Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

• From Preprints
• From Clinical Trials
• From PubMed
• From Patent Search

From Preprints

• Loneliness during COVID-19 influences mind and likeability ratings in the Uncanny Valley -
  To combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, countries enforced quarantines, physical and social restrictions on people. These restrictions left many feeling isolated and lonely due to prolonged quarantines and lockdowns. This raises questions about using robots as social support to alleviate these symptoms, while still complying with restrictions and regulations. Since acceptance of social robots as companions has traditionally been low, an event like COVID-19 could change acceptance of robots as social companions as loneliness can influence the likelihood of anthropomorphizing nonhuman agents. Here, we aimed to see if loneliness, due to COVID-19 restrictions, influence the Uncanny Valley pattern that prior work has shown. As such, participants saw robot images that varied in physical human-likeness and were asked to evaluate them regarding trustworthy-ness, mind perception and likability. The measurements were obtained once be-fore COVID-19 (in 2016) and once at the peak of the pandemic in September 2020. Results show that ratings of mind perception and likability were significantly impacted by the pandemic, with less pronounced UV patterns for those who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. However, no differences in the UV pattern was observed on trust. Post-hoc analyses also illustrated that people were more likely to judge machinelike robots negatively, which could be due to in-creased loneliness/anxiety. These data suggest that loneliness attenuates UV pat-terns that are observed in “Uncanny” robots and that people have more favorable attitudes towards humanlike robots when feeling lonely, which provides important considerations for the use of humanlike robots as social companions.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Loneliness during COVID-19 influences mind and likeability ratings in the Uncanny Valley
• Sex and gender considerations in a COVID-19 clinical trials registry -
  To assess “sex” and “gender” considerations in registered COVID-19 clinical trials. The data source was the WHO International Clinical Trails Registry Platform for COVID-19 trials registry (retrieved on 28 July 2020). Sex- and gender-related terms were searched in relevant fields of the registry. A content analysis was conducted. Less than one per cent of the trials (<1%) used sex- and gender-related terms in the title.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Sex and gender considerations in a COVID-19 clinical trials registry
• Perinatal depression and implementation of the “Thinking Healthy Program” support intervention in an impoverished setting of Lima, Peru: assessment before and during the COVID-19 pandemic -
  Background: Socios En Salud (SES) implemented the Thinking Healthy Program (THP) to support women with perinatal depression before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lima Norte. Methods: We carried out an analysis of the in-person (5 modules) and remote (1 module) THP intervention. Depression was detected using PHQ-9 and THP sessions were delivered in women with a score (PHQ-9 ≥5). Depression was reassessed and pre- and post- scores were compared. Results: In the pre-pandemic cohort, perinatal depression was 25.4% (47/185), 47 women received THP and 27 were reassessed (57.4%) and the PHQ-9 score median decreased from 8 to 2, p < 0.001. In the pandemic cohort, perinatal depression was 47.5% (117/247), 117 women received THP and 89 were reassessed (76.1%) and the PHQ-9 score median decreased from 7 to 2, p < 0.001. Conclusions: Perinatal depression was higher during COVID-19. THP´s modalities were effective in reducing perinatal depression.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Perinatal depression and implementation of the “Thinking Healthy Program” support intervention in an impoverished setting of Lima, Peru: assessment before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Spirituality is associated with Covid-19 vaccination scepticism -
  Vaccine scepticism poses a significant global health risk, which has again become clear during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Previous research has identified spirituality as an important contributor to general vaccine scepticism. In the present manuscript, we assessed whether spirituality similarly contributes to scepticism towards Covid-19 vaccines, including hesitancy in deciding to be vaccinated and vaccine uptake. We conducted two studies online in the UK (N = 585) in late 2020/early 2021. As expected, individuals who strongly identified as spiritual were more sceptical about Covid-19 vaccines. This association was explained by low faith in science, but not by conspiracy beliefs. Importantly, among the vaccinated participants, those who were more spiritual hesitated more in deciding to get a Covid-19 vaccine. Using structural equation modelling (SEM), we further found that spirituality directly predicted lower likelihood of being vaccinated against Covid-19 (Study 3, N = 456). We also identified low science literacy as an additional predictor of Covid-19 scepticism, but not actual vaccine uptake. To conclude, spiritual beliefs are an important factor to consider when aiming to increase understanding of vaccine-related science scepticism and vaccination rejection.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Spirituality is associated with Covid-19 vaccination scepticism
• Excess mortality associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) in an urban community of Bangladesh: Evidence from cemetery-based death registration -

  Objectives Unlike high-income countries, the magnitude of COVID-19-related mortality is largely unknown in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to determine the COVID-19-associated excess mortality in an urban setting in Bangladesh using a cemetery-based death registration dataset. Study design Retrospective observational study Methods Data extracted from the death registry books managed by the local municipality. A total of 6,271 deaths (3,790 male and 2,481 female) recorded between January 2015 and December 2021 were analyzed by using the Bayesian structural time series model (BSTS). Results During the pre-COVID-19 period, the average monthly number of deaths was 69, whereas, during the COVID-19 period, this number significantly increased to 92. Overall, according to model-based results, during COVID-19 period, the number of deaths increased on average by 17% (95% CrI: -18%, 57%): males 29% (95 % CrI: -15%, 75%) and 2.9% for females (95% CrI: -61%, 70%). Conclusions This first-of-its-kind study in Bangladesh has revealed the excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) in an urban community. It appears that cemetery-based death registration could help track various crises (e.g., COVID-19), especially when collecting data on the ground is challenging for resource-limited countries.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Excess mortality associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) in an urban community of Bangladesh: Evidence from cemetery-based death registration
• Elevated circulating monocytes and monocyte activation in pulmonary post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection -

  Background: Monocytes and macrophages play a pivotal role in inflammation during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, their contribution to the development of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) are not fully elucidated. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted comparing plasma cytokine and monocyte levels among three groups: participants with pulmonary PASC (PPASC) with a reduced predicted diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide [DLCOc, <80%; (PG)]; fully recovered from SARS-CoV-2 with no residual symptoms (recovered group, RG); and negative for SARS-CoV-2 (negative group, NG). The expressions of cytokines were measured in plasma of study cohort by Luminex assay. The percentages and numbers of monocyte subsets (classical, intermediate, and non-classical monocytes) and monocyte activation (defined by CD169 expression) were analyzed using flow cytometry analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Results: Plasma IL-1Rα levels were elevated but FGF levels were reduced in PG compared to NG. Circulating monocytes and three subsets were significantly higher in PG and RG compared to NG. PG and RG exhibited higher levels of CD169+ monocyte counts and higher CD169 expression was detected in intermediate and non-classical monocytes from RG and PG than that found in NG. Further correlation analysis with CD169+ monocyte subsets revealed that CD169+ intermediate monocytes negatively correlated with DLCOc%, and CD169+ non-classical monocytes positively correlated with IL-1α, IL-1β, MIP-1α, Eotaxin, and IFN-γ. Conclusion: This study present evidence that COVID convalescents exhibit monocyte alteration beyond the acute COVID-19 infection period even in convalescents with no residual symptoms. These data provide further rational for determining the role of monocyte subsets in PPASC pathogenesis.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Elevated circulating monocytes and monocyte activation in pulmonary post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection
• Changes in population immunity against infection and severe disease from SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants in the United States between December 2021 and November 2022 -

  Importance: While a substantial fraction of the US population was infected with SARS-CoV-2 during December 2021-February 2022, the subsequent evolution of population immunity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants reflects the competing influences of waning protection over time and acquisition or restoration of immunity through additional infections and vaccinations. Objective: To estimate changes in population immunity against infection and severe disease due to circulating SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants in the United States from December 2021 to October 2022, and to quantify the protection against a potential 2022-2023 winter SARS-CoV-2 wave. Design, setting, participants: Bayesian evidence synthesis of reported COVID-19 data (diagnoses, hospitalizations), vaccinations, and waning patterns for vaccine- and infection-acquired immunity, using a mathematical model of COVID-19 natural history. Main Outcomes and Measures: Population immunity against infection and severe disease from SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants in the United States, by location (national, state, county) and week. Results: By November 10, 2022, 94% (95% CrI, 79%-99%) of the US population were estimated to have been infected by SARS-CoV-2 at least once. Combined with vaccination, 97% (95%-99%) were estimated to have some prior immunological exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Between December 1, 2021 and November 10, 2022, protection against a new Omicron infection rose from 22% (21%-23%) to 63% (51%-75%) nationally, and protection against an Omicron infection leading to severe disease increased from 61% (59%-64%) to 89% (83%-92%). Increasing first booster uptake to 55% in all states (current US coverage: 34%) and second booster uptake to 22% (current US coverage: 11%) would increase protection against infection by 4.5 percentage points (2.4-7.2) and protection against severe disease by 1.1 percentage points (1.0-1.5). Conclusions and Relevance: Effective protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe disease in October 2022 was substantially higher than in December 2021. Despite this high level of protection, a more transmissible or immune evading (sub)variant, changes in behavior, or ongoing waning of immunity could lead to a new SARS-CoV-2 wave.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Changes in population immunity against infection and severe disease from SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants in the United States between December 2021 and November 2022
• Serologic Responses to COVID-19 Vaccination in Children with History of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C) -

  Understanding the serological responses to COVID-19 vaccination in children with history of MIS-C could inform vaccination recommendations. We prospectively enrolled five children hospitalized with MIS-C and measured SARS-CoV-2 binding IgG antibodies to spike protein variants longitudinally pre- and post-Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 primary series COVID-19 vaccination. We found that SARS-CoV-2 variant cross-reactive IgG antibodies waned following acute MIS-C, but were significantly boosted with vaccination and maintained for at least 3 months. We then compared post-vaccination binding, pseudovirus neutralizing, and functional antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) titers to the reference strain (Wuhan-hu-1) and Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) among previously healthy children (n=6) and children with history of MIS-C (n=5) or COVID-19 (n=5). Despite the breadth of binding antibodies elicited by vaccination in all three groups, pseudovirus neutralizing and ADCC titers were reduced to the Omicron variant. Vaccination after MIS-C or COVID-19 (hybrid immunity) conferred advantage in generating pseudovirus neutralizing and functional ADCC antibodies to Omicron.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Serologic Responses to COVID-19 Vaccination in Children with History of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C)
• Oligosymptomatic long-term carriers of SARS-CoV-2 display impaired innate resistance and high Spike-specific neutralizing antibodies -

  The vast spectrum of clinical features of COVID-19 keeps challenging scientists and clinicians. Control of pathogen load (host resistance) and prevention of tissue damage (disease tolerance) are essential for the outcome of infectious diseases. Both low resistance and high disease tolerance might result in long-term viral persistence, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we studied the immune response of immunocompetent COVID-19 patients with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection by immunophenotyping, cytokine and serological analysis. Despite viral loads and symptoms comparable to regular mildly-symptomatic patients, long-term carriers displayed weaker systemic IFN-I responses and fewer circulating pDCs and NK cells at disease onset. Type 1 cytokines remained low, while type-3 cytokines were in turn enhanced. Interestingly, the plasma of these patients showed a higher spike-specific neutralization capacity. The identification of very early distinct immune responses in long-term carriers adds up to our understanding on essential host protective mechanisms to ensure tissue damage control despite prolonged viral infection.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Oligosymptomatic long-term carriers of SARS-CoV-2 display impaired innate resistance and high Spike-specific neutralizing antibodies
• Running ahead of evolution - AI based simulation for predicting future high-risk SARS-CoV-2 variants -
  The never-ending emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variations of concern (VOCs) has challenged the whole world for pandemic control. In order to develop effective drugs and vaccines, one needs to efficiently simulate SARS- CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain (RBD) mutations and identify high-risk variants. We pretrain a large pro- tein language model on approximately 408 million pro- tein sequences and construct a high-throughput screen- ing for the prediction of binding affinity and antibody escape. As the first work on SARS-CoV-2 RBD mu- tation simulation, we successfully identify mutations in the RBD regions of 5 VOCs and can screen millions of potential variants in seconds. Our workflow scales to 4096 NPUs with 96.5% scalability and 493.9X speedup in mixed precision computing, while achieving a peak performance of 366.8 PFLOPS (reaching 34.9% theo- retical peak) on Pengcheng Cloudbrain-II. Our method paves the way for simulating coronavirus evolution in or- der to prepare for a future pandemic that will inevitably take place.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Running ahead of evolution - AI based simulation for predicting future high-risk SARS-CoV-2 variants
• Neutralizing antibodies to Omicron after the fourth SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine dose in immunocompromised patients highlight the need of additional boosters -

  Immunocompromised patients have been shown to have an impaired immune response to COVID-19 vaccines. Here we compared the B-cell, T-cell and neutralizing antibody response to WT and Omicron BA.2 SARS-CoV-2 virus after the fourth dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in patients with hematological malignancies (HM, n=71), solid tumors (ST, n=39) and immune-rheumatological (ID, n=25) diseases. We show that the T-cell response is similarly boosted by the fourth dose across the different subgroups, while the antibody response is improved only in patients not receiving B-cell targeted therapies, independent on the pathology. However, 9% of patients with anti-RBD antibodies did not have neutralizing antibodies to both virus variants, while an additional 5.7% did not have neutralizing antibodies to Omicron BA.2, making these patients particularly vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The increment of neutralizing antibodies was very similar towards Omicron BA.2 and WT virus after the third or fourth dose of vaccine, suggesting that there is no preferential skewing towards either virus variant with the booster dose. The only limited step is the amount of antibodies that are elicited after vaccination, thus increasing the probability of developing neutralizing antibodies to both variants of virus. Hence, additional booster doses are recommended to frail patients.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Neutralizing antibodies to Omicron after the fourth SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine dose in immunocompromised patients highlight the need of additional boosters
• Comparative analysis of pediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus epidemiology and clinical severity before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Canada -

  Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) circulation and surveillance, causing logistical complexity for health systems. Our objective was to describe changes in epidemiology and clinical severity of RSV cases in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Methods: Comparative analysis of RSV detections in children <36 months at BC Children9s Hospital (BCCH) between September 1 and August 31 of 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22. Results: About one-fifth of children tested RSV positive on average across all periods. The median age of RSV cases was 11.8 [IQR: 3.8 to 22.3] months in 2021-22 versus 6.3 [IQR: 1.9 to 16.7] months in 2017-20 (p<0.001). Increased testing in 2021-22 (n=3,120) compared to 2017-20 (average n=1,222) detected milder infections with lower proportion hospitalized in all age subgroups <6 (26.0%), 6-11 (12.3%), 12-23 (12.2%) and 24-35 (16.0%) months versus 2017-20 (49.3%, 53.5%, 62.6%, 57.5%, respectively) (all p<0.001). Children <6 months consistently comprised most hospitalizations and those born prematurely <29 weeks or with chronic respiratory co-morbidities remained at highest hospitalization risk in 2021-22. Among hospitalized cases, intensive care, respiratory support or supplemental oxygen use did not differ between the 2017-20 and 2021-22 periods. Conclusions: RSV circulation halted during the pandemic, but with the lifting of mitigation measures a subsequent resurgence in children <36 months of age was accompanied by shift toward older (24-35 month) cases in 2021-22, without increased severity. For the 2022-23 season, increased circulation and residual vulnerability in additional birth cohorts spared from RSV infection during the pandemic could have marked cumulative healthcare impact, even with the same proportion hospitalized.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Comparative analysis of pediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus epidemiology and clinical severity before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Canada
• Consumption Responses to an Unconditional Child Allowance in the United States -
  The economic crisis triggered by COVID-19 put families with children in the United States under significant financial stress. The federal government’s largest response in 2021 was the American Rescue Plan Act, which temporarily expanded the Child Tax Credit (CTC) into a large, unconditional child allowance providing monthly income support to families with children. This study investigates consumption responses to the CTC expansion using anonymized mobile-location data and debit/credit card data that track visits and spending at 1.3 million establishments across counties that cover 99.6% of the U.S. population. For identification, we exploit variation in the size of households’ income gains due to the CTC across counties in a difference-in-differences framework spanning January 2021 through May 2022. We find that counties benefiting most from the CTC expansion experienced larger increases in visits to child care centers; increased spending amounts at personal care establishments, restaurants, and grocery and general stores; and no significant increase in consumption at alcohol, tobacco, or gambling establishments. We find some evidence that CTC payment frequency matters for spending decisions: when distributed at monthly frequency, the CTC payments contributed to greater consumption at grocery and general stores. When distributed as a lumpsum, the benefit contributed to greater consumption at children’s and family clothing stores. Both payment types contributed to greater visits to child care centers. These findings suggest that the CTC expansion increased household consumption and particularly spending on children.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Consumption Responses to an Unconditional Child Allowance in the United States
• Long-term temporal trends in incidence rate and case fatality of sepsis and COVID-19-related sepsis: nationwide registry study -

  Importance: Sepsis is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The majority of sepsis cases is attributed to bacterial infections, but virus infections can also induce sepsis. Conflicting results in incidence rates and case fatality trends of sepsis is reported, and how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced these trends are unknown. Objective: To estimate temporal trends in incidence rate and case fatality during a 14-year period from 2008 through 2021, and to assess possible shifts in these trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: A nationwide longitudinal registry study using ICD-10 discharge codes to identify sepsis. Setting: All Norwegian hospitals from 2008 through 2021. Participants: All sepsis cases included 317.705 patients and of these, 222.832 had a first sepsis episode. Main outcomes and measures: Annual age-standardized incidence rates with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Poisson regression was used to estimate changes in incidence rates across time, and logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios for in-hospital death. Results: Among 12.619.803 adult hospitalizations, 317.705 (2.5%) patients met the sepsis criteria and 222.832 (70.0%) had a first sepsis episode. In the period 2009-2019, the annual incidence rate for a first sepsis episode was stable (incidence rate ratio per year, 0.999; 95% CI, 0.994-1.004), whereas for all sepsis the incidence rate increased by 15.5% during the period (annual incidence rate ratio, 1.013; 95% CI 1.007-1.019). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence rate ratio for a first sepsis was 0.877 (95% CI, 0.829-0.927) in 2020 and 0.929 (95% CI, 0.870-0.992) in 2021, and for all sepsis it was 0.870 (95% CI, 0.810-0.935) in 2020 and 0.908 (95% CI, 0.840-0.980) in 2021, compared to the previous 11-year period. In-hospital deaths declined in the period 2009-2019 (odds ratio per year, 0.954 [95% CI,0.950-0.958]), whereas deaths increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 (odds ratios, 1.061 [95% CI 1.001-1.124] and in 2021 odds ratio (1.164 [95% CI, 1.098-1.233]). Conclusion and relevance: We found a stable incidence rate of a first sepsis episode during the years 2009-2019. However, the increasing burden of all sepsis admissions indicates that sepsis awareness with updated guidelines and education must continue.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Long-term temporal trends in incidence rate and case fatality of sepsis and COVID-19-related sepsis: nationwide registry study
• Factors associated with release relief of Long COVID symptoms at 12-Months and their impact on daily life -

  Introduction: Our purpose was to describe the course of Long COVID symptoms after 12-month follow-up, their impact on daily life and the factors associated with the relief of symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted within an out-patient clinic for Long COVID patients. Participants, who had experienced their initial COVID-19 episode between January, 15 2020 and May 21, 2021, were contacted 12-months post onset. Their characteristics, symptom course at initial COVID-19 episode, Long COVID phase and one year follow-up along with remission status were collected through a questionnaire and a specific post COVID remission scale from complete remission to persistence of symptoms and dependence in daily life activities. Results: Among the 231 long COVID participants who answered the 12-month follow-up questionnaire, 63.2% had developed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies before COVID-19 vaccination. At 12-month follow-up, only 8.7% of the participants felt in complete remission while 28.6% noted a significant improvement of their symptoms. The prevalence rate of most symptoms remained high at 12 months: asthenia 83.1%, neurocognitive and neurological symptoms 91.8%, cardiothoracic symptoms 77.9%, musculoskeletal 78.8%. During Long COVID phase, 62.2% had to stop working at least once and only 32.5% resumed professional activities full time at one year follow-up. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies before COVID-19 vaccination was associated with an increased probability of significant improvement at one year (aPRR: 1.60, p=0.028) while ageusia at initial Long COVID phase was associated with a lower probability of improvement (aPRR: 0.38, p=0.007). Conclusion: While observing a trend towards some improvement in a majority of long COVID patients at a 12-month follow-up, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, cardiothoracic symptoms and neurocognitive impairment persisted in most of them. Having developed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was associated with a better prognosis while persistent ageusia at long COVID phase seems to be associated with the persistence of symptoms.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Factors associated with release relief of Long COVID symptoms at 12-Months and their impact on daily life

From Clinical Trials

• COVID-19 Bivalent Booster Megastudy - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Behavioral: COVID Booster text messages
  Sponsor:   University of Pennsylvania
  Enrolling by invitation

• A Study on Utilization, Adherence, and Acceptability of Voluntary Routine COVID-19 Self-testing Among Students, Staff and Health Workers at Two Institutions in Mizoram, India. - Condition:   COVID-19 Pandemic
  Intervention:   Diagnostic Test: COVID-19 Self testing and related messaging
  Sponsors:   PATH;   UNITAID;   Zoram Medical College;   Pacchunga University College;   ALERT India;   Government of Mizoram
  Not yet recruiting

• A Study to Evaluate EDP-235 in Non-hospitalized Adults With COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: EDP-235;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc
  Recruiting

• Assessing Performance of the Testing Done Simple Covid 19 Antigen Test - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Diagnostic Test: Testing Done Simple SARS CoV-2 Antigen Test
  Sponsors:   Testing Done Simple;   Nao Medical Urgent Care
  Recruiting

• Q-POC COVID-19 Clinical Evaluation - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Diagnostic Test: RT-PCR Test;   Diagnostic Test: Real-time PCR Test
  Sponsors:   QuantuMDx Group Ltd;   EDP Biotech;   Paragon Rx Clinical;   PathAI;   PRX Research and Development
  Not yet recruiting

• The LAVA (Lateral Flow Antigen Validation and Applicability) 2 Study for COVID-19 - Condition:   SARS-CoV-2 Infection
  Intervention:   Diagnostic Test: Innova Lateral Flow Test
  Sponsor:   Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
  Completed

• Acute Rehabilitation in Patients With COVID-19 Pneumonia - Conditions:   COVID-19;   Rehabilitation;   Physical Medicine
  Intervention:   Procedure: Acute rehabilitation program
  Sponsor:   Institut za Rehabilitaciju Sokobanjska Beograd
  Recruiting

• Enhancing Protection Against Influenza and COVID-19 for Pregnant Women and Medically at Risk Children - Conditions:   Influenza;   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Behavioral: Nudge
  Sponsor:   University of Adelaide
  Recruiting

• A Trial Evaluate the Immunogenicity and Safety of Recombinant COVID-19 Omicron-Delta Variant Vaccine (CHO Cell) - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: Omicron-Delta Recombinant Novel Coronavirus Protein Vaccine (CHO cells);   Biological: Recombinant Novel Coronavirus Protein Vaccine (CHO cells)
  Sponsor:   Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biologic Pharmacy Co., Ltd.
  Recruiting

• COVID-19 Antibody Responses in Cystic Fibrosis - Conditions:   COVID-19;   Cystic Fibrosis
  Intervention:   Biological: Blood sample
  Sponsors:   Hospices Civils de Lyon;   Queen’s University, Belfast
  Recruiting

• Study of RAY1216 Tablets Compared With Placebo in Patients With Mild to Moderate SARS-CoV-2 Infection - Condition:   Mild to Moderate COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: RAY1216;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Guangdong Raynovent Biotech Co., Ltd
  Not yet recruiting

• A Phase 1, Randomised, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled, Dose-escalation Study to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of RH109 as Booster - Condition:   COVID-19 Pandemic
  Interventions:   Biological: Lyophilized COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine;   Drug: Sodium chloride
  Sponsors:   Wuhan Recogen Biotechnology Co., Ltd.;   Shenzhen Rhegen Biotechnology Co., Ltd.;   Wuhan Rhegen Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• Message Communicating Latest Data on COVID Transmission in Patient’s Area - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Behavioral: COVID Booster text messages
  Sponsor:   University of Pennsylvania
  Enrolling by invitation

• Message From Local Pharmacy Team - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Behavioral: COVID Booster text messages
  Sponsor:   University of Pennsylvania
  Enrolling by invitation

• Planning Message Recommending Same Time/Location as Last Vaccine - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Behavioral: COVID Booster text messages
  Sponsor:   University of Pennsylvania
  Enrolling by invitation

From PubMed

• Efficacy and safety of glycyrrhizic acid preparation treating comorbid liver injury in COVID-19: A systematic review - Background: No specific drug for COVID-19 has been found, and many studies have found that different degrees of liver injury often occurred after infection with COVID-19. Glycyrrhizic acid preparation (GAP) has been frequently used clinically, often combined with conventional treatments such as antiviral therapy, to improve the prognosis of COVID-19 and patients’ liver function. Aims: To critically review and analyze clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of GAP in the treatment of…

• Molecular Docking and Dynamics Simulation of Several Flavonoids Predict Cyanidin as an Effective Drug Candidate against SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein - The in silico method has provided a versatile process of developing lead compounds from a large database in a short duration. Therefore, it is imperative to look for vaccinations and medications that can stop the havoc caused by SARS-CoV-2. The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is required for the viral entry into the host cells, hence inhibiting the virus from fusing and infecting the host. This study determined the binding interactions of 36 flavonoids along with two FDA-approved drugs against the…

• Masitinib analogues with the N-methylpiperazine group replaced - A new hope for the development of anti-COVID-19 drugs - Masitinib is an orally acceptable tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is currently investigated under clinical trials against cancer, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A recent study confirmed the anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) activity of masitinib through inhibition of the main protease (M^(pro)) enzyme, an important pharmacological drug target to block the replication of the coronavirus. However, due to the adverse…

• Post-pandemic recovery of intracity human mobility in Wuhan: spatiotemporal characteristic and driving mechanism - After successfully inhibiting the first wave of COVID-19 transmission through a city lockdown, Wuhan implemented a series of policies to gradually lift restrictions and restore daily activities. Existing studies mainly focus on the intercity recovery under a macroscopic view. How does the intracity mobility return to normal? Is the recovery process consistent among different subareas, and what factor affects the post-pandemic recovery? To answer these questions, we sorted out policies adopted…

• Beneficial effects of CCL8 inhibition at lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury - CCL8 (MCP-2) is a chemoattractive cytokine associated with various immune-related pathologies. Recent studies show that CCL8 is significantly stimulated during acute respiratory distress syndrome in severely ill patients with COVID-19, making the inhibition of CCL8 activity a promising treatment. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury was evaluated in mice using a neutralizing antibody (1G3E5) against human CCL8. Pharmacokinetic studies indicated that following IP administration, 1G3E5 was…

• Inhibition of the predicted allosteric site of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease through flavonoids - Since its emergence in 2019, coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic and killed several million people worldwide. Even though several types of vaccines are available against the COVID-19 virus, SARS-CoV-2, new strains are emerging that pose a constant danger to vaccine effectiveness. In this computational study, we identified and predicted potent allosteric inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro). Via molecular docking and simulations, more than 100 distinct…

• Exploring the dual effect of novel 1,4-diarylpyranopyrazoles as antiviral and anti-inflammatory for the management of SARS-CoV-2 and associated inflammatory symptoms - COVID-19 and associated substantial inflammations continue to threaten humankind triggering death worldwide. So, the development of new effective antiviral and anti-inflammatory medications is a major scientific goal. Pyranopyrazoles have occupied a crucial position in medicinal chemistry because of their biological importance. Here, we report the design and synthesis of a series of sixteen pyranopyrazole derivatives substituted with two aryl groups at N-1 and C-4. The designed compounds are…

• In vitro and in vivo effects of 3-indoleacetonitrile-A potential new broad-spectrum therapeutic agent for SARS-CoV-2 infection - The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak has resulted in significant global morbidity, mortality, and societal disruption. Currently, effective antiviral drugs for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection are limited. Therefore, safe and effective antiviral drugs to combat COVID-19 are urgently required. In previous studies, we showed that 3-indoleacetonitrile, a plant growth hormone produced by cruciferous (Brassica) vegetables, is effective in treating influenza A…

• Exploring new catechin derivatives as SARS-CoV-2 M^pro inhibitors from tea by molecular networking, surface plasma resonance, enzyme inhibition, induced fit docking, and metadynamics simulations - SARS-CoV-2 M^(pro) (Mpro) is the critical cysteine protease in coronavirus viral replication. Tea polyphenols are effective M^(pro) inhibitors. Therefore, we aim to isolate and synthesize more novel tea polyphenols from Zhenghedabai (ZHDB) white tea methanol-water (MW) extracts that might inhibit COVID-19. Through molecular networking, 33 compounds were identified and divided into 5 clusters. Further, natural products molecular network (MN) analysis showed that MN1 has new…

• Bridging the Gap between Target-Based and Cell-Based Drug Discovery with a Graph Generative Multitask Model - The development of new drugs is crucial for protecting humans from disease. In the past several decades, target-based screening has been one of the most popular methods for developing new drugs. This method efficiently screens potential inhibitors of a target protein in vitro, but it frequently fails in vivo due to insufficient activity of the selected drugs. There is a need for accurate computational methods to bridge this gap. Here, we present a novel graph multi-task deep learning model to…

• SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody response in vaccinated and non-vaccinated hospital healthcare workers with or without history of infection - Between March 2021 and February 2022, SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies dynamics was investigated in a prospective observational study in 903 healthcare workers of a hospital in Switzerland. A surrogate neutralization assay measuring the competitive inhibition of the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding to the spike protein (S) of the SARS-CoV-2 wild type virus and to five variants of concern (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron) was used. We observed a broad distribution of…

• Acute stress of the typical disinfectant glutaraldehyde-didecyldimethylammonium bromide (GD) on sludge microecology in livestock wastewater treatment plants: Effect and its mechanisms - Glutaraldehyde and didecyldimethylammonium bromide (GD) is a disinfectant widely used to prevent African swine fever (ASF) in livestock farms. However, the effect of residual GD on the activated sludge microbial ecology of receiving wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) remains largely unknown. In this study, seven simulated systems were established to research the effects of GD on WWTPs and reveal the underlying mechanisms of microecological responses to GD at different concentrations. Both the…

• Gastrointestinal, liver, pancreas, oral and psychological long-term symptoms of COVID-19 after recovery; A review - Due to the importance of control and prevention of COVID-19-correlated long-term symptoms, the present review article has summarized what has been currently known regarding the molecular and cellular mechanisms linking COVID-19 to important long-term complications including psychological complications, liver and gastrointestinal manifestations, oral signs as well as even diabetes. COVID-19 can directly affect the body cells through their Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 [ACE-2] to induce…

• Pexidartinib (PLX3397) through restoring hippocampal synaptic plasticity ameliorates social isolation-induced mood disorders - Social behavior is essential for the well-being and survival of individuals. However, social isolation is a serious public health issue, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting a significant number of people worldwide, and can lead to serious psychological crises. Microglia, innate immune cells in the brain, are strongly implicated in the development of psychiatry. Although many microglial inhibitors have been used to treat depression, there is no literature report on pexidartinib…

• Discovery and mechanism of action of Thonzonium bromide from an FDA-approved drug library with potent and broad-spectrum inhibitory activity against main proteases of human coronaviruses - Although the effective drugs or vaccines have been developed to prevent the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), their efficacy may be limited for the viral evolution and immune escape. Thus, it is urgently needed to develop the novel broad-spectrum antiviral agents to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic. The 3C-like protease (3CL^(pro)) is a highly conserved cysteine proteinase that plays a pivotal role in processing the viral…

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