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Biomolecules Oct 2023COVID-19 patients can exhibit a wide range of clinical manifestations affecting various organs and systems. Neurological symptoms have been reported in COVID-19... (Review)
Review
COVID-19 patients can exhibit a wide range of clinical manifestations affecting various organs and systems. Neurological symptoms have been reported in COVID-19 patients, both during the acute phase of the illness and in cases of long-term COVID. Moderate symptoms include ageusia, anosmia, altered mental status, and cognitive impairment, and in more severe cases can manifest as ischemic cerebrovascular disease and encephalitis. In this narrative review, we delve into the reported neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19, as well as the underlying mechanisms contributing to them. These mechanisms include direct damage to neurons, inflammation, oxidative stress, and protein misfolding. We further investigate the potential of small molecules from natural products to offer neuroprotection in models of neurodegenerative diseases. Through our analysis, we discovered that flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and other natural compounds exhibit neuroprotective effects by modulating signaling pathways known to be impacted by COVID-19. Some of these compounds also directly target SARS-CoV-2 viral replication. Therefore, molecules of natural origin show promise as potential agents to prevent or mitigate nervous system damage in COVID-19 patients. Further research and the evaluation of different stages of the disease are warranted to explore their potential benefits.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Neuroprotective Agents; SARS-CoV-2; Nervous System Diseases; Encephalitis
PubMed: 38002267
DOI: 10.3390/biom13111585 -
European Respiratory Review : An... Jun 2023The efficacy and safety of gefapixant in adults with chronic cough remain unclear. Our objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of gefapixant using updated... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The efficacy and safety of gefapixant in adults with chronic cough remain unclear. Our objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of gefapixant using updated evidence.
METHODS
MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and Embase databases were searched from inception through September 2022. Subgroup analysis based on dose of gefapixant ( ≤20, 45-50 and ≥100 mg twice daily for low, moderate and high doses, respectively) was performed to explore a potential dose-dependent effect.
RESULTS
Five studies involving seven trials showed the efficacy of moderate- or high-dose gefapixant for reducing objective 24-h cough frequency (estimated relative reduction 30.9% and 58.5%, respectively) ( primary outcome) and awake cough frequency (estimated relative reduction 47.3% and 62.8%, respectively). Night-time cough frequency was only reduced with high-dose gefapixant. Consistently, the use of moderate- or high-dose gefapixant significantly alleviated cough severity and improved cough-related quality of life, but increased the risk of all-cause adverse events (AEs), treatment-related AEs and ageusia/dysgeusia/hypogeusia. Subgroup analysis showed dose dependency in both efficacy and AEs with a cut-off dose being ≥45 mg twice daily.
CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis revealed dose-dependent efficacy and adverse effects of gefapixant against chronic cough. Further studies are required to investigate the feasibility of moderate-dose ( 45-50 mg twice daily) gefapixant in clinical practice.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Chronic Disease; Cough; Pyrimidines; Quality of Life; Sulfonamides; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37197770
DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0219-2022 -
Asian Journal of Surgery Nov 2023
Topics: Humans; Ageusia; Propofol; Anosmia; Anesthesia, General
PubMed: 37734983
DOI: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2023.07.001 -
Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal Jun 2024To systematically review the cases of anosmia or ageusia after receiving the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. A systematic search was conducted in... (Review)
Review
To systematically review the cases of anosmia or ageusia after receiving the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. A systematic search was conducted in electronic databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and PubMed, to identify any published study that evaluated the anosmia or ageusia after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, including case reports, case series, letter to editor articles with reported cases regarding our topic, or observational studies with at least 1 eligible patient consisted with our criteria. We excluded the studies that reported anosmia or ageusia due to COVID-19 infection and non-COVID-19 vaccines. Five studies consisting of 11 patients were included in this systematic review. Of the 11 patients, 5 patients had received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and 6 patients received the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, of which 6 patients developed symptoms after the first dose of vaccination and 5 patients were symptomatic after the second vaccine dose. Most of the patients developed symptoms within 1 week after the vaccination. The disorders of the patients included partial or total anosmia, parosmia, phantosmia, hyposmia, ageusia, and dysgeusia. Also, the patients had symptoms other than smell or taste disorders, including arthralgia, fever, chills, rhinorrhea, myalgia, abdominal pain, fatigue, muscle weakness, altered bowel pattern, aural fullness, tinnitus, and headache. Most of the evaluated patients did not receive any treatment as for their disorders. However, in some cases, treatment with oral corticosteroids or dietary supplementation was required. Anosmia and ageusia are important symptoms of COVID-19 vaccination. These symptoms will resolve without any treatment in most cases, although some interventions may be needed in some patients.
Topics: Humans; Ageusia; Anosmia; COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccines; Female; Male; Vaccination; SARS-CoV-2; Middle Aged; Adult; BNT162 Vaccine; Aged
PubMed: 38411125
DOI: 10.1177/01455613241233098 -
Emerging Microbes & Infections Dec 2023Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in China has grown rapidly after adjustment of the dynamic zero-COVID-19 strategy. However, how different vaccination states...
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in China has grown rapidly after adjustment of the dynamic zero-COVID-19 strategy. However, how different vaccination states affect symptoms, severity and post COVID conditions was unclear. Here, we used an online questionnaire to investigate the infection status of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among 11,897 participants, with 55.55% positive and 28.42% negative. The common COVID-19 symptoms were fatigue (73.31%), cough (70.02%), fever (65.25%) and overall soreness (58.64%); self-reported asymptomatic infection accounted for 0.7% of participants. The persistent symptoms at 1 month after infection included fatigue (48.7%), drowsiness (34.3%), cough (30.1%), decreased exercise ability (23.1%) and pharyngeal discomfort (19.4%), which was reduced by more than 200% at 2 months. Participants with complications such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory diseases, diabetes, hypertension, etc. have a higher proportion of hospitalization and longer recovery time (< = 0.01). Multiple vaccination statuses reduced the infection ( < 0.001) and severity rates ( = 0.022) by varying degrees as well as reduced the risk of high fever (>39.1 °C), chills, diarrhea and ageusia/anosmia, respectively ( < 0.05). Vaccination may enhance some upper respiratory symptoms, including sore throat, nasal congestion and runny nose, respectively ( < 0.05). Participants who had been vaccinated within 3 months were better protected by helping reduce their risk of overall soreness, chills and ageusia/anosmia, respectively ( < 0.05). In conclusion, our work has updated the epidemic characteristics of the breakthrough infection (BTI) wave after the dynamic zero-COVID-19 strategy, providing data and insights on how different vaccination statuses affect COVID-19 symptoms and disease prognosis.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Ageusia; Anosmia; Breakthrough Infections; Chills; Cough; China; Fatigue; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 37691586
DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2258232 -
Biomedicines Aug 2023Research on the longer-term sequelae of COVID-19 in patients with asthma is limited. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Research on the longer-term sequelae of COVID-19 in patients with asthma is limited.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the frequency and severity of long-term symptoms of COVID-19 in the population of asthma patients.
METHODS
A systematic review of the published literature was conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the PRISMA statement. EMBASE, MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Scopus Scholar were searched for terms related to asthma and post or long COVID-19, and for systematic reviews related to specific questions within our review, up to June 2022.
RESULTS
Data from 9 references publications included in the review were extracted. A total of 1466 adult asthmatic patients with COVID-19 infection were described in all the publications mentioned above. Of the long-term symptoms reported after COVID-19, patients indicated: lower respiratory symptoms, fatigue, cognitive symptoms, psychological problems, and other such as skin rashes, gastrointestinal disorders, tachycardia, palpitations, ocular disorders, ageusia/hypogeusia, anosmia/hyposmia, and poor sleep quality. These symptoms in similar intensity were observed in the comparison groups without a diagnosis of asthma.
CONCLUSIONS
The published data neither confirm nor deny that long-term COVID-19 symptoms in patients with asthma diagnosis are different in strength and frequency from patients without asthma diagnosis. To indicate associations between asthma and COVID-19 infection and severity, as well as the frequency of long-term symptoms of COVID-19, more longitudinal research is needed in chronic asthma patients with different phenotypes, intensity of treatment, and degree of asthma control.
PubMed: 37626764
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082268 -
Brain Hemorrhages Sep 2023A novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The new coronavirus disease... (Review)
Review
A novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. SARS-CoV-2 can invade the nervous system aside from infecting the respiratory system as its primary target. The most common nervous system symptoms of COVID-19 are stated as headache, myalgia, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, sudden and unexplained anosmia, and ageusia. More severe conditions such as encephalomyelitis, acute myelitis, thromboembolic events, ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, Guillain-Barré-syndrome, Bell's palsy, rhabdomyolysis, and even coma have also been reported. Cohort studies revealed that neurological findings are associated with higher morbidity and mortality. The neurological symptoms and manifestations caused by SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 are examined and summarized in this article.
PubMed: 36789140
DOI: 10.1016/j.hest.2023.02.001