A low molecular weight lipopolysaccharide antigen preparation reactive to acute leptospirosis heterologous sera.

There is a need for identification of new infection markers against common Leptospira isolates in Malaysia. To achieve this goal, seven-day-old cultures of Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohemorrhagiae (L44) and Leptospira interrogans serogroup Javanica (L55) were used for antigen preparation by sequential extraction method using 40 mM Tris, 8M Urea and 2M thiourea. Immunoblot analysis of the antigens were performed using serum samples from 46 local patients with confirmed acute leptospirosis, 28 patients with other infections and 14 healthy controls. The patients serum samples used in this study contained heterologous antibody against a number of different Leptospira serovars. A strong IgM reactivity to a broad diffuse band of 10-15 kDa was observed. Combining results using L44 and L55 antigens showed sensitivity of 80.4% and specificity of 95.2% for detection of leptospirosis. Proteinase K and periodate treatment indicated that the band is likely to be lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in nature. This study showed that the 10-15 kDa antigen could potentially be useful for serodiagnosis of acute leptospirosis in Malaysia

The health-related quality of life in Iranian patients with COVID-19

Background: COVID-19 is a public health emergency with a high mortality rate and it reduces the patient�s Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) significantly. This effect is measured in the current study. Methods: In a cross-sectional study in Iran, 320 randomly selected treated patients from COVID-19 were studied. To collect the required data, we applied a questionnaire that included socio-demographic factors, clinical characteristics, and questions on the patients� HRQoL. Time trade-off (TTO) approach was used to measure the lost HRQoL attributed to COVID-19. Besides, we applied a two-limit Tobit regression model to determine the effects of the socio-demographic factors on patients� health utility and the visual analogue scale approach was used to estimate the perceived total current health status. Results: The overall mean (SE) and median (IQR) of the health utility values were 0.863 (0.01) and 0.909 (0.21) respectively. These values for the traders (those who were willing to lose a part of their remaining time of life to avoid the disease) were estimated at 0.793 (0.01) and 0.848 (0.17), respectively. The lowest amount of utility value belonged to the elderly (mean (SE) = 0.742 (0.04); median (IQR) = 0.765 (0.42)) and those living in rural areas (mean (SE)) = 0.804 (0.03); median (IQR) = 0.877 (0.30)). The univariate analysis showed that age, place of residence, and household size had a statistically significant effect on health utility. Moreover, findings of the regression analysis indicated that the participants� age and hospitalization status were the key determinants of COVID-19 health utility value. Conclusion: COVID-19 is associated with a substantial and measurable decrease in HRQoL. This decline in HRQoL can be directly compared with that induced by systemic health states. © 2021, The Author(s)

Correction to: The health-related quality of life in Iranian patients with COVID-19 (BMC Infectious Diseases, (2021), 21, 1, (459), 10.1186/s12879-021-06170-z)

After publication of the original article 1, an error was identified in two authors� names. The incorrect names are: Sima Pourteymour; Hassan Mahmoudi The correct names are: Sima Pourteimour; Hassan Mahmoodi The original article has been corrected. © The Author(s). 202