To estimate the frequency of headache in patients with confirmed COVID-19 and characterize the phenotype of headache attributed to COVID-19, comparing patients depending on the need of hospitalization and sex, an observational study was done. We systematically screened all eligible patients from a reference population of 261,431 between March 8 (first case) and April 11, 2020. A physician administered a survey assessing demographic and clinical data and the phenotype of the headache. During the study period, 2194 patients out of the population at risk were diagnosed with COVID-19. Headache was described by 514/2194 patients (23.4%, 95% CI 21.7–25.3%), including 383/1614 (23.7%) outpatients and 131/580 (22.6%) inpatients. The headache phenotype was studied in detail in 458 patients (mean age, 51 years; 72% female; prior history of headache, 49%). Headache was the most frequent first symptom of COVID-19. Median headache onset was within 24 h, median duration was 7 days and persisted after 1 month in 13% of patients. Pain was bilateral (80%), predominantly frontal (71%), with pressing quality (75%), of severe intensity. Systemic symptoms were present in 98% of patients. Headache frequency and phenotype was similar in patients with and without need for hospitalization and when comparing male and female patients, being more intense in females.Trial registration: This study was supported by the Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), code 07.04.467804.74011 and Regional Health Administration, Gerencia Regional de Salud, Castilla y Leon (GRS: 2289/A/2020).
Interferon (IFN)-alpha is a family of antiviral proteins encoded by different genes. The biological significance of the existence of various IFN-alpha subtypes is not clear. We have investigated the interferon system in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a disease that responds to interferon-alpha2 therapy in only a limited proportion of cases. We analysed the expression of interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-1, IRF-2, and IFN-alpha subtypes in nonstimulated and Sendai virus-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HCV infected patients and healthy controls. We observed that the IRF-1 mRNA and IRF-1/IRF-2 ratios were increased in PBMC from hepatitis C patients with respect to normal subjects. Sendai virus stimulation of PBMC led to a significant increase in the levels of IRF-1, IRF-2 and IFN-alpha mRNAs and in the production of IFN-alpha protein with respect to basal values in healthy controls as well as in patients with HCV infection. In addition, we found that while natural HCV infection induced increased IFN-alpha5 expression in PBMC, in vitro infection of these cells with Sendai virus caused a raise in the expression of IFN-alpha8 in both patients and normal controls. In summary, our results indicate that virus-induced activation of the IFN system in human PBMC is associated with selective expression of individual IFN-alpha subtypes, IFN-alpha5 being the specific subtype induced in PBMC from patients with chronic HCV infection.
Summary
Aspergillosis in Wild Goose (Chloëphaga poliocephala Scl., 1857) in Chile
The first report of Aspergillus fumigatus in wild goose (Cloëphaga poliocephala Scl., 1857) in the South of Chile is presented. The diagnosis was carried out considering the anatomo‐pathological characteristics of the lesions and the isolation identification of the aethiological agent according to Thom and Raper's methodology.
Resumen
Se comunica el primer hallazgo de Aspergillus fumigatus en ganso silvestre (Chloëphaga poliocephala) en el sur de Chile. El diagnóstico fue realizado considerando características anatomopatológicas de las lesiones presentes y aislamiento e identificación del agente etiológico mediante la clave de Thom y Raper (1945).
Zusammenfassung
Aspergillose bei Wildgänsen (Graukopfgans, Chloephaga poliocephala Scl., 1857) in Chile
Es wird der erste Fall von Aspergillus‐fumigatus‐Mykose bei einer Wildgansart (Graukopfgans, Chloephaga poliocephala) im Süden Chiles mitgeteilt. Die Diagnose wurde aufgrund pathologischanatomischer Befunde und durch Isolierung und Identifizierung des ätiologischen Agens mittels des Schlüssels von Thom und Raper (1945) gestellt.
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