with radiologically verified pneumonia. Respiratory viruses were identified from nasal swabs by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays.

Association of Asthma Risk Alleles With Acute Respiratory Tract Infections and Wheezing Illnesses in Young Children.

Background: Genome-wide association studies have identified several risk alleles for early childhood asthma, particularly in the 17q21 locus and in the cadherin-related family member 3 (CDHR3) gene. Contribution of these alleles to the risk of acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) in early childhood is unclear.

Methods: We analyzed data from the STEPS birth-cohort study of unselected children and the VINKU and VINKU2 studies on children with severe wheezing illness.

Influenza A Outbreaks in Two Professional Ice Hockey Teams during COVID-19 Epidemic.

Influenza A outbreaks occurred in two professional hockey teams just after two games they played against each other. Thirteen players and two staff members fell ill during 17-20 April 2022, while COVID-19 was prevalent. Altogether, seven players missed an important game due to influenza.

Non-SARS-CoV-2 Respiratory Viruses in Athletes at Major Winter Sport Events, 2021 and 2022.

We performed prospective studies on respiratory viral infections among Team Finland participants during the 2021 Oberstdorf World Ski Championships and the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games. We enrolled 73 athletes and 110 staff members. Compared with similar studies we conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, illnesses and virus detections dropped by 10-fold.

Myxovirus resistance protein A for discriminating between viral and bacterial lower respiratory tract infections in children - The TREND study.

Objective: Discriminating between viral and bacterial lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in children is challenging, leading to an excessive use of antibiotics. Myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) is a promising biomarker for viral infections. The primary aim of the study was to assess differences in blood MxA levels between children with viral and bacterial LRTI.

Herpesvirus infections in adenoids in patients with chronic adenotonsillar disease.

Adenoids and tonsils have gained interest as a new in vivo model to study local immune functions and virus reservoirs. Especially herpesviruses are interesting because their prevalence and persistence in local lymphoid tissue are incompletely known. Our aim was to study herpesvirus and common respiratory virus infections in nonacutely ill adenotonsillar surgery patients.

Serological Follow-Up Study Indicates High Seasonal Coronavirus Infection and Reinfection Rates in Early Childhood.

Seasonal human coronaviruses (HCoVs) cause respiratory infections, especially in children. Currently, the knowledge on early childhood seasonal coronavirus infections and the duration of antibody levels following the first infections is limited. Here we analyzed serological follow-up samples to estimate the rate of primary infection and reinfection(s) caused by seasonal coronaviruses in early childhood.

Gut Microbiota and Serum Metabolome in Elite Cross-Country Skiers: A Controlled Study.

Exercise has been shown to affect gut the microbiome and metabolic health, with athletes typically displaying a higher microbial diversity. However, research on the gut microbiota and systemic metabolism in elite athletes remains scarce. In this study, we compared the gut microbiota profiles and serum metabolome of national team cross-country skiers at the end of an exhausting training and competitive season to those of normally physically-active controls.

Respiratory Viral Infections in Athletes: Many Unanswered Questions.

Upper respiratory tract infections ("common cold") are the most common acute illnesses in elite athletes. Numerous studies on exercise immunology have proposed that intense exercise may increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. Virological data to support that view are sparse, and several fundamental questions remain.

Myxovirus Resistance Protein A as a Marker of Viral Cause of Illness in Children Hospitalized with an Acute Infection.

A biomarker for viral infection could improve the differentiation between viral and bacterial infections and reduce antibiotic overuse. We examined blood myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) as a biomarker for viral infections in children with an acute infection. We recruited 251 children presenting with a clinical suspicion of serious bacterial infection, determined by need for a blood bacterial culture collection, and 14 children with suspected viral infection at two pediatric emergency departments.