Associations between vaping and Covid-19: cross-sectional findings from the HEBECO study -
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+Aims: To explore i) associations between vaping and self-reported diagnosed/suspected Covid-19; ii) changes in vaping since Covid-19 and factors associated with these changes; iii) whether Covid-19 motivated current or recent ex-vapers to quit. Methods: Cross-sectional online survey of 2791 UK adults recruited 30/04/2020-14/06/2020. Participants self-reported data on sociodemographic characteristics, diagnosed/suspected Covid-19, vaping status, changes in vaping and motivation to quit vaping since Covid-19. Results: There were no differences in diagnosed/suspected Covid-19 between never, current and ex-vapers. Bayes factors indicated there was sufficient evidence to rule out small negative (protective) associations between vaping status and diagnosed/suspected Covid-19. Among current vapers (n=397), 9.7% (95% CI 6.8-12.6%) reported vaping less than usual since Covid-19, 42.0% (37.2-46.9%) reported vaping more, and 48.3% (43.4-53.2%) reported no change. In adjusted analyses, vaping less was associated with being female (aOR=3.40, 95% CI 1.73-6.71), not living with children (aOR=4.93, 1.15-21.08) and concurrent smoking (aOR=8.77, 3.04-25.64), while vaping more was associated with being younger (aOR=5.26, 1.37-20.0), living alone (aOR=2.08, 1.14-3.85), and diagnosed/suspected Covid-19 (aOR=4.72, 2.60-8.62). Of current vapers, 32.2% (95% CI 27.5-36.8%) were motivated to quit vaping since Covid-19, partly motivated by Covid-19, and 17.4%, (9.7-26.3%) of recent ex-vapers quit vaping due to Covid-19. Conclusions: Among UK adults, self-reported diagnosed/suspected Covid-19 was not associated with vaping status. Half of current vapers changed their vaping consumption since Covid-19, with the majority reporting an increase, and a minority was motivated to quit due to Covid-19.
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Variants in SARS-CoV-2 Associated with Mild or Severe Outcome -
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+Abstract: Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global public health emergency causing a disparate burden of death and disability around the world. The molecular characteristics of the virus that predict better or worse outcome are largely still being discovered. Methods: We downloaded 155,958 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomes from GISAID and evaluated whether variants improved prediction of reported severity beyond age and region. We also evaluated specific variants to determine the magnitude of association with severity and the frequency of these variants among the genomes. Results: Logistic regression models that included viral genomic variants outperformed other models (AUC=0.91 as compared with 0.68 for age and gender alone; p<0.001). Among individual variants, we found 17 single nucleotide variants in SARS-CoV-2 have more than two-fold greater odds of being associated with higher severity and 67 variants associated with ā¤0.5 times the odds of severity. The median frequency of associated variants was 0.15% (interquartile range 0.09%-0.45%). Altogether 85% of genomes had at least one variant associated with patient outcome. Conclusion: Numerous SARS-CoV-2 variants have two-fold or greater association with odds of mild or severe outcome and collectively, these variants are common. In addition to comprehensive mitigation efforts, public health measures should be prioritized to control the more severe manifestations of COVID-19 and the transmission chains linked to these severe cases.
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Large parallel screen of saliva and nasopharyngeal swabs in a test center setting proofs utility of saliva as alternate specimen for SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-PCR -
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+Background A high volume of testing followed by rapid isolation and quarantine measures is critical to the containment of SARS-CoV-2. RT-PCR of nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) has been established as sensitive gold standard for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Yet, additional test strategies are in demand to increase and broaden testing opportunities. As one attractive option, saliva has been discussed as an alternative to NPS as its collection is simple, non-invasive, suited for children and amenable for mass- and home-testing. Methods Here, we report on the outcome of a head-to-head comparison of SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-PCR in saliva and nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) of 1187 adults and children reporting to outpatient test centers and an emergency unit for an initial SARS-CoV-2 screen. Results In total, 252 individuals were tested SARS-CoV-2 positive in either NPS or saliva. SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR results in the two specimens showed a high agreement (Overall Percent Agreement = 98.0%). Despite lower viral loads in saliva, we observed sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva up to a threshold of Ct 33 in the corresponding NPS (Positive Percent Agreement = 97.7%). In patients with Ct above 33 in NPS, agreement rate dropped but still reaches notable 55.9%. Conclusion The comprehensive parallel analysis of NPS and saliva reported here establishes saliva as a reliable specimen for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 that can be readily added to the diagnostic portfolio to increase and facilitate testing.
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A Novel Model for Simulating COVID-19 Dynamics Through Layered Infection States that Integrate Concepts from Epidemiology, Biophysics and Medicine: SEI3R2S-Nrec -
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+Introduction. Effectively modeling SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 dynamics requires careful integration of population health (public health motivation) and recovery dynamics (medical interventions motivation). This manuscript proposes a minimal pandemic model, which conceptually separates complex adaptive systems (CAS) associated with social behavior and infrastructure (e.g., tractable input events modulating exposure) from idealized bio-CAS (e.g., the immune system). The proposed model structure extends the classic simple SEIR (susceptible, exposed, infected, resistant/recovered) uni-causal compartmental model, widely used in epidemiology, into an 8th-order functional network SEI3R2S-Nrec model structure, with infection partitioned into three severity states (e.g., starts in I1, mostly asymptomatic, then I2 if notable symptoms, then I3 if should be hospitalized) connecting via a lattice of paths to two flux-partitioned resistant (R) states. Here Nrec (not recovered) represents a placeholder for better tying emerging SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 medical research findings with those from epidemiology. This is viewed as the minimal model that could be applicable to both a population (public health motivation) and to recovery dynamics (medical interventions motivation). Methods. Borrowing from fuzzy logic, a given model represents a Universe of Discourse (UoD) that is based on assumptions. Nonlinear flux rates are implemented using the classic Hill function, widely used in the biochemical and pharmaceutical fields and intuitive for inclusion within differential equations. There is support for encounter input events that modulate ongoing E (exposures) fluxes via S>I1 and other I1/2/3 encounters, partitioned into a social/group (uSG(t)) behavioral subgroup (e.g., ideally using evolving science best-practices), and a smaller uTB(t) subgroup with added spreader lifestyle and event support. In addition to signal and flux trajectories (e.g., plotted over 300 days), key cumulative output metrics are calculated (e.g., for fluxes such as I3>D deaths, I1>I2 cases and I2>I3 hospital admittances). The model is available for use; an interactive web-based version will follow. Results. Default population results are provided for the USA as a whole, for three states in which this author has lived (Arizona, Wisconsin, Oregon), and for several special hypothetical cases of idealized UoDs (e.g., nursing home; healthy low-risk mostly on I1>R1 path, demonstrating reinfections). Often known events were included (e.g., pulses for holiday weekends and election; Trump/governor-inspired summer outbreak in Arizona). Runs were mildly tuned by the author, in two stages: i) mild model-tuning (e.g., for obesity), then ii) iterative input tuning to obtain similar overall March-thru-November curve shapes and appropriate cumulative numbers for cases (lower than I1>I2 flux), hospitalizations (~I3) and deaths (I3>D flux). Both curve shapes and cumulative metrics are consistent with available data and could be further refined by groups with more resources (human, computational, data access). It is hoped that its causal predictions might prove helpful, with the starter models offered to policymakers, medical professionals, and on the ground managers of science-based interventions. Discussion and Future Directions. These include: i) the sensitivity of the model and inputs; ii) possible next steps for this SEI3R2S-Nrec framework that may include treating key compartments as dynamic sub-model clusters, to better address compartment-specific forms of population diversity (an extension that bears similarity to how biochemical reaction dynamics can occur within compartments, here for E [host-parasite biophysics], I [infection diversity], and/or R [immune diversity]); iii) the models potential utility as a framework for applying optimal/feedback control engineering to help manage the ongoing pandemic response in the context of competing subcriteria that must evolve with new tools (e.g., more testing, vaccines with temporary immunity); and iv) ways in which the Nrec medical submodel could be expanded to provide refined estimates of the types of tissue damage, impairments and dysfunction that are known byproducts of the COVID-19 disease process.
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Implications of delayed reopening in controlling the COVID-19 surge in Southern and West-Central USA -
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+In the wake of the rapid surge in the Covid-19 infected cases seen in Southern and West-Central USA in the period of June-July 2020, there is an urgent need to develop robust, data-driven models to quantify the effect which early reopening had on the infected case count increase. In particular, it is imperative to address the question: How many infected cases could have been prevented, had the worst affected states not reopened early? To address this question, we have developed a novel Covid-19 model by augmenting the classical SIR epidemiological model with a neural network module. The model decomposes the contribution of quarantine strength to the infection timeseries, allowing us to quantify the role of quarantine control and the associated reopening policies in the US states which showed a major surge in infections. We show that the upsurge in the infected cases seen in these states is strongly co-related with a drop in the quarantine/lockdown strength diagnosed by our model. Further, our results demonstrate that in the event of a stricter lockdown without early reopening, the number of active infected cases recorded on 14 July could have been reduced by more than 40% in all states considered, with the actual number of infections reduced being more than 100,000 for the states of Florida and Texas. As we continue our fight against Covid-19, our proposed model can be used as a valuable asset to simulate the effect of several reopening strategies on the infected count evolution; for any region under consideration.
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Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of adults with mental health conditions in the UK: A qualitative interview study -
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+Background People with mental health conditions have been identified as particularly vulnerable to poor mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, why this population have faced these adverse effects, how they have experienced them and how they have coped during the pandemic remains under-explored. Aims To explore how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of people with existing mental health conditions, and to identify protective factors and coping strategies applied to support positive mental health. Method Semi-structured qualitative interviews and thematic analysis with 22 people with pre-existing mental health conditions. Results Five pandemic related factors contributed to a deterioration in mental health: i) feeling safe but isolated at home ii) disruption to mental health services, iii) cancelled plans and changed routines iv) uncertainty and lack of control, and v) rolling media coverage. Five coping strategies and protective factors were identified for maintaining mental health: i) previous experience of adversity ii) feeling less accountable to others iii) engaging in hobbies and activities, iv) staying connected with others, and v) perceived social support. Conclusions Particular challenges were identified that were a direct result of the pandemic and people with severe mental illnesses were particularly negatively affected. However, some participants found this period a time of respite, were able to draw upon reserves of resilience and adapt their coping strategies to maintain positive wellbeing.
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Social relationships and depression during the COVID-19 lockdown: longitudinal analysis of the COVID-19 social study -
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+Background The COVID-19 pandemic led to social and physical distancing measures that reduced social contact and support. We explored whether people with more frequent and supportive social contact had fewer depressive symptoms during the UK Spring 2020 lockdown, whether this applied to face-to-face and remote electronic contact, and whether people with higher empathy levels, or more frequent pre-COVID social contact with others were more protected. Methods UK dwelling participants aged 18 or older in the internet-based longitudinal COVID-19 Social Study completed up to 22 weekly questionnaires about frequency of face-to-face and phone/video social contact, perceived social support, and depressive symptoms assessed with the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9). Mixed linear models examined associations between social contact and support, and depressive symptoms. We examined for interaction by empathic concern and perspective taking and pre-COVID social contact frequency. Results In 71,117 people with mean age 49 years (standard deviation 15) we found that daily face-to-face or phone/video contact was associated with lower PHQ-9 scores (mean difference 0.258 (95% confidence interval 0.225, 0.290) and 0.117 (0.080, 0.154) respectively) compared to having no contact. Those with high social support scored 1.836 (1.801, 1.871) PHQ-9 points lower than those with low support. The odds ratio for depression for those with daily face-to-face social contact compared to no face-to-face contact was 0.712 (0.678, 0.747). Daily compared to no phone/video contact was associated with odds ratio for depression 0.825 (0.779, 0.873). And reporting high, compared to low, social support was associated with 0.145 (95%CI 0.138, 0.152) odds ratio for depression. The negative association between social relationships and depressive symptoms was stronger for those with high empathic concern, perspective taking and usual sociability. Conclusions Those who had more face-to-face contact during lockdown had fewer depressive symptoms. Phone or video communication were beneficial but less so. People who were usually more sociable or had higher empathy were more likely to have depressive symptoms during enforced reduced social contact. Results have implications both for our management of COVID-19 and potential future pandemics, and for our understanding of the relationship between social factors and mental health.
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Effect of Vitamin D deficiency on COVID-19 status: A systematic review -
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+Background: One major micronutrient known to have a possible protective effect against COVID-19 disease is vitamin D. This systematic review sought to identify and synthesis available evidence to aid the understanding of the possible effect of vitamin D deficiency on COVID-19 status and health outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Methods: Three databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched systematically to obtain English language journal article published within 1/12/2019 and 3/11/2020. The search consisted of the terms (āVitamin D,ā OR ā25āHydroxyvitamin D,ā OR āLow Vitamin D.ā) AND (āCOVID-19ā OR ā2019-nCoVā OR āCoronavirusā OR āSARS-CoV-2ā) AND (ādisease severityā OR āIMVā OR āICU admissionā OR āmortalityā OR āhospitalizationā OR āinfectionā). We followed the recommended PRISMA guidelines in executing this study. After going through the screening of the articles, eleven articles were included in the review. Findings: Almost all the included studies reported a positive association between Vitamin D sufficiency and COVID-19 status and health outcomes. Vitamin D deficient patients (< 25 ng/mL) are 5.84 times [aOR=6.84, p=0.01] more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to the vitamin D sufficient people. Another study also found that Vitamin D deficiency is associated with higher risk of death with Hazard ratio (HR) 14.73, p<0.001. Vitamin D deficient (<12 ng/mL) people were 2.2 times [aOR=3.2, p=0.07] more likely to develop severe COVID-19 after adjusting for age, gender, obesity, cardiac disease, and kidney disease compared to the vitamin D sufficient people. One study found that after controlling for confounders, patients with low 25(OH)D (<30 ng/mL) level are more likely [aOR=1.45, p=<0.001] to be COVID-19 infected compared to the patients with 25(OH)D level >=30 ng/mL. Conclusion: Findings from the study included suggest Vitamin D may serve as a mitigating effect for covid-19 infection, severity and mortality. We recommend the need to encourage people to eat foods rich in vitamin D such as fish, red meat, liver and egg yolks whiles at the same time providing vitamin D supplements for individuals with COVID-19 in order to boost their immune systems.
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Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infections in times of material shortage -
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+The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 resulted in increasing demands for diagnostic tests, leading to a shortage of recommended testing materials and reagents. This study reports on the performance of self-sampled alternative swabbing material (ordinary Q-tips tested against flocked swab and rayon swab), of reagents for classical RNA extraction (phenol/guanidine-based protocol against a commercial kit), and of intercalating dye-based one-step quantitative reverse transcription real-time PCRs (RT-qPCR) compared against the gold standard hydrolysis probe-based assays for SARS-CoV-2 detection. The study found sampling with Q-tips, RNA extraction with classical protocol and intercalating dye-based RT-qPCR as a reliable and comparably sensitive strategy for detection of SARS-CoV-2 - particularly valuable in the current period with a resurgent and dramatic increase in SARS-CoV-2 infections and growing shortage of diagnostic materials as well for regions limited in resources.
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How effective are face coverings in reducing transmission of COVID-19? -
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+In the COVID-19 pandemic, among the more controversial issues is the use of face coverings. To address this we show that the underlying physics ensures particles with diameters (> 1 micron) are efficiently filtered out by a simple cotton or surgical mask. For particles in the submicron range the efficiency depends on the material properties of the masks, though generally the filtration efficiency in this regime varies between 30 to 60 % and multi-layered cotton masks are expected to be comparable to surgical masks. Respiratory droplets are conventionally divided into coarse droplets (> 5-10 micron) responsible for droplet transmission and aerosols (< 5-10 micron) responsible for airborne transmission. Masks are thus expected to be highly effective at preventing droplet transmission, with their effectiveness limited only by the mask fit, compliance and appropriate usage. By contrast, knowledge of the size distribution of bioaerosols and the likelihood that they contain virus is essential to understanding their effectiveness in preventing airborne transmission. We argue from literature data on SARS-CoV-2 viral loads that the finest aerosols (< 1 micron) are unlikely to contain even a single virion in the majority of cases; we thus expect masks to be effective at reducing the risk of airborne transmission in most settings.
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Sewage, Salt, Silica and SARS-CoV-2 (4S): An economical kit-free method for direct capture of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from wastewater. -
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+Wastewater-based epidemiology is an emerging tool to monitor COVID-19 infection levels by measuring the concentration of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in wastewater. There remains a need to improve wastewater RNA extraction methods9 sensitivity, speed, and reduce reliance on often expensive commercial reagents to make wastewater-based epidemiology more accessible. We present a kit-free wastewater RNA extraction method, titled āSewage, Salt, Silica and SARS-CoV-2ā (4S), that employs the abundant and affordable reagents sodium chloride (NaCl), ethanol and silica RNA capture matrices to recover 6-fold more SARS-CoV-2 RNA from wastewater than an existing ultrafiltration-based method. The 4S method concurrently recovered pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) and human 18S ribosomal subunit rRNA, both suitable as fecal concentration controls. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations measured in three sewersheds corresponded to the relative prevalence of COVID-19 infection determined via clinical testing. Lastly, controlled experiments indicate that the 4S method prevented RNA degradation during storage of wastewater samples, was compatible with heat pasteurization, and could be performed in approximately 3 hours. Overall, the 4S method is promising for effective, economical, and accessible wastewater-based epidemiology for SARS-CoV-2, providing another tool to fight the global pandemic.
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No current evidence for risk of vaccine-driven virulence evolution in SARS-CoV-2 -
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+Vaccines that reduce clinical severity but not infection or transmission could drive the evolution of increased rates of pathogen-inflicted damage, or virulence. Preliminary evidence suggests that COVID-19 vaccines might have such differential effects, conferring greater protection in the lower respiratory tract, where viral growth most impacts severity, than in the upper respiratory tract, where infection is chiefly determined. However, the evolution of increased virulence can only occur under certain conditions, which include the existence of a positive association between transmission and severity linked to viral genetic variation. Here, we review the current evidence for these conditions, which does not point to a risk of vaccine driven virulence evolution. An evo-epidemiological model also indicates that upper respiratory tract protection can minimize or negate selection for increased virulence should these conditions be met. Despite low apparent risks, SARS-CoV-2 virulence should be monitored, and transmission-limiting characteristics should be prioritized for second-wave vaccines.
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Impact of social distancing regulations and epidemic risk perception on social contact and SARS-CoV-2 transmission potential in rural South Africa: analysis of repeated cross-sectional surveys -
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+Background: South Africa implemented rapid and strict physical distancing regulations to minimize SARS-CoV-2 epidemic spread. Evidence on the impact of such measures on interpersonal contact in rural and lower-income settings is limited. Methods: We compared population-representative social contact surveys conducted in the same rural KwaZulu-Natal location once in 2019 and twice in mid-2020. Respondents reported characteristics of physical and conversational (9close interaction9) contacts over 24 hours. We built age-mixing matrices and estimated the proportional change in the SARS-CoV-2 reproduction number (R0). Respondents also reported counts of others present at locations visited and transport used, from which we evaluated change in potential exposure to airborne infection due to shared indoor space (9shared air9). Results: Respondents in March-December 2019 (n=1704) reported a mean of 7.4 close interaction contacts and 196 shared air person-hours beyond their homes. Respondents in June-July 2020 (n=216), as the epidemic peaked locally, reported 4.1 close interaction contacts and 21 shared air person-hours outside their home, with significant declines in others9 homes and public spaces. Adults aged over 50 had fewer close contacts with others over 50, but little change in contact with 15-29 year olds, reflecting ongoing contact within multigenerational households. We estimate potential R0 fell by 42% (95% plausible range 14-59%) between 2019 and June-July 2020. Discussion: Extra-household social contact fell substantially following imposition of Covid-19 distancing regulations in rural South Africa. Ongoing contact within intergenerational households highlighted the limitation of social distancing measures in protecting older adults.
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Accuracy of automated computer aided-risk scoring systems to estimate the risk of COVID-19 and in-hospital mortality: a retrospective cohort study -
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+Objectives: Although a set of computer-aided risk scoring systems (CARSS), that use the National Early Warning Score and routine blood tests results, have been validated for predicting in-hospital mortality and sepsis in unplanned admission to hospital, little is known about their performance for COVID-19 patients. We compare the performance of CARSS in unplanned admissions with COVID-19 during the first phase of the pandemic. Design: a retrospective cross-sectional study Setting: Two acute hospitals (Scarborough and York) are combined into a single dataset and analysed collectively. Participants: Adult (>=18 years) non-elective admissions discharged between 11-March-2020 to 13-June-2020 with an index NEWS electronically recorded within 24 hours. We assessed the performance of all four risk score (for sepsis: CARS_N, CARS_NB; for mortality: CARM_N, CARM_NB) according to discrimination (c-statistic) and calibration (graphically) in predicting the risk of COVID-19 and in-hospital mortality. Results: The risk of in-hospital mortality following emergency medical admission was 8.4% (500/6444) and 9.6% (620/6444) had a diagnosis of COVID-19. For predicting COVID-19 admissions, the CARS_N model had the highest discrimination 0.73 (0.71 to 0.75) and calibration slope 0.81 (0.72 to 0.89). For predicting in-hospital mortality, the CARM_NB model had the highest discrimination 0.84 (0.82 to 0.75) and calibration slope 0.89 (0.81 to 0.98). Conclusions: Two of the computer-aided risk scores (CARS_N and CARM_NB) are reasonably accurate for predicting the risk of COVID-19 and in-hospital mortality, respectively. They may be clinically useful as an early warning system at the time of admission especially to triage large numbers of unplanned hospital admissions because they are automated and require no additional data collection.
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Is the end near? When the different countries will surmount COVID-19 pandemic: new approach applying physical, mathematical and game theory models. -
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+In the year 2020 COVID-19 pandemic was a global issue that changed mankind9s lifestyle. Since then, when we will control the pandemic and recover our normal life has become the paramount question to be answered, and it needs to be solved. One problem is that there are wealthy countries, with very good health care systems and scientific resources while others barely dedicate 100 US $ per citizen per year, rich countries could cooperate at different levels with poorer ones. In such a diverse context classic epidemiology models, excellent for predicting short term evolution of the pandemic at a local level are not as suitable for long term predictions at a global scale specially if the data they use are of questionable accuracy. Alternatively, big data and AI approaches have been tried. There is an option that can be more effective. Physics applies predictive models about the duration of an event based on analysing the dynamics of the time evolution of the event itself. These models can be used alongside with probabilistic and game theory models that consider different degrees of cooperation. By means of the physics Delta-t argument and a game theory model (cooperate versus defector) we calculate when different countries may control COVID-19 pandemic. In a non-cooperate model, those countries with more resources and best manage the pandemic will have it under control between May and September 2021, whereas those with no resources will suffer the pandemic until at least October 2023. On the other hand, a strong cooperative model will allow that the majority could control the COVID-19 pandemic between October 2021 and November 2022.
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Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial 4 (ACTT-4) - Condition: Ā COVID-19 Interventions: Ā Drug:Ā Baricitinib; Ā Drug:Ā Dexamethasone; Ā Other:Ā Placebo; Ā Drug:Ā Remdesivir Sponsor: Ā National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Recruiting
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Phase I Trial of a Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine (CHO Cell) - Condition: Ā COVID-19 Interventions: Ā Biological: Two doses of middle-dose recombinant SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CHO Cell) at the schedule of day 0, 14; Ā Biological: Three doses of middle-dose recombinant SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CHO Cell) at the schedule of day 0, 14, 28; Ā Biological: Two doses of high-dose recombinant SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CHO Cell) at the schedule of day 0, 14; Ā Biological: Three doses of high-dose recombinant SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CHO Cell) at the schedule of day 0, 14, 28; Ā Biological: Two doses of placebo at the schedule of day 0, 14 #middle-dose group#; Ā Biological: Three doses of placebo at the schedule of day 0, 14, 28 #middle-dose group#; Ā Biological: Two doses of placebo at the schedule of day 0, 14 #High-dose group#; Ā Biological: Three doses of placebo at the schedule of day 0, 14, 28 #High-dose group# Sponsors: Ā Jiangsu Province Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Ā Academy of Military Medical Sciencesļ¼Academy of Military Sciencesļ¼PLA; Ā ZHONGYIANKEĀ BiotechĀ Co,Ā Ltd.; Ā LIAONINGMAOKANGYUANĀ BiotechĀ Co,Ā Ltd Recruiting
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Vitamin D and Zinc Supplementation for Improving Treatment Outcomes Among COVID-19 Patients in India - Condition: Ā COVID-19 Interventions: Ā DietaryĀ Supplement:Ā VitaminĀ D3Ā (cholecalciferol); Ā DietaryĀ Supplement:Ā ZincĀ (zincĀ gluconate); Ā Dietary Supplement: Zinc (zinc gluconate) & Vitamin D (cholecalciferol); Ā Other:Ā Placebo Sponsors: Ā HarvardĀ SchoolĀ ofĀ PublicĀ Health; Ā FoundationĀ forĀ MedicalĀ Research; Ā UniversityĀ HealthĀ Network,Ā Toronto Not yet recruiting
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WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Trial for COVID-19 Treatments - Condition: Ā Covid19 Interventions: Ā Drug:Ā Remdesivir; Ā Drug:Ā Acalabrutinib; Ā Drug:Ā InterferonĀ beta-1a; Ā Other:Ā StandardĀ ofĀ Care Sponsor: Ā TheĀ UniversityĀ ofĀ TheĀ WestĀ Indies Not yet recruiting
Effect of Vitamin D on Hospitalized Adults With COVID-19 Infection - Condition: Ā Covid19 Interventions: Ā Drug:Ā Cholecalciferol; Ā Other:Ā Placebo Sponsors: Ā UniversityĀ ofĀ Liege; Ā LaboratoiresĀ SMBĀ S.A. Recruiting
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Efficacy and Safety of Ovotransferrin in COVID-19 Patients - Condition: Ā Covid19 Intervention: Ā DietaryĀ Supplement:Ā Ovotransferrin Sponsor: Ā Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico Paolo Giaccone Palermo Not yet recruiting
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Using Travelan to Boost Immune Response in Vitro to COVID-19 - Condition: Ā Covid19 Intervention: Ā Other:Ā TravelanĀ OTC Sponsor: Ā HadassahĀ MedicalĀ Organization Active, not recruiting
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The Efficacy and Safety of SCTA01 in Hospitalized Patients With Severe COVID-19 - Condition: Ā Covid19 Interventions: Ā Drug:Ā SCTA01; Ā Other:Ā Placebo Sponsor: Ā SinocelltechĀ Ltd. Not yet recruiting
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From PubMed
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A monoclonal antibody against staphylococcal enterotoxin B superantigen inhibits SARS-CoV-2 entry in vitro - We recently discovered a superantigen-like motif, similar to Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), near the S1/S2 cleavage site of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, which might explain the multisystem-inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) observed in children and cytokine storm in severe COVID-19 patients. We show here that an anti-SEB monoclonal antibody (mAb), 6D3, can bind this viral motif, and in particular its PRRA insert, to inhibit infection by blocking the access of host cell proteases, TMPRSS2 or furin,ā¦
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A Neutralizing Antibody-Conjugated Photothermal Nanoparticle Captures and Inactivates SARS-CoV-2 - The outbreak of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in a global pandemic. Despite intensive research including several clinical trials, currently there are no completely safe or effective therapeutics to cure the disease. Here we report a strategy incorporating neutralizing antibodies conjugated on the surface of a photothermal nanoparticle to actively capture and inactivate SARS-CoV-2. The photothermalā¦
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Ipomoeassin-F inhibits the in vitro biogenesis of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and its host cell membrane receptor - In order to produce proteins essential for their propagation, many pathogenic human viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 the causative agent of COVID-19 respiratory disease, commandeer host biosynthetic machineries and mechanisms. Three major structural proteins, the spike, envelope and membrane proteins, are amongst several SARS-CoV-2 components synthesised at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of infected human cells prior to the assembly of new viral particles. Hence, the inhibition of membrane proteinā¦
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Research progress in nervous system damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 - The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a major outbreak in the world. SARS-CoV-2 infection can not only involve in the respiratory system, but also cause severe nervous system damage. Studies have shown that SRAS-CoV-2 can invade the nervous system through hematogenous and transneuronal pathways, and may cause nervous system damage in patients with COVID-19 by inhibiting cellular immunity, hypoxemia, inflammation,ā¦
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The viral protein NSP1 acts as a ribosome gatekeeper for shutting down host translation and fostering SARS-CoV-2 translation - SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is responsible for Covid-19 pandemic. In the early phase of infection, the single-strand positive RNA genome is translated into non-structural proteins (NSP). One of the first proteins produced during viral infection, NSP1, binds to the host ribosome and blocks the mRNA entry channel. This triggers translation inhibition of cellular translation. In spite of the presence of NSP1 on the ribosome, viral translation proceeds however. The molecular mechanism of the so-calledā¦
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Recovering coronavirus from large volumes of water - The need for monitoring tools to better control the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is extremely urgent and the contamination of water resources by excreted viral particles poses alarming questions to be answered. As a first step to overcome technical limitations in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 along the water cycle, we assessed the analytical performance of a dead end hollow fiber ultrafiltration coupled to different options for secondary concentrations to concentrate viral particlesā¦
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Remdesivir (GS-5734) in COVID-19 Therapy: The Fourth Chance - CONCLUSION: In this mini-review, we provide an overview of remdesivirās journey, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, used in patients with COVID-19 under compassionate use principle and clinical trials to understand the effect of remdesivir in the treatment of patients with COVID-19.
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SARS-CoV-2 Inhibition by Sulfonated Compounds - Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) depends on angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) for cellular entry, but it might also rely on attachment receptors such as heparan sulfates. Several groups have recently demonstrated an affinity of the SARS-CoV2 spike protein for heparan sulfates and a reduced binding to cells in the presence of heparin or heparinase treatment. Here, we investigated the inhibitory activity of several sulfated and sulfonated molecules, whichā¦
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Remdesivir Strongly Binds to Both RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase and Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2: Evidence from Molecular Simulations - The outbreak of a new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2) has caused a global COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, resulting in millions of infections and thousands of deaths around the world. There is currently no drug or vaccine for COVID-19, but it has been revealed that some commercially available drugs are promising, at least for treating symptoms. Among them, remdesivir, which can block the activity of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) in oldā¦
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Alert to US physicians: DHEA, widely used as an OTC androgen supplement, may exacerbate COVID-19 - Androgens play a fundamental role in the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19, inducing both the ACE-2 receptor to which SARS-CoV-2 binds to gain entry into the cell, and TMPRS22, the transmembrane protease that primes the viral spike protein for efficient infection. The United States stands alone among developed nations in permitting one androgen, oral dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), to be freely available OTC and online as a ādietary supplement.ā DHEA is widely used by males in the US to offsetā¦
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Interleukin-6 signaling blockade treatment for cytokine release syndrome in COVID-19 (Review) - A severe immune response in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause a potentially lethal unconstrained inflammatory cytokine storm, known as cytokine release syndrome (CRS). The present study provides an overview of the biology underlying CRS and how targeted inhibition of interleukin (IL)-6 signaling may improve outcomes and the survival of patients suffering from COVID-19. Preliminary clinical results have indicated that antagonism of the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), includingā¦
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Antiviral Effects of Oleandrin - Over the past 15 years, investigators have reported on the utility and safety of cardiac glycosides for numerous health benefits including those as treatments for malignant disease, stroke-mediated ischemic injury and certain neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to those, there is a growing body of evidence for novel antiviral effects of selected cardiac glycoside molecules. One unique cardiac glycoside, oleandrin derived from Nerium oleander, has been reported to have antiviral activityā¦
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Dalbavancin binds ACE2 to block its interaction with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and is effective in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection in animal models - Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a pandemic worldwide. Currently, however, no effective drug or vaccine is available to treat or prevent the resulting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we report our discovery of a promising anti-COVID-19 drug candidate, the lipoglycopeptide antibiotic dalbavancin, based on virtual screening of the FDA-approved peptide drug library combined with in vitro and in vivo functional antiviral assays. Ourā¦
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Computational drug discovery and repurposing for the treatment of COVID-19: A systematic review - CONCLUSIONS: The present systematic review provides a list of existing drugs that have the potential to influence SARS-CoV2 through different mechanisms of action. For the majority of these drugs, direct clinical evidence on their efficacy for the treatment of COVID-19 is lacking. Future clinical studies examining these drugs might come to conclude, which can be more useful to inhibit COVID-19 progression.
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Emetine Is Not Ipecac: Considerations for Its Use as Treatment for SARS-CoV2 - Emetine is a potent antiviral that acts on many viruses in the low-nM range, with several studies in animals and humans demonstrating antiviral activity. Historically, emetine was used to treat patients with Spanish influenza, in the last stages of the pandemic in the early 1900s. Some of these patients were āblackā with cyanosis. Emetine rapidly reversed the cyanosis and other symptoms of this disease in 12-24 h. However, emetine also has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and itā¦
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From Patent Search
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AN EFFICIENT METHODOLOGY TO MANAGE THE ADMISSIONS IN HOSPITALS DURING THE PANDEMICS SUCH AS COVID 19 -
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Antiinfektive Arzneiform zur Herstellung einer NasenspĆ¼lung gegen COVID-19 -
+
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Einzeldosierte, wasserlƶsliche oder wassermischbare Arzneiform, umfassend mindestens einen antiinfektiven Arzneistoff, zur Herstellung einer NasenspĆ¼lung und/oder zur Verwendung in der lokalen Behandlung des menschlichen Nasenraums.
+
+
Antiinfektive Arzneiform zur Herstellung einer NasenspĆ¼lung gegen COVID-19 -
+
+
Einzeldosierte, wasserlƶsliche oder wassermischbare Arzneiform, umfassend mindestens einen antiinfektiven Arzneistoff, zur Herstellung einer NasenspĆ¼lung und/oder zur Verwendung in der lokalen Behandlung des menschlichen Nasenraums.
+
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A medicine for treating coronavirus-2 infection - The invention discloses a medicine for treating coronavirus-2 infection. The invention finds that T cells in COVID-19 patients is reduced and depleted finally, indicating that cytokines such as IL-10, IL-6, TNF-a may directly mediate reduction of T cells. Therefore, ICU patients need new treatment measures, and may even high-risk patients with low T cells count require early preventive treatment.
A PRIMER COMBINATION FOR DETECTING 2019NCOV BY LOOP-MEDIATED ISOTHERMAL AMPLIFICATION - The invention provides a primer combination for detecting 2019nCoV by loop mediated isothermal amplification. The primer combination comprises a forward external primer NCP-F3-2 shown in SEQ ID NO.1, a reverse external primer NCP-B3 2 shown in SEQ ID NO.2, a forward inner primer NCP-FIP-2 shown in SEQ ID NO.3, a reverse inner primer NCP-BIP-2 shown in SEQ ID NO.4 and a loop primer NCP-LB 2 shown in SEQ ID No.5. The method has the advantages of short detection time, high sensitivity and strong specificity for 2019nCoV, and the detection result can be observed by naked eyes, thereby greatly improving the detection efficiency of 2019nCoV.
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Mittel zur StƤrkung der AbwehrkrƤfte und Erhƶhung der ImmunitƤt -
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Mittel zur StƤrkung der AbwehrkrƤfte und Erhƶhung der ImmunitƤt, insbesondere gegen eine Covid19-Infektion aufgrund des Sars-CoV-2-Virus, mit folgender Wirkstoffkombination:
+
Plasma oder Serum, gewonnen aus dem Blut eines an Covid19 erkrankten und genesenen Menschens oder Tieres,
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zumindest einem zugelassenen Medikament oder einer Kombination von zugelassenen Medikamenten und
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zugelassenen Vitaminen und Mineralstoffe.
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+
Vorrichtung zum Reinigen und/oder Desinfizieren von Objekten -
+
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Vorrichtung (1) zum Desinfizieren von Objekten mit einer Basiseinheit (2), mit einem AufnahmebehƤlter (4) fĆ¼r Wasser, welcher an der Basiseinheit (2) montierbar und von der Basiseinheit demontierbar ist, mit einer Objekthalterung (6) zum Halten und/oder StĆ¼tzen der Objekte (10), wobei diese Objekthalterung (6) in dem AufnahmebehƤlter montierbar ist und mit einer elektrisch betriebenen Reinigungseinrichtung (8), welche in dem Wasser befindliche Objekte zumindest mittelbar reinigt oder desinfiziert, wobei diese Reinigungseinrichtung in der Basiseinheit befindliche Erzeugungsmittel zum Erzeugen einer elektrischen Spannung aufweist sowie einen Plasmagenerator und/oder eine Ultraschallerzeugungseinheit.
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Methods for treating Arenaviridae and Coronaviridae virus infections - Provided are methods for treating Arenaviridae and Coronaviridae virus infections by administering nucleosides and prodrugs thereof, of Formula I:
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+
wherein the ā position of the nucleoside sugar is substituted. The compounds, compositions, and methods provided are particularly useful for the treatment of Lassa virus and Junin virus infections.
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+ 03 December, 2020
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+Daily-Dose
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The Biggest Challenge Facing Joe Bidenās New Economic Team - The President-electās advisers are keenly aware that many of the Administrationās policy proposals will likely have to go through, or around, Mitch McConnell. - link
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The Duelling Realities of the Coronavirus in Russia - People have learned to live with the pandemic, though not necessarily with all of its precautions and limitations. - link
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Using the Homeless to Guard Empty Houses - As the pandemic makes an already terrible housing crisis worse, a new version of house-sitting signals a broken real-estate market. - link
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The Dangerous Possibilities of Trumpās Pardon Power - Trump has used pardons to reward loyalty and tweak perceived enemies. In the last weeks of his Presidency, he may use them to protect his associatesāand himself. - link
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The Climate Debt the U.S. Owes the World - We canāt meet our moral and practical burdens simply by reducing our own carbon emissions; we also need to make amends. - link
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+
From Vox
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+
Decking the halls for pandemic Christmas -
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+
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+Holiday-themed interior design from designer Bronson van Wyck. | Courtesy of Bronson van Wyck
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+
+
+Revelers are going hard on decor this year, both inside and out.
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+
+A 9-foot nutcracker. Magic crystals that light up a fireplace with green and purple flames. Glass-glitter pinecones so sharp, they have to be handled with protective gear.
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+
+These are just some of the decorations that Christmas enthusiasts are using to show their holiday cheer in an otherwise dreary year. Dorinda Medley, a former star of Bravoās The Real Housewives of New York City, is known for āmaking it nice,ā especially the exuberant Christmas displays she installs each year at Blue Stone Manor, her home in the Berkshires. But sheās going extra-big this holiday season ā literally, if that giant nutcracker she bought is any indication. āWhen I pressed the button, I was like, āWhat have I done?ā But now itās on the American Express, paid for, and Iām happy for it,ā Medley says.
+
+
+Being happy for it, for small pockets of merriment in a time when everything seems not very merry, is adding up to big business for purveyors of Christmas decor, who are selling holiday cheer at a fast clip. āIāve got to put in the effort this year,ā Medley says of her big spending, ābecause it would be easy just to fall into the doldrums of 2020 and say forget it. But I think that, at the end of the day, people need to feel hopeful.ā
+
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+Medley is not alone. In this year of diminished holiday celebrations, with many skipping the holidays entirely and others doing their best to adjust traditions to fit the safety measures called for by the Covid-19 pandemic, Christmas enthusiasts are choosing to redirect energy they would usually spend on parties, meals, and frantic shopping trips to putting up over-the-top decorations and light displays.
+
+Celebrants are expressing holiday cheer inside as well, through old-fashioned Yuletide activities like gingerbread-house building and garland-stringing as people seek out what Medley describes as a Norman Rockwell-esque Christmas. āI want to evoke that feeling of home ā because weāve all been home,ā she says. (It doesnāt hurt, of course, that Christmas crafts are highly, highly Instagrammable.)
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+Itās a scene that is playing out across the country. āOver the last two months, weāve seen a 45 percent increase in holiday lighting over the same time frame last year, and a 42 percent increase with wreaths and garland,ā says Andrew Wolf, a holiday merchant at Ace Hardware. And John DeCosmo, president of Ulta-Lit Tree Company, says, āLight sets sales are up, outdoor decor sales are up, and artificial Christmas tree sales are up, so yes, we are seeing it. Our own sales online are up over 30 percent this year.ā
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+Caroline Moss, an author and host of the podcast Gee Thanks Just Bought It, is doing an outdoor lights display for the first time and saw no reason to wait until after Thanksgiving to illuminate her home. āI put up an outdoor tree and outdoor lights on November 2,ā she confesses. Moss, who relocated to Los Angeles this year with her husband Dan, was concerned about what her new neighbors might think, though she neednāt have worried. āI was very nervous because I didnāt want to be seen as the crazy new neighbors. I texted my next-door neighbor, and she was like, āOh, weāre doing it too.āā
+
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+According to DeCosmo, the day after Thanksgiving is typically the most popular day of the year for Christmas decorating. But this year, people like Moss got an early start, perhaps wanting to wear their holiday cheer on their lawns. Bronson van Wyck, a decorator who services a high-end clientele, saw a noted increase in business ā especially among early birds. āWe would typically do somewhere between six to 10 homes for Christmas, and we would probably have booked them by about [mid-November],ā he says. āThis year we had a dozen bookings before Labor Day.ā
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+Van Wyck is capitalizing in another way: For $475, his website offers something called a āSugar and Spice, Sensory Delights Packageā featuring ā(1) Evergreen, cedar and juniper wreath adorned with dried citrus, cinnamon stick and faux berries hand-crafted by genuine Van Wyck Elves,ā a full-color smart LED light bulb from GE, and a tube of those magic crystals for tossing in the fire (Amazon retail price: $15.26). Van Wyck isnāt the only one trotting out elves. On the new Netflix show Holiday Home Makeover with Mr.Ā Christmas, interior designer Benjamin Bradley, the titular Mr.Ā Christmas, and his team (yes, of elves) gives four families holiday home makeovers that feature hand-flocked trees, Della Robbia-style wreaths, lucite diamonds, hanging lanterns, and luminescent deer. Mr.Ā Christmas, in his own words, goes āChristmas balls to the walls.ā
+
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+Preston Davis, the editor of Keep it Chic, is another newcomer to festive outdoor holiday displays. āI have never put lights outside or in windows and I plan to do that this year! I think itās important to show that we are here, weāre celebrating,ā Davis says.
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+In holiday seasons past, Davis hosted a series of luncheons to visit with old friends returning home for the holidays. But with travel and large gatherings off the table, Davis is thinking about building a gingerbread house and making old-fashioned popcorn garland with her adult daughters, ages 20 and 25 ā provided theyāre able to safely travel home. āI plan on really ramping up, the tree with the popcorn strings and all that stuff. I really want to go all out,ā she says.
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+Sheās also hoping her kids will want in on the fun. āI want them to help decorate and do some of those traditions, gingerbread houses and cookies. Maybe Iāll even get them to produce sugar cubes for Santa. Who knows?!ā She views these hands-on activities as a way to break her habit of multitasking ā which, she acknowledges, ātakes a lot of value away from the time I spend with my family.ā
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+Itās no surprise that in this socially distant year, with touch and physical proximity largely off-limits, people are finding creative visual and aural ways to connect with others. Springtimeās nightly clapping and cheering for first responders beget the summerās illegal fireworks shows, which gave way to giant skeletons come Halloween. Now, at Yuletide, the creative means have become literal, with people taking up those highly Instagrammable crafting projects.
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+ Courtesy of Elizabeth Schulte
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+Elizabeth Schulteās garlands.
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+In keeping with the nostalgic tone of this Christmas, Elizabeth Schulte of Salem, Oregon, is stepping up her garland-making, using dried fruits like oranges and apples alongside more traditional popcorn and cranberries. The dried apples are the literal fruits of illicit labor; she engaged in a practice called scrumping to obtain them. āIt means, um, liberating apples that are maybe not necessarily legally yours, from a place where thereās no one really necessarily guarding them,ā Schulte says. To atone for the scrumping, sheās also considering adopting another historic holiday activity: wassailing. āItās where they would go around and sing Christmas songs to the orchardā to encourage the trees to grow more apples, she says. āConsidering how we have just been robbing apples all over the state, maybe we should go and give them some encouragement.ā
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+Schulte is incorporating nostalgia in another way. āIām going to use some strange glitter on one of the garlands, I think maybe on the pine cones.ā Strange glitter? Schulte explains that before World War II, glitter was made mostly from ground glass out of Germany, and she wanted the real deal. āItās quite annoying to find, I found some online,ā she says.
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+The German ground-glass glitter presented another problem, albeit one with a very 2020 solution. āIām low-key concerned that Iām going to get ground glass into my lungs and eyes,ā Schulte says. āI think in order to safely use it, I have to wear a mask.ā
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How millennials became the burnout generation -
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+
+
+Photo Illustration by Javier Zarracina/Vox; Getty Images
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+
+
+Author Anne Helen Petersen on why millennials have internalized the worst parts of their condition.
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+
+āWeāre trying to build a solid foundation on quicksand.ā
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+
+Thatās how Anne Helen Petersen, author of Canāt Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation, describes the plight of most millennials in America. Weāre a generation that has never quite been able to find any stability, economic or otherwise. And itās not just because weāve endured two financial crises (the Great Recession and now the coronavirus), though thatās obviously part of it. Itās because the world weāve inherited set us up for burnout.
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+The sort of burnout Petersen describes goes beyond mere exhaustion, which is at least fleeting. If youāre truly burned out, thereās no escape. Itās what happens when you live without any margin for error, when youāre always one accident or illness away from bankruptcy or eviction. Living so close to ruin saps the joy out of nearly everything because thereās no security, no peace of mind.
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+According to Petersen, this is the baseline condition for the vast majority of millennials ā whether they work in retail or the gig economy ā and itās become so internalized that most of us can scarcely imagine a different way of being in the world.
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+I reached out to Petersen to talk about millennial burnout and why she thinks itās similar to but also different from the experiences of previous generations. We also discussed the role of capitalism in transforming society, the collapse of the American dream, the impossible dilemma faced by parents in this culture, and why social media is making everything worse.
+
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+A transcript of our conversation, lightly edited for length and clarity, follows.
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+Sean Illing
+
+
+You did a ton of survey research for this book asking millennials to describe the state of their lives. What were the most common complaints or themes?
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+Anne Helen Petersen
+
+
+A lot of sadness and regret. Many people I heard from believed they made the choices they were supposed to make and it led them to a deeply unsatisfying place. They had confidence in the path, society assured them it was the right path, so they went to college and took out debt and expected things to work out. Or they pursued a certain career and found themselves continually exploited and continually behind. The end result of that is a kind of despair and anger, and it came across in the surveys I conducted.
+
+
+Sean Illing
+
+
+What is it about the world millennials inhabited that makes burnout so pervasive?
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+Anne Helen Petersen
+
+
+The overarching thing is precarity. Precarity has been connected to burnout historically ā we just havenāt called it that. We havenāt paid much attention to it because it was always a smaller percentage of the population that had to grapple with it. People in poverty have been dealing with burnout forever. The burnout experienced by millennials is textured by how we interact with digital technologies, and some of our ideas about work and the fetishization of overwork. Thereās a feeling of instability thatās the baseline economic condition for many, many millennials, and itās enhanced by these other components of our lives that make it harder to turn away from.
+
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+Sean Illing
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+Can you unpack what you mean by āprecarityā and āburnoutā? Because I think these are slippery terms for a lot of people.
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+Anne Helen Petersen
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+Precarity is the state that most Americans find themselves in. Itās operating with the knowledge that one big life gust (a car accident, a serious illness, a house fire, a lost job) could send you spiraling towards bankruptcy or eviction. Itās living with massive amounts of debt and not knowing how youāll service that debt if your income stream fails. Itās not having family members in [a] financial position to support you. Itās basically operating without a safety net.
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+Burnout is the feeling that youāve hit the wall exhaustion-wise, but then have to scale the wall and just keep going. Thereās no catharsis, no lasting rest, just this background hum of exhaustion. It manifests in not being able to make the sort of decisions you actually want to make ā my classic example is that youāre so tired, you just scroll Instagram instead of reading the book that you legitimately do want to read ā and everything in your life flattens into one endless, ever-recyling to-do list that you just feel like you have to get through so that you can do the next thing on the list. Things that should feel good or joyful or restful (like vacation!) just feel like another thing to get through, because everything is work and work is everything.
+
+
+
+
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+Sean Illing
+
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+How has our relationship to technology intensified the burnout problem?
+
+
+Anne Helen Petersen
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+I think itās two things. One is that our phones and our wifi-equipped laptops enable work to spread into virtually every corner of our lives. Weāre always connected, always reachable. Itās so much harder to maintain any sort of boundary.
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+The other thing is that social media ā Facebook and Instagram in particular ā and this idea of packaging your life and leisure in a way that makes it part of your personality, whether you think about it or not, has made a lot of us turn ourselves into a brand. And maintaining that brand is exhausting.
+
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+Sean Illing
+
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+The kind of burnout you describe definitely applies to a subset of millennials (highly educated, knowledge-economy workers, people carrying laptops everywhere). But do you think this applies to millennials in the retail or service sector as well? Is it universal?
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+Anne Helen Petersen
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+
+Of course! Burnout occurs when you are asked to do more than you are capable of, and you keep doing that day after day after day. It happens when youāre not given autonomy in your job, when youāre surveilled in some capacity, when youāre not making enough to find financial security, when youāre scrambling every day to figure out child care or housing.
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+Middle class or āknowledge workersā often confront burnout by throwing money at it ā which doesnāt really work but does provide some semblance of stability. Retail workers dealing with lack of health insurance, algorithm-controlled scheduling, harassment on the job with little recourse ā they get burned out, donāt have money to throw at the problem, and just keep going. Sometimes that means they end up in the emergency room, on disability, reported to child services.
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+The stakes of burnout are just so much higher. I think itās incredibly important to be clear about that ā but I also think that we can still use a word to gesture towards whatās shared between those sorts of jobs, if only to create the sort of larger solidarity that makes as many people as possible believe that the system that creates burnout across the income spectrum needs changing. Yes, middle-class people should care about the working conditions of poor people, even if they havenāt experienced themselves. But that presumption has led us to where we are now.
+
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+Sean Illing
+
+
+Every generation has had some version of this, and probably every time it seems like itās more intense and more widespread. You even concede in the book that burnout isnāt a uniquely millennial condition. So what is it about this world and this moment that makes millennial burnout different? The digital tech is obviously new, but is this condition?
+
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+Anne Helen Petersen
+
+
+A lot of it has to do with timing. One of the things that people have said about millennials is that weāre unlucky. I donāt like that because it suggests that there werenāt decisions made that made us unlucky, and that weāre just unfortunate to have been born at the wrong time. Itās true that millennials graduated from high school or college into the 2008 recession and its aftermath, and that delayed any sort of adult stability for a significant amount of time. It also limited our ability to pay off student loans or start saving money for the future. There are cumulative effects to these things that stack up and create more instability.
+
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+But the recession didnāt come out of nowhere. We intersected with it right out of school, and it was decisions made by people ā most of whom werenāt millennials ā that brought us to that precipice. And then boom, weāre hit with another wave of precarity with the pandemic, right around the age a lot of people want to have children and start families, and now weāre grappling with the reality of trying to school those children or find child care. Itās forcing people to drop out of the workforce after reaching their breaking point.
+
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+Sean Illing
+
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+Millennial burnout might seem strange or counterintuitive to some, because in so many ways the world has never been easier or freer, but levels of anxiety and depression keep going up. We have more ā more stuff, more options, more distractions ā and yet thereās still this latent despair about the world. How do you make sense of that?
+
+
+Anne Helen Petersen
+
+
+Thereās this general American idea that more is always better, whether itās more choices or more profits or more anything. But thereās a lot of anxiety that attends having so many choices. I think the reason why sites like Wirecutter and recommendation sites in general are so popular is because weāre so overwhelmed with options to the point of paralysis. You want to make the best choice, the best decision. You donāt want to blunder. You want to go on the best vacation. You want to choose the best preschool for your children. And so on. Making choices all the time increases anxiety.
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+And thereās the reality that maintaining a middle-class life is just harder today than it was in the past, which I think is a huge part of the burnout problem. How do I maintain middle-class stability like my parents had, when doing so requires so much more debt? Thereās a compulsion to keep borrowing and spending to simply maintain a decent life in an increasingly unforgiving economy.
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+
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+Sean Illing
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+All of this really boils down to capitalism, doesnāt it? And not just the economic system we call capitalism, but the way of life that system promotes. Thereās the precarity problem on the one hand, and then thereās the reality that our value as human beings is bound up with our value as workers, and that seems like a recipe not just for burnout but for a deep spiritual malaise.
+
+
+Anne Helen Petersen
+
+
+Yeah, itās such a complicated dynamic. I was reading this old book from 1951 by a sociologist talking about the American understanding of work, which he saw as the culmination of a couple of ideals. One is this idea that working hard without reward is evidence of deep virtue, and if you donāt work like that you internalize a sense of guilt. Thatās kind of the whole Calvinist work ethic.
+
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+But thereās another component, which is this notion that weāre supposed to do what we love, which he attributes to the Renaissance style of artisans who worked to produce art, even if itās a wagon wheel or something like that, and thatās somehow operating outside of capitalism. And I think itās fine to believe that work is good and that idle hands make mischief, or whatever. Itās also fine to believe that work ought to be fulfilling. But the ethos weāre operating in says that work is good when youāre most like a robot and you make money. But we donāt talk about that. We just talk about work as āgood.ā
+
+
+
+
+
+Sean Illing
+
+
+George Carlin had this great line about the American dream. He said āThey call it a dream because you have to be asleep to believe it,ā and thatās kind of what weāre talking about. This fantasy that if you work hard, if you matriculate through the system, youāll find your footing and have a stable life is just dead. Millennials might be the first generation to really confront this, although Iām sure Gen-Xers would disagree.
+
+
+Anne Helen Petersen
+
+
+Yeah, well, and I think people who werenāt white and middle class already knew that for a long time, right? That the meritocracy at the heart of the American dream was just a lie. And now that white middle-class people are discovering itās a lie, itās become a majority consensus. Of course, as a society, we shouldāve been paying attention before. But here we are.
+
+
+Sean Illing
+
+
+The chapter on āparenting burnoutā hit me hard as a new dad. We have a society thatās arranged as if every family has a caretaker whoās home all the time, but the reality is that both parents have to work in most families and no one has any answers for this disjunction. So parents, especially mothers, are just collapsing under the weight of impossible responsibilities.
+
+
+How central is this to the burnout problem?
+
+
+Anne Helen Petersen
+
+
+Itās a huge component. Fear of this exact problem is why a lot of people, myself included, are opting out of parenthood. And Iāll say, there are plenty of good reasons why people should feel free to choose not to be parents, but being frightened about the mental load thatās going to fall on you, and struggling with financial precarity, shouldnāt be one of them. Weāre supposed to live in one of the most developed countries in the world ā having children shouldnāt be this hard. We ought to make this easier. Other countries have done it. But we havenāt.
+
+
+Sean Illing
+
+
+Let me push you a little because I think the book may let millennials off the hook by casting them as helpless victims of outside forces. Is it possible that millennials have too eagerly absorbed the values that imprison them, and that if they choose to do so, couldāve revolted against this culture rather than working so hard to succeed within its parameters?
+
+
+Anne Helen Petersen
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+You know how ideology works. Itās so hard to push back against something that you donāt realize is an ideological force. I grew up in a culture that told me to go to college and get a degree and do what I love no matter what. I didnāt realize I was choosing an ideology when I was consuming those things. I just thought I was doing what people did. I think thatās true for most of us.
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+Weāre all surrounded by media that tells us these are the things weāre supposed to do. Itās in all the movies, with characters saying, āIām going to Stanford no matter what it takes.ā Or itās in Steve Jobās commencement speech, telling everyone to ādo what you love, if youāre not doing what you love, quit and go find it.ā And lots of millennials saddled themselves with student debt in the hopes that it would pay off.
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+When I was in college, people thought it was the obvious thing to do. Itās a low-interest debt that will pay for itself because youāre investing in your future. This was the idea of student debt as it was conceived in the ā70s and ā80s, when overall debt numbers were so much smaller. But tuition just kept rising, debt payments kept rising, the labor market kept shifting, and most people have found it impossible to get out from under all the debt they thought they had to acquire if they wanted to succeed.
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+There was also public student loan forgiveness problems that we were sold. We were told you can go into a career thatās underpaid and under-resourced and it wonāt matter because in 10 years that debt will zero out. A lot of people made decisions with that knowledge in hand. They trusted the programs would endure. But it hasnāt worked out that way. Itās such a white, middle-class bourgeois thing, right? We expected the government to keep a promise and were surprised when it didnāt. But an Indigenous person who grew up 10 miles from you is like, āOf course the governmentās not going to keep their promise.ā They know that you donāt trust anything the government tells you.
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+Sean Illing
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+Whatās your advice to people who feel like theyāve lost control of their own life and have to find some kind of balance now?
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+Anne Helen Petersen
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+I really do think that being able to identify whatās going on is a huge first step. To recognize and say, āI donāt want it to be this way anymore,ā thatās a big deal. Many people donāt even have the time or mental space to arrive at that point. But if you get there, and you want to be analytical about your life and lay it down flat and say, āWhatās going on? Where did I get this idea? How can I look at this idea from a distance and see that itās not necessarily true just because I believed it, or because Iāve done it for so long?ā Because you donāt have to have an Instagram account. You donāt have to have a Facebook account. You donāt have to be on Twitter. You donāt have to answer that email at 11 pm. That doesnāt mean you have to quit those things, but if you can articulate that to yourself, you can just see it as a choice you get to make.
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South Korea just changed a longstanding military law for the sake of BTS -
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+Members of BTS attend a press conference for the release of the groupās new album, BE, on November 20, 2020. | JTBC PLUS/Imazins via Getty Images
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+BTSās success has won the male K-pop idols a reprieve from South Koreaās mandatory military assignment.
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+Just one day after BTS made Billboard chart history (for the nth time), the South Korean government made a little history of its own. On December 1, the National Assembly changed a longstanding law concerning compulsory military service in order to allow a brief respite for artists and entertainers whoāve elevated the nationās global reputation ā including, of course, BTS.
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+The law previously required all male South Korean citizens to complete about two years of military service by age 30, meaning they had to enroll by the time they turned 28. Now eligible idols and other artists may defer the beginning of their service until theyāre 30, pushing their enrollment deadline back by two years. The change arrives just in time to exempt the bandās oldest member, Kim Seok-jin (a.k.a. Jin), from having to enlist when he turns 28 on December 4. The timing also coincides with BTS setting a new record in the US music industry.
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+On November 30, BTS became the first band in history to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart with a song sung primarily in Korean: āLife Goes On,ā the second chart-topping single from the groupās new pandemic-themed album Be. (The first was the English-language track āDynamite,ā which debuted at No.Ā 1 in August.) The band also broke a slew of other records at the same time, including the fastest accumulation of three No.Ā 1 songs on the Hot 100 since the Bee Gees accomplished that feat in 1978.
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+Exemptions to the Korean mandated military service law already existed for athletes, entertainers, and other public figures, but those exemptions from active service still require those who qualify for them to complete a term of military training. The new law allows eligible artists to defer their conscription for an additional two years, effectively giving K-pop band members like Jin and many other idols a grace period before they have to enlist.
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+Koreaās military service requirement has long loomed over the countryās pop idol industry, with many successful bands seeing members enlist for their service period during the height of their success. Bands with many members can afford to lose one or two to the draft without losing momentum, but the requirement can be disruptive. Four members of the wildly popular band EXO, for example, have had to enroll,and though they ā along with many other idols ā could be released from service within the next year or two, the timeline isnāt hard and fast, and the uncertainty of a discharge date means itās not exactly easy to plan a comeback tour. (Unfortunately, the law doesnāt appear to be retroactive, so those idols currently serving their time probably wonāt get a sudden reprieve.)
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+Media reports have framed the new legal exemption as one made for BTS specifically as a result, but itās probably more accurate to say that the change is a respite for Korea itself. As of 2019, BTS reportedly contributed a staggering $4.7 billion to the national economy. The groupās massive fandom famously shows its love for the band through highly organized mass shows of consumerism, which are aimed at helping the band break more records, push more sales, and land ever higher on the charts. That mighty fandom machine has been in place for years, but it seemed to reach critical mass in 2020, propelling BTS toward a steady string of globalchart-toppers.
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+During a highly unusual year for entertainment, BTS has amassed a nearly unreal set of achievements ā this year alone, the group broke the record for the most-viewed YouTube video in 24 hours, joined Taylor Swift as one of only two artists to simultaneously debut an album and a single at the top of the Billboard charts, and became the most-streamed group of 2020 on Spotify. In Korea, BTS broke a 30-year-old record for the most music award show wins in a single year, putting the group literally in a class by itself.
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+Much of this success has come from a single song. The commercial success of āDynamiteā alone has pumped an estimated $1.4 billion into the Korean economy ā enough money to create roughly 8,000 new jobs. When the band debuted the song at No.Ā 1 on the Hot 100 in August (before promptly going on to repeat that feat two more times, no big deal), Korean president Moon Jae-in issued a public statement congratulating the band and thanking BTS for spreading hope during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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+The bandās Hot 100 achievement, Moon said, āis a splendid feat that further raises pride in K-pop.ā
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+It is truly amazing. It is a splendid feat that further raises pride in K-pop. The song āDynamite,ā which topped the list, is all the more meaningful as it has been composed to give a message of comfort and hope to people around the world who are struggling with COVID-19.
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+It was the international popularity of BTS, particularly āDynamite,ā that ultimately prompted Korean lawmakers to introduce the bill, which essentially carves an idol-shaped exemption in the Military Service Act. In October, ruling party member Noh Woong-rae pushed the legislation forward on behalf of the band, arguing that its members should be allowed to serve the nation in other ways to meet its service requirements. And those who have advocated in the past for changing this law have frequently cited BTS in their arguments. āI think that members of BTS should also get the exemption,ā speedskater Song Kyung-taek told the New York Times in 2018 when discussing the draft. āWhen South Koreans go abroad, we can mention BTS to explain where we come from.ā
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From The Hindu: Sports
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New Zealand vs West Indies, 1st Test Day 1: Williamson puts Kiwis on top - West Indian bowlers labour after electing to bowl on a green-top pitch
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Investigation opened into F1 driver Romain Grosjeanās crash - Grosjean was discharged from a military hospital.
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India vs Australia | Tour games will be Australiaās opportunity to land first punch before Tests: Joe Burns - Before India and Australia begin the Test battle, the visitors are scheduled to play two three-day tour games against Australia A
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Lionel Messi fined 600 euros for tribute to Maradona - The Argentine player has been fined for his actions after scoring in Barcelonaās 4-0 win over Osasuna in the Spanish league.
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Fate of two new IPL teams to be decided on December 24 - The decision over adding two new teams to the Indian Premier League (IPL) bandwagon is set to be taken during the Board of Control for Cricket in In
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From The Hindu: National News
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Data | Indiaās GDP contracts for the second consecutive quarter - In the second quarter, India was among the most worse-off economies for which data were available
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Revelations highly sensitive: Customs - Remand of Swapna, Sarith extended
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5,376 new cases reported in State - Test positivity rate at 8.89%, recoveries at 5,590
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Property registration put on hold till Tuesday - Telangana HC extends stay order
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MBBS aspirants seek third allotment in all India quota - Appeal by students who scored above 600 marks in NEET
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From BBC: Europe
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France launches checks on dozens of mosques - The 76 places of worship are under scrutiny over possible Islamist extremism.
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Nagorno-Karabakh conflict killed 5,000 soldiers - The tally comes as Azerbaijan details for the first time its losses in the six-week war with Armenia.
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Alieu Kosiah: Liberian ex-commander faces war crimes trial - Alieu Kosiah, 45, is accused of murder, rape, recruiting child soldiers and a host of other crimes.
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Stockholm mother no longer suspected of imprisoning son - Prosecutors say there is no evidence the adult male was held against his will, as the woman is freed.
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Reptiles smuggled from Mexico found at German airport stitched inside dolls - Ten of 26 rare animals from Mexico discovered at a German airport did not survive.
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From Ars Technica
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One of the Internetās most aggressive threats could take UEFI malware mainstream - New feature targets the most critical component of all modern-day computers. - link
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Lupin trailer offers a fresh retelling of classic French gentleman thief - Omar Sy stars as a master thief inspired by the French equivalent of Sherlock Holmes. - link
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Microsoftās latest Game Pass Ultimate deal gives new users 3 months for $1 - Dealmaster also has tons of leftover tech deals from Cyber Monday. - link
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Appleās MagSafe Duo charger finally shows up in online stores - The accessory was announced back in October alongside the iPhone 12. - link
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Itās happening: Starship may fly to 15km as early as Friday - For this test, Starship will ascend above nearly 90 percent of the atmosphere. - link
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From Jokes Subreddit
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I tried to warn my son about the dangers of Russian rouletteā¦ -
My husband commented on the new store that is being built nearby: āThatās a nice looking Aldi!ā -
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+I told him it just looks like Aldi others.
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+ā¦
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+Sorry yāall. Itās been such a bad day, and this little exchange my hubby and I had earlier had us both laughing probably more than we should have. Hope it makes one of you out there smile too.
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+And ends up standing in front of the pearly gates. Saint Peter looks at him for a second, flicks through his book, and finds his name.
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+āSo, youāre a politicianā¦ā āWell, yes, is that a problem?ā āOh no, no problem. But we have recently adopted a new system for people in your line of work, and unfortunately you will have to spend a day in Hell. After that however, youāre free to choose where you want to spend eternity!ā
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+āWait, I have to spend a day in Hell??ā says the politician. āThemās the rulesā Says St Peter, clicks his fingers, and WOOMPH, the guy dissapearsā¦
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+And awakes, curled up with his hands over his eyes, knowing heās in Hell. Cautiously, he listens for the screams, sniffs the air for brimstone, and findsā¦ Nothing. Just the smell of, is that fabric softener? And cut grass, this canāt eb right?
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+āOpen your eyes!ā says a voice. āCāmon, wakey wakey, we have only got 24 hours!ā. Nervously, he uncovers his eyes, looks around, and sees heās in a hotel room. A nice one too. Wait, this is a penthouse suiteā¦ And thereās a smiling man in a suit, holding a martini. āWho are you??ā The politician asks. āWell, Iām Satan!ā says the man, handing him the drink and helping him to his feet. āWelcome to Hell!ā āWait, this is Hell? Butā¦ Whereās all the pain and suffering?ā he asks. Satan throws him a wink. āOh, we have been a bit mis-represented over the years, itās a long story. Anyway, this is your room! The minibar is of course free, as is the room service, thereās extra towels next to the hot-tub, and if you need anything, just call reception. But enough of this! Itās a beautiful day, and if youād care to look outsideā¦ā Slightly stunned by the opulent surroundings, the man wanders over to the floor-to-ceiling windows through which the sun is glowing, looks far down, and sees a group of people cheering and waving at him from a golf course. āItās one of 5 pro-level courses on site, and thereās another 6 just a few minutes drive out past the beach and harbour!ā says Satan, answering his unasked question. So they head down in the lift, walk out through the glittering lobby where everyone waves and welcomes the man, as Satan signs autographs and cherrily talks shop with the laughing staff. And as he walks out, he sees the group on the golf course are made up of every one of his old friends, people heās admired for years but never met or worked with, and people whose work heās admired but died long before his career started. And out of the middle of this group walks his wife, with a massive smile and the body she had when she was 20, who throws her arms around him and plants a delicate kiss on his cheek. Everyone cheers and applauds, and as they slap him on the back and trade jokes, his worst enemy arrives, as a 2 foot tall goblin-esque caddy. He spends the day in the bright sunshine on the course, having the tme of his life laughing at jokes and carrying important discussions, putting the world to rights with his friends while holding his delighted wife next to him as she gazes lovingly at him. Later, they return to the hotel for dinner and have an enormous meal, perfectly cooked, which descends into a food-fight when someone accidentally throws a bread roll at the next table (where Ghandi is having a game of truth-or-dare with Marylin Monroe). As everyone is falling about laughing and flinging breadsticks at each other, his wife whispers in his earā¦ And they return to their penthouse suite, and spend the rest of the night making love like they did on their honeymoon. After 6 hours of intense passion, the man falls deep into the 100% Egyptian cotton pillows, and falls into a deep and happy sleepā¦
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+And is woken up by St Peter. āSo, that was Hell. Wasnāt what you were expecting, I bet?ā āNo sir!ā says the man. āSo thenā says St Peter āyou can make your choice. Itās Hell, which you saw, or Heaven, which has choral singing, talking to God, white robes, and so onā. āWellā¦ I know this sounds strange, but on balance, I think I would prefer Hellā says the politician. āNot a problem, we totally understand! Enjoy!ā Says St Peter, and clicks his fingers again.
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+The man wakes up in total darkness, the stench of ammonia filling the air and distant screams the only noise. As he adjusts, he can see the only light is from belches of flame far away, illuminating the ragged remains of people being tortured or burning in a sulphurous ocean. A sudden bolt of lightning reveals Satan next to him, wearing the same suit as before and grinning, holding a soldering iron in one hand and a coil of razor-wire in the other. āWhatās this??ā He cries. āWhereās the hotel?? Whereās my wife??? Whereās the minibar, the golf-courses, the pool, the restaurant, the free drinks and the sunshine???ā
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+āAhā, says Satan. āYou see, yesterday, we were campaigning. But today, you votedā¦ā
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Courtesy of Elizabeth Schulte
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