COVID-19: Look to the Future, Learn from the Past

There is a current pandemic of a new type of coronavirus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The number of confirmed infected cases has been rapidly increasing. This paper analyzes the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 in comparison with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and influenza. COVID-19 is similar to the diseases caused by SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV virologically and etiologically, but closer to influenza in epidemiology and virulence. The comparison provides a new perspective for the future of the disease control, and offers some ideas in the prevention and control management strategy. The large number of infectious people from the origin, and the highly infectious and occult nature have been two major problems, making the virus difficult to eradicate. We thus need to contemplate the possibility of long-term co-existence with COVID-19

The application of metabolomics toward idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and potential metabolomic value of diverse samples in interstitial lung diseases

Abstract Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), also known as diffuse lung diseases, pose a significant challenge to the respiratory health of individuals worldwide. Among these conditions, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one of the most prevalent, contributing substantially to morbidity and mortality. However, IPF is characterized by high heterogeneity, presenting a substantial obstacle to clinical program development and scientific research due to significant variations in disease progression, treatment response, and prognosis. Recent advances in metabolomics have enabled the identification of specific biochemical pathways and disease biomarkers, offering a beacon of hope for patients afflicted with various diseases. Remarkably, metabolomics has made significant strides in ILDs, particularly in IPF. Metabonomics, a branch of life science, provides an in‐depth analysis of metabolic pathways and the specific biological molecular composition of omics, obtained primarily from biological samples such as serum, plasma, pleural effusion, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, lung surgical biopsy samples, urine, feces, sputum, and cerebrospinal fluid. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the application of metabolomics in ILDs, with a particular focus on IPF. By summarizing the current state of research in this field, we hope to shed light on the latest advances, challenges, and opportunities that metabolomics can provide in managing ILDs

Decoding acute myocarditis in patients with COVID-19: Early detection through machine learning and hematological indices

Summary: During the persistent COVID-19 pandemic, the swift progression of acute myocarditis has emerged as a profound concern due to its augmented mortality, underscoring the urgency of prompt diagnosis. This study analyzed blood samples from 5,230 COVID-19 individuals, identifying key blood and myocardial markers that illuminate the relationship between COVID-19 severity and myocarditis. A predictive model, applying Bayesian and random forest methodologies, was constructed for myocarditis' early identification, unveiling a balanced gender distribution in myocarditis cases contrary to a male predominance in COVID-19 occurrences. Particularly, older men exhibited heightened vulnerability to severe COVID-19 strains. The analysis revealed myocarditis was notably prevalent in younger demographics, and two subvariants COVID-19 progression paths were identified, characterized by symptom intensity and specific blood indicators. The enhanced myocardial marker model displayed remarkable diagnostic accuracy, advocating its valuable application in future myocarditis detection and treatment strategies amidst the COVID-19 crisis

Global burden of rabies in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2019: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Objectives: Rabies is an acute lethal infectious disease caused by a lyssavirus infection. In 2018, the World Health Organization proposed a global strategic plan to end human rabies deaths by 2030. However, systematic studies on the global rabies disease burden and epidemiological trends are scarce. Methods: We extracted the disease burden and epidemiological data of rabies worldwide in the preceding 30 years from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 and performed a comprehensive analysis. Results: In 2019, the incident cases of rabies worldwide were 14,075.51 (95% uncertainty interval: 6124.33-21,618.11), and the number of deaths was 13,743.44 (95% uncertainty interval: 6019.13-17,938.53), both of which were lower than that in 1990. With the improvement of the sociodemographic index, the incident cases, the number of deaths, age-standardized incidence rate, age-standardized incidence death rate, and disability-adjusted life years of rabies all showed downward trends. Adolescents and adults aged <50 years represented the majority of rabies cases worldwide. Conclusion: The global disease burden of rabies has declined over the past 30 years. Furthermore, the disease burden of rabies was closely related to the sociodemographic index level

Peripheral blood indicators and COVID-19: an observational and bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Acknowledgements: Not applicable.Blood is critical for health, supporting key functions like immunity and oxygen transport. While studies have found links between common blood clinical indicators and COVID-19, they cannot provide causal inference due to residual confounding and reverse causality. To identify indicators affecting COVID-19, we analyzed clinical data (n = 2,293, aged 18-65 years) from Guangzhou Medical University's first affiliated hospital (2022-present), identifying 34 significant indicators differentiating COVID-19 patients from healthy controls. Utilizing bidirectional Mendelian randomization analyses, integrating data from over 2.46 million participants from various large-scale studies, we established causal links for six blood indicators with COVID-19 risk, five of which is consistent with our observational findings. Specifically, elevated Troponin I and Platelet Distribution Width levels are linked with increased COVID-19 susceptibility, whereas higher Hematocrit, Hemoglobin, and Neutrophil counts confer a protective effect. Reverse MR analysis confirmed four blood biomarkers influenced by COVID-19, aligning with our observational data for three of them. Notably, COVID-19 exhibited a positive causal relationship with Troponin I (Tnl) and Serum Amyloid Protein A, while a negative association was observed with Plateletcrit. These findings may help identify high-risk individuals and provide further direction on the management of COVID-19

Additional file 1 of The genetic etiology of body fluids on chronic obstructive airways disease

Supplementary Material