To report a case of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) in a 27-year-old male two weeks proceeding COVID-19 infection onset. Severe complications of VKH can be avoided by early diagnosis and adequate treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. It is possible that COVID-19 was a potential immunological trigger of VKH in our patient.

Fluvoxamine for COVID-19 outpatients: for the time being, we might prefer to curb our optimismVladimir TrkuljaRunning head : Fluvoxamin and COVID-19 outpatientsKey words : fluvoxamine, COVID-19, outpatients, hospitalizationsVladimir Trkulja, MD, PhDDepartment of PharmacologyZagreb University School of MedicineŠalata 1110000 Zagreb, Croatiae-mail: vladimir.trkulja@mef.hrNumber of words: 613Number of figures/tables: 1To the Editor,A rather elaborate pharmacodynmics rationale 1 and sound pharmacokinetic reasoning 2 support the use of fluvoxamin in early phases of the COVID-19 disease. Two recent meta-analyses, 3, 4 both based on the same three randomized placebo-controlled trials, emphasized the benefit of early fluvoxamine treatment in non-vaccinated adult symptomatic mild COVID-19 outpatients in terms of a reduced risk of disease deterioration over subsequent days. In the first of the meta-analyzed trials, Stop COVID 15, primary outcome was hospitalization or incident hypoxemia needing oxygen treatment within 15 days. The trial was rather small, particularly for a binary outcome (fluvoxamine 2x100 to 3x100 mg/day over 15 days, n=80; placebo n=72) and recorded only 6 events (all with placebo) 5. Stop COVID 2 6followed the same design/outcome, and was stopped at an advanced stage for operational reasons but did not indicate any benefit [incidence 11/272 (4.0%) fluvoxamin vs. 12/275 (4.4%) placebo)]. The meta-analytical pooled estimates 3, 4 were dominated by the results of the TOGETHER trial 7 (fluvoxamine 2x100 mg/day, 10 days) that reported a marked relative reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (emergency room stay of at least 6 hours or hospitalization; over 28 days): 79/741 (11.0%) vs. 119/756 (16.0%), RR=0.69 (95% CrI 0.53-0.90) 7. By far the most events were hospitalizations, but no clear-cut benefit was obvious in this respect [75/741 (10.0%) vs. 97/756 (13.0%), OR=0.77 (0.55-1.05)7]. The meta-analysis by Lee et al.3 focused on hospitalizations and reported a 25% relative risk reduction by a frequentist method (RR=0.75, 95%CI 0.58-0.97), while the Bayesian analysis (weakly informative neutral prior) indicated somewhat more uncertainty (RR=0.78, 95%CrI 0.58-1.08; 81.6% probability of RR ≤0.90) 3. Guo et al.4 employed only frequentist pooling to indicate a marked benefit regarding “study-defined outcomes” (RR=0.69 95%CI 0.54-0.88) and somewhat more uncertainty regarding “hospitalizations” (RR=0.79, 95%CI 0.60-1.03) 4. In the meantime, a report was pubslihed of a randomized placebo-controlled trial conducted in 2020 in Korean outpatients (∼10 days of fluvoxamine 2x100 mg/day)8. It was stopped early for operational reasons8, and the primary outcome (as in Stop COVID trials) was observed in 2/26 treated and 2/26 placebo patients8. Figure 1 depicts meta-analysis of “study-defined primary outcomes” and of “hospitalizations” that uses the same frequentist and Bayesian methodology as used by Lee et al.3 except that (i) it includes the Korean data8 and (ii) employs Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman correction shown to yield the least biased confidence interval coverage with small number of trials considerably varying in size9: (a) uncertainty about the benefit regarding “study-defined outcomes” (Figure 1A) is indicated by both the frequentist and Bayesian intervals extending to >1.0 and prediction intervals extending well >1.0. Probability of at least 10% relative risk reduction is 90.0%; (b) uncertainty about the benefit regarding “hospitalizations” (Figure 1B) is even more obvious, with estimate intervals exceding >1.10 (and further extended predictions intervals), with only 73.8% probability of at least 10% relative risk reduction. If one were to disregard two small trials with a few events (and, hence, fragile estimates that could have been by chance, at least in part) 5, 8, for the time being one would be looking at Stop COVID 2 and TOGETHER trial. This means 86/1013 hospitalization events with fluvoxamine vs. 109/1031 events with placebo, and a considerable uncertainty about any practically relevant effect: (i) frequentist RR=0.803 (95%CI 0.422-1.530); (ii) Bayesian RR=0.840 (95%CrI 0.613-1.170) and only 67.4% probablity of at least 10% relative risk reduction. Hopefully, the on-going trials (depicted in ref. 3) will resolve this uncertainty, but presently we might prefer to be cautios rather than overtly optimistic about the actual extent of benefit conveyed by early fluvoxamine treatment in COVID-19 outpatients.

This is a 3-week-old female, her presenting complaints were low-grade fever and a blocked nose for one day. Eventually, she developed progressive desaturation, hypotension, and poor perfusion due to severe pulmonary hemorrhage. Then, she developed cardiac arrest and was declared dead.

In the present paper we investigate the qualitative behaviour of a fractional SEIR model with general incidence rate function and time delay where the fractional derivative is defined in the Caputo sense. The basic reproduction number $\mathcal{R}_{0}$ is derived using the method of next generation matrix and we give a complete study of local stability of both free and endemic equilibrium. Using Liapunov method we prove the global stability of free and endemic equilibrium under some hypotheses on the parameters of the system. Finally to illustrate our results, we use the model to predict the first peak of the COVID-19 epidemic in Algeria.

Background: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MISC) is a phenomenon that appeared in children infected with or exposed to SARS-CoV-2. The typical onset of MISC is 4-6 weeks following SARS-CoV-2 infection and is formulated to be due to an immune response. Methods: Our study retrospectively analyzed data from a tertiary center in UAE of MISC patients who were admitted to either general pediatric wards or pediatric intensive care (PICU) or who came exclusively for follow-up (post PICU admission) from May 2020 to August 2021.   Results: The total sample size is 50 patients and the study included a comparison of PICU admissions with none PICU admissions. The PICU sample size was 18 patients, 50% females, with mean age of 8.3 years all were previously healthy. PICU patients had deranged blood counts with a lower hemoglobin count, a more pronounced lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia along with hypoalbuminemia. PICU patients presented with relatively higher inflammatory markers: CRP, PCT, ferritin and D-dimer. Immunological studies were significantly higher for IL-6 levels in PICU patients. On echocardiography, higher myocardial dysfunction was more notable in patients admitted to PICU. Children admitted in PICU were provided with more extensive therapy. As part of our study course, we re-evaluated our PICU patients twice, once at 48 hours post PICU admission and again 4-6 weeks after discharge from the hospital. No deaths have been recorded in the cohort. Conclusion: This study evaluated risk factors of MISC and potential severity features. Follow up of patients on discharge showed improvement across all domains.

We describe a case of unilateral phrenic nerve palsy due to SARS-COV-2 in a young child, which led to prolonged and complicated ventilation. The child was treated with methylprednisolone and IVIG, which led to a complete recovery of phrenic function. Temporary involvement of the phrenic nerve should be considered in children infected with SARS-COV-2 requiring prolonged ventilation. The phrenic nerve palsy is postulated to be due to peripheral nerve involvement by SARS-CoV-2. In South Africa, children under 12 years of age are not prioritized for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. This case re-iterates that even though SARS-CoV-2 disease is mild in the vast majority of children there are more severe presentations which, in low- or middle-income countries, might even go unrecognized.

Although COVID-19 is known to affect peripheral as well as cranial nerves, there is a paucity of reports on vocal fold paresis in COVID-19, bilateral vocal fold paresis (BVFP) in particular. We describe a case of BVFP and glottal bridge synechia following COVID-19-pneumonia discussing pathomechanisms and treatment options.

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic infection that has become a serious concern as a result of the immunosuppressive drugs used during COVID-19. In this report, we describe two cases of rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis with neurological presentation and ophthalmologic problems accompanied by a history of COVID-19 and diabetes.

A young man, a recent coronavirus patient, was readmitted with hypoesthesia and dysarthria following a rapid deterioration of respiratory symptoms. The brain and lung CT scans revealed ischemia and cavitary lung lesions. Clinical suspicion for aspergillus leads to prompt treatment, confirmed by biopsy. Neurologic and pulmonary symptoms resolved ultimately.

Background: The Omicron (lineage B.1.1.529) variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in Wales, UK on 3rd December 2021. The aim of the study was to describe the first 1000 cases of the Omicron variant by demographic, vaccination status, travel and severe outcome status and compare this to contemporaneous cases of the Delta variant. Methods: Testing, typing and contact tracing data were collected by Public Health Wales and analysis undertaken by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC). Risk ratios for demographic factors and symptoms were calculated comparing Omicron cases to Delta cases identified over the same time period. Results: By 14th December 2021, 1000 cases of the Omicron variant had been identified in Wales. Of the first 1000, just 3% of cases had a prior history of travel revealing rapid community transmission. A higher proportion of Omicron cases were identified in individuals aged 20-39 and most cases were double vaccinated (65.9%) or boosted (15.7%). Age adjusted analysis also revealed that Omicron cases were less likely to be hospitalised (0.4%) or report symptoms (60.8%). Specifically a significant reduction was observed in the proportion of Omicron cases reporting anosmia (8.9%). Conclusion: Key findings include a lower risk of anosmia and a reduced risk of hospitalisation in the first 1000 Omicron cases compared to co-circulating Delta cases. We also identify that existing measures for travel restrictions to control importations of new variants identified outside the UK did not prevent the rapid ingress of Omicron within Wales.

Although sporadic Creutzfeldt Jakob disease is always fatal and no accepted treatment is currently available. Moreover, prevalence of COVID-19 in the same patient makes management protocol difficult and prognosis worse.

Lipschütz’s ulcers (LU) are rare entities, which occur mostly in non-sexually active young women. UL appear to be associated with infectious conditions such as Epstein-Barr virus or cytomegalovirus. We report a case that revealed that SARS-CoV-2 infection could be considered a trigger event for the appearance of acute vulvar ulceration.

To report two cases of suprachoroidal hemorrhage (SCH) during otherwise uncomplicated phacoemulsification, in whom COVID-19 was documented with PCR about one month before the surgery.

Immune-inflammatory proteome of elite ice hockey players before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection

A document by Joseph De Luca F. Click on the document to view its contents.

Background: Covid-19 can have remarkable effects on pregnancy, and pregnant women with this infection are at higher risk for developing ketoacidosis. In this case report, we report a 35-year-old pregnant woman infected with Covid-19 with early manifestations of ketoacidosis during term pregnancy.

Dynamic digital radiography (DDR) is a motion-detective technique with high temporal resolution. Flexible laryngoscopy is a common modality for observation of the larynx, but it is aerosol generating. DDR is an easy and less risky screening test for diagnosis of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To evaluate for cardiac involvement in recovered COVID-19 patients using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: A total of 30 subjects recently recovered from COVID-19 and abnormal left ventricular global longitudinal strain were enrolled. Routine investigations, inflammatory markers and cardiac MRI were done at baseline with follow-up scan at 6 months in individuals with abnormal baseline scan. Additionally, 20 age-and sex-matched individuals were enrolled as healthy controls (HCs). Results: All 30 enrolled subjects were symptomatic during active COVID-19 disease and were categorized as mild: 11 (36.7%), moderate: 6 (20%) and severe: 13 (43.3%). Of the 30 patients, 16 (53.3%) had abnormal CMR findings. Myocardial edema was reported in 12 (40%) patients while 10 (33.3%) had LGE. No difference was observed in terms of conventional LV parameters however, COVID-19 recovered patients had significantly lower right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction, RV stroke volume and RV cardiac index compared to HCs. Follow-up scan was abnormal in 4/16 (25%) with LGE persisting in 3 patients. Myocardial T1 (1284 + 43.8 ms vs 1147.6 + 68.4 ms; P<0.0001) and T2 values (50.8+16.7 ms vs 42.6+3.6 ms; P=0.04) were significantly higher in post COVID-19 subjects compared to HCs. Similarly, T1 and T2 values of severe COVID-19 patients were significantly higher compared to mild and moderate cases. Conclusions: An abnormal CMR was seen in half of recovered patients with persistent abnormality in one-fourth at six months. Our study suggests a need for closer follow-up among recovered subjects in order to evaluate for long term cardiovascular sequalae.

To our knowledge this is the first published case of NP associated with COVID-19 in an individual with CF and the first associated with Nocardia infection. We suspect the combination of cystic fibrosis, COVID-19 pneumonitis and co-infection with Nocardia farcinia caused this young man’s NP and ultimately his untimely death. We hope this case will highlight individuals with CF of all ages are at risk of severe COVID-19 infection.

Our patient is a 39-year-old male with normal baseline blood parameters who presented with COVID-19 infection, associated with neutropenia and then progressed to critical disease culminating into CSS. Based on risks and benefits evaluation, he was treated with Tocilizumab reinforced with G-CSF leading to full recovery including reversal of neutropenia.

Non covalent biliproteins are found in a growing number of living organisms and even in viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2. Unlike the well described covalent biliproteins, such as the phytochromes, they present a vast structural and functional diversity, and often with limited experimental information. A very important tool (and sometimes the only one available) to study these systems is the UV-Vis spectrum, which is modulated both by conformational changes of the biliverdin chromophore and specific interactions with the apoprotein. In this work we present a theoretical study of the microscopic determinants of the UV-Vis spectrum of these compounds through the use of hybrid QM(TD-DFT)/MM techniques and molecular dynamics simulations. Comparing our results with existing experimental data, we prove that it is possible to predict spectroscopic properties, such as relative position and intensity ratio of main bands, with affordable methods, and to provide a microscopic explanation of them. This systematic information can be very useful for the study of described biliproteins or for those yet unknown.

Purpose: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare complication of pregnancy manifesting with acute cardiac failure. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) can be complicated by cardiomyopathy, which can be difficult to differentiate from PPCM. The aim of this publication is to investigate different outcomes of cases with cardiomyopathy during pregnancy. Methods: Here, we report 4 peripartum cases with COVID-19 and acute cardiac failure due to cardiomyopathy. Moreover, to find previous similar cases, a comprehensive review on PPCM and COVID-19 associated cardiomyopathy was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar. Results: Out of 4 cases we had, two cases deceased and one became a candidate for heart transplant. Despite advanced diagnostic approaches, differentiating COVID-19 associated cardiomyopathy from PPCM was challenging. According to the literature review, 7 cases with similar conditions were found. Conclusion: Pregnant women with COVID-19 may develop acute cardiac failure associated with PPCM or COVID-19 associated cardiomyopathy or both. This condition may be deadly due to rapid disease progression, atypical manifestations, and limited treatment options.

Objective: To assess the utility of a test-based approach to shorten isolation of healthcare workers with COVID-19 in the setting of the highly transmissible omicron variant Methods: Between December 24th, 2021, to January 5th, 2022 HCWs who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were re-tested at least five days since onset of symptoms. Results: 46 sequential fully COVID-19 vaccinated HCWs who had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 underwent follow up testing. All the isolates were confirmed as omicron variants and only 4 (8.7%) were negative 5 days or more since onset of symptoms., Conclusions: Implementation of a test-based strategy is logistically challenging, increases costs and did not lead to shorter isolation in our institution.

Anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase(Anti-GAD) are associated with various neurologic condition; but, no meningitis has been reported with it, so far. Evidence demonstrates the associated of autoimmune meningoencephalitis with Covid-19 infection. Here we report a 44-year-old female with progressive loss of consciousness with anti-GAD65 meningoencephalitis after Covid-19 infection.