Necrotizing Enterocolitis in a 34-Week Premature Infant with COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral respiratory infection caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). While SARS-CoV-2 is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults, COVID-19 also affects newborn infants in nurseries and the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). The majority of infected neonates are believed to acquire SARS-CoV-2 by horizontal transmission, and most of them have asymptomatic or mild symptomatic infections. In rare cases, infants with COVID-19 may have severe complications resulting in death. We report a case of COVID-19 in a premature neonate born at 34 weeks gestational age who presented with hypothermia and respiratory distress and subsequently developed clinical and radiological signs of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The neonate received medical management, including antibiotics, suspension of gastric feeds, and intensive NICU support. The neonate’s clinical condition improved without surgical intervention, and after 10 days of antibiotics and gradual reestablishment of gastric feeds, patient health condition returned to normal, and weeks later, he was discharged home. COVID-19 in infants is frequently asymptomatic or associated with mild disease, and in rare cases, it may be associated with severe gastrointestinal complications including NEC.

Beware of pharyngeal Fusobacterium nucleatum in COVID-19

Background Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. n) is an important opportunistic pathogen causing oral and gastrointestinal disease. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. p) is a next-generation probiotic and could serve as a biomarker of gut eubiosis/dysbiosis to some extent. Alterations in the human oral and gut microbiomes are associated with viral respiratory infection. The aim of this study was to characterise the oral and fecal bacterial biomarker (i.e., F. n and F. p) in COVID-19 patients by qPCR and investigate the pharyngeal microbiome of COVID-19 patients through metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). Results Pharyngeal F. n was significantly increased in COVID-19 patients, and it was higher in male than female patients. Increased abundance of pharyngeal F. n was associated with a higher risk of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test (adjusted OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.06 ~ 1.65, P < 0.05). A classifier to distinguish COVID-19 patients from the healthy controls based on the pharyngeal F. n was constructed and achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.843 (95% CI = 0.688 ~ 0.940, P < 0.001). However, the level of fecal F. n and fecal F. p remained unaltered between groups. Besides, mNGS showed that the pharyngeal swabs of COVID-19 patients were dominated by opportunistic pathogens. Conclusions Pharyngeal but not fecal F. n was significantly increased in COVID-19 patients, clinicians should pay careful attention to potential coinfection. Pharyngeal F. n may serve as a promising candidate indicator for COVID-19.

Epilepsy in patients with MOG antibody disease

Introduction. MOG (anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein) antibody disease is a group of demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system, in which antibodies attack the glycoproteins on the oligodendrocyte myelin membrane. The aim of the study was to evaluate the course of the disease in patients with MOG antibody disease with epilepsy. Materials and methods. We examined 11 patients (5 men and 6 women) with MOG antibody disease aged from 2 months to 46 years. Three case studies were described when patients with MOG antibody disease had epileptic seizures. Results and discussion. Epileptic seizures preceded the diagnosis of MOG antibody disease in the first patient. The disease presented as right-sided optic neuritis in the second patient. Seven years later, an epileptic seizure occurred after childbirth, when the BBB could have become permeable to circulating MOG antibodies. The disease presented with headache in the third patient. Right-sided optic neuritis and ataxia developed after an acute viral respiratory infection. Myelitis was diagnosed, and an epileptic seizure occurred one year later. The patient had a combination of CADASIL syndrome with MOG antibody disease. Conclusion. Epileptic seizures are common in patients with MOG antibody disease. In addition to antiepileptic therapy, treatment of MOG antibody disease is crucial. This leads to good seizure control and a favourable prognosis.

COVID-19 as a new risk factor for the development of acute vascular diseases of the optic nerve and retina

The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a viral respiratory infection accompanied by systemic endotheliitis. COVID-19 patients usually encounter changes related to hypercoagulability, hypofibrinolysis, and increased intravascular platelet aggregation. There is also a vascular wall thromboresistance decrease and impaired vasomotor function, which significantly increase the risk of thromboembolic complications. Currently, pathogenic aspects of the relationship between COVID-19 and vascular and inflammatory conditions of the optic nerve and retina are actively investigated. One of the triggers of impaired blood flow in ocular vessels may be a perfusion pressure decrease, observed in the acute period of the infectious process. This is related to both COVID-19 clinical course features and to resuscitation specificity as well. Secondary autoimmune inflammation is being considered as a mechanism of damage to the vascular wall in the post-infectious period. In this publication, possible pathogenic links of these diseases are considered for the first time in a specific context of the example of ischemic optic neuropathy associated with coronavirus infection.

Emergency Available Drugs in Markets to Treat COVID-19

Our current study is focused on emergency available drug in market to treat COVID-19 a viral infection that produces pneumonia and respiratory disorder. By pharmacology knowledge base treating viral-respiratory infection and immune inflammation, which posses’ direct effect against corona virus (COVID-19) the different antibiotics were evaluated from market on COVID-19 symptoms which includes Provas 100ml, Injections: Azithma 500mg, Oxidil 1gm, Gen-M 180mg and Bejectal. The Pladex 100ml, Infusion R/L 500ml, Tablet Panadol Extra, Syrup Pelton – V and Capsule Vibramycin in laboratory CatA21 (LRHP1) and CatB20 (AMCMDN2) for 1 to 3 days treatment and the Patients ages range from 37-56 and their recovering ratio calculated from the laboratory test by immune system and physical health comparison which were recorded as 95% with positive rate with a good health.

Multiyear prospective cohort study to evaluate the risk potential of MERS-CoV infection among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims (MERCURIAL): a study protocol

IntroductionMiddle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory infection caused by the MERS-CoV. MERS was first reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2012. Every year, the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca attracts more than two million pilgrims from 184 countries, making it one of the largest annual religious mass gatherings (MGs) worldwide. MGs in confined areas with a high number of pilgrims’ movements worldwide continues to elicit significant global public health concerns. MERCURIAL was designed by adopting a seroconversion surveillance approach to provide multiyear evidence of MG-associated MERS-CoV seroconversion among the Malaysian Hajj pilgrims.Methods and analysisMERCURIAL is an ongoing multiyear prospective cohort study. Every year, for the next 5 years, a cohort of 1000 Hajj pilgrims was enrolled beginning in the 2016 Hajj pilgrimage season. Pre-Hajj and post-Hajj serum samples were obtained and serologically analysed for evidence of MERS-CoV seroconversion. Sociodemographic data, underlying medical conditions, symptoms experienced during Hajj pilgrimage, and exposure to camel and untreated camel products were recorded using structured pre-Hajj and post-Hajj questionnaires. The possible risk factors associated with the seroconversion data were analysed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The primary outcome of this study is to better enhance our understanding of the potential threat of MERS-CoV spreading through MG beyond the Middle East.Ethics and disseminationThis study has obtained ethical approval from the Medical Research and Ethics Committee (MREC), Ministry of Health Malaysia. Results from the study will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presented in conferences and scientific meetings.Trial registration numberNMRR-15-1640-25391.

Sinus bradycardia in a toddler with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) related to COVID-19

This report documents a case of sinus bradycardia in a hospitalised 27-month-old girl with a history of moderate persistent asthma, recent suspected viral respiratory infection and suspicion for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). This patient developed profound sinus bradycardia during her hospitalisation despite an overall well clinical appearance and good outcome. Reports of bradycardia related to COVID-19 infection are few but growing in number. In this article, we discuss what has been observed in the literature about bradycardia in relation to COVID-19 and MIS-C. We also propose sinus bradycardia as a potential sign of MIS-C with recent respiratory symptoms, which would warrant close follow-up of such patients.