More than 95% of humans are infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), yet although EBV infection has been associated with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, lymphoproliferative disorders, and several...

Following the adjustment of the dynamic zero-COVID-19 strategy, China has witnessed a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases. However, the relationship between diverse vaccination statuses and the spectrum of symptom presentation, disease severity, and long-term post-COVID conditions remains to be fully understood. This study aimed to assess the impact of vaccination on the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections, the manifestation of acute symptoms, and the occurrence of long-term symptoms post-infection within the context of China's revised pandemic prevention and control measures. This study investigated 6,572 participants from the Yichang COVID-19 Antibody Longitudinal Survey (YC-CALS) in March 2023, focusing on demographic and health-related information, including vaccination history, infection status, and symptomatology. Univariate and multivariate analysis methods were used to determine the correlations between vaccination status and COVID-19 outcomes. Among the surveyed participants, 85.91% reported positive for SARS-CoV-2. Of those who were positive, 96.79% experienced at least one common symptom, with fever (79.34%), cough (62.56%), and fatigue (60.59%) being the most reported symptoms. Despite the high incidence of symptoms, only 2.05% of those who tested positive needed hospitalization. Importantly, symptoms such as palpitations, chest pain, and shortness of breath persisted beyond 90&nbsp;days in certain individuals. Booster shots significantly reduced the risk of specific symptoms including dyspnea, eye soreness and fatigue, and gastrointestinal discomfort (P < 0.05). Vaccination beyond 12&nbsp;months significantly increased symptoms such as decreased sense of smell, palpitations, and chest distress (P < 0.05). Additionally, the study found a positive correlation between the timing of vaccination and the development of long COVID symptoms, with individuals vaccinated more than 12&nbsp;months prior exhibiting a higher likelihood of enduring symptoms such as fatigue (OR = 1.218, P = 0.023) and headache dizziness (OR = 1.244, P = 0.038) for over one month. The findings highlight the critical importance of vaccination in controlling the spread of COVID-19 and reducing symptoms and disease prognosis, providing important insights for future vaccine policy.

Background Long COVID involves persistent symptoms after COVID-19 recovery, affecting multiple organ systems for months or years. Risk factors include female sex, prior chronic conditions, severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, reinfections, and lack of vaccination. As a major public health concern, ongoing research continues to investigate its causes, mechanisms, and long-term effects. Methods Proteomic expression analysis of 171 individuals, in two time points, with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, including 133 long COVID patients from the deeply characterized COVICAT cohort, assessed 1395 protein biomarkers using Olink® technology. Statistical analyses with linear mixed models examined protein expression changes, long COVID status, and sex-specific differences. Functional analysis included gene set enrichment analysis and protein–protein interaction networks. Results Findings revealed VEGFA overexpression in long COVID patients (effect size 0.322, SE = 0.098, p = 0.0013), along with sex-specific expression patterns and the influence of sex-hormonal status in females, with significant overexpression of circulating VEGFA levels specifically in postmenopausal women (Mann–Whitney U test p value = 8.55 × 10−3). Network analysis identified 109 nodes and 274 edges, with VEGFA ranking highest in centrality. Dysregulated chemokine signaling, complement activation, and viral reactivation were also confirmed, consistent with prior studies. Conclusions Using high-throughput proteomic profiling in a population-based cohort, we observed that vascular dysfunction, particularly involving VEGFA, is a key feature of long COVID, especially in milder cases, with significant overexpression of VEGFA in postmenopausal women. Sex-specific proteomic patterns suggest distinct recovery mechanisms, highlighting the need to consider sex, vascular health, and disease severity in the pathogenesis and management of long COVID.

During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, healthcare workers faced a significantly elevated risk of exposure and infection compared to the general population due to their frontline roles in patient care. This heightened risk was compounded by the nature of their work environment and prolonged contact with infected individuals. Despite extensive research on the virus’s immediate impact, limited data exists regarding the prevalence of long-term symptoms, commonly referred to as Long COVID, among healthcare workers. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and profile of long-term symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection, along with associated risk factors, among healthcare workers, with a particular focus on regional data from the Middle East, and to contextualize these findings within the global evidence base. This cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted among healthcare workers at Hamad Medical Corporation, the largest healthcare provider in Qatar, between 24 January 2022 and 24 April 2022. Healthcare workers aged 18 years or older, including physicians, nurses, allied healthcare professionals, and administrative staff, were eligible to participate. The survey assessed the prevalence of Long COVID-19 symptoms, and the symptoms of depression, and anxiety. Over a four-week data collection period, we received 783 complete responses, which exceeded the minimum required sample size. Of the respondents, three-quarters reported long-term symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and one-third reported more than three symptoms. Fatigue was the most common symptom. Gender disparities were observed, with females experiencing a higher incidence of symptoms. Significant associations were identified between a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, a psychiatric history, symptoms of depression, and the development of multiple Long COVID-19 symptoms. These findings highlight the significant burden of Long COVID-19 symptoms on healthcare workers well-being in Qatar. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to support them, especially those at greater risk of adverse outcomes. From a healthcare system perspective, addressing Long COVID-19 symptoms among healthcare workers is critical to maintaining a resilient workforce. This includes implementing access to mental health resources, structured follow-up, and workplace accommodation.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to delineate the long-term outcomes for neonates born to mothers with GDM who contracted COVID-19 around the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in china.Study Design:We enrolle...

Autoantibodies against type I interferons, MPO and ACE2 are associated with COVID-19 severity and poor outcomes, show increasing titers overtime, and corre

Long COVID (LC) impacts one in five children after an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Typical LC symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, pain, and shortness of breath, which can significantly impact individu...

Pediatric Research - COVID-19 infection during pregnancy and infant neurodevelopment

Whether paternal pre-conceptual SARS-CoV-2 infection impacts sperm RNA content, or effects offspring phenotypes, has not been previously investigated. Here authors report changes in sperm noncoding RNAs in SARS-CoV-2 infected sires and increased anxiety-like behaviors in offspring.

This cohort study examines the extent to which COVID-19 continues to generate work absences and decrease labor force participation beyond the pandemic period in the US.

Human T2D beta cell function was restored, the rescuing mechanisms disentangled, and hits identified to promote T2D remission.

A blood test has achieved 96% accuracy in diagnosing the condition in a small study of individuals. What does the test detect, and is it a biomarker of the condition?

Following the Trump administration’s warning last month that using acetaminophen – the active ingredient in Tylenol – during pregnancy can increase the risk of autism in children, very few adults say ...

Translational Psychiatry - Discovery of molecular signature of long-term psychiatric sequelae in COVID-19 through proteome profiling of dried blood spots

Background Antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain provided effective COVID-19 treatment until resistant variants emerged. GB-0669 is a half-life extended monoclonal antibody o...

Groundbreaking new tests reveal patterns in our immune systems that can signal underlying disease and tell us how well we might recover from our next cold. I got my results in a text message.

Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy - Neutralizing antibody durability and SARS-CoV-2 infection in older adults six months after XBB-containing vaccine booster

The newfound ensemble of neurons could lead to therapies to treat persistent pain, which affects roughly one of five people globally.

Large-scale longitudinal health records reveal consistent association of varicella-zoster virus reactivation with dementia.