The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has focused attention on the need to develop effective therapies against the causative agent, SARS-CoV-2, and also against other pathogenic coronaviruses (CoV) that have emerged in the past or might appear in future. Researchers are therefore focusing on steps in the CoV replication cycle that may be vulnerable to… Continue reading #Coronavirus membrane fusion mechanism offers as a potential target for antiviral development
Category: Infectivology
Effectiveness of Surgical and Cotton #Masks in Blocking SARS–CoV-2: A Controlled Comparison in 4 Patients
..Neither surgical nor cotton masks effectively filtered SARS–CoV-2 during coughs by infected patients. Prior evidence that surgical masks effectively filtered influenza virus (1) informed recommendations that patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 should wear face masks to prevent transmission (2). However, the size and concentrations of SARS–CoV-2 in aerosols generated during coughing are unknown. Oberg… Continue reading Effectiveness of Surgical and Cotton #Masks in Blocking SARS–CoV-2: A Controlled Comparison in 4 Patients
Early Transmission Dynamics in Wuhan, China, of Novel #Coronavirus–Infected Pneumonia
The initial cases of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)–infected pneumonia (NCIP) occurred in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019 and January 2020. We analyzed data on the first 425 confirmed cases in Wuhan to determine the epidemiologic characteristics of NCIP.. ..Among the first 425 patients with confirmed NCIP, the median age was 59 years and 56%… Continue reading Early Transmission Dynamics in Wuhan, China, of Novel #Coronavirus–Infected Pneumonia
Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face #masks
We identified seasonal human coronaviruses, influenza viruses and rhinoviruses in exhaled breath and coughs of children and adults with acute respiratory illness. Surgical face masks significantly reduced detection of influenza virus RNA in respiratory droplets and coronavirus RNA in aerosols, with a trend toward reduced detection of coronavirus RNA in respiratory droplets. Our results indicate… Continue reading Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face #masks
Evolving Epidemiology and Impact of Non-pharmaceutical Interventions on the Outbreak of #Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Wuhan, China
..The median age of the cases was 57 years and 50.3% were women. The attack rate peaked in the third period and substantially declined afterwards across geographic regions, sex and age groups, except for children (age <20) whose attack rate continued to increase. Healthcare workers and elderly people had higher attack rates and severity risk… Continue reading Evolving Epidemiology and Impact of Non-pharmaceutical Interventions on the Outbreak of #Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Wuhan, China
A high-#salt diet compromises antibacterial neutrophil responses through hormonal perturbation
The Western diet is rich in salt, which poses various health risks. A high-salt diet (HSD) can stimulate immunity through the nuclear factor of activated T cells 5 (Nfat5)–signaling pathway, especially in the skin, where sodium is stored. The kidney medulla also accumulates sodium to build an osmotic gradient for water conservation. Here, we studied… Continue reading A high-#salt diet compromises antibacterial neutrophil responses through hormonal perturbation
Seasonality of Respiratory Viral Infections
The seasonal cycle of respiratory viral diseases has been widely recognized for thousands of years, as annual epidemics of the common cold and influenza disease hit the human population like clockwork in the winter season in temperate regions. Moreover, epidemics caused by viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the newly emerging… Continue reading Seasonality of Respiratory Viral Infections
Estimates of the severity of #coronavirus disease 2019: a model-based analysis
Using data on 24 deaths that occurred in mainland China and 165 recoveries outside of China, we estimated the mean duration from onset of symptoms to death to be 17·8 days (95% credible interval [CrI] 16·9–19·2) and to hospital discharge to be 24·7 days (22·9–28·1). In all laboratory confirmed and clinically diagnosed cases from mainland… Continue reading Estimates of the severity of #coronavirus disease 2019: a model-based analysis
Potential Effects of #Coronaviruses on the #Cardiovascular System
Coronavirus disease 2019 can cause a viral pneumonia with additional extrapulmonary manifestations and complications. A large proportion of patients have underlying cardiovascular disease and/or cardiac risk factors. Factors associated with mortality include male sex, advanced age, and presence of comorbidities including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and cerebrovascular diseases. Acute cardiac injury determined by elevated… Continue reading Potential Effects of #Coronaviruses on the #Cardiovascular System
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