Search

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, various severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants have been identified with different characteristics than the nonvariant strain. We retrospectively evaluated the demographic and clinical differences in the cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 children (1 month-18 years old) between March 11, 2020, and September 31, 2022, by the time the variants identified in our country predominate. Bonferroni post hoc analysis was performed to compare the differences between the periods. Of the 283 children in this study, 142 (50.2%) were females. The median age was 36 (interquartile range [IQR]: 7-132) months. Sixty-three (22.2%) patients were hospitalized in the nonvariant period, 24 (8.5%) in the Alpha period, 93 (32.9%) in the Delta period, and 103 (36.4%) in the Omicron period. Fever was the most common symptom in all groups, with no statistically significant differences (p = 0.25). In the Omicron period, respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms decreased, and neurological symptoms increased significantly compared to other periods: [respiratory symptoms; nonvariant (65.1%) vs. Omicron (41.7%), (p = 0.024)], [gastrointestinal symptoms; Delta (41.9%) vs. Omicron (22.3%), (p = 0.018), [neurological symptoms; Delta (14.5%) vs. Omicron (31.1%), (p = 0.03]. Altered mental status and seizures were more common during the Omicron period compared to the pre-Omicron (nonvariant, Alpha, and Delta) period (p = 0.017 and p = 0.005, respectively). Although the main symptoms in children with COVID-19 were fever and respiratory symptoms, an increase in severe neurological manifestations was seen throughout the Omicron variant period., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Evidence show that Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been associated with neurological complications in the viral infections. Here in the current investigation, we intended to reveal if MMPs are potentially involved in the development of neurological symptoms in the patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)., Methods: The levels of MMPs, inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules were evaluated in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 10 COVID-19 patients with neurological syndrome (NS) and 10 COVID-19 patients lacking NS. Monocytes from the CSF samples were treated with TNF-α and the secreted levels of MMPs were determined., Results: The frequency of monocytes were increased in the CSF samples of COVID-19 patients with NS compared to patients without NS. Levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, chemokines CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL7, CCL12, CXCL8, and CX3CL1, MMPs MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, and MMP-12, and adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin were significantly increased in the CSF samples of COVID-19 patients with NS compared with patients without NS. Treatment of CSF-derived monocytes obtained from COVID-19 patients with NS caused increased production of MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, and MMP-12., Conclusions: Higher levels of inflammatory cytokines might promote the expression of adhesion molecules on blood-CSF barrier (BCSFB), resulting in facilitation of monocyte recruitment. Increased levels of CSF chemokines might also help to the trafficking of monocytes to CSF. Inflammatory cytokines might enhance production of MMPs from monocytes, leading to disruption of BCSFB (and therefore further infiltration of inflammatory cells to CSF) in COVID-19 patients with NS., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, numerous neurological symptoms emerge. The literature reports more and more manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) related to headache, dizziness, impaired consciousness, cognitive impairment, and motor disorders. Moreover, the infection of SARS-CoV-2 may have a durable neurological impact. ACE2/TMPRSS2 is the main entry point into cells for some strains of coronaviruses (CoVs), including SARS-CoV-2, which uses it to target the central nervous system (CNS). The aim of this study was to characterize the scope of the potential complex impact of a SARS-CoV-2 infection in the brain. It concerns different scales: the topographic, cognitive, sensorimotor, and genetic one. We investigated which cognitive and sensorimotor functions are associated with the brain regions where ACE2/TMPRSS2 is overexpressed, hypothesising that they might be particularly affected by the infection. Furthermore, overexpressed genes in these regions are likely to be impacted by COVID-19. This general understanding is crucial to establish the potential neurological manifestations of the infection. Data on mRNA expression levels of genes were provided by the Allen Institute for Brain Science (AIBS), and the localisation of brain functions by the LinkRbrain platform. The latter was also used to analyze the spatial overlap between ACE2/TMPRSS2 overexpression, and either function-specific brain activations or regional overexpression of other genes. The characterisation of these overexpressed genes was based on the GeneCards platform and the gene GSE164332 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We analysed the cognitive and sensorimotor functions whose role might be impaired, of which 88 have been categorised into seven groups: memory and recollection, motor function, pain, lucidity, emotion, sensory, and reward. Furthermore, we categorised the genes showing a significant increase in concentration of their mRNAs in the same regions where ACE2/TMPRSS2 mRNA levels are the highest. Eleven groups emerged from a bibliographical research: neurodegenerative disease, immunity, inflammation, olfactory receptor, cancer/apoptosis, executive function, senses, ischemia, motor function, myelination, and dependence. The results of this exploration could be in relation to the neurological symptoms of COVID-19. Furthermore, some genes from peripheral blood are already considered as biomarker of COVID-19. This method could generate new hypotheses to explore the neurological manifestations of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 is a newly emerging disease that causes a pandemic situation in the world. Coronavirus can enter into the body in several ways and it damages other organs of the body in addition to the respiratory system. This study aimed at verifying extra-pulmonary manifestation of COVID-19. Methods: The present study was conducted as cross-sectional in a single center from March 1 to May 1 2020 at Firoozgar educational Hospital in Tehran, Iran. 107 patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia according to WHO interim guidance were recruited in this study. Extra-pulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 were recorded. SPSS version 26 was used for all the analyses. Results: The mean (SD) and the median age were 59.3 (17.4) and 62.0 years, respectively and 58 (54.2%) were men. Body temperature of the patients who were equal or less than 60 years was significantly higher than other patients (39.02 vs. 38.08°C, p=0001). The most common extra-pulmonary manifestation was GI symptoms including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, hepatocellular Liver Function Test (LFT) abnormality, cholestatic LFT abnormality, and amylase lipase incensement [37 patients (34.6%]. Ophthalmological, cardiac, neurological and dermatological manifestations were shown in 6.5, 6.5, 14.9 and 14.0% of the patients, respectively. Conclusion: Investigating the clinical and radiological symptoms of COVID-19 showed that SARS-CoV-2 infection may also be associated with extrapulmonary symptoms. Therefore, clinicians and radiologists should be familiar with such symptoms of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, numerous neurological symptoms emerge. The literature reports more and more manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) related to headache, dizziness, impaired consciousness, cognitive impairment, and motor disorders. Moreover, the infection of SARS-CoV-2 may have a durable neurological impact. ACE2/TMPRSS2 is the main entry point into cells for some strains of coronaviruses (CoVs), including SARS-CoV-2, which uses it to target the central nervous system (CNS). The aim of this study was to characterize the scope of the potential complex impact of a SARS-CoV-2 infection in the brain. It concerns different scales: the topographic, cognitive, sensorimotor, and genetic one. We investigated which cognitive and sensorimotor functions are associated with the brain regions where ACE2/TMPRSS2 is overexpressed, hypothesising that they might be particularly affected by the infection. Furthermore, overexpressed genes in these regions are likely to be impacted by COVID-19. This general understanding is crucial to establish the potential neurological manifestations of the infection. Data on mRNA expression levels of genes were provided by the Allen Institute for Brain Science (AIBS), and the localisation of brain functions by the LinkRbrain platform. The latter was also used to analyze the spatial overlap between ACE2/TMPRSS2 overexpression, and either function-specific brain activations or regional overexpression of other genes. The characterisation of these overexpressed genes was based on the GeneCards platform and the gene GSE164332 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We analysed the cognitive and sensorimotor functions whose role might be impaired, of which 88 have been categorised into seven groups: memory and recollection, motor function, pain, lucidity, emotion, sensory, and reward. Furthermore, we categorised the genes showing a significant increase in concentration of their mRNAs in the same regions where ACE2/TMPRSS2 mRNA levels are the highest. Eleven groups emerged from a bibliographical research: neurodegenerative disease, immunity, inflammation, olfactory receptor, cancer/apoptosis, executive function, senses, ischemia, motor function, myelination, and dependence. The results of this exploration could be in relation to the neurological symptoms of COVID-19. Furthermore, some genes from peripheral blood are already considered as biomarker of COVID-19. This method could generate new hypotheses to explore the neurological manifestations of COVID-19.

Some respiratory viruses have long been known to cause neurological involvement. A novel coronavirus, leading to severe acute respiratory syndrome, also called coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), seems to be a new member of neuroinvasive viruses. While severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) keeps on spreading around the world rapidly, reports about the neurological manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2, increases day by day. It is reported that a variety of symptoms and syndromes such as headache, dizziness, confusion, ataxia, epilepsy, ischemic stroke, neuropathic pain and myopathy are common especially in more severe COVID-19 patients. It is also suggested that the development of neurological complications is strongly associated with a poor outcome. On the other hand, hyposmia can be the unique symptom in COVID-19 carriers and this can serve as a marker for identifying the otherwise asymptomatically infected patients. It is thought that SARSCoV- 2 may cause neurological symptoms through direct or indirect mechanisms. Nevertheless, neuroinvasion capability of SARS-CoV2 is confirmed by the presence of the virus, in the cerebrospinal fluid of a COVID-19 patient with encephalitis, and this is proven by gene sequencing. In conclusion, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to be aware of the possible neurological complications of the disease. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to report neurological manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 and possible underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Due to the high homology of SARS-CoV-2 with other human coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)-CoV, reviewing the neurological involvement also associated with these coronaviruses will provide an idea about the longterm complications of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing experience, it has been suggested that the SARS-CoV-2 virus has a neurotropic effect. Here, we present a case of a tonic pupil who developed after COVID-19 infection. A 36-year-old woman presented with progressive photophobia and blurred vision. On neurological examination, loss of deep tendon reflexes accompanying a tonic pupil was detected and brain MR imaging was normal. With this case, we aimed to describe a rare pattern of neurological involvement caused by the possible SARS-CoV-2 virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to analyse neurological symptoms during a Covid-19 infection and determine the pattern of symptoms by comparing outpatients with inpatients. A further goal was to identify possible predictors, such as pre-existing conditions and neurological symptoms. We recorded the clinical data of 40 inpatients and 42 outpatients in this retrospective, cross sectional study. Of them, 68 patients (83%), evenly distributed between the two groups, suffered from neurological symptoms. We identified the onset of neurological symptoms and the related time ranges in 41 patients (36 outpatients and 5 inpatients). Of these, 63.4% reported neurological symptoms on the first or second day of illness. 49 patients (72%) showed combinations of at least two to a maximum of seven different neurological symptoms. A more severe course of disease was correlated with age and male sex, but age was not identified as a predictor for the occurrence of neurological symptoms. Women suffered from central and neuromuscular symptoms more often than men (p = 0,004). The most common symptoms were fatigue (54%), headache (31%), loss of taste (31%), and loss of smell (27%). Pre-existing dementia was associated with increased lethality; similarly, pre-existing stroke was associated with a more severe course of Covid-19 infection. Hallucinations and confusion were related to an increased likelihood of death. The present data demonstrate the importance of comprehensive neurological support of inpatients and outpatients affected by Covid-19. • Dementia and stroke, as a pre-existing condition, are predictors for a severe course of Covid-19. • Hallucination is related to an increased lethality. • In outdoor patients a variety of neurological symptoms and combinations of those occur. • The number of neurological symptoms is related to a prolonged Covid-19 course of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]