May 18, 2020 - a podcast by COVID19LST

Your daily COVID-19 LST Report:

— climate: After lockdown was initiated, air pollution over northern India reached a 20-year low with New Delhi seeing 50% reduction in air pollution leading investigators to suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic is a good opportunity to learn and understand how lockdown activities can help minimize air pollution in the long term.

— Epidemiology:  A critically ill 69 year old male COVID-19 patient was found to have both classic COVID-19 CT findings as well as atypical reversed halo sign, suggestive of fungal infection. Endotracheal aspiration culture grew aspergillosis and despite voriconazole treatment the patient ultimately died, emphasizing the importance of considering complicating infections in COVID-19 patients.

— Pathology:  One study found that men and adults, who have each been noted as higher risk for severe COVID-19, had higher soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 than women and children, respectively. Further research is warranted to explore if soluble high angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 level is a risk factor for COVID-19 severity.

—Tramission and Prevention:   False negative RT-PCR results are becoming an increasing problem. A case report of a 46 year old female describes how she initially tested positive on nasopharyngeal RT-PCR but was sent home one week later after results for 4 nasopharyngeal swabs and one anal swab were negative. The following week, however, she tested positive again on nasopharyngeal and anal swab RT-PCR and was readmitted to the hospital.  Investigators summarize the numerous cases of various PPE-induced dermatoses

— R&D:  A human monoclonal antibody was identified to cross-neutralize SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 in cell culture, targeting a common epitope through an unknown mechanism independent of receptor-binding interference. Further study could prove it useful in diagnostic testing, prevention, or treatment of COVID-19.

— Mental Health:  An online survey distributed randomly throughout China to over 5,000 adults without pre-existing psychiatric disorders found that prevalence of anxiety and depression has jumped to over 20%, up from the 2019 reported rate of 4%.

— Visit COVID19LST.org for our full report with links to the articles.

— Reach out to us at: contact@covid19lst.org

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