Investigating Development of Autoimmunity in Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS)
COVID-19 PandemicThe coronavirus pandemic has severely affected healthcare systems and changed life as everyone know it, globally. Apart from the acute phase disease complications, it is now apparent that a significant proportion (15%) of patients who recover continue experiencing symptoms such as chronic fatigue, shortness of breath, joint pains, cognitive impairment ("brain fog"), etc. for several months, if not for life. This syndrome has been labeled as "long-COVID" or Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS) and can happen to anyone whether you're young, old, healthy, or have a chronic illness. One can get it even if the COVID-19 symptoms were mild. There is no confirmed cause as to why this happens. However, there is data to support that inappropriate activation of the immune system by the virus may play a role. While our immune system is programmed to protect us against foreign invaders (such as viruses), in this case, it is directed against elements of our own. The net result is autoimmunity, where the immune system produces autoantibodies that cause damage to the body. This may lead to the development of chronic and serious diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, scleroderma, and others.The aim of our study is to understand the exact impairment of the immune system, why these patients develop autoantibodies, characterize their impact on the clinical symptoms of PACS, and, potentially, identify ways to modify this. The study's impact is significant since it is projected that 150000 Canadians will experience (or are already experiencing) this syndrome.
Immune Modulation by Exosomes in COVID-19
COVID-19Critical Illness2 moreFollowing whole blood stimulation with mesenchymal stem cell derived exosomes, immune phenotype, cytokine release and mRNA expression patterns from critically ill patients with COVID-19 will be determined.
Conversations You Want About Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19)
Covid19Web-enabled virtual topical guide: develop virtual conversations for each concern and intensity level
Interleukin-6 Antagonists in Critically-ill Covid-19 Patients
COVID-19Critical IllnessThe emerging SARS-COV2 virus has shed a new light on the cross-talks between the immune and the hemostatic system. In this study we aim to evaluate the dynamic change in coagulation caused by the modulation of the inflammatory response by interleukin-6 antagonist as assessed by viscoelastic methods in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Furthermore we try to draw attention to possible associations between the endothelial cell injury, inflammation and coagulation.
COVID-19 and Disease Progression to the Severe Form: A Study on the Use of Monoclonal Antibodies...
COVID-19This is a national multicentre observational study with retrospective and prospective data collection to assess the time to hospitalisation of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection receiving treatment with anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies. The subjects enrolled will be patients with early infection of SARS-CoV-2, paucisymptomatic, with risk factors for evolution to the severe form (according to AIFA criteria). Also, hospitalised subjects will be enrolled to receive SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies because of negative serology (according to AIFA criteria). It is estimated to enrol about 1000 subjects. Patients will be evaluated at enrollment and 28 days following administration to collect data on symptoms, possible hospitalization and final clinical outcome (alive with symptoms, alive without symptoms, alive with symptoms and hospitalized or deceased). Data will be collected using a dedicated electronic Case Report Form (eCRF).
COVID-19 Immunity and Changes Over Time
COVID-19The risk of household spread of SARS-CoV-2 hinges on both the transmission dynamics of the virus circulating in the community as well as the seroprotection pattern of constituent members, which can be attributed to vaccination and previous infections. This study is conceptualised to assess the dynamicity of SARS-CoV-2 risk at the household level, through monitoring the pattern of seroprotection, in conjunction with the vaccination coverage, history of infection and exposure risk in the setting of Hong Kong.
Foreign Body Ingestion During COVID-19 Lockdown
Foreign Body IngestionIngestion of foreign bodies (FB) is one of the most observed domestic accidents and a frequent reason for consultation in pediatric emergency departments (PED). In the United States, nearly 100,000 ingestions of FB have been recorded by the National Poison Data System (NPDS), which represented the 4th cause of intoxication in 2015. Ingestion of FB involves very different mechanisms in children and adult patients. Unlike adults, 98% of FB ingestions in children are accidental and involve common objects found at home environment. Ingested FBs are of many types and vary depending on the object composition of the child's environment and supervision. The lockdown for COVID-19 pandemic highly modified children environment and parent supervision. Children remained at home and parents lived at home for teleworking. In this study, the modifications of children environment that could affect epidemiology of FB ingestion will be evaluated. This is a retrospective study with a sample of around > 100 children of Louis Mourier hospital from January 1 to December 31, 2019 and from March 1 to May 31, 2020. The total duration of the study is planned for 10 months. Primary outcomes: • To determine the role of COVID-19 pandemic linked containment on the prevalence of FB ingestions in children. Secondary outcomes: Describe the epidemiological-clinical, radiological, therapeutic and evolutionary characteristics of the FB consultant's ingestions in the emergency department Determine the frequency of endoscopy or surgery Determine the factors favoring the use of endoscopic extraction From March 16 to May 10, 2020.
Neuropsychological Sequelae and Long COVID-19 Fatigue
Anxiety DepressionPost Traumatic Stress Disorder4 moreAn association of fatigue with post-viral neuropsychological disturbs has been reported. Among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 there is an increased incidence of anxiety and depression symptoms. In addition, a quarter of patients experience at least mild symptoms of acute post traumatic stress disorder. (Mazza, M. G. et al 2020). The prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome had a correlation with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a study conducted after the outbreak of the COVID-19 in Iran (Silmani et al, 2021), that showed 5.8% of subjects suffering from PTSD after 6 months of SARS-CoV-2 infection onset. In this Study we propose to use a tool to quantify the degree of physical and psychological fatigue in post-COVID-19 patients, and assess the correlation of fatigue with the neuropsychiatric sequelae in hospitalized and non hospitalized patients.
Reactogenicity, Immunogenicity and Inflammatory Response by New COVID-19 Vaccine Platforms
COVID-19 VaccinationInflammation2 moreAnalysis of humoral antibody and cytokine kinetics after vaccination with either BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine and factors influencing the vaccine immunogenicity
Geriatric COVID-19 Serology
COVID-19Coronaviruses are important human and animal pathogens. At the end of 2019, a new coronavirus was identified as the cause of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a city in China's Hubei province. It quickly spread, leading to an epidemic across China, followed by an increasing number of cases in other countries around the world. In February 2020, the World Health Organization designated the disease COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019. The virus that causes COVID-19 is SARS-CoV-2. The duration of protection during which a patient after infection and / or vaccination remains clinically protected and the evolution of their serology as well as their titre remains unknown