Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

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

From Preprints

• Phenotypic plasticity and the anthropause: an urban bird becomes less aggressive -
  Urban areas often impose strong, novel selection pressures on wildlife. Phenotypic plasticity is an important mechanism helping organisms establish populations in novel environments. Phenotypic plasticity can be difficult to study in urban wildlife because many urban environmental variables are challenging to isolate and manipulate experimentally. We took advantage of the COVID-19 lockdowns to assess whether urban birds expressed aggression differently when relieved from frequent encounters with humans. We measured the territorial aggression responses of resident dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) on an urban college campus in Los Angeles, USA. We found that the population overall displayed significantly reduced aggression in pandemic year 2021 compared to the typical year 2019. Furthermore, individuals measured in both 2019 and 2021 showed significantly reduced aggression during 2021, demonstrating that individual birds maintain phenotypic plasticity in this trait. Our results show that human disturbance likely has a significant effect on the aggressive behavior of urban birds.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Phenotypic plasticity and the anthropause: an urban bird becomes less aggressive
• Four points regarding reproducibility and external statistical validity: a comment on Walter et al. -
  Walter et al. (2021) present phase 1–2–3 trial data that show two doses of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer–BioN-Tech) Covid-19 vaccine were safe and effective in children aged 5–11 years. Given that millions of children in this age group are receiving the paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, that there are potential risks, and that the balance of benefits over potential risks is more limited in children compared to adults due to low rates of serious disease (ATAGI 2021), gold standards ought to be applied to supporting data in terms of placebo-controlled disease endpoint efficacy trials, safety databases large enough to detect adverse events, and appropriate data sharing to enable reproduction and scrutiny of results. Four points are worthy of attention regarding the reproducibility and external statistical validity of the analysis reported in Walter et al. (2021). ‘External validity’ refers to the extent to which conclusions drawn from the data (and statistical tests thereof) are likely to correspond to, or be generalisable to, the real world (Campbell 1957). ‘Reproducibility’ refers to the ability of independent researchers to draw the same conclusions from the data (Kass et al. 2016).
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Four points regarding reproducibility and external statistical validity: a comment on Walter et al.
• The SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutation Explorer: Using an Interactive Application to Improve the Public Understanding of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern -
  SARS-CoV-2 is the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in late 2019 and has resulted in millions of death globally. The need to understand the pandemic means that detailed descriptions of features of this virus are now of interest to non-expert audiences. In particular, there has been much public interest in the spike protein that protrudes from the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. The spike is the major determinant of viral infectivity and the main target for protective immune responses, and included in vaccines, and so its properties influence the impact of the pandemic on people’s lives. This protein is rapidly evolving, with mutations that enhance transmissibility or weaken vaccine protection creating new variants of concern (VOCs) and associated sub-lineages. The spread of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs has been tracked by groups such as the COVID-19 Genomics UK consortium (COG-UK). Their online mutation explorer (COG-UK/ME), which analyses and shares SARS-CoV-2 sequence data, contains information about VOCs that is designed primarily for an expert audience but is potentially of general interest during a pandemic. We wished to make this detailed information about SARS-CoV-2 VOCs more widely accessible. Previously work has shown that visualisations and interactivity can facilitate active learning and boost engagement with molecular biology topics, while animations of these topics can boost understanding on protein structure, function, and dynamics. We therefore set out to develop an educational graphical resource, the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutation Explorer (SSPME), which contains interactive 3D molecular models and animations explaining SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variants and VOCs. We performed user-testing of the original COG-UK/ME website and of the SSPME, using a within-groups design to measure knowledge acquisition and a between-groups design to contrast the effectiveness and usability. Statistical analysis demonstrated that, when compared to the COG-UK/ME, the SSPME had higher usability and significantly improved participant knowledge confidence and knowledge acquisition. The SSPME therefore provides an example of how 3D interactive visualisations can be used for effective science communication and education on complex biomedical topics, as well as being a resource to improve the public understanding of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutation Explorer: Using an Interactive Application to Improve the Public Understanding of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern
• Determinants restricting ACE2 recognition of MERS-related coronaviruses in bats -
  Phylogenetically distant coronaviruses have evolved to employ ACE2 as their common receptors, including NL63 and many Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus-related viruses. Recently, we found two Middle East respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (MERS-CoV)-related bat coronaviruses, NeoCoV and PDF-2180, also use Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2) but not MERS-CoV receptor dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) for entry. Receptor binding domain (RBD)-binding and pseudovirus entry assays based on a wide range of bat ACE2 orthologs revealed that the two viruses strongly prefer ACE2 from Yangochiropteran bats as compared with Yinpterochiropteran bats, which is not observed in NL63 and SARS-CoV-2. Genetic and structural analyses of the virus-receptor interactions of 50 bat ACE2 orthologs pointed to four crucial host range determinants in two viral binding loops on ACE2. Subsequent functional verifications via mutagenesis on representative ACE2 orthologs confirmed the importance of these determinants on human and bat cells. Remarkably, NeoCoV-T510F, a mutation previously shown to acquire human ACE2 recognition, displayed an expanded potential host range covering most tested bat ACE2, probably due to its reinforced interaction with an evolutionary conserved hydrophobic pocket. Our results elucidated the molecular mechanisms for the species-specific ACE2 usage of MERS-related viruses, offering basic information for assessing the zoonotic risk of these ACE2 utilizing merbecoviruses.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Determinants restricting ACE2 recognition of MERS-related coronaviruses in bats
• Clomipramine inhibits dynamin L-α-phosphatidyl-L-serine stimulated GTPase activity -
  Three dynamin isoforms play critical roles in clathrin-dependent endocytosis. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) enters host cells via clathrin-dependent endocytosis. We previously reported that clomipramine inhibits the GTPase activity of dynamin 1, which is in mainly neuron. Therefore, we investigated whether clomipramine inhibits the activity of other dynamin isoforms in this study. We found that, similar to its inhibitory effect on dynamin 1, clomipramine inhibited the L–phosphatidyl-L-serine-stimulated GTPase activity of dynamin 2, which is expressed ubiquitously, and dynamin 3, which is expressed in the lung. Inhibition of GTPase activity raises the possibility that clomipramine can suppress SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Clomipramine inhibits dynamin L-α-phosphatidyl-L-serine stimulated GTPase activity
• Spillover of human antivirals may promote resistant pathogens in animal reservoirs -
  Novel viral pathogens are causing diseases to emerge in humans, a challenge to which society has responded with technological innovations such as antiviral therapies. Antivirals can be rapidly deployed to mitigate severe disease, and with vaccines, save human lives and provide a long-term safety net against new viral diseases. Yet with these advances come unforeseen consequences when antivirals are inevitably released to the environment. Using SARS-CoV-2 as a case study, we identify global patterns of overlap between bats and elevated pharmaceutical concentrations in surface waters. We model how freshwater contamination by antivirals could result in exposure to insectivorous bats via consumption of emergent insects with aquatic larvae, ultimately risking the evolution of antiviral-resistant viruses in bats. The consequences of widespread antiviral usage for both human and ecosystem health underscore urgent frontiers in both scientific research and sustainable development.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Spillover of human antivirals may promote resistant pathogens in animal reservoirs
• Research Into Potential Therapies Against COVID-19, With Focus On Ivermectin -
  Purpose: Ivermectin is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic and an effective drug to treat COVID-19. In this article, we looked at the effects of ivermectin on coronavirus and its patients in three ways. We have discussed and organized other previously discovered potential therapies and reviewed them in Table 2 and in the last section. Methods: We searched for articles on MedRxiv, PubMed, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, EMBASE uses the appropriate search terms. ClinicalTrials.gov was searched for available clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of ivermectin. We also use EU clinical trial registry data and ANZ registry data for clinical trials. Also, we performed our methods in 4 stages: Identifying studies, Selection of Studies, Collating Studies, Reporting results. Results: Results are variable. Some studies have shown the effectiveness of ivermectin, others have not. Furthermore, some studies show that a combination of ivermectin with other drugs is useful. Conclusion: Overall, we believe the reason ivermectin is useful is that it goes back to its origin, which is soil. Our theory and hypothesis is that if the coronavirus, created by man or by nature, can generally be treated with nature, that is, the soil. The interesting thing is that today we know that ivermectin is effective in the fight against the coronavirus. In fact, other drugs like teicoplanin, cyclosporine and rapamycin that are effective against the coronavirus have come from the soil. We hope that this article has been able to take a step in finding a corona drug, InshaAllah.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Research Into Potential Therapies Against COVID-19, With Focus On Ivermectin
• Research Into Potential Therapies Against COVID-19, With Focus On Ivermectin -
  Purpose: Ivermectin is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic and an effective drug to treat COVID-19. In this article, we looked at the effects of ivermectin on coronavirus and its patients in three ways. We have discussed and organized other previously discovered potential therapies and reviewed them in Table 2 and in the last section. Methods: We searched for articles on MedRxiv, PubMed, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, EMBASE uses the appropriate search terms. ClinicalTrials.gov was searched for available clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of ivermectin. We also use EU clinical trial registry data and ANZ registry data for clinical trials. Also, we performed our methods in 4 stages: Identifying studies, Selection of Studies, Collating Studies, Reporting results. Results: Results are variable. Some studies have shown the effectiveness of ivermectin, others have not. Furthermore, some studies show that a combination of ivermectin with other drugs is useful. Conclusion: Overall, we believe the reason ivermectin is useful is that it goes back to its origin, which is soil. Our theory and hypothesis is that if the coronavirus, created by man or by nature, can generally be treated with nature, that is, the soil. The interesting thing is that today we know that ivermectin is effective in the fight against the coronavirus. In fact, other drugs like teicoplanin, cyclosporine and rapamycin that are effective against the coronavirus have come from the soil. We hope that this article has been able to take a step in finding a corona drug, InshaAllah.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Research Into Potential Therapies Against COVID-19, With Focus On Ivermectin
• Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of clinically extremely vulnerable children and children living with clinically extremely vulnerable people in Wales: A data linkage study -

  Objectives: To determine whether clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) children or children living with a CEV person in Wales were at greater risk of presenting with anxiety or depression in primary or secondary care during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with children in the general population, and to compare patterns of anxiety and depression during the pandemic (23rd March 2020-31st January 2021, referred to as 2020/21) and before the pandemic (March 23rd 2019-January 31st 2020, referred to as 2019/20), between CEV children and the general population. Design: Population-based cross-sectional cohort study using anonymised, linked, routinely collected health and administrative data held in the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank. CEV individuals were identified using the COVID-19 Shielded Patient List. Setting: Primary and secondary healthcare settings covering 80% of the population of Wales. Participants: Children aged 2-17 in Wales: CEV (3,769); living with a CEV person (20,033); or neither (415,009). Primary outcome measure: First record of anxiety or depression in primary or secondary healthcare in 2019/20 and 2020/21, identified using Read and ICD-10 codes. Results: A Cox regression model adjusted for demographics and history of anxiety or depression revealed that only CEV children were at greater risk of presenting with anxiety or depression during the pandemic compared with the general population (Hazard Ratio=2.27, 95% Confidence Interval=1.94-2.66, p<0.001). Compared with the general population, the risk amongst CEV children was higher in 2020/21 (Risk Ratio 3.04) compared with 2019/20 (Risk Ratio 1.90). In 2020/21, the cumulative incidence of anxiety or depression increased slightly amongst CEV children, but declined amongst the general population. Conclusions: Differences in the cumulative incidences of recorded anxiety or depression in healthcare between CEV children and the general population were largely driven by a reduction in presentations to healthcare services by children in the general population during the pandemic.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of clinically extremely vulnerable children and children living with clinically extremely vulnerable people in Wales: A data linkage study
• Modelling how the altered usage of cell entry pathways by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant may affect the efficacy and synergy of TMPRSS2 and Cathepsin B/L inhibitors -
  The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant harbours mutations in its spike protein, which may affect its cell entry, tropism, and response to interventions. To elucidate these effects, we developed a mathematical model of SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells and applied it to analyse recent in vitro data. SARS-CoV-2 enters cells using host proteases, either Cathepsin B/L or TMPRSS2. We estimated >4-fold increase and >3-fold decrease in entry efficiency using Cathepsin B/L and TMPRSS2, respectively, of the Omicron variant relative to the original or other strains in a cell type-dependent manner. Our model predicted that Cathepsin B/L inhibitors would be more and TMPRSS2 inhibitors less efficacious against the Omicron than the original strain. Furthermore, the two inhibitor classes would exhibit synergy, although the drug concentrations maximizing synergy would have to be tailored to the Omicron variant. These findings provide insights into the cell entry mechanisms of the Omicron variant and have implications for interventions.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Modelling how the altered usage of cell entry pathways by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant may affect the efficacy and synergy of TMPRSS2 and Cathepsin B/L inhibitors
• The Your COVID-19 Risk Assessment Tool and the Accompanying Open Access Data and Materials Repositories -
  In March 2020, the Your COVID-19 Risk tool was developed in response to the global spread of SARS-CoV-2. The tool is an online resource based on key behavioural evidence-based risk factors related to contracting and spreading SARS-CoV-2. This article describes the development of the tool, the produced resources, the associated open repository, and initial results. This tool was developed by a multidisciplinary research team consisting of more than 150 international experts. This project leverages knowledge obtained in behavioural science, aiming to promote behaviour change by assessing risk and supporting individuals completing the assessment tool to protect themselves and others from infection. To enable iterative improvements of the tool, tool users can optionally answer questions about behavioural determinants. The data and results are openly shared to support governments and health agencies developing behaviour change interventions. Over 60 000 users in more than 150 countries have assessed their risk and provided data.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The Your COVID-19 Risk Assessment Tool and the Accompanying Open Access Data and Materials Repositories
• Another doubling of excess mortality in the United States relative to its European peers between 2017 and 2021 -

  A mortality gap between the United States and other high-income nations emerged before the pandemic. International comparisons of Covid-19 mortality suggest this gap might have increased during the pandemic. Applying average mortality rates of the five largest West European countries to the US population shows that the number of excess deaths attributable to this mortality gap continues to increase year after year in the United States. The annual number of such excess deaths has doubled between 2017 and 2021, with most of the increase occurring during the pandemic (+89.1% between 2019 and 2021). In 2021, excess mortality in the United States relative to its European peers contributed 892,491 excess deaths, amounting to 25.8% of all US deaths that year, up from 15.7% in 2017. Of the 450,224 excess deaths added between 2017 and 2021, 42,317 are attributable to population change (9.4%), 230,672 to differential rates of Covid-19 mortality (51.2%), and the remaining 177,235 to differential rates of mortality from other causes (39.4%, possibly including misclassified deaths due to Covid-19). The contribution of Covid-19 mortality to excess mortality in the United States (relative to its European peers) grew between 2020 and 2021 due to diverging trends in Covid-19 mortality, especially towards the end of 2021 as US vaccination rates plateaued at lower levels than in European countries. While this contribution might be transient, divergent trends in mortality from other causes persistently separates the United States from West European countries. Excess mortality is particularly high between ages 15 and 64. In 2021, nearly half of all US deaths in this age range are excess deaths (48.0%).

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Another doubling of excess mortality in the United States relative to its European peers between 2017 and 2021
• Higher Perceived Stress during the COVID-19 pandemic increased Menstrual Dysregulation and Menopause Symptoms -

  Purpose The increased stress the globe has experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic has affected mental health, disproportionately affecting women. However, how perceived stress in the first year affected menstrual and menopausal symptoms has not yet been investigated. Methods Residents in British Columbia, Canada, were surveyed online as part of the COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Study of a Provincial Population-Based Cohort for Gender and Sex (RESPPONSE). A subgroup (n=4171) who were assigned female sex at birth (age 25-69) and were surveyed within the first 6-12 months of the pandemic (August 2020-February 2021), prior to the widespread rollout of vaccines, were retrospectively asked if they noticed changes in their menstrual or menopausal symptoms, as well as completing validated measures of stress, depression, and anxiety. Results We found that 27.8% reported menstrual cycle disturbances and 6.7% reported increased menopause symptoms. Those who scored higher on perceived stress, depression, and anxiety scales were more likely to have reproductive cycle disturbances. Free text responses revealed that reasons for disturbances were perceived to be related to the pandemic. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to research womens health issues, such as menstruation. Our data indicates that in the first year of the pandemic, almost a third of the menstruating population reported disturbances in their cycle, which is approximately two times higher than in non-pandemic situations and four times higher than any reported changes in menopausal symptoms across that first year of the pandemic.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Higher Perceived Stress during the COVID-19 pandemic increased Menstrual Dysregulation and Menopause Symptoms
• Novel deterministic epidemic model considering mass vaccination and lockdown against Covid-19 spread in Israel: A numerical study -

  Why public health intervention by Israel government against COVID-19 spread has been successful while the most countries in the world is still coping with it? To give the quantitative answer, a simple numerical epidemic model is prepared to simulate an entire trend of various infection related variables considering vaccination campaign and simultaneous lockdown. The model is an extension of the deterministic physical model ATLM previously published by the authors that aims to predict an entire trend of variables in a single epidemic. The time series data of both vaccine dose ratio and lockdown period are employed in the model. Predictions have been compared with observed data in terms of daily new cases, isolated people, infectious at large and effective reproductive number and the model is verified. Moreover, parameter survey calculations for several scenarios have clarified a synergy effect of vaccination and lockdown have existed. In particular, it is suggested the key element of Israel success lies in a high dose rate of vaccination that avoids the onset of the rebound of daily new cases on the rescission of the lockdown.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Novel deterministic epidemic model considering mass vaccination and lockdown against Covid-19 spread in Israel: A numerical study
• Purchasing Decisions in the New Normal Period: Implementation of Digital Marketing, Brand Awareness, and Viral Marketing at Shopee E-Commerce on the Use of SPayLater -
  Indonesia has one of the highest levels of e-commerce in the world, with around 97% of internet users looking for products and services to buy online. Visits to online retailers are made by him 92% of all Internet users. 94% of internet users alsо pay for prоducts and services оnline. With 94.7 million monthly visits, Shopee is the most popular online shopping destination for Indonesians. This study’s goal was to assess the effects of partially or simultaneously the application of digital marketing, brand awareness and Viral Marketing in e-commerce shopee оn the use оf SPayLatter оn purchasing decisiоns during the new normal period after the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample of this research used stratified random sampling method. The sample of this research is 100 shoppe consumer respondents. In this study, the data was analyzed using multiple regressiоn with the variant-based SEM methоd, which was assisted by SmartPLS software. Data collection using Google Forms survey. The study found that the use of digital marketing, brand awareness, and viral marketing has a partial and simultaneous positive effect on purchasing decisions following the COVID-19 pandemic, but has a weak effect on purchasing decisions.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Purchasing Decisions in the New Normal Period: Implementation of Digital Marketing, Brand Awareness, and Viral Marketing at Shopee E-Commerce on the Use of SPayLater

From Clinical Trials

• Booster Study of COVID-19 Protein Subunit Recombinant Vaccine - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: SARS-CoV-2 subunit protein recombinant vaccine;   Biological: Active Comparator
  Sponsors:   PT Bio Farma;   Universitas Padjadjaran;   Udayana University
  Recruiting

• A Study to Evaluate the Immunogenicity and Safety of a Recombinant Protein COVID-19 Vaccine SCTV01E-1 in Population Aged Above 18 Years - Conditions:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV-2 Infection
  Interventions:   Biological: SCTV01E-1 on D0;   Biological: SCTV01E-1 on D28;   Biological: SCTV01E-1 on D150;   Biological: SCTV01E on D0;   Biological: SCTV01E on D28;   Biological: SCTV01E on D150;   Biological: SCTV01E-1 on D120;   Biological: SCTV01E on D120
  Sponsor:   Sinocelltech Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• A Novel Parameter LIT/N That Predicts Survival in COVID-19 ICU Patients - Condition:   COVID-19 Pneumonia
  Intervention:   Diagnostic Test: the LIT test
  Sponsors:   Gazi University;   Oxford MediStress
  Completed

• Efficacy and Safety of ES16001 in Patients With COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: ES16001 40 mg;   Drug: ES16001 80 mg;   Drug: ES16001 160 mg;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Genencell Co. Ltd.
  Recruiting

• SCALE-UP Utah II: Community-Academic Partnership to Address COVID-19 Text Message Study - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Behavioral: Text-Messaging (TM);   Behavioral: Patient Navigation (PN)
  Sponsors:   University of Utah;   Utah Department of Health;   Association for Utah Community Health;   National Institutes of Health (NIH);   National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  Not yet recruiting

• SCALE-UP Utah II: Community-Academic Partnership to Address COVID-19 Conversational Agent Study - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Behavioral: Text-Messaging (TM);   Behavioral: Conversational Agent (CA);   Behavioral: Patient Navigation (PN)
  Sponsors:   University of Utah;   Utah Department of Health;   Association for Utah Community Health;   National Institutes of Health (NIH);   National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  Not yet recruiting

• Multidisciplinary Day-hospital Versus Waiting List Management of Post-COVID-19 Persistent Symptoms (ECHAP-COVID) - Condition:   Post COVID-19 Condition
  Intervention:   Behavioral: Personalized multidisciplinary day-hospital intervention
  Sponsor:   Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
  Not yet recruiting

• Efficacy and Safety Evaluation of Paxlovid for COVID-19: a Real-world Case-control Study - Condition:   COVID-19 Pneumonia
  Interventions:   Drug: standard-of-care plus Paxlovid;   Drug: standard-of-care
  Sponsor:   Ruijin Hospital
  Recruiting

• Booster Study of PTX-COVID19-B in Adults Aged 18 Years and Older - Condition:   SARS-CoV-2 Infection
  Interventions:   Biological: PTX-COVID19-B;   Biological: Comirnaty®
  Sponsor:   Everest Medicines (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• Booster Superiority Study of PTX-COVID19-B Compared to Vaxzevria® in Adults Aged 18 Years and Older - Condition:   SARS-CoV-2 Infection
  Interventions:   Biological: PTX-COVID19-B;   Biological: Vaxzevria®
  Sponsor:   Everest Medicines (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• The Impact of a Web-based Psychoeducation Programme With a Motivational AI Chatbot on Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy - Conditions:   Vaccine Hesitancy;   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Behavioral: AI-driven Vaccine Communicator;   Behavioral: Self-learning of COVID-19 vaccine knowledge
  Sponsor:   The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  Not yet recruiting

• CArdiac REhabilitation for Building Exertional heArt Rate for Chronotropic Incompetence in Long COVID-19 - Conditions:   Long COVID;   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Behavioral: Cardiac Rehabilitation
  Sponsor:   University of California, San Francisco
  Not yet recruiting

• Rehabilitation Therapy for Post COVID 19 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Condition:   Post-COVID-19 Syndrome
  Intervention:   Other: intensive combined rehabilitation therapy
  Sponsor:   Cairo University
  Not yet recruiting

• Motivation, Syringe Exchange, and COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19 Pandemic
  Intervention:   Behavioral: Connect2Test
  Sponsors:   University of Oregon;   National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
  Recruiting

• HRQOL of Life After ECMO Due to COVID-19. - Conditions:   ARDS;   COVID-19 Pneumonia;   Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
  Intervention:   Other: Phone Interview
  Sponsor:   Medical University of Vienna
  Recruiting

From PubMed

• In silico Study Phytosterol Cymbopogon citratus and Curcuma longa as Inhibitor Agent 3C-Like Protease SARS-CoV-2 - <b>Background and Objective:</b> Lemongrass (<i>Cymbopogon citratus</i>) and turmeric (<i>Curcuma longa</i>) are widely used by the community for traditional medicinal spices and cooking spices. In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, people use lemongrass and turmeric to increase immunity and protect the body from infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, the antiviral mechanisms have not been studied much. This study aims to predict the bioactivity of the…

• Silver diamine fluoride therapy for dental care - Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) was developed in Japan in the 1960s. It is used to control early childhood caries, arrest root caries, prevent fissure caries and secondary caries, desensitise hypersensitive teeth, remineralise hypomineralised teeth, prevent dental erosion, detect carious tissue during excavation and manage infected root canals. SDF is commonly available as a 38% solution containing 255,000 ppm silver and 44,800 ppm fluoride ions. Silver is an antimicrobial and inhibits cariogenic…

• Vandetanib Blocks the Cytokine Storm in SARS-CoV-2-Infected Mice - The portfolio of SARS-CoV-2 small molecule drugs is currently limited to a handful that are either approved (remdesivir), emergency approved (dexamethasone, baricitinib, paxlovid, and molnupiravir), or in advanced clinical trials. Vandetanib is a kinase inhibitor which targets the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), as well as the RET-tyrosine kinase. In the current study, it was tested in different cell lines and showed promising…

• Elucidating the enhanced binding affinity of a double mutant SP-D with trimannose on the influenza A virus using molecular dynamics - Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is an essential component of the human pulmonary surfactant system, which is crucial in the innate immune response against glycan-containing pathogens, including Influenza A viruses (IAV) and SARS-CoV-2. Previous studies have shown that wild-type (WT) SP-D can bind IAV but exhibits poor antiviral activities. However, a double mutant (DM) SP-D consisting of two point mutations (Asp325Ala and Arg343Val) inhibits IAV more potently. Presently, the structural mechanisms…

• Degradation of Chloroquine Phosphate by UV-activated Persulfate - The degradation of chloroquine phosphate (CQP), an anti-COVID-19 drug, was investigated in a UV-activated persulfate system (UV/PS). The second-order rate constants of CQP with hydroxyl radicals (HO·) and sulfate radicals (SO(4)^(-)·) were determined using a competition kinetics experiment, and the effects of persulfate concentration, pH, and inorganic anions on the degradation of CQP were also systematically studied. Furthermore, a kinetic model was established to predict the concentration of…

• Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of SARS-CoV-2 Homogeneous O-Linked Glycopeptides for Exploring Their Inhibition Functions - Harnessing highly conserved peptides derived from the receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike (S) protein to construct peptide-based inhibitors is one of the most effective strategies to fight against the ever-mutating coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. But how the O-glycosylation affects their inhibition abilities has not been intensively explored. Herein, an intrinsic O-glycosylated peptide P(320-334) derived from RBD was screened and homogeneous O-linked glycopeptides containing Tn (GalNAcα1-O-Ser/Thr),…

• Nitazoxanide and COVID-19: A review - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a current global illness triggered by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) leading to acute viral pneumonia, acute lung injury (ALI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and cytokine storm in severe cases. In the COVID-19 era, different unexpected old drugs are repurposed to find out effective and cheap therapies against SARS-CoV-2. One of these elected drugs is nitazoxanide (NTZ) which is an anti-parasitic drug with potent antiviral…

• Molecular insight of phytocompounds from Indian spices and its hyaluronic acid conjugates to block SARS-CoV-2 viral entry - Human corona viral infection leads to acute breathing disease and death if not diagnosed and treated properly in time. The disease can be treated with the help of simple natural compounds, which we use in day-to-day life. These natural compounds act against several diseases but their drug targeting mechanism needs to be improved for more efficient and promising applications. In the present study five compounds (gingerol, thymol, thymohydroquinone, cyclocurcumin, hydrazinocurcumin) from three…

• The FDA-approved drug Auranofin has a dual inhibitory effect on SARS-CoV-2 entry and NF-κB signaling - Patients with severe COVID-19 exhibit an altered immune response that fails to control viral spread and suffer from exacerbated inflammatory response, which eventually can lead to death. A major challenge is to develop an effective treatment for COVID-19. NF-κB is a major player in the innate immunity and inflammatory process. By a high-throughput screening approach, we identified FDA-approved compounds that inhibit the NF-κB pathway and thus dampen inflammation. Among these, we show that…

• TEMPOL inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication and development of lung disease in the Syrian hamster model - Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a worldwide outbreak, known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Alongside vaccines, antiviral therapeutics are an important part of the healthcare response to COVID-19. We previously reported that TEMPOL, a small molecule stable nitroxide, inactivated the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of SARS-CoV-2 by causing the oxidative degradation of its iron-sulfur cofactors. Here, we demonstrate that TEMPOL is effective in…

• Deciphering COVID-19 host transcriptomic complexity and variations for therapeutic discovery against new variants - The molecular manifestations of host cells responding to SARS-CoV-2 and its evolving variants infection are vastly different across studying models and conditions, imposing challenges for host-based antiviral drug discovery. Based on the postulation that antiviral drugs tend to reverse the global host gene expression induced by viral infection, we retrospectively evaluated hundreds of signatures derived from 1700 published host transcriptomic profiles of SARS/MERS/SARS-CoV-2 infection using an…

• Molecular fate-mapping of serum antibodies reveals the effects of antigenic imprinting on repeated immunization - The ability of serum antibody to protect against pathogens arises from the interplay of antigen-specific B cell clones of different affinities and fine specificities. These cellular dynamics are ultimately responsible for serum-level phenomena such as antibody imprinting or “Original Antigenic Sin” (OAS), a proposed propensity of the immune system to rely repeatedly on the first cohort of B cells that responded to a stimulus upon exposure to related antigens. Imprinting/OAS is thought to pose a…

• Computational screening for investigating the synergistic regulatory potential of drugs and phytochemicals in combination with 2-deoxy-D-glucose against SARS-CoV-2 - COVID-19 disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. Since then, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has impacted millions of lives worldwide. Various preclinical and clinical trials on the treatment of COVID-19 disease have revealed that the drugs that work in combination are more likely to reduce reinfection and multi-organ failure. Considering the combination drug therapy, herein, we…

• Deciphering inhibitory mechanism of coronavirus replication through host miRNAs-RNA-dependent RNA polymerase interactome - Despite what we know so far, Covid-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus, remains a pandemic that still require urgent healthcare intervention. The frequent mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has rendered disease control with vaccines and antiviral drugs quite challenging, with newer variants surfacing constantly. There is therefore the need for newer, effective and efficacious drugs against coronaviruses. Considering the central role of RNA dependent, RNA polymerase (RdRp) as an enzyme necessary for…

• Nanoemulsion as an Effective Inhibitor of Biofilm-forming Bacterial Associated Drug Resistance: An Insight into COVID Based Nosocomial Infections - Antibiotic overuse has resulted in the microevolution of drug-tolerant bacteria. Understandably it has become one of the most significant obstacles of the current century for scientists and researchers to overcome. Bacteria have a tendency to form biofilm as a survival mechanism. Biofilm producing microorganism become far more resistant to antimicrobial agents and their tolerance to drugs also increases. Prevention of biofilm development and curbing the virulency factors of these multi drug…

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