Articles: covid-19.
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Review Meta Analysis
The tryptophan catabolite or kynurenine pathway in Long COVID disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Recent studies confirm the involvement of activated immune-inflammatory responses and increased oxidative and nitrosative stress in Long COVID (LC) disease. However, the influence of these pathways on the metabolism of tryptophan (TRP) through the TRP catabolite (TRYCAT) pathway and their mediating effects on LC pathophysiology, has not been fully explored. ⋯ The current findings suggest that an activated TRYCAT pathway, characterized by decreased TRP levels and maybe elevated KYN levels, plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of LC.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Dec 2024
Review Meta AnalysisThe effect of sample site and collection procedure on identification of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Sample collection is a key driver of accuracy in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Viral load may vary at different anatomical sampling sites and accuracy may be compromised by difficulties obtaining specimens and the expertise of the person taking the sample. It is important to optimise sampling accuracy within cost, safety and accessibility constraints. ⋯ When used with RT-PCR, there is no evidence for a difference in sensitivity of self-collected gargle or deep-throat saliva samples compared to nasopharyngeal samples collected by healthcare workers when used with RT-PCR. Use of these alternative, self-collected sample types has the potential to reduce cost and discomfort and improve the safety of sampling by reducing risk of transmission from aerosol spread which occurs as a result of coughing and gagging during the nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal sample collection procedure. This may, in turn, improve access to and uptake of testing. Other types of saliva, nasal, oral and oropharyngeal samples are, on average, less sensitive compared to healthcare worker-collected nasopharyngeal samples, and it is unlikely that sensitivities of this magnitude would be acceptable for confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection with RT-PCR. When used with Ag-RDTs, there is no evidence of a difference in sensitivity between nasal samples and healthcare worker-collected nasopharyngeal samples for detecting SARS-CoV-2. The implications of this for self-testing are unclear as evaluations did not report whether nasal samples were self-collected or collected by healthcare workers. Further research is needed in asymptomatic individuals, children and in Ag-RDTs, and to investigate the effect of operator expertise on accuracy. Quality assessment of the evidence base underpinning these conclusions was restricted by poor reporting. There is a need for further high-quality studies, adhering to reporting standards for test accuracy studies.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Dec 2024
Meta Analysis Comparative StudySurvival difference in patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in COVID-19 vs. non-COVID ARDS: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the need for effective management of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) using veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). This meta-analysis aims to compare the effectiveness and outcomes of ECMO in patients with COVID-19 ARDS versus those with non-COVID ARDS, assessing its role in different respiratory virus infections. ⋯ ECMO serves as a vital intervention in severe ARDS, with differential effectiveness observed between COVID-19 and non-COVID patients. The study's findings underline the need for precise patient selection and tailored ECMO application across different viral etiologies. These insights are crucial for enhancing clinical strategies and resource allocation during ongoing and future pandemics.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Nov 2024
Meta AnalysisNeurocognitive and psychiatric outcomes associated with postacute COVID-19 infection without severe medical complication: a meta-analysis.
Cognitive symptoms are often reported by those with a history of COVID-19 infection. No comprehensive meta-analysis of neurocognitive outcomes related to COVID-19 exists despite the influx of studies after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study meta-analysed observational research comparing cross-sectional neurocognitive outcomes in adults with COVID-19 (without severe medical/psychiatric comorbidity) to healthy controls (HCs) or norm-referenced data. ⋯ Mild cognitive deficits are associated with COVID-19 infection, especially as detected by cognitive screeners and processing speed tasks. We failed to observe clinically meaningful cognitive impairments (as measured by standard neuropsychological instruments) in people with COVID-19 without severe medical or psychiatric comorbidities.
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To explore the relationship between vitamin D levels and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its severity in children and adolescents, and provide a theoretical basis for clinical practice. ⋯ Vitamin D insufficiency in children may increase the risk of COVID-19 infection and is associated with poor prognostic outcomes. Further research is required to confirm the optimal Vitamin D dose to prevent insufficiency in various sections of the population.