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Advanced Biomedical Research on COVID-19 (2nd Edition)
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Advanced Biomedical Research on COVID-19 (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Immunology and Immunotherapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 5372

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Federica Perelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Gynecology and Obstetric Department, Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, 50012 Florence, Italy
Interests: gynaecologic oncology; endometriosis; minimally invasive surgery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

SARS-Cov-2 has spread rapidly worldwide, with significant unexplainable differences in the rapidity of spread between countries. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) obtained via nasopharyngeal swab was the most widely used method of detection for identifying the virus, but antibody testing also reveals specific IgG/IgM against SARSCoV-2. Although SARS‐CoV‐2 is highly contagious, neonates born to women with asymptomatic or symptomatic COVID‐19 are rarely infected with the virus.

This Special Issue aims to implement the current knowledge about novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic procedures for optimal management of COVID-19. Studies addressing maternal–fetal antibody status and obstetric outcomes of COVID-19 during pregnancy are of particular interest.

Dr. Federica Perelli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • SARS-CoV-2
  • COVID-19
  • antibody
  • infection
  • immunity

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2139 KiB  
Article
IL-6R Inhibitors and Gastrointestinal Perforations: A Pharmacovigilance Study and a Predicting Nomogram
by Shupeng Zou, Mengling Ouyang, Qian Cheng, Xuan Shi, Yazheng Zhao and Minghui Sun
Biomedicines 2024, 12(12), 2860; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12122860 - 17 Dec 2024
Viewed by 979
Abstract
Objective IL-6R inhibitors are widely used in many inflammation-related diseases, especially so during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, their relationship with gastrointestinal perforations (GIPs) has been reported more and more. We comprehensively analyzed IL-6R inhibitors in association with GIPs from the United States FDA [...] Read more.
Objective IL-6R inhibitors are widely used in many inflammation-related diseases, especially so during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, their relationship with gastrointestinal perforations (GIPs) has been reported more and more. We comprehensively analyzed IL-6R inhibitors in association with GIPs from the United States FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Methods: A disproportionate analysis was used to quantify the signals of GIPs caused by IL-6R inhibitors using two algorithms, and we assessed the risk using logistic regression analysis. We also established a risk prediction model of GIPs. Results: We identified 994 cases with GIPs of IL-6R inhibitors (tocilizumab and sarilumab) from the FAERS database. The GIPs signals of IL-6R inhibitors were significant, including tocilizumab (reporting odds ratio [ROR] 6.86, 95%CI 6.43–7.31) and sarilumab (ROR 4.03, 95%CI 2.83–5.73). Duodenal perforation had the strongest signals of tocilizumab (n = 312; ROR 19.45, 95%CI 17.33–21.83; IC025 3.72) and sarilumab (n = 14; ROR 9.57, 95%CI 5.66–16.17; IC025 1.92). The median time to GIPs was near 60 days. In total, 71% of the cases occurred within the first six months after tocilizumab treatment. After excluding missing data, we found that independent risk factors included female (OR 1.52, 95%CI 1.16–1.98), ≥40 years (OR 5.63, 95%CI 1.78–17.78), glucocorticoids (OR 1.37, 95%CI 1.10–1.72), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, OR 3.46, 95%CI 2.77–4.32). The risk prediction model showed good discrimination and clinical applicability in both the training (AUC, 0.73) and validation (AUC, 0.75) sets. Conclusions: IL-6R inhibitors may increase the risk of GIPs, especially female, middle-aged patients, IL-6R inhibitors, NSAIDs, and glucocorticoids. Therefore, we suggest that these factors associated with gastrointestinal reactions should be considered during treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Biomedical Research on COVID-19 (2nd Edition))
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17 pages, 2554 KiB  
Article
Increased Risk of Myositis-Specific and Myositis-Associated Autoantibodies After COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccination: A Spanish Multicenter Collaborative Study
by Laura García-Bravo, Alvaro Prada, María Gutiérrez Larrañaga, Eduardo Espinosa Ros, Delia Almeida González, Dolores Martín Martínez, Telesforo Rodríguez Sánchez, Carlos Gustavo Mingorance Gámez, Aurora Jurado Roger, Rocío Aguado Álvarez, María De Las Mercedes Díaz Luna, Carmen Rodríguez Hernández, Raquel de la Varga-Martínez, María López-Cueto, Maria Rosa Julià Benique, Miriam San José-Cascón, Bibiana Quirant-Sánchez, Alba Martínez-Chamorro, Goitzane Marcaida-Benito, Pilar Teresa Timoneda Timoneda, Marta Fandos Sánchez, Beatriz Sacristán Enciso, Kauzar Mohamed Mohamed, Teresa Guerra-Galán, Ángela Villegas, Andrés Roncancio-Clavijo, Margarita Rodríguez-Mahou, Silvia Sánchez-Ramón, Miguel Fernández-Arquero, Gloria Candelas-Rodríguez, Juliana Ochoa-Grullón and on behalf of the GEAI-SEI Groupadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Biomedicines 2024, 12(12), 2800; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12122800 - 10 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1788
Abstract
Background: Emerging evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccines may trigger autoimmune responses in predisposed individuals. Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are diseases with diverse clinical manifestations, often associated with myositis autoantibodies (MAs). Diagnosing IIM is challenging due to limitations in classification criteria [...] Read more.
Background: Emerging evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccines may trigger autoimmune responses in predisposed individuals. Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are diseases with diverse clinical manifestations, often associated with myositis autoantibodies (MAs). Diagnosing IIM is challenging due to limitations in classification criteria and diagnostic assays. This study aimed to describe the incidence of IIM following SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination and compare rates between exposures. Methods: A multicenter observational study was conducted with 788 patients from 11 Spanish referral centers. A total of 1209 autoantibodies including myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSAs) and myositis-associated autoantibodies (MAAs), were analyzed using line blot immunoassay (LIA). Results: The study identified distinct patterns in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) antibody frequencies compared to pre-pandemic periods. Anti-PL-7 was the most prevalent ARS antibody (14.85%), while anti-Jo-1 was less frequent (7.23%). Anti-MDA5, commonly linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection, was detected in 11.68%. ANA positivity was observed in 60.66%, suggesting an autoimmune background. The most frequent diagnoses were anti-synthetase syndrome (ASSD) or IIM-non-ASSD (21.31%), followed by other systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs) (13.57%). Among the cohort, 91.13% received at least one dose of a messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine, with a median of three doses per patient. Patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection or heterologous vaccination showed a higher frequency of multiple autoantibody positivity (p < 0.05), reflecting distinct immune signatures. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the autoimmune risks and phenotypes associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination, establishing a basis for further research on IIM and its link to MSAs and MAAs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Biomedical Research on COVID-19 (2nd Edition))
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11 pages, 855 KiB  
Article
External Validation of the Predictive Accuracy of Clinical and Immunological Scores in COVID-19 Outcomes in a Retrospective Cohort Study
by Alina Doina Tanase, Emanuela-Lidia Petrescu, Teodora Hoinoiu, Daliana-Emanuela Bojoga and Bogdan Timar
Biomedicines 2024, 12(11), 2495; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12112495 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 765
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the development of reliable prognostic tools to predict patient outcomes and guide clinical decisions. This study evaluates the predictive utility of several clinical scores—PAINT, ISARIC4C, CHIS, COVID-GRAM, SOFA, and CURB-65—for in-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients, [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the development of reliable prognostic tools to predict patient outcomes and guide clinical decisions. This study evaluates the predictive utility of several clinical scores—PAINT, ISARIC4C, CHIS, COVID-GRAM, SOFA, and CURB-65—for in-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients, comparing their effectiveness at admission and seven days post-symptom onset. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study conducted at the Clinical Emergency Hospital Pius Brînzeu in Timișoara, adult patients hospitalized with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee, adhering to GDPR and other regulatory standards. Prognostic scores were calculated using patient data at admission and Day 7. Statistical analyses included ROC curves, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and multivariate Cox regression. Results: The study comprised 269 patients, with a notable distinction in outcomes between survivors and non-survivors. Non-survivors were older (mean age 62.12 years) and exhibited higher comorbidity rates, such as diabetes (55.56% vs. 31.06%) and cardiovascular diseases (48.15% vs. 29.81%). Prognostic scores were significantly higher among non-survivors at both time points, with PAINT and ISARIC4C showing particularly strong predictive performances. The AUROC for PAINT increased from 0.759 at admission to 0.811 by Day 7, while ISARIC4C demonstrated an AUROC of 0.776 at admission and 0.798 by Day 7. Multivariate Cox regression indicated that a PAINT score above 8.10 by Day 7 was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) of 4.9 (95% CI: 3.12–7.72) for mortality. Conclusions: The study confirms the strong predictive value of the PAINT, ISARIC4C, CHIS, COVID-GRAM, SOFA, and CURB-65 scores in determining mortality risk among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. These scores can significantly aid clinicians in early-risk stratification and resource prioritization, potentially enhancing patient management and outcomes in acute care settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Biomedical Research on COVID-19 (2nd Edition))
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14 pages, 965 KiB  
Article
Altered Body Composition and Cytokine Production in Patients with Elevated HOMA-IR after SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A 12-Month Longitudinal Study
by Rona Kartika, Imam Subekti, Farid Kurniawan, Syahidatul Wafa, Tika Pradnjaparamita, Dicky L. Tahapary and Heri Wibowo
Biomedicines 2024, 12(7), 1581; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12071581 - 17 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1299
Abstract
Altered body composition and cytokine production due to SARS-CoV-2 antigens may affect homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) after SARS-CoV-2 infection. To elucidate this phenomenon, we conducted a longitudinal study involving 47 COVID-19 patients, who were followed up for 12 months. During [...] Read more.
Altered body composition and cytokine production due to SARS-CoV-2 antigens may affect homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) after SARS-CoV-2 infection. To elucidate this phenomenon, we conducted a longitudinal study involving 47 COVID-19 patients, who were followed up for 12 months. During recruitment, body composition and glucose indices were measured, and heparin blood samples were collected for measuring cytokine production. HOMA-IR was considered an elevated or non-elevated group based on the ratio between HOMA-IR at 12 months and 1 month of convalescence. Those with elevated HOMA-IR had a significantly higher body mass index, body fat percentage, and visceral fat rating and had a lower lean mass and lean/fat mass ratio than their counterparts. During the convalescent period, the elevated HOMA-IR group had lower TNFα, IFNγ, IL-2, IL-10, and granzyme B expression levels but had higher TNFα/IL-10, IFNγ/IL-10, IL-2/IL-10, and granzyme B/IL-10 ratios than the other group. The reduced cytokine production and pro-/anti-inflammatory imbalance in patients with elevated HOMA-IR may suggest immune cell dysfunction toward SARS-CoV-2. Patients with elevated HOMA-IR after SARS-CoV-2 infection may experience an increase in BMI and body fat percentage, leading to increased immune dysfunction and chronic inflammatory condition. A nutritional approach and promotion of physical activity may help reduce HOMA-IR and ameliorate glucose indices in these patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Biomedical Research on COVID-19 (2nd Edition))
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