Publications by authors named "Wei Yee Wan"
Article Synopsis
- CMV (Cytomegalovirus) is the most common congenital infection that affects pregnant women, and there's been a lack of recent data on its prevalence in Singapore.
- A recent study tested 385 pregnant women for CMV IgG, revealing an overall seroprevalence of 71.7%, with higher rates found in older age groups.
- The results suggest a declining trend in CMV prevalence among pregnant women, emphasizing the need for potential universal screening and considering treatments to reduce transmission risks.
Aim: We assessed the feasibility of storing sera in primary gel separator tube over medium-term for retrospective serological tests to facilitate investigation of intra-uterine infection.
Method: 120 residual serum samples, consisting of 30 positive samples each for rubella, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19 and varicella zoster IgG were aliquoted into secondary propylene tubes and stored together with the original primary tubes at -20°C for 1 year. The serum was subsequently retested to compare results from both storage methods.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated how repeated cycles of wearing and decontaminating N95 masks affect their fit and integrity during the early COVID-19 pandemic.
- Researchers tested different decontamination methods (moist heat, steam, UV-C, and hydrogen peroxide plasma) and found that moist heat maintained mask integrity across all five cycles, while 60.6% to 77.5% of masks overall passed fit tests.
- The findings suggest that moist heat is an effective decontamination method for N95 masks, potentially reducing medical waste and promoting sustainability in future mask usage.
Article Synopsis
- Prolonged shedding of COVID-19 is notable in patients treated with anti-CD20 agents like rituximab, with cases of occult infection, where the virus persists in the lungs despite negative nasal tests, being rare.
- Two immunocompromised patients, previously treated with rituximab, showed ground-glass infiltrates in lung scans, and despite negative SARS-CoV-2 results in nasal swabs, they were diagnosed with ongoing infection after testing lung fluid.
- The findings suggest that negative nasal tests don’t rule out lung infections, indicating the need for invasive tests like bronchoalveolar lavage; this also emphasizes the importance of strict infection control during procedures that might spread the virus.
BACKGROUNDPatients undergoing immune-modifying therapies demonstrate a reduced humoral response after COVID-19 vaccination, but we lack a proper evaluation of the effect of such therapies on vaccine-induced T cell responses.METHODSWe longitudinally characterized humoral and spike-specific T cell responses in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), who were on antimetabolite therapy (azathioprine or methotrexate), TNF inhibitors, and/or other biologic treatment (anti-integrin or anti-p40) for up to 6 months after completing 2-dose COVID-19 mRNA vaccination.RESULTSWe demonstrate that a spike-specific T cell response was not only induced in treated patients with IBD at levels similar to those of healthy individuals, but also sustained at higher magnitude for up to 6 months after vaccination, particularly in those treated with TNF inhibitor therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the use of face masks such as disposable surgical masks and N95 respirators is being encouraged and even enforced in some countries. The widespread use of masks has resulted in global shortages and individuals are reusing them. This calls for proper disinfection of the masks while retaining their protective capability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The study examined the immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 over time in 994 healthy South Asian men with mild COVID-19, focusing on both antibody (humoral) and T cell (cellular) responses.
- - Findings showed that while antibody levels declined over time, T cell responses remained stable for up to nine months after infection, indicating a longer-lasting immune response from T cells.
- - The research highlights significant variability in the strength of both immune responses within the study group, which could inform COVID-19 monitoring, vaccination approaches, and future health planning post-pandemic.
This cross-sectional study assessed the changes in respiratory virus prevalence in 2020 vs 2019 associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe efficacy of virus-specific T cells in clearing pathogens involves a fine balance between antiviral and inflammatory features. SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in individuals who clear SARS-CoV-2 without symptoms could reveal nonpathological yet protective characteristics. We longitudinally studied SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in a cohort of asymptomatic (n = 85) and symptomatic (n = 75) COVID-19 patients after seroconversion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, distinguishing dengue from cases of COVID-19 in endemic areas can be difficult. In a tertiary hospital contending with COVID-19 during a dengue epidemic, a triage strategy of routine COVID-19 testing for febrile patients with viral prodromes was used. All febrile patients with viral prodromes and no epidemiologic risk for COVID-19 were first admitted to a designated ward for COVID-19 testing, where enhanced personal protective equipment was used by healthcare workers until COVID-19 was ruled out.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPsoas abscess is commonly regarded as an unusual cause for back pains and usually associated with significant risk factors or co-morbidities. We describe the clinical presentation and findings of a young male Caucasian with bilateral psoas abscesses caused by an unusual organism, Janibacter terrae (an environmental organism) not previously described in literature and the challenges faced in managing this infection. There are very few case reports of this organism causing opportunistic infections, all reported bacteraemia mainly in patients with significant co-morbidities.
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