We identified the co-infection of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta variants in two epidemiologically unrelated patients with chronic kidney disease requiring haemodialysis. Both SARS-CoV-2 variants were co-circulating locally at the time of detection. Amplicon- and probe-based sequencing using short- and long-read technologies identified and quantified Omicron and Delta subpopulations in respiratory samples from the two patients. These findings highlight the importance of genomic surveillance in vulnerable populations.
Background: Early antiviral treatment is effective for COVID-19 but currently available agents are expensive. Favipiravir is routinely used in many countries, but efficacy is unproven. Antiviral combinations have not been systematically studied. We aimed to evaluate the effect of favipiravir, lopinavir-ritonavir or the combination of both agents on SARS-CoV-2 viral load trajectory when administered early. Methods: We conducted a Phase 2, proof of principle, randomised, placebo-controlled, 2x2 factorial, double-blind trial of outpatients with early COVID-19 (within 7 days of symptom onset) at two sites in the United Kingdom. Participants were randomised using a centralised online process to receive: favipiravir (1800mg twice daily on Day 1 followed by 400mg four times daily on Days 2-7) plus lopinavir- ritonavir (400mg/100mg twice daily on Day 1, followed by 200mg/50mg four times daily on Days 2-7); favipiravir plus lopinavir-ritonavir placebo; lopinavir-ritonavir plus favipiravir placebo; or both placebos. The primary outcome was SARS-CoV-2 viral load at Day 5, accounting for baseline viral load. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04499677. Findings: Between 6 October 2020 and 4 November 2021, we recruited 240 participants. For the favipiravir+lopinavir-ritonavir, favipiravir+placebo, lopinavir-ritonavir+placebo and placebo-only arms, we recruited 61, 59, 60 and 60 participants and analysed 55, 56, 55 and 58 participants respectively who provided viral load measures at Day 1 and Day
Background: COVID-19, one of the worst pandemics in humankinds history on December 2019. Clinical presentations of COVID-19 patients are varied and being closely similar to those of seasonal flu, its difficult to differentiate it on first presentation as COVID. Clinical scenario and demographic characteristics provide important guideline in the management of COVID. Materials and Methods: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to explore the demographic characteristics and clinical features of COVID-19 patients admitted in a Combined Military Hospital of Bangladesh. Data were collected from treatment records of patients of the CMH Bogura during the period of June 2020 to August 2020. Total 219 RT-PCR positive admitted patients were included as study population. Result: Among 219 patients, 78.6% were male and 21.5% female. Mean age of patients was 34.3 (12.2). Highest percentages (67.2%) of patients were from age group 21-40 years. 85.4% of the patients had no comorbidities, and hypertension (10.1%) was the most common comorbidity. Most (83.1%) of the admitted patients were diagnosed as mild cases. 96.4% cases were symptomatic and fever (84.5%) was the most common symptoms of COVID, followed by dry cough (46.6%), sore throat (19.6%), headache (18.3%), bodyache (17.8%), loss of appetite (15.5%), tiredness (15.5%) and anorexia (14.2%). Conclusion: This single center study revealed younger age, male predominance, less presence of comorbidites, mild cases, high proportion of symptomatic patients, and fever and cough as the most common presenting features among the admitted COVID-19 patients in CMH Bogura.
Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, non-married people are at high risk of loneliness. With social interactions restricted, it is important for non-married people to acquire a new romantic partner for their mental health and quality of life. We hypothesized that infection control efforts in the workplace influence people9s social interactions, including romantic activities. Methods: We conducted an internet-based prospective cohort study from December 2020 (baseline) to December 2021, using self-administered questionnaires. Briefly, 27,036 workers completed the questionnaires at baseline, and when followed up after one year, 18,560 (68.7%) participated. A total of 6,486 non- married individuals with no romantic relationship at baseline were included in the analysis. At baseline they were asked about the implementation of infection control measures in the workplace, and at follow-up they were asked about activities they performed with a view to romantic relationships during the period from baseline to follow-up. Results: Compared to workers in workplaces with no infection control measures, the OR associated with romance-related activities for those in workplaces with seven or more infection control measures was 1.90 (95% CI: 1.45-2.48, p<0.001), and the OR associated with having a new romantic partner was 1.79 (95% CI: 1.20-2.66, p=0.004). Conclusions: Under the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of infection control measures in the workplace and the expressed satisfaction with those measures promoted romantic relationships among non-married, single individuals.
Background The structural environment of urban slums, including physical, demographic and socioeconomic attributes, renders inhabitants more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Yet, little is known about the specific determinants that contribute to high transmission within these communities. Methods and findings We performed a serosurvey of an established cohort of 2,035 urban slum residents from the city of Salvador, Brazil between November 2020 and February 2021, following the first COVID-19 pandemic wave in the country. We identified high SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence (46.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 44.3-48.6%), particularly among female residents (48.7% [95% CI 45.9-51.6%] vs. 43.2% [95% CI 39.8-46.6%] among male residents), and among children (56.5% [95% CI 52.3-60.5%] vs. 42.4% [95% CI 39.9-45.0%] among adults). In multivariable models that accounted for household-level clustering, the odds ratio for SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among children was 1.96 (95% CI 1.42-2.72) compared to adults aged 30-44 years. Adults residing in households with children were more likely to be seropositive; this effect was particularly prominent among individuals with age 30-44 and 60 years or more. Women living below the poverty threshold (daily per capita household income <$1.25) and those who were unemployed were more likely to be seropositive. Conclusions During a single wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, cumulative incidence as assessed by serology approached 50% in a Brazilian urban slum population. In contrast to observations from industrialized countries, SARS-CoV-2 incidence was highest among children, as well as women living in extreme poverty. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions that provide safe environments for children and mitigate the structural risks posed by crowding and poverty for the most vulnerable residents of urban slum communities.
A third mRNA-based “booster” vaccination is the favored strategy to maintain protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Yet, significant waning of specific immunity within six months after 2nd vaccination, along with higher incidence of breakthrough infections associated with the time elapsed since 2nd vaccination raises concerns regarding the durability of immunity also after 3rd vaccination. We address the currently debated consequence of a third vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 for generating durable immunity especially in older adults. Specifically, we assessed virus-specific serum antibody and single cell blood T cell responses after vaccination with the mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 in more than 50 individuals older than 80 years. All old adults demonstrate a strong humoral response to 3rd vaccination which is higher and wanes slower than the response to 2nd vaccination, indicative of enhanced humoral immunity. In contrast, their respective T cell response reaches only the level obtained after 2nd vaccination, with similar waning over time and no enhancement of IFNγ production per cell. Because BNT162b2-mediated protection from the Omicron variant relies more on T cells than antibodies, our findings raise concern on the durability of protection from the Omicron variant by BNT162b2 in a population at risk.
By November 2021, after the third SARS-CoV-2 wave in South Africa, seroprevalence was 60% (95%CrI 56%-64%) in a rural and 70% (95%CrI 56%-64%) in an urban community; highest in individuals aged 13-18 years. High seroprevalence prior to Omicron emergence may have contributed to reduced severity observed in the 4th wave.
Excess mortality studies provide crucial information regarding the health burden of pandemics and other large- scale events. Here, we used time series approaches to separate the direct contribution of SARS-CoV-2 infections on mortality from the indirect consequences of pandemic interventions and behavior changes in the United States. We estimated deaths occurring in excess of seasonal baselines stratified by state, age, week and cause (all causes, COVID-19 and respiratory diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, heart disease, and external causes, including suicides, opioids, accidents) from March 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Our estimates of COVID-19 excess deaths were highly correlated with SARS-CoV-2 serology, lending support to our approach. Over the study period, we estimate an excess of 666,000 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 556000, 774000) all-cause deaths, of which 90% could be attributed to the direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 78% were reflected in official COVID-19 statistics. Mortality from all disease conditions rose during the pandemic, except for cancer. The largest direct impacts of the pandemic were seen in mortality from diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and heart diseases, and in age groups over 65 years. In contrast, the largest indirect consequences of the pandemic were seen in deaths from external causes, which increased by 45,300 (95% CI 30,800, 59,500) and were statistically linked to the intensity of non-pharmaceutical interventions. Within this category, increases were most pronounced in mortality from accidents and injuries, drug overdoses, and assaults and homicides, while the rate of death from suicides remained stable. Younger age groups suffered the brunt of these indirect effects. Overall, on a national scale, the largest consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are attributable to the direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 infections; yet, the secondary impacts dominate among younger age groups, in periods of stricter interventions, and in mortality from external causes. Further research on the drivers of indirect mortality is warranted to optimize interventions in future pandemics.
Seroprevalence studies can contribute to better assess the actual incidence of infection. Since long-term data for Germany are lacking, we determined seroprevalence of IgG-antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 3,759 regular blood donors in three German federal states between July 2020 and June 2021. The IgG seroprevalence was 5.48% (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.77-6.25) overall, ranging from 5.15% (95% CI: 3.73-6.89) in Lower Saxony to 5.62% (95% CI: 4.57-6.84) in North Rhine Westphalia.
Background: Waning immunity and the surge of SARS-CoV-2 variants are responsible for breakthrough infections, i.e. infections in fully vaccinated individuals. Although the majority of vaccinated infected subjects reports mild or no symptoms, some others require hospitalization. The clinical and immunological features of vaccinated hospitalized COVID-19 patients are currently unknown. Methods: 29 unvaccinated and 36 vaccinated hospitalized COVID-19 patients were prospectively enrolled and clinical and laboratory data. Immunophenotyping of leukocytes subsets, T and B cell SARS- CoV-2 specific responses were evaluated via flow cytometry. Anti-IFN-α autoantibodies were measured via ELISA. Results: Despite vaccinated patients were older and with more comorbidities, unvaccinated subjects showed higher levels of pro- inflammatory markers, more severe disease and increased mortality rate. Accordingly, they presented significant alterations in the circulating leukocyte composition, typical of severe COVID-19. Vaccinated patients displayed higher levels of anti-Spike IgGs and Spike-specific B cells. Of all participants, survivors showed higher levels of anti-Spike IgGs and S-specific CD4+ T cells than non-survivors. At hospital admission, 6 out of 65 patients (9.2%) displayed high serum concentrations of autoantibodies targeting IFN-α. Remarkably, 3 were unvaccinated and eventually died, while the other 3 were vaccinated and survived. Conclusion: Despite more severe pre-existing clinical conditions, vaccinated patients have good outcome. A rapid activation of anti-SARS-CoV-2-specific immunity is fundamental for the resolution of the infection. Therefore, prior immunization through vaccination provides a significant contribute to prevention of disease worsening and can even overcome the presence of high-risk factors (i.e. older age, comorbidities, anti-IFN-α autoantibodies positivity).
The world has experienced several waves of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoCs) throughout the COVID-19 pandemic since the first cases in December 2019. The Omicron VoC has increased transmission, compared to its predecessors, and can present with sore throat and other cold-like symptoms. Given the predominance of throat symptoms, and previous work demonstrating better sensitivity using antigen-based rapid detection tests when a throat swab is included in the standard nasal sampling, this quality improvement project sought to ensure ongoing suitability of both combined oropharyngeal/nares (OPN) and nasopharyngeal (NP) swab sampling used throughout the pandemic. Consenting participants meeting Public Health testing criteria (mostly symptomatic or a close contact of a known case) were enrolled, and paired NP and OPN swabs collections were subjected to nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT). Comparing paired specimens from 392 participants sensitivity of NP swabs was 89.1% (95% CI, 78.8-94.9), and that of OPN was 98.4% (95% CI: 90.9->99.9) (p-value 0.052). This project demonstrated that both NP and combined OPN swabs detected the Omicron variant with similar sensitivity by NAAT, supporting the continued use of either swab collection for SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection.
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-COV-2 coronavirus, which was discovered in late 2019. Within a few months, COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the WHO. Several countries adopted social distancing measures, such as self-quarantine, workplace and mobility restrictions, reducing the probability of contact between non- infected and infected people. In general, these measures have a negative impact on low-income economies and small and medium businesses. During the outbreak, several predictive models have been proposed in order to assess the level of saturation that health services might have. Nevertheless, none of them considers information on the people9s mobility to assess the effectiveness of the social distancing policies. In this study, the authors propose a prediction method based on people9s open mobility data from Apple and Google databases to project potential scenarios and monitor case growth. The proposed method shows the importance of monitoring daily case increases for the first 4-6 weeks of the pandemic wave. Active monitoring is crucial to determine the reduction in mobility and proper actions. The results can contribute to health authorities making timely decisions, preventing the spread of viruses while balancing the reduction of mobility with minimal disruption in people9s economies in future outbreaks.
Evaluation of Full Versus Fractional Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines Given as a Booster in Adults in Australia - Mongolia, Indonesia, Australia Coronavirus (MIACoV). - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Biological: Tozinameran - Standard dose; Biological: Tozinameran - fractional dose; Biological: Elasomeran - standard dose; Biological: Elasomeran - fractional dose
Sponsors: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute; Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations; PATH; The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Not yet recruiting
Zofin to Treat COVID-19 Long Haulers - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Drug: Zofin; Other: Placebo
Sponsors:
Organicell Regenerative Medicine; Proxima Clinical Research, Inc.
Not yet recruiting
Effect of Daily Oral Administration of Food Supplement NLC-V in Patients Diagnosed With COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Dietary Supplement: NLC-V
Sponsor:
Todos Medical, Ltd.
Completed
Fourth COVID-19 Vaccine Dose- mRNA1273 - Condition: COVID-19 Pandemic
Intervention: Biological: mRNA1273 vaccine
Sponsor: Sheba Medical Center
Active, not recruiting
Study Design of the Diacerein in Patients With Covid-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Drug: Diacerein; Drug: placebo capsules
Sponsors: University of Campinas, Brazil; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Not yet recruiting
HEART Rate Variability Biofeedback in LOng COVID-19 (HEARTLOC) - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Behavioral: Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback (HRV-B)
Sponsors: University of Leeds; University of Manchester; Leeds Comunity Healthcare NHS Trust
Recruiting
Fourth BNT162b2 COVID-19 Vaccine Dose - Condition: COVID-19 Pandemic
Intervention: Biological: BNT162b2 vaccine
Sponsor: Sheba Medical Center
Active, not recruiting
Effects of Aerobic Exercise in Patients With Post COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Other: High-intensity interval aerobic exercise training; Other: Control Group
Sponsor: Gazi University
Not yet recruiting
A Phase II Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Immunogenicity and Safety of SCTV01E in Population Aged ≥18 Years Previously Fully Vaccinated With mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine - Conditions: COVID-19; Sars-CoV-2 Infection
Interventions: Biological: SCTV01E; Biological: Comirnaty
Sponsor: Sinocelltech Ltd.
Not yet recruiting
A Phase II Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Immunogenicity and Safety of SCTV01C in Population Aged ≥18 Years and Previously Fully Vaccinated With Either Inactivated or mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine or Previously Diagnosed With COVID-19 - Conditions: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Interventions: Biological: SCTV01C; Biological: Sinopharm inactivated COVID-19 vaccine; Biological: Comirnaty
Sponsor: Sinocelltech Ltd.
Not yet recruiting
Immunogenicity and Safety of the SpikoGen COVID-19 Vaccine in Children Aged 5 to <12 Years and 12 to <18 Years Compared With Adults Aged 18 to 40 Years - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Biological: Low-dose SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein + Advax-SM adjuvant; Biological: SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein + Advax-SM adjuvant
Sponsors:
Cinnagen; Vaxine Pty Ltd
Not yet recruiting
Safety and Immunogenicity of COVI-VAC as a Booster Dose in Adults Previously Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Conditions: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2
Intervention: Biological: COVI-VAC
Sponsor:
Codagenix, Inc
Not yet recruiting
Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training in Patients With Post COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Other: Inspiratory Muscle Training Group; Other: Control Group
Sponsor: Gazi University
Not yet recruiting
Ivermectin for Post Exposure Prophylaxis of Covid-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Drug: Ivermectin; Other: Placebo
Sponsors:
Clinical Research Centre, Malaysia; Hovid Berhad
Recruiting
Phase IIa Randomized Placebo Controlled Clinical Study of Codivir in Hospitalized Patients With Moderate COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Drug: Covidir injections; Diagnostic Test: Quantitative PCR SARS-CoV-2; Diagnostic Test: IgM and IgG dosage; Diagnostic Test: Screening Blood tests; Diagnostic Test: Electrocardiogram; Other: NEWS-2 score; Other: WHO score; Other: Physical examination; Other: COVID-19-Related Symptoms assessment
Sponsor: Code Pharma
Recruiting
Potential mechanism of action of Jing Fang Bai Du San in the treatment of COVID-19 using docking and network pharmacology - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), severely infects people and has rapidly spread worldwide. JingFangBaiDu San (JFBDS) has been used to treat prevalent epidemic pathogens, common cold, headache, cough due to lung-cold, and other symptoms; however, its treatment for COVID-19 is unknown. Molecular docking and network pharmacology were applied to obtain ingredient-protein structures and the herb- ingredient-disease target…
A randomized, double-blind phase I clinical trial of two recombinant dimeric RBD COVID-19 vaccine candidates: Safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity - CONCLUSIONS: Vaccine candidates were safe and immunogenic, and induced live-virus neutralizing antibodies against SARS- CoV-2. The highest values were obtained when outer membrane vesicles were used as adjuvant.
Inhibition of Protein N-Glycosylation Blocks SARS-CoV-2 Infection - Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) extensively N-glycosylates its spike proteins, which are necessary for host cell invasion and the target of both vaccines and immunotherapies. These N-glycans are predicted to modulate spike binding to the host receptor by stabilizing its open conformation and host immunity evasion. Here, we investigated the essentiality of both the host N-glycosylation pathway and SARS-CoV-2 N-glycans for infection. Ablation of host N-glycosylation…
Genome-Wide Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Cytopathogenic Proteins in the Search of Antiviral Targets - Therapeutic inhibition of critical viral functions is important for curtailing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We sought to identify antiviral targets through the genome-wide characterization of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) proteins that are crucial for viral pathogenesis and that cause harmful cytopathogenic effects. All 29 viral proteins were tested in a fission yeast cell-based system using inducible gene expression. Twelve proteins, including eight…
Development and Validation of a Novel HPLC Method to Analyse Metabolic Reaction Products Catalysed by the CYP3A2 Isoform: In Vitro Inhibition of CYP3A2 Enzyme Activity by Aspirin (Drugs Often Used Together in COVID-19 Treatment) - Aspirin (also known as acetylsalicylic acid) is a drug intended to treat fever, pain, or inflammation. Treatment of moderate to severe cases of COVID-19 using aspirin along with dexamethasone has gained major attention globally in recent times. Thus, the purpose of this study was to use High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to evaluate the in vitro inhibition of CYP3A2 enzyme activity using aspirin in rat liver microsomes (RLMs). In this study, an efficient and sensitive HPLC method was…
A New Butyrate Releaser Exerts a Protective Action against SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Human Intestine - Butyrate is a major gut microbiome metabolite that regulates several defense mechanisms against infectious diseases. Alterations in the gut microbiome, leading to reduced butyrate production, have been reported in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. A new butyrate releaser, useful for all the known applications of butyrate, presenting physiochemical characteristics suitable for easy oral administration, (N-(1-carbamoyl-2-phenyl-ethyl) butyramide…
Computational Analysis Reveals Monomethylated Triazolopyrimidine as a Novel Inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase (RdRp) - The human population is still facing appalling conditions due to several outbreaks of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. The absence of specific drugs, appropriate vaccines for mutants, and knowledge of potential therapeutic agents makes this situation more difficult. Several 1, 2, 4-triazolo [1, 5-a] pyrimidine (TP)-derivative compounds were comprehensively studied for antiviral activities against RNA polymerase of HIV, HCV, and influenza viruses, and showed…
Colorimetric and Electrochemical Methods for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease by Peptide-Triggered Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles - Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease (Mpro) has been regarded as one of the ideal targets for the development of antiviral drugs. The currently used methods for the probing of Mpro activity and the screening of its inhibitors require the use of a double-labeled peptide substrate. In this work, we suggested that the label-free peptide substrate could induce the aggregation of AuNPs through the electrostatic interactions, and the cleavage of the peptide by the…
Mechanism of Caspase-1 Inhibition by Four Anti-inflammatory Drugs Used in COVID-19 Treatment - The inflammatory protease caspase-1 is associated with the release of cytokines. An excessive number of cytokines (a “cytokine storm”) is a dangerous consequence of COVID-19 infection and has been indicated as being among the causes of death by COVID-19. The anti-inflammatory drug colchicine (which is reported in the literature to be a caspase-1 inhibitor) and the corticosteroid drugs, dexamethasone and methylprednisolone, are among the most effective active compounds for COVID-19 treatment. The…
COVID-19 and Lung Mast Cells: The Kallikrein-Kinin Activation Pathway - Mast cells (MCs) have relevant participation in inflammatory and vascular hyperpermeability events, responsible for the action of the kallikrein-kinin system (KKS), that affect patients inflicted by the severe form of COVID-19. Given a higher number of activated MCs present in COVID-19 patients and their association with vascular hyperpermeability events, we investigated the factors that lead to the activation and degranulation of these cells and their harmful effects on the alveolar septum…
The Transmembrane Protease TMPRSS2 as a Therapeutic Target for COVID-19 Treatment - TMPRSS2 is a type II transmembrane protease with broad expression in epithelial cells of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract, the prostate, and other organs. Although the physiological role of TMPRSS2 remains largely elusive, several endogenous substrates have been identified. TMPRSS2 serves as a major cofactor in SARS-CoV-2 entry, and primes glycoproteins of other respiratory viruses as well. Consequently, inhibiting TMPRSS2 activity is a promising strategy to block viral infection. In…
Airway Delivery of Hydrogel-Encapsulated Niclosamide for the Treatment of Inflammatory Airway Disease - Repurposing of the anthelminthic drug niclosamide was proposed as an effective treatment for inflammatory airway diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Niclosamide may also be effective for the treatment of viral respiratory infections, such as SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza. While systemic application of niclosamide may lead to unwanted side effects, local administration via aerosol may circumvent these problems, particularly…
Competitive Endogenous RNA Network Activates Host Immune Response in SARS-CoV-2-, panH1N1 (A/California/07/2009)-, and H7N9 (A/Shanghai/1/2013)-Infected Cells - The global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still ongoing, as is research on the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular infection by coronaviruses, with the hope of developing therapeutic agents against this pandemic. Other important respiratory viruses such as 2009 pandemic H1N1 and H7N9 avian influenza virus (AIV), influenza A viruses, are also responsible for a possible outbreak due to their respiratory susceptibility. However, the interaction of…
Citrus fruits are rich in flavonoids for immunoregulation and potential targeting ACE2 - The most recent outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus, named as COVID-19, caused pneumonia epidemic in Wuhan with 2121 deaths cases as of February 20th 2020. Identification of effective antiviral agents to combat the novel coronavirus is urgently needed. Citrus fruit peel or wild citrus are rich in flavonoids, and clinically documented for roles in relief of cough and promotion of digestive health. Therefore, citrus fruits are assumed to possess antivirus activities or enhance the host immunity. A…
The Current Role for Biologic Medications in the Treatment of Pediatric COVID-19 and MIS-C - Severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) are characterized by hyperinflammation and multiorgan dysfunction. Although the incidence and mortality of these illnesses are low in the pediatric population, they occur with enough frequency to necessitate well-defined treatment strategies with demonstrated clinical efficacy. Biologic medications include small molecules or monoclonal antibodies that target specific receptors, enzymes…
SOCIAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR MOBILE ROBOTS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TECHNOLOGY - The emergency department (ED) is a safety-critical environment in which healthcare workers (HCWs) are overburdened, overworked, and have limited resources, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. One way to address this problem is to explore the use of robots that can support clinical teams, e.g., to deliver materials or restock supplies. However, due to EDs being overcrowded, and the cognitive overload HCWs experience, robots need to understand various levels of patient acuity so they avoid disrupting care delivery. In this invention, we introduce the Safety-Critical Deep Q-Network (SafeDQN) system, a new acuity-aware navigation system for mobile robots. SafeDQN is based on two insights about care in EDs: high-acuity patients tend to have more HCWs in attendance and those HCWs tend to move more quickly. We compared SafeDQN to three classic navigation methods, and show that it generates the safest, quickest path for mobile robots when navigating in a simulated ED environment. We hope this work encourages future exploration of social robots that work in safety-critical, human-centered environments, and ultimately help to improve patient outcomes and save lives. Figure 1. - link
A SYSTEM BASED ON DEEP LEARNING FOR ANALYZING DELAYED ENHANCEMENT MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING TO IDENTIFY COVID 19 AND METHOD THEREOF - The present invention discloses a system based on deep learning for analyzing delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging to identify COVID 19 and method thereof. The method and system include, but not limited to, a processing unit adapted to process the data based on deep learning data modelling in the magnetic resonance imaging associated with the digital image scanning system for diagnosis COVID 19 with the spatial resolution that each frame is deposited is 256 * 256, and being creating that level and vertical resolution respectively are 256 pixels (pixel), the read/write address that the read/write address of each image element, which is controlled by processing unit and forms circuit and finishes; And the data that will be stored in memory are input to a real-time microcontroller, it is characterized in that: analyze and compare by the Multi-source Information Fusion analytical system by using the real-time microcontroller to deliver the D/A changer then, digital signal is become analogue signal output. - link
FOLDABLE KIDS NEST - The objective of the present invention is to provide a bird’s nest bag which allows a kid to sleep or sit inside. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the bird nest bag is used to isolate kids below 2 years, who are affected by COVID-19. The netted portion of the bag allows a clear visibility to check on the user by the medical assistants, during emergency situations. The children below two years of age can be isolated in the bags for a shorter duration. (Refer Fig. 1) - link
IDENTIFICATION AND ALARM SYSTEM FOR FACIAL CORONA MASK USING CNN BASED IMAGE PROCESSING - tThe covid-19 epidemic is the world’s largest wake-up call for people to pay attention to their own and society’s health. One thing to keep in mind is that there is a segment of the population that has been exposed to the covid-19 virus and has generated antibodies without developing any significant illnesses and is continuing to be healthy. This indicates that a significant section of the population, even excluding the elderly, lacks the necessary bodily immunity to combat a Viral infection. As terrible as covid-19 is on a global scale, developing personal health standards and preventative measures for any pathogenic virus as a community would have spared many lives. In’this work, a camera is combined with an image processing system to recognise facial masks, which may be improved in a variety of ways. First and foremost, this method is meant to identify masks on a single person’s face. While this method is efficient in identifying someone has a mask, it does not ensure that they will wear it all of the time. The most effective update for this task is to install a camera with a wide field of view so that many individuals can be seen in the frame, and the faces of those who aren’t wearing markings can be identified, as well as the number of people and the timing. - link
ANTIMICROBIAL SANITIZING FORMULATION - An antimicrobial sanitizing formulation, comprising, i) isopropyl alcohol in the range of 0.1%- 80% w/w, ii) an emollient in the range of 0.1%-15% w/w, iii) hydrogen peroxide in the range of 0.1 0.13% w/w, iv) citric acid in the range of 0.1% to 2.0% w/w, v) silver nitrate in the range of 0.1% to 0.5% w/w, and vi) a fragrance imparting agent in the range of 0.1% to 2.0% w/w. - link
A HEALTH BAND WITH A BIOMETRIC MODULE AND WORKING METHOD THEREOF - The present invention discloses a health band with a biometric module and method thereof. The assembly includes, but not limited to, a plurality of sensors configured to gather health data associated with a predefined symptom of a medical condition of a user; a memory unit configured to store the data and an interface, which is configured to determine the medical condition using the data;a processing unit configured to execute the application; and a notification facility configured to provide a notification upon receiving from the interface an instruction associated with the notification, wherein the notification is associated with a drug reminder and the like. - link
RNA 검출 방법 - 본 발명은 RNA의 분석 및 검출 방법에 관한 것이다. 특히, 본 발명은 특히, 본 발명은 짧은 염기서열의 RNA까지 분석이 가능하면서도 높은 민감도 및 정확도로 정량적 검출까지 가능하여 감염증, 암 등 여러 질환의 진단 용도로도 널리 활용될 수 있다. - link
黄芩黄酮活性成分及其制剂在制备预防和/或治疗炎症风暴药物中的应用 - 本发明公开了黄芩黄酮活性成分及其制剂在制备预防和/或治疗炎症风暴药物中的应用。所述黄芩黄酮活性成分选自下述至少一种：黄芩素、汉黄芩素和千层纸素A。炎症风暴是一种机体对外界刺激的过度免疫反应和炎症反应，以炎症细胞因子的快速大量释放为特征。炎症风暴可由许多感染或非感染性疾病引起，并与疾病的严重程度和多器官功能障碍综合征的发生密切相关。减少炎症风暴的发生有助于降低器官损伤和减缓疾病进程，尤其对危重症患者的治疗至关重要。本发明发现，黄芩素、汉黄芩素、千层纸素A均具有不同程度抑制小鼠细胞因子风暴的作用。黄芩素能改善炎症风暴引发的肺损伤和炎性细胞浸润。因此黄芩黄酮活性成分可用于制备防治炎症风暴的药物。 - link
一种预防和/或治疗炎症风暴的药物组合物及其制剂与应用 - 本发明公开了一种预防和/或治疗炎症风暴的药物组合物、制剂及其应用。该药物组合物，由黄芩素、汉黄芩素和千层纸素A组成，其中，黄芩素、汉黄芩素、千层纸素A的质量比为0.251.5：0.57：1。本发明提供的自微乳包括下述组分：药物磷脂复合物、油相、乳化剂和助乳化剂；其中，所述药物磷脂复合物由上述药物组合物和磷脂材料复合而成。本发明的实验结果表明在LPS诱导的系统性炎症风暴小鼠模型中，黄芩素、汉黄芩素和千层纸素A的组合物及其自微乳制剂均具有不同程度抑制小鼠细胞因子风暴的作用。本发明为炎症风暴的临床治疗提供了一种安全、有效、经济的解决方案。 - link
胸部CT图像识别方法、装置、计算机设备和存储介质 - 本申请涉及一种胸部CT图像识别方法、装置、计算机设备和存储介质。所述方法针对CT图像特点，设计轻量级的胸部CT图像识别网络更快速准确地识别出胸部CT图像。引入X‑DMFF模块，提升模型性能且降低计算成本。在DMS模块中引入Swin‑Transformer与残差学习，提取更多尺度的空间特征信息并对特征信息不断重用，提升模型分类效果。 - link