Objectives: To evaluate changes in the characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant of concern (VOC) P.1 (Gamma), by comparing the clinical, demographic, and laboratory profiles of patients hospitalized during the first (May to July 2020) and second (December 2020 to February 2021) pandemic waves.
Methods: Data were collected from the records of COVID-19 patients (n = 4164) admitted to a single hospital in Salvador, Northeast Brazil. SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing was performed on nasopharyngeal swab samples from 12 patients aged <60 years admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in February 2021.
Results: Between June 2020 and February 2021, the median age of patients admitted to the ICU decreased from 66 to 58 years (P < 0.05). This was accompanied by an increased proportion of patients without comorbidities (15.32% vs 32.20%, P < 0.0001). A significant reduction in the cycle threshold values of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests was observed in the second wave (P < 0.0001). Sequencing analysis detected lineage Gamma in all 12 ICU patients sampled in February 2021.
Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated an increased proportion of younger adults without comorbidities with severe disease during the second COVID-19 wave, shortly after the confirmation of local Gamma circulation.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.08.003 | DOI Listing |
J Phys Chem Lett
January 2025
School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China.
Addressing the frequent emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutant strains requires therapeutic approaches with innovative neutralization mechanisms. The targeting of multivalent nanobodies can enhance potency and reduce the risk of viral escape, positioning them as promising drug candidates. Here, the synergistic mechanisms of the two types of nanobodies are investigated deeply.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Public Health
January 2025
Department of Occupational Health Practice and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Fukuoka, Japan.
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, information and circumstances changed from moment to moment, including the accumulation of scientific knowledge, the emergence of variants, social tolerance, and government policy. Therefore, it was important to adapt workplace countermeasures punctually and flexibly based on scientific evidence and according to circumstances. However, there has been no assessment of changes in workplace countermeasures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Top Med Chem
January 2025
Australasian Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative (ANNI), Monash University LPO, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
Ongoing research and development efforts are currently focused on creating COVID-19 vaccines using a variety of platforms. Among these, mRNA technology stands out as a cuttingedge method for vaccine development. There is a growing public awareness of mRNA and its potential in vaccine development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS Pathog
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS) and Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Vaccines are widely regarded as one of the most effective strategies for combating infectious diseases. However, significant challenges remain, such as insufficient antibody levels, limited protection against rapidly evolving variants, and poor immune durability, particularly in subunit vaccines, likely due to their short in vivo exposure. Recent advances in extending the half-life of protein therapeutics have shown promise in improving drug efficacy, yet whether increasing in vivo persistence can enhance the efficacy of subunit vaccines remains underexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Transplant
January 2025
William J Von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Introduction: The incidence of mortality late in the pandemic, particularly after widespread vaccine availability, is not well understood. Herein, we elucidate the effect of this impact of the COVID pandemic as well as risk factors for mortality during it.
Methods: The primary end point was death with a functioning graft with secondary endpoints of mortality rates in subgroups and at different time intervals during the pandemic.
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