Comparisons of the immunological landscape between COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus patients by clustering analysis

Longitudinal voice monitoring in a decentralized Bring Your Own Device trial for respiratory illness detection

The Acute Respiratory Illness Surveillance (AcRIS) Study was a low-interventional trial that examined voice changes with respiratory illnesses. This longitudinal trial was the first of its kind, conducted in a fully decentralized manner via a Bring Your Own Device mobile application. The app enabled social-media-based recruitment, remote consent, at-home sample collection, and daily remote voice and symptom capture in real-world settings. From April 2021 to April 2022, the trial enrolled 9151 participants, followed for up to eight weeks. Despite mild symptoms experienced by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive participants, two machine learning algorithms developed to screen respiratory illnesses reached the pre-specified success criteria. Algorithm testing on independent cohorts demonstrated that the algorithm's sensitivity increased as symptoms increased, while specificity remained consistent. Study findings suggest voice features can identify individuals with viral respiratory illnesses and provide valuable insights into fully decentralized clinical trials design, operation, and adoption (study registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04748445) on 5 February 2021).

Burden of Acute Respiratory Infections Caused by Influenza Virus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, and SARS-CoV-2 with Consideration of Older Adults: A Narrative Review

Influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are acute respiratory infections (ARIs) that can cause substantial morbidity and mortality among at-risk individuals, including older adults. In this narrative review, we summarize themes identified in the literature regarding the epidemiology, seasonality, immunity after infection, clinical presentation, and transmission for these ARIs, along with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on seasonal patterns of influenza and RSV infections, with consideration of data specific to older adults when available. As the older adult population increases globally, it is of paramount importance to fully characterize the true disease burden of ARIs in order to develop appropriate mitigation strategies to minimize their impact in vulnerable populations. Challenges associated with characterizing the burden of these diseases include the shared symptomology and clinical presentation of influenza virus, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2, which complicate accurate diagnosis and highlight the need for improved testing and surveillance practices. To this end, multiple regional, national, and global virologic and disease surveillance systems have been established to provide accurate knowledge of viral epidemiology, support appropriate preparedness and response to potential outbreaks, and help inform prevention strategies to reduce disease severity and transmission. Beyond the burden of acute illness, long-term health consequences can also result from influenza virus, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2 infection. These include cardiovascular and pulmonary complications, worsening of existing chronic conditions, increased frailty, and reduced life expectancy. ARIs among older adults can also place a substantial financial burden on society and healthcare systems. Collectively, the existing data indicate that influenza virus, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2 infections in older adults present a substantial global health challenge, underscoring the need for interventions to improve health outcomes and reduce the disease burden of respiratory illnesses.Graphical abstract and video abstract available for this article.

Trends in Physical Fitness and Nutritional Status among School-Aged Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Shaanxi, China-A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to explore the characteristics of trends in physical fitness and nutritional status among school-aged students during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could help to develop targeted guidelines and policies for students (adolescents) to promote health during lockdowns resulting from public health emergencies.

METHODS

The physical fitness and nutritional status were measured from 2019 to 2021; the correlation between years and grade were analyzed.

RESULTS

a declining trend was found in aerobic fitness, strength fitness, speed fitness, and BMI during this lockdown.

CONCLUSION

The changes in dietary behavior and the decrease in outdoor physical activities may be the reason for the decline. Furthermore, differences in subjects' growth and limited space at home must be considered in the formulation of exercise and nutritional plans. According to the results of our study, exercise for aerobic fitness should receive more attention when students are enduring a pandemic lockdown. In addition, saying "no" to high-calorie foods in the form of snacking and ultra-processed food was the key to improving subjects' nutritional status.