Impact of COVID-19 in social, physical and functional quality of life among reproductive female patients

Background: Those who recovered from the COVID-19, suffers various health-related as well as mental problems. To measure a person's disease impact, disability, and mental condition, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is used. The aim of this study was to assess the state of health-related quality of life of women of reproductive age after recovery from COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Reproductive and Child Health, National Institutes of Public Health and Social Medicine in Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh, during the period from January to December 2020. Total 202 women of reproductive age who were recovered from COVID-19 were included in this study. Results: In this study, majority of the women (46%) were within 36-50 years and majority (20.8%) had bronchial asthma. Most of the respondents suffering from COVID-19 from 15 days to 3 months (43.6%). In a study, the average HRQOL score among respondents was 66.01 (±11.81), with physical well-being scoring highest (19.89±4.41) and functional well-being lowest (14.44 ±4.19). Age-wise, respondents aged 15-25 scored highest in various health domains. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in Fact-G scores across age groups, with 15-25-year-olds scoring highest, indicating a notable age-related variation in health quality. Conclusions: Findings of the study shows that fifteen to twenty-five years’ age of women’s HRQOL was higher than other groups. Educated women have better HRQOL score. Physical wellbeing was higher than other domains and functional wellbeing was lower than other domains. Elderly women who had comorbidities had lower HRQOL score

Antigen-Specific Memory B-cell Responses to Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Infection in Bangladeshi Adults

Background: Multiple infections with diverse enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) strains lead to broad spectrum protection against ETEC diarrhea. However, the precise mechanism of protection against ETEC infection is still unknown. Therefore, memory B cell responses and affinity maturation of antibodies to the specific ETEC antigens might be important to understand the mechanism of protection. Methodology In this study, we investigated the heat labile toxin B subunit (LTB) and colonization factor antigens (CFA/I and CS6) specific IgA and IgG memory B cell responses in Bangladeshi adults (n = 52) who were infected with ETEC. We also investigated the avidity of IgA and IgG antibodies that developed after infection to these antigens. Principal Findings Patients infected with ETEC expressing LT or LT+heat stable toxin (ST) and CFA/I group or CS6 colonization factors developed LTB, CFA/I or CS6 specific memory B cell responses at day 30 after infection. Similarly, these patients developed high avidity IgA and IgG antibodies to LTB, CFA/I or CS6 at day 7 that remained significantly elevated at day 30 when compared to the avidity of these specific antibodies at the acute stage of infection (day 2). The memory B cell responses, antibody avidity and other immune responses to CFA/I not only developed in patients infected with ETEC expressing CFA/I but also in those infected with ETEC expressing CFA/I cross-reacting epitopes. We also detected a significant positive correlation of LTB, CFA/I and CS6 specific memory B cell responses with the corresponding increase in antibody avidity. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that natural infection with ETEC induces memory B cells and high avidity antibodies to LTB and colonization factor CFA/I and CS6 antigens that could mediate anamnestic responses on re-exposure to ETEC and may help in understanding the requirements to design an effective vaccination strategies

Demographic, clinical and microbiological characteristics of patients.

<p>Demographic, clinical and microbiological characteristics of patients.</p

Anti-LTB (A and D), CFA/I (B and E) and CS6 (C and F) specific IgA and IgG antibody responses in plasma in Bangladeshi adults infected with ETEC.

<p>The columns indicate mean responses and the error bars represent standard errors of the mean (SEM). An asterisk denotes a statistically significant difference (<i>P</i><0.05) from the acute stage of infection (day 2). Mean fold changes and responder frequencies compared to day 2 levels are also indicated.</p

Avidity indices of LTB (A and D), CFA/I (B and E) and CS6 (C and F) specific IgA and IgG antibodies in plasma in Bangladeshi adults infected with ETEC.

<p>Columns indicate mean avidity indices, and error bars represent standard errors of the mean (SEM). An asterisk denotes a statistically significant difference (<i>P</i><0.05) from the acute stage of infection (day 2).</p

Correlation analyses^* of antibody avidity index (AI) and memory B cell (MBC) responses in patients infected with ETEC.

<p>*Spearman's test was used for correlation analyses.</p