Article
Surgery
Jason C. Fisher, Sandra S. Tomita, Howard B. Ginsburg, Alex Gordon, David Walker, Keith A. Kuenzler
Summary: Children in the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak showed higher rates of perforated appendicitis compared to historical controls, resulting in longer duration of symptoms in children with perforations. Preoperative detection of SARS-CoV-2 was not associated with inferior outcomes in terms of perforation rates or length of hospital stay.
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael Marshall
Summary: Scientists are gaining insights into the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 on some infected individuals, but many mysteries surrounding this issue remain unsolved.
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Heidi Ledford
Summary: Safety concerns have led to delays in the use of two COVID-19 vaccines, prompting scientists to seek answers to important questions.
Review
Surgery
Paola Solis-Pazmino, Kimberly Oka, Kristina La, Orly Termeie, Luis A. Figueroa, Eduardo Pilatuna, Daniel Solis-Pazmino, Mary Pat Harnegie, Jason Cohen, Moshe Barnajian, Yosef Nasseri
Summary: This meta-analysis and systematic review examined the rates and types of appendiceal neoplasm between complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis. The overall neoplasm rate did not differ significantly between the two groups, but the rate of neuroendocrine tumors (NET) was higher in uncomplicated appendicitis, while the rate of adenocarcinoma was higher in complicated appendicitis.
LANGENBECKS ARCHIVES OF SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Seok-Hoo Jeong, Ja Sung Choi, Jin Woo Kim, Hee Man Kim, Hyun-Soo Kim, Jong Pil Im, Joo Sung Kim, You Sun Kim, Jae Hee Cheon, Won Ho Kim, Byong Duk Ye, Young-Ho Kim, Dong Soo Han
Summary: This study investigated the differences in clinical features between intra-abdominal abscess (IA) and intestinal free-wall perforation (IP) in Korean patients with Crohn's disease. The results showed significant differences in age, location, and behavior between IA and IP patients in Korea, highlighting the need for further research on the clinical implications of these differences.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Susan Zheng, Kerry Christy, Kristy Herzak, Nadia Kobal, Megan Novak, Julia Young, Eiichi Miyasaka
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of postoperative labs in intra-abdominal abscess (IAA) development in pediatric patients with perforated appendicitis. The results showed extensive heterogeneity and overlap in postoperative lab values between patients with and without IAA. Clinical signs were more indicative of abscess formation than postoperative lab results. Although patients with IAA had higher postoperative WBC counts and smaller decreases in WBC count, no specific cutoff value for any examined lab value predicted abscess formation. Therefore, postoperative labs have limited clinical utility in evaluating IAA development in children with perforated appendicitis.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
G. Talamonti, Davide Colistra, Francesco Crisa, Marco Cenzato, Pietro Giorgi, Giuseppe D'Aliberti
Summary: This study reports the occurrence of spinal epidural abscess in COVID-19 patients, a rare phenomenon that has not been previously reported. The primary nature of the abscesses indicates a potential association with initially asymptomatic bacterial contamination in patients. Endotheliitis related to COVID-19 may have facilitated bacterial invasion to the spinal epidural space, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment to prevent high morbidity and mortality.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
William R. Morgenlander, Stephanie N. Henson, Daniel R. Monaco, Athena Chen, Kirsten Littlefield, Evan M. Bloch, Eric Fujimura, Ingo Ruczinski, Andrew R. Crowley, Harini Natarajan, Savannah E. Butler, Joshua A. Weiner, Mamie Z. Li, Tania S. Bonny, Sarah E. Benner, Ashwin Balagopal, David Sullivan, Shmuel Shoham, Thomas C. Quinn, Susan H. Eshleman, Arturo Casadevall, Andrew D. Redd, Oliver Laeyendecker, Margaret E. Ackerman, Andrew Pekosz, Stephen J. Elledge, Matthew Robinson, Aaron A. R. Tobian, H. Benjamin Larman
Summary: This study found strong correlation between the functionality of COVID-19 convalescent plasma and polyclonal antibody targeting of specific peptides in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Antibody responses to specific coronaviruses correlated with the development of highly neutralizing antibodies against CoV-2. Plasma donations reactive to the CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain had higher neutralizing titers.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Dan H. Barouch
Summary: This article reviews the protective effects of vaccination and prior infection on severe Covid-19, and proposes future research directions.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Zhuyin Li, Zhe Li, Longshuan Zhao, Yao Cheng, Nansheng Cheng, Yilei Deng
Summary: Currently, the impact of abdominal drainage on preventing intraperitoneal abscess or wound infection after open appendectomy remains uncertain for patients with complicated appendicitis. The increased rates of overall complication rate and hospital stay in the drainage group compared to the no-drainage group are based on low-certainty evidence. Larger studies are needed to better understand the effects of drainage on morbidity and mortality.
COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qin Liu, Qi Su, Fen Zhang, Hein M. Tun, Joyce Wing Yan Mak, Grace Chung-Yan Lui, Susanna So Shan Ng, Jessica Y. L. Ching, Amy Li, Wenqi Lu, Chenyu Liu, Chun Pan Cheung, David S. C. Hui, Paul K. S. Chan, Francis Ka Leung Chan, Siew C. Ng
Summary: By integrating clinical features and multi-omics data, the authors identified specific gut microbiome patterns associated with disease severity and development of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. These findings highlight the potential utility of host phenotype and multi-kingdom microbiota profiling as a prognostic tool for patients with COVID-19.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
R. Sainz-Amo, B. Baena-Alvarez, I. Parees, G. Sanchez-Diez, P. Perez-Torre, J. L. Lopez-Sendon, S. Fanjul-Arbos, E. Monreal, I. Corral-Corral, N. Garcia-Barragan, J. C. Martinez-Castrillo, A. Fasano, A. Alonso-Canovas
Summary: In our study, institutionalization and oncologic comorbidity, rather than PD-related variables, increased the risk of developing COVID-19 and impacted on its severity. These findings suggest that epidemiologic factors and frailty are key factors for COVID-19 morbidity/mortality in PD.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marcia C. Castro, Sun Kim, Lorena Barberia, Ana Freitas Ribeiro, Susie Gurzenda, Karina Braga Ribeiro, Erin Abbott, Jeffrey Blossom, Beatriz Rache, Burton H. Singer
Summary: The study found that COVID-19 in Brazil is spreading rapidly across municipalities with distinct spatial and temporal patterns of clustering, trajectories, and speed. Analysis shows that inadequate policy measures have led to high transmission and mortality burdens. The current surge in cases and deaths, along with the circulation of concerning variants, highlights the need for government to strengthen prevention and control measures.
Editorial Material
Immunology
Rustom Antia, M. Elizabeth Halloran
Summary: The article discusses the basic concepts underlying the transition from an epidemic to an endemic state, as well as the implications of this transition for COVID-19.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sazada Siddiqui, Heba Waheeb Saeed Alhamdi, Huda Ahmed Alghamdi
Summary: COVID-19 is highly contagious and has caused major disruptions around the world. Prevention is crucial through measures such as self-isolation and vaccination.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)