Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

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

From Preprints

• Introduction to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis as a Methodology -
  The outbreak of COVID-19 has disrupted research methods just as it had to all other sectors of education across the globe. Many institutions and organisations, including researchers sought to find ways to deal with research while observing the requirement for remote interactions. While many options have been implemented, the use of systematic reviews, and in particular, Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) have not been explored. QES, as a research method, offers a high level of evidence through the synthesis of primary qualitative studies, using established and endorsed critical appraisal methods such as PRISMA Workflow charts or COREQ, CASP (the latter is commonly used in QES), and many more that are suitable based on the nature of the study design. The other beneficial quality of QES is the ability to preserve research, use and embellish primary research and provide formidable networks among researchers. This presentation was first presented at a workshop organized by the National Center for Research Methods and the University of Manchester (UK) in October 2021 and later on at the 6th World Conference on Qualitative Research (Spain) in January 2022.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Introduction to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis as a Methodology
• Development of a digital game to refute COVID-19 misconceptions -
  Compounding the public health challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic is an infodemic of misinformation (WHO, 2020). Misconceptions are mitigated when a correct alternative is presented clearly and stored in long-term memory (Kendeou et al., 2014). However, recent findings show that some attempts to correct health related misinformation are ineffective or even backfire, paradoxically strengthening misconceptions (Nyhan, Reifler, Richey, & Freed, 2014). Solutions for successful revision of misconceptions must address several interlocking problems: (1) designing content to promote the specific cognitive processes required to revise misconceptions; (2) developing a new delivery method to present content that captures and maintains attention; (3) mitigating negative affect and biased reasoning. Thus, this project leveraged the unique strengths of psychological research on belief change and design principles of gamification to develop, evaluate, and widely distribute a new digital game to combat misconceptions regarding COVID-19. Gamification refers to the process of adding elements and mechanics of game play (e.g., challenges, competition, progress, feedback) into traditional educational contexts to take advantage of their motivational and affective strengths (Deterding et al., 2011; Sailer et al., 2017 ; Sardi et al., 2017). Research Questions: 1. Do positive emotional reactions to gamified belief corrections positively predict public support for health policies? 2. Do negative emotional reactions to gamified belief corrections negatively predict support for public health policies?
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Development of a digital game to refute COVID-19 misconceptions
• Bereavement from COVID-19, Gender, and Reports of Depression among Older Adults in Europe -
  Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has left older adults around the world bereaved by the sudden death of relatives and friends. We examine if COVID-19 bereavement corresponds with older adults’ reporting depression in 27 countries, and test for variation by gender and country context. Methods: We analyze SHARE COVID-19 data collected between June-August 2020 from N=51,383 older adults (age 50–104) living in 27 countries, of whom 1,363 reported the death of a relative or friend from COVID-19. We estimate pooled-multilevel logit regression models to examine if COVID-19 bereavement was associated with self-reported depression and worsening depression, and we test whether national COVID-19 mortality rates moderate these assocations. Results: COVID-19 bereavement is associated with significantly higher probabilities of both reporting depression and reporting worsened depression among older adults. Net of one’s own personal loss, living in a country with the highest COVID-19 mortality rate is associated with women’s reports of worsened depression but not men’s. However, the country’s COVID-19 mortality rate does not moderate associations between COVID-19 bereavement and depression. Discussion: COVID-19 deaths have lingering mental health implications for surviving older adults. Even as the collective toll of the crisis is apparent, bereaved older adults are in particular need of mental health support.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Bereavement from COVID-19, Gender, and Reports of Depression among Older Adults in Europe
• Simultaneous and sequential multi-species coronavirus vaccination -
  Although successful COVID-19 vaccines have been developed, multiple pathogenic coronavirus species exist, urging for development of multi-species coronavirus vaccines. Here we developed prototype LNP-mRNA vaccine candidates against SARS-CoV-2 (Delta variant), SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, and test how multiplexing of these LNP-mRNAs can induce effective immune responses in animal models. A triplex scheme of LNP-mRNA vaccination induced antigen-specific antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, with a relatively weaker MERS-CoV response in this setting. Single cell RNA- seq profiled the global systemic immune repertoires and the respective transcriptome signatures of multiplexed vaccinated animals, which revealed a systemic increase in activated B cells, as well as differential gene expression signatures across major adaptive immune cells. Sequential vaccination showed potent antibody responses against all three species, significantly stronger than simultaneous vaccination in mixture. These data demonstrated the feasibility, antibody responses and single cell immune profiles of multi-species coronavirus vaccination. The direct comparison between simultaneous and sequential vaccination offers insights on optimization of vaccination schedules to provide broad and potent antibody immunity against three major pathogenic coronavirus species.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Simultaneous and sequential multi-species coronavirus vaccination
• The bacterial lysate Lantigen B reduces the expression of ACE2 on primary oropharyngeal cells -
  Background: Vercelli and coworkers recently observed that a well-established bacterial lysate (OM-85, Vifor Pharma; CH) was able to downregulate the expression of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) on epithelial cells. This downregulation was also associated with a reduced infectivity of cells, resulting in a reduced viral titre. We evaluated whether another bacterial lysate (Lantigen B, Bruschettini Ltd; Italy) may have similar activities. However, while OM-85 is given per os and has a systemic effect after absorption at the gut level, Lantigen B is given locoregionally. Thus, the concentration that the bacterial lysate can reach at the mucosal level seems to be promising. Methods: Oropharyngeal cells were collected from healthy donors. After 24 hours of treatment in vitro with doses of Lantigen B comparable to those that are reached in vivo, the expression of ACE2 was evaluated by direct fluorescence and flow cytometry. Results: A reduction in the number of ACE2-positive cells was observed in 80% of treated samples. Only a few donors had poor expression of ACE2, and in these donors, the downregulation was less evident or absent. Conclusions: These results suggest that Lantigen B, at pharmacological doses, could be an interesting drug to reduce ACE2 expression on oropharyngeal cells, thus contributing to the prophylaxis of COVID-19 in humans.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The bacterial lysate Lantigen B reduces the expression of ACE2 on primary oropharyngeal cells
• Cell cycle independent role of cyclin D3 in host restriction of SARS-CoV-2 infection -
  The COVID-19 pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presents a great threat to human health. The interplay between the virus and host plays a crucial role in successful virus replication and transmission. Understanding host-virus interactions is essential for development of new COVID-19 treatment strategies. Here we show that SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers redistribution of cyclin D1 and cyclin D3 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, followed by its proteasomal degradation. No changes to other cyclins or cyclin dependent kinases were observed. Further, cyclin D depletion was independent from SARS-CoV-2 mediated cell cycle arrest in early S phase or S/G2/M phase. Cyclin D3 knockdown by small interfering RNA specifically enhanced progeny virus titres in supernatants. Finally, cyclin D3 co-immunoprecipitated with SARS-CoV-2 Envelope and Membrane proteins. We propose that cyclin D3 inhibits virion assembly and is depleted during SARS-CoV-2 infection to restore efficient assembly and release of newly produced virions.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Cell cycle independent role of cyclin D3 in host restriction of SARS-CoV-2 infection
• Molecular dynamics of spike variants in the locked conformation: RBD interfaces, fatty acid binding and furin cleavage sites. -
  Since December 2019 the SARS-CoV-2 virus has infected billions of people around the world and caused millions of deaths. The ability for this RNA virus to mutate has produced variants that have been responsible for waves of infections across the globe. The spike protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virion is responsible for cell entry in the infection process. Here we have studied the spike proteins from the Original, Alpha (B.1.1.7), Delta (B1.617.2), Delta-plus (B1.617.2-AY1), Omicron BA.1 and Omicron BA.2 variants. Using models built from cryo-EM structures with linoleate bound (6BZ5.pdb) and the N-terminal domain from 7JJI.pdb, each is built from the first residue, with missing loops modelled and 45 disulphides per trimer. Each spike variant was modified from the same Original model framework to maximise comparability. Three replicate, 200 ns atomistic molecular dynamics simulations were performed for each case. (These data also provide the basis for further, non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, published elsewhere.) The analysis of our equilibrium molecular dynamics reveals that sequence variation at the closed receptor binding domain interface particularly for Omicron BA.2 has implications for the avidity of the locked conformation, with potential effects on Omicron BA.1 and Delta-plus. Linoleate binding has a mildly stabilizing effect on furin cleavage site motions in the Original and Alpha variants, but has no effect in Delta, Delta-plus and slightly increases motions at this site for Omicron BA.1, but not BA.2, under these simulation conditions.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Molecular dynamics of spike variants in the locked conformation: RBD interfaces, fatty acid binding and furin cleavage sites.
• HELICOPER MONEY AND THE PROSPECT OF IMPLEMENTATION IN VIETNAM DURING ECONOMIC CRISES -
  As the current COVID-19 pandemic lingers on with its fallout agonizing several economies on the globe, a number of policy instruments have been summoned by governments to cope with the looming recession. Among those instruments is the contentious “helicopter money”, which has received the endorsement of multiple economists while many others consider it a too risky tactic to follow. This paper is going to discuss the suitability of implementing “helicopter money” in the context of Vietnam during economic crises, particularly with a focus on the ongoing novel coronavirus-induced economic downturn. The author also makes an attempt to clarify certain challenges that Vietnamese legislators should better study carefully if “helicopter money” is ever to be deployed, as well as the circumstances and extent of such deployment.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: HELICOPER MONEY AND THE PROSPECT OF IMPLEMENTATION IN VIETNAM DURING ECONOMIC CRISES
• Reconstruction of the cell pseudo-space from single-cell RNA sequencing data with scSpace -
  Tissues are highly complicated with spatial heterogeneity in gene expression. However, the cutting-edge single-cell RNA-seq technology eliminates the spatial information of individual cells, which contributes to the characterization of cell identities. Herein, we propose single-cell spatial position associated co-embeddings (scSpace), an integrative algorithm to distinguish spatially variable cell subclusters by reconstructing cells onto a pseudo-space with spatial transcriptome references (Visium, STARmap, Slide-seq, etc.). We demonstrated that scSpace can define biologically meaningful cell subpopulations neglected by single-cell RNA-seq or spatially resolved transcriptomics. The use of scSpace to uncover the spatial association within single-cell data, reproduced, the hierarchical distribution of cells in the brain cortex and liver lobules, and the regional variation of cells in heart ventricles and the intestinal villus. scSpace identified cell subclusters in intratelencephalic neurons, which were confirmed by their biomarkers. The application of scSpace in melanoma and Covid-19 exhibited a broad prospect in the discovery of spatial therapeutic markers.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Reconstruction of the cell pseudo- space from single-cell RNA sequencing data with scSpace
• Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies among vaccinated and non-vaccinated adults in the West Bank: Results of a repeated cross-sectional study -

  Background Seroprevalence studies are known to provide better estimates of the proportion of people previously infected, which did not undertake diagnostic testing. Repeated cross-sectional sero-studies are encouraged in the same locations to monitor trends overtime. The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence among a random sample of vaccinated and non-vaccinated Palestinian adults living in the West Bank region of Palestine, irrespective of the source of antibodies, be it due to infection with COVID-19 or due to vaccination or both. Methods This repeated cross- sectional study used serologic testing on a random sample of vaccinated and non-vaccinated adults, 18 years and older residing in 11 governorates of the West Bank region of Palestine. Antibodies/Blood samples were taken using Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 assay by using the Cobas Analyzer cobas e 411 (Roche) for detection of antibody seropositivity against COVID-19. Seroprevalence was estimated as the proportion of individuals who had a positive result in the total SARS- CoV-2 antibodies in the immunoassay. Sociodemographic information and medical history data was collected using a questionnaire. Results Among 1451 total participants enrolled in the study, serum samples were tested from 910 persons. Study findings from this randomly selected sample indicated a seroprevalence 75.9%, 95% CI (73.1-78.7). The seroprevalence results indicated that the prevalence of antibodies among those who reported that they were not infected and did not get vaccinated was 45.2% with 95% CI (39.9-50.5%). The average age of participants was 37.6 years old. 49.2% were female and 50.8% were male. In relation to COVID-19, the following was found: Conclusion Our findings revealed a drastic rise in seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. This information is useful for assessing the degree of herd immunity, and provides for better understanding of the pandemic. Population-based seroprevalence studies should be conducted periodically to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Palestine and inform policymakers about the efficacy of the surveillance system.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies among vaccinated and non-vaccinated adults in the West Bank: Results of a repeated cross-sectional study
• Escape of SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron to mucosal immunity in vaccinated subjects. -

  Omicron s escape to vaccine-induced systemic antibody responses has been shown in several studies in Omicron- infected patients and vaccine controls. In the present study we compared mucosal antibody response to Omicron to mucosal antibody response to ancestral strain and Delta variant. This was done on nasal epithelial lining fluid (NELF) prospectively collected in 84 otherwise healthy healthcare workers who had never exhibited PCR-documented COVID-19 and had received three doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. NELF was collected prior to Omicron detection in the geographical area of inclusion. We show that NELF antibodies from vaccinated individuals were less efficient at inhibiting the binding of the Omicron Spike protein to ACE-2 compared to those of Delta or the ancestral strain. These findings may explain the increased risk of onward transmission of Omicron, consistent with its successful global displacement of Delta in countries with a high vaccination coverage.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Escape of SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron to mucosal immunity in vaccinated subjects.
• Reporting Rates for VAERS Death Reports Following COVID-19 Vaccination, December 14, 2020-November 17, 2021 -

  Background: Despite widely available safety information for the COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine hesitancy remains a challenge. In some cases, vaccine hesitancy may be related to concerns about the number of reports of death to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Objective: To provide information and context about reports of death to VAERS following COVID-19 vaccination. Design: Descriptive study; reporting rates for VAERS death reports. Setting: United States; December 14, 2020, to November 17, 2021. Participants: COVID-19 vaccine recipients. Measurements: Reporting rates for death events per million persons vaccinated; adverse event counts; data mining signals of disproportionate reporting. Results: 9,201 death events were reported for COVID-19 vaccine recipients aged five years and older (or age unknown). Reporting rates for death events increased with increasing age, and males generally had higher reporting rates than females. For death events within seven days and 42 days of vaccination, respectively, observed reporting rates were lower than the expected all-cause death rates. Reporting rates for Ad26.COV2.S vaccine were generally higher than for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, but still lower than the expected all-cause death rates. Reported adverse events were non-specific or reflected the known leading causes of death. Limitations: VAERS data are subject to several limitations such as reporting bias (underreporting and stimulated reporting), missing or inaccurate information, and lack of a control group. Reported diagnoses, including deaths, are not causally verified diagnoses. Conclusion: Reporting rates for death events were lower than the expected all-cause mortality rates. Trends in reporting rates reflected known trends in background mortality rates. These findings do not suggest an association between vaccination and overall increased mortality. Funding Source: No external sources of funding were used.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Reporting Rates for VAERS Death Reports Following COVID-19 Vaccination, December 14, 2020-November 17, 2021
• Assessing the feasibility of sustaining a ‘Zero-COVID’ policy in China in the era of highly transmissible variants -

  We developed a spatially structured, fully stochastic, individual-based SARS-CoV-2 transmission model to evaluate the feasibility of sustaining a 9Zero-COVID9 policy in mainland China in light of currently dominant Omicron variants, China9s current immunization level, and non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) strategies. We found that due to high transmissibility, neither Omicron BA.1 or BA.2 sublineages could be contained by China9s Pre-Omicron non- pharmaceutical intervention strategies which were successful at sustaining the 9Zero-COVID9 policy until March 2022. However, increased intervention intensity, such as enhanced population mobility restrictions and multi-round mass testing, could lead to containment success without the necessity of population-wide lockdown. As China9s current vaccination has yet to reach high coverage in older populations, non-pharmaceutical interventions remain essential tools to maintain low levels of infection while building protective population immunity, ensuring a smooth transition out of the pandemic phase, and minimizing the overall disease burden and societal costs.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Assessing the feasibility of sustaining a ‘Zero-COVID’ policy in China in the era of highly transmissible variants
• “Does a respiratory virus have an ecological niche, and if so, can it be mapped?” Yes and yes. -

  Although the utility of Ecological Niche models (ENM) and Species Distribution models (SDM) has been demonstrated in many ecological applications, their suitability for modelling epidemics or pandemics, such as SARS- Cov-2, has been questioned. In this paper, contrary to this viewpoint, we show that ENMs and SDMs can be created that can describe the evolution of pandemics, both in space and time. As an illustrative use case, we create models for predicting confirmed cases of COVID-19, viewed as our target ``species“, in Mexico through 2020 and 2021, showing that the models are predictive in both space and time. In order to achieve this, we extend a recently developed Bayesian framework for niche modelling, to include: i) dynamic, non-equilibrium ``species” distributions; ii) a wider set of habitat variables, including behavioural, socio-economic and socio-demographic variables, as well as standard climatic variables; iii) distinct models and associated niches for different species characteristics, showing how the niche, as deduced through presence-absence data, can differ from that deduced from abundance data. We show that the niche associated with those places with the highest abundance of cases has been highly conserved throughout the pandemic, while the inferred niche associated with presence of cases has been changing. Finally, we show how causal chains can be inferred and confounding identified by showing that behavioural and social factors are much more predictive than climate and that, further, the latter is confounded by the former.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: “Does a respiratory virus have an ecological niche, and if so, can it be mapped?” Yes and yes.
• Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness against general SARS-CoV-2 infection from the omicron variant: A retrospective cohort study -

  Objective: To estimate the effectiveness of 2-dose and 3-dose mRNA vaccination (BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273) against any SARS-CoV-2 infection (asymptomatic or symptomatic) caused by the omicron variant. Design: Propensity-score matched retrospective Cohort Study. Setting: Large public university undergoing weekly Covid-19 testing in South Carolina, USA. Participants: Population consists of 24,145 university students and employees undergoing weekly Covid-19 testing between January 3rd and January 31st, 2022. The analytic sample was constructed via propensity score matching on vaccination status: Unvaccinated, completion of 2-dose mRNA series within previous 5 months, and receipt of mRNA booster dose within previous 5 months. The resulting analytic sample consists of 1,944 university students and 658 university employees. Intervention: Vaccination with a two dose or 3 dose regimen of the BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccine. Results: Booster protection against any SARS-CoV-2 infection was 66.4% among employees (95% CI: 46.1-79.0%; P<.001) and 45.4% among students (95% CI: 30.0-57.4%; P<.001). Compared to the 2-dose mRNA series, estimated increase in protection from the booster dose was 40.8% among employees (P=.024) and 37.7% among students (P=.001). We did not have enough evidence to conclude a statistically significant protective effect of the 2-dose mRNA vaccination series, nor did we have enough evidence to conclude that protection waned in the 5-month period after receipt of the 2nd or 3rd mRNA dose. Furthermore, we did not find evidence that protection varied by manufacturer. Conclusions: Covid-19 mRNA booster doses offer moderate protection against any SARS-CoV-2 infection caused by the omicron variant and provide a substantial increase in protection relative to the 2-dose mRNA vaccination series.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness against general SARS-CoV-2 infection from the omicron variant: A retrospective cohort study

From Clinical Trials

• Immunogenicity and Safety of Fractional Booster Dose of COVID-19 Vaccines Available for Use in Pakistan/Brazil: A Phase 4 Dose-optimizing Trial - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: Sinovac;   Biological: AZD1222;   Biological: BNT162b2
  Sponsors:   Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute;   Aga Khan University;   Oswaldo Cruz Foundation;   Stanford University
  Not yet recruiting

• A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of Omicron COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated in Population 18 Years Old of Age and Above - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Biological: Omicron COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated
  Sponsors:   China National Biotec Group Company Limited;   Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co Ltd.;   Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital
  Recruiting

• A Study to Evaluate the Immunogenicity and Safety of a Recombinant Protein COVID-19 Vaccine as a Booster Dose in Population Aged 12-17 Years - Conditions:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV-2 Infection
  Interventions:   Biological: SCTV01E;   Biological: mRNA-1273
  Sponsor:   Sinocelltech Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• A First-In-Human Phase 1b Study of AmnioPul-02 in COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Drug: AmnioPul-02
  Sponsor:   Amniotics AB
  Not yet recruiting

• A Study of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (SYS6006) in Chinese Healthy Older Adults. - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: 20 μg dose of SYS6006;   Biological: 30 μg dose of SYS6006;   Biological: 50 μg dose of SYS6006;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:  
  CSPC ZhongQi Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd.
  Recruiting

• A Study of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (SYS6006) in Chinese Healthy Adults Aged 18 -59 Years. - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: 20 μg dose of SYS6006;   Biological: 30 μg dose of SYS6006;   Biological: 50 μg dose of SYS6006;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:  
  CSPC ZhongQi Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd.
  Recruiting

• Safety, Reactogenicity, and Immunogenicity Study of a Lyophilized COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Biological: A Lyophilized COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine;   Biological: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Jiangsu Rec-Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• The Use of Chinese Herbal Medicine and Vitamin C by Hospital Care Workers in HK to Prevent COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Drug: Chinese herbal medicine
  Sponsor:  
  Hong Kong Baptist University
  Not yet recruiting

• Safety, Reactogenicity, and Immunogenicity Study of a Lyophilized COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine - Condition:   COVID-19 Pandemic
  Interventions:   Biological: A Lyophilized COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine;   Biological: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Wuhan Recogen Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• Home-based Exercise Program in Patients With the Post-COVID-19 Condition - Conditions:   Long COVID;   Post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome
  Intervention:   Other: Home- based physical training
  Sponsor:   University of Sao Paulo
  Not yet recruiting

• Kesuting Syrup in the Treatment of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Conditions:   COVID-19 Pneumonia;   Cough
  Interventions:   Drug: Kesuting syrup;   Drug: LianHuaQingWen Granules
  Sponsor:   Guizhou Bailing Group Pharmaceutical Co Ltd
  Recruiting

• Immune Function in Elderly Patients With Mild to Moderate COVID-19 on Hemodialysis - Conditions:   COVID-19;   Hemodiafiltration
  Interventions:  
  Dietary Supplement: Oral nutritional supplement;   Behavioral: Nutrition consultation
  Sponsor:  
  Ruijin Hospital
  Not yet recruiting

• Phase 2b/3 Trial of NuSepin® in COVID-19 Pneumonia Patients - Condition:   COVID-19 Pneumonia
  Interventions:   Drug: NuSepin® 0.2 mg/kg;   Drug: NuSepin® 0.4 mg/kg;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Shaperon
  Recruiting

• Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Early Goal Directed Therapy for COVID-19 Moderate-to-Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS): A Phase III Clinical Trial - Condition:   COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
  Intervention:   Drug: EXOFLO
  Sponsor:   Direct Biologics, LLC
  Not yet recruiting

• High Frequency Percussive Ventilation in COVID-19 Patients - Conditions:   COVID-19;   Acute Respiratory Failure
  Intervention:  
  Device: High frequency Percussive ventilation
  Sponsor:   University Magna Graecia
  Not yet recruiting

From PubMed

• Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Anoectochilus elatus, and their biomedical applications - Zinc and its derivatives requirement increased to enhance human immunity against the different pandemics, including covid-19. Green synthesis is an emerging field of research. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have been prepared from Anoectochilus elatus and characterized using absorption, vibrational and electron microscope analysis. They were carried for antibacterial, inflammatory control tendency, and potential antioxidant activities. The brine shrimp lethal assay tested the biologically…

• Neutralizing Effect of Synthetic Peptides toward SARS-CoV-2 - The outbreak caused by SARS-CoV-2 has taken many lives worldwide. Although vaccination has started, the development of drugs to either alleviate or abolish symptoms of COVID-19 is still necessary. Here, four synthetic peptides were assayed regarding their ability to protect Vero E6 cells from SARS-CoV-2 infection and their toxicity to human cells and zebrafish embryos. All peptides had some ability to protect cells from infection by SARS-CoV-2 with the D614G mutation. Molecular docking predicted…

• Transient but recurrent complete heart block in a patient after COVID-19 vaccination - A case report - CONCLUSION: COVID-19 vaccination may transitorily interfere with cardiac conduction system even in subjects without known underlying heart disease.

• Loneliness is not a homogeneous experience: An empirical analysis of adaptive and maladaptive forms of loneliness in the UK - Understanding loneliness is pivotal to informing relevant evidence-based preventive interventions. The present study examined the prevalence of loneliness in the UK, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the association between loneliness, mental health outcomes, and risk and protective factors for loneliness, after controlling for the effects of social isolation. It was estimated that 18.1% of the population in our study experienced moderately high to very high loneliness. We also found that…

• Biological activity of interferons in the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19 - CONCLUSION: The obtained data on deficiency of the functional biologically active IFN confirm the hypothesis about the predominant role of impaired IFN production of different types in the immunopathogenesis of the novel coronavirus infection.

• Bromhexine is a potential drug for COVID-19; From hypothesis to clinical trials - COVID-19 (novel coronavirus disease 2019), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has various clinical manifestations and several pathogenic pathways. Although several therapeutic options have been used to control COVID-19, none of these medications have been proven to be a definitive cure. Transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) is a protease that has a key role in the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells. Following the binding of the viral spike (S) protein to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2…

• The problem of the use of interferons in the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 (Coronaviridae: Coronavirinae: Betacoronavirus: Sarbecovirus) - By the end of 2021, about 200 studies on the effect of interferons (IFNs) on the incidence and course of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 (Coronaviridae: Coronavirinae: Betacoronavirus: Sarbecovirus) have been reported worldwide, with the number of such studies steadily increasing. This review discusses the main issues of the use of IFN drugs in this disease. The literature search was carried out in the PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, RSCI databases, as well as in the…

• Challenges for rapamycin repurposing as a potential therapeutic candidate for COVID-19: implications for skeletal muscle metabolic health in older persons - The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged as the causative agent of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has spread worldwide, resulting in over 6 million deaths as of March

2022. Older people have been disproportionately affected by the disease, as they have greater risk of hospitalization, are more vulnerable to severe infection, and have higher mortality than younger patients. Although effective vaccines have been rapidly developed…

• Immunogenicity and reactogenicity after booster dose with AZD1222 via intradermal route among adult who had received CoronaVac - CONCLUSION: Low-dose ID AZD1222 booster enhanced lower neutralizing antibodies at 3 months compared with IM route. Less systemic reactogenicity occurred, but higher local reactogenicity.

• Treatment of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) - Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a novel prothrombotic disorder characterized by thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation identified in hundreds of recipients of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Oxford/AstraZeneca), an adenovirus vector coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. VITT resembles heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in that patients have platelet-activating anti-platelet factor 4 antibodies; however, whereas heparin typically enhances…

• Type I interferon regulates proteolysis by macrophages to prevent immunopathology following viral infection - The ability to treat severe viral infections is limited by our understanding of the mechanisms behind virus-induced immunopathology. While the role of type I interferons (IFNs) in early control of viral replication is clear, less is known about how IFNs can regulate the development of immunopathology and affect disease outcomes. Here, we report that absence of type I IFN receptor (IFNAR) is associated with extensive immunopathology following mucosal viral infection. This pathology occurred…

• Early and Rapid Identification of COVID-19 Patients with Neutralizing Type I Interferon Auto-antibodies - CONCLUSION: IFN-AABs may serve as early biomarker for the development of severe COVID-19. We propose to implement routine screening of hospitalized COVID-19 patients for rapid identification of patients with IFN-AABs who most likely benefit from specific therapies.

• 25 (S)-Hydroxycholesterol acts as a possible dual enzymatic inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 M^pro and RdRp-: an insight from molecular docking and dynamics simulation approaches - The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has rapidly extended globally and killed approximately 5.83 million people all over the world. But, to date, no effective therapeutic against the disease has been developed. The disease is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and enters the host cell through the spike glycoprotein (S protein) of the virus. Subsequently, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and main protease (M^(pro)) of the virus mediate viral…

• Dual targeting of RdRps of SARS-CoV-2 and the mucormycosis-causing fungus: an in silico perspective - During the past few months, mucormycosis has been associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections. Molecular docking combined with molecular dynamics simulation is utilized to test nucleotide-based inhibitors against the RdRps of SARS-CoV-2 solved structure and Rhizopus oryzae RdRp model built in silico. The results reveal a comparable binding affinity of sofosbuvir, galidesivir, ribavirin and remdesivir compared with the physiological nucleotide triphosphates against R. oryzae RdRp as well as the…

• Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 from Neocarya macrophylla (Sabine) Prance ex F. White: Chemoinformatic and Molecular Modeling Studies for Three Key Targets - CONCLUSION: The findings of this study have shown that N. macrophylla contains potential leads for SARS-CoV-2 inhibition and thus, should be studied further for development as therapeutic agents against COVID-19.

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