Covid-19
Underlying medical conditions associated with severe COVID-19 illness among children – the strongest risk factors for hospitalization were chronic and complex chronic diseases, type 1 diabetes, and obesity.
8 Jun, 2021 | 09:37h | UTCCommentaries: Underlying illness, respiratory infection raise risk for severe COVID in kids – CIDRAP AND COVID-19 in Children—Not Just Little Adults – JAMA Network Open
Commentary on Twitter
This cross-sectional study found a higher risk of severe #COVID19 illness among children with medical complexity and certain underlying conditions, such as type 1 diabetes, cardiac and circulatory congenital anomalies, and obesity. https://t.co/ifq1Ao0HKS
— JAMA Network Open (@JAMANetworkOpen) June 7, 2021
Are SARS-CoV-2 Human Challenge Trials Ethical? – “A clinical trial is underway in the UK in which young, healthy participants are exposed deliberately to SARS-CoV-2 to assess the viral inoculum needed to produce an infection and to test vaccine efficacy”.
8 Jun, 2021 | 09:29h | UTCAre SARS-CoV-2 Human Challenge Trials Ethical? – JAMA Internal Medicine
Related: World’s first coronavirus “Human Challenge” study receives ethics approval in the UK (several texts on the subject)
Commentary on Twitter
I am not convinced of #SARSCoV2 #ChallengeTrials. You should not pay volunteers. If things go wrong, there is no effective treatment. What will be learnt from mild disease, when you are interested in severe disease? #COVID19 #Covid #Corona #coronavirushttps://t.co/JjXDJDfOl2
— Martin Michaelis (@MartMichaelis) June 8, 2021
The “Black Fungus” in India: The Emerging Syndemic of COVID-19–Associated Mucormycosis – careful use of antibiotics and corticosteroids and closely monitoring blood glucose levels are some of the strategies suggested by the authors.
8 Jun, 2021 | 09:34h | UTC
Multicenter Epidemiologic Study of Coronavirus Disease–Associated Mucormycosis, India – Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus was the most common underlying disease; improper glucocorticoid use was independently associated with the disease.
8 Jun, 2021 | 09:33h | UTCCommentary: COVID19: Secondary Infections Still a Big Challenge in India – News Click
Commentary on Twitter
New study from India on mucormycosis
– COVID-19 has led to increases in mucormycosis, partly from inappropriate steroid use
– Uncontrolled diabetes was the most common underlying disease
Better diabetes care & rational steroid use are key!https://t.co/Wv8kCyTDtK pic.twitter.com/KK78BKg2Xf
— Madhu Pai, MD, PhD (@paimadhu) June 7, 2021
Report: 376,000 people in UK have had long Covid symptoms for at least a year.
8 Jun, 2021 | 09:27h | UTC376,000 people in UK have had long Covid symptoms for at least a year – ONS – The Guardian
Original report: Prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK: 4 June 2021 – Office for National Statistics
Practice Pointer | Mask related acne (“maskne”) and other facial dermatoses.
8 Jun, 2021 | 09:24h | UTCMask related acne (“maskne”) and other facial dermatoses – The BMJ
Commentary on Twitter
The term “maskne” has become increasingly popular during the pandemic, particularly in the media.
This #BMJInfographic presents common distributions that can be used as a starting point for assessment @will_s_t https://t.co/mKQUaN3PYY pic.twitter.com/OCBuFxiY9s
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) June 7, 2021
Diagnostic value of cutaneous manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 infection – there was a significant association between skin rashes and a positive swab test result (odds ratio 1.67).
8 Jun, 2021 | 09:26h | UTCDiagnostic value of cutaneous manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 infection – British Journal of Dermatology
RCT: In patients hospitalized with Covid-19 with elevated D-Dimer, a full-dose anticoagulation strategy based on rivaroxaban (full-dose heparins in unstable patients) + rivaroxaban to day 30 was not better than prophylactic anticoagulation and increased bleeding risk.
7 Jun, 2021 | 00:01h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
https://twitter.com/RenatoDLopes1/status/1400962037610582026
Six months of COVID vaccines: what 1.7 billion doses have taught scientists.
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:57h | UTCSix months of COVID vaccines: what 1.7 billion doses have taught scientists – Nature
See also: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations – Our World in Data
Related commentary on Twitter
• To administer the first half a billion vaccines took 113 days
• The second half a billion 30 days
• The third half a billion 23 days
• And the fourth half a billion were administered in the last 16 daysWe keep on counting on @OurWorldInData here: https://t.co/7lOyDamxxx pic.twitter.com/Pg7OPJxliI
— Max Roser (@MaxCRoser) June 4, 2021
WHO approval of Chinese CoronaVac COVID vaccine will be crucial to curbing pandemic.
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:56h | UTCWHO approval of Chinese CoronaVac COVID vaccine will be crucial to curbing pandemic – Nature
Related: WHO validates Sinovac-CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use and issues interim policy recommendations. AND Brazilian town experiment shows mass vaccination can wipe out COVID-19.
Study shows reduced neutralizing antibody activity induced by Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern B.1.617.2 (Delta) and B.1.351 (Beta).
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:59h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
“Immune escape” in #DeltaVariant. That’s the latest finding – that #B16172 is as bad for antibody neutralization as the Beta variant #B1351 from South Africa 🇿🇦. 1st dose alone very small effect— 2 doses needed, but weakest against Delta. Let’s walk through evidence 🧵 #COVID19 https://t.co/GurgkNVgiY pic.twitter.com/o0s9WIudCW
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) June 5, 2021
Case report: Successful treatment of vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT).
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:55h | UTC
More data on the harmful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of adolescents.
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:52h | UTCCommentaries: A lost generation? COVID-19 and adolescent mental health – The Lancet Psychiatry AND COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impact on the mental health of adolescents – Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
https://twitter.com/TheLancetPsych/status/1400783180937011202
2 new meta-analysis detail neurologic and psychiatric conditions in COVID-19.
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:54h | UTCNeurologic, psychiatric conditions common in COVID-19 – CIDRAP
Perspective | Could statins do more than lower cholesterol in patients with COVID-19? – “Don’t Start, Don’t Stop”.
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:49h | UTCCould Statins Do More Than Lower Cholesterol in Patients With COVID-19? – JAMA
Opinion | “Doctors have been blamed for the rise in black fungus in India, but the COVID treatment guidelines could be contributing” – improper use of antibiotics and higher than usual doses of corticosteroids may be contributing to the emergence of mucormycosis and other fungal co-infections.
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:48h | UTCRelated: The Emergence of COVID-19 Associated Mucormycosis: Analysis of Cases From 18 Countries – The Lancet AND What Is ‘Black Fungus’? And Why Is It Spreading Among India’s COVID Patients? – NPR AND Mucormycosis: The ‘black fungus’ maiming Covid patients in India AND What is mucormycosis, the fungal infection affecting COVID patients in India? – The Conversation
Investigation | Covid 19: How harm reduction advocates and the tobacco industry capitalized on the pandemic to promote nicotine.
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:51h | UTCCommentaries: Researchers report how the tobacco and e-cigarette industry capitalized on COVID-19 to promote smoking – News Medical AND Investigation discredits studies suggesting lower COVID-19 risk for smokers
Another study shows a high frequency of antibiotic use among patients hospitalized with Covid-19 (85.2%), despite low rates of confirmed secondary bacterial infections.
4 Jun, 2021 | 10:43h | UTCCommentaries: Very high use of antibiotics in COVID-19 treatment could be reduced – University of Glasgow AND More evidence of frequent antibiotic use noted in COVID patients – CIDRAP AND Covid-19: Antimicrobial use was high during first wave despite bacterial co-infections being rare, study finds – The BMJ
Related: Many hospitalized Covid-19 patients are given antibiotics. That’s a problem – STAT
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
Our paper on co-infections, secondary infections & antimicrobial use in patients hospitalised with #COVID19 in UK during the 1st wave is out in @LancetMicrobe!@ISARIC1 @CCPUKstudy @CVRinfo @UofGlasgow @EdinburghUni @LivUni @imperialcollege https://t.co/QYU1B2Eyup
A🧵
— Antonia Ho (@DrToniHo) June 3, 2021
In a Mendelian randomization study, researchers found no genetic evidence to support an association between Vitamin D levels and COVID-19 susceptibility, severity, or hospitalization.
4 Jun, 2021 | 10:35h | UTCCommentary: Vitamin D may not provide protection from COVID-19 susceptibility or disease severity, study suggests – PLOS
Related: Living systematic review: The evidence is insufficient to determine the benefits and harms of vitamin D supplementation as a treatment of COVID‐19. AND RCT: Vitamin D3 does not improve outcomes in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19
RCT: Prophylactic post-exposure prophylaxis with Bamlanivimab reduced the incidence of Covid-19 among residents and staff of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.
4 Jun, 2021 | 10:40h | UTCEditorial: Bamlanivimab for Prevention of COVID-19
[Preprint] Covid-19 B.1.617.2 variant of concern (Delta) is associated with increased transmissibility compared to B.1.1.7 (Alpha) that will rapidly lead to B.1.617.2 becoming the prevailing variant in the UK.
4 Jun, 2021 | 10:36h | UTCRelated: Covid: Indian variant ‘now dominant’ in the UK – BBC
United States Unveils Global Vaccine Sharing Scheme for 80 Million Doses by End June
4 Jun, 2021 | 10:32h | UTCSee also: Statement by President Joe Biden on Global Vaccine Distribution – The White House
WHO: Vaccinating kids ‘not a high priority’ amid shortage
4 Jun, 2021 | 10:31h | UTCWHO: Vaccinating kids ‘not a high priority’ amid shortage – Associated Press
Related: WHO: Wealthy nations urged to delay youth Covid vaccines, donate to solidarity scheme AND Editorial: Vaccinating children against SARS-CoV-2 – “Hard to justify right now for most children in most countries”. AND Opinion | American Kids Can Wait – “The U.S. should delay shots for children until global vaccine-manufacturing capacity significantly expands and the crisis in India subsides”. AND Vaccinating children before poor morally wrong, Oxford scientist says – BBC
Countries hit hardest by COVID-19 – estimated mortality countries will have on September 1, 2021.
3 Jun, 2021 | 11:09h | UTCCountries Hit Hardest by COVID-19 – Think Global Health
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
❓🌎🌍🌏 Which countries will have the highest mortality from COVID-19 come September 1, 2021? IHME researchers ran the numbers for a new article in @ThinkGlobalHlth ⤵️🧵https://t.co/d2CFHVzCYX
— Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) (@IHME_UW) June 2, 2021
Cohort study showed good recovery for most children 6 months after Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome (PIMS-TS) associated with SARS-CoV-2.
3 Jun, 2021 | 11:06h | UTCCommentary: Most severe effects of MIS-C in children typically resolve within six months, new research suggests – CNN AND Children who developed a rare inflammation disease after COVID-19 are mostly better after 6 months, but some still suffer fatigue and anxiety, a small UK study found – Insider AND Most severe effects of PIMS-TS resolved at six months – HealthDay
Commentary on Twitter
New Research—A study of 46 patients with #PIMSTS found that most symptoms were resolved after 6 months, but fatigue, difficulty exercising, and emotional difficulties persisted in some childrenhttps://t.co/mHz3D8a11d #COVID19 @GreatOrmondSt @KarynMoshal pic.twitter.com/PJCxGGmJNo
— The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health (@LancetChildAdol) May 24, 2021