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Despite efforts to contain and manage the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak which was declared a public health emergency of international concern in January 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the COVID-19 pandemic still remains a major global challenge. Patients who display the classical symptoms of the infection are easily identified, tested, isolated and monitored. However, many cases of infected asymptomatic patients have been documented. These patients are not easily identified even though many evidences suggest that they can spread the virus to others. How and why these COVID-19 asymptomatic presentations occur remain unclear. The many theories and views are conjectural, and supporting evidences are still needed. In this review, we described the trend in SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding and susceptibility, providing perspectives on gender differences and asymptomatic patients. We further discussed how genetics, gender, viral inoculum, and pre-existing immunity may influence asymptomatic presentations in COVID-19 infections. We hope that this article improves our understanding of asymptomatic SAR-CoV-2 infection and it sheds light on some salient areas that should be considered as the search for a potent vaccine continues.

Climate conditions may influence the transmission of COVID-19. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of temperature and relative humidity on COVID-19 cases and related deaths during the initial phase of the epidemic in Brazil.

An ecological study based on secondary data was conducted. Daily data on new COVID-19 cases, deaths, and climate indicators were collected from February 20 to April 18, 2020 (n = 59 days) for all state capital cities in Brazil and the Federal District (Brasília). The climate indicators included mean temperature, temperature amplitude, mean relative humidity, relative humidity amplitude, and percentage of days with mean relative humidity ≤ 65 %. Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were performed for all cities and stratified by quintiles of the COVID-19 incidence rate.

The mean daily temperature was positively correlated with the number of days until the first COVID-19 case was reported. A lower mean relative humidity was correlated with a lower number of cases and deaths in Brazil, especially when the relative humidity was ≤ 65 %. Higher temperatures and humidity amplitudes were correlated with lower COVID-19 mortality. Additionally, after controlling for humidity, cumulative cases of COVID-19 were inversely associated with temperature in cities with mean temperatures less than 25.8 °C.

Variations in temperature and humidity across the Brazilian territory may have influenced the spread of the novel coronavirus during the initial phase of the epidemic.

Variations in temperature and humidity across the Brazilian territory may have influenced the spread of the novel coronavirus during the initial phase of the epidemic.

A local outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly evolved into a global pandemic and the number of cases and deaths has increased exponentially. In this study, we report a COVID-19 outbreak that occurred in a departmental store, between January and February 2020, in Wenzhou, China and investigated the reasons for the outbreak.

An outbreak investigation was initiated after the index case was diagnosed as COVID-19. Cases (confirmed and suspected) and close contacts were defined. Their pharyngeal swabs were collected and examined with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for nucleic acid. All investigations of the confirmed and suspected cases were carried out by epidemiologists and the source of infection was tracked by using big data.

Thirty-nine COVID-19 cases and one asymptomatic individual were found in this outbreak, as determined by clinical manifestations, epidemiological investigation, and RT-PCR. Majority of COVID-19 cases occurred in a departmental store, three of whom of COVID-19. The use of big data and related information was very useful in epidemiological investigation of cases and contacts.

Research on SARS-CoV-2 virus has focused on aspects such as treatment, virology, epidemiology and vaccine development. The efficacy of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 is important for controlling the pandemic. This study assessed how the immune response is affected by age and gender, and its role in causing inflammation as measured by neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in vaccinated patients versus non-vaccinated COVID-19 negative patients.

A case-control study was done involving 187 randomly selected patients who had undergone laboratory examinations to evaluate the SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody titer and hematological parameters at 21 to 31 days after the second dose of vaccination. Patients were divided into case and control groups according to their vaccination status.

The average age among the cases was 51 ± 13 years whereas the average age among the control group was 47 ± 15 years. In cases where the response to immunization was measured by SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody, results had a median of 7.7 U/mL characterized by a large variation (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference based on age (p = 0.451) and gender (p = 0.622) in SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody titers in patients vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, there was no significant difference in NLR ratio between cases and controls (p = 0.117).

Our data showed that there is no inflammation at 21 to 31 days post vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of age and gender, based on the hematological parameters.

Our data showed that there is no inflammation at 21 to 31 days post vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of age and gender, based on the hematological parameters.

Hepatitis E virus is a leading cause of hepatitis in the Middle East and North Africa region. Although several countries in this area were shown to be endemic for hepatitis E, little is known about the epidemiology and possible preventive measures. In this manuscript, we present the results of a systematic review addressing the seroprevalence of hepatitis E antibodies in the Middle East and North Africa region. Subsequently, we discuss the main prevention strategies for this virus.

We performed a literature review using the PubMed Database of all the Studies reporting data on hepatitis E seroprevalence (Anti-hepatitis E IgM and IgG) among the 20 countries of the Middle East and North Africa region from January 2000 to July 2021.

Eighty-nine articles were identified and included in our review. Ten of the MENA countries did not have any study that fits our criteria. Selleck H3B-120 Egypt and Iran were the countries with the highest IgG seroprevalence for hepatitis E reaching 85.1% and 68.6% respectively. Concerning acute hepatitis E presentations, Iraq and Egypt were shown to have the highest IgM seroprevalence reaching 38.1% and 35.3% respectively. Hemodialysis and poly-transfused patients as well as patients with concomitant hepatotropic viruses' infections were reported to have a higher seroprevalence than the general population.

Hepatitis E is a major healthcare problem in the endemic Middle East and North Africa region. Even though no definite prevention strategy was described until today, implementing multiple minor precautionary approaches could help reduce the virus spread.

Hepatitis E is a major healthcare problem in the endemic Middle East and North Africa region. Even though no definite prevention strategy was described until today, implementing multiple minor precautionary approaches could help reduce the virus spread.The IFN-γ/STAT1 immune signaling pathway impacts many homeostatic and pathological aspects of neurons, beyond its canonical role in controlling intracellular pathogens. Well known for its potent pro-inflammatory and anti-viral functions in the periphery, the IFN-γ/STAT1 pathway is rapidly activated then deactivated to prevent excessive inflammation; however, neurons utilize unique IFN-γ/STAT1 activation patterns, which may contribute to the non-canonical neuron-specific downstream effects. Though it is now well-established that the immune system interacts and supports the CNS in health and disease, many aspects regarding IFN-γ production in the CNS and how neurons respond to IFN-γ are unclear. Additionally, it is not well understood how the diversity of the IFN-γ/STAT1 pathway is regulated in neurons to control homeostatic functions, support immune surveillance, and prevent pathologies. In this review, we discuss the neuron-specific mechanisms and kinetics of IFN-γ/STAT1 activation, the potential sources and entry sites of IFN-γ in the CNS, and the diverse set of homeostatic and pathological effects IFN-γ/STAT1 signaling in neurons has on CNS health and disease. We will also highlight the different contexts and conditions under which IFN-γ-induced STAT1 activation has been studied in neurons, and how various factors might contribute to the vast array of downstream effects observed.

In a previous study on the reasons for discontinuation of novel oral anticoagulation therapy (NOAC) in patients with atrial fibrillation, we showed that minor bleeding was the second most important reason for NOAC discontinuation. This finding suggest that the impact of minor bleeds on the patient's perspective on NOACs cannot be ignored, especially those minor bleeds for which the patient searched medical care. We therefore performed a study in which we explored the impact of minor bleed (clinically relevant non-major bleeds) on patient confidence in therapy, adherence to treatment and quality of life in AF patients using NOAC's.

Details on NOAC therapy, level of confidence, adherence and quality of life were assessed using a semi-structured telephone interview. Questions related to annoyance, concern and trust were scored on a scale of 1-10, with score 10 representing the highest level of impact or trust. For the adherence to treatment before and after a minor bleed the Medication Adherence Rating Scaleon impact of this type of minor bleeds will help us identify and guide suboptimaly adherent NOAC patients in shared decision manner.

In our study the level of trust, annoyance and concern were not significantly impacted by the CRNMB, nor the adherence to treatment and impact on daily life and physical activities. However, on an individual basis, there were patients that reported a high impact. We hope that future data on impact of this type of minor bleeds will help us identify and guide suboptimaly adherent NOAC patients in shared decision manner.Insects in nature flap their wings to generate lift force and driving torque to adjust their attitude and control stability. An insect wing is a biomaterial composed of flexible membranes and tough veins. In this paper, we study the microscopic structures and mechanical properties of the forewing of the black cicada, Cryptotympana atrata. The thickness of the wing membranes and the diameter of veins varied from the wing root to the tip. The thickness of the wing membranes ranged from 6.0 to 29.9 μm, and the diameter of the wing veins decreased in a gradient from the wing root to the tip, demonstrating that the forewing of the black cicada is a nonuniform biomaterial. The elastic modulus of the membrane near the wing root ranged from 4.45 to 5.03 GPa, which is comparable to that of some industrial membranes. The microstructure of the wing vein exhibited a hollow tubular structure with flocculent structure inside. The "fresh" sample stored more water than the "dry" sample, resulting in a significant difference in the elastic modulus between the fresh and dried veins.