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Frontiers in Neurology 2024Cognitive deficits are commonly reported after COVID-19 recovery, but little is known in the older population. This study aims to investigate possible cognitive damage...
BACKGROUND
Cognitive deficits are commonly reported after COVID-19 recovery, but little is known in the older population. This study aims to investigate possible cognitive damage in older adults 6 months after contracting COVID-19, as well as individual risk factors.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study involved 70 participants aged 60-78 with COVID-19 6 months prior and 153 healthy controls. Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B) screened for cognitive impairment; Geriatric Depression Scale and Geriatric Anxiety Inventory screened for depression and anxiety. Data were collected on demographics and self-reports of comorbid conditions.
RESULTS
The mean age of participants was 66.97 ± 4.64 years. A higher proportion of individuals in the COVID group complained about cognitive deficits (χ = 3.574; = 0.029) and presented with deficient MoCA-B scores (χ = 6.098, = 0.014) compared to controls. After controlling for multiple variables, all the following factors resulted in greater odds of a deficient MoCA-B: COVID-19 6-months prior (OR, 2.44; = 0.018), age (OR, 1.15; < 0.001), lower income (OR, 0.36; = 0.070), and overweight (OR, 2.83; = 0.013). Further analysis pointed to individual characteristics in COVID-19-affected patients that could explain the severity of the cognitive decline: age ( = 0.015), lower income ( < 0.001), anxiety ( = 0.049), ageusia ( = 0.054), overweight ( < 0.001), and absence of cognitively stimulating activities ( = 0.062).
CONCLUSION
Our study highlights a profile of cognitive risk aggravation over aging after COVID-19 infection, which is likely mitigated by wealth but worsened in the presence of overweight. Ageusia at the time of acute COVID-19, anxiety, being overweight, and absence of routine intellectual activities are risk factors for more prominent cognitive decline among those infected by COVID-19.
PubMed: 38426174
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1334161 -
Acta Neurologica Taiwanica Dec 2023While the gustatory pathway of animals has been well-researched, that of humans is still a mystery. Several theories have been established, and some earlier reports...
PURPOSE
While the gustatory pathway of animals has been well-researched, that of humans is still a mystery. Several theories have been established, and some earlier reports hypothesized the relation to laterality. However, some cases could not be fully explained by the laterality theory (1). To clarify the gustatory pathway, we reported a case with bilateral hypogeusia after right thalamic infarction.
CASE
This 55-year-old, right-handed man suffered from sudden decreased sensitivity of taste. He was unable to differentiate sweetness and saltiness at bilateral anterior parts of tongue. Additionally, there was numbness at the upper palate and the lips. Neurological examination revealed decreased taste sense at both sides of his anterior tongue and decreased pin-prick sensation of the left part of his lips. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed acute ischemic stroke at the right ventral posteromedial nucleus (VPM). Thus, single antiplatelet therapy was administered. Two weeks later, the symptoms improved significantly and completely recovered without sequelae.
CONCLUSION
The exact gustatory pathway in humans remains uncertain nowadays. First, there were few reports about dysgeusia, which might be related to clinical neglect of taste deficits. Second, our knowledge of the human gustatory pathway depends solely on sporadic cases of taste-involved brain lesions. We reported a case of bilateral hypogeusia after right thalamic infarction. This finding indicates that, although there might be laterality of gustatory fibers to the left hemisphere, anatomical variations may exist in the human gustatory system. More research is needed to elucidate the understanding of the gustatory pathway in humans.
Topics: Animals; Male; Humans; Middle Aged; Stroke, Lacunar; Ischemic Stroke; Ageusia; Thalamus; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei; Cerebral Infarction
PubMed: 37723912
DOI: No ID Found -
Microbiology Spectrum Jun 2024With the emergence of highly transmissible variants of concern, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) still poses a global threat of coronavirus...
SARS-CoV-2 cellular and humoral responses in vaccine-naive individuals during the first two waves of COVID-19 infections in the southern region of The Netherlands: a cross-sectional population-based study.
UNLABELLED
With the emergence of highly transmissible variants of concern, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) still poses a global threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resurgence. Cellular responses to novel variants are more robustly maintained than humoral responses, and therefore, cellular responses are of interest in assessing immune protection against severe disease in the population. We aimed to assess cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 at the population level. IFN (interferon ) responses to wild-type SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed using an ELISpot assay in vaccine-naive individuals with different humoral responses: Ig (IgM and/or IgG) seronegative ( = 90) and seropositive ( = 181) with low (<300 U/mL) or high (≥300 U/mL) humoral responses to the spike receptor binding domain (anti-S-RBD). Among the seropositive participants, 71.3% (129/181) were IFN ELISpot positive, compared to 15.6% (14/90) among the seronegative participants. Common COVID-19 symptoms such as fever and ageusia were associated with IFN ELISpot positivity in seropositive participants, whereas no participant characteristics were associated with IFN ELISpot positivity in seronegative participants. Fever and/or dyspnea and anti-S-RBD levels were associated with higher IFN responses. Symptoms of more severe disease and higher anti-S-RBD responses were associated with higher IFN responses. A significant proportion (15.6%) of seronegative participants had a positive IFN ELISpot. Assessment of cellular responses may improve estimates of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in the general population.
IMPORTANCE
Data on adaptive cellular immunity are of interest to define immune protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in a population, which is important for decision-making on booster-vaccination strategies. This study provides data on associations between participant characteristics and cellular immune responses in vaccine-naive individuals with different humoral responses.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Netherlands; Male; Immunity, Humoral; Female; Cross-Sectional Studies; Adult; Antibodies, Viral; Immunity, Cellular; Middle Aged; Interferon-gamma; Immunoglobulin G; Aged; Young Adult; Immunoglobulin M; COVID-19 Vaccines; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay
PubMed: 38686954
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00126-24 -
JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan... Aug 2023Retained foreign bodies are foreign materials which are left accidentally inside a patient's body after a procedure. In this report we present the case of a 57 year old...
Retained foreign bodies are foreign materials which are left accidentally inside a patient's body after a procedure. In this report we present the case of a 57 year old man who presented to the ENT clinic with a history of symptoms stretching over 8 years back to when he underwent a hypophysectomy through the transsphenoidal approach. These symptoms included cacosmia, ageusia, altered taste at times, foul smelling discharge, nasal discharge and dizziness. He had undergone multiple radiological examinations as well as antibiotic courses. It was only after the examination of the nose under general anaesthesia, conducted by the corresponding author that a swab was found in the sphenoid sinus which was left behind from his surgery 8 years ago. Cases of retained foreign bodies are very rare and are easily preventable. This case highlights the importance of adherence to health and safety protocols to prevent such an avoidable complication.
Topics: Male; Humans; Middle Aged; Sphenoid Sinus; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Anesthesia, General; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Foreign Bodies
PubMed: 37697788
DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.6953 -
PloS One 2024We assessed the seroepidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) before and during the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, in... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
A prospective cohort study of SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced seroconversion and disease incidence in German healthcare workers before and during the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
We assessed the seroepidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) before and during the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, in a prospective observational cohort study on healthcare workers (HCWs) in a large tertiary hospital in Mainz, Germany. Antibody status was assessed during six visits between September 2020 and February 2022. Self-reported symptoms were collected using a smartphone application; symptomatic HCWs were tested using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays for SARS-CoV-2. Rates of virologically confirmed and severe COVID-19 were estimated using the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) case definitions, respectively, and were contrasted to background community transmission and circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. A total of 3665 HCWs were enrolled (mean follow-up time: 18 months); 97 met the FDA definition of virologically confirmed COVID-19 (incidence rate (IR) 2.3/1000 person-months (PMs), one severe case). Most cases reported ≥2 symptoms, commonly, cough and anosmia or ageusia. Overall, 263 individuals seroconverted (IR 6.6/1000 PMs-2.9 times the estimated IR of COVID-19), indicating many cases were missed, either due to asymptomatic infections or to an atypical presentation of symptoms. A triphasic trend in anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and seroconversion was observed, with an initial increase following the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, a two-fold decline six months later, and finally a six-fold increase by the end of the study when Omicron was the dominant circulating variant. Despite the increase in infection rates at the end of the study due to the circulation of the Omicron variant, the infection and disease rates observed were lower than the published estimates in HCWs and rates in the general local population. Preferential vaccination of HCWs and the strict monitoring program for SARS-CoV-2 infection are the most likely reasons for the successful control of COVID-19 in this high-risk population.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 Vaccines; Prospective Studies; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Incidence; Seroconversion; Health Personnel
PubMed: 38289913
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294025 -
European Review For Medical and... Mar 2024One of the major concerns of the post-COVID-19 era is elucidating and addressing the long-term complications of COVID-19.
OBJECTIVE
One of the major concerns of the post-COVID-19 era is elucidating and addressing the long-term complications of COVID-19.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
A web-based questionnaire was distributed in Jordan to assess the prevalence and recovery from chemosensory dysfunction among COVID-19 long-haulers in Jordan.
RESULTS
A total of 611 respondents complained of chemosensory dysfunction (age range = 18-68 years), and the majority of the respondents were female (88.4%). Parosmia was the most prevalent olfactory dysfunction reported (n = 337, 33.3%), and parageusia was the most frequently reported gustatory dysfunction (n = 239, 36.4%). Medications were not reported to be associated with a better perception of smell or taste by nearly half of those who had been treated (n = 146, 46.1%). Among participants who had received olfactory rehabilitation/training (n = 215, 35.2%), 43.7% (n = 94) reported modest improvement, with the most frequently helpful scents being coffee (n = 80, 24.8%), aromatic oils (n = 74, 23%), and perfumes/colognes (n = 73, 22.7%). Age was found to have a significant negative correlation with complete recovery. In addition, age (p < .05), anosmia (p < .001), hyperosmia (p < .001), ageusia (p < .05), and duration of olfactory dysfunction (p < .001) were all independent predictors of complete recovery.
CONCLUSIONS
Chemosensory dysfunctions are largely subjective; therefore, more objective examinations are required to draw more definite conclusions.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Middle Aged; Aged; Prevalence; COVID-19; Jordan; Olfaction Disorders; Smell; Syndrome
PubMed: 38567618
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202403_35765 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Jan 2024To evaluate the frequency, duration and patterns of long-term coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms and to analyse risk factors for long-lasting COVID-19 sequelae...
PURPOSE
To evaluate the frequency, duration and patterns of long-term coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms and to analyse risk factors for long-lasting COVID-19 sequelae among a cohort of hospital employees (HEs).
METHODS
We conducted a survey regarding persistent COVID-19 related symptoms with all HEs from three medical centres in Cologne, Germany, who were tested SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive from March 2020 until May 2021. Duration of symptoms and possible risk factors for protracted COVID-19 course were analysed.
RESULTS
Of 221 included HEs, a number of 104 HEs (47.1%) reported at least one persisting symptom for more than 90 days after initial SARS-CoV-2 detection. Each one cycle higher initial Ct value significantly increased the chances of overcoming symptoms (odds ratio [OR] 1.05; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.01-1.09; p = 0.019). The occurrence of breathlessness within the first ten days (OR 7.89; 95%CI 1.87-41.43; p = 0.008), an initial Ct value under 30 (OR 3.36; 95%CI 1.22-9.94; p = 0.022) as well as the occurrence of anosmia or ageusia within the first ten days (OR 3.01; 95%CI 1.10-8.84; p = 0.037) showed a statistically significant association with increased odds of illness duration over 90 days.
CONCLUSION
About half of the HEs suffered from long lasting symptoms over 90 days after almost entirely mild acute COVID-19. Predictive factors could possibly be used for early treatment to prevent development of long-term symptoms after COVID-19 in future.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Personnel, Hospital; Ageusia; Hospitals
PubMed: 38262969
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08710-1