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The Journal of General Virology Aug 2020The last two decades have seen the rise of viromics, the study of viral communities through the detection and characterization of virus genome sequences. Here we...
The last two decades have seen the rise of viromics, the study of viral communities through the detection and characterization of virus genome sequences. Here we systematically review and summarize the scope and limitations of our current understanding of avian viromes, in both domesticated and wild-bird populations. We compare this viromic work to the broader literature on avian prokaryotic microbiomes, and highlight the growing importance of structured sampling and experimental design for testing explanatory hypotheses. We provide a number of recommendations for sample collection and preliminary data analysis to guide the development of avian viromics. Avian viromes have the potential to inform disease surveillance in poultry and improve our understanding of the risk of zoonotic viruses to human health.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Wild; Birds; Genome, Viral; Humans; Poultry Diseases; Virome; Virus Diseases
PubMed: 32519942
DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001447 -
Reviews in Medical Virology Jan 2023Several phase-1 clinical trials have been performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of candidate anti-Zika vaccines. In this systematic review, we systematically... (Review)
Review
Several phase-1 clinical trials have been performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of candidate anti-Zika vaccines. In this systematic review, we systematically evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of candidate vaccines, which would aid researchers in formulating an effective vaccination strategy for phase-2 trials based on current evidence. A literature search was conducted using the electronic databases MEDLINE through Pubmed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database for relevant studies on candidate anti-zika vaccines. Studies on animal models were excluded from our study. Healthy individuals who were administered candidate Zika vaccines to evaluate the immune response and adverse events (AEs) compared to placebo were considered. Data were extracted, tabulated, and analysed using Microsoft Excel, while the risk of bias plots were generated using tidyverse and Robvis packages in R-studio. A total of five phase-1 clinical trials were included in our analysis comprising of studies on inactivated, viral vector, and DNA vaccines. Immunogenicity ranged from 10% to 100% after vaccination with the lowest seroconversion rate (10%) and geometric mean titre (GMT) (6.3; 95% confidence interval (CI):3.7-10.8) observed among recipients of single-dose inactivated anti-zika vaccine (ZPIV). For DNA vaccines, the seroconversion rate ranged from 60% to 100% with the highest seroconversion rate (100%) and GMT (2871; 95% CI:705.3-11688) observed among recipients of three shots of high dose GLS-5700 vaccine. For viral vector vaccine (Ad26.ZIKV.001) seroconversion rate (100%) and GMT peaked after two shots with both low and high-dose vaccines. In all those studies AEs were mostly local including injection site pain, erythema, and itching. The most common systemic AEs included fever, myalgia, nausea, and fatigue. In phase-1 clinical trials, all candidate vaccines were found to be highly immunogenic and relatively safe, especially when administered in higher doses and with the help of needle-free devices.
Topics: Animals; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection; Vaccines, DNA; Viral Vaccines; Vaccination; Antibodies, Viral
PubMed: 35986594
DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2385 -
European Review For Medical and... Sep 2020In December 2019, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection broke out in Wuhan, China. However, we still lack a comprehensive understanding...
OBJECTIVE
In December 2019, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection broke out in Wuhan, China. However, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of this emerging virus. In this manuscript, we collected relevant articles and reviewed the characteristics about SARS-CoV-2.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We performed an online search on PubMed and Web of Science with the keywords COVID-19, 2019-nCoV and SARS-CoV-2, and summarized the epidemiology, virology, clinical features and treatments of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
RESULTS
We retrieved 157 published papers about SARS-CoV-2 from January, 2020 to April, 2020. We found that SARS-CoV-2 was a kind of virus with low mortality rate and high infectivity. This virus can enter human cells through angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in alveoli and activate immune response in human body. SARS-CoV-2 infection can be classified as asymptomatic, mild, common, severe, and critical. We summarized antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2, such as remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine and favipiravir. Because the vaccine of SARS-CoV-2 is developing, more clinical studies are needed to verify the safety and efficacy of these treatments.
CONCLUSIONS
SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that has caused a global pandemic. We should pay more attention to prevent SARS-CoV-2 and try to control it sooner.
Topics: Adenosine Monophosphate; Alanine; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; Antiviral Agents; Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Immunization, Passive; Immunotherapy; Pandemics; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; Pneumonia, Viral; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 32965016
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202009_22873 -
Journal of the International AIDS... Feb 2023Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is approved for paediatric use in fixed-dose combination tablets, but efficacy and safety data in children are limited. We conducted a... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is approved for paediatric use in fixed-dose combination tablets, but efficacy and safety data in children are limited. We conducted a systematic review on the efficacy/effectiveness and safety of TAF in infants, children and adolescents living with HIV.
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, clinical trial registries, reference lists and relevant conferences to identify literature published January 2009-March 2021. We included clinical trials and observational studies assessing the efficacy/effectiveness or safety of TAF through ≥6 months of treatment in participants aged 0-19 years.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Overall 3626 abstracts and 371 full papers were screened. Four single-arm, innovator-funded trials (341 participants) and a pooled analysis of those trials were identified. All four trials included treatment-experienced and virally suppressed children or adolescents. One trial also included treatment-naïve adolescents with baseline viral load >1000 copies/ml. The risk of bias was rated as low in one study and unclear in the other three owing to missing data on study design (all conference presentations). At 48 weeks, 92% (46/50) of treatment-naïve participants were virally suppressed (one trial). Among treatment-experienced participants with viral load at 48 weeks, 214 of 224 participants were virally suppressed. Across the studies, one grade 3/4 adverse event was considered drug-related (intermediate uveitis). There were three discontinuations for adverse events (grade 2 anxiety and insomnia, grade 1 iridocyclitis [drug-related] and grade 1 pulmonary tuberculosis [unrelated to treatment]). One accidental death occurred across the four studies. In the pooled analysis of 223 participants, the median change in bone mineral density z-score (height- and age-adjusted) from baseline to 48 weeks was -0.12 (interquartile range [IQR] -0.46, 0.17) to 0.05 (IQR not reported) for spine, and -0.09 (IQR -0.33, 0.07) to 0.09 (IQR not reported) for total body less head. Weight-for-age z-scores increased by 0.25 from baseline to 48 weeks.
CONCLUSIONS
Four single-arm trials were identified in this systematic review, with initial evidence suggesting good viral suppression and no obvious safety concerns in children and adolescents on TAF-containing regimens over 24-48 weeks. However, further comparative and longer-term safety data are needed in children and adolescents, including on weight and metabolic changes.
Topics: Infant; Humans; Child; Adolescent; Tenofovir; HIV Infections; Anti-HIV Agents; HIV-1; Adenine; Emtricitabine
PubMed: 36823283
DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26037 -
International Journal of Colorectal... Apr 2023There have been debates about the human appendix function, and while previous research suggested it might be a vestigial organ with no functional significance, recent... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
There have been debates about the human appendix function, and while previous research suggested it might be a vestigial organ with no functional significance, recent studies have pointed out that it might have an important role in the immune system. Acute appendicitis (AA) is a common cause of emergency abdominal surgery in the world. Some epidemiologic investigations have found an association between appendicitis and viral infections. In this study, we have reviewed systematically articles to discover viral infections that cause appendicitis and find any possible correlations between the two.
METHODS
This systematic review was performed by searching among electronic databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE on viruses and appendicitis topics.
RESULTS
Conducted search leads to 983 results in all databases after the duplicate removal and screening by title, abstract, and full-text based on inclusion criteria lead to 19 studies. There were several assays to detect the viruses, which are thought to be AA causative agents. RT-PCR and immunoassays were the mainstay methods to detect the probable cause.
CONCLUSION
Investigations suggested that some viruses including measles virus (MV), influenza virus, dengue fever virus (DFV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human herpesviruses, rotavirus, and adenovirus are associated with acute appendicitis. Despite the available reports, the specific mechanisms behind the relationship between acute appendicitis and viral infections are yet to be understood. Therefore, further investigations are necessary to find out the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of viral complications in appendicitis.
Topics: Humans; Appendicitis; Appendix; Viruses; Appendectomy; Virus Diseases; Acute Disease
PubMed: 37069433
DOI: 10.1007/s00384-023-04391-z -
Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology :... Jun 2021Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) primarily causes lung infection, but recent studies have shown that cardiac involvement is associated with a worse prognosis. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) primarily causes lung infection, but recent studies have shown that cardiac involvement is associated with a worse prognosis.
OBJECTIVES
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias detected by the electrocardiogram and their relationships with adverse outcomes in patients with COVID-19.
METHODS
PubMed and Google were searched for studies that reported on cardiac arrhythmias and/or examined the relationship between arrhythmias and adverse outcomes.
RESULTS
Thirty studies with 12,713 participants were included in the systematic review, and 28 studies (n = 12,499) in the meta-analysis. The mean age was 61.3 ± 16.8 years; 39.3% were female. In 25 studies with 7578 patients, the overall prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias was 10.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.4%-12.3%). The most common arrhythmias documented during hospitalization were supraventricular arrhythmias (6.2%, 95% CI: 4.4%-8.1%) followed by ventricular arrhythmias (2.5%, 95% CI: 1.8%-3.1%). The incidence of cardiac arrhythmias was higher among critically ill patients (relative risk [RR]: 12.1, 95% CI: 8.5-17.3) and among non-survivors (RR: 3.8, 95%, CI: 1.7-8.7). Eight studies reported changes in the QT interval. The prevalence of QTc > 500 ms was 12.3% (95% CI: 6.9%-17.8%). ST-segment deviation was reported in eight studies, with a pooled estimate of 8.7% (95% CI: 7.3% to 10.0%).
CONCLUSION
Our meta-analysis showed that QTc prolongation, ST-segment deviation, and various other cardiac arrhythmias were observed in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The presence of cardiac arrhythmias was associated with a worse prognosis.
Topics: Arrhythmias, Cardiac; COVID-19; Electrocardiography; Humans; Incidence; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Prevalence; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 33890684
DOI: 10.1111/pace.14247 -
European Cytokine Network Jun 2020Evidence links COVID-19 severity to hyper-inflammation. Treatment with tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor, was shown... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Evidence links COVID-19 severity to hyper-inflammation. Treatment with tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor, was shown to lead to clinical improvement in patients with severe COVID-19. We, therefore, performed the present systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate whether the circulating levels of IL-6 is a reliable indicator of disease severity among patients affected with COVID-19.
METHODS
A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar on April 19, 2020.
RESULTS
Eleven studies provided data of IL-6 levels in patients with severe to critical COVID-19 (severe) and patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 (non-severe). The included studies were of moderate to high quality. The mean patients' age was 60.9 years, ranging from 45.2 to 76.7 years in the severe group and 46.8 years, ranging from 37.9 to 61 years, in the nonsevere group. Fifty-two percent were male in the severe group, as compared to 46% in the non-severe group. An overall random effects meta-analysis showed significantly higher serum levels of IL-6 in the severe group than in the non-severe group with a mean difference of +23.1 pg/mL (95% CI: 12.42-33.79) and the overall effect of 4.24 (P-value < 0.001). Meta-regressions showed that neither age nor sex significantly influenced the mean difference of IL-6 between the groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Meta-analysis and meta-regression reveal a reliable relationship between IL-6 and COVID-19 severity, independent of age and sex. Future research is, however, required to assess the effect of BMI on the pattern of IL-6 production in patients with COVID-19. Also, there might be confounding factors that influence the relationship between IL-6 and COVID-19 severity and remain as yet unknown.
Topics: Aged; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antiviral Agents; Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; Cytokine Release Syndrome; Female; Gene Expression; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Interleukin-6; Male; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Receptors, Interleukin-6; SARS-CoV-2; Severity of Illness Index; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32933891
DOI: 10.1684/ecn.2020.0448 -
Reviews in Medical Virology Jul 2023Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) that infected more than 760 million people... (Review)
Review
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) that infected more than 760 million people worldwide with over 6.8 million deaths to date. COVID-19 is one of the most challenging diseases of our times due to the nature of its spread, its effect on multiple organs, and an inability to predict disease prognosis, ranging from being completely asymptomatic to death. Upon infection, SARS-CoV-2 alters the host immune response by changing host-transcriptional machinery. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are regarded as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression that can be perturbed by invading viruses. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have reported such dysregulation of host miRNA expression upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. Some of this could occur as an anti-viral response of the host to the viral infection. Viruses themselves can counteract that response by mounting their own pro-viral response that facilitates virus infection, an aspect which may cause pathogenesis. Thus, miRNAs could serve as possible disease biomarkers in infected people. In the current review, we have summarised and analysed the existing data about miRNA dysregulation in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 to determine their concordance between studies, and identified those that could serve as potential biomarkers during infection, disease progression, and death, even in people with other co-morbidities. Having such biomarkers can be vital in not only predicting COVID-19 prognosis, but also the development of novel miRNA-based anti-virals and therapeutics which can become invaluable in case of the emergence of new viral variants with pandemic potential in the future.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; MicroRNAs; SARS-CoV-2; Virus Diseases; Viruses; Biomarkers
PubMed: 37145095
DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2449 -
BMC Cancer Jun 2020Glioma is the most common primary brain tumor, occurring due to the carcinogenesis of glial cells in the brain and spinal cord. Many aspects of the mechanism of its... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Glioma is the most common primary brain tumor, occurring due to the carcinogenesis of glial cells in the brain and spinal cord. Many aspects of the mechanism of its tumorigenesis remain unknown. The relationship between viral infection and glioma is one of the most important research aspects in this field. Currently, there is a lack of systematic reviews and meta-analyses to evaluate the effect of viral infection on the prognosis of glioma patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between viral infection and the prognosis of glioma patients, aimed at evaluating the prognostic value of the detection of viral infection.
METHODS
Through careful and comprehensive retrieval of results from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases, eligible articles were selected strictly according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The regional sources, detection methods, detection indicators, patient survival, and other data from the samples in the papers were extracted, and the integrated analysis was conducted using Stata 15.1. We conducted a subgroup analysis of the relationship between the degree of infection and prognosis in cytomegalovirus (CMV) patients.
RESULTS
A total of 11 studies were included in the analysis. Among them, 7 studies involved the relationship between CMV infection and the prognosis of patients with glioma, 2 studies involved human papillomavirus (HPV), 2 studies involved human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), and one study involved simian virus 40 (SV40), woolly monkey sarcoma virus (WMSV) and human endogenous retrovirus K113 (HERV-K113). In the CMV study, the pooled Hazard ratio (HR) of Overall survival (OS) was 1.024 (CI: 0.698-1.501), with a P value of 0.905. The pooled HR of Progression free survival (PFS) was 1.067 (CI: 0.770-1.478), with a P value of 0.697. The pooled HR value of low-degree infection versus high-degree infection was 1.476 (CI: 0.799-2.727), with a P value of 0.213. In the HPV study, the pooled HR of OS was 1.467 (CI: 0.552-3.901), with a P value of 0.443.
CONCLUSION
CMV infection has no significant effect on the prognosis of glioma patients. Using the IEA as the detection index, the degree of CMV infection was found to have a significant impact on the prognosis of glioma patients; it was not found to possess a significant prognostic value after the integration of different indicators. Neither HPV nor HHV-6 infection has a significant effect on the prognosis of glioma patients. SV40 and WMSV infection are associated with poor prognosis in patients with low-grade glioma.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
This meta-analysis registered in https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, PROSPERO ID: CRD42019127648.
Topics: Glioma; Humans; Prognosis; Progression-Free Survival; Risk Factors; Virus Diseases
PubMed: 32532243
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-06796-3 -
Journal of Hepatology Sep 2020Chronic hepatitis D (CHD) is the most severe form of chronic viral hepatitis but its role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains debated. We... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Chronic hepatitis D (CHD) is the most severe form of chronic viral hepatitis but its role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains debated. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies to examine whether CHD is associated with an increased risk of HCC.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, Embase and Web of Science, as well as study references and conference proceedings. We considered cohort and case-control studies allowing the calculation of effect estimates for the association between CHD (exposure) and HCC (outcome) in comparison to chronic hepatitis B. Data extraction and quality evaluation (using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale) were performed independently by 2 authors. Data were pooled using random-effects models.
RESULTS
Ninety-three studies (68 case-control studies including 22,862 patients and 25 cohort studies including 75,427 patients) were included. Twelve studies accounted for confounders, in either study design or analysis (10 of which were cohorts), and 11 cohorts were prospective. The overall analysis showed a significantly increased risk of HCC in patients with CHD, despite substantial study heterogeneity (pooled odds ratio 1.28; 95% CI 1.05-1.57; I = 67.0%). The association was particularly strong in the absence of heterogeneity for prospective cohort studies (pooled odds ratio 2.77; 95% CI 1.79-4.28; I = 0%), and studies with HIV-infected patients (pooled odds ratio 7.13; 95% CI 2.83-17.92; I = 0%).
CONCLUSIONS
We found a significantly higher risk of HCC in patients with CHD. Although further studies are needed to definitively exclude a potential bias due to antiviral treatments, our findings highlight the rationale for improved screening of hepatitis D virus infection in patients with chronic hepatitis B, and the urgent need for novel and effective antiviral therapies.
LAY SUMMARY
Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a defective pathogen requiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) to complete its life cycle. Chronic hepatitis D is the most severe form of chronic viral hepatitis, increasing the risk of cirrhosis, liver decompensation and death compared to HBV monoinfection. However, the association between HDV infection and increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma is debated. We conducted a systematic review and found that patients with HDV infection had a significantly higher risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma than those with HBV monoinfection.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Coinfection; Female; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B, Chronic; Hepatitis D, Chronic; Hepatitis Delta Virus; Humans; Infant; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Observational Studies as Topic; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 32151618
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.02.030