• RT-PCR
• SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis
• commercial RT-PCR kits
• laboratory techniques

• Humans
• SARS-CoV-2/genetics
• COVID-19/diagnosis
• COVID-19 Testing
• Clinical Laboratory Techniques/methods
• Laboratories
• Pandemics
• Reproducibility of Results
• Biological Specimen Banks

• Raman spectroscopy
• infrared absorption spectroscopy
• label-free virus detection
• laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
• machine learning
• terahertz spectroscopy

• Biomarkers
• Lasers
• Spectrum Analysis, Raman/methods

• COVID-19
• Ground-glass opacity
• Human Identical Sequences
• Hyaluronan
• Hymecromone

• National Key R&D Program of China
• Major Special Projects of Basic Research of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission
• National Natural Science Foundation of China

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global public health threat. Reaching the World Health Organization’s objective for eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030 will require a precise disease diagnosis. While immunoassays and qPCR play a significant role in detecting HCV, rapid and accurate point-of-care testing is important for pathogen identification. This study establishes a reverse transcription recombinase-aided amplification–lateral flow dipstick (RT-RAA-LFD) assay to detect HCV. The intact workflow was completed within 30 min, and the detection limit for synthesized C/E1 plasmid gene-containing plasmid was 10 copies/μl. In addition, the test showed good specificity, with no cross-reactivity observed for hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, HIV, syphilis, and human papillomavirus virus. Using extracted RNAs from 46 anti-HCV antibody-positive samples, RT-RAA-LFD showed 100% positive and negative concordance rates with qPCR. In summary, the RT-RAA-LFD assay established in this study is suitable for the rapid clinical detection of HCV at the community level and in remote areas.

• Hepacivirus/genetics
• Hepatitis C/diagnosis
• Humans
• Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques
• Recombinases/metabolism
• Reverse Transcription
• Sensitivity and Specificity

• Science and Technology Department, Henan Province

The COVID-19, the most infectious pandemic disease arising due to SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) has caused huge issues globally. In this review, we discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the immune system of the human body and the protective mechanisms of the host immune system opposing viral infections. Here, we summarize the effect of the pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease on the immune system such as sleep and Behavioral Immune System (BIS) together with consideration of researcher’s observation points of view. We draw particular attention to recent up-to-date reports concerning COVID-19 drugs as well as information about the landscape document for COVID-19 vaccines released by WHO (World Health Organization), and some adverse events of COVID-19 vaccination. Additionally, can take part in the preventive appraise in opposition within this pandemic severe COVID-19 infections disease may affect some outcome in physical exercise, physical movement, healthy diets, and good nutrition are significant for supporting the immune systems and summarize AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) Indian medicinal systems guidelines for immunity boosting procedures during COVID-19 pandemic.

• COVID-19
• behavioral immune system
• immunity
• immunity-boosting procedures
• sleep

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tremendously impacts the physical and mental health of humans worldwide. Consequently, studies on COVID-19 remain extensive. However, most of them were mainly focused on the pathological mechanisms and treatment methods from medical perspectives. Various reports have indicated that COVID-19 is closely related to stigma and discrimination, but little statistical information has been integrated quantitatively to describe the situation in China. Thus, this study investigated the COVID-19-related stigma of individuals. We collected the online survey data from 1,920 Chinese participants from October to December 2020. Findings showed that 306 (15.94%), 285 (14.84%), 265 (13.80%), and 100 (5.21%) participants endorsed stigma toward individuals in high-risk areas, recovered patients with COVID-19, families of recovered patients with COVID-19, and frontline healthcare providers, respectively. To understand the possible factors that could impact the COVID-19-related stigma, knowledge about COVID-19 was investigated. Generally, knowledge about COVID-19 was negatively associated with COVID-19-related stigma in general, while no significant relationship existed between the knowledge about COVID-19 and the COVID-19-related stigma in the groups who had held COVID-19-related stigma. Ultimately, individuals showed COVID-19-related stigma toward recovered patients and their families, individuals in high-risk areas, and frontline healthcare providers to some extent. The results of this study can provide reference to nations, governments, and organizations in addressing the stigma issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• COVID-19
• China
• descriptive study
• knowledge
• stigma

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has had a significant impact on global public health systems, making nucleic acid detection an important tool in epidemic prevention and control. Detection kits based on real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (rRT-PCR) have been used widely in clinics, but their analytical sensitivity (limit of detection, LOD) remains controversial. Moreover, there is limited research evaluating the analytical sensitivity of other molecular detection kits.

In this study, armored ribonucleic acid reference materials developed in-house were used to evaluate the analytical sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 detection kits approved by the National Medical Products Administration. These were based on rRT-PCR and other molecular detection assays.

The percentage retesting required with rRT-PCR kits was as follows: 0%, 7.69%, 15.38%, and 23.08% for samples with concentrations ranging from 50 000 to 781 copies/ml. In total, 93% of rRT-PCR kits had a LOD <1000 copies/ml. Only one kit had an LOD >1000 copies/ml. The LOD of other molecular detection kits ranged from 68 to 2264 copies/ml.

The study findings can help pharmaceutical companies optimize and improve detection kits, guide laboratories in selecting kits, and assist medical workers in their daily work.

• Analytical sensitivity
• Limits of detection
• Molecular detection
• SARS-CoV-2
• rRT-PCR

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic raised global attention especially due to the severe acute respiratory symptoms associated to it. However, almost one third of patients also develop neurological symptoms. The aim of the present study is to describe the case of a previously health adult that evolved cerebral ventricular empyema in the IV ventricle during COVID-19 infection treatment.

A 49-year-old man with COVID-19 developed pneumonia caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. After treating adequate treatment, sedation was switched off without showing appropriate awakening. Brain CT was performed with evidence of communicating hydrocephalus. External ventricular shunt (EVD) was implant with intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid suggestive of meningitis with a positive culture for oxacillin-sensitive Staphylococcus hominis. Twenty days after EVD, meningitis treatment was finished and with 2 negative cultures, conversion to ventriculoperitoneal shunt was performed. In the following week, during the evaluation of the patient in intensive care, quadriplegia and absence of spontaneous respiratory movement were evidenced, just maintaining head movement. Brain MRI was performed with a diagnosis of ventriculitis associated with pus collections on the IV ventricle. The patient underwent microsurgical drainage removal of the shunt, with a positive intraventricular collection culture for Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, without improvement in the neurological condition. After 14 weeks of hospitalization, the patient died.

It is well known that COVID-19 has potential to directly attack and cause severe damage to the central nervous system; however, ventricular empyema is an extremely rare life-threatening complication.

• Coronavirus disease 2019
• External ventricular shunt
• Hydrocephalus
• Motor Evoked Potentials
• Ventricular empyema

• COVID-19
• Follow-up
• Long COVID
• Persistent symptoms
• Post-discharge
• Primary care
• Sequelae

• Adult
• Aftercare
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• COVID-19/complications
• Cohort Studies
• Disease Progression
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Hospitalization
• Humans
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pandemics
• Patient Discharge
• Patient Readmission
• Retrospective Studies
• SARS-CoV-2
• Spain
• Young Adult

• COVID-19
• Emergency department
• Lung ultrasound
• Triage

• Adult
• COVID-19/diagnosis
• COVID-19/diagnostic imaging
• COVID-19 Testing/methods
• Emergency Service, Hospital
• Female
• Humans
• Lung/diagnostic imaging
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pneumonia, Viral/diagnostic imaging
• Retrospective Studies
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification
• Severity of Illness Index
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed

• 413517907 German Research Foundation

• COVID-19
• Clinical features
• Coronavirus
• Natural history
• Pathogenesis
• Radiology images

• COVID-19
• Coronavirus
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Pandemic
• QT prolongation
• SARS-CoV-2

• Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal

Use of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in severe cases of COVID-19 infection to assess pulmonary changes near the pleura.

Bedside examinations by an experienced intensive care unit examiner using a multi-frequency probe (C1-6 MHz) with B-mode and CEUS to assess pleural-near changes in severe cases of COVID-19 infection with respiratory failure. CEUS with bolus delivery via a central venous catheter of 2.4 ml Sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles from the arterial phase (10–15 s) to the late phase of 5 min. Digital storage of cine sequences of the lung sound with abdomen for independent assessment with the subsequently performed contrast-enhanced dual-source CT.

In 11 intubated and ventilated patients (arithmetic mean 62 years, 48 to 78 years, 3 women) with confirmed severe COVID-19 infections, a peripherally accentuated consolidation with irregular hyperemia was found in the CEUS and also in the CT examination. Of the 5 cases with pulmonary arterial embolisms, signs of right ventricular failure were found. In all cases, using CEUS low perfused areas of the pleura with adjacent hyperemia could be detected, while, with CT segmental contrast medium, gaps with subpleural compressions were found. Interstitial changes near the pleura led to B-lines and to ground glass opacities in the CT. Near the diaphragm a delayed arterial contrast of the liver was observed. In addition, in 2 cases partial atelectasis, in 3 cases marginal pleural effusions were found.

CEUS opens up new possibilities for bedside monitoring of pleural reactive inflammatory or peripheral thrombus embolism in severe cases of COVID-19 infection.

• COVID-19 infection
• lung- Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)
• peripheral embolic consolidation
• pleural affection

• Covid-19
• Cytokine storm
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2