Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine

333-340

Authors: Ana Carolina Marinho Monteiro Lima, Greice Carolina Santos da Silva, Fernanda Khouri Barreto, Filipe Ferreira de Almeida Rego, Luana Leandro Gois, Luciane Amorim Santos

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is associated with the development of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). It has been reported that the HTLV-1 proteins (specifically TAX and HBZ) can modulate FOXp3, resulting in an immune imbalance that can favor the progression of HAM/TSP. This review aims to summarize the literature in order to clarify the relationship between the expression of HTLV-1 mRNAs and/or viral proteins (TAX and HBZ) with the expression of mRNA and/or protein FOXp3 and their correlation with HAM/ TSP development. This systematic review was conducted according to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. The search strategy was performed on the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online and Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences Platform using subject descriptors. After screening, six articles were included in this review. The studies suggested that TAX and HBZ have a directly proportional correlation with FOXp3 in individuals with HAM/TSP, which also presented an increased expression of FOXp3 compared to asymptomatic controls and/or healthy donors. This systematic review indicates that TAX and HBZ can interact with FOXp3 and that interaction may influence HAM/ TSP development.

350-355

Authors: Cesarius Singgih Wahono, Hani Susianti, Tri Wahyudi Iman Dantara, Perdana Aditya Rahman1 , Mirza Zaka Pratama1 , Indah Adhita Wulanda, Khoirunisah Dwi Hartanti, Elvira Sari Dewi, Kusworini Handono

Objective: To describe the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and to find potential associations between antiphospholipid antibody positivity and clinical outcomes. Methods: From September to November 2020, clinical and laboratory data were collected from 50 COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Saiful Anwar General Hospital in Malang, Indonesia. Antiphospholipid antibodies were measured by finding IgM anti- β2 glycoprotein, lupus anticoagulant, and IgM/IgG anticardiolipin. Clinical characteristics, thrombotic events, ICU admission, and mortality during hospitalization were recorded. Disease severity was defined by the Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19, Indonesia. Results: Among 50 patients, 5 patients (10.0%) were positive for antiphospholipid antibodies: 4 patients (80.0%) had IgM anti- β2 glycoprotein and 1 patient had IgG anti-cardiolipin (20.0%) and IgM anti-cardiolipin (20.0%), none of lupus anticoagulant was detected. Antiphospholipid antibodies were associated with anosmia (OR 8.1; 95% CI 1.1-57.9; P=0.018), nausea and vomiting (OR 12.4; 95% CI 1.2-122.6; P=0.010), diarrhea (OR 9.8; 95% CI 1.3-70.9; P=0.010), cardiovascular disease (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.0- 1.9; P=0.001), chronic kidney disease (OR 12.0; 95% CI 1.6-90.1; P=0.05), acute coronary syndrome (OR 29.3; 95% CI 2.0-423.7; P=0.001), moderate (OR 0.11; 95% CI 0.01-1.10; P=0.031) and severe (OR 18.5; 95% CI 1.8-188.4; P=0.002) disease severity, and in-hospital mortality (OR 8.1; 95% CI 1.1-57.9; P=0.018). However, there is no correlation between the presence of antiphospholipid antibody and ICU admission. Conclusions: In summary, the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in COVID-19 patients is low, mainly against IgM anticardiolipin, and is associated with an acute coronary syndrome, gastrointestinal manifestations, moderate and severe disease severity, and increased risk of mortality.

364-374

Authors: Areepong Yupaporn, Sunthornwat Rapin

Objective: To define the alert levels for the total number of COVID- 19 cases derived by using quantile functions to monitor COVID-19 outbreaks via an exponentially weighted moving-average (EWMA) control chart based on the first hitting time of the total number of COVID-19 cases following a symmetric logistic growth curve. Methods: The cumulative distribution function of the time for the total number of COVID-19 cases was used to construct a quantile function for classifying COVID-19 alert levels. The EWMA control chart control limits for monitoring a COVID-19 outbreak were formulated by applying the delta method and the sample mean and variance method. Samples were selected from countries and region including Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and Hong Kong to generate the total number of COVID-19 cases from February 15, 2020 to December 16, 2020, all of which followed symmetric patterns. A comparison of the two methods was made by applying them to a EWMA control chart based on the first hitting time for monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak in the sampled countries and region. Results: The optimal first hitting times for the EWMA control chart for monitoring COVID-19 outbreaks in Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and Hong Kong were approximately 280, 208, 286, and 298 days, respectively. Conclusions: The findings show that the sample mean and variance method can detect the first hitting time better than the delta method. Moreover, the COVID-19 alert levels can be defined into four stages for monitoring COVID-19 situation, which help the authorities to enact policies that monitor, control, and protect the population from a COVID-19 outbreak.

378-380

Authors: Kemmapon Chumchuen, Theerakamol Pengsakul, Edward B McNeil, Natthaphon Nanakorn, Virasakdi Chongsuvivatwong

None.