ETIDIOH - NEW

Abstract The global burden of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), an immune-mediated neuropathy, remains poorly characterized during the COVID-19 pandemic . We analyzed age-standardized years lived with disability (YLD) for GBS from 1990 to 2021 using GBD 2021 data and COVID-19 vaccination coverage from Our World in Data, focusing on 2020–2021. During the pandemic, GBS YLD rates rose dramatically , with greater increases seen in low-SDI regions, females and individuals aged 15–29 years. Higher vaccination coverage was inversely associated with GBS disability burden , exhibiting a non-linear protective effect at moderate to high coverage levels. Causal mediation analysis indicated that 44.6% of this association was mediated by reductions in COVID-19 incidence, highlighting both direct and indirect neuroprotective benefits of vaccination programs . These results underscore the importance of sustaining and expanding the vaccine rollout to mitigate the secondary neurological burden associated w...

Summary Background Little epidemiological evidence exists on the protective effects of the JN.1 -adapted mRNA vaccines against COVD-19 hospitalisation and death. In this study, we estimated vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 hospitalisation and death. Methods This nationwide, register-based, cohort study included all Danish residents older than 65 years on Oct 1, 2024 . We used Denmark's national COVID-19 surveillance system and comprehensive population-based registers, which are updated daily and linked via the unique civil registration number assigned to all residents. To minimise differences between the comparison groups with regard to vaccination history, participants were required to have completed a primary vaccination course in 2021 and have received the 2023–24 XBB.1.5-adapted vaccine between Oct 1, 2023, and Jan 15, 2024. Participants with a recent recorded infection, or a vaccine dose since the previous season and prior to study start, were excluded. COVID-19 hospital...

Abstract Various SARS-CoV-2 remdesivir resistance-associated substitutions (RAS) have been reported, but a comprehensive comparison of their resistance levels is lacking . We identified novel RAS and performed head-to-head comparisons with known RAS in Vero E6 cells. A remdesivir escape polyclonal virus exhibited a 3.6-fold increase in remdesivir EC50 and mutations throughout the genome, including substitutions in nsp12 (E796D) and nsp14 (A255S). However, in reverse-genetics infectious assays, viruses harboring both these substitutions exhibited only a slight decrease in remdesivir susceptibility (1.3-fold increase in EC50). The nsp12-E796D substitution did not impair viral fitness (Vero E6 cells or Syrian hamsters) and was reported in a remdesivir-treated COVID-19 patient . In replication assays, a subgenomic replicon containing nsp12-E796D+nsp14-A255S led to a 16.1-fold increase in replication under remdesivir treatment . A comparison with known RAS showed that S759A, located in the ...

Abstract Recent investigations have demonstrated a relationship between the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 and post-COVID-19 conditions . Building upon a potential connection between SARS-CoV-2 persistence and early virologic rebound, we examine the association of early virologic rebound with post-acute mortality and hospitalization due to post-acute sequelae among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Hong Kong . Our study includes 13,859, 3959, and 4502 patients in the all-patient, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and molnupiravir group , respectively. Results show that patients who experienced virologic rebound exhibited a significantly higher risk of post-acute mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36–1.70) with a risk difference [RD] of 7.19%, compared with patients without virologic rebound. A similar increase in the risk of post-acute mortality is also observed in nirmatrelvir/ritonavir-treated patients (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.41–2.25; RD, 12.55%) and molnupiravir-...

  Am J Respir Crit Care Med LAUTRETTE A, Cadoret M, Richard JC, Schwebel C, et al Impact of Visitation Restrictions in ICU on Psychological Symptoms in Family Members: Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2025 Jul 23. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202412-2470. PubMed           Abstract available Clin Infect Dis AKANDE ET, Fowotade AA, Odih EE, Oaikhena AO, et al Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Clin Infect Dis. 2025;80. PubMed           Abstract available STREINU-CERCEL A, Castagna A, Chang SC, Chen YS, et al Efficacy and Safety of Obeldesivir in High-Risk Nonhospitalized Patients with COVID-19 (BIRCH): a Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Clin Infect Dis. 2025 Jul 22:ciaf406. doi: 10.1093. PubMed           Abstract available BOSCOLO-RIZZO P, Spinato G, De Colle R, Maniaci A, et al Five-Year...

  Biochem Biophys Res Commun KUSUMOTO T, Yotsukura M, Asakura T, Namkoong H, et al Induced lung epithelial-like cells derived by direct reprogramming rescue influenza virus-induced lung injury in mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2025;778:152384. PubMed           Abstract available J Infect SAITO R, Chon I, Sato I, Kawashima T, et al Impact of polymerase acidic subunit (PA) substitutions on fever and symptoms in pediatric influenza A patients treated with baloxavir: A pooled four-season analysis. J Infect. 2025;91:106555. PubMed           Abstract available J Infect Dis SIMOES EAF, Suss RJ, Raje DV Human Metapneumovirus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza Associated Pneumonia Hospitalizations in Colorado Adults Aged Over 50 Years: 2016-2023. J Infect Dis. 2025 Jul 21:jiaf381. doi: 10.1093. PubMed           Abstract available J Virol MANNSVERK S, Villamil Gi...

ABSTRACT Many difficult-to-understand clinical features characterize COVID-19 and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC or long COVID [LC]). These can include blood pressure instability, hyperinflammation, coagulopathies , and neuropsychiatric complaints . The pathogenesis of these features remains unclear. The SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) binds angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the surface of host cells to initiate infection. We hypothesized that some people convalescing from COVID-19 may produce anti-RBD antibodies that resemble ACE2 sufficiently to have ACE2-like catalytic activity , that is, they are ACE2-like proteolytic abzymes that may help mediate the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and LC . In previous work, we showed that some people with acute COVID-19 had immunoglobulin-associated ACE2-like proteolytic activity , suggesting that some people with COVID-19 indeed produced ACE2-like abzymes . However, it remained unknown whether ACE2-like abzymes wer...

  Antiviral Res LEBEDIN M, Petrovsky N, Tabynov K, Tabynov K, et al SARS-CoV-2 neutralization and protection of hamsters via nasal administration of a humanized neutralizing antibody. Antiviral Res. 2025;241:106235. PubMed           Abstract available BMJ ARETOULI E, Malik M, Widmann C, Parker AM, et al Cognitive and mental health outcomes in long covid. BMJ. 2025;390:e081349. PubMed           Abstract available Clin Infect Dis SIZA C, Plucinski M, Lessa FC, Campelo E, et al Antibody Response in Healthcare Workers During the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Gamma Variant Outbreak in Manaus, Brazil. Clin Infect Dis. 2025 Jul 16:ciaf318. doi: 10.1093. PubMed           Abstract available SHOHAM S, Dioverti MV Combination Therapy for Protracted COVID-19: When More is More. Clin Infect Dis. 2025 Jul 16:ciaf384. doi: 10.1093. PubMed    ...

  Ann Intern Med CROSLEY E, Martin GS In COVID-19 acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, awake prone positioning vs. supine positioning increases survival without intubation. Ann Intern Med. 2025 Jul 1. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-02004. PubMed           Abstract available JACOBS JW, Booth GS, Lewis-Newby M, Saifee NH, et al Medical, Societal, and Ethical Considerations for Directed Blood Donation in 2025. Ann Intern Med. 2025 May 13. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-00815. PubMed           Abstract available Arch Virol NEMOTO M, Kawanishi N, Kambayashi Y, Bannai H, et al Growth properties of recombinant equine influenza viruses with different backbones generated by reverse genetics in embryonated chicken eggs. Arch Virol. 2025;170:181. PubMed           Abstract available BMC Pediatr SOMERS J, Hansen B, Burger J, Aronoff S, et al Newborn RSV immunization rates and reasons compared...

Abstract Clinical progression and medium-long term morbidity from myocarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations remains an important but undefined public health concern . We conducted prospective follow-up of individuals with either confirmed or probable myocarditis following monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 or Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccination between 21 April 2021 and 5 July 2022 in Australia . Of 256 individuals who consented to follow up, mostly males following a second dose, 60% (133/221) had ongoing symptoms at 3-6 months and 35% (81/231) at 12-18 months. Self-reported ongoing exercise restrictions, medication requirements, and hospital re-presentations were associated with ongoing symptoms, as was a lower self-reported health status and quality of life. Clinical severity remained mild , with low hospitalisation rates and no deaths in the follow-up period and health-related quality of life improved over time. These findings support ongoing use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in at-ri...

Summary Background Nirmatrelvir–ritonavir is approved for adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at risk of severe disease . There are little clinical data to guide the duration of therapy in patients who are immunocompromised. We aimed to compare the approved 5-day regimen of nirmatrelvir–ritonavir with 10-day and 15-day regimens. Methods This placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind, phase 2 trial enrolled non-hospitalised, immunocompromised individuals aged 12 years or older with symptomatic COVID-19 from 73 sites across nine countries. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive 300 mg nirmatrelvir and 100 mg ritonavir orally twice per day for 5, 10, or 15 days. Randomisation was stratified according to whether participants were considered immunocompromised due to use of corticosteroids or tumour necrosis factor blockers. Investigators, participants, and caregivers were masked to the assigned study group. The primary endpoint was proportion of randomly assigne...

Summary Background Obeldesivir is an oral nucleoside analogue prodrug antiviral that inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication . We aimed to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of obeldesivir for the treatment of COVID-19 in non-hospitalised individuals at low risk of progression to severe disease. Methods OAKTREE was a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 107 centres (including research centres, primary care centres, and hospitals) in Japan and the USA . Low-risk, non-hospitalised adults and adolescents with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 were enrolled within 3 days of symptom onset. Eligible participants were randomly assigned 1:1 using permuted block randomisation (block size of four), stratified by historical completion of a primary COVID-19 vaccination series, to receive either oral obeldesivir 350 mg or matched placebo twice daily for 5 days. The primary efficacy endpoint was time to COVID-19 symptom alleviation by day 29, which was assessed in all randomly a...

  BMJ HOUSE TA Pandemic response: no one is immune to getting things wrong. BMJ. 2025;390:r1415. PubMed          BHATT N Covid-19: Indian health ministry refutes links between sudden cardiac death and vaccination. BMJ. 2025;390:r1426. PubMed          Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol NEARY M, Quan K, Tjoa T, Bittencourt CE, et al Did universal masking during the COVID-19 pandemic reduce MRSA and MSSA acquisition in the NICU? Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2025 Jul 11:1-6. doi: 10.1017/ice.2025.10209. PubMed           Abstract available Int J Infect Dis BERG J, Linden K, Zaigham M, Domellof M, et al The Association between Antenatal SARS-CoV-2 Exposure and Infant Neurodevelopment at Four Months of Age: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Survey within the COPE Study. Int J Infect Dis. 2025 Jul 3:107973. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107973. PubMed        ...