In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments have implemented a wide range of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Monitoring and documenting government strategies during the COVID-19 crisis is crucial to understand the progression of the epidemic. Following a content analysis strategy of existing public information sources, we developed a specific hierarchical coding scheme for NPIs. We generated a comprehensive structured dataset of government interventions and their respective timelines of implementation. To improve transparency and motivate collaborative validation process, information sources are shared via an open library. We also provide codes that enable users to visualise the dataset. Standardization and structure of the dataset facilitate inter-country comparison and the assessment of the impacts of different NPI categories on the epidemic parameters, population health indicators, the economy, and human rights, among others. This dataset provides an in-depth insight of the government strategies and can be a valuable tool for developing relevant preparedness plans for pandemic. We intend to further develop and update this dataset until the end of December 2020.

Presently, the whole globe is struggling the tough challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination remains the most effective and safe COVID-19 weapon for adults and in the paediatric population. Aside from possible mild and moderate post-vaccination side effects, more severe side effects may occur. We retrospectively analysed a group of 5 teenagers aged from 15 to 17 years with obesity/overweight (BMI ranging from 24.8 to 30) who presented typical myocarditis symptoms following the first or second dose (3 and 2 patients, respectively) of the COVID-19 vaccine. In the whole study group, a significant increase in troponin serum concentration was observed (1674–37,279.6 ng/L) with a further quick reduction within 3–4 days. In all patients, ST segments elevation or depression with repolarisation time abnormalities in electrocardiography were noticed. Chest X-ray results were within normal limits. Echocardiography showed normal left ventricular diameter (47–56.2 mm) with ejection fraction between 61–72%. All patients were diagnosed with myocarditis based on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. During further hospitalisation, swift clinical improvement was notable. Follow-up in the whole study group was obtained after 106–134 days from initial CMR, revealing no myocarditis symptoms, proper troponin level, and no ECG or echocardiographic abnormalities. At the same time, persistent myocardium injury features were detected in the whole study group, including ongoing myocarditis. COVID-19-vaccine-induced myocarditis seems to be a mild disease with fast clinical recovery, but the complete resolution of the inflammatory process may last over 3 months. Further follow-up and investigation for assessing subsequent implications and long-term COVID-19-vaccine-induced myocarditis is required.

Background Pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 (PIMS‐TS) is an inflammatory disease occurring in a small minority of children a few weeks after acute infection. Cardiac manifestations are common, but little is known about the potentially persistent heart changes after PIMS‐TS. Purpose To analyze the frequency and type of myocardial complications of PIMS‐TS with initial cardiac involvement assessed with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including parametric imaging, performed 3 months after hospitalization. Study Type Retrospective. Population Nineteen consecutive children (median age 10 years, interquartile range (IQR) 10–15 years, 74% male). Field Strength/Sequence Balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP, cine imaging), modified Look‐Locker (T1 mapping), T2‐prepared bSSFP (T2‐mapping), dark‐blood T2‐weighted turbo spin echo with fat suppression and phase sensitive inversion recovery (late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)) sequences at 1.5 T. Assessment Patients were scanned after a median of 99 days (IQR 89–104 days) from the diagnosis. MR data were reviewed by three independent observers, with 13, 2, and 5 years' experience in cardiac MRI. Pre‐ and post‐contrast T1, T2, extra‐cellular volume, and T2 signal intensity (T2 SI) ratio were calculated. Diagnosis of acute myocarditis was based on modified Lake Louise criteria. Cardiac MRI parameters were compared, where possible, to previously published pediatric normal values. Statistical Tests Interclass correlation coefficient and Bland–Altman repeatability analysis. A P ‐value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Despite cardiac involvement including decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (median LVEF = 47%, IQR 43%–53%) and increased troponin I (median 101 ng/mL, IQR 50–661 ng/mL) during hospitalization, there were no persistent cardiac changes observed in cardiac MR at follow‐up. All patients had normal size and function of the left ventricle and normal precontrast T1 and T2 relaxation times. There were no signs of LGE. Persistent, mild pericardial effusion (8–9 mm) was found in three (16%) patients. Data Conclusion There were no persistent changes on cardiac MRI in a group of children approximately 3 months post hospitalization due to PIMS‐TS with cardiac involvement. This supports the hypothesis that cardiac involvement during PIMS‐TS is a form of transient inflammatory response rather than direct and potentially persistent injury from the virus. Level of Evidence 4 Technical Efficacy Stage 3

Introduction. Despite the rapid development of neuroimaging techniques, the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains a significant challenge. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is important for ruling out ALS mimickers, while Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is a useful tool for the identification of cortical tract damage. The aim of this study was to identify the optimal set of DTI parameters to support the diagnosis of ALS that could be applied to everyday MRI and be used as a disease biomarker in daily practice.Material and methods. Forty-seven ALS patients and 55 age-and gender-matched healthy individuals underwent MRI using a 1.5-Tesla scanner including a DTI sequence with 30 spatial directions and a b-value 0/1,000 s/mm2. Two independent researchers measured the DTI parameters: fractional anisotropy (FA), TRACE and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) using freehand regions of interest (ROIs) placed along both corticospinal tracts (CSTs), starting at the level of the internal capsule and ending at the medulla.Results. Statistical significance was only achieved for fractional anisotropy (FA) (ALS vs controls, p < 0.001). The highest sensitivity was found in the brainstem (cerebral peduncles, pons and pyramids) where it ranged from 72.3% to 80.9%, whereas the highest specificity was observed at the level of the internal capsule (94.6%). The combined highest sensitivity and specificity was obtained in the pons (72.3% and 72.7%, respectively). Classifier based positive predictive values for Youden index cut-off scores varied between 60.7% and 69.4%. Conclusions.Fractional anisotropy (FA) measured at the level of the brainstem was shown to be the single most relevant parameter in differentiating patients with ALS from healthy subjects. This has the potential to become an ALS-specific biomarker for patient identification in daily practice.